Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Critical Response to Martin and Milway’s Editorial Essay Example for Free

Critical Response to Martin and Milway’s Editorial Essay In â€Å"A Productive Labour: The Only Limit to Productivity Growth is Human Ingenuity,† authors Martin and Milway present an argument for increasing productivity as a means of raising Canada’s economic health and living standards. Although Martin and Milway’s editorial on productivity present a piece that is rational and easily understood, its effort to convince that readers of its main argument is encumbered by weaknesses in the authors’ approach and reasoning that lead to more questions being raised than answered in the course of one’s reading. The editorial underlines the importance of improving Canada’s productivity in light of rising prices of manufactured goods and services that accompanied the strengthening of the Canadian dollar in 2001. The main argument put forth is that enhancing productivity is critical in ensuring improvements on the country’s living standards. The authors proceed to support their arguments by presenting two ways by which living standards can be raised, the first by increasing the number of working hours or using up more natural and physical resources for sustained wealth creation, and the second by improving productivity or raising the value created per working hour. After illustrating that the first way is not a viable alternative, the authors then concentrate on convincing the reader why the second way is better by defining the concept of productivity based on efficiency and innovation. The strength of Martin and Milway’s editorial lies in its ability to appeal to the rational side of its readers and their ability to tackle an otherwise complicated subject in simple terms. The authors attempt to defend their arguments by stating facts and carefully defining their subject, that is, productivity. As a result, the readers are compelled to view their argument in consideration of the definition that they present. Unfortunately, several weaknesses in Martin and Milway’s editorial in terms of their approach and in their reasoning reduce the effectivity of their argument. The biggest errors that exist in the editorial are faulty reasoning and the inability of the authors to substantiate their claim. As a consequence, the authors fail to persuade readers that â€Å"productivity is the surest way to raise our living standards. † (par. 4) The editorial was clearly written to convince readers that Canada needs to raise its productivity if it is to continue its economic growth and if it is to raise living standards. On the other hand, the authors fail to present evidence to substantiate this claim aside from the argument that it is the most cost-effective alternative in terms of labour, time, and natural resources. The authors automatically assumed that the readers of the editorial would readily accept that an increase in economic growth follows from an increase in productivity. Likewise, this argument raises several implications: first, that economic growth is not possible without an increased productivity; second, that productivity growth always leads to a raise in the living standards. It is here that the informed audience becomes wary as the authors’ bias shows through in their failure to consider countries with high productivity growth but low living standards. This shows a lack of forethought of the authors in answering the questions that would be inevitably raised by their argument. The main weakness of the editorial is that the authors commit fallacies in reasoning. For one, they are â€Å"begging the question† wherein the reader must already accept the conclusion in order to accept the evidence forwarded (Boyne, et. al. , 69). For instance, the authors enumerate the ways by which productivity can be improved to support their main contention. They state that â€Å"productivity increases in one of two ways: greater efficiency in how we employ labour and capital, or greater value creation per unit of these inputs. †(par. 8) This flow of the discussion reflects an assumption on the part of the authors that their main argument has already been accepted by the readers since discussing the ways by which productivity can be improved does not necessarily support the argument that productivity will improve the country’s economy. This circular reasoning makes the reader feel like the authors are trying to sound logical but cannot support their argument beyond the definition of the subject. Another obvious error in reasoning in the Martin and Milway’s editorial is superstition (Boyne, et. al. , 70) or hasty generalization. The authors attempt to prove the argument that â€Å"Productivity growth also benefits workers and consumers† (par. 14) by stating that â€Å"countries and regions with higher productivity pay higher wages† (par. 14) which assumes that higher wages automatically result from higher productivity. If one is to follow this argument, then it would imply that countries and regions that pay lower wages are not productive or low in productivity. In sum, a critical analysis of the piece reveals that the weaknesses outweigh the positive aspects in Martin and Milway’s editorial. Shortcomings in substantiating the editorial’s central argument with credible evidence as well as the inability to defend their argument in a logical manner renders the entire editorial ineffective in convincing the reader of the importance of improving productivity to improve their lives.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Struggle For Human Rights And International Law Human Rights Essay

Struggle For Human Rights And International Law Human Rights Essay In this essay, I seek to provide a deeper understanding about the constant struggle for human rights and international law, In first instant, I am going to make a small review about the meaning of human rights and international law, basing on general context, secondly, I will introduce us the capabilities approach of human rights in a framework for understand the universal declaration of human rights (UDHR) and finally, I am going to illustrate how the main elements affect the relationship between countries in the international system. For start with the development of the essay, it is important to have full knowledge about the main topic that I am going to develop during the course of the document, I mean, the human rights and the international law. So, we cam say that the human rights are rights to which everyone human being is entitled simply for because he or she is a human being. These rights do not necessarily have to be linked to a legal system and must not be protected by law, because as everybody knows, there are some of them that exist do not matter how, equally, it is very relevant to note that when these rights are stipulated within the legislation, the enforcing human rights is much easier. Also, due to the fact that most countries in the world agree that human rights are fundamental for living in a more harmonize international community, I mean, this is, shared by all people regardless of age, race, sex, religion, etc., so, if most of the people are agree with this, it tend to be classify as universal rights, and in order that these rights are taken into account in a global level, it was necessary the creation of a document in which is stipulated all the human rights, This document accepted as the foundation of international human rights law is the universal declaration of human rights passed by the United Nations (UN) in 1948, and which is use until today Within this document, there are include some of the rights that probably could be the most important ones in international terms; these human rights are linked with the ideas of justice, respect and equality. And as I said before, this rights are global, and as universal rights means that they are not necessarily conferred on anyone, but are simply inherent and due to all human beings. En plus, the thought of some countries are different with respect to the other, which may make different laws regarding these rights and some of them may not have any laws regarding them, some of the most frequent ones, are: the right to life the right to freedom of religion, the right to education and work, etc, later, we will see that this fundamental rights in many parts of the world are too often violated To deepen understanding of the struggle for global justice, it is important to appreciate the concept of international law, which is a complex process of authoritative and controlling decision operating across national and equivalent boundaries, at a minimum, to maintain world order. To this end, by way of an interpenetrating mix of command and enforcement structures both internal and external to states, this includes a variety of doctrines, principles and rules. We can said, that the field of international human rights has achieved the comprehensive and elevated global status of preferred world public policy. It supplies a framework for a world order of human dignity To begin, I want to give a clear explanation about the meaning of gender, because this is a very important issue when we want to talk about human rights, moreover, it is vital to identify that gender Is not only associated with the women, it also is related with men, because, this concept must be understood as a social and cultural construction which is based on biological differences that probably can cause inequalities in the international system; also, the gender contributes to an important analysis about the real situation of human rights, because, in the case of human rights violation, the gender analysis, could help us in order to know which are the action that the country have to apply. It is important to remember, that within the document there are included the rights of equal gender and the rights of non sex discrimination, so, the state have the obligation to protect in the same level both sexes. At this point I would like to make a lot of emphasis in the challenges that Colombia has with respect to the rights of women: One of the biggest challenges is related with the promotion of true culture of human rights in Colombia. Because the equality between men and women, and the realization of greater efforts in implementation and effectiveness of the policy to allow women to achieve true gender equality and contribute to the creation of the culture human rights; Also, the State must adopt measures to modify stereotypes and cultural patterns that cause discrimination against women, this will also help to achieve this purpose. The active role of civil society to complement efforts state is crucial, because as the recent Report of the High Commissioner recommends, the Government and the defenders of human rights have to develop and institutionalize a stable dialogue, both nationally and regionally, to achieve greater degree of understanding, and improve the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the country. Finally, I want to talk about the challenges of the state in relation to the internal armed conflict in Colombia. In this topic is important to remember the recommendation of the High Commissioner to the Government, to the illegal armed groups and civil society to no spare efforts to establish contacts dialogue and negotiation in order to resolve the armed conflict and achieving peace (). Also, the High Commissioner added in its recommendation that dialogue and negotiations should take into account, from the beginning, the human rights and international humanitarian law. One of the most famous example of violation of human rights is closed related with religious traditions, because the international law of human rights poses considerable challenges for religious traditions, here, I consider some of this challenges, particularly that raised by the idea of womans human rights. The international law of human rights has not been largely detached from religious world view, because a human rights law does not ignore religion as an aspect of peoples lives. International human rights law recognizes a right to freedom of religion and discrimination on the basis of religion is prohibited at international law. Historically, the UN general assembly adopted a declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerances based on religion or belief, but the UN commission appointed a special reporter on religion intolerance, but the engagement of human rights law and religion has been by and large at a procedural level, concern with freedom of religion as an aspect of controversial, because some religious traditions cannot accept the idea of freedom to chose a religion. So, if human rights law has not engaged explicitly with religious traditions what have religious tradition made of human rights? In one hand, human rights and religious are intimately, if ambivalently, re lated in that religions provide a transient perspective by revealing a dimension of human life over and above the social and political order. Religions set a limit to the power pretend to be the unitary source of all authority. The tension between the region and the state is obviously in almost all the cases. In the case of Catholic Church this lack of engagement on the international level did not mean lack of interest in human rights issues. In wake of Vatican II, the church endorsed many human rights notions; the ideal of equality and human dignity is part of the catholic culture. Other think that is important, is that religious tradition are the idea of sanctity which supports humans rights, it also has been very active in the grassroots of human rights struggles in many parts of the world. Both leaderships from Rome and the work of local churches have supported and guided human rights movement in central and Latin America. The relation of Islam to human rights is more complex. Islamic religious law, developed in the second and third centuries of Islam. It is not a formally enacted code, but a vast body of jurisprudence in which jurists holy scriptures of Islam. It is a body of religious and moral directives and principles. It affects the thinking and behavior of Muslims the worlds over and it is the foundation of the institutions and customs of most Muslim societies. Because of the deep significance of the Islamic society belief that t should take precedence over any other legal system. The basis of international human rights law, the idea that a person has rights by virtue of being human, is foreign to Islamic jurisprudence. Indeed, many Islamic precepts are based on distinctions between humans- Muslims and non-Muslims, men and women, for example: the Islamic makes repudiation of Islam or, as we know from the salman Rushdie case, the expression of views contrary to Islam punishable by death. Recently, the Islamic world has made an attempt to come to grips with international human rights law. The declaration refers in its preamble to the charter of the UN and the international bill of rights, but does not endorse those instruments acceptance of a right to be free from slavery and the right to change ones religion. Many of international human rights guarantees are weakened considerably in the Arab charter. While the Catholic Church and the Islamic can claim an engagement with international human rights issues on some issues, they have played a negative and problematic role in other human rights context. The issue that has most often provoked this reaction is that of womans rights and it has fostered a striking and incongruous alliance between the 2 religions traditions. A coalition of the Islamic countries, the Holy See and some catholic countries has been most prominent at united nation conference The catholic and the Islamic religious traditions strenuously opposed placing womens health, reproduction and sexuality within a human rights framework, because the UN conferences work on a consensus principle, the coalition resisted a definition of the notion of reproductive health to include sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely counseling and car related to reproduction and sexually transmitted disease

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Nuclear Energy :: Environment Science Essays

Nuclear Energy Everything in life must have a beginning. It is a scientific fact. This is the same as Nuclear Energy. Nuclear energy wasn’t just discovered, it was created. Nuclear energy is the energy released by a nuclear reaction, especially by fission or fusion. From its first controlled chain reaction to be waste disposal problems, nuclear energy has made major steps. Nuclear energy began in Chicago at Stagg Field. The company that was responsible for this was Enrico Fermi. Here the company was able to create the first controlled chain reaction. The first reactors were based on natural uranium as the nuclear fuel, graphite as the moderator and water as the coolant (Prasar). This opened the floodgates for al nuclear energy. Now that we know to control the dangerous energy, we can use it without fearing drastic measures. In 1955 underwater combat was changed forever. The first submarine, The USS Nautilus, was fueled on nuclear power. The nautilus broke all submarine records for underwater speed and endurance. It was launched in Thames River after Mamie Eisenhower smashed a bottle of champagne across the bow. Due to running on nuclear energy, this made the Nautilus able to travel for great distances at a top speed of 25 knots or more. This made the submarine a much more potent fighting craft and placed the USA a step ahead of all other countries in underwater war (Norris). Even though it was a remarkable task during the year, the navy only expected even greater submarines to come in the future. Admiral Robert B. Carney, Chief of Naval Operations commented that, â€Å"as remarkable as this development seems to us now, the Nautilus will probably appear to our sons and grandsons as a quaint old piece of machinery which introduced the transition to a new age of power† (Norris). As the saying goes, â€Å"You must take the good with the bad† this certainly applies with Nuclear energy. In 1957 began the first of the accidents. Over in Liverpool, England a fire erupted in a graphite-cooled reactor. This caused a 200 square mile area to become contaminated.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Personal Narrative Essay - Application for US Naturalization

Personal Narrative Essay - Application for US Naturalization Form N-400 is otherwise known as the application for US Naturalization. I have started and stopped filling out form N-400 half a dozen times in the past few years. Most recently, I used the excuse that I couldn’t read all of the dates in my passport. Thus I could not give the relevant dates for when I had left and reentered the country over the necessary time period. The other day I downloaded the form again but now I can’t find my passport. I have lived in the United States for 25 of my 36 years and I am still not naturalized. I have voted but not for a politician. In high school, I voted in school elections and was elected as Student Council President for my senior year. My main duty was to read daily announcements (soccer scores, late buses, children with lice who needed to report to the nurse immediately) and recite, over the loud speaker, the Pledge of Allegiance. As a foreigner, I understood the irony of reciting this oath to a bunch of Americans, but I had to do it. I was elected into office, and this was my duty. And getting on the loudspeaker every day was the reason why I wanted to do it in the first place. I was the president. I would lead the student body in their daily fix of nationalistic pride. I could just as easily have recited the Lord’s Prayer, which I also knew by heart, though my church attendance was sporadic. Or I could have led them through â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night,† but it never seemed to fit the day’s events. So every day, I pledged allegiance to the flag. Their flag. Amen. When I call myself a foreigner, I do so with tongue firmly planted in cheek. I am Canadian. Laugh as you will and say that that is the sa... ...ance, people spend weeks living in cargo bins on large ships. Just for the chance, young men and women from foreign countries put on the uniform of the United States armed forces and fight a war. Each day Form N-400 sits unfinished, I think of all of these people, living and dying to become Americans. And I know that, even though my passport says I am Canadian, in my heart I am American and all the beauty and the ugliness that name engenders. Soon I will fill out my Form N-400 and I will submit it to the Department of Naturalization. If I am lucky enough to have my application accepted, I will stand up on the day of my indoctrination and I will lead my fellow new Americans in their prayer for redemption. I will lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance and for those few moments forward we will be one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Hot Water Burns Like Fire Health And Social Care Essay

This study compiled by a community nurse, within a little community Centre, aims to inform fellow nurses of the causes, and preemptive schemes that are in topographic point to forestall unneeded hurts. The focal point of this study is on inadvertent Burnss and scalds in Australian kids aged 0-14 old ages and the increased hazard to kids aged 0-4 old ages. This age group was found to be of particularly high hazard, harmonizing to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare ( AIHW ) , and the Department of Health and Aging ( 2006 ) . The factors that contribute to an increased hazard of Burnss and scalds, including age and development, gender, deficiency of barriers and supervising, unequal statute laws and deficiency of public consciousness are each explored throughout this study. What is a burn? The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) defines a burn â€Å" as an hurt to the tegument or other organic tissue caused by heat [ this hurt causes some or all of the tegument cells or other tissues to decease, this can be caused by ] hot liquid ( scalds ) , hot solids ( contact Burnss ) , or fires ( fire Burnss ) † ( WHO 2008, p.21 ) . Burn and scald facts Harmonizing to Kidsafe Tasmania ( 2008 ) , a scald from hot liquid can go on rapidly, doing a kid who has sensitive tegument compared to an grownup, unneeded hurt, normally to the face, cervix, thorax, and custodies. Hot drinks are the major cause of scalds to kids, doing 44 % of hurts ( Kidsafe ) . Many kids run into grownups who are keeping a cup of hot liquid, such as soup or a drink, or draw dishware or pans from tabular arraies or stovetops incorporating hot liquids ( Kidsafe ) . 20 % of kids pull on boiler cords doing scalds from poached H2O. Hot pat H2O in the kitchen or the bathroom causes 14 % of scalds and 22 % are from cooking hot nutrient in the kitchen ( Kidsafe 2008, p. 1-3 ) . Environmental alterations to cut down childhood Burnss and scalds Move hot drinks to the center of a tabular array out of range Turn saucepan grips around on the range Use hotplates at the rear of the range Reduce hot H2O temperatures to 50A °C Use secured fire screens around fires Use and replace batteries on a regular basis in fume sensors Keep lucifers and coffin nail igniters out of sight and range of kids Ensure all hot contraptions are out of range when chilling Never leave a kid unattended in the bathroom or in the kitchen Ensure electrical contraption cords are out of range ( Australian and New Zealand Burn Association 2009 ) . The Alma Atta Declaration ( WHO 1978 ) provinces: Primary Health Care requires and promotes maximal community†¦ engagement†¦ doing fullest usage of local, national and other available resources ; and to this terminal develops through appropriate instruction the ability of communities to take part ( World Health Organisation ( WHO ) 1978 ) . Consequently a supportive multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral attack from National and community administrations and associations are indispensable to cut down hurt statistics ( Watson, M 2010 ) . Nurses and other wellness professionals play a cardinal function in the instruction, publicity and bar of such hurts ( McMurray 2011 p.5 ) . ‘Hot H2O Burnss like fire ‘ Community consciousness runs, such as ‘Hot Water Burns Like Fire ‘ which was conducted in NSW in 1992, dramatically reduced scald figures. During 1989 – 1996 hospitalization rates for scalds were reduced by 13 % , infirmary corsets decreased by 18 % , therefore liberating up hospital beds. The first stage offered information on causes of scalds, followed by the 2nd stage, which focused on the execution and statute law of the decrease of hot H2O cylinder temperatures to 50A °C. The consequences dramatically reduced the costs to the Australian wellness attention system yearly by about 3.8 – 6.5 million dollars. ( WHO 1992 ) . Federal and province statute law, some facts In 2009 The ACT Government banned the sale of backyard pyrotechnics ( Andrew 2009 ) . South Australia Explosives Regulations Act 2001 prohibits the sale and ownership of pyrotechnics â€Å" other than a general usage pyrotechnic † [ Direct Quote ] . In Queensland smoke alarm Torahs were introduced in 1997, new edifices including redevelopments were required to put in hardwired fume dismaies. In 2007 it became compulsory that all Queensland places install at least one ‘9 V battery powered ‘ fume dismay ( 2007 ) . Appendix 1 illustrates the figure of hospitalizations due to Burnss and scalds in kids aged 0-4 old ages, 5-9 old ages and 10-14 old ages during the 5-year period 1999/00 to 2003/04 ( Harrison, J and Steel, D 2006 ) . During the first 4 old ages of life, a kid is more at hazard from Burnss than those in an older age group and males are of greater hazard than females ( Harrison, J and Steel, D 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Drago ( 2005 ) kids between 0-2 old ages are identified as a high hazard group due to the deficiency of cognition of such dangers. A survey in Greece that focused on hazard associated with babyhood burn hurts within the place besides found that most hurts occurred in the kitchen to babies between the ages of birth and 4 old ages. A astonishing 60 % of instances were due to hot liquid Burnss ( Harrison, J and Steel, D 2006 p. 10 ) . Appendix 2 high spots the cognitive and freshly acquired physical accomplishments that kids gain between the ages of 9 and 12 months. Children below 24 months are â€Å" yet to get the apprehension of danger†¦ [ and hazards associated with their new endowments ] † ( Harrison, J et Al. 2006 ) . The environment in which we live dramas an built-in function in finding hurt forms as Drago ( 2005 ) suggests, most family scalds occur in the kitchen affecting hot H2O in boilers and pots and pans that are pulled down off counters and ranges ( Drago 2005, p.10 ) . In the United Kingdom following the debut of the tea bag, scalds increased conversely teapot scalds decreased. In 1991 Denmark saw a new form of scalds associated with the debut of the electric boiler caused by cords being pulled down. Unfortunately electric contraptions that have cords and grips are frequently responsible for Burnss and scalds in kids under 5 old ages ( Drago 2005 p 10-14 ) . Lower socioeconomic groups Although morbidity and mortality rates are associated with poorness, kids from lower socioeconomic groups within high-income states were shown to hold increased burn hurts ( WHO 2008 p. 85 ) . In Sweden kids of lower socioeconomic groups were up to 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalised for Burnss, than those in wealthier parts ( WHO 2008 p. 21 ) . Due to deficiency of instruction, bar schemes and first assistance preparation, Aboriginal kids are at higher hazard of burn hurts. During a three twelvemonth period 73 % of Aboriginal kids were admitted to infirmary from Burnss, many incidents are caused by reassigning boiling H2O into the bath and sloping it accidently on the kid ( Kennet 2010 ) . Decision Although administrations have collaborated by supplying some community consciousness, the AIHW ( 2008 p.22 ) research states that admittance rates due to childhood Burnss and scalds has increased by 20 % in a decennary. Burns and scalds cause hurting and agony, for the kid, their households and are a significant strain on the wellness attention system. Education to forestall inadvertent hurts is imperative if we want to diminish burn incidences ( Kennett 2010 ) . Communities missing a multifaceted populace wellness attention attack will see injury figures remain ( Watson, M 2010 ) . The kid and household wellness nurse is an built-in solution to the instruction of parents and communities to supply information to protect and advance safe and friendly environments for kids ( McMurray 2011 p.188 ) . Lower socioeconomic groups and Aboriginal communities need extra services and instruction to help bar of Burnss in the first case and first assistance to right pull off a burn so that the pa tients recovery is lessened ( Kennett 2010 ) . Globally the authorities, parliament and others in power necessitate regulation pyrotechnics, fume sensors, and temperatures of hot H2O cylinders around the universe and to increase instruction ( Turner 2009 ) maintaining in head that â€Å" All human existences have an equal right to wellness and safety † ( UNICEF 2008 ) .

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Political philosophy Essay

KNOWLEDGE IS FORMED AND ACQUIRED IN THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE THOUGH COGNITION AND IT IS NOT INBORN AND DEVELOPS FROM OUR OWN IGNORANCE. JOHN LOCKE COMPARED IT WITH TABULA RASA OR SOME SORT OF A BLANK SHEET UPON WHICH NOTHING IS WRITTEN. THESE ARE DATA OR IMAGES OF THE OBJECT WHICH STIMULATED OUR SENSE-ORGANS-SIGHT, HEARING, TOUCH, TASTE AND SMELL ARE, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, RAW-MATERIALS WHICH OUR BRAIN FORMS, THROUGH ABSTRACTION, INTO CONCEPTS OR IDEAS, AND WHICH WE EXPRESS IN SIGNS OR LANGUAGE. THERE ARE TWO OBSTACLES TO COGNITION THE BIASES WHICH BECLOUD THE HUMAN MIND AS â€Å"IDOLS† AND THE ERRORS IN REASONING. WHICH ARE THE SO CALLED FALLACIES. REASONING IS A MEANS FOR ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE BUT IF IT IS FALLACIOUS IT CANNOT YIELD BUT DECEPTION. MOREOVER THERE ARE THREE THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE NAMELY; EMPIRICISM, RATIONALISM AND INTUITIONISM. IN EMPIRICISM, KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE IS A SENSE OF PERCEPTION WHICH MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS DIRECT OBSERVATION BY THE SENSES OR INDIRECT BY USING INSTRUMENT OR BY EXPERIMENTATION. EMPIRICISM TEACHES THAT WHAT WE SEE, HEAR, TOUCH, OR SMELL, IS ALL THAT WE CAN KNOW. OUTSTANDING EXPONENTS OF EMPIRICISM WERE JOHN LOCKE, GEORGE BERKELEY. DAVID HUME AND THE SO-CALLED LINGUISTIC PHILOSOPHERS. RATIONALISM MAINTAINS THAT REASON IS THE SOURCE AND TEST OF KNOWLEDGE AND NOT SENSE-PERCEPTION. KNOWLEDGE CONSISTS OF CONCEPTS WHICH GENERALIZE ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITY SO THAT IT HAS A UNIVERSAL AND PERMANENT CHARACTER. IT IS THE REASON OR THE INTELLECT WHICH â€Å"MANUFACTURES† THE DATA INTO CONCEPTS, JUDGMENTS AND LAWS, AND THAT IS HOW OUR KNOWLEDGE IS FORMED. WHAT WE KNOW IS â€Å"WHAT WE HAVE THOUGHT OUT†, OR WHAT REASON HAS â€Å"ABSTRACTED† FROM THE DATA OF SENSE PERCEPTION. THE KNOWN DEFENDERS ARE PARMENIDES, PLATO OF ANCIENT GREECE, DESCARTES AND HEGEL OF THE. MODERN WORLD. THE THIRD THEORY WHICH IS INTUITIONISM CLAIMS THAT THE SENSES CAN ONLY MIRROR THE APPEARANCE OF THINGS HENCE WHAT WE CALL SENSE-DATA, CANNOT TELL US WHAT THINGS ARE IN THEMSELVES. BUT THROUGH INTUITION, WE CAN HAVE â€Å"A FEEL† OF WHAT LIES BEYOND THE PHENOMENA CAPTURED BY OUR SENSES AND TRANSFORMED BY REASON INTO CONCEPTUAL SYMBOLS. INTUITION â€Å"INTUERE†. (TO LOOK INTO) IS A DIRECT APPREHENSION OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS NOT THE RESULT OF CONSCIOUS REASONING OR IMMEDIATE PERCEPTION. ADD THE FACTS THAT THERE ARE TWO METHODS OF INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, FIRST IS THE  INTUITION THAT GRASPS THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF REALITY AND â€Å"TIME† AND THE SECOND IS ANALYSIS WHICH IS THE STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY, BUT OFFERS ONLY â€Å"A PHOTOGRAPH† OR â€Å"A SNAPSHOT† OF WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A DYNAMIC, ACTIVE WORLD THE ONLY WAY TO BRIDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE â€Å"OBJECT KNOWN† AND â€Å"THE KNOWER†, WE MUST USE â€Å"INTELLECTUAL SYMPATHY† THAT EXPERIENCES BEING AS A WHOLE, AS â€Å"A DYNAMIC CONTINUUM†. LASTLY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT NOTIONS OF TRUTH NAMELY THE CORRESPONDENCE THEORY, COHERENCE THEORY, PRAGMATIC THEORY AND THE MARXIST THEORY. EDUCATION: THE WORD EDUCATION COMES FROM THE LATIN VERB â€Å"EDUCERE† (TO LEAD) OR FROM  Ã¢â‚¬Å"EDUCARE† (DRAW OUT). EDUCATION IS THE ART OF LEADING OR GUIDING A PERSON TO SOCIAL CULTURE SO THAT BY EXPOSING HIM TO ITS COMPLEXITIES AND HE MAY ACTUALIZE HIS Introduction to Philosophy POTENTIALITIES. EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER OR CLASS HAS A DORMANT POWER WHICH IF DRAWN OUT OR DEVELOPED COULD EQUIP THE INDIVIDUAL TO FILL A VARIETY OF ROLES IN SOCIETY. EDUCATION AND TRAINING IS OF DIFFERENT MEANING. EDUCATION HAS TO DO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSONALITY WHILE TRAINING DEALS WITH THE GAINING AND ACHIEVING OF SKILLS. THERE ARE AIMS OF EDUCATION; FIRST IS TO PREPARE  THE YOUNG FOR â€Å"CITIZENSHIP†-THE SUBTLE MEANS OF PROVIDING THE STATE IN ALONG RUN WITH FUTURE LEADERS AND FOLLOWERS WHO WOULD PUT INTEREST OF THE STATE AND NATION ABOVE SELF. SECOND AIM IS TO DEVELOP THE INDIVIDUAL â€Å"AS A MAN†- ENABLE THE INDIVIDUAL TO REALIZE HIS POTENTIAL POWERS AS A HUMAN BEING SO HE COULD BE FREE IN OUTLINING HIS OWN DESTINY. THIRD, IT SHOULD AIM TO PRESERVE THE PREVAILING SOCIAL SYSTEM BY WAY OF TRANSMITTING THE IDEAS, THE BELIEFS, THE VALUES AND THE PRACTICES OF SOCIETY. FOURTH, IT AIMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND IT MUST FOSTER  A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE PEOPLES DREAM AND STRUGGLE FOR A MORE JUST, HUMAINE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. FIFTH, IT SHOULD PREPARE US FOR ETERNAL LIFE IN A PARADISE TO COME AND LASTLY IT SHOULD AIM TO COMPREHENSIVELY PREPARE US TO BE A â€Å"WORKER† OR TO BE â€Å"A CITIZEN AND TO BE â€Å"A PERSON.   EDUCATION HAS AN IDEOLOGICAL CHARACTER. TO LITTLE, INDEED, DOES THE SCHOOL GOING TO PUBLIC SUSPECT THAT EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION CAN BE MANIPULATED BY VESTED GROUPS FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL INTERESTS. TO SOME PEOPLE WHOSE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FORTUNES ARE ENTRENCHED THAT EDUCATION IS USED TO  PROMOTE SOCIAL CONFORMITY AND AGREEMENT. TO OTHERS WHO HAVE NOTHING BUT THEIR STATE OF DEPRIVATION AND UNCERTAINTIES, EDUCATION CAN EMPOWER THEM TO STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL CHARGE. POLITICS: POLITICS IS A STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND COOPERATION AMONG PEOPLE OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERING NEEDS AND IDEALS IN LIFE, OR FOR REVOLVING CONFLICT WITHIN THE GROUP WHETHER THIS BE A FAMILY, A TRIBE, A VILLAGE OR A NATION-STATE. IT MAY BE UNDERSTOOD AS A CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION SO THAT DIFFERENCES ARE RESOLVED AND PREVENTED. THERE ARE TWO MAIN APPROACHES TO POLITICS NAMELY; POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY HAS A SPECULATIVE AND NORMATIVE CHARACTER BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS POLITICS â€Å"OUGHT TO BE† OR WHAT IT SHOULD BE WHILE POLITICAL SCIENCE IS EMPIRICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE IN NATURE BECAUSE ITS MAIN CONCERN IS THE ANALYSIS AND DEFINITION OF THE STATE AND ITS INSTRUMENTALITIES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR FUNCTIONS. POLITICS IS THE SCIENCE AND ART OF GOVERNING SOCIETY IN THE PURSUIT OF COMMON GOOD THEN ITS CONCRETIZATION IS THE GOVERNMENT WHOSE AIM IS THE PEOPLE AND THE SECURITY AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE. FORTHETHREEGREATPHILOSOPHERSNAMELY;CONFUCIUS,PLATOANDNICCOLO MACHIAVELLI TO BE GOOD RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL LEADERS OF STATE THERE ARE VERY ESSENTIAL QUALITIES TO BE CONSIDERED. FOR CONFUCIUS, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IS NOT FOR THE COMFORT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE RULERS, NOR ARE THEY SIMPLY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER, BUT FOR â€Å"THE HAPPINESS AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE PEOPLE†. HE ALSO PRESCRIBED THAT THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO LEAD THE PEOPLE MUST POSSESS THE VIRTUES OF HUMAN-HEARTEDNESS, RRIGHTEOUSNESS, PPROPRIETY AND Introduction to Philosophy WISDOM. FOR PLATO, A PERSON’S LIFE IS ORDERLY OR â€Å"JUST† WHEN HIS REASON CONTROLS THE EMOTION AND TEMPERS THE APPETITES. THE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE SHOULD POSSESS THREE ELEMENTS IN MAN. A RULER SHOULD EMBRACE REASON, THE SOLDIERS OR WARRIORS SHOULD DEAL WITH THEIR EMOTION AND THE ARTISANS OR ORDINARY PEOPLE SHOULD CONTROL THEIR APPETITES. ALL CITIZENS MUST UNDERGO RIGID PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL TRAINING. PLATO’S PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION WAS ONE OF SO CALLED SELECTION & ELIMINATION. NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED, â€Å"THE PRINCE â€Å"POLITICS, AS AN EXERCISE OF POWER, SHOULD BE DIVORCED FROM MORALITY AND RELIGION. POLITICS HAS NO MORALITY; IT IS A NAKED POWER OF â€Å"EXPEDIENCY†. OR HIM AN EFFECTIVE LEADER IS BOTH  A FOX AND A LION, BOTH A MAN AND A BEAST AND BOTH GREAT PRETENDER OR GREAT DISSEMBLER. B. Analysis (Critique) KNOWLEDGE: THESEARCHFORKNOWLEDGEISANEVER-ENDINGADVENTURE LIKEWE’VESEENIN MOVIES AND PLAYS. THE WHOLE OF REALITY IS TOO VAST THAT WE CAN KNOW ONLY TOO LITTLE OF IT IN OUR SHORT LIFE-TIME; HENCE, IT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF INNOCENCE TO NARROW OUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE, UNLESS WE CHOOSE TO CLOSE OUR MIND TO OTHER POSSIBILITIES. OUR KNOWLEDGE IS A PRODUCT OF ALL OUR ABILITIES, SENSATION, REASON AND INTUITION. AND O AGREE WITH THE SAYING THAT â€Å"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER†, A POWER TO RECREATE THE  WORLD, A POWER TO CONSTRUCT A BETTER SOCIETY WHERE ALL MEN AND WOMEN COULD LIVE WITH DIGNITY, FREEDOM AND PEACE. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE TO KNOW SINCE IT IS DYNAMIC AND TOO ENORMOUS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE GUTS, THE PASSION AND THE LOVE TO LEARN AND TO CONTINUE SEARCHING AND BUILDING ON THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE. NO DOUBT, KNOWLEDGE ADDS COLOR AND RELATIVE CHARACTER TO MAKE OUR LIFE WORTH LIVING AND SPENDING. OUR KNOWLEDGE SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED NOR DISTORTED BY OUR OWN COGNITION. WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND TO ALWAYS USE REASONING SINCE IT IS ACQUIRING  KNOWLEDGE NOT JUST BASING IT TO WHAT WE PERCEIVE. YES, WE CAN CONSTRUCT KNOWLEDGE BY OUR SENSES TO EVERY SITUATION WE’RE EXPERIENCING YET WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE RATIONAL. KNOW THE REASON TO EVERY DETAIL NOT TO JUSTIFY THINGS BUT RATHER TO BE REASONABLE IN JUDGING AND JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS. KNOWLEDGE IS A STUFF OF REALITY; IT IS A WAY OF TRUTH AND NOT A WAY OF SEEMING OR GIVING OPINION. ALSO THE ONLY THING WE SHOULD NOT DOUBT IS THAT WE ALWAYS IN PARTICULAR SITUATION DOUBT. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DOUBT OR TO QUESTION THINGS BECAUSE IT IS A WAY OF ACQUIRING AND GAINING ALL WE NEED TO KNOW. ON THE OTHER HAND WE COULD STILL OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS NOT THE SENSES, NOR REASON CAN PROVIDE ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY BUT THE SO CALLED INTUITION. KNOWLEDGE IS AN INTERCONNECTED CHAIN WHEREIN THERE IS AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE SET OF KNOWLEDGE WITH ANOTHER SET OF IT. IT IS A CYCLE WITH NO BEGINNING AND ENDING. THE MORE WE BECOME CURIOUS THE MORE WE QUESTION AND THE MORE WE SEEK FOR THE ANSWER. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE PRIVILEGED TO OPEN OUR CLOSE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AND WE ARE FREE TO EXPLORE ITS LIMITATION AND BOUNDARY. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE KEY TO KNOW THE SECRETS OF THE REAL MEANING AND  Introduction to Philosophy VALUE OF LIFE. WE SHOULD NOT STOP TRAVELLING THE BEAUTIFUL AND COLOURFUL JOURNEY OF OUR EXISTENCE AND DON’T STOP TO STRIVE AND TO GAIN THE PERFECT AND UNDYING KNOWLEDGE. EDUCATION: SINCE WE ARE SEARCHING FOR KNOWLEDGE, HAVING AN EDUCATION IS OF GREAT HELP. IT IS A VITAL INSTRUMENT TO EXPLORE OUR LIMITATION AND TO GO BEYOND THE HORIZON. HAVING AN EDUCATION IS LIKE SEEING A RAINBOW AFTER A RAIN SHOWER; IT ADDS COLOR AND MEANING AFTER THE SUDDEN DARKNESS. WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE TRAINED, WE MUST BE EDUCATED. BEING EDUCATION FOR ME IS OPENING THE WINDOWS OF OUR MIND AND SOUL. WE SHOULD PUT EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND, TO COMPREHEND, AND TO BE SENSITIVE TO IDEAS, ASPIRATIONS AND INTEREST TO WHICH WE MIGHT OTHERWISE BE INDIFFERENT TO EACH OTHER. WE SHOULD NOT JUST BE CONTENTED JUST TO BE TRAINED BECAUSE IT SIMPLY MEANS WE JUST WANT TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING, WIDENED SYMPATHY OR HEIGHTENED ASPIRATIONS FOR IT. THERE SHOULD BE A COMMON AGREEMENT ON WHAT IS EDUCATION SHOULD AIM AND DEFINE THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION WITH NO BIAS AND FAIR CHANCES TO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL POSITIONS AND SHOULD NOT BE IN HARMONY WITH THEIR FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS. IT WOULD BE AN ILLUSION TO EXPECT THE PREVAILING EDUCATION TO BE TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE AND LIBERATING BECAUSE OF TODAY’S INEQUALITY ESPECIALLY IN SOCIAL STATUS ASPECTS THUS THERE IS A NEED TO RE-INVENT EDUCATION SO THAT IT WILL FOSTER A NEW AWARENESS AND PERSPECTIVE THAT IS SUPPORTIVE AND REFLECTIVE TO OUR ASPIRATIONS AND STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION. POLITICS: EDUCATION HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES IS AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS SUCH AS THE KIND OF POLITICS WE HAVE. I DO BELIEVE THAT POLITICS SHOULD FUNCTION AND AIMS TO GO AFTER THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AND NOTHING ELSE BUT THE SECURITY AND NEEDS OF  PEOPLE. POLITICS IS BOTH A FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS POWER YET WHEN USED IN A WRONG WAY OR BECOME A PURSUIT AND CHASE OF PERSONAL INTERESTS COULD BE ABUSED. POLITICS IS NOT JUST A SYSTEM ITSELF BUT A SYSTEM OF IDEAS WITH MISSION AND FUNCTIONS. IN SPITE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY WE COULD STILL PURSUE A FAIR, JUST, HONEST AND RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL SYSTEM. WE COULD STILL MAKE A CHANGE. ASIDE FROM BEING A GOOD AND RELIABLE FOLLOWER WE COULD CHOOSE AND ELECT GOOD AND RIGHT POLITICAL LEADERS ESPECIALLY WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC TYPE OF SYSTEM. WE  NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO DESIGNATE THE FIT AND APPROPRIATE RULER WITH THEIR BEST QUALITY AND CHARACTER. WE SHOULD CAREFULLY ANALYSE AND EVALUATE A POLITICAL RULER WHO HAS THE INTEREST IN SERVING THE PEOPLE WITH SINCERITY AND SHOULD NOT JUST MAINTAIN HIMSELF OR HERSELF IN POWER. C. Contextualization KNOWLEDGE: Introduction to Philosophy FILIPINO IS A KNOWLEDGE SEEKER AND SO EXPLORATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO NOURISH AND DEVELOP THEIR LEARNING AND ABILITIES. WE HAVE SO MANY PROUD KABABAYAN WHO ARE SO PASSIONATE AND DETERMINE IN ACQUIRING SUCH KNOWLEDGE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. SOME OF US EVEN TRY TO GO TO OTHER COUNTRY FOR THEIR SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE. WE ARE NOT CONTENTED WITH JUST HAVING A KNOWLEDGE THAT IS ALREADY IN FRONT OF US. WE USUALLY GET OUT OF THE BOX AND GO BEYOND THE HORIZON. AND BECAUSE OF THIS PERSEVERANCE, MANY FILIPINOS FROM DIFFERENT FIELD BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND FAMOUS. MANY JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES BECOME OPEN TO FILIPINOS BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY AND PASSION TO LEARN. EDUCATION: PUBERTY BECOMES A BARRIER TO ATTAIN THE GOAL OF HAVING A BETTER EDUCATION. NOWADAYS, AS YOU LOOK WITH THE STATUS OF OUR COUNTRY, PHILIPPINES I MUST SAY THAT  WE OUR STRUGGLING ESPECIALLY THE UNFORTUNATE INDIVIDUAL TO GET SUCH APPROPRIATE AND GOOD QUALITY OF EDUCATION. IN OUR COUNTRY; LIVING STATUS AFFECTS A LOT IN MAINTAINING A GOOD QUALITY OF EDUCATION. THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO BATTLE FOR FINANCING THE OTHER EXPENSES OF THEIR CHILD LIKE PROJECT AND DAILY TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD ALLOWANCE. FOR AN UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILY WITH INCOME THAT IS NOT ENOUGH WITH THEIR DAILY CONSUMPTION, HAVING A BUDGET FOR EDUCATION COULD BE A LEAST PRIORITY. MANY OF THE YOUTH TODAY EVEN THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR COLLEGE JUST COULD NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO WORK TO SUPPORT  AND PROVIDE FINANCIALLY FOR THEIR FAMILY. ALSO IT IS COMMON, IN SOME FAR BARRIOS MANY FILIPINO CHILDREN BEFORE THEY COULD REACH THE NEAREST SCHOOL FROM THEIR HOUSE THEY NEED TO STRUGGLE AND WALK ON RIVERS AND EVEN SOME SLOPPY MOUNTAIN BEFORE THEY CAN GET THERE. IN SPITE THEIR DEDICATION TO BE EDUCATED, SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GOOD LEARNING FACILITIES AND MATERIALS IS NOT ENOUGH TP ACCOMMODATES LARGE POPULATION IN OUR COUNTRY. ALSO CORRUPTION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY NUMBER OF FILIPINO IS UNABLE TO AVAIL THEIR RIGHTS TO BE EDUCATED. INSTEAD OF FINANCING THE EDUCATION SECTOR, THE MONEY OF FILIPINOS GOES  TO THE POCKET OF THOSE WHO ARE GREED AND SELFISH OFFICIALS. NO DOUBT, PHILIPPINES IS A RICH COUNTRY WITH ITS SPLENDID NATURAL RESOURCES YET OUR MONEY COULD NOT EVEN FINANCIALLY PROVIDE AND GIVE STABLE WORKS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO NEED JOBS. POLITICS: IT BEEN AN ORDINARY SCENARIO DURING ELECTION THAT THERE ARE SO MANY UNNECESSARY ACTIONS TOOK PLACE LIKE VOTE BUYING, BALLOT RESULT CHEATING, KILLING OF POLITICAL RIVALRY, AND THE LIKES JUST FOR THOSE SELF-CENTRED ASPIRANT OFFICIALS TO WIN THE SAID ELECTION. AND EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION, DURING THEIR SERVING YEARS SO  MANY VOID PRACTICE IS BEEN HAPPENING. CORRUPTION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. MANY ELECTED POLITICAL OFFICIALS ABUSE THE POWER GIVEN TO THEM FOR THEIR OWN INTERESTS. TODAY’S ISSUE IS WHAT THEY CALLED PORK BARREL SCANDAL WHEREIN THE BUDGET ALLOTTED AND GIVEN TO POLITICAL OFFICIAL FOR THEIR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD AND MUST HELP FILIPINO GOES TO POCKET OF JUST SOME PEOPLE. FINGER POINTING AND HAND WASHING THAT THEY DON’T USE ANY OF THE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THEIR OWN WELFARE IS STILL ON INVESTIGATION AND NOT YET ANSWERED. Introduction to Philosophy  INSTITUTIONALIZING IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE MOST AFFECTED ARE THE PUBLIC ESPECIALLY THE POOR. IT IS ALSO COMMON IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM HAVING A FAMILY DYNASTY WHEREIN THE POWER IN MANY PLACES IS JUST IN THE HAND OF ONE FAMILY. EVEN WE ALREADY HAVE AUTOMATED KIND OF ELECTION SYSTEM, WE STILL STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE FAIR AND JUST POLITICAL SYSTEM WE ARE LOOKING AND HOPING TO ACHIEVE. LASTLY, WE FILIPINOS STILL ELECTING WRONG PUBLIC SERVANT. WE ARE STILL BLIND WITH THEIR LOOKS, WHETHER THEY ARE CELEBRITIES OR IF EVEN THEY TEND TO FINISH THEIR EDUCATION AND WITH THEIR FLOWERING PROMISES AND WORDS. WE NEVER REALLY PRACTICE A CRITICAL JUDGEMENT TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT AND THE GOOD STATE RULER. D. Evaluation 1. SUBJECT THE SUBJECT PHILOSOPHY REALLY HELPED ME TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND CRITICALLY INCLINED WITH EVERYTHING AROUND ME. WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS WE STILL NEED TO KNOW AND ACQUIRE YET PHILOSOPHY SERVES AS AN ASSISTING TOOL TO REALLY KNOW THE MEANING OF OUR OWN EXISTENCE AND THE REAL MEANING OF OUR LIFE AND ITS PURPOSE. MY CLOSED WORLD BECOMES EXPOSED WITH WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. 2. PROF SIR RODERICK CENTENO IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, RESPECTED AND FULL OF SENSE KIND OF PROFESSOR IN PHILOSOPHY. WE REALLY ENJOYED LISTENING TO HIS LECTURES ABOUT PHILOSOPHY. IT SO REFRESHING THAT WHILE LEARNING WE’VE ABLE TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY EVERY LEARNING AND DISCUSSION. THE REPORTING IS A GOOD WAY FOR US STUDENT TO EXPRESS OUR PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS ON THINGS. IT HELPS TO BOOST OUR INTEREST AND AWARENESS ON THE THINGS THAT BEFORE WE REALLY DON’T HAVE CARE AND IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. THE REFLECTION WRITING ACTIVITIES IS A USEFUL FOR US TO HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS TO EVERY ISSUE AND DECISIONS. AND I OBSERVED THAT SIR GIVES IMPORTANCE IN MANAGING HIS AND OUR TIME. Introduction to Philosophy.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Prussian Needle-Gun - Austro-Prussian War

Creation of the famed Prussian Needle Gun began in 1824, when gunsmith Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse first began experimenting with rifle designs. The son of a locksmith in SÃ ¶mmerda, Dreyse spent 1809-1814 working in the Parisian gun factory of Jean-Samuel Pauly. A Swiss, Pauly tinkered with various experimental designs for breech-loading military rifles. In 1824, Dreyse returned home to SÃ ¶mmerda and opened a business producing percussion caps. Utilizing the knowledge he gained in Paris, Dreyse began by designing a muzzle-loading rifle that fired a self-contained cartridge. These cartridges consisted of a black powder charge, a percussion cap, and a bullet wrapped in paper. This single unit approach greatly reduced the time needed to reload and permitted a higher rate of fire. When the weapon was fired a long firing pin was driven by a coiled, conchoidal spring through the powder in the cartridge to strike and ignite the percussion cap. It was this needle-like firing pin which gave the weapon its name. Over the next twelve years, Dreyse changed and improved the design. As the rifle evolved, it became a breech-loader which possessed a bolt action. Revolutionary By 1836, Dreyses design was essentially complete. Presenting it to the Prussian Army, it was adopted in 1841 as the Dreyse ZÃ ¼ndnadelgewehr (Prussian Model 1841). The first practical breech-loading, bolt action military rifle, the Needle Gun, as it became known, revolutionized rifle design and led to the standardization of cartridged ammunition. Specifications Cartridge: .61 acorn-shaped round, paper cartridge w/ black powder and percussion capCapacity: 1 roundMuzzle Velocity: 1,000 ft./sec.Effective Range: 650 yds.Weight: approx. 10.4 lbs.Length: 55.9 in.Barrel Length: 35.8 in.Sights:Â  notch and front postAction:Â  bolt- actionolt-action The New Standard Entering service in 1841, the Needle Gun gradually became the standard service rifle of the Prussian Army and many other German states. Dreyse also offered the Needle Gun to the French, who after testing the weapon declined to purchase it in large quantities citing the weakness of the firing pin and a loss of breech-pressure after repeated firing. This latter issue led to a loss in muzzle velocity and range. First used by the Prussians during the 1849 May Uprising in Dresden, the weapon received its first true baptism by fire during the Second Schleswig War in 1864. Austro-Prussian War In 1866, the Needle Gun showed its superiority to muzzle-loading rifles during the Austro-Prussian War. In battle, Prussian troops were able to achieve a 5-to-1 superiority in rate of fire to their Austrian enemies due to the Needle Guns loading mechanism. The Needle Gun also allowed Prussian soldiers to easily reload from a concealed, prone position while the Austrians were forced to stand to reload their muzzle-loaders. This technological superiority greatly contributed to the swift Prussian victory in the conflict. Franco-Prussian War Four years later the Needle Gun was back in action during the Franco-Prussian War. In the years since Dreyse had offered his rifle to the French, they had been working on a new weapon which corrected the issues they saw with the Needle Gun. Despite its success during the Austro-Prussian War, the French criticisms of the weapon had proven true. Though easily replaced, the rifles firing pin had proven fragile often lasting only a few hundred rounds. Also, after several rounds, the breech would fail to close completely forcing Prussian soldiers to fire from the hip or risk being burned in the face by escaping gasses. Competition In response, the French designed a rifle known as the Chassepot after its inventor, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot. Though firing a smaller bullet (.433 cal.), the Chassepots breech did not leak which gave the weapon a higher muzzle velocity and greater range than the Needle Gun. As French and Prussian forces clashed, the Chassepot inflicted significant casualties on the invaders. Despite the effectiveness of their rifles, French military leadership and organization proved vastly inferior to the Needle Gun-equipped Prussians and led to their swift defeat. Retirement Recognizing that the Needle Gun had been eclipsed, the Prussian military retired the weapon after their victory in 1871. In its place, they adopted the Mauser Model 1871 (Gewehr 71) which was the first in a long line of Mauser Rifles used by the German military. These culminated with the Karabiner 98k that saw service during World War II. Selected Sources New York Times (December 25, 1868): The Needle Gun - Dissatisfaction with it in the Army

Friday, January 3, 2020

Family Interview - 1656 Words

Family History Interview The person I choose to interview was my mother Elizabeth . The reason I chose to interview her was that I wanted to gain a closer bond with her. She is the closet relative living from which I could gain the most knowledge. (Q11) She was raised by both of her parents. (Q1) Her father Marlyn , was the Mayor or Morgantown, WV, as well taught law at WVU. Her Mother was Jerry , a graduate of WVU with a bachelor’s degree in zoology. Jerry was a woman of many talents. She sold a clothing line out of their house as well as being a housewife, mother, and secretary of their local Methodist church. (Q2) Betty grew up in Morgantown, WV, in an exclusive area called South Park. The neighborhood was a well kept area with†¦show more content†¦Some of her favorite music in the 50’s were Bill Hayley and the Comments, Pat Boone, Elvis, and Bobby Darin. Music of the 60’s was Chubby Checker, The Beatles, Fifth Dimension, Mommas and Poppas, The Supremes and The Temptations. Betty’s favorite grade school friend was Patsy Johnson. Her father taught at WVU Dental School and her mother was a housewife. They were both tomboys and spent much of their time playing sports such as football and baseball. Her best friend in high school was Cindy Chivers. Cindy’s father was deceased and her mother worked in the office of Seneca Glass Factory, makers of cut crystal ware. They spent most of their weekends together talking about boys, trading clothes, and going to church dances together. (Q14) Family holidays were spent at Betty’s family home because of the size of the house. Her mother would always fix the turkey or ham and the aunts would bring the side dishes. They would prepare days in advance setting the table with sterling silver, china dishes and crystal goblets. At Christmas the house would always be decorated inside and out. The family would go hunt for a live tree and cut it down. Her father would set the tree in the stand then decorate with lights. Afterwards the children would place all the ornaments and tensile on the tree. (Q19) In the summer the family would travel to Fenwick Island, DE for a beach vacation.Show MoreRelatedFamily Interview1987 Words   |  8 Pagesof interviewing a family and constructing a genogram guided by their narrative. For this task, I purposely chose a family that is very different from my family of origin in terms of their cultural heritage. I will reflect on differences and similarities between our families as well as my prejudices and hypothesis that I inevitably constructed before and during the process. To identify this family, I had to approach some colleagues proposing to them to participate in the interview. Fortunately, oneRead MoreA Interview On Family Nursing Essay2220 Words   |  9 PagesFamily nursing, developed with the intent of improving children’s healthcare, is a shift from the traditional patriarchal method of delivering care to a partnership among family members (Wells, 2011). 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