Automation in Daily Life Essay

Automation is the use of machines, control systems and information technologies to optimize productivity in the production of goods and delivery of services. The correct incentive for applying automation is to increase productivity, and/or quality beyond that possible with current human labor levels so as to realize economies of scale, and/or realize predictable quality levels. In the scope of industrialisation, automation is a step beyond mechanization. Whereas mechanization provides human operators with machinery to assist them with the muscular requirements of work, automation greatly decreases the need for human sensory and mental requirements while increasing load capacity, speed, and repeatability. Automation plays an increasingly important role in the world economy and in daily experience. Automation has had a notable impact in a wide range of industries beyond manufacturing (where it began). Once-ubiquitous telephone operators have been replaced largely by automated telephone switchboards and answering machines. Medical processes such as primary screening in electrocardiography or radiography and laboratory analysis of human genes, sera, cells, and tissues are carried out at much greater speed and accuracy by automated systems. Automated teller machines have reduced the need for bank visits to obtain cash and carry out transactions. In general, automation has been responsible for the shift in the world economy from industrial jobs to service jobs in the 20th and 21st centuries.[1] The term automation, inspired by the earlier word automatic (coming from automaton), was not widely used before 1947, when General Motors established the automation department. At that time automation technologies were electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic. Between 1957 and 1964 factory output nearly doubled while the number of blue collar workers started to decline.[2] Advantages and disadvantages * Install automation where a high degree of accuracy is required. * Replacing human operators in tasks that involve hard physical or monotonous work.[3] * Replacing humans in tasks done in dangerous environments (i.e. fire, space, volcanoes, nuclear facilities, underwater, etc.) * Performing tasks that are beyond human capabilities of size, weight, speed, endurance, etc. * Economy improvement: Automation may improve in economy of enterprises, society or most of humanity. For example, when an enterprise invests in automation, technology recovers its investment; or when a state or country increases its income due to automation like Germany or Japan in the 20th Century. * Reduces operation time and work handling time significantly. * Frees up workers to take on other roles. * Provides higher level jobs in the development, deployment, maintenance and running of the automated processes. The main disadvantages of automation are: * Security Threats/Vulnerability: An automated system may have a limited level of intelligence, and is therefore more susceptible to committing errors outside of its immediate scope of knowledge (e.g., it is typically unable to apply the rules of simple logic to general propositions). * Unpredictable/excessive development costs: The research and development cost of automating a process may exceed the cost saved by the automation itself. * High initial cost: The automation of a new product or plant typically requires a very large initial investment in comparison with the unit cost of the product, although the cost of automation may be spread among many products and over time. In manufacturing, the purpose of automation has shifted to issues broader than productivity, cost, and time. Reliability and precision The old focus on using automation simply to increase productivity and reduce costs was seen to be short-sighted, because it is also necessary to provide a skilled workforce who can make repairs and manage the machinery. Moreover, the initial costs of automation were high and often could not be recovered by the time entirely new manufacturing processes replaced the old. (Japan’s â€Å"robot junkyards† were once world famous in the manufacturing industry.) Automation is now often applied primarily to increase quality in the manufacturing process, where automation can increase quality substantially. For example, internal combustion engine pistons used to be installed manually. This is rapidly being transitioned to automated machine installation, because the error rate for manual installment was around 1-1.5%, but has been reduced to 0.00001% with automation.[citation needed] Lights out manufacturing Main article: Lights out (manufacturing) Lights out manufacturing is when a production system is 100% or near to 100% automated (not hiring any workers). In order to eliminate the need for labor costs all together. Health and environment The costs of automation to the environment are different depending on the technology, product or engine automated. There are automated engines that consume more energy resources from the Earth in comparison with previous engines and those that do the opposite too. Hazardous operations, such as oil refining, the manufacturing of industrial chemicals, and all forms of metal working, were always early contenders for automation. Convertibility and turnaround time Another major shift in automation is the increased demand for flexibility and convertibility in manufacturing processes. Manufacturers are increasingly demanding the ability to easily switch from manufacturing Product A to manufacturing Product B without having to completely rebuild the production lines. Flexibility and distributed processes have led to the introduction of Automated Guided Vehicles with Natural Features Navigation. Digital electronics helped too. Former analogue-based instrumentation was replaced by digital equivalents which can be more accurate and flexible, and offer greater scope for more sophisticated configuration, parametrization and operation. This was accompanied by the fieldbus revolution which provided a networked (i.e. a single cable) means of communicating between control systems and field level instrumentation, eliminating hard-wiring. Discrete manufacturing plants adopted these technologies fast. The more conservative process industries with their longer plant life cycles have been slower to adopt and analogue-based measurement and control still dominates. The growing use of Industrial Ethernet on the factory floor is pushing these trends still further, enabling manufacturing plants to be integrated more tightly within the enterprise, via the internet if necessary. Global competition has also increased demand for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems. Automation tools Engineers can now have numerical control over automated devices. The result has been a rapidly expanding range of applications and human activities. Computer-aided technologies (or CAx) now serve the basis for mathematical and organizational tools used to create complex systems. Notable examples of CAx include Computer-aided design (CAD software) and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM software). The improved design, analysis, and manufacture of products enabled by CAx has been beneficial for industry.[4] Information technology, together with industrial machinery and processes, can assist in the design, implementation, and monitoring of control systems. One example of an industrial control system is a programmable logic controller (PLC). PLCs are specialized hardened computers which are frequently used to synchronize the flow of inputs from (physical) sensors and events with the flow of outputs to actuators and events.[5] An automated online assistant on a website, with an avatar for enhanced human–computer interaction. Human-machine interfaces (HMI) or computer human interfaces (CHI), formerly known as man-machine interfaces, are usually employed to communicate with PLCs and other computers. Service personnel who monitor and control through HMIs can be called by different names. In industrial process and manufacturing environments, they are called operators or something similar. In boiler houses and central utilities departments they are called stationary engineers.[6] Different types of automation tools exist: * ANN – Artificial neural network * BPM – Bonita Open Solution * DCS – Distributed Control System * HMI – Human Machine Interface * SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition * PLC – Programmable Logic Controller * PAC – Programmable automation controller * Instrumentation * Motion control * Robotics Limitations to automation * Current technology is unable to automate all the desired tasks. * As a process becomes increasingly automated, there is less and less labor to be saved or quality improvement to be gained. This is an example of both diminishing returns and the logistic function. * Similar to the above, as more and more processes become automated, there are fewer remaining non-automated processes. This is an example of exhaustion of opportunities. Current limitations Many roles for humans in industrial processes presently lie beyond the scope of automation. Human-level pattern recognition, language comprehension, and language production ability are well beyond the capabilities of modern mechanical and computer systems. Tasks requiring subjective assessment or synthesis of complex sensory data, such as scents and sounds, as well as high-level tasks such as strategic planning, currently require human expertise. In many cases, the use of humans is more cost-effective than mechanical approaches even where automation of industrial tasks is possible. Overcoming these obstacles is a theorized path to post-scarcity economics. Applications Food and drink Automated restaurant The food retail industry has started to apply automation to the ordering process, McDonald’s has introduced touch screen ordering and payment systems in many of its restaurants, reducing the need for as many cashier employees.[7] University of Texas has introduced fully automated cafe retail locations.[8] Some Cafe’s and restaurants have utilized mobile and tablet â€Å"apps† to make the ordering process more efficient by customers ordering and paying on their device.[9][10] Some restaurants have automated food delivery to customers tables using a Conveyor belt system. The use of robots is sometimes employed to replace waiting staff.[11] Stores Many Supermarkets and even smaller stores are rapidly introducing Self checkout systems reducing the need for employing checkout workers. Online shopping could be considered a form of automated retail as the payment and checkout are through an automated Online transaction processing system. Other forms of automation can also be an integral part of online shopping, for example the deployment of automated warehouse robotics such as that applied by Amazon using Kiva Systems. Automated mining Main article: Automated mining involves the removal of human labor from the mining process.[12] The mining industry is currently in the transition towards Automation. Currently it can still require a large amount of human capital, particularly in the third world where labor costs are low so there is less incentive for increasing efficiency through automation. Automated video surveillance The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) started the research and development of automated visual surveillance and monitoring (VSAM) program, between 1997 and 1999, and airborne video surveillance (AVS) programs, from 1998 to 2002. Currently, there is a major effort underway in the vision community to develop a fully automated tracking surveillance system. Automated video surveillance monitors people and vehicles in real time within a busy environment. Existing automated surveillance systems are based on the environment they are primarily designed to observe, i.e., indoor, outdoor or airborne, the amount of sensors that the automated system can handle and the mobility of sensor, i.e., stationary camera vs. mobile camera. The purpose of a surveillance system is to record properties and trajectories of objects in a given area, generate warnings or notify designated authority in case of occurrence of particular events.[13] Automated highway systems As demands for safety and mobility have grown and technological possibilities have multiplied, interest in automation has grown. Seeking to accelerate the development and introduction of fully automated vehicles and highways, the United States Congress authorized more than $650 million over six years for intelligent transport systems (ITS) and demonstration projects in the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Congress legislated in ISTEA that â€Å"the Secretary of Transportation shall develop an automated highway and vehicle prototype from which future fully automated intelligent vehicle-highway systems can be developed. Such development shall include research in human factors to ensure the success of the man-machine relationship. The goal of this program is to have the first fully automated highway roadway or an automated test track in operation by 1997. This system shall accommodate installation of equipment in new and existing motor vehicles.† [ISTEA 1991, part B, Section 6054(b)]. Full automation commonly defined as requiring no control or very limited control by the driver; such automation would be accomplished through a combination of sensor, computer, and communications systems in vehicles and along the roadway. Fully automated driving would, in theory, allow closer vehicle spacing and higher speeds, which could enhance traffic capacity in places where additional road building is physically impossible, politically unacceptable, or prohibitively expensive. Automated controls also might enhance road safety by reducing the opportunity for driver error, which causes a large share of motor vehicle crashes. Other potential benefits include improved air quality (as a result of more-efficient traffic flows), increased fuel economy, and spin-off technologies generated during research and development related to automated highway systems.[14] Automated waste management Automated waste collection trucks prevent the need for as many workers as well as easing the level of Labor required to provide the service.[15] Automated manufacturing Automated manufacturing refers to the application of automation to produce things in the factory way. Most of the advantages of the automation technology has its influence in the manufacture processes. The main advantages of automated manufacturing are higher consistency and quality, reduced lead times, simplified production, reduced handling, improved work flow, and increased worker morale when a good implementation of the automation is made. Home automation Home automation (also called domotics) designates an emerging practice of increased automation of household appliances and features in residential dwellings, particularly through electronic means that allow for things impracticable, overly expensive or simply not possible in recent past decades. Industrial automation Industrial automation deals with the optimization of energy-efficient drive systems by precise measurement and control technologies. Nowadays energy efficiency in industrial processes are becoming more and more relevant. Semiconductor companies like Infineon Technologies are offering 8-bit micro-controller applications for example found in motor controls, general purpose pumps, fans, and ebikes to reduce energy consumption and thus increase efficiency. One of Infineon`s 8-bit product line found in industrial automation is the XC800 family. Agriculture: Now that we’re moving towards automated orange-sorting [1] and autonomous tractors, the next step in automated agriculture is robotic strawberry pickers. Agent-assisted Automation refers to automation used by call center agents to handle customer inquiries. There are two basic types: desktop automation and automated voice solutions. Desktop automation refers to software programming that makes it easier for the call center agent to work across multiple desktop tools. The automation would take the information entered into one tool and populate it across the others so it did not have to be entered more than once, for example. Automated voice solutions allow the agents to remain on the line while disclosures and other important information is provided to customers in the form of pre-recorded audio files. Specialized applications of these automated voice solutions enable the agents to process credit cards without ever seeing or hearing the credit card numbers or CVV codes[16] The key benefit of agent-assisted automation is compliance and error-proofing. Agents are sometimes not fully trained or they forget or ignore key steps in the process. The use of automation ensures that what is supposed to happen on the call actually does, every time. Relationship to unemployment Based on a formula by Gilles Saint-Paul, an economist at Toulouse 1 University, the demand for unskilled human capital declines at a slower rate than the demand for skilled human capital increases.[17] In the long run and for society as a whole it has led to cheaper products, lower average work hours, and new industries forming (I.e, robotics industries, computer industries, design industries). These new industries provide many high salary skill based jobs to the economy.

John the Baptist Rewrite Essay

Abstract John the Baptist practiced preaching and baptizing Jews in the river Jordan. He was the one who recognized Jesus as the messiah and baptized him. This baptism was the beginning of Jesus’ life as a teacher. But it is his death that is almost always how John the Baptist is remembered and studied. His teaching is the basis of Baptist today. His life is told in only the Gospels and not much is really known about the man who came before Jesus to preach the word of God and of Jesus’ coming. INTRODUCTION: John the Baptist practiced preaching and baptizing Jews in the river Jordan. He was the one who recognized Jesus as the messiah and baptized him. This baptism was the beginning of Jesus’ life as a teacher. But it is his death that is almost always how John the Baptist is remembered and studied. His teaching is the basis of Baptist today. The New Testament does not supply precise information about the dates of John’s or Jesus’ birth. Usually John the Baptist is associated with the Advent season. His Birth is celebrated on June 24th. In the third or fourth century the birthday of Jesus was assigned to Dec. 25th, around the time of the winter solstice, after what we call the shortest day of the year, when the time of daylight begins to increase. In John’s Gospel there is a saying from John the Baptist, referring to Jesus, that â€Å"he must increase; I must decrease† (3:30). And so the birth of John was assigned to June 24th, after the summer solstice, when the daylight begins to decrease, following the longest day of the year. The Scripture readings for the nativity of St. John the Baptist reflect the dynamics of Decrease and increase between John and Jesus. Today’s Old Testament reading is one of the servant songs from Second Isaiah. It was chosen for its reference to the servant having been named from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:60). But the passage also expresses important aspects of John’s career as a prophet to God’s people and a light to the nations. At the same time his status as servant makes him subordinate to Jesus. The selection from Paul’s speech in Acts 13 reminds us that John played a pivotal role in Salvation history and so won a place in the early Christian proclamation. Importance is given to John’s own recognition of his subordinate status with respect to Jesus, â€Å"I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet†. HIS HISTORY: John the Baptist was described as a man that walked among the Jews in animal’s hair that was not covered by his own skin and he was a savage. He came with a message that â€Å"God hath sent me to show you the way of the law, by which ye shall be freed from many tyrants. And no mortal shall rule over you, but only the highest who hath sent me. † He dipped them into the stream of the Jordan and let them go warning them that they should renounce evil deeds (Harrington, 2005, p. 25). In Luke’s early narrative there are many parallels and comparisons between John and Jesus, both in the announcements of their births and in the accounts of them. While John is great, Jesus is greater is the message given. The idea is not to critic John but rather to highlight Jesus’ greatness. The birth of John is presented by Luke as the fulfillment of God’s promises not only to his elderly parents but also to God’s people as a whole, Elizabeth and Zechariah, John’s parents, insists that the child be named John , a name whose Hebrew form, Yohana, celebrates God’s mercy and favor to his people . If there is any connections between Jesus ant the Dead Sea Scrolls, it is through John, who was â€Å"in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel† The child John grew up to become a herald of God’s coming kingdom, the messiah and the mentor of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke provides some of the chronological history of John the Baptist. According to Luke, John began to preach his baptism of repentance in the fifteenth year of Tiberius. Jesus was born sometime before the death of Herod the Great. This puts him at about thirty when he began to preach and died during the reign of Pontius Pilate, whose term was terminated shortly before the death of Tiberius in 37 c. e. Since in all three gospels Jesus’ ministry appears to last no more than about a year, the gospel of Luke places the death of Jesus between 25 C. E. and 29 C. E. with the latter being a range that would fit with Luke’s claim that John began preaching around 28 C. E. (Kraemer, 2006, p. 334). There is a period of John the Baptist life that is blank and because the gospels are the only mentioning of the man, speculation has given a possibility of where he was. They believed that John the Baptist was a recluse who spent a great amount of time with a group of people named the Essenes. These people lived in the desert awaiting the imminent arrival of the Messiah (Miller & Scelfo, 2007). The Essenes had turned its back on the Herodian temples and its worship to withdrawal to the Judean desert. Their communities were created using monastic style communities, but also to instill a religious life for families. These religious instructions included a literary center and used exclusive rituals such as baptism and prayer. This is probably where the basis of John’s beliefs was founded. In an article in Newsweek it discusses how close John the Baptist, Jesus and possibly his family were to the Essenes community. The actual ritual of Baptism, that was the Essenes belief, symbolizes â€Å"the leaving behind the sinful life one has led until now and to start out on the path to a new, changed life (Ratzinger, 2007). A Professor of religious studies wrote a book in 20006 that gave a little different look at the historical life of John the Baptist. According to this author, James Tolson, Jesus with his cousin John were in partnership and saw themselves as the founders not of a new religion but of a worldly royal dynasty that would be fulfilling ancient prophecies. The dynasty had come down from King David and was to restore Israel and guide it through an apocalyptic upheaval that was growing in the Kingdom of God on Earth. All of this was supposed to happen not in the distant or metaphoric future but then and now. True their message was one of a peaceful change, but Jesus knew he had aroused suspensions of Herodian rulers of Palestine as well as the Romans. So, according to Tolson, Jesus had to establish a provisional government with 12 tribal officials and named his brother James, not Paul as his successor. Later James became the leader of the early Christian movement (Tolson, 2006). HIS DEATH: History remembers Archelaus’s brother, Herod Antipas, because of his interactions with the prophet John the Baptist. John would loudly condemn Antipas immoral behavior of having stolen his brother’s wife, who was also his niece. Antipas arrested and kept John in chains, unable to kill him yet unable to put him out of his mind. According to the Book of Mark, â€Å"When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him† (Mark 6:20). Through a trick thought up by his wife and her daughter Salome, Antipas ended up executing John. Reports then filtered in of another prophet, and Antipas, perhaps plagued by remorse tried to see Jesus who avoided him, because of what he had done to his cousin. In both Mark and Mathew, the death of John the Baptizer is told in flashbacks. Jesus’ activities have attracted attention, and there have been speculation as to his identity, with some proposing that Jesus could be John the Baptist. Ross S. Kraemer of Brown University wrote an essay dealing with this subject. He also wrote that, â€Å"Herod Antipas too having heard the word of the prophet after John’s beheading, believes that Jesus is indeed John. Herodias, Herod’s wife, was the one who resents John and wishes to kill him but she was still prevented by Antipa’s fear of John’s righteousness and holiness. In Mark’s account at Antipas’s birthday meal was when an opportunity presented itself to Herodias. Antipas became entranced by his wife’s daughter dancing and offered this daughter anything she wished, even half of his kingdom. The daughter then goes and asks her mother what to request and her mother replies that she wants her to ask for the head of John the Baptizer on a platter. Antipas complies only in order to keep his oath and preserve his honor before his guests. In Matthew’s account there are some differences but still significant differences. Both agree that it is Antipas who orders John’s execution, but in Mark it is only because of Herodias that he does so, because Antipas has no desire to kill John. In Matthew Antipas himself desires to be rid of John, but has reservations because he fears the people who see John as a prophet. In Matthew’s account Antipas thought well of John and found his speeches pleasing. In Matthew, Herodias does not appear as a player until the end where like in Mark; Herodias capitalizes on Antipas’s offer. In Mark, Antipas has been totally manipulated by Herodias and her daughter, but in Matthew, he has merely been enabled to do what he had wished all along but was too weak to do. One more account from the book of Josephus tells that Herodias and her daughter played no role whatsoever. Josephus and Matthew actually concur in seeing Herod as always desiring John’s death, but with different motivations being that John was critical of Herodias for the way of flouting Jewish tradition by marrying Antipas and this was the motive for Herods ordering the beheading. But Josephus does cite that Antipa’s was fearful of John’s popularity and that could have started and uprising. HIS PROPHECIES: John the Baptizer was a prophet that preached with not so much words but with life. The words of the prophet ring true only because they carry with them the sweat, tears and blood of the prophet. According to Abraham Joshua Heschel, prophets are preachers whose lives are under siege, â€Å"The prophet is a man who feels fiercely. God has thrust a burden upon his soul and he is bowed and stunned at man’s fierce greed. Frightful is the agony of man; no human voice can convey its full terror. Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent agony, a voice to the plundered poor, to the profaned riches of the world. It is a form of living a crossing point of God and man. God is raging in the prophet’s words†. (Dube, 2002, p. 42). The ministry of John the Baptizer was to challenge, provoke and call towards holiness. Because prophets are on the cutting edge of the call for repentance, their call is to shatter the comfort zones of sin and complacency. The conditions that call fourth prophets are conditions of idolatry, moral decadence and weak spirituality. This is why strict conditions are set up for any prophet who prophesies peace. The message of the prophet is one that calls for repentance, one that threatens us with its incarnated holiness, rages at us with God’s words as with John the Baptizers words of, â€Å"Repent, God’s rule is around the corner! † John’s whole life was directed towards one goal, one direction, to give witness to the transcendent reality of God, which now made near, our eyes can see it and our hands can handle it. In John’s own words, â€Å"I did not know Him, but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water† (Dube, 2002, p.43). What this means is that, ultimately, every prophet has to let go. John the Baptizer has to let that which he has given witness to take its own shape and form. Letting go seems easy, a holy thing to do, but in its aftermath it is a very hazardous moment for the prophet. What is hazardous for the prophet is thinking about what has really taken place. The result is that this final movement of the prophetic life is bound by some kind of crisis such as doubt or a trouble in the mind. The prophet discovers that he or she is not the sound from the trumpet but just a reed. This realization requires a re-centering. In John’s case, the crisis is his doubts about the Messiah. But after John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus a question if he was the one or whether they should look for another his fears were relinquished (Yancey, 2007, p. 72). In Christian faith they believe that John the Baptist was ordained by God to preach and reveal the Messiah, they believe this to be Jesus. Prophecies that were foretold by John are in Luke 1:17, â€Å"And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways. † and also Luke 1:75. In the Book of Malachi John the Baptist is referred to as a prophet who is to prepare the way of the Lord, â€Å"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in, behold, he shall come, saith the Lord. † (3:1). PROOF OF EXISTENCE: In recent times a cave was discovered not far from the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, Ein Kerem, just west of Jerusalem on a Kibbutz. Where John the Baptist was born and also where churches and monasteries are built to commemorate his birth. The cave is of considerable size with genuinely puzzling feature such as a large amount of broken patter, some dating to the period when John was active, a pool used perhaps for ritual immersion, a stone with the imprint of a foot, apparently used for foot-anointing and pictures on the walls that could relate to John the Baptist that depicts an upraised arm with three crosses. But much speculation as to whether this is a representation of John or not is still up in the air (Scham, 2004). Caves have long been associated with John. In the bible, his mother, Elizabeth, flees with him to a cave to escape Herod’s massacre of male infants, and as an adult he frequently lives in caves, giving some weight to the cave findings mentioned earlier. After John’s beheadings cults formed around his memory and often held religious rituals in caves. The site was excavated by Shimon Gibson an Israeli archaeologist in 1999 and 2000. Around the perimeter he discovered the remains of walls with large dress stones which usually is a sign of an important place in the Near East. Although Gibson isn’t clear on their age, he still uses this to uphold his find. Another artifact is a unique water channeling system suggesting the presence of a reservoir from its earliest occupation, probably between 800 and 500 B. C. This, Gibson proposes, was used for baptism rituals. Along with these relics are thousands of pieces of pottery, dating from Hellenistic times. CONCLUSION: John the Baptist was a prophet of the coming of Jesus and as elusive in history as was Jesus. Not much information can be obtained about much of his life except for what is mentioned in the Gospel. The finding of the cave and if it is indeed where John the Baptist did work his miracles would be the first evidence to his existence. In all the information I found most focused on his death and the meaning of his sermons towards the end of his life. If the evidence at the excavations do prove to the existence of John than evidence on Jesus’ life will follow. I was most interested in the essay by Ross S. Kraemer that mentioned a possibility that John and Jesus could be the same. Whatever is true, it is easy to say that John the Baptist was a man that through his sermons changed the world and created a faith. Bibliography Bugge, J. (2006, April). Virginity and prophecy in the old English Daniel. English Studies. 87(2), 127-147. Dube, C. (2002). From ecstasy to ecstasies: A reflection on prophetic and Pentecostal ecstasy in the light of John the Baptizer. Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 11. 1 41-52 Gibson, S. (2004). The cave of john the Baptist. New York: Doubleday Harrington, D. (2007, June 18). Decrease and increase. America, 196(21), 38-39. Kraemer, R. S. (2006). Implicating herodias and her daughter in the death of john the Baptizer: A christian theological strategy? Journal of Biblical Literature, 125(2), 321-349. Miller, L. & Scelfo, J. (2007, May 21). A portrait of faith. Newsweek, 14(21), n. p. Ratzinger, J. (2007, May 21). The meaning of baptism. Newsweek, 149(21), n. p. Scham, S. (2004, November). St. john’s cave. Archaeology, 57(6), 52. Tolson, J. (2006, March 17). The kingdom of Christ. News & World Report, 140(14), n. p. Warrington, K. (2006, April). Acts and the healing narratives: Why? Journal of Pentecostal Theology. 14(2), 189-217. Yancey, P. (2007, January). A tale of five herods. Christianity Today, 72.

CRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CRM - Essay Example On the other hand, with the customer centric view, it is possible to develop or emphasis on the customers through better communication. Moreover, in order to be efficient, organisations are needed to improve the existing and newly emerged strategies as well as the technologies in order to satisfy customers with better quality products at affordable prices (Sumathi & Sivanandam, 2006). There are apparently ten critical success factors that can be evidently observed and can be considered as significant while initiating a CRM program which includes the establishment of measurable business goals, alignment of the operations of business and information technology. Another factor which can be identified includes receiving support from the executives along with driving the objectives of the business with support from the functional point of view. Another crucial factor is reducing the aspects of customisation by leveraging unnecessary aspects, using trained and experienced employees for CRM, ensuring active involvement in designing and receiving solution by the end users. The other crucial factor which is observed entail investment in training process for empowering employees, usage of phased rolled out schedules and measuring as well as tracking the performances of the employees while conducting a CRM program. The description of the above mentioned factors has been ela borated in the context below: The driving force of CRM can be identified as technology. If the emerging effective advancements of technology are incorporated in the business activity, the business can be operated smoothly with greater productivity along with customer satisfaction. In order to attain customer satisfaction by a considerable extent, it is the responsibility of the organisation to inject technical employees in order to effectively carry out the process of

Leadership In Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership In Healthcare - Essay Example Leadership is a dynamic process (Cooper, 2003) and there are, great variations in the definition of leadership, however, it is widely agreed that for a leader it is imperative to have a vision through which they can inspire their followers (Donnelly, 2003). The followers must have trust in the vision and mission of the leader and the leader act as the role model for them. Earlier leadership was seen as the managerial task, however, now it is recognized currently that leaders can be identified from within their team for particular tasks and cannot essentially have a responsibility of identified official within the organization ‎ (Beech, 2002) ‎.  Leadership plays a vital role in the field of healthcare also. The senior nurses have a leader role within the national health services and the healthcare organizations like NHS would not be able to provide services to the people adequately if they don’t have people working as leaders at different positions like nurses an d healthcare administrator etc. ‎ (Fielder, 1967) ‎  I strongly believe that any person could act as the leader if he has the capabilities and skills to lead a group of people. There is no need of having any university degree to become a leader but the skills can help a person to lead a group of followers.  Transformational Leadership: Transformational leadership is combined with democratic styles of leadership. ‎This relates leaders and supporters connected in a general goal. It is a leadership approach based on embracing transformation and supporting development (Dale, and Philogene, 2002).‎ in this style of leadership, the leader provides a visionary explanation for motivating the team so that they could be empowered to achieve their job.  Democratic: Democratic leadership has some resemblances to what ‎implemented to be earlier defined a ‘charismatic’ style (Department of Health, 2005).  

Wetted wall column Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Wetted wall column - Coursework Example According to Mass balance (also known as material balance), and assuming that there no accumulation of materials in the system, or there is no loss associated with process under which the materials entering the system are undergoing, the mass of materials entering the system is equal to the mass of materials (components) leaving the system (Atkins 1997). See the diagram below. If accumulation occurs in the system, the mass of materials entering the system is equal to the mass of materials leaving the system plus the mass of materials that have accumulated in the system. This can be as shown in the equation below, One of the ways in which mass balance can be studied theoretically is through wetted column. A wetted column experiment consists of a vertical tube in which a gas is flowing either co-current or counter current to a liquid (the liquid has to be volatile in nature) (Sinnott 2007). The interface area between the liquid column (thin film) and the gas can be measured and is usually constant (Dainitiyh 1996). In the wetted column the volatile liquid is usually flowing down the surface of the wetted tube in a very thin film (Kim 2007). From the rate at which the volatile liquid change to gaseous state (evaporation), the coefficient of the mass transfer of the gas phase can be calculated. The rate of mass transfer in wetted column (also rate of evaporation) normally depends on the conditions that prevail in the area (interface) between the gas stream and the thin liquid column (film). In the wetted column, the gas flow is either laminar or turbulent, that is, the flow of the gas is either smooth or associated with ripples at the interface. The mass balance of the materials (in this case water vapour) that are transferred from the film of the liquid to the air along the column (assuming that the transfer has taken place throughout the length of the tube (column)) is

Should American Soldiers have Invaded into the Irak War Essay

Should American Soldiers have Invaded into the Irak War - Essay Example activities to religiously aggravated 'jihad.' There is currently a self-governing Iraqi regime, and a contract in place to get rid of a considerable number of US military troops from the state. President Bush argued all through the two terms of his administration that the warfare in the country Iraq was a front procession in a war in opposition to global violence and terrorism. This belief was contemplated annually in special foundational addresses, and brought about substantial debate in the U.S and around the world. This essay will cover up the reasons as to why the American soldiers shouldn’t have invaded into Iraq. At the present it is finally recognized that there were no organic associations between Al Qaeda and Iraq in 2003, nor were artillery or weapons of mass obliteration and destruction ever found. So the question which arises is that should American soldiers have invaded into the Iraq War? A number of people think that the war was a fair and just route, while on th e other hand many believe that it was an intended endeavor by the American government to guard their economic wellbeing. This essay will draw attention to the two aspects of the debate that have been carried out in recent times. Individuals that defended this confrontation, particularly those that admire George .w. Bush state that if Iraq is not calmed down or stabilized, it could turn out to be a ground for terrorist breeding and a secure location for Osama Bin Laden or one more Saddam. The truth remains that the American armed forces that marched into Iraq failed to present the weapons they declared Hussein had his hands on. If the government of the United States truly planned to get rid of leaders who crush or trample upon the rights of humans or of their nation, Saddam must not have been the single target while at the moment of the attack. In my own opinion, American attack on Iraq was established on economic motives. US administration had the oil in mind which is abundantly fou nd in Iraq, and that was the purpose for execution the attack even without the complete agreement or support of the UN Security Commission. An attack on Iraq for the intention of "government transformation" would not be an officially authorized war if one considers the international law. As stated by Mohammad Taghi â€Å"Article 2(4)  of the UN Charter states that All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations." Random assassinations, use of grenades, dozens of aggressive groups, and an intensified feeling of insecurity and depression troubles Iraq. The proof of enveloping and relentless chaos is all over the place, from the official figures of mortality to extended approximations of numerical results, from the news of families abandoning hazardous areas by the amount of tens of thousands to the demolishing of governance. As stated by Thomas G. Manken â€Å"The lethal fighting is all-pervading, but without an evident front or a visible strategy and for those reasons, among others, it is poorly understood.† Bombing of nationals population is a type of violence and terrorism  even more repugnant comparative to low-tech terrorism street killing and bombing of innocents. Opponents of the attack argued that it lead to the loss of hundreds of Iraqi nationals and military in addition to

Internal Fraud Investigation at Lakes Inc Assignment

Internal Fraud Investigation at Lakes Inc - Assignment Example Next were co-conspirators then the main suspect. Professionalism was maintained as was respect for the suspects rights. All interviews and proceedings were recorded. A confession was obtained from the key suspect after a leniency deal with the co-conspirator. The investigation recommended an out of court settlement. Introduction Internal fraud is increasingly becoming a major concern for organizations either with staff abusing their positions, making false claims or outrightly obtaining company assets by unauthorized means. While staff should be the first line of defense against fraud attacks, some staff members take advantage of this and become the fraudsters. The UK leading anti-fraud agency, CIFAS reported a 70 percent increase in internal fraud by employees in the half year of 2009 (Jones, 2011). The rise in staff fraud necessitates investigations in the most professional and effective manner to root out the offenders, recover stolen property and mitigate such future occurrences. This paper will give a narrative of Lake Inc. case where the Associate purchasing director was reported to be abusing his position to obtain goods fraudulently. The essay will report on how the investigation was done, the findings and conclusions made. On receiving the tip, the Lakes Inc. management contacted the writer to get to the bottom of the issue by conducting a thorough and professional investigation. The basic steps for investigating internal fraud were conducted to solve the case. The fact that the investigations started almost two months after the staff tip-off could potentially have jeopardized the case. This is because frauds should be reported, verified and investigated as soon as possible. This way tracking evidence is faster and the evidence is still fresh. Sufficient grounds to believe fraud had taken place were established by myself before getting on with the investigation. I used interviewing, document scrutiny and making personal observations to get to the root of the case, and secured control and ownership of the relevant purchase and payment documents. This was essential in ensuring they are not tampered with and that they could be availed and used as evidence. The documents helped form the basis for conducting the investigation at Lakes Inc. I reviewed the obvious information first; that false invoices had been used to obtain refunds by the purchases department amounting to $ 8 795.60, before getting into the details. Getting detailed information involved interviewing neutral third party witnesses to the case after scrutinizing the invoicing documents and authenticating them. The neutral third party witnesses interviewed were dispatch and collection personnel, the stores and inventory clerks, and the IT support department (Coenen, 2009). These were interviewed to verify no computer servers were bought as stated in the invoice and claim documents were actually delivered, entered into the inventory records, and/ or installed. The intervie w took place on the 6th August. From here, witnesses who could corroborate the evidence adduced so far were interviewed on the same day (Coenen, 2009). An evaluation of the requisition system for new equipment or office equipment was done to establish the procedures and who were involved in the process.  

The bible and Quran common teaching about voilence and faith Essay

The bible and Quran common teaching about voilence and faith - Essay Example From Arabia and Persia: The World of Islam and the Near East: The Spread of Christianity written in the Bedford Anthology of World Literature, it talks about the history of how Islam, the youngest religion, and Christianity, was established and formed. In the deserts of Arabian Peninsula during the seventh century, a prophet named Muhammad, at the age of 30 while he was in a cave, believed to have received a calling from Allah, the Islamic name of God, and that he was the last of the prophets. From then on, he began to preach and share Allah’s revelations presented to Muhammad to the rest of the world. The revelations, said to be the precise words of Allah himself is preserved in its text called the Qur’an. Muslims practice the teachings in it, including the Five Pillars such as fasting and alms-giving, and other practices such as Jihad, also known as struggle. Christianity, on the other hand, was created roughly 30 A.D. All its teachings and the practices done by Chris tians are based on Jesus Christ’s life and teachings. In the Rise of Christianity, it explains and retells the spread of Christianity, starting from the Roman Empire. Jesus’ teachings are all presented in the different texts and scriptures mainly the Hebrew Bible, which talks about Jesus’ birth, his life including his death and resurrection. Its main teaching is that Jesus Christ, who is the Messiah, died for the world’s sins and if anybody accepts Him as their Lord and personal Savior, they will be able to go to heaven and be with God. Christians practice worshipping and praising the Lord, praying and fasting, and baptism. Even though they are two totally and completely different religions, Christianity and Islam are considered and regarded to be the closest between all other religions in terms of their faith, beliefs as well as some of their values, sharing several similarities and likeness. The main similarity that both religions share is the monotheis tic belief in the same God. In Islam, this is shown through several verses in Islam’s most sacred book, the Qur’an. In one of the verses written, particularly in Qur’an 3:64, it says â€Å"Say, ‘O followers of the scripture, let us come to a logical agreement between us and you: that we shall not worship except GOD; that we never set up any idols besides Him, nor set up any human beings as lords beside GOD.’ If they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are submitters.† And in the Holy Bible, it says in the book of first Corinthians in the New Testament, â€Å"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.† The Qur’an and the Bible also believe in the existence and presence of angels who are the messengers of God, endlessly glorifying Him. Both holy books also tell of the same prophe ts such as Adam, the first human on Earth, Noah, Abraham whom is highly given importance to in Islam and is believed to be one of, if not the most important prophet and messenger of Allah who has followed all of the Lord’s commandments and who has overcome all the trials that God has given, Moses and Jesus, but in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God, not just a prophet in which Islam believes. The Day of Resurrection and Judgment and the belief that it is predetermined by God but unknown to anyone else in heaven and on Earth is also a common and a shared belief written in both texts.

Strategic plan for robin hood and merry men and women Research Paper

Strategic plan for robin hood and merry men and women - Research Paper Example This has put Robin in a dilemma and he has to make a decision sooner than later to feed all of them. An option that he is considering but not sure is creation of transit taxes. Robin acts as the CEO, and is responsible and makes all the important decisions. He is assisted by lieutenants who have specific roles assigned to them and concentrate on that. This is in the lines of Fayolism theory (Gallagher et al., 1997). But this is now very tough considering the size of the organization. The charismatic leadership of Robin has worked wonderfully until now. He has been bale to influence his followers by his personal characteristics rather than his position of authority. He has all the characteristics of a charismatic leader such as passion, vision, risk taking, etc (Daft, 2007). But now he will need to find other charismatic and transformational leaders who can work within the organization. BMMMW needs to rework on the focus. Robin’s personal vendetta must not come in the way of th e much higher goal of welfare of the people. BMMMW still do not have a proper strategy to achieve their goal. Recommendations On assessing the current situation and the primary objective of the organization, following recommendations are made: A plan of action needs to be designed.

War is a force that gives us meaning Essay Example for Free

War is a force that gives us meaning Essay War, when we confront it truthfully, exposes the darkness within all of us. This darkness shatters the illusions many of us hold not only about the human race but also about ourselves. Few of us confront our own capacity for evil, but this is especially true in wartime. And even those who engage in combat are afterward given cups from the River Lethe to forget. And with each swallow they imbibe the myth of war. For the myth makes war palatable. It gives war a logic and sanctity it does not possess. It saves us from peering into the darkest recesses of our own hearts. And this is why we like it. It is why we clamor for myth. The myth is enjoyable, and the press, as is true in every nation that goes to war, is only too happy to oblige. They dish it up and we ask for more. War as myth begins with blind patriotism, which is always thinly veiled self-glorification. We exalt ourselves, our goodness, our decency, our humanity, and in that self-exaltation we denigrate the other. The flip side of nationalism is racismlook at the jokes we tell about the French. It feels great. War as myth allows us to suspend judgment and personal morality for the contagion of the crowd. War means we do not face death alone. We face it as a group. And death is easier to bear because of this. We jettison all the moral precepts we have about the murder of innocent civilians, including children, and dismiss atrocities of war as the regrettable cost of battle. As I write this article, hundreds of thousands of innocent people, including children and the elderly, are trapped inside the city of Basra in southern Iraqa city I know wellwithout clean drinking water. Many will die. But we seem, because we imbibe the myth of war, unconcerned with the suffering of others. Yet, at the same time, we hold up our own victims. These crowds of silent deadour soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice and our innocents who were killed in the crimes against humanity that took place on 9/11are trotted out to sanctify the cause and our employment of indiscriminate violence. To question the cause is to defile the dead. Our dead counts. Their dead does not. We endow our victims, like our cause, with righteousness. And this righteousness gives us the moral justification to commit murder. It is an old story. In wartime we feel a comradeship that, for many of us, makes us feel that for the first time we belong to the nation and the group. We are fooled into thinking that in wartime social inequalities have been obliterated. We are fooled into feeling that, because of the threat, we care about others and others care about us in new and powerful waves of emotion. We are giddy. We mistake this for friendship. It is not. Comradeship, the kind that comes to us in wartime, is about the suppression of self-awareness, self-possession. All is laid at the feet of the god of war. And the cost of this comradeship, certainly for soldiers, is self-sacrifice, self-annihilation. In wartime we become necrophiliacs. As it happens, Ive just finished reading Mr. Hedges memoir, â€Å"War is a Force that Gives us Meaning†, and its very much of a piece with this, which is to say heartfelt, but overstated, particularly as regards his own country. Mr. Hedges spent fifteen years as a foreign correspondent, covering every war and genocide you can name, and many that few of us can. As just a reminder of these conflicts and of the victims thereof, it is worth reading. However, when he tries to draw broader conclusions he, perhaps understandably, overreacts. The truths that he speaks of above are not the only truths that war exposes, nor are they necessarily the primary truths. Its a truism that war is terrible, but it is just not the case, as even he ultimately must concede, that it is the most terrible thing. It would be dishonest to argue that myth is not an important part of patriotism and the will to war, but consider how much here is not myth. The deads of 9-11 were in fact innocent victims. They went to work one fine morning in September and because of that they were murdered. No amount of scab-picking about past American policy in the Middle East can ever make it so that they deserved to die, can it? Likewise, those who perpetrated that heinous act, al Qaeda, and those who aided them, the Taliban, can not escape moral culpability, no matter what their grievances against the United States. It is an objective truth that at least these victims of ours were innocent and at least those enemies are not. A somewhat better case can be made that the people of Iraq are innocent victims. However, they were victims of Saddam before we liberated themMr. Hedges might wince at the boastfulness of a term like liberation, but there is no reason for us toand their lives are immeasurably better today for our having acted. Who cares more for the people of Basra, those content to stand idly by while Saddam oppressed them or those whove returned their freedom to them? Moreover, far from ignoring the suffering of potential innocents in this war, we took every reasonable (and some perhaps unreasonable) precaution to avoid civilian casualties. If the myths of which Mr. Hedges speaks were wholly true, it would have been simplicity itself to slaughter Iraqis indiscriminately, even to exterminate the population, yet this we did not do. Here is the inescapable problem for Mr. Hedges: give a Hitler, a Stalin, a Milosevic, a bin Laden, a whomever, nuclear weapons and there can be little doubt theyd use them to kill their enemies. Yet we have them and we do not use them (except the twice, sixty years ago). If we had truly become necrophiliacs, as are our foes so often become, why would we not kill to out utmost capacity to do so? The attacks on the World Trade Center illustrate that those who oppose us, rather than coming from another moral universe, have been schooled well in modern warfare. The dramatic explosions, the fireballs, the victims plummeting to their deaths, the collapse of the towers in Manhattan, were straight out of Hollywood. Where else, but from the industrialized world, did the suicide hijackers learn that huge explosions and death above a city skyline are a peculiar and effective form of communication? They have mastered the language. They understand that the use of disproportionate violence against innocents is a way to make a statement. We leave the same calling cards. Corpses in wartime often deliver messages. The death squads in El Salvador dumped three bodies in the parking lot of the Camino Real Hotel in San Salvador, where the journalists were based, and early one morning. Death threats against us were stuffed in the mouths of the bodies. And, on a larger scale, Washington uses murder and corpses to transmit its wrath. We delivered such incendiary messages in Vietnam, Iraq, Serbia, and Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden has learned to speak the language of modern industrial warfare. Organized killing is done best by a disciplined, professional army. But war also empowers those with a predilection for murder. Petty gangsters, reviled in pre-war Sarajevo, were transformed overnight at the start of the conflict into war heroes. What they did was no different. They still pillaged, looted, tortured, raped, and killed; only then they did it to Serbs, and with an ideological veneer. Slobodan Milosevic went one further. He opened up the countrys prisons and armed his criminal class to fight in Bosnia. Once we sign on for wars crusade, once we see ourselves on the side of the angels, once we embrace a theological or ideological belief system that defines itself as the embodiment of goodness and light, it is only a matter of how we will carry out murder. The eruption of conflict instantly reduces the headache and trivia of daily life. The communal march against an enemy generates a warm, unfamiliar bond with our neighbors, our community, and our nation, wiping out unsettling undercurrents of alienation and dislocation. War, in times of malaise and desperation, is a potent distraction. George Orwell in 1984 wrote of the necessity of constant wars against the Other to forge a false unity among the proles: War had been literally continuous, though strictly speaking it had not always been the same war. The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil. Patriotism, often a thinly veiled form of collective self-worship, celebrates our goodness, our ideals, our mercy and bemoans the perfidiousness of those who hate us. War makes the world understandable, a black and white tableau of them and us. It suspends thought, especially self-critical thought. All bow before the supreme effort. We are one. Most of us willingly accept war as long as we can fold it into a belief system that paints the ensuing suffering as necessary for a higher good, for human beings seek not only happiness but also meaning. And tragically war is sometimes the most powerful way in human society to achieve meaning. This is positively bizarre. One might imagine us to have been at war with the Arab world throughout the 90s, and Osama bin Laden to just be responding to our constant attacks. In fact, the truth, as the analysts tell us is the opposite. It was precisely because America was so reticent to respond to terror in any systematic way, so loathe leaving behind the roaring 90s and go to war, that al Qaeda became emboldened. In Mr. Hedge’s account we woke up one day, found our lives lacked meaning, and marched to war with an Islam we suddenly decided to portray as evil. In reality, we woke one day to find the World Trade Center and Pentagon in flames, decided that our lives had a meaning worth defending after all, and set out not to fight all Islam but those who have distorted it into something hateful. When in human history has a leader gone further out of his waymany would argue too farto limit just who the enemy is, to limit the material destruction and civilian deaths, to get aid to the newly liberated peoples, etc. Whenever else have military bombed countries with food and humanitarian supplies? No, to accept Mr. Hedges implicit argument that there is no difference between us and al Qaeda or between Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush is to abandon even the idea of morality. It is too deny that morality exists. Mr. Hedges himself acknowledges this, if not directly, when he disavows pacifism: The poison that is war does not free us from the ethics of responsibility. There are times when we must take this poisonjust as a person with cancer accepts chemotherapy to live. We cannot succumb to despair. Force is and I suspect always will be part of the human condition. There are times when the force wielded by one immoral faction must be countered by a faction that, while never moral, is perhaps less immoral. This is sheer nonsense. A doctor administers poison to the chemotherapy patienthas he not behaved morally? A bystander or a policeman uses force to stop a rapehave they not acted morally just because they used force, which, as Mr. Hedges says, will always be part of the human condition? One nation intervenes with force to stop genocide or a megalomaniac dictatorin what sense is this not a moral act? He closes the chapter by saying: This is not a call for inaction. It is a call for repentance. So we should not stand by and watch as one people slaughter another, but if we use force to stop it we must repent that use of force? What kind of morality is it that holds you guilty if you act and if you dont? The answer is not a serious one. This is mere self-flagellation and pious posturing. Mr. Hedges provides us with a harrowing glimpse of modern war and a salutary warning about how the enthusiasms of war affect all us, but he goes way too far and lapses into absurdity when he demands that we treat all uses of force as immoral

Should We Eat Pork Philosophy Essay

Should We Eat Pork Philosophy Essay Nowadays, people pay more attention on choosing what we eat. At the same time, the issue of animal rights and welfare is being raised and discussed in the society. Dogs have been considered as our companion animals for over 30,000 years (Waugh, 2012), while pigs are being considered as farm animals in most countries. Dogs are loved and cared by human; staying with us and we provide them with comfortable living environment. However, pigs live in intensive factory farms with indecent living conditions, being packed in small areas and treated inhumanely, and being treated as food to human. This situation reveals the problem of unequal treatment between pigs and dogs and it leads us to the topic: should we eat pork if we do not eat dogs? Most people against eating dog meat but they allow eating pork; they object to cruelty to dogs while enjoying the produce by cruelty to pigs. We are showing our prejudice towards pigs when we are labelling them as meat, because it turns pigs as something, and we are objectifying them as food to human (Grillo, 2012). They are both animals, but what are the differences between pigs and dogs and what is wrong in pigs that make them deserve poorer treatment? Given that pigs and dogs are both animals, then they should be given same treatment. If we refuse to eat dogs, then we should not eat pork. In the following, I will be introducing the problem of moral inconsistency, followed by arguing that indeed pigs and dogs are very similar, and the value of them should be independent of their relationship with humans. Possible arguments from the opposite side, along with some responses will be addressed in the later part. Psychologists mentioned that people are always inconsistent in our attitude and behaviour, and Elizabeth Anderson once mentioned in her book that she is puzzled and confused with moral inconsistency when she saw pet owners wearing fur coat (Herzog, 2011). We are fed with absurdity when we have inconsistent attitudes and selective empathy towards pigs and dogs, and carnisim is the invisible belief system which drives us to choose what to eat (Joy, 2011). We need to be consistent in ethics so as to avoid contraction between our beliefs, values and actions. Being consistent also reflects our integrity as human beings. There are several reasons behind moral inconsistency. The A-B-C model is a widely accepted theory which talks about our attitudes. Our attitude is guided by three components, they are Affect, Behaviour and Cognition (Herzog, 2011). Attitude is how people think and feel towards something, behaviour is your action, cognition is how well you understand that issue. Sometimes, people may encounter moral inconsistency because of keeping a pet, which they are emotionally attached to dogs or other companion animals; or they do not understand how pigs suffering during the process of slaughtering, which they do not consider it as an issue to pigs to be treated inhumanely and killed. People may refuse to eat pork once they see, smell or listen to sounds and situation in the slaughterhouse. Chris Diehm, an environmental philosopher discovered that even when people are pointed out with moral inconsistency, we often think of ways to turn personal behaviour into something reasonable and justifiable (Herzog, 2011). Some of us do realise the differences in our relationships and the way we treat different pigs and dogs; however, we remove our inconsistency by changing our beliefs instead of changing our behaviour so as to feel comfortable. People are unwilling to admit that we are inconsistent or incoherent mainly due to our interest and selfishness, some love the taste of pork and they defend eating pigs. Although Hal Herzog mentioned that moral incoherence is one of the inevitable features of human nature (Herzog, 2011), it is not an excuse of treating pigs and dogs unequally. Human nature does not justify moral incoherence; rather, our human nature, especially our ability to reason and intelligence makes us distinctive from other animals. Instead, human should make good us e of the ability to reason and morality to achieve moral coherence and consistency. Now I will turn to the reasons why pigs and dogs deserve same treatment from human. First of all, pigs and dogs are similar in two ways, both psychologically and physically. In psychological point of view, pigs and dogs are also sentient animals, which they have emotions and they have the ability to experience happiness and sadness. Pigs can be both optimists and pessimists, and their living environment is one of the factors affecting their emotions (Berkoff, 2011). Furthermore, both of them have long term memory of their experience in pain and pleasure, especially for pigs, they not only suffer their own pain, but witness and remember pain of others (PETA, 2013). It has been proved in different scientific reports that both pigs and dogs are very intelligent. They can also develop complex relationships with other species, and they care what happens to them (Grillo, 2012). Each animal, including pigs and dogs has their unique personality and characteristic. In biological point of view, according to the classification of living things, pigs and dogs belong to the clas s of mammals. They have many common characteristics, such as being vertebrates, warm-blooded, having furs and hairs and sweat glands, as well as they undergo internal fertilization. In terms of physical appearance, they have similar teeth and heart structure. They can also perform simple tasks that children are able to do, and doing different tricks like jumping hoops, bowing and standing (Angier, 2009). It is also found that both pigs and dogs have certain preferences towards temperature, such as under cold conditions, dogs need to wear clothes, and pigs can turn on the heater when they are given the chance and turn it off when they feel hot (PETA, 2013). There are a lot misunderstandings or unknown facts about pigs that makes them inferior to dogs. Regarding the psychological and physical similarities, differences in biological structure or emotions do not justify unequal treatment towards pigs. Secondly, some people hold the idea that human are superior to other animals, so that we have the right to treat them according to their relationships with us, and their values depends on how close we are. Paul Taylor brought out the idea of species egalitarianism and biocentrism on the ground that not only are animals members of the community, they are also teleological centres of life that each animal is a unique individual pursing its own good in its own way (Taylor, 1986). Generally, there are three kinds of values being identified in animals, which are the commodity, amenity and moral value (Norton, 1988). Commodity value refers that species can be made into products and being sold in market, for example wool and alligators for making clothes and handbags. Amenity value refers to the presence of animals which improves our lives in a recreational way, such as fishing, hunting or watching performances. Moral value refers to values in species themselves, which includes intrinsic an d inherent value; and that value is independent of human (Regan, 2006; Taylor, 1986). The moral value is a universal value, which can be found in all species and it is the same in all species. Unlike commodity and amenity value, moral value does not come in any degree (Regan, 2006). Therefore, animals have their own life and they do not fully depend on human although different species are interdependent in some way. Even if their values depend on human, it would be a mistake if we overlook their own moral values and independence. Moral value of animals is highly related to the problem of moral inconsistency. Most people responding to some questionnaires stated that they treasured and valued the independent value of animals, which they agreed animals exist independent of any use (Randall, 1986). In spite of the findings from the questionnaires, human place commodity and amenity values on top of moral value of animals in most of the time. Those three values should come together in parallel, and hold equal importance. Furthermore, animals with further relationship with us do not mean that we should or have the rights to treat them unequally and inflict harm on them. We do not know someone does not mean we should hurt that person, and the same applies to animals. Pigs and dogs are independent creatures; they do not live for us. Despite pigs and dogs are highly similar and they have independent moral values, people hold the opposite view have other arguments that they believe it is fine to treat pigs and dogs in different way. In the following, I will be presenting their objections and some responses why their arguments do not stand. Some people may argue that pigs and dogs are very different in nature, which means they are not the same when they are born to and born for. People mean that dogs are bred to be friends and companions of human, while pigs are bred as farm animals to be food and meat to feed human. The ones holding this view consider both dogs and pigs as means to human. We should not consider pigs and dogs as tools to serve and satisfy human needs since we are not the only species on the world (Regan, 2006). They do not live for us as mentioned previously that animals have independent moral value from us. The nature indeed does not shape animals distinctively for different purposes or uses; it does not separate animals from animals into different categories. It is our intuition or practices which lead us to the idea that pigs and dogs are different. Using the example of human, we are not born to be someone; it is our experience that shapes us. Therefore, it does not make sense in claiming that pigs a nd dogs are born differently. People may say that history and our own culture contributes to the differences between pigs and dogs and the act of eating pork, it makes nothing wrong in following our customs. We develop our practices by learning from our ancestors and parents, copying their way of living including their eating habits. However, following culture and customs does not mean we are acting rightfully or the act is ethically good. For example, racism, gender inequality and slavery existed since long time ago; do we say that they are justifiable because our culture and customs that treat people in different manners and ways? We should not make judgements only base on culture and customs, but also our morality, critical mind and rational thinking. It is undeniably difficult to change our practices and beliefs in a short period of time. A person is easily being tempted when the idea of treating pigs and dogs first comes to his mind; and it certainly takes time to change our habit (Herzog, 2011). Another argument which is likely to be given by pet lovers who eat meat is that dogs have higher instrumental value. In the past, dogs hunt for human and they are being considered as loyal since long time ago. They stay with us during our ups and downs, offering love and companionship. They can protect human, our property and children, dogs are also being used to detect bombs and drugs (Wogrinrich, 2011); while pigs are only being considered as food to human. Although dogs seem to have higher instrumental values in our life, actually they are equipped with all those talents because they are trained. Some may say dogs can recognise drugs because of their sensitivity in smelling. However, when we look deeply on how dogs identify different types of drugs, it is because they are being taught by human. If they are not trained, their strengths could not be expressed. It is because we human choose them to be taught rather than pigs, it does not mean that pigs cannot perform those tasks and actions, pigs are also trainable as they are intelligent. Pigs can also be our companion animals and we can keep them in our homes. We stereotyped pigs as stupid and dirty, which refrained people from getting close with them in the past. In this way, we cannot support the argument that we do not eat dogs because they are useful, it is human who makes them useful, and we can also provide pigs with skills so that they can have higher instrumental value. Rick Dove, an animal welfare campaigner once said Its an idiotic double standard: you cant kick a dog, but you can lock a pig up in a small crate and take her piglets away before she can nurse them properly, as any mother is programmed to do. This is mans insane inhumanity at its worst. (Kirby, 2010); dog lovers who claim that they love and care about animals are contradicting if they eat pork, who truly love animals should not be morally defending causing one harm and suffering to satisfy their own pleasure. It is hypocritical to love one but totally neglecting the other. If we agree to eat pork, we should accept eating dogs as well regarding their similarity and moral values. If we refuse to eat dogs, then we should not eat pork. Years ago, people have not thought of refusing to eat shark fins due to our traditions and customs, yet people are asking others stop eating shark fins now. Some may not think of treating pigs and dogs and other animals consistently and coherently similarl y. Value changes as time passes, it is the matter of time that people should put this matter into practices. Not only between pigs and dogs, but the other animals should also be given same treatment to show our respect to them as one of the members in community.

Raskolnikovs Crimes Essay -- Literary Analysis Crime Punishment

In every age we live, there is a constant struggle between finding a cure to our neurosis with the advent of urbanization and finding qualities in nature that supersede our abilities in enhancing modern man. With that kind of chaos come various forms of behaviors and actions, most of which stem to arguments of good versus evil. Dostoevsky insists that men have the choice between good and evil every moment of their lives; no matter the circumstance, they have the choice between moral and immoral. Crime and Punishment is a story of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov’s struggle with the ideologies of his time. The young and impoverished law student is torn between unifying and nihilistic cultures afflicting nineteenth-century tsarist Russia. Through a journey of crime, it becomes clear to Raskolnikov that his ultimate failure was caused by his transgression in murdering cold-heartedly, attempting to prove his self-worth by crossing the law. As Raskolnikov’s guilt overwhel ms him and becomes unbearable, his only solace is confession to the crime. Serving his prison term in Siberia, Raskolnikov comes to the realization that reason cannot beat the human conscience. Motive is central to any crime committed. When put on trial, a prosecutor must first prove that the accused acted in the crime, and then he/she must prove the criminal possessed a â€Å"guilty mind.† There is neither doubt nor denial that Raskolnikov murdered the old pawnbroker and her half-sister. As he was approaching the old woman’s house, Raskolnikov protested to himself, â€Å"Can it be, can it be, that I will really take an axe, that I will strike her on the head, split her skull open . . . that I will tread in the sticky warm blood, break the lock, steal and tremble; hide... ...roit: Gale Research Company, 1984. 69. Print. Hackett, Francis. â€Å"Crime and Punishment.† Horizons: A Book of Criticism. New York: B. W. Huebsh, 1918. 178-185. Rpt. in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Laurie Lanzen Harris and Sheila Fitzgerald. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1984. 74-75. Print. Jones, Malcolm V. Dostoyevsky: The Novel of Discord. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1976. Print. Miller, Robin Feuer. Critical Essays on Dostoevsky. Boston: G. K. Hall & Co., 1986. Print Strakhov, N. â€Å"The Nihilists and Raskolnikov’s New Idea.† â€Å"Crime and Punishment† by Feodor Dostoevsky: A Norton Critical Edition †¦ Essays in Criticism. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1975. 485-487. Rpt. in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Laurie Lanzen Harris and Sheila Fitzgerald. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1984. 69-70. Print.

The American Hero :: essays research papers

The American Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For many years the American Hero has filled the silver screen and wide screened television sets, along with shelves of countless bookstores. Audiences love to see the protagonist overcome great odds, defeat the forces of evil, and save the beautiful girl at the last second. The character of the American Hero however, is not a new idea. James Cooper, in the 1800’s, created the archetype of the American Hero. Natty Bumpo, also called Deerslayer, embodied many qualities of the great American Hero. Modern day heroes are simply following the example set by Cooper’s creation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two qualities that many heroes possess are bravery and honesty. In the excerpt â€Å"Deerslayer Escapes†, Natty Bumpo exhibits these two traits when he returns to accept his punishment for killing a great Huron warrior. His punishment for killing is death. Knowing this and still returning to the tribe shows tremendous bravery. After Deerslayer returns, Cooper writes the reaction of the tribe. The leader, Rivenoak, describes Natty of being brave and honest, by saying, â€Å" Paleface, you are honest. We shall treat you as a brave.† Natty Bumpo speaks of his own honesty when he refuses to take their compromise for death. The solution is against what Deerslayer believes in so he doesn’t go along with the plan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heroes are also expected to stick to their beliefs, regardless of consequences. After killing the Huron’s best warrior, the Hurons offer Natty a solution. He must marry the widow of the fallen warrior. The reason is because there is no one to hunt or provide for the family. Deerslayer doesn’t mind providing for the family, but refuses to marry the widow, who is old enough to be his mother. He responds with this â€Å"As for feeding the children, I would do that cheerfully, could it be done without discredit.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The stereotypical hero is usually skilled with a weapon. Natty is in pioneer times, so there isn’t much choice in weaponry. Besides his gun that he kills deer with, there isn’t much that Deerslayer can do. When facing the tribe, waiting on his sentence, Le Panther, the Huron leader, throws a tomahawk at Natty. With his quick thinking he grabs the tomahawk before it even gets to him. He throws it back at Panther.

French Revolution - Motives of Committee of Public Safety :: French Revolution Essays

Essay Topic: Discuss the motives of the Committee of Public Safety and the role they played in the running of France (up to 27 July 1794) "Anarchy within, invasion without. A country cracking from outside pressure, disintegrating from internal strain. Revolution at its height" This was the country the Committee of Public Safety ("The committee"), inherited and it was announced their mission by the Convention, to "create a viable (republican) state amid political turmoil" , by means of intimidation and ultimately terror, indeed the proclamation of "terror as the order of the day" so as to establish a peaceful, stable government for the introduction of the constitution. "The aim of constitutional government is to preserve republic. The aim of revolutionary government is to establish it" This was to be achieved by the passing of "laws and controls necessary to strike terror in the hearts of counter revolutionaries" . However as is revealed through their actions and policies, the Committee had ulterior motives, harnessing Jacobin ideals. During the years of terror, ending July 27th 1794, the Committee established themselve s within the running of France, by assuming control of areas of the economy, sections of war and munitions, as well as education and supply and provisioning as part of their bid for ultimate change. "laws passed went beyond national safety and revealed a Jacobin social vision for a secular and republican education system and a national program of social welfare" . The terror was their weapon, with which to establish and restructure areas of education, war and munitions, provisioning and supply, and ultimately change the very principles and traditions daily life relied upon. It became both their motive, and their mission, and it was part of their role which they played in the running of France. No longer was "The central purpose of the terror to institute the emergency and draconian measures necessary at a time of military crisis" , but rather to establish an official ideology from which would stem republicanism and other Jacobin ideals. The Committee were able to acquire control over the Convention and the industries of France, by relying on the support of Jacobin members of the Convention. "The national convention claimed sovereign authority, but in half of France its authority was denied." . It is for this reason that they were able to create a virtual dictatorship over France and introduce policies such as the policy of Suspects, and the Law of 22 Prairial, (June 10, 1794), which "suspended a suspects right to a public trial and to legal assistance".

Heart Failure Alert System Using Rfid Technology

The paper will be demonstrating for the first time ever the usage of wireless electrification systems and miniature sensor devices like RIFF passive Tags, that are smaller than a grain of rice and equipped with a tiny antenna which will capture and wirelessly transmit a person's vital body-function data, such as pulse or body temperature , to an integrated ground station. In addition, the antenna will also receive Information regarding the location of the individual from the GAPS (Global Positioning Satellite) System.Both sets of data medical Information and location will then be wirelessly transmitted to the ground station and made available to save lives y remotely monitoring the medical conditions of at-risk patients and providing emergency rescue units with the person's exact location. This paper gives a predicted general model for Heart Failure Alert System. It also discusses the Algorithm for converting the Analog pulse to Binary data in the tag and the Algorithm for Alerting t he Location & Tracking Station. It discusses in detail the various stages involved in tracking the exact location of the Victim using this technology. . Illumination It is tough to declare convincingly what is the most Important organ of our DOD Infant every organ has Its own Importance contributing and coordinating superbly to keep the wonderful machine the human body functioning smoothly. And one of the primary organs which the body cannot do without is the heart, 72 beats a minute or over a trillion in a lifetime. The pump house of our body pumping the blood to every corner of our body every moment, thus sending oxygen and nutrients to each and every cell.Over a period of time, the heart muscles go weak, the arteries get blocked and sometimes because of a shock a part of the heart stops functioning resulting in what is called a HEART ATTACK. Heart attack is a major cause of death and in today's tension full world It has become very common. Presently there Is no mechanism by which a device monitors a person's heart 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and gives him instant protection in case of problem. Our primary focus is on people with a history of heart problem as they are more prone to death due to heart ‘OFF Taller.In ten II/Us, a group AT clients at ten Lawrence Livermore Larboard realized that a handheld receiver stimulated by RFC power could send back a coded radio signal. Such a system could be connected to a simple computer and used to intro access to a secure facility. This system ultimately became one of the first building entry systems based on the first commercial use of RIFF. RIFF or Radio Frequency identification is a technology that enables the tracking or identification of objects using ICC based tags with an RFC circuit and antenna, and RFC readers that â€Å"read† and in some case modify the information stored in the ICC memory.RIFF is an automated data-capture technology that can be used to electronically identify, track, and stor e information about groups of products, individual items, or product components. The technology consists of three key pieces: ; RIFF tags. ; RIFF readers. ; A data collection and management system. RIFF tags: RIFF tags are small or miniaturized computer chips programmed with information about a product or with a number that corresponds to information that is stored in a database. The tags can be located inside or on the surface of the product, item, or packing material.The RFC tags could be divided in two major groups: Passive Group: where the power to energize the tags circuitry is draw from the reader generated field. Active Group: In this case the tag has an internal power resource, in general a battery that could be replaceable or not, in some case this feature limited the tag lifetime, but for some applications this is not important, or the tag is designed to live more than the typical time needed. RIFF readers: RIFF readers are querying systems that interrogate or send signals to the tags and receive the responses.These responses can be stored within the reader for later transfer to a data collection system or instantaneously transferred to the data collection system. Like the tags themselves, RIFF readers come in many sizes. RIFF traders are usually on, continually transmitting radio energy and awaiting any tags that enter their field of operation. However, for some applications, this is unnecessary and could be undesirable in battery-powered devices that need to conserve energy. Thus, it is possible to configure an RIFF reader so that it sends the radio pulse only in response to an external event.For example, most electronic toll collection systems have the reader constantly powered upon that every passing car will be recorded. On the other hand, RIFF scanners used in veterinarian's offices are frequently equipped tit triggers and power up the only when the trigger is pulled. The largest readers malign consist AT a desktop personal computer Walt a spec ial car Ana multiple antennas connected to the card through shielded cable. Such a reader would typically have a network connection as well so that it could report tags that it reads to other computers.The smallest readers are the size of a postage stamp and are designed to be embedded in mobile telephones. 2. General Model for Heart Failure Alert System The Heart Failure Alert System consists of : ; RIFF Tag (Implanted into Human body). ; RIFF Reader (Placed in a Cellular Phone). Global Positioning Satellite System. ; Locating & Tracking Station. ; Mobile Rescue Units. The grain-sized RIFF tag is implanted into the human body, which keeps track of the heart pulse in the form of voltage levels. A RIFF reader is placed into the cellular phone.The RIFF reader sends a command to the RIFF tag which in turn sends these voltage pulses in the form of bits using the embedded software in the tag as response which is a continuous process. These bit sequence is then sent to software program in the cellular phone as input and checks for the condition of heart allure. If any sign of failure is sensed then immediately an ALERT Signal will be generated and in turn results in the AUTODIAL to the Locating & tracking station. This station with the use of GAPS system comes to know the whereabouts of the victim. The locating and tracking station also simultaneously alerts the rescue units. . Working of Implanted RIFF Tags Passive RIFF systems typically couple the transmitter to the receiver with either load modulation or backscatter, depending on whether the tags are operating in the near or far field of the reader respectively. In the near field, a tag couples with a reader via electromagnetic inductance. The antennas of both the reader and the tag are formed as coils, using many turns of small gauge wire. The reader communicates with the tag by modulating a carrier wave, which it does by varying the amplitude, phase, or frequency of the carrier, depending on the design of the R IFF system in question.The tag communicates with the reader by varying how much it loads its antenna. This in turn affects the voltage across the reader's antenna. By switching the load on and off rapidly, the tag can establish its own carrier frequency really a sub carrier) that the tag can in turn modulate to communicate its reply. Hug: Oral sleaze RIFF lag RIFF tags are smaller than a grain of rice and equipped with a tiny antenna will capture and wirelessly transmit a person's vital body-function data, such as pulse and do not require line of sight.These tags are capable of identifying the heart pulses in the form of voltage levels and converts into a bit sequence. The first step in A-D Conversion is Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM). This takes an analog signal, samples it and generates a sequence of pulses based on the results of the Sampling measuring the amplitude at equal intervals) PC (Pulse Code Modulation) quantizes PAM pulses that is the method of assigning integral valu es in a specific range to sampled instances. The binary encoding of these integral values is done based on the algorithm BIN_ONCE depending on the average heart pulse voltage of the victim (Bag_pulse).Alga BIN_ONCE: Steps: Read the analog signals from the heart. Steps: Sample the analog signal and generate series of pulses based on the results of sampling based on the tag frequency. Steps: Assign integral values to each sampled instances generated. Steps: Consider every individual sampled unit and ampere with the average voltage level of the heart. Steps: If the sampled instance value is in between the average pulse values then assign BIT=O Otherwise assign BIT-I . Steps: Generate the bit sequence by considering all the generated individual sample instances.Fig: Analog-Binary Digits Conversion in Tags Working of RIFF reader inside cellular phone: The RIFF reader sends a pulse of radio energy to the tag and listens for the tags response. The tag detects this energy and sends back a r esponse that contains the tags serial number and possibly other information as well. In simple RIFF systems, he reader's pulse of energy functioned as an on-off switch, in more sophisticated systems, the reader's RFC signal can contain commands to the tag, instructions to read or write memory that the tag contains.Historically, RIFF readers were designed to read only a particular kind of tag, RIFF readers are usually on, continually transmitting radio energy and awaiting any tags that enter their field of operation. Fig: RIFF Reader in cellular phone. I en reader continuously sends ten command to ten tags Ana In turn receives ten voltage levels in the form of bit sequence as response from the tags with the help of the BIN_ONCE algorithm. The reader sends the received bit sequence to a software embedded in the cellular phone. In case of detection of a weak heart pulse this software automatically alerts the tracking & location station .

Egyptian Art

They dedicated enormous resources to Egyptian rituals and the construction of temples. Because of their beliefs, they developed an exquisite and unique form of art. Their art works centered on their gods and the preparation for eternal life after death. They created sculptures, forms of pottery, paintings and hieroglyphs to decorate burial tombs for their eternal afterlife Journey. This civilization is the most well known for their monumental sculptures, but they also created small sculptures made of stone, wood, and bronze.These were often a suture of a human body with the head of an animal (falcons). They were also known for their astonishing pottery made out of clay which held images of animals, people, and last but not least; their gods. (Above, we can observe an image of the kneeling figure/sculpture of Hatchets. This image is located in page 67 or our eBook – Art: A Brief History. The actual sculpture can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York). The great Sphinx of Gaza is probably one of the most mysterious monuments in the world today.The Great Sphinx is located near modern-day Cairo Egypt and is a lion with a man's head, which is thought to be the head of the Pharaoh Cheapen – the fourth king of the 4th Dynasty is believed to have been the brother or son of Cheeps, but the only problem is that there is no evidence that this temple was in fact built by Pharaoh Cheapen as there are no artifacts or identifying inscriptions of any kind. This isomorphic mythological figure has its origins in sculpted figures from Old Kingdom Egypt and it was the Greeks who named it â€Å"Sphinx† which in Greek hydrology meant: female monster or strangler.The Egyptians basically told us everything about them through their art. Their art revealed to us their beliefs and ways of life. Their art also revealed to us about economical and political changes of their time and so much more. References: Stoked, Coterie (2010). Art: A Brief History – 4th Edition. Pearson Education – up 56 – 75. Http://www. Schenectady. Org/humanities/art-history/art-history-400-c-e–ancient- cultures- 1 [ancient-Egypt/a/Egyptian-art http://www. Crystalline. Com/sphincters. HTML

Principles of beneficence and non-maleficence Essay

_In order to have a common basis of understanding some words need to be defined:_ _BENEFICENCE:_ _The action of helping others and performing actions that would result in benefit to another person._ _NON-MALEFICENCE:_ _The avoidance of causing harm or evil by doing a certain action or by not doing any action at all._ _PHYSICIAN:_ _is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments_. _TORT_ : A civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract. BENEFICENCE AND NON-MALEFICENCE As the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence are closely related, they are discussed together in this section. Beneficence involves balancing the benefits of treatment against the risks and costs involved, whereas non-maleficence means avoiding the causation of harm. As many treatments involve some degree of harm, the principle of non-maleficence would imply that the harm should not be disproportionate to the benefit of the treatment. Respecting the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence may in certain circumstances mean failing to respect a person’s autonomy i.e. respecting their views about a particular treatment. For example, it may be necessary to provide treatment that is not desired in order to prevent the development of a future, more serious health problem. The treatment might be unpleasant, uncomfortable or even painful but this might involve less harm to the patient than would occur, were they not to have it. In cases where the patient lacks legal competence to make a decision, medical staffs are expected to act in the best interests of the patient. In doing  so, they may take into account the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. However, it would be helpful for medical staff in such cases, if the patient lacking capacity had made an advance directive. Nevertheless, as will be seen in the following section on â€Å"the position of advance directives alongside current wishes†, problems may arise when there is a conflict between what a person requested in an advance directive and what in the physician’s view is in their best interests, particularly in cases where it is no longer clear that the person in question would still agree with the decision previously made. Examples of Beneficence: Resuscitating a drowning victim. Providing vaccinations for the general population. Encouraging a person to quit smoking, etc. Examples of Non-maleficence: Stopping a medication that is shown to be harmful. Refusing to provide a treatment that has not been shown to be effective. One of the most common ethical dilemmas arises in the balancing of beneficence and non-maleficence. This balance is the one between the benefits and risks of treatment and plays a role in nearly every medical decision such as whether to order a particular test, medication, procedure, operation or treatment. By providing informed consent, physicians give patients the information necessary to understand the scope and nature of the potential risks and benefits in order to make a decision. Ultimately it is the patient who assigns weight to the risks and benefits. Nonetheless, the potential benefits of any intervention must outweigh the risks in order for the action to be ethical. TORTS Also known as Negligence, the person guilty of committing a tort is called TORTFEASOR. The two types of torts are: _Intentional_: such as ASSAULT (threat or bodily harm to another), BATTERY (An action that causes bodily harm or injury), DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER (An action damaging a person’s reputation by making public statements), FALSE IMPRISONMENT (Intentional and unlawful restraint or confinement of one person by another), FRAUD (Intentional misrepresentation to take advantage of the resources of another person), INVASION OF PRIVACY (An intrusion into a person’s seclusion or private affairs). _Unintentional_: this one is when there is a non intended harm is caused but committed unreasonably or with a disregard for the consequences. There are four elements that make a person eligible for liability. Those elements are known as †THE FOUR D’S OF NEGLIGENCE†, which are: Duty, Derelict, Direct Cause and Damages. A complaint has to include all four elements or the court will not consider the claim. In conclusion, the presence of these two principles is important because, they provide a system of checks and balances for providers and patients in making decisions concerning medical care, and they are necessary to a patient’s autonomy or independence in making his/her own decision.