False Consciousness Essay Sample free essay sample

Q. 3 Lukes’ 3rd dimension of power is controversial because it entails the usage of the construct of ‘false consciousness’ . Using illustrations of your ain. defend and / or review the hypothesis that there is such thing as ‘false consciousness’ . Power has ever been a contested and controversial subject and is one of the most cardinal constructs in the societal scientific disciplines. With respect to the construct of power. the issue of domination and what domination is has besides been widely debated. While most people would presume that domination is achieved by coercion or the open menace of countenances. a more interesting theory is that people consent to their ain domination. This thought seems eccentric as when we think of domination we imagine a ruthless dictator ruling the multitudes through fright and force or we think of an authoritarian personality trying to exercise complete control over a weaker subsidiary through menace and bullying. We will write a custom essay sample on False Consciousness Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What doesn’t come to mind when we think of domination is a individual volitionally leting another to exercise power over them and at the same clip being wholly unmindful to the fact that they are being dominated by some single or group who has hidden from that person at that place existent involvements and replaced them with involvements that favor themselves alternatively. The inquiry so is how is willing conformity to domination secured? This is a inquiry that is addressed by Steven Luke’s in his book ‘Power: A Extremist view’ . In his short essay Luke’s argues that the less powerful peoples wants may be a merchandise of a system which works against their involvements and obscures the truth in a way that suits the involvements of the dominant and powerful groups. This in kernel is what is referred to as False Consciousness. False consciousness refers to ideology ruling the consciousness of exploited groups and categories. which at the same clip justifies and perpetuates their development. The construct of false consciousness is Marxist in its roots and comes from Marxist accounts of the non-revolutionary nature of the labor and the theoretical resistance between scientific discipline and political orientation ( Haugaard. 2003 ) . In Marxist theory. false consciousness is fundamentally the consequence of the failure of the labor to recognize their existent stuff conditions in relation to the businessperson due to ideological control which the labor do non recognize they are under. However Luke’s criticizes the Marist attack seeing that the construct has pertinence in wider countries than category and besides because it â€Å"claims to hold some privileged entree external to the actors† ( Lukes. 2005 ) . Luke’s theory of power and false consciousness came approximately through an in-satisfaction with both Robert Dahl and Bachrach and Baratz behavioural focal point on power. Lukes argued that power had three faces. The public face as studied by Dahl and which relates to the survey of concrete discernible power. The 2nd dimension of power. which is the concealed face and was proposed by Bachrach and Baratz. This dimension points to the forces that keep possible controversial issues off the docket of determination doing spheres. However Lukes 3rd dimension of power expressions at an even more insidious face of power. Lukes looks beyond the analysis of discernible struggles. alternatively concentrating on power in its unseeable signifier in that people sometimes act volitionally in ways that are contrary to their best involvements. Harmonizing to Lukes the effects of power are non exhausted by decision-making and docket building but operate at a deeper degree that people are non w itting of. Lukes believed this to be the most insidious exercising of power because it keeps struggle from coming to the surface in the first topographic point. In this manner Lukes defines power in footings of involvements – ‘A exercising power over B when A affects B in a mode contrary to B’s interests’ ( Haugaard. 2003 ) . Whether such a thing as false consciousness exists has been a problematic subject since its outgrowth. Could it truly be that the things we believe to be our existent involvements are in fact non but alternatively are the consequence of deeply rooted signifiers of political socialisation and indoctrination? Have our perceptual experiences. knowledges and penchants been shaped in such a manner that we accept our function in the bing order of things because we see it as natural or as divinely ordained and good? The balance of this essay will try to undertake this controversial inquiry. One illustration which possible points to the being of false consciousness among the less powerful in society is the huge support for the Republican Party among the working category in the United States. It would look that the working category Republican elector is enduring from false consciousness. They have adopted the positions of their oppressors. False consciousness is the ground the lower category ballot for revenue enhancement cuts for the rich. something that will hold no direct benefit for them whatsoever. Advocates for the being of false consciousness would reason that these electors are being ideologically controlled but do non cognize it. Therefore their consciousness is false. fooled and diverted off from their ain existent involvements. Research on this country was carried out by Thomas Frank and discussed in his book ‘What’s the affair with Kansas? ’ . He used his place province of Kansas as an illustration as to why lower category Americans choose Republican and ballot against their ain economic and societal involvements. Frank recites that Kansas. which one time used to process against money power is now preponderantly republican and that this is non merely something that has happened in Kansas but is widespread throughout America. Frank argues that the growing of the Republican ballot among the working category is due to their scheme which involves taking economic sciences from treatments and alternatively concentrating on issues in which triumph is fundamentally impossible ( such as abortion. gun control Torahs etc ) . which feeds their bases sense of grudge. In this manner Frank shows how the Republican party who were one time a marker of category privilege are now the voice of 1000000s of ordinary Americans. It is difficult to deny the being of false consciousness among the low-class Republican electors when Frank argues that we live in an upside down universe where â€Å"blue-collar nationalists recite the Pledge while they strangle their life opportunities ; where little husbandmans cast their ballots for a Wall Street order that will finally force them off their land ; and where a group of frat male childs. attorneies. and CEOs has managed to convert the state that it speaks on behalf of the People† ( Frank. 2005 ) . Religion can be viewed as a false consciousness. It is the merchandise of adult male. the merchandise of those in power. Take birth control for illustration. The Catholic Church forbids birth control among practising members. which finally leads to big households. This has both wellness and fiscal damaging effects in that each consecutive gestation and birth topographic points extra wellness hazards onto the female parent and important economic load on parents of big households. Obviously this would propose for most households that the Catholic Church’s stance on birth control is non in their best involvement peculiarly over the longer term. However it is of benefit to the church in that their stance on birth control leads to a population growing among the Catholic population and hence a bigger flock over which they can govern. Compared to other faiths this sheer mass of population gives them important power over other faiths. Similarly. Moslems who participate in Ramadan could be argued to endure from a false consciousness. Ramadan can be seen as a manner to farther indoctrinate Muslims into their faith through a procedure of cognitive disagreement. During Ramadan Muslims must fast from dawn to sunset. which on the surface is non in the involvement of the practician but reinforces attachment to that faith. Psychological research has shown that cipher likes to be in a province of cognitive disagreement. which is when there is a gulf between our ideas and our actions. When such a disconnect exists it is our ideas more than our actions that we are likely to alter in order to take the gulf and reconstruct a province of disagreement. Therefore Muslims undergoing Ramadan are likely to happen their spiritual strong beliefs strengthened as their knowledges about their religion are brought more closely in line with the irrational behaviour of irregular drawn-out fasting. In appraising the grounds it would look that there is such a thing as false consciousness but there are jobs with this construct. If you describe person as holding false consciousness you are in kernel stating that that individual does non cognize what is in their ain best involvement – but you do. It assumes that a person’s involvements are cognizable external to that individual. Can one truly presume that their cognition is more true than the cognition of others? If we take the illustration above of Muslims who engage in Ramadan. to many Westerners spiritual patterns like these appear bizarre and it seems those that partake in these sorts of patterns suffer from false consciousness. On the other side of things though to presume that these Moslems are enduring from false consciousness is to state that we possess some sort of true consciousness in which we know what their existent involvements are better so they do. It besides entails an ethnocentric privileging of the position of western thoughts as ‘truth’ and ‘real’ ( Haugaard. 2003 ) . Another job with this construct is that because involvements are knowledges. they are self-validating. If a individual believes their involvements to be met so they are met. Whether they are really met is of no significance to that individual. because they are the agent in inquiry. they are the lone 1s who can state whether or non their demands have been met. In decision. the topic of false consciousness is a slippery one to undertake. False consciousness is non an nonsubjective construct but in existent fact is really subjective and is down to the single individual and their reading of what they believe are ‘real’ or ‘true’ involvements. As external perceivers who are we to state that workers taking occupations over rebellion or adult females taking homemaking over a calling suffer from false consciousness. As Lukes so right put at the terminal of his book â€Å"individuals are full of their ain ideas† and â€Å"no construct of power can of all time be wholly successful† ( Lukes. 2005 ) Mentions Frank. Thomas. ( 2005 ) What’s the affair with Kansas? : How conservativists won the bosom of America. Henry holt and Company. LLC. New York. NY. Haugaard. Mark. ( 2003 ) Power: A Reader. Manchester University Press. Lukes. Steven. ( 2005 ) Power: A Extremist View. Palgrave Macmillan. New York. NY. First published 1974.

The Wonders of the Universe

The Wonders of the Universe Introduction The universe is a phenomenon that human beings want to understand. There are various explanation, some are religious others are scientific. The religious books explain the universe as accretion of a Supreme Being while science studies the universe by engaging in research and documenting the results.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Wonders of the Universe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The pioneering scientist like Newton and Einstein coined theories that have formed the basis for many theorists in today’s world. The theorist explained the origin of the universe and made important discoveries that influenced the world view. Other scientist have emerged and published as they continue to explore the existence of the universe (Diez 1). This research paper will compare The Exploding Suns: The Secrets of the Supernovas by Asimov and The Brief History of Time by Hawking. It will explore th e similarities and the differences. Moreover, it will discuss the advantages of each book over the other. This paper will also recommend different readers to each book while giving the reasons for the recommendation. At the end the paper will give an opinion of the favorite book and give the reasons. The Exploding Suns by Isaac Asimov The explanation of the existence of the universe is explained by the award winning scientist as having taken place billions of years ago. This happened when the â€Å"big bang† took place and molecules of helium together with molecules of hydrogen formed gigantic clouds. The author introduces the supernovas which takes the center stage in explaining the universe. The supernovas are enormous unsteady suns that are massive tremors and giant outbursts are phenomenal in the entire system. The results of the phenomenal are believed to perpetuate life and among other things the metals and rocks. In his book, Asimov puts in plain words the diverse type s of stars that formed. While giving the explanations, he describes how a star becomes supernova from nova. Besides the stars he explicates the origin of life. He uses scientific knowledge to explain the existence of God without referring to any religious beliefs (Blake: 3). Asimov (13) explains the origin humans using science. In his explanations of human existence, he does not subscribe to any supernatural being or powers. To him billions of years have passed since the simple molecules that existed in the atmosphere combined to form the complex universe. The formation of the complex molecules left no trace that would imply life existed. To be able to establish the accuracy of this theory, technology which would enable more investigation in the space should be embraced.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, there is need to use biotechnology in the inves tigations to establish if there is any form of life that would be likened to what is on planet Earth. Further to clarify if the human beings living on the planet Earth have any beginnings in the space. After establishing the existence of human life in the space, then the evidence should be consistent with the makeup of human beings in the contemporary world. The Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking Hawking in his books covers several subjects in cosmology. He covers the big bang theory, the black holes as well as the light cones (Diez 1). what is more the author goes ahead to discuss mathematical concepts in the book. He however refrains from using including mathematical equation in the book. His presentation of the contents in the book is organized systematically. He starts by stating the beginning of the universes and using theory he explains how the existence of objects came to be and reveals the existence of the black holes. The book answers important questions that human be ings have about the existence of entire universe. Hawking uses scientific approach to answer these questions. In his book he discusses the commencement of time and the end of the universe. He also displays the similarities and contrasts of the different types of the black hole. He discusses the density of the universe in relation to the impact of critical value to understand the expansion rate. In his book Hawking while reviewing the writings of the Newton as well as Einstein, he discusses the role of God in the creation of the universe. His main interest is to understand how God designed the quantum mechanics law and relativity theory only to abandon the progress of the concepts without leaving room for intercession. Similarities Both books can reader friendly for non scientist. Hawking’s The Brief History of Time has only one equation. This is contrary to the fact that scientist are prone to using equations.non scientist often find the equations unfriendly and discourage th em from reading the book. Besides having only one equation, Hawking frequently gives illustrates in the book to enable the reader understand the arguments. Asimov in the book The Exploding Suns explains the scientific concepts in his text making it possible for the reader to understand. The reader therefore does not need to have prior knowledge of scientific concepts to be able to understand the text.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Wonders of the Universe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two authors have made great contributions in science and particularly cosmology. Asimov has written and edited over 500 books and written enormous letters as well as articles concerning science. Hawking has also made great contributions and challenged what the pioneers in science documented. For instance, Hawking contributes to the theory of black holes by noting that the black hole adheres to the thermodynamic law . By doing so he also integrates the general relativity approach together with quantum mechanics to understand his discovery that challenges existing theory of black hole. In this case he ascertains that it possible that the black hole is not entirely black, this is because radiation can leak (Hawking 30). Both authors are keen to the nature of the constantly changing world and the enormous growth in knowledge. There is more scientist than before and therefore the audiences of sciences have increased. They try to explain the nature universe using science to meet the need for knowledge. This is an attempt to incorporate new research as the explanation of some phenomenon still remains unexplained. Although the books can be read by non scientist, it is necessary for the reader to have some form of basic education in science to be able to understand some concepts explained in the books. Having studied the introductory science classes in the initial stages in school, the reader’s curiosity arises for more knowledge. This is the information found in both books, which is how the universe came into existence in details cause the readers to develop curiosity and want to read and read contents. Asimov and Hawking have subscribed to the theories that were propounded by scientist such as Einstein, Newton among others. They refer to theory of the big bang and the concept of black holes to explain the complex reality scientifically. Although the theories were crafted many years ago they are still used in both books as a basis of explaining the beginnings of the world. In their later editions of the versions of their books, they have included the developments in science that indicate changes in science. The new additional information captures the developments in theory and modifies the existing theories that have been explained in the book. This does not mean that the theories that are mentioned before are irrelevant; they are relevant as they form a basis for underst anding the new modified theory. Differences Hawking subscribes to the theories that were propounded by the pioneers of science Newton and Einstein. The concepts derived from gravitational force are compared with quantum mechanics together with relativity theory. The concepts form a basis for studying the nuclear forces (strong forces and weak forces), electromagnetic field, and the theory of superstring as well as quantum theory.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Combining the concepts is a challenge because of the diversity of the forces. However, God is believed to have used a plan that combined all the concepts. On the other hand, Asimov does rely on the existing theory but he avoids dwelling on the already published theories to explain his understanding of the universe. Hawking describes the entire universe using a vast range of theories to capture every detail of the world more than Asimov. The wide ranges of theories make his book more comprehensive than the fewer theories used by Asimov. Hawking therefore makes the theories more complex when he goes ahead to combine the principles in order to come up with one theory that captures the wide range. This is evident when he incorporates the theory of relativity with quantum mechanics and relates them to the four dimensions. On the other hand besides introducing the big bang theory, Asimov chooses to follow the explanation of the supernovas to concentrate on one course. Hawking gives detail s on the objects in the universe while Asimov includes the origin of life to his theory of the universe. Besides discussing the novas and supernovas, the black hole and the big bang, Asimov briefly explains how human life began. In his explanation of the origin of life, the reader is left to engage in thoughts that doubt the credibility of his story. This is because it may be difficult to comprehend if life and the rocks together with the heavy metals could have any connection. Hawking does welcome the idea of God being included in the creation of the universe. In contrast, Asimov ignores the fact that there is a possibility that God would have played a role in the universe. Hawking in trying to explain how the four forces are intertwined visits the subject of God being the creator of the universe. He refers to Gods role intervening in the nature he created whenever there raises challenges that may have implications referring to the forces of nature. Moreover, he seldom criticizes G od’s role in the universe. Asimov on the contrast is hesitant to include God in the picture. He explains the universe purely on the basis of science. Advantages of one book over the other Advantage of the exploding suns The most fascinating aspect of The Exploding Suns is the explanation of the existence of the entire world using the theory of the supernovas. What gives the book more advantage to The Brief History of Time is the inclusion of the explanation on the beginnings of human being. The fact that Asimov uses the novas and supernovas in his book makes it possible for a new student of the science to understand. Although he does introduce complex scientific theories in the text he keeps the explanation within the scope of the novas and supernovas. This makes it possible for a reader to comprehend and flow with the ideas. The advantage Asimov’s book is that it is much simpler to follow unlike The Brief History of Time which introduces a vast range of theories and t he comprehensive information is compacted to give a brief history. The study of the stars is a complex topic that requires efforts and devotion of time to be able to understand. Asimov uses uncomplicated language in his book to disseminate the complex information about the suns. Moreover, he takes us back to the well known theories of the big bang, black holes and other theories that have been formulated to explain the reality of the universe. The concepts that are used in The Exploding Suns are explained explicitly. This enables people without prior knowledge of physics or astrology to read and understand the text. For this reason, the readers can read without consulting with the dictionary or encyclopedia for the complex theories. Asimov makes it possible for non scientist to use the book comfortably irrespective of their level of education. Advantage of the brief history of time The Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking is a book that encourages one to be more imaginative. He deeply explains the existence of the universe and the great phenomenon with enthusiasm. This he does by using understandable language. The last edition of Hawking has an additional chapter that gives the book an advantage over The exploding suns. The book has been revised making modifications according to developments in physics. The chapter talks about time travel on top of wormholes. Consequently, Hawking book thorough investigations on the theories gives credit as he makes comparison to find weakness and strengths of each. In his findings he finds similarity in the different approaches in physics. The Brief History of Time is the book for one seeking to understand the origin of the universe, how the universe formed and gets to know more about astronomy. The determination of a reader to understand is a must. This is because Hawking refers to some complex processes that require a lot of attention especially for non scientist. Although he discusses the theory of black holes in detai ls, the relativity theory is not given equal attention and thus the reader must pay attention to capture the idea. Getting started with reading the theories that summarize the existence of the universe and time is possible. Non scientist can get several theories in one book that is The Brief History of Time. The books writer did not have in mind that he writing the text for the experts. Understandable language is used with limited equations hence friendly. However, the book does use scientific concepts that either explained in detail or at least briefly. This enables the non- experts to be able to understand. The concepts that are used do not make the entire literature incomprehensible but rather introduces the reader the theories that have been in existence in the past years as stipulated by scientist. The book is informative to both non-scientist and scientist. However the reader must have at least some education to form a basis for understanding science. What kind of readers woul d be recommended to one book and why Recommending a book to a reader can be daunting task. Readers have different motives of reading a book. Both books are knowledgeable and can help the reader to understand the makeup of the universe and influence their perception about the universe. Recommend the Exploding Suns For a reader whose aim is to understand the concept of supernovas, then The Exploding Suns would be the book to read. Asimov explains the way the supernovas are formed. The details of the suns are given in detail and the reader is left with no choice but to get the concept of the supernovas which is used throughout the book. Readers who have little knowledge in science may use Asimov’s book. The concepts are explained clearly. The reader need not have any knowledge in science since Asimov writes in a layman’s language. The reader will be able to understand the different principles of the suns and get insight to know more. Readers who do not believe in the exis tence of any Supreme Being and power (God) can subscribe to Asimov writings. He does not acknowledge whether God had any stake in the formation of the universe. To him science is responsible for the creation of life and the objects in space. Students without any basic knowledge on the physical sciences or astronomy can read the exploding suns. It introduces the subject of the astrology in a comprehensive yet understandable manner. Recommend the brief history of time The readers who want to explore knowledge about the big bang theory, the black holes as well as the light cones The Brief History of Time is the book to read. The reader focuses on the types of black holes and explains how they are formed and describes the scenario in detail. A reader interested in theories is physics need to read The Brief History of Time. It can be considered to be an introduction to theories in physic. This is because it calls for absolute attention while reading the text where the reader is provoked to think. Moreover, it recaptures what the existing literature about the theories talk about and adds to the discussions. A reader who wants to understand how God fits in the scientific explanation of how the universe came to be should read The Brief History of Tim. In his book, Hawking devoted a whole chapter to discuss the role of God in science. Hawking invokes God and does so tactfully. It is important to note that he avoids contradicting with God and approaches then subject with ease. The Brief History of Time arranged systematically such that a reader with little knowledge about astronomy can follow. The chapters are guiding since one chapter ushers in the next chapter. In the chapters that proceed, Hawking takes time to explain the concepts in depth. Later he keeps referring to what he explained to build in the knowledge. The most recent developments in theory are discussed in the end. For instance the last chapter on the string theory is presented last. The four dimensions o f the world are explained vividly in The Brief History of Time. The intent of relating and describing the dimensions is with an aim of approaching the subject of obtaining a theory that includes all the mentioned theories in the book. According to Hawking, science would reach its end if a unified theory that speaks about the universe would be coined. This aspect of discussing the dimensions makes the book even more interesting to read. The Brief History of Time is a book that total concentration to read. Although Hawking makes it easier to understand by arranging the chapters in a friendly way, the reader must pay attention not to skip any details. Hawking keeps referring to concepts already introduced in previous chapters to introduce other concepts in the following chapter. The four dimensions and the theories mentioned might not be easy for a non scientist to gasp. They must pay attention and meditate as they progress so as to deduce meanings that are implied within the theories. Besides the fact that some concepts in physics can be difficult to explain, I would recommend the book to a non scientist as well as emerging scientist to read the book. This is because Hawking simplified the explanation such that one can understand. If a reader wants a book that is wealthy in a lot of information, The Brief History of Time is the book to read. It is rich in information and every time the reader reads they encounter more and more information. This is to mean that the book is comprehensive in the subject of time and space, among other interesting scientific theories. The end result is that the reader broadens his knowledge in the subject. There is so much that remains unexplored in the existence of the universe. Hawking provokes other scientist who may be interested in the subject to explore so as to arrive at a unified theory. This is a call for more inventions in the subject. A scientist who would be interested in astrology may read the book to get insights from H awking. Moreover, the theory that was introduced in the last chapter, the string theory is an area that needs to be explored as it is an emerging theory. This book could be recommended to a scientist who wants to engage in research about the astronomy. As the name of the book suggests, Hawking wrapped up the entire story of time and space briefly. A reader with at least the knowledge of the physics can engage in the reading the publication. The details provided are best for someone with at least the some college education in science. This is because he does present a lot of details in physics are limits his exploration in giving an extensive definition of some concepts. However the reader despite losing the writer in some parts of the book can still catch up and get to understand as he often uses simple language, considering that physics can be complex and difficult to explain. College graduates who have completed their physics tutorials can use the book to broaden their understandi ng about the universe. The book covers several concepts that have been introduced during their training. Moreover, the book can be of great advantage to those who seek to advance in physics and astrological studies. This is because it provokes further thinking and broadens ones understanding of time and space. Although the latest edition of The Brief History of Time introduced the new developments of theory in physics, most of the content emanate from theories that were developed many years back. This book would not be the most appropriate for a reader searching for new theories in physics. Which book did I like more and why Both The Brief History of Time and The Exploding Suns give the details that a non scientist would read and understand. They have areas of similarities like the big bang theory and are presented differently. The major driving force that leads one to choose a book is to get information which is comprehensive like in The Brief History of Time. The Brief History of Time emerges s as the most comprehensive book because of the wide inclusion of many theories that explain the world phenomenon. Moreover, the theories are explained consistently and progressively. Hawking uses simple language understandable even to the non scientist. A lot of knowledge is compacted just like the title of the books calls it a brief history. For this reason one begins to gain interest and becomes more imaginative. The author further attempts to relate the complex forces of nature with the existing theories so as to come up with a unified approach on the nature of the world system. More importantly, the book is theoretical and avoids using equations. Conclusion The universe is a complex reality that can be hard to explain. The Brief History of Time and The Exploding Suns have tried to give an account of the existence of the entire universe. Among the questions answered is the beginning of the universe and how forces of nature resulted into the present world. They give an account of the objects that are found in the space and explain various concepts (Girl: 1). Both books in their latest editions have introduced a chapter on the development of theories and use the earlier theories to explain the emerging theories. Among the theories commonly used in both books is the theory of the big bang and black hole among others. It is a remarkable effort from both authors that they managed to simplify the complex science into understandable layman’s language. Moreover, both authors have referred to theories that were coined by the pioneering scientist. The content found in the books is different in approach. Hawking in The Brief History of Time discusses the relativity theory; quantum mechanics among others while Asimov in The Exploding Suns dwells on the theory of the novas and the supernovas. The other difference is that Hawking book may require the reader to have some foundation in physics to be able to capture all the ideas that are presented. On the other hand Asimov’s book is written in the simplest language for readers without prior knowledge on astrology. Asimov has included in his book explanation of how human life came to be. Besides using science to explain the nature of the universe, Hawking visits the role of God in the universe. Asimov, Isaac. The Exploding Suns: The Secrets of the Supernovas. Oak Lawn Public Library, 1991. Blake, David.   A Brief History of Time, review, 2004. Web. Diez, David.  Great Overview of Stars + Brief Biology, 2006 Web. Gir, Alam. A brief History of time from the big bang to the black holes, 2011. Web. Hawking, Steven. The Brief History of Time. New York: Bantam, 1998.

Immigration and Asylum Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Immigration and Asylum Law - Essay Example In the House of Lords decision in Islam (A.P.) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Regina v. Immigration Appeal Tribunal and Another Ex Parte Shah (A.P.) [1999] 2 W.L.R. 1015 (Conjoined Appeals), Lord Steyn set out a four point criteria that one claiming refugee or asylum status must meet. He opined that under Article 1A(2) of the Refugee Convention, an asylum seeker must be able to prove that, firstly he/she has a well founded fear of persecution; secondly, that the reason for persecution is as a result of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion; thirdly, that he/she is not within the country of his/her nationality; and fourthly, that he/she is either unable or unwilling to lay claim to protection from his/her country of nationality due to the fear of persecution. Consequently, having a well founded fea... Another decided case that buttresses the argument set out in Lord Steyn opinion is Januzi v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Others [2006] UKHL 5. In Januzi Lord Bingham held that the use of the provision "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted " in Article 1A(2) of the Refugee Convention constitutes a causative condition upon which all the other conditions for claiming a refugee status hinge on. Thus a person claiming refugee status can claim to be persecuted because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, but if this fear is not a well-founded one, the claim to refugee status would be denied. In the Islam and Regina cases (cited above) for instance, two Pakistani women - Islam and Shah - had left their native country of Pakistan to the UK and were seeking asylum due to fear of persecution because of being part of a particular social group. Both of them had been physically abused by their husbands and had been accused of infidelity, a crime that carried the penalty of being flogged publicly or being stoned to death under Shariah Law. The two women had also received threats from neighbours after they fled from their husbands' homes and sort refuge with family members. In establishing whether the Islam and Shah had a claim to asylum due to a well founded fear of persecution, Lord Steyn quoted from an Amnesty International Report on the human rights abuses of women in Pakistan. The report stated inter alia that: ". . . several Pakistani laws explicitly discriminate against women. In some cases they allow only the evidence of men to be heard, not of women. In particular, the Evidence

Nuclear generators Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nuclear generators - Term Paper Example According to the Nuclear Science Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: â€Å"Fusion is a nuclear process in which two light nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus. An example of a fusion reaction important in thermonuclear weapons and in future nuclear reactors is the reaction between two different hydrogen isotopes to form an isotope of helium: Fission is a nuclear process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. An example of a fission reaction that was used in the first atomic bomb and is still used in nuclear reactors is: The products shown in the above equation are only one set of many possible product nuclei. Fission reactions can produce any combination of lighter nuclei so long as the number of protons and neutrons in the products sum up to those in the initial fissioning nucleus.† (LBNL, 2011) Because of the nature of the source materials involved in the fusion reaction, mainly Helium and Hydrogen, the danger of radioactivity is n on-existent compared to the fission processes involving Uranium and Plutonium, elements with long half-lives and radiation emissions. Fission reactions run on fuel rods of Uranium, yet the â€Å"spent† fuel rods which are no longer concentrated enough to maintain reactions at critical mass will have to be maintained and stored for thousands of years despite emitting radioactivity as part of the decay cycle. Because of this, nuclear fusion is still viewed as a possibility to provide unlimited, â€Å"clean† energy based on nuclear reactions similar to those occurring in the sun, while nuclear fission reactions based on Uranium and Plutonium fuel power plants across the world in practical application, but long term concerns exist about the safety of the radioactive waste materials over time as the elements continue to decay and emit harmful radiation into the environment. â€Å"Plutonium-239 is one of the two fissile materials used for the production of nuclear weapons a nd in some nuclear reactors as a source of energy. The other fissile material is uranium-235. Plutonium-239 is virtually nonexistent in nature. It is made by bombarding uranium-238 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. Uranium-238 is present in quantity in most reactor fuel; hence plutonium-239 is continuously made in these reactors. Since plutonium-239 can itself be split by neutrons to release energy, plutonium-239 provides a portion of the energy generation in a nuclear reactor. Plutonium belongs to the class of elements called transuranic elements whose atomic number is higher than 92, the atomic number of uranium. Essentially all transuranic materials in existence are manmade. The atomic number of plutonium is 94. Plutonium has 15 isotopes with mass numbers ranging from 232 to 246. Isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons in their nuclei but differ by the number of neutrons. Since the chemical characteristics of an element are governed by the number of protons in the nucleus, which equals the number of electrons when the atom is electrically neutral (the usual elemental form at room temperature), all isotopes have nearly the same chemical characteristics. This means that in most cases it is very difficult to separate isotopes from each other by chemical techniques. Only two plutonium isotopes have commercial and military applications. Plutonium-238, which is made in nuclear reactors from neptunium-237, is used to make compact

Managment and People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managment and People - Essay Example These problems are related to team building and could have been avoided if an effective team building strategy was adopted. One of the problems that are very conspicuous in the case study is lack of cohesiveness and coordination in the team processes. According to Tannenbaum, Beard, & Salas (1992), a team process refers to ways in which members of a team interact with each other. In this team, the level of interaction of the members of the team is low. Moreover, the general rules of a team like the rule of accountability and communication protocol do not exist. Therefore, the interconnection between the roles undertaken by some of the members of the team is greatly interfered with resulting in the problem of lack of cohesiveness and coordination in the team processes. Lack of coordination and coherence appears because of the failure of the members of the team to link their activities with the activities of the members of the team. Moreover, appears because of the difference in priorities of the different members of the team. Beatrice prioritizes accuracy of work more than saving time and meeting the deadline. Bill and Ben give more priority in meeting the deadline. In this case, the team leader has been effective in making the team members play their roles to their level best. Moreover, he had failed to clarify roles and set an effective communication line between the members of the team. This is what has made the activities of the embers to fail to interconnect thus resulting in lack of coordination and coherence. Every teamwork problem is avoidable and soluble through the employment of proper team building techniques. The problem of lack of cohesiveness and coordination could have been avoided in several ways. Team building approach used in this case study is the roles approach. This seems to have contributed to this identified problem. This is because of its ineffectiveness, especially when used in a place  where roles might conflict. Therefore, this problem could have been avoided by using another team building approach to the goal setting approach or the problem-solving approach. Moreover, the problem could have been avoided or resolved by a continuous evaluation of the proceeding of the team.

Arlington National Cemetery :: essays research papers

Arlington National Cemetery As the birds are singing their sweet melody, the terrain of Arlington National Cemetery is filled with sadness. Although the brilliant rays of sun are shinning through the thick colossal treetops, there is a chill in the air. While watching the mourners, the feeling of their sorrows is all too real. Thousands of headstones in the far distance create magnificent mazes against the horizon. The immense land has very little room to spare as it is overflowing with graves of heroic soldiers. The white marble graves are like oversized dominos stacked precisely in the thick wind ruffled grass. It is almost inconceivable to imagine each tomb is the physical eternal home to a once courageous and patriotic warrior of our homeland. As the fireball in the heavens slowly descends, it creates a glorious silhouette of the infinite number of tombstones. As you leisurely and respectfully journey through the peaceful burial ground, John F. Kennedy’s last resting place will be discovered. Watching over JFK’s grave is an eternal flame. The ever lasting flame emits a propane aroma into the calm air. As one may gaze at Kennedy’s grave, it is difficult to imagine someone would intentionally seize the life of a great leader from our nation. Continuing on, the Tomb of the Unknowns is the next stop on the journey. An extravagant white marble sarcophagus symbolizes the resting place for patriotic fighters who could not be identified during the time of war. Guarding the stunning sarcophagus are Tomb Guard sentinels. These sentinels are considered the best of the elite in the United States military. The elite soldiers stride back and forth in such a beautiful rhythmic motion that it is spectacular. A wonderful feeling is aroused knowing the brave unknown soldiers are being honored for giving their lives in a terrible time of war.

Character Education and Core Virtues Essay

When I signed on to teach English at a core virtues school, I had no idea what I was in for. I nodded and smiled in my interview when the Headmaster explained the virtues curriculum, and I parried back with everything I thought she wanted to hear; how I could infuse my lessons on To Kill a Mockingbird with discussions about empathy and courage. I may have even quoted Atticus’ line about walking around in someone else’s skin. I figured I could tack on some of that quaint â€Å"virtue† stuff before getting to the real meat of the lesson, the academic stuff. And for the first year I taught at Crossroads Academy, that’s pretty much what I did. I made some empty gesticulations toward the core virtues bulletin board in my classroom and made some token mentions of fortitude at obvious moments in our reading of The Illiad and The Aeneid. I was teaching literature, but I certainly wasn’t doing Aristotle proud. I mean come on. Character education? Core virtues? I teach English, not Sunday school, and besides, I teach middle school. If I were to walk into my eighth grade English class and wax rhapsodic about prudence and temperance, those kids would eat me alive. It’s hard enough to keep the attention of a classroom full of middle school students without coming on like an 18th-century schoolmarm. Character education is not old-fashioned, and it’s not about bringing religion in to the classroom. Character is the â€Å"X factor† that experts in parenting and education have deemed integral to success. Somewhere along the way, someone must have started dosing me with the character education Kool-Aid, because five years in, I have come to understand what real character education looks like and what it can do for children. I can’t imagine teaching in a school that does not have a hard-core commitment to character education, because I’ve seen what that education can mean to a child’s emotional, moral, and intellectual development. Schools that teach character education report higher academic performance, improved attendance, reduced violence, fewer disciplinary issues, reduction in substance abuse, and less vandalism. At a time when parents and teachers are concerned about school violence, it is worth noting that students who attend character education schools report feeling safer because they know their fellow students value respect, responsibility, compassion and hard work. From a practical perspective, it’s simply easier to teach children who can exercise patience, self-control, and diligence, even when they would rather be playing outside – especially when they would rather be playing outside. American schools used to focus on character education and civic virtue. The founders of this country, including John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin wrote about the importance of character education in maintaining the new republic. Those founders would likely be horrified by the loss of this goal, as they all cite character education as the way to create an educated and virtuous citizenry. As Gallup polls show that over ninety percent of American adults support the teaching of honesty, democracy, acceptance of people of different races and ethnic backgrounds, patriotism, caring for friends and family members, moral courage, and the Golden Rule in public schools, it seems odd that this facet of American education has disappeared from public debate over curriculum and academic content. The core virtues — prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice — make it into nearly every lesson we teach at our school and every facet of our daily lives on campus. The curriculum we use, designed by Mary Beth Klee, is a non-sectarian education in intellectual, moral, and civic virtues through literature, and can be used in conjunction with any academic curriculum. As the core virtues program uses examples to literature in order to illustrate character, I choose my texts accordingly. In my middle school Latin and English classes, we explore the concept of temperance through discussions of Achilles’ impulsive rages, King Ozymandias’ petulant demand that we â€Å"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair,† Macbeth’s bloody, â€Å"vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the other. † This week, I gained a fantastic teaching assistant who has raised my character education skills to the next level, a wise teacher who has illustrated the importance of temperance far better than I — or Achilles or Macbeth — ever could. A Mallard duck (Mom Mallard to our students) took up residence on our campus this week. Mallards, or anas platyrhynchos, are also known as â€Å"dabbling ducks,† and this particular duck has apparently been dabbling in Aristotelian philosophy, because she’s presented our students with a real-life lesson in the core virtue of temperance. Her nest, made from feathers she’s plucked off her own breast and filled with ten eggs, lies about eighteen inches from the entryway to our main building, a path our students take in out of school at least six times a day. Mom Mallard doesn’t seem too worried about our students’ feet†¦ as long as they keep moving. However, the second those feet stop and one of the children pauses to take a good, long, look, she quacks angrily and abandons her nest. Her first day in residence, she spent more time off the eggs than she did on them, and we realized we were going to have to find a way to teach our students some self-control. It just so happens that this month’s virtue is temperance; stopping to think about our actions before we enact them, giving the best of ourselves, and saying â€Å"no† to our weaknesses. The middle school students use the term â€Å"temperance,† and the lower school kids use the term self-control, but tomato, tomato, it’s all the same idea. In Stanford’s famous experiment on self-control, children were faced with the immediate reality of one marshmallow versus the promise of two marshmallows if they can just wait for fifteen minutes. The children who were able to resist temptation and wait fifteen minutes for that second marshmallow had better life outcomes in the form of lower obesity rates, higher SAT scores, and higher levels of education. Self-control itself does not make a kid smarter, or fitter, or more proficient at test-taking, but it’s the essential skill hidden within all of these positive outcomes. Character education is not old-fashioned, and it’s not about bringing religion in to the classroom. Character education teaches children how to make wise decisions and act on them. Character is the â€Å"X factor† that experts in parenting and education have deemed integral to success, both in school and in life. Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, calls that character-based X factor â€Å"grit,† while educational consultant Dr. Michele Borba calls it â€Å"moral intelligence. † When I asked parenting expert Borba to explain why she thinks character education is so overlooked as a vital part of children’s success, she wrote, â€Å"That’s what parents don’t seem to get, the hidden values of character traits for success. They see character education as fluff, because that’s often how it’s taught — posters and worksheets. Character education needs to be relevant. It needs to be woven in curriculum, not tacked on. We are such a trophy-, SAT-obsessed society, but if parents would recognize the value beyond the humanness, civility and ethics, they might get it. † Here on our campus, our marshmallow is a duck. Our students must weigh their desire for a quick peek at Mom Mallard with the promise of ten ducklings waddling around our playground in 28 days. If everyone, even the youngest, most impulsive kindergarteners, can learn to exercise self-control, we will all benefit. Next week, Mom Mallard will catch a bit of a break from our students, because they will be confined to their classrooms for a week of standardized testing. Our character education curriculum may not show up as an increase in this year’s test scores — but then again, it could: self-control, after all, is exactly what’s needed to put off a video game or a TV show for another 20 minutes to finish reading or studying. Though temperance isn’t easily measured with number two pencils and bubble forms, it has the capacity to foster and reinforce the skills those bubble forms do test.

Legalizing Prostitution

Legalizing Prostitution There is no profession in this world that has lasted longer than prostitution- the selling of sexual services. Despite the age of this field, there is a lot of controversy over whether it should be legal or if it is even morally correct to do. There are places all over the world where prostitution is legal, but in the United States only two of the fifty states have legalized it-Rhode Island and Nevada. But there is a lot of evidence to suggest that Prostitution should be legalized in all fifty states because it is a perfectly legal and beneficial career.One argument against legalizing prostitution is that it would cause an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. This is actually false if the proper standards are taken. Should prostitution be legalized, there would be regulations in place to make sure all prostitutes are clean and free of any diseases. According to STD Advisor Richard Steen, legalizing prostitution would actually cause a decrease in disease spread.English: Prostitu tion in Africa"In Kenya, where the importance of chancroid in HIV transmission was first described in the late 1980s, interventions targeting sex workers and STD patients were implemented. Reported condom use by sex workers has since increased to over 80% in project areas and the incidence of genital ulcers has declined." (Steen, 2001) If prostitution were to be legalized, the government could quickly put standards in place to ensure that all registered sex workers are not disease ridden, and the ones that are will not be allowed to practice their service.Another argument against the legalization of prostitution is that it's morally incorrect. But who determines what our morals are but us? The Constitution of the United States was formed off the basis of a multitude of freedoms guaranteed to all of its citizens. Is a woman selling...

African Elephant Essays - Elephants, Elephant, African Bush Elephant

African Elephant Essays - Elephants, Elephant, African Bush Elephant African Elephant The common name is the African Elephant, the scientific name is Loxodonta Africana, the phylum is Vertebrata, the class is Mammalia, the order is Proboscidea, and the family is Elephantidae. The Closest Relatives to the African Elephant are: the Asian Elephant, mammoths, primitive proboscidean (mastodons), sea cows, and hyraxes. Scientists believe that the African Elephant evolved from one of its closest relatives, the Sea Cow. The geographical location and range of the African elephant covers all of central and southern Africa. In Ethiopia there are isolated populations that exist around Lake Chad in Mali and Mauritania. Also in Kenya, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zaire, and in National parks located in South Africa, as well as several other countries. African Elephants, originally, were found in all of the Sub-Saharan African habitats except desert steppes. Elephants still occupy diverse habitats such as: temperate grassland, tropical savanna and grass lands, temperate forest and rainforest, tropical rainforest, tropical scrub forest, and tropical deciduous forest despite their drastic decline in numbers. However, their migratory patterns and habitat use have changed, due to the fact that they are restricted to protected areas. The elephant can exist in many types of environments but it prefers places that have many trees and bushes, which the elephant needs both for food and shade. They also like warm areas that have plenty of rainfall. This ensures plenty of food, shade, and water. The elephant prefers a habitat of mixed woodland and grassland which gives them an opportunity to eat a variety of vegetation. African Elephants are considered herbivores, they are both browsers and grazers; they will eat rough sticks, stems and leaves of plants as well as grasses, sedges, and fruit. Their favorites are mangoes, berries and coconuts. An elephant eats up to 500 pounds of vegetation every day and drinks up to 50 gallons of water daily. Elephants must consume these giant quantities of food, due to their poor digestive system. The small intestine is 82 feet long, the large intestine 21 feet long, and the rectum adds a further 13 feet. The problem with the digestive tract lies in their gut; elephants have too few symbiotic bacteria. These are the organisms which help break down the cellulose of plant cell walls by producing enzymes called cellulases. The most remarkable feature of the elephants digestive system is its 5 feet long appendix, bigger than the stomach. Proteins, starches, and sugars are digested in the appendix. The elephant will excrete almost 200 pounds a day of semi-digested food. Elephants live together in strong family units which might have as few as two or as many as twenty members. When the group gets too big, it splits up; but the groups stay in close contact. Elephant life revolves around this unit which is usually headed by the oldest female. The family offers protection, aid, comfort, and teaching to all of its members. Within the units are cows, calves, and bulls. The male bulls are very solitary and most of the time travel only with other males, except during mating season when the bulls travel with the pack looking for a mate. The males remain with the family unit until they are about fourteen and then leave the family to join the other males. The African elephant usually gives birth to one calf every four years. The gestation period is approximately twenty to twenty two years. The newborn calf, which weighs 200-300 pounds and stands about three feet high, is cared for by all of the females in the pack, not just by the mother. The calf may nurse as long as eight years, or until its tusks are too long for the mother. It takes about 14 to 15 years for an elephant to fully mature. They grow to about 10-13 feet tall and 7.5 meters in length and weigh as much as 7 tons. The family will remain together throughout their lives. The elephants body has many special features which it has adapted throughout the centuries to help it survive in its environment. The most important part of the elephants body is its trunk. An elephant uses its trunk for many things. With it, the elephant can pick up objects that weigh as much as 600 lbs. This powerful trunk is also used to beat off attacking animals and sometimes mother elephants use their trunks to swat their babies. The trunk, which is very flexible, can curl over the elephants head so that the elephant can give

Case study 4-4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

4-4 - Case Study Example Whoever provided the wrong test results (A+) should be held responsible for carrying out lousy work, furthermore, the hospital management, in general, should be held responsible to curb future lousiness (Welcome to Advances in Medical Ethics). On the other hand, the ROI (Release of Information) coordinator could have ordered a medical officer to carry out a re-do of Martha’s blood type to obtain a valid blood type and request for a correct re-entry of her medical record rather than maintaining that the legal document could not be changed. The Health Information Management director (HIM) could have been following protocol as stipulated by management yet I support a professional approach to taking the tests again and request for a re-entry of her medical data (Welcome to Advances in Medical Ethics). The directive to obtain a court order via an attorney to make amendments to patient’s records should be done away with because it takes the patient through a whole lot longer process rather than just re-doing the tests and correcting their mistakes in the first place. Martha’s actions, however, were absolutely logical and

Analysis on the Global Strategy of Volkswagen Essay

Analysis on the Global Strategy of Volkswagen - Essay Example The cars underwent testing by the automakers and the Nazi troops. In 1938, they set up a plant in Wolfsburg to continue its massive production for the German people. However, the Second World War changed the car production of Volkswagen into a military vehicle. Volkswagen was named as Wolfsburg Motor Works while British desired to eliminate the beetle name. Despite their effort, Volkswagen remained in the history. The cars were produced to serve the countries involved in the war, which destroyed the future of Volkswagen (Gunnel 6-7). The future of Volkswagen became certain due to Heinrich â€Å"Heinz† Nordhoof as the general manager. Massive production of the beetle was distributed throughout France, Germany, Britain, and the Netherlands. In 1949, British government returned the ownership of Volkswagen to Germany. The Volkswagen continued to produce car for commercial and luxury. It has achieved its goal to excel the â€Å"legendary mark† attained by the Ford Motor Comp any’s Model T. Moreover, the first design was altered to large car production. The popularity of Volkswagen increased with the introduction of the Golf GTI (â€Å"Brief Journey†). With its commitment to innovation, the Volkswagen continued to evolve in matching the preference of its customers. The main thrust of this paper is to analyze the global strategy of Volkswagen as the global leader in the automotive industry. ... By being number one, it means that Volkswagen has to surpass Toyota. According to The Guardian, Toyota was able to overshadow the General Motors, which was once the number one car dealer (â€Å"Toyota Holds†). The company aims to be the â€Å"global economic and environmental leader among mobile manufacturers† in 2018. To achieve the company’s goals, the Volkswagen attempts to innovate and utilize technologies but retaining the core aspect of customer satisfaction and quality. Second, the unit sales must increase above the average of 10 million cars a year since the market continues to expand. Third, the 8 % increase in the return sales of Volkswagen before tax to secure its financial situation, and its capacity to operate despite the crucial market environment. Lastly, the company aims to be the best employer among all companies, brands, and regions; hence, Volkswagen must create a first class team (â€Å"Strategy†). Furthermore, profitability is the main purpose of Volkswagen group, so that it remains viable in the car production. The economic condition affects their profitability, but they strive to achieve economic balance in their system. The capital expenditure must remain at the manageable position while the company achieves efficiency and flexibility. Global Strategy Multiple Brand-Strategy Multiple brand strategy is the common trend in the automotive industry. Volkswagen is divided into two forms: classic and sporty. The classic brands include VW, Skoda, and Bentley while sport brands involve Audi, Seat, and Lamborghini. Brand name is remarkably sensitive in the target market of the automotive industry (Schmid 3). That is why it is crucial