Free Essays on Niebuhr Vs Augustine

Reading the selection by Reinhold Niebuhr on his thoughts of Augustine’s theories was an interesting comparison to the other works we have recently read. His views were similar to some, but almost opposite of others. Although Niebuhr and John Howard Yoder are not necessarily representative of opposing "schools" in Christian social ethics, they do emphasize opposing themes that have been hot topics in the Christian world in the past century. Niebuhr states that he does not believe that pacifism would actually work in society. He separates idealism away from his main point of view- what we know as Christian Realism. One of the greatest things Niebuhr accomplished was bringing Augustinian thought back into public eye. Augustine’s ideas had fallen out of fashion among modern Christians. Niebuhr modernized his ideas and brought them back into current discussion. Niebuhr’s Christian Realism is based on Augustine’s understanding of human nature. Recognizing that humans have the innate will to survive, he knows that we will do whatever it takes to prolong our lives. This is the root of selfish desire, or original sin, as Augustine preached. We try to achieve self worth by getting more power, prestige, pleasure, or wealth. Sometimes we do it in a constructive way, other times in a harmful way. Niebuhr explains that once we start seeking out these things, rivalry between people begins. We would rather fight than compromise if there were a logical chance of gaining something. But Niebuhr says that fighting is irrational. Humans need each other in order to survive. He pre aches that we need to work together for the benefit of all, but occasional uprisings are unavoidable. Because of this, Niebuhr reasons (in an Augustinian way) that a social hierarchy is needed. Both theologians recognize the need for order. Yoder and Niebuhr differ greatly in their opinions on religion. Yoder is a definite pacifist, whereas Niebuhr s... Free Essays on Niebuhr Vs Augustine Free Essays on Niebuhr Vs Augustine Reading the selection by Reinhold Niebuhr on his thoughts of Augustine’s theories was an interesting comparison to the other works we have recently read. His views were similar to some, but almost opposite of others. Although Niebuhr and John Howard Yoder are not necessarily representative of opposing "schools" in Christian social ethics, they do emphasize opposing themes that have been hot topics in the Christian world in the past century. Niebuhr states that he does not believe that pacifism would actually work in society. He separates idealism away from his main point of view- what we know as Christian Realism. One of the greatest things Niebuhr accomplished was bringing Augustinian thought back into public eye. Augustine’s ideas had fallen out of fashion among modern Christians. Niebuhr modernized his ideas and brought them back into current discussion. Niebuhr’s Christian Realism is based on Augustine’s understanding of human nature. Recognizing that humans have the innate will to survive, he knows that we will do whatever it takes to prolong our lives. This is the root of selfish desire, or original sin, as Augustine preached. We try to achieve self worth by getting more power, prestige, pleasure, or wealth. Sometimes we do it in a constructive way, other times in a harmful way. Niebuhr explains that once we start seeking out these things, rivalry between people begins. We would rather fight than compromise if there were a logical chance of gaining something. But Niebuhr says that fighting is irrational. Humans need each other in order to survive. He pre aches that we need to work together for the benefit of all, but occasional uprisings are unavoidable. Because of this, Niebuhr reasons (in an Augustinian way) that a social hierarchy is needed. Both theologians recognize the need for order. Yoder and Niebuhr differ greatly in their opinions on religion. Yoder is a definite pacifist, whereas Niebuhr s...

How to Paint Composite Materials

How to Paint Composite Materials Composite materials are mixtures of different fibers bound together by a hardening resin. Depending on the application, composite materials may or may not require painting. Painting is a good way to restore or change the color of the composite after the original finish has faded. The best methods of painting depend on the type of materials in the composite. Following are step-by-step instructions for painting some of the most common composites. You may also want to check with the manufacturers recommendations. Painting Fiber Cement Composites Use a pressure washer to clean. Wait two-four hours for the cement composite to dry.Apply a primer.Wait two hours or so for the primer to dry.Apply the paint same way you applied the primer. Wait about two hours for the paint to dry. Painting Wood Composites For exterior wood composites, use a pressure washer with a low-pressure tip to clean. Wait two hours for the composite to dry.For interior wood composites, dust with a broom.Using a roller, coat with an acrylic latex primer. Use a paintbrush for any areas you cant reach with a roller.Wait two hours or so for the primer to dry.Use satin or semi-gloss latex paint on interior wood composites. Use acrylic enamel on wood composites inside the house. Apply acrylic latex paint the same way you applied the primer. Wait four hours until dry. Painting Composite Decking Mix one part bleach with three parts water.Using rags, a roller, or a brush, apply the bleach solution liberally to all surfaces.After half an hour, scrub the surfaces.Rinse off the solution and residue.Using very fine sandpaper (220 grit) lightly sand all the surfaces.Wash off dust and dirt with a household detergent or commercial cleaner made for cleaning composite decks.Rinse thoroughly.If you are going to paint the deck, prime with an exterior latex stain-blocking primer made for plastic materials. Do not prime if you plan to stain the deck instead of painting it.For painting, use a high-quality latex floor and deck paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. For staining, use a high-quality acrylic latex solid color deck stain recommended for composite decking. Painting Fiberglass Composites Fill holes or imperfections with fiberglass putty. Smooth out the putty with a putty knife. Let it cure completely.Sand with heavy sandpaper (100 grit) to remove excess putty or any paint. After the composite is fairly smooth, switch to 800 grit sandpaper and sand until the composite is very smooth. You can use an orbital sander or sand by hand.Use a dry rag and acetone to remove dust, grease, and debris.Apply a primer. Most primers work on fiberglass, but its a good idea to double check with the paint store on the best one to use. Wait two hours or so until the primer is dry.Spray or use a brush to apply the final coat of paint. Wait until the paint is dry.Apply another coat of paint or apply the clear coat. Always use a clear coat after the last coat of paint; it will seal the paint and help protect the paint from the elements. Final Words On Painting Composites As with any paint job, thorough preparation is the key to a good looking and long lasting paint job on composite materials. Follow recommended safety precautions on the products you use. For example, wear gloves when working with fiberglass. Wear liquid-resistant gloves using bleach. Wear eye protection when sanding, using bleach, and when working with fiberglass.

Christian Ethics Moral Compass Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Christian Ethics Moral Compass - Essay Example Customers normally prefer lower priced goods over the higher priced goods (Griffin, 2010). Going back to the issue, reducing the store prices to the level set by the competitors is economically correct. The store will be able to generate revenues. More customers will flock to the store to buy the products and services. With the high demand, the company or store will be able to stay in business for many years (Johnson, 2011). In addition, the giving of warranties to the customer will achieve the company or store’s purpose. The warranties will encourage the customers to trust the company or store. The warranties assure the customers that the company or store will be able to back up its sales Further, the company or store’s purpose process includes lowering its expenses in order to achieve the revenue targets. Lowering the store’s expenses allows the reduction of the company or store’s selling prices. The company or store correctly used old parts that were re cycled from other machines. The chosen machine sources are either damaged or no longer in use (Gill, 2011). In addition, God emphasized, â€Å"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15).† The first man, Adam, was immediately given a purpose in life. His job was to manage the Garden of Eden. Adam was immediately given a purpose in life, to take care of the Garden. As the story goes, Adam was also required to comply with some of God’s rules. The rules include God’s prohibiting Adam from eating the fruit of life. Just like in any organization, everyone, especially the organization’s requiring the leaders to comply with organizational rules. Craig Johnson (2011) emphasized that the purpose of leadership is to ensure that ethical values are implemented.  

Proposals for any topic in banking managment Essay

Proposals for any topic in banking managment - Essay Example All these funds are to be deployed in various avenues considering the risk and return factors. These avenues are, however, not alike in their returns. The assets, such as cash in hand, money at call and short notice, are held as per the liquidity requirements, and the return on these funds is almost zero, except money at call and short notice. Investments under Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) serve the purpose of liquidity as well as income. (Alberto and Lapuz, 2005, 7)The rate of return on such investments should be adequate enough to cover financial and operating costs. Further, lending is a significant area of employment of funds in terms of size of funds involved as well as quantum of revenue generated. However, it carries a high degree of credit risk. In addition, banks also use a portion of their funds for creating their business infrastructure, which facilitates an enabling environment to conduct business and generate income. Efficient management of funds essentially includes raising of funds and their use in the manner that generates revenues sufficient to meet the operational as well as financial costs and contributes a reasonable return on capital. Thus, the objective of earning profits shall be fulfilled by an appropriate design of funds management on sound commercial principles.

Transformational Leader Profile Essay Example for Free

Transformational Leader Profile Essay One of the most debated, described and defined aspects of managerial competence, leadership continues to claim the attention of practitioners and theorists alike. Leadership, essentially a synthesis of arts, reflects individual experience, understanding, values and capabilities, interacting with situations where, realistically, there is rarely an ideal solution. The recognition that transforming a business is something of an heroic journey explicitly and implicitly acknowledges the key role of leadership in todays world as a determinant of success, in an organization’s change, progression and development. The quality of that leadership is itself largely determined by the leaders effectiveness as a coach and mentor who can grow the skills and confidence in others, necessary to shape tomorrows businesses, organizations and successes. To develop leadership one must work at developing himself.   The transformation of the self is central to the leadership development process. Meeting Peter was a very profound experience for me. I met Peter, CEO of a large healthcare management organization, a year ago. The CEO had recently been picked by the Chairman of the Board to head up the organization of approximately 20,000 employees. Everyone knew him, and it appeared that he was well-liked by employees and generally trusted. Peter is someone I totally admire. He is someone who always makes sure employees all know why they are part of the organization. The terms charismatic and transformational are used more or less interchangeably in much of the literature. Distilling a large literature on the transformational leader, the notion can be broadly captured by reference to six elements: an heroic figure (usually with attributed past success stories); a mystic in touch with higher truths; a value-driven individual rather than one who is apparently purely self-serving; someone who is perceived to know the way; an individual who has a vision of a more desirable and achievable future; and finally someone thought to be capable of caring for and developing followers. All six points reflect attributes of personality and behavior of Peter. Peter has an approach which aspires to significant organizational change through engaged and committed followers. It was John McGregor Burns (1978) who emphasized the meaning and significance of transformational leadership by contrasting it with transactional leadership (Orlikoff 2000). This theme was picked up and elaborated by Bass (1990). According to Bass, transformational leadership has four components: individualized consideration (the leader is alert to the needs of followers and also takes care to develop them); intellectual stimulation (the leader encourages followers to think in creative ways and to propose innovative ideas); inspirational motivation (energizing followers to achieve extraordinary things); idealized influence (offers followers a role model). The core of Peter’s model is cantered on the concept of developing oneself to develop others. Specifically, as Peter matures and gains moral perspective, he invests more time and energy in promoting the development of others versus satisfying his own needs. As Avolio and Yammarino (2002) note, through the accumulation of developmental experiences the moral structure of an individual can be enhanced providing sufficient structure to assess complex moral challenges. This basic premise is at the core of what drives transformational leadership to the highest end of the full range of leadership. In his daily work, Peter identifies developmental opportunities, where there is scope for: Challenge, and the breaking of new ground. Work that makes a significant, demonstrable contribution to the business. Bigger/wider leadership roles, preferably the earlier the better within the leaders career progression. Shifting gear and moving up into more strategic roles/tasks and relationships. Moving and operating out of existing comfort zones. Multi-disciplinary and cross-functional working. Building stakeholder coalitions and alliances, supply chain projects, involving suppliers, deliverers (own organization) and customers. Acquiring new contributive competencies which will test and enhance both skill and will. Working on specific role/task assignments in other comparable, but noncompetitive organizations. Making keynote presentations at major events, where there is a sense of occasion and opportunities to establish reputation and credibility. Leading (preferably) or acting as a member of jointly run projects with a leading business school, professional body or significant consultancy group. Setting up and managing increased outsourcing for supportive activities. In effect, leader learning development (like so much interpersonal skills training) is about building competence – and confidence – in three related areas of activity. On the reasonable assumption that competence – like charity – begins at home, the first priority in Peter development is learning to manage oneself. This includes not only the development of effective self-management skills, but also acquiring high levels of competence in the three primary areas of know-how identified as: Transforming Integrating Mobilising Peter’s personal skills and leader competencies form an appropriately strong base for developing consistently sound working relationships with others. Particularly important are the following interpersonal competencies: Self awareness and awareness of others. Negotiation techniques. Listening and questioning skills. Influencing skills. Coaching skills. Assertiveness. Motivational skills. Working as a partner (primus inter pares) as opposed to leader. Collaborative problem solving. Empowering and delegating skills. I identified five significant distinguishing characteristics which differentiated Peter from the less effective: He is neither perfect, nor perfectionists in their demands of others. He quickly learns skills which he does not possess personally. He sees management as essentially a team effort. He strives endlessly for improvement – to him, the game is not over until its over. He admits his weaknesses and learns from his mistakes, but differentiates himself from the less successful. The leadership theory proposed by Peter is based on the relationship and interaction between the leader and the follower. Under transformational theory, the leader and the follower may possess their own motivations for the interaction, but together they realize a common goal and are changed by the process. The change, or transformation, in the participants is found in the unity of purpose that raises the goal beyond individual satisfaction to a higher level. Peter’s theory is consistent with transformational theory. Collaboration cannot be achieved without the team members reaching a consensus and perhaps giving up something of themselves and changing in the process. Collaboration cannot be realized without facilitation, communication, information, participation, and expectation. Understanding something of the dynamics of group behaviour and the processes underlying transactions between people, is fundamental to effective leadership (Orlikoff 2000). There are no panaceas or cure-alls, but informed awareness of what is really going on, in behavioral terms, within and between groups helps to give managers – and others – a clearer idea of how to handle relationships in more productive ways. Peter believes that a business needs at least three interrelated forms of leadership: One which brings about requisite task performance and goal achievement. One to generate and maintain the commitment of its members. Another to ensure continuity of congruence between the requirements of the task, and peoples needs and expectations (Schein 1985). Peter has ability to overcome or compensate for (transform) organizational and individual limitations. He motivates others to do more than they originally intended and indeed often more than they thought possible. Team spirit is aroused. Enthusiasm and optimism are displayed. Peter enables his staff to overcome, to break through, to see beyond the limitations of their organization: he stimulates his ‘followers efforts to be innovative and creative by questioning assumptions, re-framing problems, and approaching old situations in new ways’ (Ackoff 1999). Peter is unique leader, on whom organizational success depends (and who therefore receives a considerable share of the benefits of that success). Peter seeks power not for self-aggrandizement but in order to share it. He empowers others to take an active role in carrying out the value-based mission or vision defined by him. That vision is based on what the organization and followers need, not what the leader wants personally. Thus, Peter appeals to followers values, emphasizing that certain important values serve as the common basis for our ideals and goals. Peter transforms organization by first using his cognitive power to understand complex causal chains and then acting to design outcomes that will benefit the organization and advance his vision. While a substantial degree of cognitive power is required in order for Peter to be effective, such effectiveness results as much from his success in developing followers cognitive abilities as from the exercise of his own. Peter with the degree of cognitive power required for a top-level position makes important long-term strategic decisions. But how much do these decisions affect what actually goes on in the organization on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis? It is the thought and action of managers and employees at lower levels that most affect current and short-term future operations. The finest long-term plan and the wisest long-range actions will surely fail if those who must act today and tomorrow are not capable of doing so. Thus, it is more important for top-level leaders with great cognitive power or vision to help followers expand and improve on their own vision than it is for leaders to simply exercise their cognitive power (Smith 2000). Peter empowers others to define organizational policies and develop programs that are explicitly based on the values and beliefs contained in the philosophy that in fact put those values and beliefs into organizational action. For example, hiring and promotion policies should take into account values consistent with those in the organizations philosophy as well as applicants knowledge and skill. Reward systems and bonus programs must be based on the values of cooperation and innovative action instead of on competition over a limited pool of resources. Finally, Peter inculcates values and beliefs through his own individual behavior, his personal practices. He models organizational values and beliefs by living by them constantly and consistently. That is why his leadership behaviors that were described earlier are extremely important. Many people think of these behaviors as tools with which leaders explain their vision to followers and convince them to carry out that vision. Although this is not totally untrue, the far more significant reason these behaviors are important is that leaders use them to demonstrate and illustrate the values and beliefs on which their visions are founded. Thats why Peter takes so much time and effort and why he is good manager with strong management skills. He uses everyday managerial activities a committee meeting, for example as opportunities to inculcate values. In a meeting the leader may guide a decision-making process while making it clear that final authority and responsibility rests with the group. By so doing, Peter takes what might otherwise be a bureaucratic process and instills the value of empowerment into it. Whenever possible, he overlays value-inculcating actions on ordinary bureaucratic management activities. Without a sound base of management skills, this would not be possible. Ultimately, examination of Peter’s leadership leads to the recognition that transformational leaders own personal behaviors play a large part in shaping organizational culture. This comprehensive theory goes beyond behavior to incorporate personal characteristics. Even more, it includes the organizational context of transformational leadership that is, culture building. Peter refers to the challenges as trigger events in our lives that oftentimes have a profoundly positive effect on our development. So how do we create the challenges that you must confront to develop into the full person you can be and to achieve your full potential? I am still searching for that in myself, and I hope you will do the same each and every day, because that is the way to develop leadership—each and every day we emerge, we get better, we know more, and we can influence people more effectively. Peter had a profoundly positive impact on my leadership development. I have chosen a developmental goal for myself, based on my primary style of leadership. After having examined Peter as a transformational leader I have tried to capture the whole process of personal and leadership development in a simple model. Let me explain. The top left-hand part of the model represents what we come into the world with our talents and strengths. Building on those capacities or attempting in some cases to break them down, we have life experiences that shape our development, that comprise our life stream. On the bottom left, we have the context in which we are currently operating and there we specify the importance of the vision and culture to nurturing leadership development. The rest of the model represents what we typically focus on in terms of leadership development, including enhancing our self-awareness of where we are and where we should focus our energies, then focusing those energies by regulating our development and then finally being consistent in our efforts to call it self-development. A number of important individual and contextual factors feed into self-awareness, but we must go beyond simply being aware to enhance leadership development. References Ackoff, R. L. (1999). Transformational leadership. Strategy Leadership, 27, 20–25. Avolio, B. J., Yammarino, F. J. (2002). Transformational and charismatic leadership: The road ahead. Greenwich, CT: JAI. Bass, B.M. (1990). Leadership and Performance beyond Expectations, New York: Free Press. Orlikoff, J. E. (2000). A board as good as its chair. Trusteeship, 8(4). Schein, E. H. (1985). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Smith, C. J. (2000). Trusteeship in community colleges: A guide for effective governance. Washington, DC: Association of Community College Trustees.

Obedience and Arrogance in Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis of the

Obedience and Arrogance in Gilgamesh and Genesis The issue of obedience figures prominently in both "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and the book of Genesis in the Bible. These works were produced by very different cultures and traditions (Middle Eastern and Hebraic, respectively) and the characters in each react to authority or advice with very different levels of obedience. Noah is found to be righteous by God and is rewarded with a means to escape the devastation of the flood. Gilgamesh, in his arrogance, thinks himself to be above the mortal concept of death. I have chosen the two opening paragraphs from the seventh chapter of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and Genesis 6:8-22 to illustrate the conflicts between obedience and arrogance. One obvious distinction between "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and Genesis can be traced back to the cultures of the authors. The Gilgamesh epic comes from a culture and religion that is polytheistic. The author (and thus the characters in the epic) believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each possessing human attributes and vices. The Hebraic culture that gave us Genesis revolved around the belief in one Almighty God. The Hebrew God was above man in every way: He was omniscient and all-powerful and yet retained compassion for the humans He had created. While Noah had but one God to serve, Gilgamesh was responsible to many. It seems that many human-like gods each command less respect than one all-powerful God. This idea can be examined by looking at Ishtar's advances to Gilgamesh. This goddess desired the mortal Gilgamesh and he responds by shunning her, thereby being disobedient to his gods. Gilgamesh may be king of Uruk and two-thirds god but that does not make   him an equal. "Co me to me Gilgamesh, ... ... achingly close to eternal life. Each are equally immortalized by their respective cultures. In a way, Gilgamesh did achieve his goal. His aim was to be immortal and in a way he is, witnessed by the fact that we read his story today and will no doubt continue to do so in the future. And as long as Christianity exists in the world, Noah will also be remembered. Gilgamesh gained his notoriety through his arrogance: he ravished women, was desired by a goddess, and rejected his own mortality. Noah achieved fame by being obedient: he was found worthy by God, given an escape route from death, and salvaged the creatures of the earth. Arrogance and obedience may have each achieved the same goal in the end, no one will   forget Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, nor Noah, builder of the ark. Works Cited: Sandars, N. K., trans. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin, 1972.

Advertising encourages a desire for products which people do not actually need

They are everywhere. Banners, billboards, Internet Websites, newspapers, radio spots, television commercials, magazines, logos on clothing, cars and even cutlery. Advertising has so permeated everyday life that at last count, individuals can expect to be bombarded by approximately 1200 messages everyday, telling them what to eat, wear, do and believe in. The ubiquity of advertising is a phenomenon of our modern world akin to and sometimes elevated to an art form, a consequence of the much touted ethos of free trade and capitalistic consumerism. But not all are lured by the siren song of the commercial jingle.Cynics lambast advertisers for convincing people to spend money they do not have, for something that they do not need. Malcolm Muggeridge, prominent British journalist and thinker direfully prophesied that history will remember advertising as â€Å"one of the evils of our time†, wrongfully stimulating people to â€Å"constantly want things, want this, want that†. Cr itics like John Arbuthnot Fischer see the corrupt connection between society’s deteriorating values and the hidden agenda that advertising subtly (or not so subtly) champions: that youth equals popularity, popularity equals success, success equals happiness.How does advertising weave such a hypnotic influence? The ultimate objective of advertising is to sell products, services and ideas persuasively and creatively. To that end, advertisers and copy writers resort to all manner of strategy to arrest the attention of consumers long enough to create awareness and perhaps, even desire for the product, service or idea. The variety of methods to entice both existing and potential clientele range from the obvious to the subtle, from the staid to the subliminal (incidentally outlawed in many countries).Whatever the methods used, professional advertisers all agree that good advertising is not just about circulating information; it is about penetrating the public mind with desires and belief. In fact, advertising guru Leo Burnett once said that the secret of effective and original commercials is not the creation of new and tricky words and pictures, but one of putting familiar words and pictures into new relationships. Such perception altering strategies are what may induce consumers to desire and eventually buy the superfluous and the frivolous.Consider for instance De Beers diamonds. Before its advertisements for diamonds were launched, the gemstone was merely another sparkling jewel, fit for royalty, not so much for the commoners. By equating diamonds with love, De Beers successfully created a hitherto non-existent appetite for the stones (albeit really lovely ones). If a girl does not get a diamond engagement ring, the husband-to-be had better be prepared for trouble. Take a closer look also at the latest range of Louis Vuitton advertisements which capitalize on big-name appeal.The very public figures of Mikhail Gorbachev (former premier of the Russia, no les s), Sean Connery (of James Bond 007 fame), even queen of pop and controversy Madonna, who have fronted these advertisements convey more than just a sense of the luxury that the brand is famous for. These iconic figures, exuding power, history and a touch of legend, are whom a successful generation has grown up with and therefore feel a connection. You may not need a Louis Vuitton bag, but being able to buy one becomes a subtle statement that you have arrived, putting you in the same league as the celebrities who endorse the brand.Yet, while it is true that advertising can generate awareness of people’s desire of things that they now know to exist, it is equally true that advertising cannot create a need that did not previously exist. Jeff I Richards points out that advertising will only die when â€Å"people everywhere are satisfied with their weight, their hair, their skin, their wardrobes and their aroma†. Certainly, advertising brings to the fore feelings of inadequ acy, lack and perhaps deep underlying insecurities that may be alleviated to some extent via purchasing a product or service.Scarcity is the fear that you may miss an opportunity to purchase a product. Thus â€Å"one day sales† and phrases such as, â€Å"for a limited time only† or â€Å"limited supply† are commonly employed to increase sales and promote the idea that you can supply a lack. Advertisements about health often capitalise on fear to get the audiences’ attention. Once this is accomplished they hope to â€Å"scare† the audience enough to produce an attitude change, be it buying their product or changing your lifestyle.Alcohol and cigarette advertisements appeal to peoples’ desires for pleasure Models and actors are portrayed as having a good time, leading to the belief that if you purchase these products you too will have a good time. Of course, many advertisements employ more than one technique in attempting to persuade the audie nce. Plastic surgery ads, for instance, work well by appealing to people's love of beauty via exposing their fear of aging as well as their vanity and egotism.Fear, love, pleasure, and vanity are thus powerful motivators of behaviour that can supposedly be eradicated or fulfilled through some product, service or action, at least in the mind of the consumer. Without them, advertising messages are simply messages. Moreover, while it is true that some deep-seated desires rule human nature and behaviour, almost everyone exercises a choice as to when and how such desires are met. To some extent, the consciousness-raising power of advertisements puts the onus of action on the consumer and provides some options for exercising that initiative.Yet, advertisements cannot make one do anything that one is not willing or able to undertake in the first place. Campaigns and posters (a type of advertising) warning against the evils of smoking are visibly mounted, but have not really produced a sign ificant reduction in the numbers of smokers in Singapore despite the fact that cigarette advertising is banned here! Health promotion advisories across the world promote healthy eating plans and options, but that does not stop one from chomping on that artery-clogging hamburger or carcinogenic char kway teow.In fact, not all advertising is focused on inducing consumers to purchase the unnecessary. To believe that would be to limit the many useful functions it fulfils. There are genuine needs that require the consciousness-raising and educational function of advertising to fulfil. Look at the countless advertisements for domestic, office and personal needs. Consider also the innovations that advertising brings to one’s awareness. Take into account that advertisements can serve as reminders to consumers, particularly when a consumer has a specific need or desire that can be associated with a product or service.At the end of the day, what must be remembered is that in a free-mar ket society where a plethora of goods and services is available, consumers ultimately exercise the responsibility that accompanies the freedom of choice. Advertisers will continue to market their wares strategically, but consumers are not helpless victims held enthralled in a life-or-death struggle. If they were, advertisers would not have to wrack their brains to conjure up creative ways to entice customers. To think otherwise is to sorely underestimate the strength of the human mind and spirit.

Inner Reflections Essay

As a person looks back at their life, a common concern is the legacy they leave in this world. Most people posses an earnest desire to make a difference in the world. Before any contribution can be made, be it great or small, it is important to understand one’s own worldview. After constructing a coherent framework about the â€Å"basic makeup of this world† (James 16), it is possible to build on this foundation to create new ideas. In his work The Human Good, Thomas Aquinas is able to share his views on this world and thereby make valuable theological contributions to this world. Aquinas was born in Roccasecca, a town in southern Rome, and lived from 1225 to 1274 (Aquinas 145). Prominent thoughts during this medieval era included those of Augustine and Aristotle. Born into this critical time, Aquinas attempts to â€Å"reconcile the teachings of . . . Aristotle with Christian doctrine or Reason with Faith† (Aquinas 145). Aquinas is renowned as the â€Å"greatest theologian of the medieval Catholic church† and a â€Å"representative of scholasticism† (Aquinas 145). As the son of a nobleman, he was educated at the University of Naples and became a member of the Dominican Order of Preachers. After finishing his education, Aquinas spent most of his life â€Å"teaching at Dominican study houses and universities in France and Italy† (Aquinas 145). In The Human Good, Aquinas reveals his views on what a human being is, and how humans know what is right and wrong. Although these are two separate questions, examining the nature of a human being leads to examining how they are able to know what is good. In light of the first question, Aquinas uses passages from the Psalms to answer, â€Å"God . . . from the abundance of his perfection, grants being to all existing things† (Aquinas 145). Aquinas describes humans as created beings that â€Å"have intelligence and bear his likeness and represent his image† (Aquinas 146). Along with being created in God’s image, Aquinas also implies humans have a personal relationship with their creator when he says, â€Å"God will not forget his people† (Aquinas 147). Finally, Aquinas states that intelligent creatures have free will, or are capable of directing their own actions. Since humans can deviate away from God’s will, Aquinas also refers to humans as â€Å"corruptible beings† (Aquinas 147). This by no means implies that humans have equality with God. Despite the fact that humans can direct their own actions, they are still under the rule of the first creator. Aquinas puts a lot of effort into justifying why humans and all other created objects do, in fact, act towards an end. Although this may seem like an obvious principle, Aquinas views it as a fundamental issue, which must be proved. This issue is important because, an ordered universe acting towards an end implies it was â€Å"voluntarily produced by an agent† (Aquinas 146). In order to prove that all things do tend towards an end, Aquinas says that if agents did not tend toward any particular end, actions would extend to infinity. Philosophically, this is not possible because this requires â€Å"an infinity of antecedents† (Aquinas 148). Since this world, including humans, are finite; an infinity of actions is not possible. This proves that â€Å"there must be something which, when had, brings the activity of the agent to rest† (Aquinas 148). After this fact is established, another premise regarding humans can be added. Humans, as intelligent beings, act by â€Å"preconceiving that which they pursue by their actions† (Aquinas 148). This is unlike natural agents, which have no concept of the end they are approaching. This implies that by knowing or having the ability to aim for an end, humans can change their end. Author Jean Porter comments that the human will, â€Å"unlike animal impulses, is never oriented by natural necessity toward any particular finite good† (Porter 71). Since humans do not have a set path to follow to their end, a big portion of a person’s life is spent in trying to determine their own end. Next, Aquinas goes on to prove that regardless of what end humans chose, it is for the sake of good. First of all, since humans tend toward some end, its logical to say that this end, whatever it may be, is towards something that is beneficial. From what can be observed, intelligent agents will flee â€Å"anything they apprehend as evil† (Aquinas 150), and to flee evil is to seek good. In other words, all humans seek to perfect themselves, or seek happiness by improving. Stating that every human acts for the sake of good may seem useless when considering that the definition of goodness is defined by the individual. Aquinas himself gives examples of goods around which people structure their lives: â€Å"riches, honor, physical pleasure, and so on† (Porter 77). However, establishing that every human being tends toward what is good provides more room to proceed. The next task would be to acquire a â€Å"correct concept of the human good† (Porter 72). Once there exists an ultimate good, there also exists a standard by which a human can tell if he or she is are headed towards the good end. The existence of many ideas of human goodness among a group of people does not disprove the fact that there may be one ultimate good. Even if an individual has a mistaken notion of what is good, he or she will change their notion if they realize his or her mistake. Therefore, if an ultimate good were to exist, all agents would seek this end if they had the knowledge. Finally, Aquinas reasons that â€Å"to understand the most perfect intelligible object, which is God, is the most perfect of acts of understanding† (Aquinas 151). Aquinas also states that it is the natural desire of men to know the first cause. God is the first cause of all, so knowing God must be the ultimate end of all understanding. Now that there exists an ultimate good, this â€Å"theory of goodness provides a foundation for a theory of morality† (Porter 68), by which it is possible to know what is right and what is wrong. Consequently, although humans may establish and follow different ends seeking good, the ultimate ideal of good is found in knowing God. Aquinas’ approach to answer theological questions has some questionable aspects. Like most ideals, one wonders how realistic it is to seek the ultimate good in every aspect. According to Aquinas, only by knowing God do humans have a standard by which they can know what is right and wrong. It can be agreed upon that even an ignorant individual’s ultimate end is knowing God. However, until such knowledge is acquired, the true standard is arbitrary and the individual has a flawed concept of right and wrong. Therefore the harder the ideal end is to acquire, the more people have skewed view on morality. This suggests that for many, morals are relative, which is somewhat naturalistic. Since, Aquinas’ views are theistic both views cannot coexist within the same theory. Therefore, Aquinas’ views on morality depend upon the feasibility of achieving the ideal. Another aspect of Aquinas’ methods that receives much criticism is his eager acceptance of Aristotelian ideas â€Å"without criticism from biblical revelation† (Hoffecker 110). Although commendable, the attempt to prove spiritual matters such as the existence of God using human logic alone seems a bit ambitious. Aquinas is criticized for looking â€Å"too hastily elsewhere, outside the biblical revelation . . . [to] support the Christian faith† (Hoffecker 110). Straying so far away from divine revelation and relying so heavily on reason endangers the importance of faith. Positively, with the knowledge of such dangers, moderate uses of Aquinas’ methods can result in powerful tools for the Christian faith. This is the reason for praising Aquinas as â€Å"the greatest theologian of the medieval Catholic Church† (Aquinas 145). Aquinas’ contributions in theology and philosophy revolutionized Christian thought. His work combines Aristotelian logic with theology producing a revolutionary line of thought known as â€Å"Thomism† (Aquinas 145). Although not mentioned in The Human Good, earlier works by Aquinas use similar methods of logic to prove the existence of God. Aquinas’ ideas on morality and man made them more compatible for people with non-Christian worldviews. Even though venturing so far away from divine revelation may be risky, his work helped introduce more people to Christianity. The popularity of Aquinas may have caused the rise of applying reason in more areas such as religion in the western world. The logical, cause-and-effect mindset of the western world may be attributed partly to this newly sparked popularity of Aristotelian thought. Being able to justify the one’s position using logic is also useful when defending the Christian faith. Although a complicated work of theology, Aquinas was able to reflect his fundamental views on man and morality though The Human Good. He left a lasting legacy by gaining a wide audience with whom to share his ideas. Some leave legacies by their memorable actions or character. Others construct revolutionary ideas and alter the course of public thought forever. Whichever method is used, the worldview of the person shapes their actions and their thoughts. Works Cited Aquinas, Thomas. â€Å"The Human Good.† The Western World. Ed. Mark Kishlansky. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2002. 145-155. Hoffecker, Andrew. â€Å"Medieval Scholasticism: The Thomistic Synthesis†. Building a Christian World View. Ed. Andrew Hoffecker. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1986. 97-113. James, sire. Universe Next Door. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1996. Porter, Jean. The Recovery of Virtue. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1990.

Free Essays on Budget Car Sales Advertisement Analysis

are too small to read and i... Free Essays on Budget Car Sales Advertisement Analysis Free Essays on Budget Car Sales Advertisement Analysis As time goes by, advertisements become more and more creative. Sometimes it become too creative so there is no connection whatsoever between the methods that advertisement are made and their real purpose. The â€Å"Budget Car Sales† advertisement is one example. Its real purpose is to convince the reader to buy a car from their car dealer, but the way they convey this is not suitable with common sense. They use a nun that has absolutely nothing to do with cars in their advertisement. The advertisement consists of an eye-catching picture, which includes a smiling nun who is surrounded by various cars. The huge size picture is located at the center of the page so the readers could see it clearly. A nun was chosen because it resembles goodness, holiness and wiseness. It gives impression that the qualities of the car they sell are good because they acknowledged by this wise and holy nun. Her smiling face symbolizes her friendliness, since a nun is widely known as a friendly person towards all people no matter whom they are, and also give the impression to the readers that the cars they are selling are â€Å"friendly† to all people so anybody can use it. It also indicates that the Budget Car Sales’ employees are friendly. The picture attempts to use humour to communicate with the readers. The nun in the picture is not only standing there but she is lifting her foot as if she wants to kick the tire of the car. For some people, this is quite funny because you cannot visualize a nun kicking something everyday. It is common for people who want to buy a car to check whether the car is in good shape or not. Sometimes they do this by kicking the tire. Perhaps, if the car is not torn apart, the car is in a good shape. The other humour used is a board written â€Å"Good Home Wanted†. This generally is used for animals with no owners but instead they use it for cars. Unfortunately it is not efficient because the words are too small to read and i...

15 Adorable Dog Quotes

15 Adorable Dog Quotes Ever wonder why dogs and puppies are considered cute animals, while a snake or a bat dont necessarily evoke the same emotion within us? Why do some people prefer to keep cats than mice? While dogs have been known to be mans best friend since the beginning of civilization, their cuteness is natures way of endearing them to humans. Evolution has wired humans in such a way that humans find their own offspring cute. The big head, big round eyes, and tiny limbs, and toothless grin of a little baby look so cute to us that parents would happily nurse their babies till they grow up. In 1943,  ethologist Konrad Lorenz in his  research proposed his theory about  baby schema, the science behind cuteness in animals. The baby schema is a set of infantile features that are perceived as cute and motivates caretaking behavior in humans. By the same logic, animals that have  physical features that fit human parameters of cuteness- large head, big eyes, chubby cheeks, tiny body, and the like- trigger the protective instinct. In medical terms, it is the baby schema that activates the  mesocorticolimbic  pathway of our neurological system, which activates the caretaking instincts in humans. So if you find dogs cute, that is only  because nature has designed us to want to extend our caring love towards dogs and puppies. If you love dogs, here are 15 cute dog quotes. Share them with your dog and watch him wag his tail in agreement. Mark Twain If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. Josh Billings A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself. Ann Landers Dont accept your dogs admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. Jonathan Safran Foer Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness? Kristan Higgins When an eighty-five-pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard to feel sad. Charles M. Schulz Happiness is a warm puppy. Phil Pastoret If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. Gilda Radner I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive. Edith Wharton My little dog- a heartbeat at my feet. Abraham Lincoln I care not for a mans religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it. Henry David Thoreau When a dog runs at you, whistle for him. Roger Caras Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. Ben Williams There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. J. R. Ackerley A dog has one aim in life... to bestow his heart. Karel Capek If dogs could talk, perhaps we would find it as hard to get along with them as we do with people.

Pollution Control Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pollution Control Policy - Essay Example Proponents and opponents of air pollution control policy now accept the protection of the public health as a political reality. The need for clean air is considered to be "a uniformly agreed-upon problem" or a "valence issue" (Baumgartner and Jones, 150). Nobody can be against the public good of clean air. Despite general agreement of the public, legislators, regulators and the regulated that clean air is important, many urban areas in the United States struggle to meet national air quality standards as the EPA continues to set stricter emission thresholds. The EPA has tracked emission levels of six criteria pollutants deemed harmful to human health - nitrogen dioxide, ground level ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and lead - since 1970. However, the persistence of the ground level ozone pollutant (commonly called either smog or ozone) troubles those who wish to protect the public health. The adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to ozone are more fully documented each year. While levels of some criteria pollutants (i.e. lead and carbon monoxide) have declined significantly, levels of ozone and particulate matter have not (Smith, 29). The EPA determined in 1997 that 122 million Americans, or 46% of the population, lived in smog-plagued areas (D oyle, 348). The EPA reported in 2004 that 112 million people across the nation still lived in 68 metropolitan areas classified in nonattainment of the national air quality standard for ozone. Regulators describe long-term exposure to ozone levels above the threshold set by law as extremely hazardous to human health (Smith, 34). From the critical perspective, there is a pressing need to establish radically new air pollution control policy. Contemporary business practice provides some important patterns in understanding policy new direction. It is evident that due to growing compliance costs, environmental expenditures have begun to play a major role in the policymaking decisions of companies. As a result, the environment is increasingly being used as a strategic tool to reduce cost and increase competitive advantage. Adequate and effective air pollution public policy should be largely based on firms' strategic needs to economize and being competitive. BACKGROUND: CURRENT POLICY FAILURE The continuing political controversy surrounding compliance with the provisions of the Clean Air Act suggests that the problem of national air pollution control is not going away either quickly or easily. Solutions to this challenging policy problem often appear partial and ineffectual. Four reasons for impaired policy effectiveness are suggested. First, the way in which federal regulators define and measure compliance with the law may not achieve consensus among the disparate participants in the implementation process. Even when participants do work together, gamesmanship among players who do not see themselves as equals on a level playing field may interfere with moving toward the same goal. The lack of consensus may continue until all the key players hold to some expectation of a common outcome (Bardach, 85). A second reason policy effectiveness may be impaired is due to the many participants in the fragmented federal hierarchy who represent multiple decision or veto points in the