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Sociological Theories Essay - 1185 Words

Sociological theory creates ways to understand the social world by having different theories to explain understand social life. It aids to make sense of this social world. It draws together a wide range of perspectives to help provide the fullest picture. (Macionis Plummer p.36) It shows that one theory can explain something that another cannot. My aim is to answer this question with reference to both functionalism and conflict theory. This will be done by comparing and contrasting both theories in relation to their perspectives on both suicide and gender discrimination as social issues relevant to this day and age. Functionalism and conflict perspectives are both macro theories. This means that they focus on the big picture, for†¦show more content†¦(Turner, p.112) Functional analysis established itself as a way of ‘bringing to light the significance of the institutional order and connecting it with the unintentional consequences of social action. (Turner, p. 121) On page 35 of Back et al. it states that Durkheim’s argument is that classification is a process of ‘marking-off’, of showing things that are related, but have distinct points of difference to another. Functionalism assumes that society’s social institutions perform important functions to help ensure social stability. Rapid social change threatens social order, but slow social change is desirable. Durkheim believed that the individual has no way of limiting passions, so the moral authority of society must do this. Individual aspirations are limited two ways, by socialisation and social integration. Socialisation helps us learn the rules of society and the need to cooperate. Social integration allows us to integrate into society and reinforce our respect for its rules. These both, as stated by Durkheim create a strong collective conscience. Suicide, as an example of a social issue, is explained with the functionalism perspective by not focusing on the individual unhappiness, but instead on the group rates of suicide resulting form external forces. This may be caused by normlessness, which may result from periods of rapid social change, and people find it hard and unclear about how to deal with problems in their life. This frustrationShow MoreRelatedClassical And Contemporary Sociological Theories1898 Words   |  8 PagesAngelica Rhyman TUT0006 angelica.rhyman@mail.utronto.ca 1003965079 Applying Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theories Sexual harassment is a negative aspect that society would like to forget about. However, there has been a lot of talk about the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the sexual harassment allegations (Ravelli and Webber 2016). Due to Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment case, France might make a law that fines people for catcalls because of the women who areRead MoreSociological Perspectives and Theories Essay2033 Words   |  9 PagesSociological Perspectives and Theories Sociologists try to explain how society orders itself but there are many different theories for this, which often conflict with one another. Some of these classic theories include Marxism, Functionalism, and Interactionism. There are also more modern or contemporary theories such as Feminism. Each sociological perspective has different beliefs. Marxists are concerned with the distribution of economic power and wealth. TheyRead MoreSociological Speculation through Theory1605 Words   |  6 Pagesthat they too are knowledgeable and interested in the political processes. This demonstrates liberal feminism, as women should be incorporated into such positions because they are just as equal to their male counterparts. C) Symbolic interaction theory is composed of the following: focus on the microsocial world of personal interaction patterns in everyday life; shared symbols and definitions provide the basis for interpreting life; social construction of reality becomes internalized, making itRead MoreVideo Games and Sociological Theory Essay600 Words   |  3 PagesVideo Games and Sociological Theory July 22, 2012 Video games have become as pervasive an aspect of our society as television, with many people spending more time playing video games than watching television. There are many perspectives with which to gauge videos games’ effect on society, from a functionalist, conflict or interactionist perspective. (Schaefer, 2011) Each of these sociological theories can provide a different view of video games, how they affect society and the subculturesRead MoreSociological Theories For Deviance Fall Under The Concept Of Primary Deviance1014 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to sociologist Edwin Lemert, the majority of sociological theories for deviance fall under the concept of primary deviance. However, Lemert considered secondary deviance to be more important. Everyone is guilty of primary deviance. However, this does not mean that they perceive themselves to be a bad person. This is perception is where secondary deviance comes in. With secondary deviance, the individual, is labeled by the act of deviance that they committed, whether it is by themselvesRead MoreContemporary Sociological Theory Reviewed Essay2326 Words   |  10 Pagesmoney through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The term Monopoly Capitalism covers all of those aspects. Wallerstein proposed an analytic framework. He felt he was conducting world system analysis and not writing world system theory. He believed there were three factors which were essential when establishing a world economy. First, he saw an expansion of the geographical size of the world in question. Second, the development of variegated methods of labor control for differentRead MoreSociological Theory3361 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY Compare and contrast the views of three appropriate sociological perspectives to an area of social life of your choosing. Why do we act the way we do? Does the mass media really affect the way a people in a society behave? Sociologists focus on the environment and the social aspects of human behaviour in order to answer questions like these when studying a particular society. A society is defined as a large social group that shares the same geographical territoryRead MoreSociological Theories2211 Words   |  9 PagesLacy V. Wood ------------------------------------------------- SOC. 480, Sociological Theories Spring 2011 Lacy V. Wood ------------------------------------------------- SOC. 480, Sociological Theories Spring 2011 Taking It Big Charles Wright Mills is most commonly known for his theory of the sociological imagination. Through both the acknowledgement of biography and history within the context of sociology, his analysis was able to determine an interesting perspective that tied religion, the endRead MoreConflict Theory : A Sociological Theory1617 Words   |  7 PagesConflict Theory is a sociological theory that views society as a competition for limited resources rather than a system of equilibrium like some sociological theories claim. Instead of saying that everyone is acting the general interest of society, Conflict Theory claims that the only interests that people are concerned with in society are themselves. Due to the fact that resources are limited, organizations and people who are able to get ahold of some of this limited resources will continue to useRead MoreSociological Theories and Theorists1274 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Origins of sociological thinking can be traced to the scientific revol ution in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century† (Kendall 11). In this time, great store was put on one’s possession of critical reasoning and experiences. In France the Enlightenment was dominated by a group called philosophes; these men believed that human society could be improved through scientific discoveries (Kendall 11). In France during this time period women were excluded from public life, but some women were

Huckleberry Finn Free Essays

Is or isn’t Huck Finn racist? Does reading Huck Finn help or harm race relations? I believe Huck Finn isn’t racist but shows some race relations. Throughout the entire novel Huck repeatedly says the word,† nigger† but intentionally we cannot blame Huck, because that’s the way Huck was raised. In chapter 8 on page 41, Huck and Jim seem to grow a bond, a bond that society wouldn’t accept, when Huck later finds out that Jim ran away and were wondering in the woods they seem to develop a close friendship. We will write a custom essay sample on Huckleberry Finn or any similar topic only for you Order Now Huck could have told someone that Jim ran away but instead Huck accepted Jim and took part in an adventure along with Jim. In chapter 15, Huck and Jim talked about how close they are to a free state. Later in the novel we realize that Jim talks to Huck in a way that blacks aren’t supposed to, but Jim doesn’t see Huck like other white men and women, Jim looks at Huck like a friend. In chapter 16 on page 88, Huck starts to show some hesitation towards setting Jim free, Huck knows that setting a black person free wasn’t the right thing to do. In chapter 40, Huck and Tom found a way to help Jim escaped from being enslaved. This is a clear indication that Huck shows no form of racism towards Jim or anyone else, but the reason why he say the things he say and acts the way he act is just simply how Huck was raised. How to cite Huckleberry Finn, Papers

Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets 7e free essay sample

A stock when it is first issued provides funds for a company. Is the same true of an exchangetraded stock option? Discuss. An exchange-traded stock option provides no funds for the company. It is a security sold by one investor to another. The company is not involved. By contrast, a stock when it is first issued is sold by the company to investors and does provide funds for the company. Problem 1. 10. Explain why a futures contract can be used for either speculation or hedging. If an investor has an exposure to the price of an asset, he or she can hedge with futures contracts. If the investor will gain when the price decreases and lose when the price increases, a long futures position will hedge the risk. If the investor will lose when the price decreases and gain when the price increases, a short futures position will hedge the risk. Thus either a long or a short futures position can be entered into for hedging purposes. We will write a custom essay sample on Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets 7e or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If the investor has no exposure to the price of the underlying asset, entering into a futures contract is speculation. If the investor takes a long position, he or she gains when the asset’s price increases and loses when it decreases. If the investor takes a short position, he or she loses when the asset’s price increases and gains when it decreases. Problem 1. 11. A cattle farmer expects to have 120,000 pounds of live cattle to sell in three months. The livecattle futures contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is for the delivery of 40,000 pounds of cattle. How can the farmer use the contract for hedging? From the farmer’s viewpoint, what are the pros and cons of hedging? The farmer can short 3 contracts that have 3 months to maturity. If the price of cattle falls, the gain on the futures contract will offset the loss on the sale of the cattle. If the price of cattle rises, the gain on the sale of the cattle will be offset by the loss on the futures contract. Using futures contracts to hedge has the advantage that it can at no cost reduce risk to almost zero. http://helpyoustudy. info Its disadvantage is that the farmer no longer gains from favorable movements in cattle prices. Problem 1. 12. It is July 2010. A mining company has just discovered a small deposit of gold. It will take six months to construct the mine. The gold will then be extracted on a more or less continuous basis for one year. Futures contracts on gold are available on the New York Mercantile Exchange. There are delivery months every two months from August 2010 to December 2011. Each contract is for the delivery of 100 ounces. Discuss how the mining company might use futures markets for hedging. The mining company can estimate its production on a month by month basis. It can then short futures contracts to lock in the price received for the gold. For example, if a total of 3,000 ounces are expected to be produced in September 2010 and October 2010, the price received for this production can be hedged by shorting a total of 30 October 2010 contracts. Problem 1. 13. Suppose that a March call option on a stock with a strike price of $50 costs $2. 50 and is held until March. Under what circumstances will the holder of the option make a gain? Under what circumstances will the option be exercised? Draw a diagram showing how the profit on a long position in the option depends on the stock price at the maturity of the option. The holder of the option will gain if the price of the stock is above $52. 50 in March. (This ignores the time value of money. ) The option will be exercised if the price of the stock is above $50. 00 in March.

12 Analytical Essay Topics on Cost #038; Management Accounting Reporting Systems

12 Analytical Essay Topics on Cost #038; Management Accounting Reporting Systems If you need some facts to use in your next writing assignment on cost and management accounting reporting systems, consider the twelve facts below: Managerial accounting caters for the requirements of managers to internal reporting and related decision-making. Managers have to plan, organize and control the matters of entity. For this, managerial accounting helps the managers to come to sound business decisions. Management may have their own way dealing with matters internally, but GAAP requirements are to be followed. There is, however, a choice to account for a certain event. For example, either product development cost can be capitalized or it can be deduced from income. Once a choice has been made, it should be the basis of decision for any future reference. Well-established information system is needed in case of both financial as well as managerial accounting. Information technology has changed the working methodologies for business entities. Nowadays, accountant’s work is beyond the common book-keeping principles. The quality information system plays a key role in that regard. Accounting data is not always absolute in nature. There are certain judgment to be done while reporting any event. Certain accounting treatments require of you to make judgments which are important for business. Along with judgments, estimations are also a part and parcel of the working. Many limitations are there in connection to the estimation of certain event or transaction. Present values of future incomes are calculated to estimate the current financial position of the entity. Provisions require estimations of the cost to be included in expenses and what amount to be charged or written off. Making estimates is a routine activity in connection to financial reporting. Two cost methods, historical and fair value are used alternatively. Value of land does not fluctuate much according to accounting estimates, so it follows a historical cost method. In this method, cost related to an event or transaction done in the past. The purchase price of land is accounted for in the financial information of the company. A fair value cost method is also applied by entities. Assets are reported in the financial statements at a price which they can fetch in the open market. Valuations are made at regular intervals to come to a standard price prevalent in the open market. The fair market is the price that can be fetched in the open market in the transaction between parties that are not related. Fair value is best suited to assets whose price fluctuates on a regular basis. There is no set rule as to the usage of either historical or fair value cost method. Standards provide for illustrations that should be looked into. Best accounting practices are those that are coherent with accounting standards and apply standards prudently. It also depends on the nature of certain events to decide which cost method to go for. An accountant has to deal with many complex issues. Relevance related to the fair value cost method and reliability factor of historical cost method is to be traded off. Choice has to be made between the two keeping in mind the standards and normal business practices. An accountant has to be skilled enough to decide on the correct valuation method. The job of an accountant is not restricted to a set pattern of methodology. Many areas of specialty are there. Accountants that prefer public accounting provide tax and consultancy services. These services have to be licensed. In the US, each state issues a license to individuals known as CPA, Certified Chartered Accountant. Auditing is the examination of accounts of companies and investigating whether the accounts are in coherence with the rules and regulations set by standards. An auditor concerned with the accounts of a company prepares independent and appropriate report. Tax services provided by an accountant include filling of returns and legal provisions related thereof. Consultancy services do not have a set work plan as these vary according to the requirements of the client. Many accountants enjoy private employment in various industries. Various profit and non-profit entities require services of accountants dealing with certain areas of expertise. Accountants hold areas related to costing, budgeting, investment and pricing. Internal auditors are given the responsibility of internal controls, and they work according to the policies defined by managers. These auditors check for relevancy of every account and are responsible for internal controls. Such auditors can enjoy the occupation of tax accountants, managers etc. Many accountants work in public sector as well. They serve in public departments in the area of their expertise. Government offices such as SECP, FBI, Internal Revenue Offices and many more take the services of professional accountants. Financial information has to be accurate owing to the fact that investors and creditors make decisions to grant loans by looking at the financial information. Reliability and accurateness of financial reports, which forms the basis of ethics of accounting and reporting, are important. Financial reports should depict true and fair view of the scenario and proceedings of the business. Certain code of ethics is to be followed by auditors for both internal and external auditors. Such ethics is to be followed during the process of audit. People intending to pursue the field of accountancy should be able to apply ethics, code of manner and integrity. Accountants are respected, and they are expected to prepare financial reports in accordance with the set rules and procedure defined by accounting bodies. Managers have a key role towards the development of the business. They keep an eye on financial information that helps them to make conclusive decisions. Investors are interested to know the dividends, which are, of course, the appropriation and distribution of profits. Shareholders are entitled to dividends, which are mostly declared annually. Creditors look at the financial position of the entity before granting loan. This is to satisfy themselves if the entity would be able to repay the loan or not. This is done by considering the entity’s position in the short run by means of estimation. Analysts, on the other hand, use financial data to make crucial financial decisions. Employees also check the financial information of the company, so that they can have a peace of mind in connection to their job, as profitable company or business can make the career grow. Tax departments need to have access to accurate financial information so that they can tax the company or business acc ordingly. Financial information caters the requirements of all parties that have an interest in the business. These facts are meant for you to make use of them: they will assist you in your writing and the analytical essay won’t seem so complicated anymore. For more information you may also have a look at 20 topics on cost and management accounting reporting systems and our writing guide on analytical essays. References: Atrill, Peter, E. J McLaney, and Peter Atrill.  Management Accounting For Decision Makers. New York: Prentice Hall/Financial Times, 2005. Print. Atrill, Peter.  Financial Management For Decision Makers. Harlow, England: FT Prentice Hall, 2006. Print. Banker, Rajiv D., and Dmitri Byzalov. Asymmetric Cost Behavior.  Journal of Management Accounting Research  26.2 (2014): 43-79. Web. Datar, S. M., Rajan, M. V., Horngren, C. T. (2013).  Managerial Accounting: Decision Making and Motivating Performance. Pearson Higher Ed. Davila, Antonio (Tony), and Marc Wouters. Designing Cost†Competitive Technology Products Through Cost Management.  Accounting Horizons  18.1 (2004): 13-26. Web. Drury, Colin.  Management And Cost Accounting. London: Chapman Hall, 1992. Print. Horngren, Charles T.  Cost Accounting. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1982. Print. Horngren, Charles T.  Management And Cost Accounting. London: Prentice Hall Europe, 1999. Print.

Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, love, and sexuality. She is sometimes known as the Cyprian because there was a cult center of Aphrodite on Cyprus [See Map Jc-d]. Aphrodite is the mother of the god of love, Eros (more familiar as Cupid). She is the wife of the ugliest of the gods, Hephaestus. Unlike the powerful virginal goddesses, Athena and Artemis, or the faithful goddess of marriage, Hera, she has love affairs with gods and mortals. Aphrodites birth story makes her relation to the other gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus ambiguous. Family of Origin Hesiod says Aphrodite arose from the foam that gathered around the genitals of Uranus. They just happened to be floating in the sea after his son Cronus castrated his father. The poet known as Homer calls Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus and Dione. She is also described as the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys (both Titans). If Aphrodite is the cast-offspring of Uranus, she is of the same generation as Zeus parents. If she is the daughter of the Titans, she is Zeus cousin. Roman Equivalent Aphrodite was called Venus by the Romans as in the famous Venus de Milo statue. Attributes And Associations Mirror, of course she is the goddess of beauty. Also, the apple, which has lots of associations with love or beauty (as in Sleeping Beauty) and especially the golden apple. Aphrodite is associated with a magic girdle (belt), the dove, myrrh and myrtle, the dolphin, and more. In the famous Botticelli painting, Aphrodite is seen rising from a clam shell. Sources Ancient sources for Aphrodite include Apollodorus, Apuleius, Aristophanes, Cicero, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, Nonnius, Ovid, Pausanias, Pindar, Plato, Quintus Smyrnaeus, Sophocles, Statius, Strabo and Vergil (Virgil). Trojan War and Aeneids Aphrodite / Venus The story of the Trojan War begins with the story of the apple of discord, which naturally was made of gold: Each of 3 goddesses: Hera - marriage goddess and wife of ZeusAthena - Zeus daughter, wisdom goddess, and one of the powerful virginal goddesses mentioned above, andAphrodite thought she deserved the golden apple, by virtue of being kallista the most beautiful. Since the goddesses couldnt decide among themselves and Zeus wasnt willing to suffer the wrath of the females in his family, the goddesses appealed to Paris, son of King Priam of Troy. They asked him to judge which of them was the most beautiful. Paris judged the goddess of beauty to be the loveliest. In return for his verdict, Aphrodite promised Paris the fairest woman. Unfortunately, this fairest mortal was Helen of Sparta, wife of Menelaus. Paris took the prize that had been awarded him by Aphrodite, despite her prior commitments, and so started the most famous war in history, that between the Greeks and Trojans. Vergil or Virgils Aeneid tells a Trojan War sequel story about a surviving Trojan prince, Aeneas, transporting his household gods from the burning city of Troy to Italy, where he founds the race of the Romans. In the Aeneid, the Roman version of Aphrodite, Venus, is Aeneas mother. In the Iliad, she protected her son, even at the cost of suffering a wound inflicted by Diomedes.

Principles of Effective Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Principles of Effective Leadership - Essay Example From the essay it is clear that for missions to succeed, especially in times of uncertainty, ambiguity, and adversity, leaders must live and conduct all their activities so that others may look them squarely in the eye knowing that they are associating with and placing their trust in an honorable individual. As the paper declares leaders exert themselves to promote the well-being of others. They do something or stand ready to do something for others. They develop self-reliance in others so that they can become effective members of an interdependent team. Self-reliance means that a staff member does not need the presence of the boss to carry out the tactical and operational elements of his or her own job. As a leader, one should state the job to be done but leave it to one’s subordinate to recommend the methods that will accomplish the desired results, at the time required, with due regard for costs. If one wants to lead people, one has to communicate information directly and honestly. One cannot hem and haw or water down the truth. One has to keep one’s people and the people to whom one reports, grounded in the reality of one’s situation. Many women, especially, respect the social value of an indirect approach to problems, and this places them at a disadvantage in le adership situations. If one has trouble with the direct approach, one should put one’s points in writing, structuring them so that when one goes into a meeting, one can use one’s notes as an aid until one feels comfortable in delivering verbal reports without them.

Assignments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assignments - Assignment Example The first article is about the various health effects of genetically engineered foods and crops. Relevant medical research has been cited as well to strengthen the presented arguments. (Cummins) The second article deals with various loop holes in genetic technology as well as its side effects for human health and its impact on the environment. Every line of argument in this article is heavily referenced from technical publications and research. (Mothers for Natural Law) The third article exposes fundamental weaknesses in the benefits related with genetically modified crops such as greater yield, lower input need, safety of genetically modified foods etc. This article has been created by the renowned Jeffery M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception, an eye opening book on genetically engineered crops and foods. (Smith) Results from ABI/INFORM In addition to search engines, I also searched on the ABI/INFORM platform for dangers posed by genetically modified crops and food. This search tu rned out quite a few helpful articles. An article on whether genetically modified foods are harmful or helpful is highly relevant to our work because of its upfront approach to the issue. Furthermore, the author has presented detailed statistical data to support her arguments.(Whitman) Another article relates the concerns of Dr. Arpad Pustazi, a leading plant biotechnologist who was fired from the Rowlett Institute after he divulged concerns on British digital media. This article is in an interview format and provides clear definitions and concepts related to the dangers posed by genetically modified crops and foods for mammals. (Mitchell) Another article I found is a Congressional Research Service Report on agricultural issues. This article appreciates the need for genetically modified crops but accepts that there are risks posed as well. (Jones) I am attaching the bibliography of these articles for your reference and consideration. Bibliography Cummins, Ronnie. Hazards of Genetica lly Engineered Foods and Crops: Why We Need A Global Moratorium. 29 August 1999. 16 July 2011 . Jones, Jean Yavis. RS20452: Agriculture and the 106th Congress: A Summary of Major Issues. 15 December 2000. 16 July 2011 . Mitchell, Paul. Safety of genetically modified food questioned, Interview with gene scientist, Dr Arpad Pusztai. 3 June 1999. 16 July 2011 . Mothers for Natural Law. Fundamental Weaknesses of the Concept. 2001. 16 July 2011 . Smith, Jeffery M. Everything You HAVE TO KNOW about Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods . 2011. 16 July 2011 . Whitman, Deborah B. Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? April 2000. 16 July 2011 . 12.11 The FLA was founded in 1999 after which it has expanded to promote fair labor practices around the world. A Workplace Code of Conduct was created that was based on ILO (International Labor Organization) standards. This effectively created internal standards through which workplace conditions could be monitored and maintained. The FLA ke eps a healthy check and balance by conducting unannounced and independent visits of factories

Boeing Aircraft Company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Boeing Aircraft Company - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, the company has been taking little interest on the satisfaction of the customer and segmentation of the market in order to concentrate on a specific market. Instead, the company has been generalizing the market in order to earn trust of all customers (Norris & Wagner, 2005). On the other hand, Airbus has concentrated on diversifying the market in order to increase its market size. In addition, the company has segmented the market an aspect that has enabled it to position itself strategically in the market and earn customer loyalty. Initially, airbus was struggling financially but the move by Boeing Company to concentrate on huge aircrafts that require heavy investment gave the company an advantage over its competitor. Instead, the company has concentrated on producing aircrafts of all sizes in order to satisfying the varying demands in the market (Newhouse, 2007). One of the major similarities between two companies is that if one removes the name of the company in the specification sheet, the forthcoming Airbus A350 XWB commercial jet can easily be confused with that of Bowing 787 Dreamliner. The production process is so similar that it will take someone sometime before distinguishing the two (Norris & Wagner, 2005). Secondly, A350 of Airbus will be manufactured with approximately 53% of carbon fiber while 787 aircraft that belong to Boeing Company will be made of 50% of carbon fiber. Both aircrafts have the ability to fly for eight thousands miles without the need of being refueled (Norris & Wagner, 2005). In terms of fuel consumption, A350 has the capacity to consume 25% less in comparison with that of Boeing. Nevertheless, Boeing 787 is claimed to have been made to consume 15% fuel less in comparison to a similar-sized Boeing 767 (Peng, 2009). With the increasing rivalry between the two companies, mostly, the companies are

Mctaggarts Proof Of The Unreality Of Time Philosophy Essay

Mctaggarts Proof Of The Unreality Of Time Philosophy Essay It doubtless seems highly paradoxical to assert that Time is unreal, and that all statements which involve its reality are erroneous, and yet, in his 1908 paper The Unreality of Time, J.M.E. McTaggart attempts to prove just that. This essay will outline his arguments and examine their consequences. At the core of McTaggarts argument is the distinction between what he calls the A-theory and the B-theory of time. Positions in time, he says, can be ordered according to their properties, such as  being two days future,  being one day future,  being present,  being one day past, and so on.This temporal series of being past, present, and future, he calls the A-series. However,  he asserts that positions in time can also be ordered by dyadic relations such as  two days earlier than,  one day earlier than,  simultaneous with, and so on. This temporal ranking of events according to the relation earlier than, he calls the B-series. After making the above distinction, McTaggarts first step is to show that the A-series theory is essential to our concept time, by highlighting the essential nature of change in any such conception. It would, he says, be universally admitted that time involves change. A universe in which nothing ever changed, would be a timeless universe. He argues that the B-series, without the A-series, does not involve genuine change, since where the A-series changes (in that what was future is now past) the B-series positions are true timelessly-they are forever fixed. After addressing some possible responses by the likes of Bertrand Russell (which I shall discuss shortly) and establishing to his satisfaction that change can be accounted for only by A-series notions of time, McTaggart second step is to show that any A-series notions are nonetheless ultimately incoherent, and thus so is time itself. To start with, McTaggart argues that being future, being present, and being past, are incompatible determinations-they are mutually exclusive. Yet, in A-series interpretations of time, every event has them all. So, though McTaggart believes the A-series series is essential to time, he also believes it leads to a contradiction, and so cannot be true of anything in reality. Thus, time cannot be true of anything in reality either; therefore time is unreal. Despite McTaggarts arguments, most philosophers have remained convinced of the reality of time; partly because the appearance of a temporal order to the world is so strong; partly because the implications of its unreality are so vast and injurious to so many philosophical theories; and partly because, like me, they remain unconvinced of the proof itself. These philosophers normally dispute the necessity of the A-series in capturing the nature of time, and defend what P.T. Geach later called the Cambridge criterion of change. One such philosopher, Bertrand Russell-who Richard Gale hailed as [t]he father of the modern version of the  B-Theory- believes that McTaggart looks for change in the wrong place. He says that [c]hange is the difference, in respect of truth or falsehood, between a proposition concerning an entity and a time  T,  and a proposition concerning the same entity and another time  T, provided that the two propositions differ only by the fact that  T  occurs in one where  T  occurs in the other. In other words, change is simply the difference in the applicability of a predicate to a subject at different points in time. McTaggart addresses this argument using the example of a poker that is hot at T and cool at T. This, he says, does not constitute real change, because it is always the case that the earlier part of this event is hotter than the later part of this event. However, Russell would most likely have found this not entirely persuasive, as, though it may be true that th e poker does not change in regards to it being hot at T, such an argument does give us a criterion for what is for the poker to change. That is not to say, however, the McTaggarts proof proves nothing. At least one part of McTaggarts argument, the part about the contradiction inherent in the A-series, seems to be sound.  It is easy to dismiss the most obvious objection available to the defender of the A-series. As McTaggart says, one may claim that its never true of any event that it is past, is future, and is past. Instead, such an argument would run, the event is present, will be past, and has been future; or it is past, and has been future and present; or it is future, and will be present and past. There seems to be no contradiction here because, though the characteristics are incompatible, each term has all of them successively. But, according to McTaggart, such an objection fails given that the other times called upon to explain  the events incompatible A-properties must themselves possess all of the same A-properties (as must any further times invoked on account of these additional times, and so on  ad in finitum). This objection, therefore, can never resolve the original contradiction inherent in the A-series, because it simply reintroduces further notions of time, and so begs the same question. This does not mean that we must go so far as to deny the reality of time itself, for though McTaggart may establish that the A-series is unreal, he does little to convince B-theorists such as Russell  of its necessity.

American Health Care: Gore And Bradley One Problem Two Solutions :: essays research papers

The nation's economy has produced 9.5 million jobs in the last four years and raised wages for even the lowest-paid workers. As Americans buy more homes, cars and other consumer goods, the number buying health insurance has not budged. Now, the 44 million Americans without insurance are taking a prominent place in the national spotlight, thanks to the Democratic presidential primary. And in Vice President Al Gore and former senator Bill Bradley, the nation has a chance to sort out how far it is willing to go, if at all, toward promising health care for everyone. In proposals issued recently, both Democratic candidates have promised to cover all 11 million children who have no insurance, with taxpayers paying the entire cost for the poor. Gore and Bradley would also give substantial help to the parents of the nation's poorest children. But they split over one growing class of people: the millions of adults who are not quite poor, but who find insurance so expensive that they do not buy it.Almost 17 percent of full-time workers have no insurance, often because employers do not offer it or have shifted costs to employees. Many of the new jobs created in the current boom are at small businesses, which are less likely to offer coverage. Bradley has proposed an expansive plan that helps people further up the economic ladder and which carries an expansive price tag to match. Gore, by contrast, would spend money on the poorest and near-poor while offering only limited help to others.The question has barely been raised among the Republican presidential contenders. But it has sparked the sharpest debate yet in the Democratic campaign, and polls show that voters are likely to make it a general election issue. With surveys suggesting that no candidate can win the Democratic nomination without a strong health plan, Bradley boasts that he is proposing a big idea to attack a big problem. He has derided Gore's plan as ''definitely timid.'' The tactic has helped raise Bradley's profile among Democrats Gore, by contrast, talks freely of his plan's limitations, and his staff uses the word ''incremental'' to describe it. They say Bradley's plan is too expensive and would divert dollars from other purposes, such as shoring up Medicare.The true cost of the two plans is open to debate. Bradley says he would spend up to $650 billion over 10 years to insure as many as 39 million more people.