Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Baseball Community - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1797 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/02 Category Sports Essay Level High school Tags: Baseball Essay Did you like this example? Motivation can help anyone in many ways, children can have a role model they always look up to. For example, a student-athlete can have a lot of people who come into mind, but for now, it can be anyone they look up to. Many children are not involved in sports, mostly in the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Baseball Community" essay for you Create order Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, and Football are very similar when speaking on who does what to their fan base, which is mostly seen when a team plays in their hometown. Football is an excellent example of how teams treat their fans and vice versa. Specifying on baseball, it is the only sport that has many events on helping and giving back to the fans. Baseballs impact on American culture World Culture has a positive effect on youth and young adults. We all know knows the USA as a country with a huge number of national customs and traditions, for example, sports. Many of them have their roots deep in history, got over many changes and were influenced by different factors and aspects, so they become those that the whole world has become accustomed to witnessing. One of them, baseball, can rightfully be considered as American national symbol. Quite often, while watching movies or reading books, we can observe many people and places love and cherish this sport, support it and develop it in every possible way. Baseball in different parts of the world is the most multinational sport in the world. Therefore many native traditions are intertwined with the customs of other nations. In a way, it can be argued that baseball, with its heat of passion and style, symbolizes an entire community and simultaneously influences both favorably, but grows mercantile qualities. Baseball has a positive effect on youth and adults (based on their communities where they are from.) Roberto Clemente is mostly known for helping his hometown of Puerto Rico. Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming both the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be enshrined. He was also known for sending supplies to Puerto Rico before his death Off the field, Clemente was known for his commitment to helping others. The Roberto Clemente Day of Giving, hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 18, celebrated Robertos gifts to the world. When Roberto died in a plane crash in 1972, he was on his way to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The passing of Clemente had a deep impact into the sport and where he came from. Currently, there is a lot of schools and people do ing everything they can to continue on what Clemente did for his island. Another horrible act was the passing of both Hurricane Maria and Irma hitting the island of Puerto Rico. This horrible tropical storm has brought pain to many players. Players from the U.S. commonwealth, including St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who have contributed money, supplies and theyre helping communities back home. Alex Cora, manager of the recent champions, Boston Red Sox, has gone back to his hometown to celebrate and representing something that other people can also do on never giving up. Puerto Rico was in Alex Coras heart when he was trying to confirm his most recent career move. The Boston Red Sox manager revealed Thursday night the one demand he made when negotiating his contract with the team prior to his appointment. Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the island-territory from which Alex Cora hails, in September 2017, and the then-Houston Astros bench coach sought the help of his prospective employers in bringing relief to his hometown of Caguas, P.R. just a few weeks after the latter storm hit. Yadier Molina has done a lot from where he came from in Puerto Rico, and he has started his own recovery program to those who are affected in the horrible conditions. Alex Cora has also helped those in need and with his signing of the Boston Red Sox, he had some contract conditions for the organization of the Red Sox to help the Island. The game of baseball has important events that help organizations. Reaching a goal to help a cause is one of MLBs highest priorities that . MLB All-Star game and World Series, there have been a lot of ads saying, Stand up to cancer, Major League Baseball is proud that our partnership with Stand Up To Cancer is a prominent part of the celebration surrounding jewel events, said Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. We hope that launching this new public service announcement campaign alongside this years World Series Stand Up moment will give added attention to the cause. Due to the great support from our fans, Clubs, and players, Baseball continues the fight against this horrible disease. As seen on TV, many have witnessed on what the MLB is doing on helping organizations helping stop a horrible disease and to help those that are affected. Advertisements have been the main source explaining why important events in baseball have been helping many parts of the world who have been affected by storms. Not also forgetting helping horrible diseases that have taken the lives of others.HR4R, also meaning, for every home run in the Postseason and World Series. T-Mobile, on the other hand, will donate money for those who are affected in any tropical storm. T-Mobiles #HR4HR stands for Home Runs for Hurricane Recovery, and T-Mobile is using its sponsorship with the MLB to pledge $10,000 donations for every postseason home run thats hit throughout the year. T-Mobile has already raked in $140,000 worth of donations thanks to 14 home runs that were hit during the Wild Card games for the MLB American League Division Series, and the carrier says that it plans on donating a minimum of $1 million (hopefully more) once all is said and done. Albert Pujols has a made a foundation specifically helping people and children with special needs. THE PUJOLS FAMILY FOUNDATION is a national not-for-profit agency that exists to honor God and strengthen families through our works, deeds, and examples. From Albert Pujols himself, he says, People have said to me, Albert, I would give anything to be able to play baseball like you. They may look at my abilities and think that being a great baseball player is the goal of my life. Believe it or not, baseball is not the chief ambition of my life. Becoming a great baseball player is important to me, but it is not my primary focus. Because I know the Hall of Fame is not my ultimate final destination. beginning this foundation in 2005, we have sought to help those living with Down syndrome here at home and to improve the lives of the impoverished in the Dominican Republic. Not many people with the fundings wouldnt want to donate an organization to help those with many diseases. Pujols and man y other people are doing the best they can to help their cause grow and grow and see that he is not the only one who is helping but other players too. Jackie Robinson, age 28, becomes the first African-American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became famous. He walked on to a field to play baseball in the uniform of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game of baseball had its first black player since the 1880s. That is not the end of this story; it is the start of it. Over the next ten years, Jackie Robinson played baseball. He played it well. Very well. Jackie Robinson has surely influenced a lot of people and players. His time playing baseball, there was a lot of discrimination going towards him since he was an African American playing a white mans game and only the first in the history of the game to play from a different color. Another player for the Latino community is Luis Miguel Castro (November 25, 1876 September 24, 1941). He was born in Medell? ­n, Colombia. He was the first Latin American born player to play in Major League Baseball in the United States, and the first Latin American since Cuban player Esteban Bell n in 1873 to play professional baseball. Not much is said about him since he was last seen playing in the Major League in 1902. The most consistent data about Castros life is that his father was Nestor Castro. It is stated in his school records and his census card; therefore, this list proves that Castro came at 8 years old, with his father to New York and both entered the United States as visitors and stayed in the country. His birth date of November 25, 1876 matches his reported age on the ship. Not many are said about Castro during his time in professional baseball, but a lot would say that he would be an influence. Baseball has had much negative feedback since many say players are not helping their community. Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart. Clayton Kershaw who is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers is currently one of the highest paid athletes in the sport Peoples opinion if they are not helping their community Government or officials dont have enough funds to help their people CONCLUSION There are many players who are recognized in helping their community, have been noticed on what others cannot do. Since no one can control the weather, storms affect many people and their home, including the players home. Jackie Robinson is the only African American who broke the color barrier in the game of baseball. Biography: Roberto Clemente. Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017, www.biography.com/people/roberto-clemente-9250805. Ortiz, Jorge L. For MLBs Puerto Rican Players, Hurricane Maria Still Hits Home: It Breaks Your Heart. USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 12 Mar. 2018, QTMO135800H_Q4_18_MLB_HR4HR_Wish_WS_Boston_SA_60_WEB. BYOD Sim Cards | Get a Sim Card For Your Unlocked Phone | T-Mobile, T-Mobile, www.t-mobile.com/mlb. Miller, Adam. Stand Up To Cancer And Major League Baseball Hit Home With Powerful New PSA Whatever It Takes. Stand Up to Cancer, 27 Oct. 2017, standuptocancer.org/press/stand-up-to-cancer-and-major-league-baseball-hit-home-with-powerful-new-psa-whatever-it-takes/. Gonzalez, Alden. Angels Star Mike Trout Helps Family in Need. MLB.com, 26 Jan. 2016, www.mlb.com/news/angels-star-mike-trout-helps-family-in-need/c-161456236. Baseball Essay Examples. Essay on Contrasting Ralph and Jack in Lord of the Flies | Bartleby, www.bartleby.com/essay/Baseball-FKQ4RRZVC.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Aging Reflection - 1636 Words

Aging Reflection Part 1: 1:At this point in your life, what do you value most? At this point in my life, i would like to say that i value my happiness most in life. In my mind, I mean happiness can mean a lot of different things, and the definition may vary from one person to another.As for me, I mean this happiness means different things for me, such as, i hope my parents have good health, i hope my friends happy everyday and so many things around me. I honestly wish that were the case. Over the past year, i have had a significant amount of time to think about why i feel the way i do about the components of my life, i always ask myself what do i want through my life. In doing so i believe that my family is my most valuable entity.†¦show more content†¦Why or why not? In my life, i think i am not similar to that of my parents. As i am 21 years old, i would like to say happiness is the most valuable thing in my past years. I did not know what the most important thing in my happiness is. So I always a sk myself â€Å"what is happiness for me?†This is one of the huge different between my life and my parents life. I want to say my parents are more considered about how to become successful when them are 20s. Maybe them will lose much time to care about them own happiness. Why it is difference? Because of aging difference will cause different perception to look forward everything. One thing i need to change which is i need to pay more attention on my own health, perhaps when i was 30s i need to know why health is important for me, and then make a real plans to improve a quality of my life. In my own direction, learn something about strength of my parents life and change something weakness in order to make life comfort. 5:What do you think are the keys to a happy and satisfying life? A persons age is something impressive, it sums up his life: maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles, illnesses cured, griefs and despairs overcome, and unconscious risks taken; maturity formed through so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves. A persons age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories. According to all of these things, if you ask me what is the keys to a happy andShow MoreRelatedReflection Paper On Aging1710 Words   |  7 Pagesthe embodied aging and experience by creating a storyline based on the character, Billy, shared the good news of him finally proposing to his much younger girlfriend with his dearest friends and wanted them to be supportive in his decision-making. All four friends decided to escape from their daily lives a couple of days in order to throw a bachelor party together for Billy in Las Vegas (Last Vegas, 2013). They have been best friends since child hood, yet have experienced a different aging journey (LastRead MoreReflection Paper On Aging1945 Words   |  8 PagesNumbers always seem to make a difference in one’s life which could be because of the different cultural values and norms that they practice. America is a country with opportunities where all heart belongs yet the cultural perspective on aging is shattering. Aging is perceived differently in each country and this perspective is remodeled as we blend in more than one cultural values for age. For the one-one project, I chose my grandparents because they have always inspired me and motivated me in allRead MoreMirror by Sylvia Plath, Analysis875 Words   |  4 Pageschange. In the beginning the changes are simple, like the acts of day turning to night, but at the end we see the life changes of a woman in particular. Through the use of metaphor and personification in the poem, Plath creates images of water, reflections, and colors as having human characteristics t o emphasize the strong theme of change throughout the poem. From the beginning of the poem, we see that it revolves around water. We find out that the mirror is unmisted and swallows everything.Read MoreMirror by Sylvia Plath817 Words   |  3 Pagesmirror, â€Å"The eye of a little god,† adopts its power as the centre of consciousness. The woman is urgently trying to recognise her true self through this reflection, yet the mirror controls her self-perception by asserting that it is truthful and discreet: â€Å"Whatever I see I swallow immediately.† This clash and the woman’s anxious demand for a true reflection of her very self are further muzzled by the mirror: A woman bends over me, Searching my reaches for what she really is. Then she turns to thoseRead MoreEssay Sylvia Plaths Mirror810 Words   |  4 PagesMirror Sylvia Plaths Mirror offers a unique perspective on the attitudes of aging. Mirror displays tremendous insight and objectivity into the natural human behavior of growing older. Plath is able to emphasize the loneliness, hope, despair, and insecurity that awaits us through mankinds incessant addiction with reflection. Mirror expresses the problems associated with aging through terse comparisons between reality and desire. Plathes strength of MirrorRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Mirror `` By Sylvia Plath1231 Words   |  5 Pagesmist. However, humans show this â€Å"mist† when they really love or really dislike a reflection. The â€Å"mist† distorts their opinion on it, but the mirror eradicates this â€Å"mist† and displays everything raw and stripped. Which is the main struggle throughout this poem as the women cannot come to realization that her youth and beauty is fading. The mirror does not show this mist and reveals to the women all her blemishes and aging marks. As Plath continues her poem she still relies heavily on literaryRead More Mirror: Reflections of Truth Essay508 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"Mirror†: Reflections of Truth In Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"Mirror†, the reader takes a look into the messages presented and compares them with the reflections that are cast in a mirror and images in a lake. When reading this poem, we discover that the speaker is the actual reflection that gives the interpretation of its views. The first interpretation is shown as a mirror on the wall â€Å"I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.† (1), second as the water in the lake because she states â€Å"Now IRead More Truth, Illusion, and Examination in Sylvia Plaths The Mirror656 Words   |  3 Pagespoem such a vehicle for self-examination. Plaths message is not conveyed as clearly to the reader as her reflection. She encrypts her theme using an intensely private, symbolic vernacular. The symbols planted throughout the poem cannot be categorized as universal. There are no Biblical, historical, or cultural allusions. Instead Plath communicates the instantaneous miracle of reflection by saying whatever I see I swallow immediately, just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike. This descriptionRead MoreDr. Harold Schlender : Aging Experience And The First One1685 Words   |  7 PagesAs individuals age, the capability to do daily activities declines to some point in every person. Older people have a tendency to have more illnesses and disabilities than younger people. There are various changes that go along with aging and they are more than just changes in health. Social influences an older person s risk and experience of illness. Physicians frequently conduct a social history to aid them and other associates of the health care team evaluate an individual care, needs and socialRead MoreThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel1681 Words   |  7 Pagesbe the major theme that pre dominated throughout the film was that being older does not mean that life ends. There are different issues that are dealt with when aging, but that does not necessarily entitle growing and transforming have ended. Each character in the film were dealing with a variety of changes, some which dealt with the aging process and some that can happen at any time in ones life (Hoffman, 2012). Generational Themes There were many generational themes that came to light within this

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Definition Essay on Redneck Free Essays

Redneck You might be a redneck if you have ever mowed the lawn and found a car. We have all heard this famous phrase, along with many more, from the comedian Jeff Foxworthy. But what does being a redneck really mean? Many southern people have been stereotyped as rednecks because of their accents, slang and lack of formal communication ability. We will write a custom essay sample on Definition Essay on Redneck or any similar topic only for you Order Now But it takes more than just the way a person talks to make them a redneck, like attitude and appearance. The term â€Å"redneck† began being widely used after the hippie era when men started cutting there long hair short enough to burn their necks. A white member of the southern rural laboring class is how a knowledgeable person has officially defined â€Å"redneck†. Yes, they are from rural areas and are from a working class of people, though it does take more than language and accent to classify someone as a redneck. A redneck will wear shorts and boots for the comfort not because it is a fashion statement. It’s someone that would rather go mudding or four wheeling on a weekend, rather than going for a dinner and a movie. Thoughts of getting dirty doesn’t send them running for the nearest bathroom where they can clean themselves up. Rednecks are not afraid of backbreaking manual labor, but after work they are going to blow off steam all night. They will generally get an hour or two’s worth of sleep before returning to work to sweat out the alcohol from the night before. Rednecks are very proud to be Americans, they generally chew tobacco, and hunting and fishing is a big part of who they are. Rednecks are generally big fans of football and could tell you every driver in a Nascar race. Gucci, Macy’s, and malls, are not places that you will see a redneck shopping. Just go to your local Wal-Mart and you will surely see many there doing there one stop shopping. Where else can you buy hunting supplies, guns and ammo, fishing gear, food, clothing, and electronics all in one store? Picture this, a full moon high in the sky, with more stars shining than a person could count in a month. A vibrantly green field outlined with trees, with a creek running across the back. A dirt road along the outside edge of he field leading to the back corner where there are four wheel drive trucks backed up to a red glowing bonfire that was built with what was found along the creek bank. The trucks look as if they have been dipped like an ice cream cone, but only in mud. Coolers filled with beer are closely positioned around the people that are sitting on the tailgates and standing around the fire. ‘Something Bout a Truck,’ blasting from a stereo that cost more than the truck cost before the big mud tires were put on. Without a worry or a care in the world this party will continue until the wee hours of the morning. This is a true example of what a redneck is. A simple, every day, hard working person who could care less what this week’s fashion statement is. They are who they are, and if you don’t like it, they don’t care. They are a laid back partying group that are just out to blow off steam and have some fun. Many people say that being called a redneck is a bad thing, but rednecks are proud of who they and for them it an honor. How to cite Definition Essay on Redneck, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Health Services and Information System

Question: Discuss about theHealth Services and Information System. Answer: Introduction: Upon the intention of the City Hospital to implement the first phase of the new medical record solution that is electronic, a SWOT analysis has been done to help in the process of planning for the new technological dispensation in health care. Again, an evidence-based solution that ensures successful implementation shall be proposed and a suggestion of an issue to be deliberated upon as well. Strengths. It helps in safeguarding the confidentiality of patient information. The system is secure because there are security measures like use of PINs and passwords. It lowers the loss of information. Electronic medical records are secured through cloud computing as opposed to paper which gets lost in fires and theft. Clear communication among professionals is enhanced. Because impediments like poor handwritings are avoided. Also, patient data is centralized hence easily accessible. It restrains medical errors. Here, clinicians are linked to care plans, treatment sheets, protocols and others reducing. It improves the provision of services. Since the method is swift, time is managed hence many activities, and prompt attention is given improving patient care. Saves time, ensures originality of data, improves data storage and reduces costs. (Ben-Assuli Leshno, 2013) Weaknesses. A high cost of adoption in the installations and hiring training staff. It limits interoperability among health workers since the exchange of vital information about patients is stored in a computer. It needs an intense training of staff. For each employee to understand the use, they have to be taught for long. There is a disparity in software packages. Different vendors provide different software hence confusion during the adoption of each method. There is no standard system of documentation as many EMRs are in the market. Vulnerable to Cyberterrorism, and may lead to medical errors (Seo, Kim, Kim, 2011). Opportunities. It elevates health practice that is proactive through the use of recommendations that are evidence-based. It improves capabilities of reporting health information through patient outcomes. There are high checks and balances to ensure quality from patient admission to discharge. There is patient satisfaction due to the quality of care received (Carter, 2015). There is support in making decisions since references can be done at any time. Threats. It endangers the patient-provider relations because there is limited touch and it can act as a proxy. There is a probability of failure of systems which may cause total loss of data or halt normal hospital activities like accessing essential patient details. Utilisers may resist its implementation due to the sophistication and cost. Patients may perceive it as a threat to privacy due to hackers and viruses. The public may view EMR investments as costly and evade taxes and incentives (Dobrzykowski Tarafdar, 2016). The use of power supplies that are uninterrupted and standby full-scale power facilities lowers the risk of data loss due to sudden electric malfunctions. Additionally, integrate level power systems that can alert in case there is an unanticipated danger like viruses. Adoption of these measures can ensure efficiency and successful use of EMR and have been proved in the United States and Malaysia ("Electronic medical records in ophthalmology," 2013). A suggestion for consideration is the constitutional proposition regarding the patient and provider information safety as far as EMR is concerned (Frize, 2012). For instance, the Security Act on patient information in Australia. In conclusion, the strengths and opportunities in the SWOT analysis outweigh the weakness and threats proving the need for implementation of this noble course towards better and safe health care system. References Ben-Assuli, O. Leshno, M. (2013). Using Electronic Medical Records in Admission Decisions: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.Decision Sciences,44(3), 463-481. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/deci.12018 Carter, D. (2015). Records access and management on the closure of medical practice.Med J Aust,203(2), 109-110. https://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja15.00258 Dobrzykowski, D. Tarafdar, M. (2016). Linking Electronic Medical Records Use to Physicians Performance: A Contextual Analysis.Decision Sciences. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/deci.12219 Electronic medical records in ophthalmology. (2013).Saudi Journal Of Ophthalmology,27(2), 71-72. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjopt.2013.04.001 Frize, M. (2012). Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): Patient Safety and Ethical Considerations.Ethics In Biology, Engineering And Medicine,3(1-3), 3-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1615/ethicsbiologyengmed.2013006933 Seo, H., Kim, H., Kim, J. (2011). A SWOT Analysis of the Various Backup Scenarios Used in Electronic Medical Record Systems.Healthc Inform Res,17(3), 162. https://dx.doi.org/10.4258/hir.2011.17.3.162

Friday, November 29, 2019

To Kill A Mocking Bird Essays (974 words) - To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mocking Bird To Kill A Mockingbird Outcasts, they are part of every society, yet they cause no harm. Society outcasts don't choose their status, instead society it self chooses it for them. An outcast is usually the type of person who is different, and because of their oddity they are rejected. Society seems to tend and discard them on grounds that they aren't what society defines as normal. People casted out are considered a threat to the rest of society, because they endanger the, ?normalcy,? that society continuously struggles to obtain. Rejected from society, some of these outcasts will; isolate themselves, despise and torment others, or try to be accepted in to society by doing whatever necessary. They are often taunted, compared, put up with, restricted, and/or penalized by society for being who they are. All they need to survive is their families, shelter, friends, and sometimes the need for a feeling of acceptance. I feel, on the other hand, while people try so hard to perfect there society, they don't realize their own problems which leads to their downfall in the end. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird there were several model people rejected from society in one way or another. Atticus Finch, one of the main characters in the story, was more of an accepted outcast because he was respected, but was still different from the rest of society. Through out the story Atticus was fairly respected and even in some cases a vital part of society because of his knowledge, and skills. He wasn't like the rest of society which left him out of the clique called society. He kept his thoughts and opinions to himself, did no gossiping of others, minded his own business, and treated everyone as an equal to him if not more. I think he was one of the wisest characters in the story as he always took everything into its proper perspective and stood up for what he believed in. He was more of a positive force towards society than a negative, all ways helping when needed. One of his most respected qualities is always being polite and treating people equally despite their social or society status. Although he wasn't like everyone else he didn't need to be, just to be accepted instead he kept to himself and delivered no threat to societies desired normalcy. In the end the outcome of his actions were accepted by society and Atticus was looked up to by some, but still despised by others. Another character was Tom Robinson, a black man, and the time this story was taking place colored people were discriminated against on terms of race. Tom Robinson was very much one of the out casts of society. He had special laws and rules to obide by because he wasn't white, or the preferred race of the society. He was different because of the color of his skin and that scared the society he lived in. He tried his hardest to be respectful and nice to the white people in order to hopefully be accepted. This led to his downfall as he would of, and did, do anything in order to be accepted. I believe he was smart not to disobey, but he should not have done so much for other people just to have the feeling of belonging. I believe if Tom would have been more aware of the positions and situations he was putting him self in, in order to be accepted, then he could have prevented his predicament. Boo Radley, one of the more mysterious characters in the story, never appeared in front of society instead isolated, or instead the society isolated, himself in his house with family. Boo was abnormal, in a retarded form, his family most likely chose to keep him isolated from society, so that he wouldn't have to deal with their harshness and unacceptance. I believe Boo was one of the smartest characters in this novel despite his handicap, if society didn't want to accept him then it was their problem. As shown in the end of the story when Boo made his first appearance he did nothing, but good to society and only if it was realized sooner he could have been a great contribution to society. Boo was a lucky person to not have had to been tormented by society because of his deformities. Bob Ewell was an uneducated derelict of society. He did no good and was despised by everyone. He

Monday, November 25, 2019

The usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts

The usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts Introduction Structural violence is a fundamental concept in the analysis and understanding of international conflicts. The contents of structural violence include disputes, where comprehension between two parties does not come to a point of consensus because of differences in their social setting. The failure of distinct entities in an ecosystem to comprehend each other acts as an instrument of causing conflicts in the international scope.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The international conflicts arise from societal setting, affecting people around the world. The comprehension of the influence of structural conflict has a rationale of enhancing the analysis, as well the comprehension of the scope of the international conflict. The understanding is also vital in the creation o f a path for strategic implementation of ample methodologies that would prevent or eradicate the conflicts. A vast theoretical literature has also been presented in regards to the importance of structural violence in comprehension enhancement, with some authors arguing that conflicts have been a major drawback to economic, social, and political triumph over the years, owing to the state of misunderstanding distinct takes of different individuals and groups (Burchill, et al, 2005, p. 291). The recent decades have seen researchers, academicians, scholars, as well as psychologists develop enthusiasm in the area of the effects of violence on the international relations. The discussion in this paper seeks to establish the usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts. The comprehension of this is enabled by comprehensively analyzing the concept of structural violence as well as the international conflict. The theoretical approach towards the same is critically discussed, in addition to the provision of rationale and impacts of the study at hand. Analyzing the concept of structural violence The form of violence whose basis is on the social structure or social institution that harms some populace and prevents them from fulfilling their essential needs encompasses structural violence. Structural violence is product of the organization of political, social, and economic settings and systems in ways that have both negative and positive effects on the immediate community. The rationale of the impacts is portrayed when some segments of the population in existence are oppressed, intimidated, and dominated, while other segments are privileged in one way or the other.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conflicts that have their fundamentals on the societal structures deprive part of the population their pea ce, food, security, healthcare etc, while others still enjoy the abundance of the same in similar setting. For instance, movement of large numbers of rich people into a community may lead to the increment of housing costs, affecting people that lived originally in a similar place under low costs. In addition, structural violence is mostly recognized at the level of a society due to life quality shortfalls that occur in certain societal groups. The accomplishment of structural violence mostly occurs via the existence of political repression in a society. This entails the presence of many groups in power concentrating the societal resources for their personal gain in expense of people who are not in power. The most pronounced examples of structural violence are inclusive of racism, elitism, classism, sexism, adultism, ageism, and nationalism in addition to heterosexism and ethnocentrism (Lipsky, 2010, p. 31). Structural violence is characterized by poor societal settings that allow ro om for existence of more than one class and clusters of individuals depending on the societal niche that they hold. An imbalanced state as well as international realm is established when structural violence takes preeminence. This is in regards to unequal resources distribution among the existing populations. Discrimination also finds its way in such a society where some people appear more important than others do, in terms of wealth and health. The systems of structural violence are dominated by numerous justices in all realms, and unjust arguments prevail in place of justice requirement. Oppression of high quality is experienced whenever structural violence is evident, for instance, the deprivation of widows and orphans of the inheritances by corrupt governments. Increased death rates are also associated with those that live at rung positions in any society setting as opposed to low death rates for the higher in a contemporary society with poor settings. Most countries in the have had such structural violent systems, posing great troubles for those living in them. The rationale of these poor structural systems is experienced when considering the rate of international conflict today that has drastically increased.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The understanding of these conflicts is also important in performance of the analysis of the levels of the international conflicts that thrive today. Various pronounced effects are experienced in presence of structural violence, which is inclusive of pain infliction on the victims when war and terror etc incidents occur due to structural distinctions. It is always in the accompaniment of the deprivation of essential needs that are fundamental to the life of an organism in the ecosystem. The freedom of human is ta ken away for there is no room for addressing their grievances in case of the structural problems. Moreover, the creation of non-identity society with racial, material, and all-round differences results from the cultivation for the structural violence (Mansfield and Pollins, 2003, p. 97). An analysis of International conflicts The recent years have seen concerted efforts directed towards international peace relations in a bid to counter the rampant international conflicts. A conflict is regarded as a level of difficulty where parties cannot understand one another, resulting into an avoidable chaotic situation. The accomplishment of a conflict is done via stage performances whose possible outcomes are undesirable, and may not be beneficial to any party. The international conflict describes those critical incidents in which no human entity is exempted from the effect of a particular happening, and every human race is a liable object of experience. The most flabbergasting conflicts in t he worldly realms are inclusive of wars, terrorism, and political clashes among others. The causes of the international conflicts range from human to situational causative factors that become so overwhelming to an extent of causing tremendous outcomes. The outcomes never choose a particular path to follow; rather, they affect a large number in the international realms including fresh waters, oil, other resources and so on (Westing and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and United Nations Environment Programme., 1986, p. 10, 28 and 58).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Johan Galtungs literature classifies conflicts into three categories, which are inclusive of direct conflicts that entail direct pain and suffering infliction on individuals or groups. The second type is indirectly imposed on a group of individuals due to poor structures in the societal set up. International conflicts are mostly caused by structural violence as a result of the instabilities and disorganizations that are caused by their rampancy. The effects of the international conflicts are inclusive of economic inflations due to poor methodologies of spending a country’s resources. The political crises are also experienced everywhere in the international scope due to power wrangles that thrives in the hearts of many. The poor and the oppressed have a tendency to rise up against the unjust regimes and these reactions are transformed into conflicts. Cultural conflicts are also internationally evident due to people’s take of others in regards to their background (Bercov itch, 1996, p. 6). Indeed, cultural conflicts have been known as causative factors to the structural and direct conflicts in many cases since the disregard for one another is a causal factor for promotion of jealousy, as well as the oppressive nature evident in most societies. More over, most social structures in the world have acted as causal factors for international conflicts due to poor organizations and structural arrangements. Political and economic structures are also known to be major causes of conflicts in an international scope. The international conflicts have often led to the prevalence of negative peace; indeed, alleviation of peace on the parties involved in disputes at a particular time is a rationale for international disagreements. The magnitude of international suffering is measured via the impacts in experience to the parties internationally. For instance, massive deaths and concrete conflicts that are not liable for recovery are the extreme magnitudes for interna tional conflicts. In addition, there are incidences of countries fighting against each other due to economic, structural, and cultural failures. In addition, leadership and governance structures are also considered as main causal factors of international conflicts. Major international conflicts have long been portrayed via terrorism attacks, massacres, wars, deprivation of rights, and other methodologies that are deemed crucial in the fulfillment of such laws (Likosky, 2002, p. 393). Usefulness of the concept of structural violence in analyzing and understanding international conflicts Structural violence is an excellently significant tool when it comes to the analysis and understanding of international conflicts. The concept of structural violence explains the fundamentals on which international conflict emerges, as distinct groups interact with others in social setup. The fact that structural violence entails deprivation of people’s rights and freedoms, as others enjoy priv ileges and honors makes this form of violence be considered vital in international violation explanations provision. Theoretical explanations of international conflicts rebuke the violation of social theory via the utilization of structural violence in available human settings. The current world is largely affected by international conflicts that emerge repeatedly, with research findings proving that most of the happenings in the international realms are products of structural violence. This majorly entails social, cultural, political, and economical and the overall human set up within an inclusive ecological system (Ohlson and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 1988, p. 7). The concept of structural violence is normally viewed as a hypothetical instrument that provides supposition that is considered tentative, with the intention of gaining comprehension of facts that are legally acceptable. Therefore, it creates a rationale for the understanding and analyzing interna tional laws, as well as being considered a fiction. This implies that structural violence entails making mistakes with a conscious mind in its take that armed conflicts are used in the deprivation of other people’s rights and privileges. Therefore, it gives an ample understanding of the operational international law, as well as a prediction of what just laws would mean in the society. The understanding is also boosted in the fact that individuals or groups affected or infected by structural violence face it indirectly. They therefore advocate for close monitory and supervision in the promotion of the effectiveness of international law (Jacoby, 2008, p. 26). Structural violence is a long-term cause of system’s instability. Instability means that no system can be subject to human trust, since it does not amply cater for the available humanity desired satisfaction. The instability-affected areas are inclusive of political social and economical stands. Normally, the state of instability in any realm leads to the creation of emotions on those affected or infected by the causal factors. The deprivation of privileges from some people, as others enjoy, creates a rationale for the instability complement to act as a stage-setter for international conflicts. Moreover, instability is an ultimate cause of physical, emotional, and psychological wars among people as well as states. The structural instability analysis also proves it as a ground for human suffering, rendering a lot of dissatisfaction among individuals involved (Jacoby, 2008). Additionally, structural violence paves way for undesirable human aspects, which finally lead to conflicts. The aspect of militarily arises from international conflicts due to poor structural settings. For instance, countries from European and American continents have to concentrate on weapon building strategies in a bid to counter any international attack, reason being that the structural setup of every country is a source of structural violence due to poor settings. The understanding of the world wars that took place in the 19th century is enhanced by the presence of people superseded by hunger for power prosperity, in regards to territorial control and proprietorship. The wars created a structural environment that enabled some countries to be in possession of powerful arms and ammunitions, thus looking down upon others. The perception that other countries are weak entities by the American continent, and eventually causing war is a rationale towards understanding international conflicts. The recent rampant terrorist attacks that prevail in the international scope are also as a result of the presence of countries that are more favored in military wealth than others. Moreover, the desire to exercise military power, while ignoring human dignity is a long-term rationale for international conflicts (Lawler, 1995, p. 67). The existence of extreme poverty cases in human life is an indication of the preemine nce of structural violence. In most cases, some countries have a common trend that has rampantly taken preeminence. Every country is marked by an interaction of extremely rich persons, who adversely interact with extremely poor persons, though living in a similar environmental context. Those people associated with the leadership of any country in the international realms are always found in possession of wealth, while those far from power are in most cases poor. A recent environmental scanning study concluded that poverty has become a major problem in the world. Similarly, refugees that move to countries for the sake of their safety are said to suffer due to the fact that host countries do not easily recognize their presence. Those people afflicted with chronic diseases are said to live in chronic poverty due to lack of support from the neighbors as well as the government. Thus, international conflicts are known to occur rampantly, as campaigns for such poverty controversies arise f or the sake of protection of the common person (Waart, et al., 2001, p. 325). Structural conflicts are known to have offered an ample ground for exploitation and oppression, as well as intimidation in every realm of the society. The understanding of these fundamentals is best explained via structural violence existence. The international conflicts have rampantly arisen due to the prevalence of the expletory and oppression nature in human realms. Many countries have been recently faced by rampant pre and post-election violence and conflicts, owing to the existence of unfaithful regimes. The service to the general society by governments has been today converted to the attendance to personal needs since social structures are already paralyzed. This is a causative factor for exploitation and intimidation to most people in a societal setup. The oppression and intimidation factors are known in history as the main causes of societal aggression and ultimately leading to international confli cts (Kent, 1993). Structural violence is also useful as an instrument for indication of difficulties associated with change acquisition. For instance, recent years have experienced dramatic shifts in all reams, and every international entity needs adopting new ideas. However, the employment setup is already violated by poor governance and monitoring of the international structures, leading to aggression. Land disputes have also been sources of international conflicts, where poor ruling structures are in control and denying room for dialog to maintain peace. The effects are peace alleviation and overriding international conflicts. Moreover, poor ruling methodologies that do not provide room for the weak and the oppressed in the society are factors that lead to the structural violence occurrence. However, structural violence resulting form unequal resources distribution provides a better comprehension of international conflicts. The fact that wealthy and prosperous regimes are always entitled to privileges causes international aggression, leading to international conflicts (Kent, 1993). Theoretical approach to international conflicts on the basis of structural violence The recent decades have seen large numbers of theorists arise in their bid to provide explanations of the international conflicts on the ground of structural violence. The main theory that leads to the realization of denial of human satisfaction to some individuals or groups is the human needs theory by John Burton in 1915. The frameworks of the theory advocate for meeting of human needs as an instrument of peaceful human interactions and relations. The conflict theory is also important in explanation provision of international conflicts. This relates to the incompatibility of distinct parties in their presentation as the main causal factor for conflicts. The structural violation in any society leads to a negative interaction nature between the two theories, leading to conflicts between parties. T he structural violence is viewed in disregard for some people in the society, leading to the violation of the requirements of the human needs theory, and paving way for the preeminence of the conflict theory. The correction of situations thus requires the intervention of conflict resolution theoretical approach (Juma, et al., 2002, p. 134). Kurt Lewis model of management plays a vital role in addressing the need for ample societal management strategies as a step towards combating the structural violence extremes. The social theory that was early developed is very crucial in addressing the importance of a good societal interaction. It requires that all social entities in a setting recognize the importance of each other as an ample weapon for fighting societal conflicts. The social theory propositions entail the need for societal construction on the basis of the available entities’ requirements to create a satiable nature. The most recent research has also come up with internat ional relations theory that advocates for compatibles in accordance to the international laws. Compatibles are considered as vital in fighting the spirit of intimidation, oppression, as well as discriminatory societal rules. The international law is useful as a tool for stabilization of structural and physical systems via the application of the best possible ideologies. Therefore, international conflicts solution has long been developed via the requirements of international law. The normative theory is very useful in assisting the execution of international law. It requires that appropriate norms be followed in the understanding and prevention of international conflicts caused by structural violence (McEvoy and Newburn, 2003, pp. 6, 7). The rationale and impacts of Understanding international conflicts and Violence The comprehension of international conflicts and violence creates a ground for the enactment of peaceful attributes. The understanding is especially essential to those in the peace and conflict studies, since a ground for positive peace is easy to establish. It is always considered worthy where prevention takes the first position instead of cure. Whenever this understanding is available, government regimes and policy-makers gain a better understanding of the common structural violence problems that their immediate society is facing. It is therefore easier to address the problems in better ways that can counter international conflicts. The laying of foundation for peace rebuilding is facilitated by the analytical understanding of influences of structural violence on international conflicts. The realization that international conflicts are rampant in the society makes many to rise up in advocating for peace in the society. The campaigns conducted play a pivotal role in societal restoration. The interference of the undesirable human acts that sometimes take preeminence in the society is easy, with the understanding of the paths they take. It is also ea sy to set frameworks that are necessary in addressing diverse magnitudes of international conflicts, as well as violence that may hinder the overall international development (Keenan and McDonagh, 1996). Combating international and local conflicts is possible when there is clear information of the impacts of the structural violence on the society. The effect of the psychological and physical systems of the people that have been deprived of their positive peace by the structural violence is eased when there is understanding. The government systems find it easier to lay grounds for advocating for a hopeful future whenever they analyze possible causes of international conflicts. The balancing of races, and background differences is duly addressed in understanding that races distinctions are major causes of structural violence that cause international conflicts. The comprehension of violence relationship with the international conflict acts as an ample tool for stabilization of the econ omy, politics, as well as the social structures. This is done via the employment of ample strategies that would enhance the compatibility of all systems. Cultural differences can be easily solved with the understanding of the problem that arises from the structural violence. Moreover, the rampancy of issues like sexism, health facility accessibility difficulties, and other impacts of structural violence can be easily addressed in the comprehension of their causal factors. The moderation of the international law above all is enabled through the comprehension of international conflicts on the basis of structural violence (Keenan and McDonagh, 1996). Conclusion Structural violence is a fundamental concept in the analysis and understanding of international conflicts. Structural conflicts arise from the creation of room that benefits and privileges a certain group in the society, while the rest suffer inadequacy for their desires. International conflicts occur due to incompatibility of d ifferent parties in regards to a matter of concern, and at a particular time. The usefulness of the structural violence in the understanding of the international conflicts lies in its comprehensive nature in addressing negative issues that affect the society indirectly. However, the understanding of this usefulness is crucial in the construction of a stable society in all realms of human interaction. Nevertheless, more empirical and theoretical studies should be conducted to enhance the importance of structural violence in understanding the international conflicts scope. List of References Bercovitch, J., 1996. Resolving international conflicts: the theory and practice of mediation. NY: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Burchill, R., et al. 2005. International conflict and security law: essays in memory of Hilaire McCoubrey. NY: Cambridge University Press. Jacoby, T., 2008. Understanding conflict and violence: theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches. London: Taylor Francis. Juma, M, e t al. 2002. Eroding local capacity: international humanitarian action in Africa. Uppsala: Nordic Africa Institute. Kent G., 1993. Analyzing conflict and violence. Peace and change, Vol. 18, No 4. Council of peace research in History. Web. Available from:Â  http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kent/analyzing.pdf . Keenan, J and McDonagh, E., 1996. Instability, structural violence and vulnerability: A Christian response to the HIV pandemic. UK, Progression Unit 3. Web. Web. Lawler, P., 1995. A question of values: Johan Galtungs peace research. Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Likosky, M., 2002. Transnational legal processes. NY: Cambridge University Press. Lipsky, L., 2010. Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others. NY: https://www.readhowyouwant.com/ Mansfield, E. and Pollins, B., 2003. Economic interdependence and international conflict: new perspectives on an enduring debate. Michigan: University of Michigan Press. McEvoy, K. and Newburn, K., 2003. Cri minology, conflict resolution and restorative justice. New Delhi: Palgrave Macmillan. Ohlson, T. and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 1988. Arms transfer limitations and Third World security. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Waart, P. J. et al. 2001. Reflections on international law from the Low Countries: in honour of Paul de Waart. Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Westing, A., Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and United Nations Environment Programme. 1986. Global resources and international conflict: environmental factors in strategic policy and action. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Combine Code Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Combine Code - Essay Example Every stakeholders or shareholders shall also have the right to examine the organization’s books of account to its satisfaction. Dialogues and consultation between the board of directors and the stakeholders should not be limited to the annual general membership (AGM) meeting. In the interest of the public’s and stakeholder’s rights, the accurate state and fiscal condition of the organization shall be fully disclosed to the stakeholders. The United Kingdom’s Corporate Governance Code’s aims to protect the interest of stakeholders or shareholders of the organization in particular and the public’s interest in general. The Governance Code mandates that controls and risk mitigation processes with the aim of protecting the interest of stakeholders are instituted and maintained by the executive board tasked to manage the affairs of the organization on day to day basis. The executive board are mandated to regularly report incidents and or explain in cidents that would appear to be serious breaches in security. B. Explain why over the last two decades, numerous attempts have been made to improve corporate governance in the UK Organizations that operated in multiple jurisdictions have in the past been threatened by scandals or have been embroiled in scandals that affected not only the financial health of the countries where they operate but also the shareholders who are residents of the UK. Foremost of these are financial institutions hold principal offices in the UK or most of its stakeholders are UK residents and the same organizations due to size, operation and influence have threatened the economic health of a country or the region in general if they are not properly managed. Exercising its inherent right to protect the public’s interest, the government has been mandated to ensure that corporate governance is properly implemented in every organization where it has jurisdiction. This is to ensure that any financial mism anagement is detected and mitigated before it can adversely affect the entire organization and the country in general. Corporate governance is a set of controls designed to ensure that all decisions of the executive leadership of an organization are compliant with good governance or if not, the leadership should be able to explain the rationale behind such decisions or directions. The UL Combined Code of Corporate Governance are therefore designed to prevent a national financial crisis that can be rooted from mismanagement or mishandling of funds in particular or the company in general from taking place. Recognizing the need from the experience of other countries, specially the United States, and was affirmed by its own experience in the 2008 financial crisis, the UK reviewed its corporate governance law. The need to improve stricter controls and update the intent and scope of the law prompted the review and revision of the UK combined code of corporate governance. C. Outline the re commendations of the UK Combined Code (2010) concerning the ‘board chairman’ and briefly discuss why the code does not support board duality. Corporate governance practices have been embedded in corporate structures to make corporate officers more aware of their responsibilities and demand from them accountability and transparency in the performance of their fiduciary functions as well as in

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Speedo Environmental Analysis and Marketing Mix Essay

Speedo Environmental Analysis and Marketing Mix - Essay Example Speedo has emerged as the distinct and recognisable brand name for swim wear all across the globe especially for more athletic crowds. Innovative technologies have been in use at Speedo to improve drag characteristics for swimmers so that the use of Speedo swim wear has become extremely popular with athletes and sports fans. Speedo is already actively operating in the United States, Australia, most of Europe and Great Britain. Speedo has been sighted as the â€Å"leading player in the highly fragmented swimwear market† (Qumer, 2009). Given emerging challenges in the swim wear and sportswear markets there is constant need to evaluate the business environment so that a fitting marketing strategy can be developed and implemented. This study will concentrate on the market for Speedo available within the geographical limits of Great Britain. The investigation will proceed first through an analysis of the environment in which Speedo is operating, competitor analysis, followed by an analysis of targetable market segments. Two prominent market segments will be selected and defined after which a fitting marketing mix will be developed for each market segment identified. The study will corroborate its ideas using secondary sources while taking note of their credibility and chronological importance. Furthermore, the investigation presented below will attempt its best to delineate actual market conditions and practice but this study cannot be considered as a holistic solution in itself. Products In general, Speedo has been associated with swimwear due to its traditional branding style and due to the marketing strategy that focuses on swimwear more than on other Speedo products. However, Speedo has a differentiated product range that can be broadly classified as swimwear, sportswear, accessories, footwear, underwear and digital products (Horovitz, 2005). Though it is not common knowledge but both Speedo International and Speedo Australia offer a lineage of underwear that is sold at select David Jones retail stores only (Speedo, 2012 a). Swimwear Speedo is primarily a swimwear manufacturer and distributor. The bulk of the company’s business relies on swimwear. Speedo creates two particular forms of swimwear – professional for athletes as well as simple swimwear for the average swimmer. The specialised swimwear market of Speedo has long distinguished the company from other brands and competition. Speedo’s specialised swimwear has always been highly popular with professional athletics teams around the world. For example, 13 out of 15 swimming records broken at the Sydney Olympics (2000) were broken using Speedo swimsuits. In a similar manner, Speedo sponsored Michael Phelps was able to score eight medals in Athens in 2004 (Speedo, 2012 e). This performance by Speedo’s swimsuits was exceeded at the Beijing Olympics where Speedo’s regular brands and the specialized LZR Racer were able to take 92% of all medals (Spe edo, 2012 f). Speedo relies in large part on its specialized swimwear market to distinguish itself from other brands. This distinction allows Speedo to capture the regular swimwear market as well since its sports victories make it particularly attractive to the average swimmer. Speedo’s overall specialized swimwear market is small with an overall volume of $200 million as of 2008 (Qumer, 2009) but it is speculated that this market segment is vitally important for the overall business model. The swimwear offered by Speedo concentrates on two prime objectives – speed and style. The swimwear is offered not only for adults but for children alike. One of the more distinguishing characteristics of Speedo

Monday, November 18, 2019

Sales Rewards and Incentives Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sales Rewards and Incentives - Coursework Example Job-related incentives are one of the sales incentives which are least expensive. They can be in form of additional vacation time at no out-of-pocket cost. These are mainly incentives which are related to daily work responsibilities of the team. These can include but not limited to a half day of work, funny celebration gifts, watch movie as a sales team, etc. This is very significant in motivating the employees (Fisher, 2003). Tangible incentives are something of monetary value. This can be milk and cookies, new cell phones, laptops, or other gadgets that are of great importance to the employees. However, the items should be valuable in order to excite the sales force and motivate them to work harder (Fisher, 2003). Experience incentives have been identified as one that impacts positively towards the happiness of the salesperson than purchases. For instance, instead of sending just one sales person to a Hawaii, it is more fulfilling when a team-based contest is organized with a team experience being the main price (Fisher, 2003). This plays a significant role in not only rewarding the high performers but also to create a strong bond between the salespeople. This improves the level of teamwork, an aspect that is replicated in the overall performance of the business.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Birth Of Singapore Airlines Tourism Essay

The Birth Of Singapore Airlines Tourism Essay Strategic Management is a term that is not new, first used in the 1970s it was conceived that a team of strategic planners would come up with strategic ideas to sell to decision makers. It is all about identification and guideline used by the managers in order for the company to have a competitive edge over the competition. Joel Ross Michael Kami(Fred 2011, 35) mentioned that; Without Strategy, an organization is like a ship without a rudder, going round in circles. Its like a tramp; it has no place to go. According to Wheelen and Hunger(2006,3) A set of decisions and actions that are used to charter the performance of a corporation can be defined as Strategic management. The process of this would take into account the scanning of external and internal environmental factors, long term and strategic planning for strategy formulation as well as the implementation and evaluation and control process. Wheelen Hunger(2006,3) strongly focused on the analyzing and evaluating of external opportunities and threats compared to the companys strengths and weaknesses. A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis is an ideal tool for strategic managers to plan for both predictable and unfeasible contingencies. In the point of Dess and Miller(1993), the combination of three major interrelated activities; strategic analysis, strategic formulation and strategy implementation can be called strategic management. These activities are a continuous process that helps evaluates and controls the company and the industry it is in, benchmarks the competition and set realistic targets and strategies to meet its existing and potential competition. Lamb(1984) states that strategic management is a continuous process that evaluates and controls the business and industries the company is in; it also assesses the competitors to set goals and strategies then reevaluates them every quarterly or annually to decide on the implementation of the strategy is successful. It then reevaluates the if there is any new factors such as technology, competition, economic market, social, financial and even political environment that can be used to create a new strategy. As a summary, Strategic Management and Planning is the understanding of the process of strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation. For company an organization to gain the edge over its competition regardless of size, scale; each organization needs to have a well planned strategic management in order to strive and compete in the market while optimizing its potential for tomorrows trends of today. Background of company The birth of Singapore Airlines was from Malaysian Air Limited where it first started in 1947, because of political reasons, the company was renamed to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines and finally the company split its shares to Malaysian Airlines System and Singapore Airlines in 1972 on which Singapore Airlines is owned by Singapore state owned investment house; Tamasek Holdings Singapore Airlines was forced to focus on the international market that was subjected to intense competition because there was no domestic route available to after the separation. The difficult start of was one of the factors that drove Singapore Airlines driving spirit to compete and dedication to branding. It started the branding strategy by engaging a French haute-couture designer in 1972 to come up with a special version of the Malay Sarong Kebaya for the airline stewardess uniform and adopting a branding Singapore Girls that provide top quality in-flight hospitality. This feature became one of the most recognized signatures for Singapore Airlines. The human resource management area was given a booster with an investment of 20million for its training facilities. With a good marketing strategy and sound backing, the return was shown at 1973 when SA was ranked 3rd for the Asian region. But in 1973 to 1977 period was forced to cut cost due to the surging oil prices. Singapore Airlines joined its operations with British Airways to provide its Concorde services but was terminated in 1980. Even though the collaboration was a failure, it took advantage of the marketing campaign to made itself known around the globe. At the same time, Changi Airport was constructed thus leading the industry to higher service standards. With all that in place Singapore Airlines became the top preferred Airlines for the Asia Pacific region in 1981. Singapore Airlines experienced a steady growth rate in the 1980s with expansion of its fleet and routes, it was privatized in 1985 and listed in the stock exchange with Tamasek Holdings owning a 63% of the company and was gradually reduced to 54% in 2008. SA underwent changes in the 1990s with changes made to cater for the lower cost market segmentation as well as the SA engineering focus on increasing productivity and pursuit of better opportunities for business. The globalization in 1990 also made the airline expand overseas as well as investing on other companies. With its strong financial backing, it spend to renovate its fleet, thus giving benefit to the airlines during crisis allowing the airlines to have more bargaining power over its supplier (Scott, 2008) To date, SA group has provided a wide variety of services for the aviation industry from passenger, cargo, terminal, enginnering, training and even tour services as a whole. The airlines operates over 36 countries with week ly flights to them. Organizational Structure The organization is divided by function and its disadvantages as the low responsibility of the bottom staff as well as the compartmentalization on its mangers. In order to tackle this, SIA have made their organization chart more flattened with fewer levels of hierarchy in the organization, thus allowing empowerment and creation of a flexible and yet dynamic business that allows its employees to make decisions to leads to job enrichment. SIA also encourages independence and encourages its senior staff to train and low its junior employees to make decisions. To overcome the job compartmentalization, non technical mangers are rotated on the job and thus allow them to have a better view of the organization for a better picture. The SIA management also stresses for the importance of maintaining a healthy and good work culture. Teamwork and collaboration is placed high on importance by the company. With the growth of the company and expansion of sales office to over 80 countries, the sales operations have been divided to geographical areas. To overcome the problem of control, the company focuses on the end result objective empowering its site managers to have flexibility and to make adjustments based on the situation. Full power is given to the overseas regional general manager to make decisions and to respond promptly in order to deal with local problems and to customize the operations to suit the local scene. In general, SIA is slowly decentralizing its organizational structure and it encourages autonomy allowing faster response to the business thus creating opportunities that are vital in the fast and dynamic airline industry. 4.0 Analysis of External Environment 4.1 Political The political environment of Singapore is stable with its dominant political party Peoples Action Party (PAP) controlling the government since the independence. Singapore government has allowed the freedom in corporate governance and has little set restrictions to the industry. Singapore Airlines make 90% of the decision on its own and has only influence the appointment of the director over the company (Sikorski, 1995). Singapore Airlines was allowed to stress on profit in comparison with public or social responsibility and was even backed by the government during its retrenchment practice during the economical crisis. (Sikorski, 1995) With a strong foreign policy that maintains good relationship with 175 countries, Singapore has a particular good relationship with huge economical countries such as France, United Kingdom, and Germany. It also has a mutual free trade agreement between Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, United States of America and recently with China in 2008. With Singapore signing the Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement in December 2008, it embarks to build strong ties with the middle east countries as well. Singapore is a stable base for the operations for SIA comparing itself to other regions in the Asia Pacific that have seen unrest over the recent years. Terrorism alerts affected some countries in the Asia region with India(2008) and Pakistan(2009) hit with the lost of hundreds of life. The tourism industry for Thailand was affected in 2008 during the protest and heavy floods as well as the Tsunami event that happened in Langkawi, Malaysia as well as Thailand that affected the influx of tourist there. There was also the riots in China and the Korean Missile crisis that effect the Singapore Airlines to re-route its flight to other locations. 4.2 Economic Financial Crisis in 2007 affected many countries over the world that brought recessions to most of the affected countries. This slum lasted through 2008 that made the global financial institutions very cautions on its loans of money and many companies had to underwent a cost cutting measure to stay afloat. The IMF predicted the regeneration of the world wide economy by 2009 and it the up market trend has steadily grown from there. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also contributed to promote Singapore as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions). In SGD 90 Million BOOST (Building on Opportunity to Strengthen Tourism) program was launched in February 2009 and was followed up in October with an announcement for a new Tourism Compass 2020 roadmap to grow tourism 2015, with the goal to set Singapore as the leading city for MICE (STB,12 Oct2009). The growth was further spurred by the building of two integrated resort projects, Marina Bay Sand and Resort World at Sentosa. Singapore has also continued to host the Formula One Night Race and with all this factors surely has a positive impact for the travel and tourism sector for the country. 4.3 Social Cultural Singapores population comprises of more then 75% Chinese, followed by Malay and Indian; the main religion of the country is Buddhism, Islam, Christian, Taoism and Hinduism. Having a rich Asian culture in the country, Singapore is one of the most westernized countries within Asia. With the growing China economy and its open door policy; Singapore has landed a great pool of foreign labor arriving from China. This in return has created a cultural conflict among many Singaporeans. With a highly diversified culture with close to 35% of its population is non citizen residing in the country, (25% of is foreigner and 10% are permanent resident); Singapore can be considered as an immigrant country. Although having high non-citizen to citizen ratio, the country never stops to promote foreign talent and believes that if the immigrant policy were to be stopped, Singapore would face a shortage of quality labor. Having a strong Chinese influence over its working culture that has made it a culture of high in power distance with the lower employees accepting the subordinates positions that seldom questions the managements decisions. The working culture also stresses on good team work and maintaining group harmonies. (Warnstam,2007). This has made Singapore to become a very cooperative employee to employer relationship and its labor union is in good terms with companies throughout. 4.4 Technology The growth in the usage if Internet around the globe has prompted the growth of customized web addresses to be used around the world. This has also given the potential for the usage of Chinese characters to form the web address (Choe,Oct 2009). With the emergence of such technological advancement, the electronic devices has also evolved to become more portable with increased performance and now almost every household in Singapore would have a portable laptop, hand phone and digital cameras loaded with personalized music, games , photo and video. The growth of such technology has prompt an expansion of innovation over the past decade. The development of high speed networks and compression has allowed faster transfer of data and transfer rate, resulting in the availability to have high quality real time video conferencing with people around the globe from the office or even without leaving the house. This has made it a very good substitute for companies to use instead of having to send its employees for business travelling. (Yu, 23 Jun 2009). 5.0 Evaluate Current Strategic choice and implications 5.1 Analysis of Current Strategic Position 5.1.1 Financial position Singapore Airlines has maintained its profit over the years, the group has maintained its profit even through the 2008 financial crisis. After the growth in 2009 the group assets are worth SGD 22.04 million and debt of SGD 1.077million with an equity debt ratio of 0.08. With a general reserve of SGD 11.264 million the company is poised to be able to sustain its operations in any case of crisis. (SIA, Annual report 2012) 5.1.2 Product position Carrier RPK (Million) SIA 90,128 Cathay Pacific 90,975 Qantas 99,176 Total of   AAPA member 550,014 Table 1 Comparison of RPK Airlines market size can be measure by Revenue Passenger-Kilometer (RPK). Having based in Asia Pacific region, SIA, Cathay Pacific and Qantas all falls into the same category of medium cost, developed airlines. These airlines have similar offering and price level. It can be seen that SIA, Cathay and Qantas have market share of similar size [AAPA, 2009]. The company is ranked number two in Skytrax Best airline award; the airline is in the top five ranking for 10 out of the 12 award Skytrax have. The airline has the Best 1st Class and best in-flight catering award in 2009. The only part the company dont have a ranking is on the airport lounge service [Skytrax, 2009]. 5.1.3 Marketing capability The initial distribution of SIA is mainly by the travel agents or through internet bookings, SIA has come a long way by providing a ticketless system for its passengers that even allows boarding as well even for connecting flights with its partner airlines (SIA,2009). SIA also engages social networking website in Facebook though quite limited in its presence. This is a drawback with the current trend of younger generation who associates more with social networking sites. Another factor that is a slight disadvantages for Singapore Airlines is that the domain www.sia.com and www.sia.com.sg is not owned by Singapore Airlines, but to counteract this, they company has engaged to actively publish itself as the preferred search referee if anyone searches for SIA online. SIA has also made good placement in the search engine for using the key world Singapore airlines and Air Ticket Singapore which prompts SIA at the top of the search list. 5.1.4 Organizational structure The organization is divided by function and the disadvantages of low responsibility for the employees at the bottom as well as the compartmentalization on the managers. To overcome this, SIA has flat organization chart with few hierarchical levels for its organizations, this enables autonomy and create a more flexible but yet dynamic business that empowers its people to make decisions and lead to better job satisfaction. The promotion of independence and encouraging its senior employees to train and give chances to the junior personnel to make decisions are a key factor for SIA. Non technical management personnel are rotated on jobs and this gives them to have a broader perspective for the job. This is further strengthening by the stress on the importance of having a good and healthy work culture for the company. Great importance is stressed on having good team spirit. To overcome sales operation issue, SIA has focused on end results while giving its site managers to exercise flexibility to make necessary changes based on the situations. The full power is given to its overseas regional general manager to ensure fast response time for local issues and a more localized business operation to site the climate. The company focuses on the growth strategy that focuses more on profitability rather than size, thus allowing slow and steady growth with chances for leaders to be groomed properly. In general, the organisational structure of SIA is decentralise encourages autonomy allowing quick response to business treat and opportunity which is crucial in the airline industry which are very fast and dynamics. 5.1.5 Human Resources SIA has a strong emphasis on human resources. The requirements for entry level to the company is only for diploma holders are accepted, these employee would then go through the recruitment process. After the appointment, these cabin crew is trained for 15 weeks, 2 times longer the industrial standards. The SIA employees have a 6 month probation that needs to be reported continuously by their supervisor with a confirmation rate of 75% while 20% will be on extension. These trainings are changed periodically to adjust to show the customers expectations. While on the job, the employees are also required to engage in various voluntary community services, arts and cultural activities. Refresher courses will be available for employees allowing 3 to 4 days per year, this is a form of motivation for the employees to engage in self learning and the employees will be accountable for their own growth and development. Results from these stringent training has been obvious by producing Stewardess that have high esteem, motivated and capable in handling the customers in the companys best interest (Heracleous and Wirtz. 2009). The focus on talent form within the company, the company focuses on development of the human capita given training spending of SGD100million for its employees. The company also offers scholarship programs for recruiting management trainees from the universities. 5.1.6 Condition of facilities and equipment Having one of the newest fleets in the world, with an average age of 6 years, Singapore Airlines is one of the most updated planes compared to the worldwide average of 15 years (Prystay, 28 Aug 2009). By adopting the newest planes and technology this impacts in the reduction of maintenance and petrol cost. Other than that, SIA also went through an upgrading of its plane cabins to provide customers with the most updated entertainment systems and a better seating arrangement. Training equipment for its pilots is also provided from the SGD 1 million flight simulator that is capable of simulating the high altitude scenario. SIA also updated its training center in 1999 to ensure the recruitment is capable to facilitate a better and efficient training environment. Overall the airlines does have a great training faclilities for its personnel as well as their commitment to bringing top quality service with a strong financial background but because of the financial crisis in 2008 and the lack of demand over supply, SIA is laden with excess aircraft that has not been utilized. 5.1.7 Past objective and strategies SIA corporate level uses a diversified strategy whereby it expands its business to airline catering, airport terminal services as well as into aircraft maintenance. These dual strategy in cost leadership and differentiation enables SIA to have excellent cost efficient service through high business efficiency. SIA has secured its high business competence through the execution of five organizational systems. The first is the structured service development and design that allocates dedicated departments for its enhancement of service and thorough testing to ensure that there will be a quality service that will be able to meet the latest customers expectations. Second is the focus on consumer trends over the years, with a specific department that monitors closely to ensure that innovation is tailor to focus on improving and enabling a cost effective and highly productive service innovation. The focus will also be on the companys weak point, adapting the best practices from other successful developments while reducing the cost and risk involved for the innovation. The third set is the focus on a profit conscious culture, with the education of its personnel on the priority of profit and customer satisfaction. SIA also focuses on a reward based system that gives proper recognition to employees based on their performance to encourage team work and productivity while reducing wastage. The fourth is the goal for the organization to achieve success through the diversification and infrastructure of its subsidiaries. These integration allows the focus and control that will enhance the knowledge while reduction of cost at the same time. The management of its subsidiaries is based on a clear expectation that enables the subsidiaries to be subjected to market discipline. The last focus for the company is the development of its personnel through training and development while encouraging the development of a direct self continuous learning system to boost their self esteem. The overall strategies that SIA has adopted has made the company to have a high competence core with the overall ability to achieve a differential offering through exceptional levels of efficiency (Heracleous et al 2009) 6.0 Strategic Potential Justifications Choices for strategy for SIA should be based on the logical elements for the process and have a central role. The company should focus their choices of strategy through based on the internal and external factors while taking into account its core competency to strive for profitability and service excellence of its personnel. Strategic Choices for Singapore Airlines Business Level Strategy Corporate Level Strategy Direction and Method of Development Strategy for competitive advantage Adhere to government regulation and satisfaction Internal training and development Profit measurable success for strategies Diversification in market Creation of value added services to gain competitive advantage 6.1 Business Level Strategy Price Based Strategy This strategy takes into consideration of the product to price to gain a competitive advantage. There are many low cost airlines company as of this moment that is conducting business in the Asia region. This causes the market to be very competitive and Singapore Airlines is one of such company that faces challenges. Low cost airline companies such as Air Asia is one of the competitors that are focusing on the usage of price based strategy to capture a market share in the current market. Justification: Acceptable and feasible pricing strategy: The focus for the price based strategy is important as the current completion from the low cost airlines also focuses on the same routes of travel while providing a lower air fare. One of such routes traveled is from Singapore to Bangkok, from this example, Air Asia is selling its seats for a round trip for a price of $150 while compared to SIA that cost $500. Because of this the company is losing money as customer trends are now slowly switching over the low cost seats. http://htmlimg1.scribdassets.com/4abs74bzsw9yk25/images/16-b0f782e011.jpg 4.2 Corporate Strategy Direction Policy Matrix Used to measure the health of the industry for the Asian regions and the capabilities of Singapore Airlines. Below is the representation of Singapore Airlines in comparative to Air Asia ad MAS in the Asian Region. http://htmlimg1.scribdassets.com/4abs74bzsw9yk25/images/17-978ec5a00e.jpg Source: Johnson G, Scholes K. 2005. P 320 Justification: Acceptability Feasibility of Directional Policy Matrix From the analysis it can be seen that the market positing of Singapore Airlines is aimed towards the middle business class strength that offers a highly attractive market. The bargaining power, threats for substitute and competitive rivalry is high for the Singapore Airlines. In the event of a cost increase for jet fuel to USD 115/barrel, the supplier has the upper hand the the treat of substitute is potentially high for the market. For this the feasibility and acceptance of a directional policy matrix for Singapore Airlines is High. 6.3 Directional and Method of Development TOWS Matrix Through the analysis of the internal and external environment, the generation of a TOWS based matrix. This will enable Singapore Airlines to focus on the strategic options available to cater for any potential changes or adapt strategies to further strengthen its market share while limiting its weakness. http://htmlimg2.scribdassets.com/4abs74bzsw9yk25/images/18-6f7d0e3282.jpg Suing the strength and opportunity for Singapore Airlines, there is potential for market diversification. To overcome the potential treats, SIA can have a merger or acquisition with certain airline companies. Avoidance of weakness for Singapore Airlines can adopt a cost leadership strategy. The airlines can develop their internal factors to avoid the treats and weaknesses. Justification Diversification: The current airline industry for the Asian region is highly competitive. There are many airline operations in the region and one of such competition comes from the low cost airline Air Asia. Air Asia flies twice daily from Malaysia to Guangzhou. Currently Air Asia has 86 routes that offers no frills service and has garnered wide recognition from the china market comparing to Singapore Airlines which has 88 destinations in 38 countries. Singapore Airlines would need to strengthen and diversify its market by planning out more feasible routes to high business locations and take a competitive advantage though expansion of the Asian market. Merger and Acquisition: Singapore Airlines needs to have a strong understanding on its competition and to avoid the treats they possess. With their strong financial background, the potential for merger and acquisition is a great choice for Singapore Airlines. Currently there are two national carriers that are seeking to limit Singapore Airlines to access their home market thus slowing down the growth for the airline. Because of this Singapore airlines joined the Star Alliance to take advantage of its international strategy. This is also boosted by the investment of SIA groups into China and India to ensure strategic alliances with the local organizations for their cargo divisions, airport services, enginnering and catering. Internal Development During the previous years, Singapore Airlines recorded a low asset turnover ration in comparison with its competitors. Because of this, the weaker asset turnover ratio has a potential to show that the companies ineffectiveness to utilize the assets to generate profit and will eventually lead to the decline in the groups growth. Singapore Airlines can adapt to this by using better use of information technology to enhance its services to the customers and gain back better response and efficiency. Singapore Airlines website is now one of the most advance and user friendly in the industry that offers the customers to check their schedules, buy tickets, check in and manage their accounts as well as even choosing the meal for their flights. Because of this value added service, the company is able to further maintain its market share and slowly cover up the losses by creating a portal for customers and potential clients to interact with Singapore Airlines. The efficient use of IT has proven to significantly reduce the cost and enhance service levels for Singapore Airlines. Conclusion Singapore Airlines is the national carrier for Singapore and is one of the industry leaders in Asia. Currently the operations route carries Singapore Airlines to South East Asia, East Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Australia. The analysis for the external factors indicates that Singapore Airlines does face some barriers due to the international economic and political sector. The prices of oil over the years have been very volatile and would play a major impact on the profitability of the airline industry. Other than that with some ups and downs in the economy and the growth of high speed networks through the usage of information technology has played an impact for the overall performance in the airline industry in general with people become less mobile while still being able to work with their counterparts across the globe. The internal factors with the successful branding of Singapore Airlines is one of the drawing factors that is able to sustain its competitive edge as well as with strong management background that ensure a quality of service for its customers gives the company its core competencies. For Singapore Airlines to keep evolving towards the new market trends, the company should take into account the internal and external surroundings.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Who Is Responsible For Cleanup Under CERCLA? :: essays research papers

Who Is Responsible For Cleanup Under CERCLA? What is CERCLA? The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ( CERCLA ) 1) The purpose of CERCLA is to make owners and operators of hazardous waste dump sites and contaminated areas, as well as their customers, responsible for cleanup costs and property damage. 2) CERCLA is also referred to as THE SUPERFUND. It is authorized to a level of 8.5 billion dollars. The funding for CERCLA comes 87% from taxes on the chemical industry and 13% from general revenues of the federal government. Who is responsible? After a hazardous waste site is identified, CERCLA places ultimate cleanup responsibility on those who used the site. Parties responsible for a waste dump are liable for the cost of waste removal and other remedial action.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If potentially responsible parties can be identified, then they can be held liable for either cleanup costs incurred, or for replenishment of the Superfund. Who is a Potentially Responsible Party? 1.) Owners and operators of waste sites. i) CERCLA actions against dissolved corporations are permissible ii) If one is the owner or operator, liability may attach even if some other party in the past placed hazardous wastes there. ( The seller of a foundry was found liable under CERCLA when it was sold for $25,000, but was appraised at $200,000, suggesting the decision to sell was for disposal of hazardous materials.) A vendor is not an owner if it did not own the property at the time of toxic discharge from the facility. iii) A parent company may be considered the owner, despite the formation of a subsidiary with day to day control over operations. iv) Lenders and secured creditors are liable if they actively participate in decisions involving either waste treatment, or site development. They are not liable if they do not participate in management decisions. (silent partners and banks) v) An owner, employer, or waste generator may be liable for the harmful consequences of disposal practices undertaken by third parties in a contractual relationship with it. ( If I hire Fly-By-Night Disposal Corp. to dispose of my waste and they do so by dumping it in the river, then I may be liable.) 2.)Persons who accepted hazardous substances for transport or disposal. 3.)Persons who arranged with a transporter for transportation of wastes. 4.)Any person who arranged for disposal or treatment of hazardous substances.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Beyond Good and Evil Essay

UPPOSING that Truth is a woman—what then? Is there not ground for suspecting that all philosophers, in so far as they have been dogmatists, have failed to understand women—that the terrible seriousness and clumsy importunity with which they have usually paid their addresses to Truth, have been unskilled and unseemly methods for winning a woman? Certainly she has never allowed herself to be won; and at present every kind of dogma stands with sad and discouraged mien—IF, indeed, it stands at all! For there are scoffers who maintain that it has fallen, that all dogma lies on the ground—nay more, that it is at its last gasp. But to speak seriously, there are good grounds for hoping that all dogmatizing in philosophy, whatever solemn, whatever conclusive and decided airs it has assumed, may have been only a noble puerilism and tyronism; and probably the time is at hand when it will be once and again understood WHAT has actually sufficed for the basis of such imposing and absolute philosophical edifices as the dogmatists have hitherto reared: perhaps some popular superstition of immemorial time (such as the soul-superstition, which, in the form of subject- and ego-superstition, has not yet ceased doing mischief): perhaps some play upon words, a deception on the part of grammar, or an audacious generalization of very restricted, very personal, very human—all-too-human facts. Beyond Good and Evil S The philosophy of the dogmatists, it is to be hoped, was only a promise for thousands of years afterwards, as was astrology in still earlier times, in the service of which probably more labour, gold, acuteness, and patience have been spent than on any actual science hitherto: we owe to it, and to its ‘super- terrestrial’ pretensions in Asia and Egypt, the grand style of architecture. It seems that in order to inscribe themselves upon the heart of humanity with everlasting claims, all great things have first to wander about the earth as enormous and awe- inspiring caricatures: dogmatic philosophy has been a caricature of this kind—for instance, the Vedanta doctrine in Asia, and Platonism in Europe. Let us not be ungrateful to it, although it must certainly be confessed that the worst, the most tiresome, and the most dangerous of errors hitherto has been a dogmatist error—namely, Plato’s invention of Pure Spirit and the Good in Itself. But now when it has been surmounted, when Europe, rid of this nightmare, can again draw breath freely and at least enjoy a healthier—sleep, we, WHOSE DUTY IS WAKEFULNESS ITSELF, are the heirs of all the strength which the struggle against this error has fostered. It amounted to the very inversion of truth, and the denial of the PERSPECTIVE— the fundamental condition—of life, to speak of Spirit and the Good as Plato spoke of them; indeed one might ask, as a physician: ‘How did such a malady attack that finest product of antiquity, Plato? Had the wicked Socrates really corrupted him? Was Socrates after all a corrupter of youths, and deserved his hemlock? ’ But the struggle against Plato, or—to speak plainer, and for the ‘people’—the strugFree eBooks at Planet eBook. comgle against the ecclesiastical oppression of millenniums of Christianity (FOR CHRISITIANITY IS PLATONISM FOR THE ‘PEOPLE’), produced in Europe a magnificent tension of soul, such as had not existed anywhere previously; with such a tensely strained bow one can now aim at the furthest goals. As a matter of fact, the European feels this tension as a state of distress, and twice attempts have been made in grand style to unbend the bow: once by means of Jesuitism, and the second time by means of democratic enlightenment—which, with the aid of liberty of the press and newspaper-reading, might, in fact, bring it about that the spirit would not so easily find itself in ‘distress’! (The Germans invented gunpowder-all credit to them! but they again made things square—they invented printing. ) But we, who are neither Jesuits, nor democrats, nor even sufficiently Germans, we GOOD EUROPEANS, and free, VERY free spirits—we have it still, all the distress of spirit and all the tension of its bow! And perhaps also the arrow, the duty, and, who knows? THE GOAL TO AIM AT†¦. Sils Maria Upper Engadine, JUNE, 1885.Beyond Good and Evil CHAPTER I: PREJUDICES OF PHILOSOPHERS 1. The Will to Truth, which is to tempt us to many a hazardous enterprise, the famous Truthfulness of which all philosophers have hitherto spoken with respect, what questions has this Will to Truth not laid before us! What strange, perplexing, questionable questions! It is already a long story; yet it seems as if it were hardly commenced. Is it any wonder if we at last grow distrustful, lose patience, and turn impatiently away? That this Sphinx teaches us at last to ask questions ourselves? WHO is it really that puts questions to us here? WHAT really is this ‘Will to Truth’ in us? In fact we made a long halt at the question as to the origin of this Will—until at last we came to an absolute standstill before a yet more fundamental question. We inquired about the VALUE of this Will. Granted that we want the truth: WHY NOT RATHER untruth? And uncertainty? Even ignorance? The problem of the value of truth presented itself before us—or was it we who presented ourselves before the problem? Which of us is the Oedipus here? Which the Sphinx? It would seem to be a rendezvous of questions and notes of interrogation. And could it be believed that it at last seems to us as if the problem had never been propounded before, as if we were the first to discern it, get a sight of it, Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com .and RISK RAISING it? For there is risk in raising it, perhaps there is no greater risk. 2. ‘HOW COULD anything originate out of its opposite? For example, truth out of error? or the Will to Truth out of the will to deception? or the generous deed out of selfishness? or the pure sun-bright vision of the wise man out of covetousness? Such genesis is impossible; whoever dreams of it is a fool, nay, worse than a fool; things of the highest value must have a different origin, an origin of THEIR own—in this transitory, seductive, illusory, paltry world, in this turmoil of delusion and cupidity, they cannot have their source. But rather in the lap of Being, in the intransitory, in the concealed God, in the ‘Thing-in-itself— THERE must be their source, and nowhere else! ’ —This mode of reasoning discloses the typical prejudice by which metaphysicians of all times can be recognized, this mode of valuation is at the back of all their logical procedure; through this ‘belief’ of theirs, they exert themselves for their ‘knowledge,’ for something that is in the end solemnly christened ‘the Truth. ’ The fundamental belief of metaphysicians is THE BELIEF IN ANTITHESES OF VALUES. It never occurred even to the wariest of them to doubt here on the very threshold (where doubt, however, was most necessary); though they had made a solemn vow, ‘DE OMNIBUS DUBITANDUM. ’ For it may be doubted, firstly, whether antitheses exist at all; and secondly, whether the popular valuations and antitheses of value upon which metaphysicians have set their seal, are not perhaps merely superficial estimates, merely provi Beyond Good and Evil sional perspectives, besides being probably made from some corner, perhaps from below—‘frog perspectives,’ as it were, to borrow an expression current among painters. In spite of all the value which may belong to the true, the positive, and the unselfish, it might be possible that a higher and more fundamental value for life generally should be assigned to pretence, to the will to delusion, to selfishness, and cupidity. It might even be possible that WHAT constitutes the value of those good and respected things, consists precisely in their being insidiously related, knotted, and crocheted to these evil and apparently opposed things—perhaps even in being essentially identical with them. Perhaps! But who wishes to concern himself with such dangerous ‘Perhapses’! For that investigation one must await the advent of a new order of philosophers, such as will have other tastes and inclinations, the reverse of those hitherto prevalent—philosophers of the dangerous ‘Perhaps’ in every sense of the term. And to speak in all seriousness, I see such new philosophers beginning to appear. 3. Having kept a sharp eye on philosophers, and having read between their lines long enough, I now say to myself that the greater part of conscious thinking must be counted among the instinctive functions, and it is so even in the case of philosophical thinking; one has here to learn anew, as one learned anew about heredity and ‘innateness. ’ As little as the act of birth comes into consideration in the whole process and procedure of heredity, just as little is ‘being-conscious’ OPPOSED to the instinctive in any decisive Free eBooks at Planet eBook. comsense; the greater part of the conscious thinking of a philosopher is secretly influenced by his instincts, and forced into definite channels. And behind all logic and its seeming sovereignty of movement, there are valuations, or to speak more plainly, physiological demands, for the maintenance of a definite mode of life For example, that the certain is worth more than the uncertain, that illusion is less valuable than ‘truth’ such valuations, in spite of their regulative importance for US, might notwithstanding be only superficial valuations, special kinds of maiserie, such as may be necessary for the maintenance of beings such as ourselves. Supposing, in effect, that man is not just the ‘measure of things. ’ 4. The falseness of an opinion is not for us any objection to it: it is here, perhaps, that our new language sounds most strangely. The question is, how far an opinion is lifefurthering, life- preserving, species-preserving, perhaps species-rearing, and we are fundamentally inclined to maintain that the falsest opinions (to which the synthetic judgments a priori belong), are the most indispensable to us, that without a recognition of logical fictions, without a comparison of reality with the purely IMAGINED world of the absolute and immutable, without a constant counterfeiting of the world by means of numbers, man could not live—that the renunciation of false opinions would be a renunciation of life, a negation of life. TO RECOGNISE UNTRUTH AS A CONDITION OF LIFE; that is certainly to impugn the traditional ideas of value in a dangerous manner, and a phi Beyond Good and Evil losophy which ventures to do so, has thereby alone placed itself beyond good and evil. 5. That which causes philosophers to be regarded halfdistrustfully and half-mockingly, is not the oft-repeated discovery how innocent they are—how often and easily they make mistakes and lose their way, in short, how childish and childlike they are,—but that there is not enough honest dealing with them, whereas they all raise a loud and virtuous outcry when the problem of truthfulness is even hinted at in the remotest manner. They all pose as though their real opinions had been discovered and attained through the self-evolving of a cold, pure, divinely indifferent dialectic (in contrast to all sorts of mystics, who, fairer and foolisher, talk of ‘inspiration’), whereas, in fact, a prejudiced proposition, idea, or ‘suggestion,’ which is generally their heart’s desire abstracted and refined, is defended by them with arguments sought out after the event. They are all advocates who do not wish to be regarded as such, generally astute defenders, also, of their prejudices, which they dub ‘truths,’— and VERY far from having the conscience which bravely admits this to itself, very far from having the good taste of the courage which goes so far as to let this be understood, perhaps to warn friend or foe, or in cheerful confidence and self-ridicule. The spectacle of the Tartuffery of old Kant, equally stiff and decent, with which he entices us into the dialectic by-ways that lead (more correctly mislead) to his ‘categorical imperative’— makes us fastidious ones smile, we who find no small amusement in spying out Free eBooks at Planet eBook. comthe subtle tricks of old moralists and ethical preachers. Or, still more so, the hocus-pocus in mathematical form, by means of which Spinoza has, as it were, clad his philosophy in mail and mask—in fact, the ‘love of HIS wisdom,’ to translate the term fairly and squarely—in order thereby to strike terror at once into the heart of the assailant who should dare to cast a glance on that invincible maiden, that Pallas Athene:—how much of personal timidity and vulnerability does this masquerade of a sickly recluse betray! 6. It has gradually become clear to me what every great philosophy up till now has consisted of—namely, the confession of its originator, and a species of involuntary and unconscious auto-biography; and moreover that the moral (or immoral) purpose in every philosophy has constituted the true vital germ out of which the entire plant has always grown. Indeed, to understand how the abstrusest metaphysical assertions of a philosopher have been arrived at, it is always well (and wise) to first ask oneself: ‘What morality do they (or does he) aim at? ’ Accordingly, I do not believe that an ‘impulse to knowledge’ is the father of philosophy; but that another impulse, here as elsewhere, has only made use of knowledge (and mistaken knowledge! ) as an instrument. But whoever considers the fundamental impulses of man with a view to determining how far they may have here acted as INSPIRING GENII (or as demons and cobolds), will find that they have all practiced philosophy at one time or another, and that each one of them would have been only too glad to look upon itself as the ultimate end of existence 10 Beyond Good and Evil and the legitimate LORD over all the other impulses. For every impulse is imperious, and as SUCH, attempts to philosophize. To be sure, in the case of scholars, in the case of really scientific men, it may be otherwise—‘better,’ if you will; there there may really be such a thing as an ‘impulse to knowledge,’ some kind of small, independent clock-work, which, when well wound up, works away industriously to that end, WITHOUT the rest of the scholarly impulses taking any material part therein. The actual ‘interests’ of the scholar, therefore, are generally in quite another direction— in the family, perhaps, or in money-making, or in politics; it is, in fact, almost indifferent at what point of research his little machine is placed, and whether the hopeful young worker becomes a good philologist, a mushroom specialist, or a chemist; he is not CHARACTERISED by becoming this or that. In the philosopher, on the contrary, there is absolutely nothing impersonal; and above all, his morality furnishes a decided and decisive testimony as to WHO HE IS,—that is to say, in what order the deepest impulses of his nature stand to each other. 7. How malicious philosophers can be! I know of nothing more stinging than the joke Epicurus took the liberty of making on Plato and the Platonists; he called them Dionysiokolakes. In its original sense, and on the face of it, the word signifies ‘Flatterers of Dionysius’—consequently, tyrants’ accessories and lick-spittles; besides this, however, it is as much as to say, ‘They are all ACTORS, there is nothing genuine about them’ (for Dionysiokolax was a popular Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com 11 name for an actor). And the latter is really the malignant reproach that Epicurus cast upon Plato: he was annoyed by the grandiose manner, the mise en scene style of which Plato and his scholars were masters—of which Epicurus was not a master! He, the old school-teacher of Samos, who sat concealed in his little garden at Athens, and wrote three hundred books, perhaps out of rage and ambitious envy of Plato, who knows! Greece took a hundred years to find out who the garden-god Epicurus really was. Did she ever find out? 8. There is a point in every philosophy at which the ‘conviction’ of the philosopher appears on the scene; or, to put it in the words of an ancient mystery: Adventavit asinus, Pulcher et fortissimus. 9. You desire to LIVE ‘according to Nature’? Oh, you noble Stoics, what fraud of words! Imagine to yourselves a being like Nature, boundlessly extravagant, boundlessly indifferent, without purpose or consideration, without pity or justice, at once fruitful and barren and uncertain: imagine to yourselves INDIFFERENCE as a power—how COULD you live in accordance with such indifference? To live—is not that just endeavouring to be otherwise than this Nature? Is not living valuing, preferring, being unjust, being limited, endeavouring to be different? And granted that your imperative, ‘living according to Nature,’ means actu1 Beyond Good and Evil ally the same as ‘living according to life’—how could you do DIFFERENTLY? Why should you make a principle out of what you yourselves are, and must be? In reality, however, it is quite otherwise with you: while you pretend to read with rapture the canon of your law in Nature, you want something quite the contrary, you extraordinary stage-players and self-deluders! In your pride you wish to dictate your morals and ideals to Nature, to Nature herself, and to incorporate them therein; you insist that it shall be Nature ‘according to the Stoa,’ and would like everything to be made after your own image, as a vast, eternal glorification and generalism of Stoicism! With all your love for truth, you have forced yourselves so long, so persistently, and with such hypnotic rigidity to see Nature FALSELY, that is to say, Stoically, that you are no longer able to see it otherwise— and to crown all, some unfathomable superciliousness gives you the Bedlamite hope that BECAUSE you are able to tyrannize over yourselves—Stoicism is self-tyranny—Nature will also allow herself to be tyrannized over: is not the Stoic a PART of Nature? †¦ But this is an old and everlasting story: what happened in old times with the Stoics still happens today, as soon as ever a philosophy begins to believe in itself. It always creates the world in its own image; it cannot do otherwise; philosophy is this tyrannical impulse itself, the most spiritual Will to Power, the will to ‘creation of the world,’ the will to the causa prima. 10. The eagerness and subtlety, I should even say craftiness, with which the problem of ‘the real and the apparent world’ Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com 1 is dealt with at present throughout Europe, furnishes food for thought and attention; and he who hears only a ‘Will to Truth’ in the background, and nothing else, cannot certainly boast of the sharpest ears. In rare and isolated cases, it may really have happened that such a Will to Truth—a certain extravagant and adventurous pluck, a metaphysician’s ambition of the forlorn hope—has participated therein: that which in the end always prefers a handful of ‘certainty’ to a whole cartload of beautiful possibilities; there may even be puritanical fanatics of conscience, who prefer to put their last trust in a sure nothing, rather than in an uncertain something. But that is Nihilism, and the sign of a despairing, mortally wearied soul, notwithstanding the courageous bearing such a virtue may display. It seems, however, to be otherwise with stronger and livelier thinkers who are still eager for life. In that they side AGAINST appearance, and speak superciliously of ‘perspective,’ in that they rank the credibility of their own bodies about as low as the credibility of the ocular evidence that ‘the earth stands still,’ and thus, apparently, allowing with complacency their securest possession to escape (for what does one at present believe in more firmly than in one’s body? ),—who knows if they are not really trying to win back something which was formerly an even securer possession, something of the old domain of the faith of former times, perhaps the ‘immortal soul,’ perhaps ‘the old God,’ in short, ideas by which they could live better, that is to say, more vigorously and more joyously, than by ‘modern ideas’? There is DISTRUST of these modern ideas in this mode of looking at things, a 1 Beyond Good and Evil disbelief in all that has been constructed yesterday and today; there is perhaps some slight admixture of satiety and scorn, which can no longer endure the BRIC-A-BRAC of ideas of the most varied origin, such as so-called Positivism at present throws on the market; a disgust of the more refined taste at the village-fair motleyness and patchiness of all these reality-philosophasters, in whom there is nothing either new or true, except this motleyness. Therein it seems to me that we should agree with those skeptical anti-realists and knowledge-microscopists of the present day; their instinct, which repels them from MODERN reality, is unrefuted †¦ what do their retrograde by-paths concern us! The main thing about them is NOT that they wish to go ‘back,’ but that they wish to get AWAY therefrom. A little MORE strength, swing, courage, and artistic power, and they would be OFF—and not back! 11. It seems to me that there is everywhere an attempt at present to divert attention from the actual influence which Kant exercised on German philosophy, and especially to ignore prudently the value which he set upon himself. Kant was first and foremost proud of his Table of Categories; with it in his hand he said: ‘This is the most difficult thing that could ever be undertaken on behalf of metaphysics. ’ Let us only understand this ‘could be’! He was proud of having DISCOVERED a new faculty in man, the faculty of synthetic judgment a priori. Granting that he deceived himself in this matter; the development and rapid flourishing of German philosophy depended nevertheless on his pride, and on the Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com 1 eager rivalry of the younger generation to discover if possible something—at all events ‘new faculties’—of which to be still prouder! —But let us reflect for a moment—it is high time to do so. ‘How are synthetic judgments a priori POSSIBLE? ’ Kant asks himself—and what is really his answer? ‘BY MEANS OF A MEANS (faculty)’—but unfortunately not in five words, but so circumstantially, imposingly, and with such display of German profundity and verbal flourishes, that one altogether loses sight of the comical niaiserie allemande involved in such an answer. People were beside themselves with delight over this new faculty, and the jubilation reached its climax when Kant further discovered a moral faculty in man—for at that time Germans were still moral, not yet dabbling in the ‘Politics of hard fact. ’ Then came the honeymoon of German philosophy. All the young theologians of the Tubingen institution went immediately into the groves—all seeking for ‘faculties. ’ And what did they not find—in that innocent, rich, and still youthful period of the German spirit, to which Romanticism, the malicious fairy, piped and sang, when one could not yet distinguish between ‘finding’ and ‘inventing’! Above all a faculty for the ‘transcendental†; Schelling christened it, intellectual intuition, and thereby gratified the most earnest longings of the naturally pious-inclined Germans. One can do no greater wrong to the whole of this exuberant and eccentric movement (which was really youthfulness, notwithstanding that it disguised itself so boldly, in hoary and senile conceptions), than to take it seriously, or even treat it with moral indignation. Enough, however—the world 1 Beyond Good and Evil grew older, and the dream vanished. A time came when people rubbed their foreheads, and they still rub them today. People had been dreaming, and first and foremost—old Kant. ‘By means of a means (faculty)’—he had said, or at least meant to say. But, is that—an answer? An explanation? Or is it not rather merely a repetition of the question? How does opium induce sleep? ‘By means of a means (faculty), ‘namely the virtus dormitiva, replies the doctor in Moliere, Quia est in eo virtus dormitiva, Cujus est natura sensus assoupire. But such replies belong to the realm of comedy, and it is high time to replace the Kantian question, ‘How are synthetic judgments a PRIORI possible? ’ by another question, ‘Why is belief in such judgments necessary? ’—in effect, it is high time that we should understand that such judgments must be believed to be true, for the sake of the preservation of creatures like ourselves; though they still might naturally be false judgments! Or, more plainly spoken, and roughly and readily—synthetic judgments a priori should not ‘be possible’ at all; we have no right to them; in our mouths they are nothing but false judgments. Only, of course, the belief in their truth is necessary, as plausible belief and ocular evidence belonging to the perspective view of life. And finally, to call to mind the enormous influence which ‘German philosophy’—I hope you understand its right to inverted commas (goosefeet)? —has Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com 1 exercised throughout the whole of Europe, there is no doubt that a certain VIRTUS DORMITIVA had a share in it; thanks to German philosophy, it was a delight to the noble idlers, the virtuous, the mystics, the artiste, the three-fourths Christians, and the political obscurantists of all nations, to find an antidote to the still overwhelming sensualism which overflowed from the last century into this, in short—‘sensus assoupire. ’ †¦ 12. As regards materialistic atomism, it is one of the best- refuted theories that have been advanced, and in Europe there is now perhaps no one in the learned world so unscholarly as to attach serious signification to it, except for convenient everyday use (as an abbreviation of the means of expression)— thanks chiefly to the Pole Boscovich: he and the Pole Copernicus have hitherto been the greatest and most successful opponents of ocular evidence. For while Copernicus has persuaded us to believe, contrary to all the senses, that the earth does NOT stand fast, Boscovich has taught us to abjure the belief in the last thing that ‘stood fast’ of the earth—the belief in ‘substance,’ in ‘matter,’ in the earth-residuum, and particle- atom: it is the greatest triumph over the senses that has hitherto been gained on earth. One must, however, go still further, and also declare war, relentless war to the knife, against the ‘atomistic requirements’ which still lead a dangerous after-life in places where no one suspects them, like the more celebrated ‘metaphysical requirements†: one must also above all give the finishing stroke to that other and more portentous atomism which Christianity has 1 Beyond Good and Evil taught best and longest, the SOUL- ATOMISM. Let it be permitted to designate by this expression the belief which regards the soul as something indestructible, eternal, indivisible, as a monad, as an atomon: this belief ought to be expelled from science! Between ourselves, it is not at all necessary to get rid of ‘the soul’ thereby, and thus renounce one of the oldest and most venerated hypotheses—as happens frequently to the clumsiness of naturalists, who can hardly touch on the soul without immediately losing it. But the way is open for new acceptations and refinements of the soul-hypothesis; and such conceptions as ‘mortal soul,’ and ‘soul of subjective multiplicity,’ and ‘soul as social structure of the instincts and passions,’ want henceforth to have legitimate rights in science. In that the NEW psychologist is about to put an end to the superstitions which have hitherto flourished with almost tropical luxuriance around the idea of the soul, he is really, as it were, thrusting himself into a new desert and a new distrust—it is possible that the older psychologists had a merrier and more comfortable time of it; eventually, however, he finds that precisely thereby he is also condemned to INVENT—and, who knows? perhaps to DISCOVER the new. 13. Psychologists should bethink themselves before putting down the instinct of self-preservation as the cardinal instinct of an organic being. A living thing seeks above all to DISCHARGE its strength—life itself is WILL TO POWER; self-preservation is only one of the indirect and most frequent RESULTS thereof. In short, here, as everywhere else, Free eBooks at Planet eBook. com 1 let us beware of SUPERFLUOUS teleological principles! — one of which is the instinct of self- preservation (we owe it to Spinoza’s inconsistency). It is thus, in effect, that method ordains, which must be essentially economy of principles. 14. It is perhaps just dawning on five or six minds that natural philosophy is only a world-exposition and worldarrangement (according to us, if I may say so! ) and NOT a world-explanation; but in so far as it is based on belief in the senses, it is regarded as more, and for a long time to come must be regarded as more—namely, as an explanation. It has eyes and fingers of its own, it has ocular evidence and palpableness of its own: this operates fascinatingly, persuasively, and CONVINCINGLY upon an age with fundamentally plebeian tastes—in fact, it follows instinctively the canon of truth of eternal popular sensualism. What is clear, what is ‘explained’? Only that which can be seen and felt—one must pursue every problem thus far. Obversely, however, the charm of the Platonic mode of thought, which was an ARISTOCRATIC mode, consisted precisely in RESISTANCE to obvious sense-evidence—perhaps among men who enjoyed even stronger and more fastidious senses than our contemporaries, but who knew how to find a higher triumph in remaining masters of them: and this by means of pale, cold, grey conceptional networks which they threw over the motley whirl of the senses—the mob of the senses, as Plato said. In this overcoming of the world, and interpreting of the world in the manner of Plato, there was an ENJOYMENT different from that which the physicists 0 Beyond Good and Evil of today offer us—and likewise the Darwinists and antiteleologists among the physiological workers, with their principle of the ‘smallest possible effort,’ and the greatest possible blunder. ‘Where there is nothing more to see or to grasp, there is also nothing more for men to do’—that is certainly an imperative different from the Platonic one, but it may notwithstanding be the right imperative for a hardy, laborious race of machinists and bridge- builders of the future, who have nothing but ROUGH work to perform. 15. To study physiology with a clear conscience, one must insist on the fact that the sense-organs are not phenomena in the sense of the idealistic philosophy; as such they certainly could not be causes! Sensualism, therefore, at least as regulative hypothesis, if not as heuristic principle. What? And others say even that the external world is the work of our organs? But then our body, as a part of this external world, would be the work of our organs! But then our organs themselves would be the work of our organs! It seems to me that this is a complete REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM, if the conception CAUSA SUI is something fundamentally absurd. Consequently, the external world is NOT the work of our organs—? 16. There are still harmless self-observers who believe that there are ‘immediate certainties†; for instance, ‘I think,’ or as the superstition of Schopenhauer puts it, ‘I will†; as though cognition here got hold of its object purely and simply as ‘the thing in itself,’ without any falsification taking place eiFree eBooks at Planet eBook. com 1 ther on the part of the subject or the object. I would repeat it, however, a hundred times, that ‘immediate certainty,’ as well as ‘absolute knowledge’ and the ‘thing in itself,’ involve a CONTRADICTIO IN ADJECTO; we really ought to free ourselves from the misleading significance of words! The people on their part may think that cognition is knowing all about things, but the philosopher must say to himself: ‘When I analyze the process that is expressed in the sentence, ‘I think,’ I find a whole series of daring assertions, the argumentative proof of which would be difficult, perhaps impossible: for instance, that it is I who think, that there must necessarily be something that thinks, that thinking is an activity and operation on the part of a being who is thought of as a cause, that there is an ‘ego,’ and finally, that it is already determined what is to be designated by thinking—that I KNOW what thinking is. For if I had not already decided within myself what it is, by what standard could I determine whether that which is just happening is not perhaps ‘willing’ or ‘feeling’?