Relativism, Socrates & Plato, Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, Aristotle II Essay

Relativism, Socrates & Plato, Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, Aristotle II - Essay Example While the former deals only on the â€Å"what is†, the latter is concerned about â€Å"what ought to be†. As such, descriptive ethics looks into the morality of a person in particular or an entire society in general based on the actual conduct and behavior of the people under observation while normative ethics insist that human conduct and behavior must be measured against a universal set of prescribed moral norms which civilizations must follow and comply with. The third level of ethics is metaethics which is a study of the meaning behind ethical language and theories. It not only analyses and compares different moral standards; it also examines the significance and purpose of the ideas and concepts of ethics itself (Lutz 8). Moreover, these ethical theories may be differentiated from one another by looking into how they adopt the theory of relativism. On the one hand, normative ethics acknowledges that certain situations do arise which necessitate deviation from the p rescribed norms and thus require some degree of tolerance. On a case-to-case basis, a specific action is determined whether it is right or wrong by taking into consideration the specific circumstances which caused the deviation or non-compliance with the universal moral norms. On the other hand, relativism in metaethics takes into consideration the fact that people and societies come from different race, culture and set of common beliefs. Some degree of tolerance is given to the idiosyncrasies of cultures that are different from one’s own. As such, there is no absolute moral standard of right and wrong, rather, human conduct is measured against the prescribed norms of a given culture or group to which he belongs. 3.) Aristotle argues that ethics is the science of achieving happiness. What is his argument for this? What is happiness for Aristotle? And why doesn’t he think it is identical to pleasure? Explain the function argument and how it connects rationality with hap piness. What role do the virtues play in this argument? Aristotle argues that ethics is the science of achieving happiness because in order to be happy, a person must first conduct himself properly and attain his goals in life. For Aristotle, happiness is the ultimate goal of every person and the core motivation and driving force for all of our actions. Happiness is where all actions end and one will never stop until it is achieved. A person’s behavior and action can be likened to a pyramid which has a wide base of different goals for different needs. Then, as each goal is achieved, one moves forward and upward to another goal which brings him closer to the top where all other goals converge and end at point happiness. No matter how many or hard the obstacles and circumstances are, a person is motivated to move forward by the prospect of reaching to the top. Lest happiness be confused with mere pleasure, Aristotle expressly clarified that there is a world of difference betwee n happiness and pleasure, the latter being a mere emotion felt by a person when an intermediary goal is achieved. Throughout his journey to the apex of the pyramid, a person may feel pleasure as each specific goal brings him closer to his ultimate goal. Finally, according to Aristotle’s function argument, the function of man is to achieve rationality through different activities which call for the use of the human mental faculties. Human rationality is what separates us from plants and animals; we do not just exist in this world, we

Demand Utility Marginality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Demand Utility Marginality - Essay Example For instance in the beauty franchise, such as in a beauty salon, many customers are extremely loyal once they find a location that they truly enjoy. "No way would I give up my hair stylist. You develop these relationships," says Liza Burnett, a 26-year-old in New York, who spends $150 for a hair cut and scalp treatment every two months. The factors that appear to affect the marginal utility of such luxury goods among those with large net worth are many. One of the most primary would be that obviously only those with the monetary resources available would be able to afford an item with such a high price. Another factor, which relevantly ties into the first, is that the salesperson of an item such as this would want to have excellent marketing skills as well as proper customer service skills, in order to sell as best as they possibly can. Although there is a significantly higher number of people in the world today with a bank account full enough to easily purchase items with such a high cost as compared to even fifty years ago, it still takes a good customer service representative to sell efficiently. The marginal utility of a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud to me is the fact that it is "considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing vehicle ever to be produced by the vehicle manufacturer." ("Wikipedia",

UNIT FIVE Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

UNIT FIVE - Assignment Example The ANA is a professional body that represents interests of over 3 million nurses in the United States (Mahlin, 2010). To make this an easier task, the ANA has incepted constituent and state associations. To begin with, the ANA is destined to foster high standards in nursing practice and promote the rights of nurses at their work place. Similarly, it provides a realistic view of nursing in a positive way. It extends its determination to improve the sector by engaging Congress and other regulatory bodies to achieve its mission (Naylor & Kurtzman, 2010). Its mission states that it is determined to advance nursing as a profession to improve the health of those that need it. The second association is the International Council of Nurses (ICN). This is an international body that aims to bring together all the registered nurses in many countries. As a matter of fact, the organization has embedded more than 130 nursing associations. Apparently, the organization has a limited number of member organizations in each country, which is equivalent to one. It has incorporated the all-inclusive structure that permits other domestic groups in nursing to become members (Carter et al., 2010). Its mission is to improve the nursing structure and service delivery from all the aspects in the sector. The leadership of ICN is in the hands of the President and three Vice Presidents who act as the executive committee. Comparatively, the ICN is similar to the ANA only that the ICN operates in a wider geographical region. The third nursing group that is proving to be instrumental is the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN). The NANN addresses the educational needs and practices within neonatal nursing and specialty. Therefore, members benefit from the representation given by the organization. The NANN is similar to other associations only in that it is committed to improving the educational needs and specialty of neonatal nurses. Similarly, it explores other means of educating ne onatal nurses by focusing on peer reviewed publications, educational conferences, books, and other informative materials in the neonatal practice. The managers of these associations are instrumental driving forces in achieving the goals and missions of the group. For example, the managers ensure they hold annual meetings to evaluate the progress. As such, they are able to forge a way forward in implementing all the discussions. Secondly, there are negotiations with governing bodies which include Congress and governments in implementing the stated claims. Thirdly, these associations gather information through research to ensure the practice is being improved with time. Without such aspects, the nursing associations are not likely to mark an improvement in their respective work groups. In order to reach a collective bargain, there are various elements that are influential. First, workers are allowed to join any association of their choice as long as it does not affect their service de livery (Carter et al., 2010). This is constitutional, and nurses are allowed to join any group that will foster them to achieve their goals. Secondly, most of the nurses feel the urge to join these associations since they add value to the nurses. For example, the need to improve the service delivery pushes the nurses to join these groups for additional education. Thirdly, the nursing associations enhance the rights of nurses at their work place. Therefore, nurses join these

Problems of Performance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Problems of Performance Management - Essay Example In view of this information, the Systems Model of Performance Management is adapted. The paper is concluded with a discussion and recommendations for future research. By definition, Performance Management generally includes performance planning, i.e. goal setting, ongoing coaching and development of subordinates, formally reviewing performance and rewarding performance. It was first introduced by Michael Beer as an innovative appraisal and development system that combines the developmental facet of performance appraisal with the goal-setting facet of MBO (Beer & Ruh, 2000; Beer, Ruh, Dawson, McCaa & Kavanagh, 2001). At the time, it was considered an improvement on the performance appraisal system, which was generally considered as subjective and plagued by rather problems. In considering the value that could potentially be added by Performance Management, it is important to bear in mind that Performance Management as a process was developed because of the failure of performance appraisals. In essence, Performance Management represents a move from an isolated, mechanistic, HR-driven approach to performance appraisal towards a comprehensive, integrated business-driven system aiming at organisational and people development. (Cawley et al. 2003) It was believed that by participative setting goals that are aligned with higher organisational goals, conducting performance reviews and coaching on an ongoing basis, and rewarding an individual's performance based on the outputs of the Performance Management system, desirable outcomes would follow. While conducting a survey among Performance Management facilitators from major British organisations on potential problems experienced with Performance Management in the early 1990s, a wide range of problems was identified. In fact, so many problems emerged that in collaboration with these Performance Management experts a Systems Model of Performance Management was developed. The reasoning was that a systems approach would be required to address the wide variety of problems at different levels. The Systems Model is described elsewhere in detail (Spangenberg, 2003b). The Systems Model comprises inputs, processes, outputs and linkages to other systems. The effectiveness of Performance Management is greatly influenced by inputs into the system. (McDonald 2000)Strategic drivers comprise, firstly, the purpose or purposes of Performance Management. The desired purpose, or purposes, should be determined beforehand, should not contain contradictory elements, and should be clearly communicated to all. Secondly, the transformational framework comprising leadership, corporate strategy and culture is critical to changing the strategic direction of the organisation in order to exploit opportunities in the environment. (Neely 2002)A fair degree of sophistication is expected from all internal stakeholders, namely management, supervision and employees, to understand and apply the principles and procedures of Performance Management. A productive working relationship with unions or other employee representatives is essential. Because of the often-negative impact of discussing rewards during the final performance review, the reward issue may be separated from the annual review. In the Systems Model, it is considered as a linkage to the

Interpretation of Alexander Pope's Work An Essay of Man

Interpretation of Alexander Pope's Work An of Man - Essay Example He explains that man should have a sense of inner equilibrium, between how he views himself with respect to his surroundings. With this, man has to understand his purpose, as well as the universal order in which he is a part of. Only after understanding his purpose and the universal order around him can a man be truly contented. As Pope explains: The man was made perfect, based on the intended purpose that God created him for. Moreover, God gave man sufficient knowledge, based on the purpose that he was made for, and in relation to the surroundings that he will live in. The author cautions that man should not overshoot his intended purpose. The man was made to be a man and was made perfectly for his intended purpose, with respect to the universal order, of which man is a part of. Therefore, any desire to deviate from man's intended purpose consequently inverts or subverts the universal order that exists: As Pope explains, aspiring to be like the Gods or like the Angels is deemed as a rebellion against the universal order that man should respect. Implicit in this argument is the possibility that man might go astray, away from his intended purpose, should he desire to become more than what he was created for. Effects such as pride, tyranny, and corruption might signal the downfall of the man if he desires to become more than what he was created for. The stress  that the author puts on the importance of understanding man's intended purpose suggests that it is not immediately easy for a man to know his purpose and stature with respect to the universal order. Man, therefore, has to go through a journey of questioning and self-discovery, to understand his true character and purpose. He must understand each positive attribute of his character, to know why he was given such. Moreover, he must also understand each negative attribute of his character, not only to know why he was given such negative attributes, but also for him to overcome it. Pope explains his point further, through the following excerpt.  Ã‚  

Litigation and Midwifery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Litigation and Midwifery - Essay Example Knowledge on which persons are allowed to file a claim, which places can the claims be filed, the time that the claim has to be filed, and how the claim is to be filed is also necessary. There exist several types of litigation. These include business litigation, commercial litigation, public interest litigation, personal injury litigation, mesothelioma litigation, civil litigation, and patent litigation (Laws.com, 2011). Business litigation refers to a particular field of law that handles disputes that arise between businesses and individuals or between two businesses. The law states that all businesses ought to operate under a specified code of ethics while at the same time carry out practices that are legal. A business may fail to operate legally and in the process result in the loss of finances by a client or harming the client. Such a client has the legal right to file for business litigation. In many instances, such cases essentially seek financial settlement. A criminal sentenc e may be awarded in some cases for the immoral conduct by the business entity (Laws.com, 2011). Commercial litigation refers to an area of law that is concerned with disputes that involve commercial companies or businesses. In most cases, the legal disputes that fall under this category are usually with regard to disagreements between the companies. This type of litigation focuses on legal disputes that may be emanating from drafting of contracts, mergers between companies, and real estate laws. The companies may disagree on management of property and finances. In most of the cases an out of the court solution is sought by the litigators and litigants (Laws.com, 2012). Public litigation refers to an area of law to covers all wrong-doings, incidents, and /or legal situations that affect the community’s well being. Interestingly this type of litigation is initiated by the court. The court system is responsible for initiating this legal proceeding. Although many view it as a rel atively new type of litigation, it has featured prominently in environmental law practice. Any action taken by an individual or by a corporation that results in inhibiting a particular society’s progress or damages a necessity is punishable under this type of litigation. Public Interest Litigation is an attempt to fulfill the guarantee of fundamental rights that citizens have been guaranteed (Kirpal, et al, 2000). In certain cases that involve injury to persons, legal processes may be initiated in order to realize the dispute. These legal proceedings are referred to as Personal Injury Litigations. In a typical case, an individual filing for this type of a case seeks to be compensated for injuries. This type of litigation arises from the deliberate or negligent action by a given party that precipitates to the physical injury of another party. Many clients are advised to seek the advice of the PIAB (Personal Injuries Assessment Board) as a first step towards seeking compensatio n. The PIAB provides an assessment for victims of personal injury and are seeking compensation. It assesses victims of injury at the workplace, public liability accidents and motor accidents (Malcomson Law, 2008). Mesothelioma litigations are common litigations that focus on companies that expose their employees to asbestos without protecting them against it or without even warning them.

OC organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

OC organizations - Essay Example large black market for alcohol and created the opportunity for many groups considered at one time small times to rise in prominence in organized crime. The black market created from alcohol was easily filled by criminals. This reason alone was strong enough to repeal prohibition in 1933. As a public health policy historians argue that prohibition did reduce alcohol use and the associated harm (Hall, 2010, p 1165). Many dry states created economic power for wet states willing to transfer and sale across state lines which was a popular activity in organized crime. It was very common for organized crime organizations to be on regular shipment and supply schedules with establishments subject to prohibition. At that time, before 1930, there were no uniform National crime statistics and national prohibition and the illicit income it produced was a factor in widespread corruption of police and public officials (Hall, 2010, p1168). Disagreements over illegal alcohol shipments and delivery contributed to an increase in murder rates in large cities such as Chicago. States considered ‘wet’ attributed increases in Federal arrests to prohibition and it was more accurate to assume these arrests reflected crime rates rather than actual enforcement. Political mechanisms operated in the legitimate and less legitimates worlds of prohibition, racketeering, and vices which caused a loss of control in American politics, corrupt officials and organized crime groups took over these roles. Many political systems overlooked organized crime enabling them to stay in power using the often very influential support of the organized crime groups, eliminating opposition and more easily raising funds (Beare, 1997, p 157). It is these very reasons why the problem was not eliminated much more efficiently by either law enforcement or the United States government. Illegal narcotics trade was estimated to be the second largest industry in the world in 2007 (Swanstrom, 2007, p3). Transnational