Sustainability Reporting in 21st Century Australian

Executive Summary Sustainability reporting is a concept that organizations are finding hard to ignore. Stakeholders in contemporary world are able to legitimize activities and operations of an organization based on how well the organization performs with regard to social, economic, and environment aspects, which constitute sustainable development.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Sustainability Reporting in 21st Century: Australian specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Australia, as a country impacted by global forces, cannot be isolated from this new developments taking place and as a result, the country’s performance of many organizations is going to be benchmarked on sustainability reporting. What therefore this means is that, Australia needs to adopt and implement the most appropriate global standardized tools for her sustainability reporting needs. This report finds out that adoption of GRI is critical and beneficial for sustainability of Australia organizations. Introduction The nature of doing business has been undergoing transformation in the last few decades and today, stakeholders are demanding that organizations should reveal their business activity performances (Perego, 2009). Contemporary organizations under the influence of stakeholders are finding it necessary to pay attention to sustainability performance of organizations’ activities with regard to economic, social and environment aspects (Kolk, 2006). This is being reflected in the changing nature of organizations’ strategies, operational activities, and public disclosure, which are becoming necessary and common. Therefore, sustainability reporting (SR) is becoming a norm among organizations in and outside Australia, and according to Hubbard (2011), SR involves â€Å"reporting aspects of organization’s environmental and social as well as economic aspects of an organization’s performance† (p.824).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sustainability reporting reasons The first reason has to do with market mechanisms whereby, market drivers have resulted into growth of numerous ethical, social, and environmental investment funds, which in turn have influenced the necessity for sustainability disclosures (Vormedal and Ruud 2009). Social drivers have also become part of reasons for the growth of sustainability reporting. According to Solomon and Lewis (2002), organizations are becoming more obliged to disclose information regarding their social, environmental, and ethical performance as required by stakeholders (Vormedal and Ruud, 2009). Legitimacy theory posits that, organizations have to legitimize their behavior and at same time justify their activities, which therefore makes sustainability reporting to be the avenue to obtain ‘social license’ of ope ration and at same time, establish good reputation for the organization (Ortas and Moneva, 2011). Political and regulatory drivers are also contributing to the growth of sustainability reporting as great emphasis of political agenda centers on social and corporate responsibility of organizations (Ortas and Moneva 2011). The take on this is that, political policies and legislations may influence the need for organizations to have sound and functional SR practices. The last reason for growth of SR has to do with emergence of global standard-setting institutions, which in one way or the other are becoming avenues setting standards for organizations to comply with in regard to environmental, social, and economic sustainability reporting (Vormedal and Ruud, 2009). Such organizations include the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Sustainability reporting features based on the GRI The first feature of GRI is ingrained in the aspect of globalization with regard to corporate activities (Gera ghty, n.d). GRI reflects or constitutes a globally applicable standard that has been developed to suit diverse sustainability reporting needs of different organizations. GRI has come out as an innovative instrument that has input of business community, civil society, and other stakeholders with interest in sustainability reporting (Ortas and Moneva, 2011). In this purview, GRI in use today is seen to be more accountable in fulfilling economic, social, and environmental reporting needs of organization (Ortas and Moneva, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Sustainability Reporting in 21st Century: Australian specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second feature of GRI is that, GRI reflects and influences sustainability activities through dialogue with stakeholders and subsequent communication of the impacts. GRI has been designed in such a way that, as a global instrument, it possesses the capability to enhance reliability in sustainability reporting and this has led to affected stakeholders to continuously improve their decisions (Geraghty, n.d). The third feature has to do with GRI having common language for sustainability reporting, which enhances eco-efficiency production systems that also promote sustainable development (Geraghty, n.d). This feature has led to the instrument to become applicable universally in many organizations. Sustainability reporting implementation based on the GRI The first step of GRI is to conduct sustainability reporting that has and involves complete inclusion of stakeholders. Inclusion of stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the reliability and viability of SR is not compromised (Ortas and Moneva, 2011). The next step involves adopting a balanced global process, whereby, GRI advocates for adoption of standardized and global acceptable processes in conducting SR. This has been the area of focus and it can be linked to the growing need of global adoption of sustainable development practices (Ortas and Moneva 2011). The third process involves adopting and using full and relevant communication technologies. As the world changes and the issues of corporate sustainability reporting become critical, there is need for organizations to utilize sophisticated communication technologies that have been made possible with emergence of information technology (Global Reporting Initiative, 2001). The next process involves enhancing transparency, whereby, disclosure of information should be evaluated within the precepts of impact it will have, and such information should enable stakeholders to make the right decisions (Global Reporting Initiative, 2001).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On overall, transparency is such important in that processes, procedures, and assumptions used to prepare the disclosures should be known by stakeholders. The last step involves accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency and reliability reporting of SR. In essence, SR should be made to stakeholders on time, when it is accurate and reliable and in this way, efficient application of such SR is vital to the growth of the organization (Global Reporting Initiative, 2001). Recommendation In essence, reporting positive aspects of the organization with regard to sustainability have suffocated and limited attempts, which in turn affect the functionability of sustainable development goals and objectives. Sustainability reporting, as it appears now, only dwells on the ‘clean sheet’ aspect of the organization as far as reporting of social, environment, and economic activities of the organization are concerned. The negative aspects rarely come out and as a result, the stakeholders only co nsume the skewed part of sustainable concept aspect. There should be the establishment of a global mechanism that has ability to capture organization’s positive and negative aspects of sustainability, which in turn should be translated and included in sustainability reporting. This will provide an opportune moment for stakeholders to have a broad outlook at the performance of the organization and from this, they would be able to formulate and suggest the best ways sustainable development can be achieved. Reference List Geraghty, L., N.d. Sustainability reporting-measure to manage, manage to change. Sydney: Focal Point Australia. Global Reporting Initiative. 2001. Sustainability reporting guidelines. GRI Publishing. Web. Web. Hubbard, G., 2011. The quality of the sustainability reports of large international companies: An analysis. International Journal of Management, 28(3). Kolk, A., 2008. Sustainability, accountability, and corporate governance: Exploring multinationals repo rting practices. Business Strategy and Environment, 17(1); 1-15. Ortas, E., Moneva, J.M., 2011. Original and development of sustainability reporting: Analysis of the Latin America context. Journal of Globalization, Competitiveness and Governability, 5(2); 16-37. Perego, P., 2009. Causes and consequences of choosing different assurance providers: An international study of sustainability reporting. International Journal of Management, 26(3); 412-425. Vormedal, I., Ruud, A., 2009. Sustainability reporting in Norway-An assessment of performance in the context of legal demands and socio-political drivers. Business Strategy and Environment, 18(4); 207-222. This report on Sustainability Reporting in 21st Century: Australian was written and submitted by user Giovani I. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Julia Donaldsons The Gruffalo Picture Book Review

Julia Donaldson's 'The Gruffalo' Picture Book Review Its not surprising that The Gruffalo, first published in 1999, continues to be a popular read aloud. The author, Julia Donaldson, has written a good story with such strong rhythm and rhyme that it just begs to be read aloud. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler are filled with bold color, detail and appealing characters. Summary The Gruffalo is the story of a clever mouse, three large animals that want to eat him and an imaginary monster, a Gruffalo, who turns out to be only too real. Whats a mouse to do when on a walk in the deep dark wood, he is confronted first by a fox, then by an owl and, finally, by a snake, all of whom seem to be intent on inviting him for a meal, with the mouse as the main dish? The mouse tells each of them that he is on his way to a feast with a Gruffalo. The mouses description of the fierce Gruffalo  who would want to eat them scares the fox, the owl, and the snake away. Each time he scares one of the animals away, the mouse says, Doesnt he know? Theres no such thing as a Gruffalo! Imagine the mouses surprise when the monster of his imagination appears right before him in the woods and says, Youll taste good on a slice of bread! The clever mouse comes up with a strategy to convince the Gruffalo that he (the mouse) is the scariest creature in this deep dark wood. How the mouse fools the Gruffalo after fooling the fox, the owl and the snake makes a very satisfying story. A Good Book to Read Aloud Besides the rhythm and the rhyme, some of the other things that make The Gruffalo a good book for reading aloud to young children are the repetitions which encourage children to chime in. Also, the story arc, with the first half of the story about the mouse fooling the fox, then the owl, then the snake with tales of the imaginary Gruffalo and the second half of the story when the mouse misleads the real Gruffalo with the unsuspecting help of the snake, the owl, and the fox. Kids also like the fact that the 1-2-3 order of the mouses meeting the fox, the owl, and the snake becomes a 3-2-1 order as the mouse walks back to the edge of the woods, followed by the Gruffalo. The Author Julia Donaldson grew up in London and attended Bristol University where she studied Drama and French. Before writing childrens books, she was a teacher, a songwriter,  and a street theater performer. In June 2011, Julia Donaldson  was named the 2011-2013 Waterstones Childrens Laureate in the UK. According to the 6/7/11 announcement, The role of the Childrens Laureate is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of childrens books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. Donaldson has written more than 120 books and plays for kids and teens. The Gruffalo, one of Julia Donaldsons first childrens books, is also one of her most popular childrens picture books. Others include  Room on the Broom, Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale and What the Ladybird Heard. The Illustrator Axel Scheffler was born in Germany and attended the University of Hamburg but left there to move to England where he studied illustration and earned a degree at the Bath Academy of Art. Axel Scheffler has illustrated some Julia Donaldsons books in addition to The Gruffalo. They include  Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, Stick Man and Zog. Book and Animation Awards Among the awards the creators of The Gruffalo picture book have been honored with are the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. The animated version of The Gruffalo, which is available on DVD, was nominated for both an Oscar and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award  and won the audience award at the Canadian Film Centres Worldwide Short Film Festival. Delight Your Child With a Story Sack If your child loves The Gruffalo, youll want to create a story sack for of crafts and related items. These can include other books by Julia Donaldson about the Gruffalo; mouse, owl, snake and fox crafts; a monster craft and more. Review and Recommendation The story of the clever mouse and the Gruffalo is one that children ages 3 to 6 love hearing again and again. The rhythm and rhyme of Julia Donaldsons story, along with the strong story arc, make The Gruffalo an excellent read aloud. Children quickly learn to help the reader tell the story, and that adds to the fun for all. The dramatic illustrations by Axel Scheffler, with their bold colors and appealing characters, from the little mouse to the colossal Gruffalo, add significantly to the books appeal. (Dial Books for Young Readers, A Division of Penguin Putnam Inc., 1999. ISBN: 9780803731097) Sources: Childrens Laureate siteJulia Donaldson siteChildrens Book Illustration: Axel Scheffler, The Hollywood Reporter

Globalization and Mass Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalization and Mass Media - Essay Example The concept of 'Third World' has been replaced by the term 'developing economies', as underscored in this era of globalization. The other side of the coin reveals that institutions such as the IMF showed false hopes to the LDCs (least developing countries), resulting in major crises and disasters (Journal of Libertarian Studies, 2004). James Mittelman in the 'Manifestations of Globalizationargued that globalization was integrally linked to 'multiple levels of analysis: economics, politics and ideology.' The predominance of a few satellite channels over others in international communication, have brought in this concept of 'cultural imperialism'. An aspect of globalization, cultural imperialism is a new form of traditional colonial domination. The fast developing cultural relations between the European nations and the small nation states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries made Pyenson coin the term 'cultural imperialism, which has been used scholars and historians today to describe this era of globalization. Here we argue about the definition of cult... Easy access to information, goods and services has brought the nations under one umbrella. Reazul Haque opined that international channels such as Cable News Network (CNN), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Music Television (MTV) enjoy the highest viewership. The Internet or the New Media has made information readily available to people all over the world. (Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2006) It was the colonial masters, who first practiced social propaganda technology from their home countries through the vehicle of mass media. There was always a tendency to make the subservient to the former imperialist powers. The big superpowers, notably USA dominated the political scene through the tool of media and communication. Schiller affirmed in his book Culture, Inc, that the media has by and large contributed to chronicle the surge of America as a corporate power and also helped in strengthening its ideological base worldwide. (Schiller, 9)Hamelink, referred to cultural imperialism as 'cultural synchronization'. By this, he meant that a particular cultural development in a developed country is immediately passed on to the receiving country through the mode of communication. He spoke about those millions of people, 'who watched foreign television programs, used the international telephone lines and mailing systems, buy recorded music and read the international news. CNN news casts, Madonna, Rupert Murdoch's empire, satellite telephony or transborder data flows, all touch upon people's daily lives around the world'. (Hamelink, 1) John Tomlinson in his book Cultural Imperialism, in chapter entitled 'Media Imperialism', contended that 'to understand the notion of cultural imperialism, we

Reasons for the failure of the hundred days reform in 1898 (History of Essay

Reasons for the failure of the hundred days reform in 1898 (History of China) - Essay Example In 1895, Shimonoseki mortifying treaty inflamed the anger of China’s public. Students took an action against this agreement and around 600 young students signed a ‘Ten Thousand Words Memorial’ refusing Shimonoseki treaty and promoted institutional reform. Kang Youwei was the leader. Regardless of the official and traditional ban against the political grouping, young scholars shaped an organization called hsueh-hui to save the country. After 1895, many loyal societies of this type emerged. These societies were extended over the provinces and were struggling to save their homeland. Emperor Guangxu and Kang Youwei were brought together, as both had the same motive to save their homeland from the enemies and unfaithful leaders.1 At that time there was a great threat posed to the people and the country of China and to settle the situation they needed a revolution. China was lacking in every field i.e. of technology and education. Technology was outdated in China and to compete with the developing world there was a need to change and adapt the conditions of the developing world. In the late 18th century countries started demanding China of un-authorized benefits which they had to give to them as they were not strong enough to fight with them. The emperors did not take this matter seriously until 1898 when Emperor Guangxu realized the significance of this threat and took some precautionary measures in order to avoid any mishap which could occur. He was a man who realized that the country needed to adapt to the changing conditions of the world and leave behind the traditions and culture which limited them in progressing. On June 11, 1898 the Emperor finally decided to announce for a change in the country of China. This change was first welcomed by the masses and people of China. The emperor tried to implement policies of his own which gave a new way of progress to China. This article would further

Phase 4 - Understanding business drivers and improving business Essay - 1

Phase 4 - Understanding business drivers and improving business forecasts. 5-14 - Essay Example Subsidy can be used for spending on all commercially available telecommunication services, internet access and internal communications. The number of school lunch eligible students determines the funding for many federal and state education related programs. Moreover, subsidy rate also changes as per the changes in number. Internet access rate of rich and poor schools indicate a closing of the digital divide that occurred in the following years. The lack of impact on student performance is consistent with the Department of Education, it is reported that they are providing good training within the classroom. The emergence of internet subsidy by the US Government by providing major subsidies for internet and communication investment in schools also helps this. Based on the characteristics of the schools, the spending pattern of the subsidized program may change. Great sensitivity shows up by urban schools comparatively with rural. â€Å"E-Rate, created in 1996 by Congress, offers subsidies of 20 percent to 90 percent for buying telecommunications services like Internet connection fees and wiring classrooms. Under the program, paid from fees on telephone bills, the highest rates go to the poorest schools.† (Schwartz, John. 2003). Internet Target Marketing is facing increased competition from within the industry. It is allowed to provide unique products and solutions customized to the client needs. In E-Marketing design, consumers have changed the traditional marketing methods that are no longer effective. By developing and implementing a strategy that incorporates target marketing, online branding, customer development and retention, marketing positioning and branding, permission marketing and customer relation management. So the three aforesaid categories are correlated and to make assumptions on these. â€Å"A correlation between two variables is diluted in the presence of measurement error

Smart Corporate Marketing Objectives

Smart Corporate Marketing Objectives Marketing objectives should be based on understanding strengths and weaknesses, and the business environment you operate in. They should also be linked to the overall corporate strategy and So before you start marketing, set some objectives, SMART ones. What do I mean by SMART objectives? Well, its one of those business acronyms taught in all business and marketing qualifications, but unlike many others, this one is actually worth bothering with. Specific Your SMART objectives should be specific, detailed, well defined and results orientated. They should include exactly what has to be achieved and by who. Measurable Objectives are far more effective when they have a measure. For example to increase sales has little effect, but to increase sales by 25% gives you a specific measure to work to. This measure can then be evaluated and used to help form new SMART objectives in the future. Achievable Your SMART objectives must stretch you, but at the same time be achievable. There is no point in setting objectives that you wont be able to achieve for years, as you will soon lose motivation. Realistic Closely linked to achievable, realistic relates more to resources. Do you have the man-power, money, time and opportunity to achieve the SMART objectives? Is there something else that has to happen before you can make a start on that objective Timed Perhaps most importantly set deadlines for achieving your SMART objectives time frames are great at prompting action. It is worth noting that the marketing plan objectives should always lead to actual sales revenue. If not, you need to re-examine your marketing objectives and restate them so that they relate to sales results. In simple words marketing objectives should be: Clear and specific Tangible and measurable Be time-based, with a target achievement date Linking marketing objectives to corporate strategy Your marketing objectives should also be consistent with and indicate the priorities of the organization. This means that objectives should flow from the mission statement of your business, towards the financial objectives and to the rest of the marketing plan. A linked marketing objective could be to add pre-packaged garden soil as a new complementary product line to be offered with plant sales. To grow the business as per the strategic goal and meet the financial objective of 100,000 in extra sales, it has been calculated that a total of 7,500 bags will need to be sold at their selling price of  £100 each. ACTIONS REQUIRED TO ACHIVE MARKETING OBJECTIVES To run a business successfully, today, one must consider the need for publicity, an online presence, direct marketing, advertising, brand identity, word of mouth advertising, networking, viral marketing, pay-per-click advertising, search engine optimization, positioning, market segmentation, html email campaigns, experiential marketing, etc. Many of these activities are phase I functions that need to be considered and begun from day one of marketing. Here are 5 main factors to achieve the marketing objectives: Marketing should be broken into stages. Every marketing activity should be weighted by how well it addresses business objectives, then by investment and how fast it delivers return on investment. Also, the chronology is important. For example, it would be ineffective to run an html email campaign before developing and launching your web site. Time will be in short supply early on. Working with one marketing firm will help to streamline communication, reporting and execution. Start with publicity. If you are able to achieve some quality article placements in key media, you will be able to use that publicity in coming months/years and in other marketing vehicles to build brand awareness and credibility. Set reasonable expectations for response and return on specific marketing activities. Remember that your company is an unknown entity to your marketplace until you are able to begin building brand awareness and identity. This will take time. Dont change course from a marketing plan that isnt broken, simply because youre growing impatient in other aspects of your business. Be realistic about your budget. In business, you might or might not be able to invest in simultaneous, integrated initiatives. Likewise, if your budget needs to be amended, let your marketing team know. They will adjust the plan and schedule to meet that new reality. Detailed Review of plans and programs At this stage, you will need to review your overall marketing objectives into detailed plans and program. Although these detailed plans may cover each of the 7 Ps, the focus will vary, depending upon your organizations specific strategies. A company will focus for the 7 Ps around each of its products. A market or geographically oriented company will concentrate on each market or geographical area. Each will base its plans upon the detailed needs of its customers, and on the strategies chosen to satisfy these needs. These plans therefore are: Clear They should be an unambiguous statement of exactly what is to be done. Quantified The predicted outcome of each activity should be, as far as possible, quantified; so that its performance can be monitored. Focused The temptation to proliferate activities beyond the numbers which can be realistically controlled should be avoided. Realistic They should be achievable. Agreed Those who are to implement them should be committed to them, and agree that they are achievable. The resulting plans should become a working document which will guide the campaigns taking place throughout the organization over the period of the plan Measurement of Marketing objectives Continuous monitoring of performance, against predetermined targets, represents a most important aspect of marketing. However, perhaps even more important is the enforced discipline of a regular formal review. Again, as with forecasts, in many cases the best (most realistic) planning cycle will revolve around a quarterly review. Best of all, at least in terms of the quantifiable aspects of the plans, if not the wealth of backing detail, is probably a quarterly rolling review. Performance analysis The most important elements of marketing performance, which are normally tracked, are: Sales analysis Most organizations track their sales results and marketing .The more sophisticated track them in terms of sales variance the deviation from the target figures which allows a more immediate picture of deviations to become evident. `Micro-analysis, which is a nicely pseudo-scientific term for the normal management process of investigating detailed problems, then investigates the individual elements (individual products, sales territories, customers and so on) which are failing to meet targets. Market share analysis Few organizations track market share though it is often an important metric. Though absolute sales might grow in an expanding market, share of the market can decrease for future sales when the market starts to drop. Where such market share is tracked, there may be a number of aspects which will be followed: overall market share segment share that in the specific, targeted segment relative share -in relation to the market leaders annual fluctuation rate of market share Expense analysis The key ratio to watch in this area is usually the `marketing expense to sales ratio; although this may be broken down into other elements (advertising to sales, sales administration to sales, and so on). Financial analysis The bottom line of marketing activities should at least in theory, be the net profit (for all except non-profit organizations, where the comparable emphasis may be on remaining within budgeted costs).

The Role of Consciousness in To Kill a Mockingbird :: Literary Analysis, Critical Analysis

When an old tired town does not have any good economic sources you might think that a parent won’t care about his or her children. In the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† Atticus is the father of Jem and Scout. Atticus is like middle class in his society and is as one parent he is a good father unlike the Ewells father. The Finches are a loving family and sharing because the father teaches them different things about life he tells them how a gentleman and a lady would act and should say. Also theirs other people in the novel that also help Jem and Scout understand about life and what it leads to. One thing about learning conscience is that everything in life is not a joke. Atticus has thought Jem and Scout a lot of things in life. Atticus hasn’t been a bad father he is like a mom and dad in one. He also tries not to be so hard on his kids because their children and sometimes don’t know what they’re doing. Jem and Scout also have Calpurnia to take care of them and teach them something’s. But the Ewells are different from the Finches family. The Ewells are a poor and lonely family that nobody really is friendly with. Bob Ewells was a father of 8 kids and he was not that nice he dranked a lot and didn’t have respect for no one. Calpurnia had thought Scout some lessons in life to, Scout once had invited one of her classmate she got in a fight with to eat at her house. Scout had insult the boy because of the way he ate and Calpurnia told her â€Å"Theres some folks who don’t eat like us, but you aint called to contradiet ‘em at the table when they don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear† (24). Calpurnia was trying to tell Scout not to judge the boy because they all had different lives. Scout also had Aunt Alexandra to teach her about life because she was also like a mother to Scout. Aunt Alexandra acts a little more like a high rich standard she talks about how to act and pick her friends.

My Immortal Soul Essay

Plato has roused many readers with the work of a great philosopher by the name of Socrates. Through Plato, Socrates lived on generations after his time. A topic of Socrates that many will continue to discuss is the idea of â€Å"an immortal soul†. Although there are various works and dialogues about this topic it is found to be best explained in The Phaedo. It is fair to say that the mind may wonder when one dies what exactly happens to the beloved soul, the giver of life often thought of as the very essence of life does it live on beyond the body, or does it die with it? Does the soul have knowledge of the past if it really does live on? In Plato’s The Phaedo, Plato recounts Socrates final days before he is put to death. Socrates has been imprisoned and sentenced to death for corrupting the youth of Athens and not following the rights of Athenian religion.[1] Socrates death brings him and his fellow philosophers Cebes, Simmions, Phaedo, and Plato into a perplex dialogue about this notion of an afterlife and what does one have to look forward to after death. Death is defined as the separation of the body from the soul. In The Phaedo death has two notions a common one which is the basic idea that the soul dies and the physical, idea that the soul separates from the body after death. â€Å"The soul is most like that which is divine, immortal intelligible, uniform, indissoluble, and ever self-consistent and invariable, whereas body is most like that which human, mortal is, multiform, unintelligible, dissoluble, and never self-consistent.† (Phaedo)[2] According to Socrates, knowledge is not something one came to understand but it was actually imprinted on the soul. Knowledge to Socrates was an unchanging eternal truth, something that could not be acquired through experience and time. Socrates friends believe that after death the soul disperses into the air like a breath. On the contrary Socrates believes that the soul is in fact immortal and if one wants to become free of pain they way to do so is to exempt themselves from the physical pleasures of the world. In this dialogue Socrates and the philosophers explore several arguments for this idea of an immortal soul. These arguments were to illustrate and verify that death is not the dying of body and soul collectively, but when the body dies the soul continues to live on. Socrates offers readers four main arguments: The Cyclical Argument, which is the idea that forms are fixed and external. The soul is the sole purpose of life in this argument, and therefore cannot die and it is also to be seen as virtually never-ending. Next is The Theory of Recollection, which insists that at birth everyone has knowledge that the soul experienced in another life. Meaning that the soul would have had to be existent before birth to bear this said knowledge. The Form of Life Argument confers that the soul bears a resemblance to that which is imperceptible and godly because it is abstract. The body bears a resemblance to the perceptible and the corporeal because it is objective. The Affinity Argument maybe the simplest of all. It reiterates Socrates thoughts of the body and soul, in saying that when the body dies and decomposes our soul will continue to exist in another world.[3] Since the soul is immortal it has been recycled many times, and has also experienced everything there is to experience, for Socrates and Plato this idea of recollection is much deeper than remembering something once forgotten. Socrates views knowledge as something that cannot be learned but the soul recalls it as it is being recycled. Grasping the understanding that things come to be beings by being composed of something pre-existing and when ceased these parts will continue to exist. Focusing on The Theory of Recollection, this is the claim that knowledge is innate, and cannot be learned. â€Å"What you said about the soul. They think that after it has left the body it no longer exists anywhere, but that it is destroyed and dissolved on the day the man dies.†(Cebes)[4] Socrates’ point for this argument is that our soul with holds this knowledge and we are born with it. Although we do not remember things before we are born it is said that certain experiences can nevertheless re awaken certain aspects of that memory. For example in The Meno, Socrates raises a mathematical problem to Meno’s slave boy, who does not have any prior training in mathematics. The boy thinks he knows the answer but Socrates makes him see that his initial hypothesis of the answer is wrong. By purely asking questions, Socrates gets the slave boy to state the right answer. Socrates insists that he has not told the boy the answer, but through questioning the slave boy, Socrates aided him to recollect the slave boy’s own knowledge of mathematics.[5] Furthermore Socrates also makes another example of recollection by stating if one were to come in contact with a picture or an item of a beloved then it would be simple to recall said person to the mind. This is the idea of how recollection works. If we examine this example and change certain aspects of it, it does not become very clear either. If a picture of a beloved one was shown to a stranger it is safe to say that the stranger would not be able to recall any thoughts, memories or details of the person in the photograph because they do not have any prior knowledge of said person. In order for the stranger to do so they would have had to been in acquaintance with that person in the photograph at one time or another. This act of resemblance is easier for someone who already knows the person. Plato also uses an example of a vehicle stating that before a vehicle is mobile there were parts that were made to turn it into a vehicle such as the engine, steering wheel, and etcetera. He continues to make the point that even after the vehicle breaks down that these pieces will still remain to create the next vehicle. According to Plato ordinary objects participate in this recollection of platonic forms themselves; these things remind of us platonic forms because the soul once encountered it. He persists that the soul must have ex isted because of this. All of which are ways to reiterate that this idea that knowledge is imprinted on the soul may have validity to it. In essence there was time where only the soul existed and it soon found a home in a body of another, making it now a mortal being(birth). Reincarnation is not only a rebirth of the soul but the neutralization of the knowledge one attained before birth as well. Then there is a period where our a priori knowledge seems to disappear only to reappear when it is recalled. It is claimed that we lose our knowledge at birth; then by the use of our senses in connection with particular objects we recover the knowledge we had before. However, this relationship between the perception of sensible objects and our capacity of finding knowledge can produce a series of confusions concerning whether it is possible to recall all prior knowledge. The problem in this argument and certain aspects of this notion of an immortal soul is that even if it were proven that we were made up something before birth, and something will remain after death, it is not for certain that it is the soul. Through scientific study it is understood that the body is also made of atoms it is also known that atoms existed before the body and will continue long after the body. The atoms that make up the body will in fact be recycled as well just as Socrates has the concept that the soul lives on. Plato and Socrates were correct on the idea that certain parts were in pre-existence does come to make one existent and will exist after death. Although even with this idea one cannot be certain that the soul is one of the parts of the body that is solely immortal. There is not adequate information given by Plato or Socrates to make this argument suffice. We must raise an inquiry of why is that in order to think of perfection we must have already had to have seen it? Aside from philosophical views, in everyday life we encounter imperfections and it is safe to say that the mind is capable of wondering what something of beauty, perfection, or a perfect circle appears to be. The mind is also able to think about these ideas even if the soul has never encountered it. If these arguments prove anything it proves that The Theory of Recollection and The Cyclical Argument both attest that the soul existed before but the arguments do not prove that the soul will continue to exist after this life. Works Cited 1. Cahn, M Steven. Classics of Western Philosophy. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc 2006 2. Morgan, K, 2000, Myth and Philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Plato, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 3. Partenie, Catalin, â€Å"Plato’s Myths†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2009 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = . (April 11th2010) ———————– [1] Cahn- Plato’s, The Phaedo [2] Quote from the philosopher Phaedo [3] Socrates theories discussed by Plato [4] Phaedo 70a [5] Plato’s The Meno

Personality Profiles And Learning Styles Project Essay

Personality Profiles And Learning Styles Project Essay Personality Profiles And Learning Styles Project – Essay Example Personality profiles and learning styles Personality profiles and learning styles This paper will be exploring the assessment of various personality profiles and learning styles. I am going to start by defining what personality profile is and thereafter give a definition of learning styles. A personality profile is a way of identifying, coming up with, representing and giving out information for different reasons. The study of personality profile is mostly based on various personal behaviorism, activities of a small group of people or large company. The study is used to estimate a workers individual features, standards as well as life talents so as to increase his or her efficiency and input to the corporation. Learnings are various theoretical or practical styles that are used by different people depending on their capability. Learning style inventories are outlined to assist the learners know the type of learning preferences they have. According to Flemings (VARK learning style), L earnings can be visual (use of pictorials and images), auditory (group discussions, lectures), writing and reading (textbooks, journals, writing notes) or kinesthetic. Various researchers have conducted different questionnaires and have come up with a number of inventories. In psychology, one has to understand their learning styles as well as personality profile to be productive in their areas of specification and assignment. I have conducted various tests on learning styles and personality profiles. In learning styles the tests have shown that approximately 65% of students have a sensing learning style. This was reached at after observing learners characteristics during questionnaire. Most of these learners are practical and reasonable, they focus on the present as well as observe keenly the environment around them. They also rely on experience and common sense while solving problems. In personality profiles, I carried out one tests and had the following results: the persons mind is kind (69%), energy- reserved(22%), observant in nature(6%), in tactics, the person was searching(9%) and turbulent(53%) in identity. There are sixteen different personality types. I am so amazed to see that the tests I have carried out are completely true. I totally agree with these assessment. I can almost say it is almost 100% true. When it comes to personality profile, this was a test from a friend whom I can say I know absolutely. My friend is all that the test reflected. I also had my own test which was almost same. I learned that my personality type is (ISFP) Knowing my results has helped me to be open-minded and reflect on most important areas for me to be successful. I have to work more on planning so as to be proficiency. References 16personalities.com/ ualc.umass.edu/ psu.edu/ http://psychology.about.com/od/educationalpsychology/a/vark-learning-styles.htm http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/personality-profile

An Overview of the Book Democracy in America

An Overview of the Book Democracy in America Democracy in America, written by Alexis de Tocqueville between 1835 and 1840, is considered one of the most comprehensive and insightful books ever written about the U.S. Having seen the failed attempts at a democratic government in his native France, Tocqueville set out to study a stable and prosperous democracy in order to gain insight into how it worked. Democracy in America is the result of his studies. The book was and still remains, so popular because it deals with issues such as religion, the press, money, class structure, racism, the role of government, and the judicial system – issues that are just as relevant today as they were then. ​Many colleges in the U.S. continue to use Democracy in America in political science and history courses. There are two volumes to Democracy in America. Volume one was published in 1835 and is more optimistic of the two. It focuses mainly on the structure of government and the institutions that help maintain freedom in the United States. Volume two, published in 1840, focuses more on individuals and the effects that the democratic mentality has on the norms and thoughts that exist in society. Tocqueville’s main purpose in writing Democracy in America was to analyze the functioning of political society and the various forms of political associations, although he also had some reflections on civil society as well as the relations between political and civil society. He ultimately seeks to understand the true nature of American political life and why it was so different from Europe. Topics Covered Democracy in America covers a vast array of topics. In Volume I, Tocqueville discusses things such as: the social condition of Anglo-Americans; judicial power in the United States and its influence on political society; the United States Constitution; freedom of press; political associations; the advantages of a democratic government; the consequences of democracy; and the future of the races in the United States. In Volume II of the book, Tocqueville covers topics such as: How religion in the United States avails itself to democratic tendencies; Roman Catholicism in the United States; pantheism; equality and the perfectibility of man; science; literature; art; how democracy has modified the English language; spiritual fanaticism; education; and equality of the sexes. Features of American Democracy Tocqueville’s studies of democracy in the United States led him to the conclusion that American society is characterized by five key features: 1. Love of equality: Americans love equality even more than we love individual liberty or freedom (Volume 2, Part 2, Chapter 1). 2. Absence of tradition: Americans inhabit a landscape largely without inherited institutions and traditions (family, class, religion) that define their relations to one another (Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 1). 3. Individualism: Because no person is intrinsically better than another, Americans begin to seek all reasons in themselves, looking not to tradition nor to the wisdom of singular individuals, but to their own opinion for guidance (Volume 2, Part 2, Chapter 2). 4. Tyranny of the majority: At the same time, Americans give great weight to, and feel great pressure from, the opinion of the majority. Precisely because they are all equal, they feel insignificant and weak in contrast to the greater number (Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 7). 5. Importance of free association: Americans have a happy impulse to work together to improve their common life, most obviously by forming voluntary associations. This uniquely American art of association tempers their tendencies towards individualism and gives them a habit and taste for serving others (Volume 2, Part 2, Chapters 4 and 5). Predictions for America Tocqueville is often acclaimed for making a number of correct predictions in Democracy in America. First, he anticipated that the debate over the abolition of slavery could potentially tear apart the United States, which it did during the American Civil War. Second, he predicted that the United States and Russia would rise as rival superpowers, and they did after World War II. Some scholars also argue that Tocqueville, in his discussion of the rise of the industrial sector in the American economy, correctly predicted that an industrial aristocracy would rise from the ownership of labor. In the book, he warned that â€Å"friends of democracy must keep an anxious eye peeled in this direction at all times† and went on to say that a new found wealthy class may potentially dominate society. According to Tocqueville, democracy would also have some unfavorable consequences, including the tyranny of the majority over thought, a preoccupation with material goods, and isolating individuals from each other and society. Source: Tocqueville, Democracy in America (Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop, trans., ed.; Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000)

Defining manufacturing sequence of a tool steel Literature review

Defining manufacturing sequence of a tool steel - Literature review Example Accordingly, the tool steel and die steel has different classification, referring to the metallurgical composition and heat treatment measures used in making these products. For example, cold work and hot work category of steel have remarkably different carbon, chromium, magnesium, cobalt, and nickel and tungsten percentage representation. While tool steels are fundamentally medium or high carbon steels, they have varied amounts of specific elements that shape them into specialized application tools, with significant characteristics. Carbon in the tool steel helps it to gain greater hardness required to do the cutting and have wear-resistant properties. The other elements provide greater strength and toughness to the tool steel. The addition of such elements helps in retaining the size and shape of the tool, while ensuring that the specific tool maintains its strength and hardness during the heat-treatment process. As composition of tool steel varies according to the specific tool application, the aim of his paper is to discuss different types of steel alloys that can be used for manufacture of specific tools. Accordingly, the related changes in the microstructure of tool steel, as it undergoes various manufacturing and heat treatment processes are detailed in the following pages. Addition of Chromium enables the tool steel to gain properties of greater hardness, toughness and wears resistance. Cobalt addition results in increased red hardness, which makes tools applicable for use at higher temperature during operation. Manganese helps the tool steel in quick hardening, while going through heat treatment process. Larger addition of this element, between 1.2 to 1.6 percentages enables the steel to quench in oil instead of water, while lowering the quenching temperature, meant for hardening the tool steel. Molybdenum also helps

Emigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Emigration - Essay Example In 2011 alone, the United States, which has the largest number of immigrants in the world, received 87,000 permanent residents from China (â€Å"Wary Future, Professionals Leave China†). Consequently, the increasing number of immigrants has resulted to a number of research studies to understand this phenomenon. One effective way to understand the concept of emigration in the present time is to examine its causes. People emigrate for various reasons, but the most common causes are education, employment, freedom, and war. These causes are the prime motivation for people around the world to emigrate to other countries. Education, which is a product of globalization, is one of the leading causes of emigration. Globalization has pushed immigrant children to move to the first world countries like the United States to obtain their education. People seek for a better quality of education for them to be globally competitive and hirable in their own chosen fields. Education in the form of research and development is another result of globalization. Academicians accomplish their research studies in other countries where they are able to utilize more advanced facilities and technological equipments to get better results. Scholarships also largely contribute to the number of immigrants in the academe. It enables immigrants to avail low cost and yet high quality education through scholarships. Employment is another leading reason for emigration as people in poor countries work overseas. As developed countries have good economic conditions, industries in these countries offer much higher salaries than poor countries do. In addition, the worker’s rights and benefits are top priorities for these countries as developed countries have more stable policies that protect employees’ welfare. Lastly, these countries have high employment rate that means that they offer many job opportunities. Other people emigrate to find more freedom in the things that