Objectivist Epistemology and Ayn Rand Essays

Objectivist Epistemology and Ayn Rand Essays Objectivist Epistemology and Ayn Rand Paper Objectivist Epistemology and Ayn Rand Paper awareness acquired through the senses, into valid concepts that actually identify the facts of reality. Objectivism states that by the method of reason man can gain knowledge (identification of the facts of reality) and rejects philosophical skepticism. Objectivism also rejects faith and feeling as means of attaining knowledge. Although Rand acknowledged the importance of emotion in humans, she maintained that the existence of emotion was part of our reality, not a separate means of achieving awareness of reality. Rand was neither a classical empiricist (like Hume or the logical positivists) nor a classical rationalist (like Plato, Descartes, or Frege). She disagreed with the empiricists mainly in that she considered perception to be simply sensation extended over time, limiting the scope of perception to automatic, pre-cognitive awareness. Thus, she categorized so-called perceptual illusions as errors in cognitive interpretation due to complexity of perceptual data. She held that objective identification of the values of attributes of existents is obtained by measurement, broadly defined as procedures whose perceptual component, the comparison of the attributes value to a standard, is so simple that an error in the resulting identification is not possible given a focused mind. Therefore, according to Rand, knowledge obtained by measurement (the fact that an entity has the measured attribute, and the value of this attribute relative to the standard) is contextually certain. Ayn Rands most distinctive contribution in epistemology is her theory that concepts are properly formed by measurement omission. Objectivism distinguishes valid concepts from poorly formed concepts, which Rand calls anti-concepts. While we can know that something exists by perception, we can only identify what exists by measurement and logic, which are necessary to turn percepts into valid concepts. Procedural logic (defined by Rand as the art of non-contradictory identification) specifies that a valid concept is formed by omitting the variable measurements of the values of corresponding attributes of a set of instances or units, but keeping the list of shared attributes a template with measurements omitted as the criterion of membership in the conceptual class. When the fact that a unit has all the attributes on this list has been verified by measurement, then that unit is known with contextual certainty to be a unit of the given concept. 9] Because a concept is only known to be valid within the range of the measurements by which it was validated, it is an error to assume that a concept is valid outside this range, which is its (contextual) scope. It is also an error to assume that a proposition is known to be valid outside the scope of its concepts, or that the conclusion of a syllogism is known to be valid outside the scope of its premises. Rand ascribed scope violation err ors in logic to epistemological intrinsicism. [9][4] Rand did not consider the analytic-synthetic distinction, including the view that there are truths in virtue of meaning, or that necessary truths and mathematical truths are best understood as truths in virtue of meaning, to have merit. She similarly denied the existence of a priori knowledge. Rand also considered her ideas distinct from foundationalism, naive realism about perception like Aristotle, or representationalism (i. e. , an indirect realist who believes in a veil of ideas) like Descartes or Locke. Objectivist epistemology, like most other philosophical branches of Objectivism, was first presented by Rand in Atlas Shrugged. [5] It is more fully developed in Rands 1967 Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. [9] Rand considered her epistemology and its basis in reason so central to her philosophy that she remarked, I am not primarily an advocate of capitalism, but of egoism; and I am not primarily an advocate of egoism, but of reason. If one recognizes the supremacy of reason and applies it consistently, all the rest follows.

De-Extinction - The Resurrection of Extinct Animals

De-Extinction - The Resurrection of Extinct Animals Theres a new buzzword that has been making the rounds of trendy tech conferences and environmental think tanks: de-extinction. Thanks to ongoing advances in DNA recovery, replication and manipulation technology, as well as the ability of scientists to recover soft tissue from fossilized animals, it may soon be possible to breed Tasmanian Tigers, Woolly Mammoths and Dodo Birds back into existence, presumably undoing the wrongs that mankind inflicted on these gentle beasts in the first place, hundreds or thousands of years ago. The Technology of De-Extinction Before we get into the arguments for and against de-extinction, its helpful to look at the current state of this rapidly developing science. The crucial ingredient of de-extinction, of course, is DNA, the tightly wound molecule that provides the genetic blueprint of any given species. In order to de-extinct, say, a Dire Wolf, scientists would have to recover a sizable chunk of this animals DNA, which is not so far-fetched considering that Canis dirus only went extinct about 10,000 years ago and various fossil specimens recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits have yielded soft tissue. Wouldnt we need all of an animals DNA in order to bring it back from extinction? No, and thats the beauty of the de-extinction concept: the Dire Wolf shared enough of its DNA with modern canines that only certain specific genes would be required, not the entire Canis dirus genome. The next challenge, of course, would be to find a suitable host to incubate a genetically engineered Dire Wolf fetus; presumably, a carefully prepared Great Dane or Grey Wolf female would fit the bill. There is another, less messy way to de-extinct a species, and thats by reversing thousands of years of domestication. In other words, scientists can selectively breed herds of cattle to encourage, rather than suppress, primitive traits (such as an ornery rather than a peaceful disposition), the result being a close approximation of an Ice Age Auroch. This technique could conceivably even be used to de-breed canines into their feral, uncooperative Grey Wolf ancestors, which may not do much for science but would certainly make dog shows more interesting. This, by the way, is the reason virtually no one seriously talks about de-extincting animals that have been extinct for millions of years, like dinosaurs or marine reptiles. Its difficult enough to recover viable fragments of DNA from animals that have been extinct for thousands of years; after millions of years, any genetic information will be rendered completely irrecoverable by the fossilization process. Jurassic Park aside, dont expect anyone to clone a Tyrannosaurus Rex in your or your childrens lifetime! Arguments in Favor of De-Extinction Just because we may, in the near future, be able to de-extinct vanished species, does that mean we should? Some scientists and philosophers are very bullish on the prospect, citing the following arguments in its favor: We can undo humanitys past mistakes. In the 19th century, Americans who didnt know any better slaughtered Passenger Pigeons by the millions; generations before, the Tasmanian Tiger was driven to near-extinction by European immigrants to Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. Resurrecting these animals, this argument goes, would help reverse a huge historical injustice.We can learn more about evolution and biology. Any program as ambitious as de-extinction is certain to produce important science, the same way the Apollo moon missions helped usher in the age of the personal computer. We may potentially learn enough about genome manipulation to cure cancer or extend the average humans life span into the triple digits.We can counter the effects of environmental depredation. An animal species isnt important only for its own sake; it contributes to a vast web of ecological interrelationships and makes the entire ecosystem more robust. Resurrecting extinct animals may be just the therapy our planet needs in this age of global warming and human overpopulation. Arguments Against De-Extinction Any new scientific initiative is bound to provoke a critical outcry, which is often a knee-jerk reaction against what critics consider fantasy or bunk. In the case of de-extinction, though, the naysayers may have a point, as they maintain that: De-extinction is a PR gimmick that detracts from real environmental issues. What is the point of resurrecting the Gastric-Brooding Frog (to take just one example) when hundreds of amphibian species are on the brink of succumbing to the chytrid fungus? A successful de-extinction may give people the false, and dangerous, impression that scientists have solved all of our environmental problems.A de-extincted creature can only thrive in a suitable habitat. Its one thing to gestate a Saber-Toothed Tiger fetus in a Bengal tigers womb; its quite another to reproduce the ecological conditions that existed 100,000 years ago when these predators ruled Pleistocene North America. What will these tigers eat, and what will be their impact on existing mammal populations?Theres usually a good reason why an animal went extinct in the first place. Evolution can be cruel, but its never wrong. Human beings hunted Woolly Mammoths to extinction over 10,000 years ago; whats to keep us from repeating histor y? De-Extinction: Do we have a choice? In the end, any genuine effort to de-extinct a vanished species will probably have to win the approval of the various government and regulatory agencies, a process that might take years, especially in our current political climate. Once introduced into the wild, it can be difficult to keep an animal from spreading into unexpected niches and territoriesand, as mentioned above, not even the most far-sighted scientist can gauge the environmental impact of a resurrected species. One can only hope that, if de-extinction goes forward, it will be with a maximal amount of care and planning and healthy regard for the law of unintended consequences.

Verizon Drops McCann for McGarry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Verizon Drops McCann for McGarry - Research Paper Example Verizon Drops McCann for McGarry The review was a determination of the agencies that BofA would use to propel its image to the public in a positive manner. Therefore, the bank invited all the agencies that handled its advertisement and marketing accounts as well as those that did not handle these accounts. After the review, the bank agreed on having WPP handle its $2 billion global advertisement account and consequently cut its relationship with BBDO that started in 2006. Along with dropping BBDO, the bank consequently dropped the tagline â€Å"Bank of Opportunity† that was a creation of BBDO. However, it is crucial to point out that WPP did not take over the worldwide marketing and advertisement of BofA from a newcomer’s perspective. In this case, WPP took over these roles from the bank as an expansion of its earlier relationship with BofA since it had an existing relationship with the bank as it conducted the bank’s branding responsibilities. The fundamental difference between WPP and BBDO lie on the approach of the holding companies’ pitches. The CEO of Omnicom, whereby BBDO is one of the holding companies, observed this difference. He noted that Omnicom gave its principal agencies, like BBDO, the responsibility of playing the key role in a new business. On the other hand, WPP ensured that the holding company was supported throughout the process of acquiring a new business. In addition, WPP’s holding agencies collaborate while pitching for a new business while BBDO’s approach does not encourage collaboration.

Access to Higher Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Access to Higher Education - Research Paper Example This paper stresses that access to higher education has tremendously improved since independence. This is well highlighted in this excerpt. The level of access has been greatly underscored by the provision of loans to learners, the aids that have been given to the institutions of higher learning by that state as well as individuals. This has been coupled by investment in education sector. The federal government has equally been supportive of guaranteeing that there is greater access to higher education. The provision of academic infrastructure too, cannot be ignored when it comes to bolstering access to higher education too. The author declares that student loan debt levels have been on the rise, this has been coupled with an increase number of student defaulters. These challenges pose a great burden in society. This report makes a conclusion that noble policies, programs and processes in education have contributed largely to the upsurge in attainment of higher education. The pursuit of fulfillment in the rank and file of academic ladder has also pushed most learners to acquire higher education in spite of the challenges that come with it. Opportunities that are in most cases seriously envied by most members of the society are attained by merit founded on degrees obtained from higher institutions of learning. These in general have led to a consistent increase in the number of enrollment in the universities. In summation, a number of factors and modalities have been in place to speed up the realization of higher education access as one of the rationales of education

Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture Essay Example for Free

Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture Essay Genetically modified organisms especially in agriculture has attracted global concern over the last few years. People from all walks of life, politicians, consumers, activists, farmers biotechnologists as well as technology regulators have been involved in the heated debate. Evidence has been brought forward on the massive benefits of genetically modified crops due to the food insecurity in the world as a result of low agricultural productivity and the ever increasing population. However, many consider the adoption of genetic engineering technology in agriculture as a time bomb. These concerns have resulted into changes in the importation and exportation policies, intensive regulation of agricultural technology and practices in many parts of the world. Different environmental organizations around the world have protested against genetically modified organism due to it potential effect on the environment. Despite these arguments, this technology is being adopted by farmers around the world knowingly or unknowingly. But the big issue is the costs and benefit of genetic engineering in agriculture. Whether the benefits of increased agricultural production at reduced cost overrides the environmental and food safety concerns has always been the big issue (Nelson, p 4). What are genetically modified crops? Over the years, research in biotechnology has advanced significantly. Biotechnology is a field of technology that deals with living systems. For many centuries, biotechnology has been employed in agriculture and manufacturing industries, for example fermentation processes for industrial production of wine has been used for many centuries. Principles of genetics and hereditary which were developed in the late 19th century have improved agricultural production by enabling farmers select the beat trains in plants and animals. However, the unearthing of the structure of DNA in the mid 20th century was a turning point for biotechnology. This led to a progressive development of genetic engineering technology. Today, farmers need not to choose animals or plants with the best characteristics such as drought, pests and diseases resistant, high yields, early maturity or high quality products due to advancement in biotechnology. Through genetic modifications, scientists can alter the genetic material in the plant or animal to improve on its characteristics (Whitman, p 1). Genetically modified organisms in agriculture refer to plants and animals that are created by scientists to meet desired characteristics using modern molecular biotechnology techniques. To enhance the traits, the genetic material in the organism is modified to meet the desired qualities. This technique has replaced the traditional methods of propagation used by farmers to enhance the desired characteristics through selective breeding which is inaccurate and time consuming. Biotechnology produces organisms of the intended traits with greater precision. For example, today, scientists can extract the gene responsible for drought resistance in plants that do well in deserts and insert it in various agricultural plants to enhance their drought tolerance. Recent research indicates that these genes can also be transferred from plants to animal or from animals to plants. A good example in this case is the genetic modification, Bt maize. The gene responsible for the production of protein in the maize was isolated from a bacterium that was observed to produce a protein as a defense against insects’ larvae. The Bt main therefore has improved nutrients content as well as pest resistance such as stock borer (Herman, p 36). Legitimate concerns about genetically modified organisms There is no doubt that there are several problems associated with genetically modified organisms in agriculture. This has resulted into criticism from different people around the world including some biotechnologists. This is despite the massive promises of the new technology. The greatest concerns has been the players in the agribusiness field concentration on the financial benefit accrued from adoption of genetic engineered crops without considering its impacts on the consumers as well as the environment. This criticism has become intense with various religious and interest groups being opposed to the idea basically because scientists are not certain about the long term effects of genetically modified products on the consumers and the environment (Rader, Para 26). A legitimate argument is based on the fact that man altering the Mother Nature will always have negative consequences. Some of these consequences may be life threatening. This is evident from the current changing weather crisis as a result of man activity. Genetic engineering is more threatening as it touches on the most fundamental part of life, the hereditary material. Religious groups have been opposed to these biotechnology developments due to its threat on the identity of the target species. However, some critics base their argument on ethics since genetic modification technology is closely related to human cloning and human embryo tissues research (Rader, Para 26). The greatest concern on genetically modified food is food security. There are proposals that genetically modified products may not be safe for human consumption. Adoption of genetically modified organisms in agricultural production is a major change in the global food supply and reliable and extensive studies need to be done on their safety. This concern does not affect genetically engineered organisms only but also changes that are as a result of other biotechnological advancements. There is no doubt that biologists are aware of the impacts of what they are doing. They are well informed on the negative consequences of altering the genetic makeup of organisms. However, there are some unanticipated effects of this technology as a result of long term impacts (Rader, Para 26). A very good example was the genetic enhancement of nutritional contents of soybeans. Soybean has been considered as a good source of plant protein for many years. However, research indicates that it lacks methionine, one of the essential amino acids. To enhance the nutritional value of soybeans, scientists isolated a gene responsible for protein production in Brazil nut and inserted it on soybean. However, scientists were unaware that the same gene was the allergens in the nut. A very large number of people are allergic to Brazil nut because of this allergen. This modification could have resulted into unexpected allergic reaction. This was revealed before the product entered the market through testing which led to abandoning of the project. This is clear evidence that genetically modified organisms products need to be extensively tested before they can be consumed by human beings. Though this indicates that testing is done before the products are released, there is no assurance that the products are safe for consumption (Rader, Para 26). One of the techniques used in genetic engineering is induced random gene mutations. This produces numerous genetics which are tested for desired qualities. There are various techniques that are used to induce random gene mutation. This may include the use of radiations of a certain wavelength, use of chemicals or subjecting the genetic materials to high temperatures. This technique relies more on lack when compared to genetic modification where a gene of the desired trait is inserted. This suggests that more tests need to be done on genetically produced organisms using this technique. However, throughout the world, there are no proper regulations that have been put in place to regulate breeding of organism which puts the consumers at a risk. There are no doubts that breeding technologies are creating harmful products accidentally and whose short term and long term effects are unknown. A very good example given in this case was the production of celery using convectional breeding methods. Although the celery produced was of a better variety, it had negative effects on the farm worker who became hypersensitive to sunlight. Other products produced using the same techniques such as Lenape potato was found to contain toxins levels which was fatal (Herman, p 36). The health concerns raised against genetically modified food have affected the perception of the public on these foods. For example, a very large number of children all over the world today suffer from fatal allergies to some animal and plants products especially peanuts. A large number of people associated this with genetic modifications. Although this may not be true, there is a need to think twice about this issue. Most of genetic modifications are aimed at producing fruits and vegetables with fast maturity rate, improved nutrition value, altered ripening behaviors, resistant to diseases and pest and better yields. Unfortunately, these products are given to very vulnerable members of the society. The likelihood of introducing new types of allergen in the fruits and vegetable through genetic engineering is very high. The allergenicity effects of new allergen may have far reaching effects considering that most of the people around the world are suffering from life threatening hypersensitivity (Nelson, p 103). Some scientists have been opposed to the new technology because it is not possible to determine with certainty the effects of genetically modified products on human health. There are still some unknown effects of introducing new genes to crops. It is more likely that there are some negative effects that scientists may not expect associated with genetically modified organisms that are unknown or unexpected by scientists. For example, a recent study suggests that genetically modified potatoes have some effects on the digestive systems of rats. Substantial differences between the digestive systems of rat feed with genetically modified potatoes and those feed with unmodified potatoes. Although these potatoes were not meant for human consumption, it suggests that genetically modified food may not have short term negative effects on humans but can result into modification of body systems which may be detected when it is too late (Whitman, p 1). The unintended harm to some species as a result of adoption of genetic engineering technology in agriculture has attracted a lot of concern on the future of GM in agriculture. These concerns are based on the effects of Bt maize on the population of monarch butterflies. Although monarch butterfly larvae do not consume corn, pollen from Bt maize was transferred to the milkweeds plants through hair carrying with it the anti larvae proteins. The monarch butterfly larvae perished as a result of consuming this pollen. The main concern here is that the proteins in Bt maize was not intended to eliminate the monarch butterflies but unfortunately, it kills larvae indiscriminately. Since it has proved to be difficult to produce GMO crops with toxins that kill only pests, there is a need for evaluation of effects of the genetically modified products on unintended targets (Whitman, p 1). There is developing fear of what is likely to happen if for example, the world corn production became overdependence on Bt maize, and then insects develop resistant to Bt crops and other GM crops as well as convectional pesticides. This may lead to similar problems experienced after some mosquitoes in tropical regions developed resistant to DDT. It therefore suggests that dependence on GMO in agricultural production may be a time bomb. The possibility of creating some plants that can resist certain herbicides creates the possibility of creating super weed. The possibility of the gene transfer process getting to the non targeted species either by mistake or maliciously is of greater concern to farmers. The transfer of herbicide resistant genes to the weeds may result in cross breeding and consequently creation of super weeds. These super weeds will be able to resist the herbicide the same way the crops can. It is possible that some of the genes can be transferred to non-genetically modified crops in the field as a result of cross breeding. This possibility has been proved by the law suit between farmers and Monsanto Company (Whitman, p 1). There are also economic concerns that have been raised against adoption of genetically modified organisms in agricultural production. Introduction of genetically modified crops may have negative economic consequence as a result of costs involved in establishing their markets. Biotechnology companies have invested a lot of resources in the development of GM crops and would like to make profit out of it. However, infringement of patent rights especially in agricultural technology is a big issue. These factors will affect peasant farmers in the developing countries as multinational biotechnology companies try to maximize return on their investment within a short time leading to increased prices of new propagation materials. It is less likely that despite the promise of GMO in averting the food insecurity in the world, farmers will be able to adopt these new varieties of crops (Whitman, p 1). It is clear that this biotechnology technique may not be available to all societies in the world. The resources required for significant genetic engineering research may not be in the reach of many agricultural technology companies all over the world. This creates the worry of a few multinational biotechnology companies controlling global agriculture. There is a possibility of the small companies being wiped out of the market as a result of intense competition. This competition will affect the small scale farmers negatively (Rewavas and Leaver, p 640). Counter Arguments Despite the intense argument against genetically modified organisms in agriculture, the global farming systems are progressively adopting this technology. Criticism has not deterred biotechnologist and multinational companies from developing more genetically modified crops. The intense research on this field and massive investments is clear evidence that there is a market for genetically modified agricultural products and the world is ready to adopt genetic engineering as a necessary technology. The world population stands at over six billion while it is expected to double within half a century. Convectional methods of farming will in no way sustain the ever growing global population. The risk of food insecurity is made more real by the increased changes in climatic condition. Weather has become increasingly unpredictable and unsupportive to agricultural activities. The solution to the challenges is genetically modified crops (Whitman, p 1). Genetic modification creates crops that are resistant to pests. Some GM crops are also fast growing and mature before pests attack the crop. For many years, pest control has been a major concern for farmers due to losses resulting from crop destruction. Large scale and small scale farmers use large amount of pesticides to avert these losses. On the other hand, there is a growing concern by consumers on the safety of chemicals commonly used by farmers to control pests. There are numerous environmental hazards associated with chemical pesticides. The need to use environmentally destructive pesticides can be averted by use of genetically modified crops. Growing Bt corn and other Bt crops has eliminated the need to use pesticides in agricultural production. Although there are concerns that have been raised such as the monarch butterflies saga, these problems can be addressed by improvement of technology (Rewavas and Leaver, p 640). In many cases, it is practically impossible or uneconomical to use physical means of removing weeds from the fields. This calls for farmers to use large amount and many varieties of herbicides to remove the weeds. This is not only time consuming but also expensive making agriculture less profitable. The farmers are also required to be careful in the use of the herbicides to ensure that they have no negative effect on the crops or the environment. Genetically engineered crops can be effectively used to avert these problems. These plans are designed to resists a specially synthesized herbicide with minimum environmental impacts. This reduces the amount of herbicides required and consequently the production cost. Genetic modification has also led to the development of disease resistant crops increasing yields and lowering production costs. Scientists have conducted extensive research in the development of crops that are resistant to disease causing microorganisms (Nelson, p 84). Unpredictable weather conditions have also threatened profitability of agricultural activities. Unpredictable frost can have destructive effect on seedling leading to losses. This has led to the introduction of antifreeze gene in crops such as tobacco and potatoes which is isolated from animals living in cold water. These plants are able to resist very low temperatures where normal plants cannot survive. It is important to note the reduced global agricultural productivity is as a result of unpredictable weather condition. Arable lands are being converted into unproductive land as a result in increased droughts. Moreover, a large percentage of land in the world cannot support agriculture due to lack of adequate supply. Adoption of genetically modified crops by farmers is the solution to this problem. With this technology, farmers will be able to grow crops in areas that were previously considered unproductive due to drought or salinity. This is by modifying crops to withstand drought or high salt concentration in the soil (Rewavas and Leaver, p 640). If genetically modified organisms were adopted in agriculture especially in the third world countries, malnutrition will be a thing of the past. It is observed that as a result of poverty, many people in the developing world rely on a one crop as their staple food. This crop may not contain all essential nutrients required by the body. Genetic engineering has the ability to introduce genes to these crops which will ensure that it contains the essential nutrients. For example, in the developing countries where rice is the staple food, a large number of people suffer from blindness as a result of beta carotene deficiency. However, the golden rice which has been developed genetically was found to contain high amounts of vitamin A. Although this could have been a solution to the problem, massive anti genetically modified food protests have deterred the introduction of the rice to the farmers (Whitman, p 1). There are also proposed uses of agricultural genetic technology in development of plants that produce edible vaccines which could replace the convectional injection vaccines. Scientists are also working on development of genetically modified plants that clean up the environment by absorbing pollutants such as heavy metals from underground water and the soil (Whitman, p 1). Conclusion There are many proposals that genetically modified foods will solve the food security crisis that faces the world. They have been proposed as possible solution to over reliance on pesticides and herbicide in agricultural activities which degrades the environment. However, there are concerns over the safety of the GM products for human consumption. There are many issues that have been raised claiming that GM foods are unsafe for human consumption due to possible allergic reactions and the wide range of unknown and unexpected negative impacts on human health. The long term effects of GMs on the environment may also be far reaching due to loss of identity or elimination of some animal and plant species. Work Cited Herman E. M. , Helm, R. M. , Jung R, and Kinney A. J. Genetic modification removes an immunodominant allergen from soybean. Plant Physiology. 132 (1) (2003): pp 36–43 Nelson, Gerald. Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture, ISBN-13: 978-0-12-515422-2, Academic Press Rader, Charles M. A Report on Genetically Engineered Crops, (2001), retrieved on 17th May 2010 from; http://members. tripod. com/c_rader0/gemod. htm. Rewavas A and Leaver C. J. Conventional crops are the test of GM prejudice. Nature 401 (6754), (1999): PP 640. Whitman, Deborah B. Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? (2000), retrieved on 17th May 2010 from; http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview. php.

Americas Communism Scare and the Hollywood Blacklist Essay -- Explora

BLACKLIST - A list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or otherwise accepted. -- http://www.merriam-webster.com/ During the late 1940’s and throughout the 1950’s, there was a great fear of Communism in America and abroad. The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was created in 1938 as a means to investigate and weed out Communists and Communist supporters from American society. Its first major attack was on the Hollywood film industry. Blacklisting of Hollywood writers, actors, producers, directors and others suspected of Communist affiliations began with the committee's hearings in October of 1947, and flourished throughout the 1950s. Senator Joseph McCarthy conducted â€Å"witch hunts† in an attempt to find and eliminate suspected Communists. The Hollywood Ten, a group of distinguished writers and directors, were cited for contempt of Congress and jailed for failing to cooperate with the house committee. As World War Two ended, and the once widely popular and accepted Communist movement began to fade away, Congress started becoming highly concerned with the possibility of a Communist revolt. People in influential positions, such as Senator Joseph McCarthy, believed that such an uprising would begin from within Hollywood, as there were many popular and powerful directors, producers and writers there, who had easy access in reaching people across over America (Cole Hollywood Red). The Senate committee believed strongly that left-wing ideas were a threat to traditional American society and its values. Meanwhile, the FBI was intent on crushing any possible skirmishes before they could start by infiltrating the communist party; dividing the party a... ...h such a basic issue of free speech could be discussed (Rosenfeld A27). WORKS CITED Matwisky, Peter. The Red Scare In Hollywood. Web 23 Apr. 2015. http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/redscare/hollywood.html Bernstein, Walter. Inside Out. New York: Knopf, 1996. Cole, Lester. Hollywood Red: The Autobiography of Lester Cole. Palo Alto, CA: Ramparts Press, 1981. Dick, Bernard F. Radical Innocence: A Critical Study of the Hollywood Ten. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1989. Georgakas, Dan. "Hollywood Blacklist" Web 23 Apr. 2015. http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/blacklist.html McGilligan, Patrick. Tender Comrades: A Backstory of the Hollywood Blacklist. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. Rosenfeld. â€Å"Looking back on the Blacklisted.† The Washington Post. A27. The Front. Dir. Walter Bernstein. Perf. Woody Allen. 1982.

Factors That Led to the Growth of the Concept of New Public Management Essay

New Public Management is an attempt to reorient and restructure public bureaucracy in the era of globalisation, liberalisation. Following are the main factors which contributed to the growth of New Public Management perspectives: 1. Reaction against Bureaucratic Administration and Elephantine growth of governmental expenditure: The impact of globalisation has been significant on the public administration. The globalisation prompted such changes such as increased interdependence among states, reduction intrade barriers among nations, growing use of information and communication technology and close realignment of public and private sectors. The prevailing state bureaucracy was not able to face these challenges as it was too unwieldy, unresponsive, inefficient, ineffective and not suitable to face emerging competition. In the decade of 1980, the bureaucracy came under severe criticism for the above deficiency. Also, in 1970s and 1980s, due to public welfare orientation, there was an excessive growth in government expenditure which was poorly managed by the large state bureaucracy. Under these circumstances both the size and role of the state was questioned under the prevailing conditions. 2. Impact of Neo-liberalism: The political ideology of neo-liberalism has held a dominating presence during 1980s and 1990s as far as the nature and role of the state is concerned. Neo-liberalism advocated dominant presence of markets against state, rolling-back the state in welfare activities, maximizing individual liberty and freedoms. The tenets of neo-liberalism have close bearing on the rise of New Public Management. 3. Hold of New Right Philosophy in U.K. and U.S.A.: The New Right philosophy with more efficient allocation of resources through market mechanism and less role of the state in social and economic sphere held its sway in 1970s in the U.K. and the U.S.A. Thus, it is not surprising that the new public management perspective was most popular in these countries. 4. Washington Consensus: The Washington consensus is a set of economic reform measures evolved in 1989 by IMF, World Bank, U.s. Congress and scholars such as Williamson to restructure economies in view of financial crisis of 1980s in Latin American countries. It is a structural adjustment and economic stabilisation programme which advocated trade and financial liberalisation, privatisation and deregulation of domestic markets. The tenets of Washington consensus bear close affinity with the New Public Management perspective. 5. Influence of Public Choice Approach: The public choice approach pro-pounded byeconomists such as Fullock, Niskanen, Buchanen, argues that the dominant feature of human behaviour is self interest, which should be maximised through the arrangement of multiple public service agencies that would amplify the scope of people’s choice. It emphasises on the competition and efficiency among the multiple public service delivery mechanism. This approach has influenced the fundamental principles of the New Public Management. Thus, the New Public Management perspective is the result of a number of pull factors such as inefficiency of the state and traditional bureaucracy and certain pull factors such as neo-liberalism, New Right Philosophy, public choice approach and Washington consensus which inter alias supported roll-back of the state, dominance of Market mechanism and need of competition and efficiency

Feature Article: Drug Abuse by UK Youngsters Essay

Discovery of the unknown and trying new things are the themes of the life of teenagers to young adults who feel the need to extend their boundaries in order to obtain a more fulfilling life. This is true for the case of British youngsters who have been discovered to be indulging in the abusive usage of drugs (Hickley, 2006). Reports from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, a British government sector, have shown that a great scale of British youngsters seem to be unaware of the effects of drug abuse on their life on a longitudinal perspective that they tend to overuse these harmful chemicals for self-gratifying purposes (Hickley, 2006). In fact, about 20 to 25% of the total teen-age and young adult population of Britain is found to have used illegal drugs (Hickley, 2006). Youngsters are seen partying in clubs, drinking until dawn, participating in group riots, and are literally destroying their lives just to feel the psychological effects attributed to the utilization of drugs. Among the list of drugs, cannabis is seen to be most popularly used.   Recent reports have even shown that young people tend to use drugs in order to acquire a more fulfilling sexual experience, an event that may lead to prostitution, spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and promiscuity (News Group Newspaper Ltd., 2008). It is actually very sad that these people are being misguided by the absence of proper laws that will directly prohibit, and even prosecute them to use drugs. The future of the British race lies in the hand of the present generation and if it appears that the said generation is out of track then it is likely to think that the future of this nation is compromised. Immediate actions must be done by the British government to formulate laws that will certify proper academic drug education in high school and college, increasing the minimum of age that is allowed to purchase alcoholic drinks from 16 to 18, a substance that usually goes along with the usage of drugs, imposition of strict rules on late night partying, and on encouraging parents to provide responsible parenthood to their children. These steps, if executed in the soonest possible time, can save British youngsters from a life of misery and unfulfilled life goals to a more rewarding and productive way of life. Reference Hickley, M. (2006). Drink and drug ruining British youngsters, government admits. Mail   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   online. Retrieved 30 April 2010, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk News Group Newspaper Ltd. (2008). Drink and drugs used for sex. The Sun. Retrieved 30   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   April 2010, from http://www.thesun.co.uk

Cotton Gin essays

Cotton Gin essays In 1793 Eli Whitney invented a very important machine. It was the cotton gin. This very simple machine removes seeds from cotton plants at the least fifty times faster than a worker could by hand. Since several southern states had soil that was ideal for growing cotton and all of the new textile mills in Great Britain and the Northeast had a great demand for cotton it suddenly became a very profitable crop. The cotton gin changed life for the people in the South. Much of their hard times ended and the economy of the South grew rapidly. People who owned plantations in the Old South grew very rich. Other planters however moved westward to start new plantations. This in effect caused the population of Alabama and Mississippi to soar. However along with the greater demand for cotton came an even greater demand for slaves. So southerners continued to bring slaves in to the United States and by 1860 the slave population had reached over four million. As more cotton farms appeared in the western section of the south the slave trade became a very large business there. Also even in 1860 only around one-fourth of southern families owned slaves. ...

English Writing Dictations for Beginning Learners

English Writing Dictations for Beginning Learners English dictation provides writing practice for English-language learners. Listen to the phrases via the links in this article, then take a piece of paper, or use a writing program on your computer. Write or type what you hear. Listen as many times as necessary. Dictation helps your spelling, listening and understanding skills. Each of the following dictations focuses on a specific learning point. The dictations are for beginning-level learners and include five sentences in each dictation. Each sentence is read twice, giving you time to write what you hear. At a Hotel This  dictation link  will give you a chance to hear- and write- comon phrases used at hotels, such as: Can I make a reservation please? and Id like a double room with a shower. and Do you have any rooms available? Remember that you can hit the pause button to give yourself more time to write your answer. Introductions This section includes  simple sentences  like, Hello, my name is John. Im from New York. and English is a difficult language. As you know from your studies, this is certainly a very accurate statement. At a Government Agency These  dictation sentences  cover phrases youll find useful at a government agency- such as at a motor vehicles or Social Security office. The sentences cover topics such as filling out forms and standing in the correct line. Knowing the sentences on this topic can save you hours of potential aggravation. At the Restaurant These  dictation sentences  cover common phrases used in a restaurant, such as What would you like to have? and Id like a hamburger and a cup of coffee. If youre up for more practice on eatery terms, youll find them in these extra  practice phrases. Present, Past and Comparisons In English, the present and past tense can take many grammatical forms, involving an array of confusing terms. You can memorize the grammatical forms, but its often easier to listen to a native speaker dictate phrases and sentences involving present and past tense events. Making comparisons can also be a difficult concept. Use the following links to practice such sentences as: I started work in October last year and Peter is playing the piano at the moment. Now- sentences that describe things happening at the momentPast events- sentences with the simple past tense to describe things that happened in the pastComparisons- sentences comparing two things or people Other Topics The more practice you can get listening to and  writing  American-English phrases the better. Buying or choosing  clothing, describing habits, giving directions, and even buying souvenirs can be difficult unless you know a few basic phrases that cover these issues. To help you, these practice dictation sentences cover topics including: Clothing- common phrases related to shopping for clothesHabits- sentences that express daily habits and routinesMy town- phrases regarding your communityWork- sentences about daily routines at workDirections- common phrases used when asking for and giving directionsQuestions- a variety of simple questions in different tensesSouvenirs- common phrases used when shopping for souvenirs

Film Analysis C.P. Paper on Daniel Boone Movie Review

Film Analysis C.P. Paper on Daniel Boone - Movie Review Example Since the families in Pennsylvania depended mostly on hunting for food, at age 12 Boone acquired his own rifle and actively engaged in hunting at that point. He hunted both from the local settlers and Lenape village, which belonged to the Indians. Apart from hunting and trapping animals, Boone sold the pelts of the hunted animals in the fur market. Through these activities including exceptional hunting skills, Boone learnt easy routes to the area and to the west, which prepared him as a hunter, explorer, and scout in Kentucky. Similarly, Boone participated in the Braddock’s campaign to seize Fort Duquesne where he served in the military expedition driving a supply wagon (Foreman, 2001). Additionally, he guided the redcoats through the backwoods of Pennsylvania. These activities gave Boone familiarity with the area, which prepared him for the tasks ahead in hunting, exploring, and scouting in Kentucky. In the wilderness, Boone and the long hunters used their hunting skills, as well as taming skills to penetrate the untamed wilderness and establish a pathway. Among the tools they used to clear the pathway was an axe, which the woodsmen used to cut through to create a wide trail resembling a footpath. Another tool that the long hunters had were riffle slung hang over their shoulders as they moved through the wilderness. In the process of taming Kentucky, Boone experienced personal losses, for example, loved ones. Additionally, Boone encountered several tragedies in the hands of native Indians. First, his daughter was kidnapped, but fortunately, he rescued her. Secondly, was short in the ankle by Indians, but he recovered. Thirdly, he was also captured at some point during the struggle by the Shawnee. Finally, Boone did not enjoy living in the land that he so much fought for, as he had to go settle elsewhere where he could find happiness since Kentucky became too overcrowded for him. An example of Boone’s