Philosophy - Platos Allegory Of The Cave Essays - Platonism

Philosophy - Plato's Allegory of the Cave Plato was born 427 B.C. and died 347 B.C. He was a pupil under Socrates. During his studies, Plato wrote the Dialogues, which are a collection of Socrates' teachings. One of the parables included in the Dialogues is "The Allegory of the Cave". "The Allegory..." symbolizes man's struggle to reach understanding and enlightenment. First of all, Plato believed that one can only learn through dialectic reasoning and open-mindedness. Humans had to travel from the visible realm of image-making and objects of sense to the intelligible or invisible realm of reasoning and understanding. "The Allegory of the Cave" symbolizes this trek and how it would look to those still in a lower realm. Plato is saying that humans are all prisoners and that the tangible world is our cave. The things which we perceive as real are actually just shadows on a wall. Just as the escaped prisoner ascends into the light of the sun, we amass knowledge and ascend into the light of true reality: ideas in the mind. Yet, if someone goes into the light of the sun and beholds true reality and then proceeds to tell the other captives of the truth, they laugh at and ridicule the enlightened one, for the only reality they have ever known is a fuzzy shadow on a wall. They could not possibly comprehend another dimension without beholdin! g it themselves, therefore, they label the enlightened man mad. For instance, the exact thing happened to Charles Darwin. In 1837, Darwin was traveling aboard the H.M.S. Beagle in the Eastern Pacific and dropped anchor on the Galapagos Islands. Darwin found a wide array of animals. These differences in animals sparked Darwin on research, which lasted well up to his death, culminating in the publishing of The Origin of Species in 1858. He stated that had not just appeared out of thin air, but had evolved from other species through natural selection. This sparked a firestorm of criticism, for most people accepted the theory of the Creation. In this way Darwin and his scienti fic followers parallel the escaped prisoner. They walked into the light and saw true reality. Yet when he told the imprisoned public what he saw, he was scoffed at and labeled mad, for all the prisoners know and perceive are just shadows on a wall which are just gross distortions of reality. Darwin walked the path to understanding just like the escaped prisoner in "The Allegory of the Cave." Plato's parable greatly symbolizes man's struggle to reach the light and the suffering of those left behind who are forced to sit in the dark and stare at shadows on a wall.

How Humans Contribute to Global Warming Essays

How Humans Contribute to Global Warming Essays How Humans Contribute to Global Warming Paper How Humans Contribute to Global Warming Paper Lately, the earth has been showing many signs of climate change. It is not cooling down at all causing the presence of global warming. Global warming can be defined as an increase in the earths atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution (Merriam-Webster, 2012). This paper will explain why human activity is a substantial cause of global warming and discuss what can be done by the human race to stop global warming. According to National Geographic, Levels of greenhouse gases (Gigs) have gone up and down over the Earths history, but they have men fairly constant for the past few thousand years (National Geographic, 2012). Over the past few years there has been some record high and low temperatures. Through the burning of fossil fuels and other GOGH emissions, humans are enhancing the greenhouse effect and warming Earth (National Geographic, 2012). Radiation from the sun is trapped instead of being released back into the atmosphere when greenhouse gases are present. This causes the temperatures to rise while creating negative effect for our environment (Turk Bunsen, 201 1, Section 7. 1 Greenhouse effect can e defined as the global warming of our atmosphere caused by the presence of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which trap the suns radiation (Turk Bunsen, 2011, Section 7. 1). Nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide are all greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide can be produced naturally and by human activity. Primary human-related sources of NON are agricultural soil management, animal manure management, sewage treatment, mobile and stationary combustion of fossil fuel, dipodic acid production, and nitric acid production (EPA. Gob). Methane is produced by cetera in the stomachs of ruminants such as sheep, cattle, and goats and is farted and belched out by the animals (Global Action Network, 2005). Methane can be minimized by changing the diets in farm animals. Feeding them grass only is a good way to do this. According to Eagerest, man-made CA emissions account for about 77% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions and roughly 3% of the earths greenhouse effect (Eagerest, 2011). There are many factories and power plants that burn oil, coal, and natural gases when making their products. These gases are released into the atmosphere, polluting the air we breathe, contributing to global warming. There are many disadvantages when it comes to global warming. Imagine if all the ice peaks melted. The sea levels would be overflows causing floods to occur which may force people to relocate. Global warming contributes to our weather patterns causing tornados, hurricanes, or strong thunder storms. During many of these storms, heavy rainfall is present causing floods in our communities. Most of the time when floods are present, a boil water advisory is put into place. This is done to reduce illnesses caused by water contamination. Global warming contributes to forest fires. The warm air dries UT the forest making it easier for fires to start. These forest fires eventually destroy many of our natural resources. Forest destruction is also caused by humans. Humans use the space to build businesses, homes, and highways. As a result, the homes of many species are invaded. My subdivision Was all woods at one point or another. Quite often, I see deer, rabbits, and wild turkeys in my backyard. The high temperatures from global warming destroy farmers crops. These temperatures affect the crops growth and may even burn them. As a result, there are food shortages which could possibly dead to starvation in humans. In addition many scientists argue that global warming is causing extreme weather events that often lead to crop failures (Rosenthal, 201 1). The warmer temperatures cause lakes to dry reducing our water supply as well as the quality of our water. Global warming contributes to air pollution. Polluted air can cause humans to suffer from respiratory problems, such as asthma or allergies, lung disease, and eye irritation, The World Health Organization estimates that the warming and precipitation trends due to anthropogenic climate change of the past 30 years already lain over 1 50,000 lives annually (Path, Campbell, Holloway ; Foley, 2005). Climate changes threaten the health of humans in many ways. High temperatures can cause humans to have heat strokes. It also increases chances for diseases such as the West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes carrying this disease is more active in warmer temperatures. In 201 0, the American Lung Association estimated that about 23 million Americans suffered from asthma (Knowles, 201 1). Human activity is not the only factor contributing to global warming. There IS a natural process that contributes to global warming as well. Plants, both on land and in the oceans, continually absorb and release large amounts of carbon dioxide (Eagerest, 2011). Plants absorb carbon dioxide when they grow and release carbon dioxide as they decay (Eagerest, 2011). Forest fires, volcanoes, droughts and Other natural phenomena can affect the natural rate of carbon dioxide uptake and release (Eagerest. 2011 There are many advantages when it comes to global warming. However, they will never outweigh the disadvantages. There will be less need for energy consumptions to warm cold places when it comes to global warming. Without the greenhouse effect, scientists estimate that the average enrapture on Earth would be colder by approximately 30 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit), far too cold to sustain our current ecosystem (Spencer, 2012). This means that there will be fewer chances for humans to become infected with bacteria causing diseases. The human race can take actions to stop global warming. In order to do this, humans must decrease the amount of fossil fuels and start using energy more wisely. Humans can begin by doing their part to reduce waste by reusing reusable products such as cloth diapers instead of the disposable ones, recycling paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum cans. Humans can use less energy daily to help control global warming by reducing the amount of energy to cool or heat your home. Humans can also use less energy by replacing regular light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs and using more energy efficient products. Turning off lights and electronics when they are not in use will help reduce energy. Washing clothes Or dishes with cold Water instead of hot water will help reduce energy. Carpooling or taking public transportation can help eliminate polluting the air with greenhouse gases. While greenhouse gases are necessary to warm Earth, human activity expedites this warming and is a absentia cause of global warming. Carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants are collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the suns heat and causing the planet to warm up (Knowles, 2011). Global warming causes many changes in our atmosphere. It is not good for our environment at all. It contributes to the health and well-being of humans, animals life, and natural resources destroyed. The floods, rise in sea levels, hotter than normal summers, and early winters that we have had lately are implications of global warming. Although local temperatures fluctuate durably, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history (Spencer, 2012). Scientists say that unless we curb the emissions that cause climate change, average U. S. Temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century (Spencer, 2012). As humans, we must take advantage of recycling paper, glass, plastic, and cans. Using these recycled products will help to eliminate many greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Humans must do a better job at preserving our natural resources.

Lemons problem and its effects on the efficient functioning of a Essay

Lemons problem and its effects on the efficient functioning of a market - Essay Example The lemons problem, in the investment field, is noticeable in areas such as corporate finance and insurance (Mishkin 420). The lemons problem is essential in business as it clarifies those who are overexploited, in business dealing, and those who are not (Akerlof 1). Information asymmetry occurs when parties to a transaction lack the same degree of information essential to formulate an informed decision. For instance, in the market for used vehicles, the purchaser mainly cannot establish the value of a car accurately and might, therefore, just be willing to pay a minimal price for the car (Akerlof 1). This is somewhere between the premium price and the bargain price (Mishkin 434). Nevertheless, this tilts the proceedings in favor of a lemon vendor. This is because, even as the normal price for this lemon would be higher than the value it would command, the purchaser knew beforehand that it was, in fact, a lemon (Mishkin 435). Also, such a happening puts the seller of a proper used car at a disadvantage, as the best price a vendor can expect is an average price, but not the premium price the vehicle shou ld

Do silver ions kill bacteria Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Do silver ions kill bacteria - Lab Report Example Incubate at 37ï‚ °C in a shaker incubator for overnight culture so that the bacteria would be in log phage. After that spin cultures at 6000 PRM for 10 minutes. Remove supernatant, leaving 5 ml in each tube. Resuspend pellet in the remaining supernatant and add 1ml of sterile nutrient broth to disposable plastic curvette and blank spectrophotometer. Add 1ml E.coli culture to plastic curvette and record A600 (make sure A600 ËÆ' 0.5). For each Ag+ compound (WI, WII, WIII, WIV, and WV) and +Ve control, take 10 ml dilution. Prepare 17 autoclave from liquid culture tubes from nutrient broth. The final volume is 10 ml. Add 50 ml of E. coli for each different compound of Ag+ silver ions. In the same way, add 50 ml of S. aureus for each different compound of Ag+ silver ions. For each compound of silver ion one needs to incubate at 370 C in zero time, 4 time and 24 time to try to get a Time serious at the effect concentration to take samples at 0 hour, 4 hour and 24 hour to try get a Time: Concentration for Lethal does. At zero time for small tubes for each compound of silver ions and control, make dilution at 1:1, 1:102, 1:103 Spread plate. 50 ÃŽ ¼l of circled dilutions above on nutrient agar plates. Spread 50 ÃŽ ¼l of – ve control (no bug) controls. Incubate over night culture at 37ï‚ ° C. At 4 times for small tubes of each compound of silver ions and control, prepare before taking sample from them and make dilution at 1:1, 1:102, 1:103. Spread plate. 50 ÃŽ ¼l of circled dilutions above on nutrient agar plates. Spread 50 ÃŽ ¼l of – ve control (no bug) controls. Incubate over night culture at 37ï‚ ° C. At 24 time for small tubes of each compound of silver ions and control what I prepared before take sample from them and make dilution at: 102, 1:103, 1:104, 1:105, 1:106. Spread plate. 50 ÃŽ ¼l of circled dilutions above on nutrient agar plates. Spread 50 ÃŽ ¼l of – ve control (no bug) controls. Incubate over night culture at 37ï‚ °

Classroom Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Classroom Scenario - Essay Example Mr. Hamilton should meet with Danny’s parents and inform them what role they can play in improving Danny’s academic performance. This includes monitoring Danny’s activities at home, providing Danny with a proper place to focus his attention, and linking timely completed homework with rewards. It is vital that Danny’s parents adopt the same approach that Mr. Hamilton has adopted i.e. praising Danny at the display of good performance, and look disappointed at poor performance and yet, encourage him to do better next time rather than scold him. The monitoring system that can help determine the effectiveness of the instructional interventions should comprise both behavioral assessment and performance assessment. â€Å"Prereferral intervention strategies are generally determined by a committee of general education teachers before any specialists are included in the plan† (D’Amico and Gallaway, 2008, p. 4). For optimal performance, it is imperative that Danny feels satisfied and happy with the monitoring system. One way to achieve this is by gauging what intervention strategies Danny feels comfortable with. Instructional interventions can also be established by way of mutual consensus between Mr. Hamilton, Danny, and Danny’s

Financial Performance of Sainburys and Marks and Spencer

Financial Performance of Sainburys and Marks and Spencer One of the best idea to account for analysis is to ask the question should we invest our money in the company either to buy a small business Or share of existing company before we take such decision there are question we tend to ask ourselves. If the business could be profitable, has there been any growth over some period of time. The best way to answer this question is to do some analysis over the financial income statement and balance sheet for performance evaluation. A technique ratio called financial ratio can get this done. This is a technique used to describe and interpret the relationship of certain financial data in the financial statements that would otherwise be devoid of meaning. Bendrey et al (2004). Users of financial Statement Users of financial statement can be found with and outside the organisation sector of an economy. Most user intend to have full information of the organisation before doing any transaction with them for instance a potential customers may request for special information like annual financial report . Therefore, the use of financial statement is categories under the respective people. Users information Need Investors: This help to decide whether there is need to increase and decrease interest of ownership. For making investment risk and return. Managers: it helps the management to set up managerial goal. The goal like be set in term of increase in profitability. Customers: this is to know the firms stability and capability to delivered goods and service to be purchased. Other users they include government in area like Tax, security trading. Potential suppliers and creditors: They are in rest to know if a company can pay their bills. In order for financial information to be useful it has to be interpreted. Not only should financial statement be interpreted but to also compare it with another financial statement of an organisation in context. Reason for ratio comparison Skousen et al(1999) states that . The standard of comparison used for benchmarking can be used on the performance of the company withinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. To determine the performance of a company there will be need for comparison of financial statement of that company either by using the past and the present or with another company financial statement. It is not good enough to compare the financial statement of a company but to also recognise comprising by benchmarking this is because there is need to deal with the inability of recognising any shortcomings and faults. Economic performance measurement Most big organisation are separated into divisions where there managers have aggregate responsibility for investment and profit. There is a structure comprising many sections, the relationship that division has should be run so that no division by seeking to increase its own profit can reduce the organisation profit as a whole. We shall be concerned with the ratios that measure the economic performance, which concentrate not only on profitability, but on range other performances. RELEVANT RATIOS IN MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE OF AN ORGANISATION In Davies and Buckskin(2005) outlines various ratios of which the following shall be used to analyse the performance of Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury Profitability ratio: The general primary object is for the organisation to maximise the wealth of the owners of the business. To this two ratios will be discuss under this Profit Margin: This is a ratio that helps to gain the relationship between purchasing costs and sales revenue of an organisation Gross margin%= gross margin = Sales-Cost of sales(COS) Sales Sales ROCE: This measures the return to the owners on the book value of their investment in a company. Efficiency Ratios: The monitory of efficiency ratios by companies is important because this relate direct to the effectiveness of a business changed into cash for instant if company are not paid in accordance to trading there profit margin may be eroded by financing costs. Therefore resources that have been used will be measure with the following ratios Stock days (turnover): The number of days thats stock could last. This applied to either total stock or work in progress. Total stock value Cost of sales Debtors Days or trade receivable: This indicates the average time taken in calendar days to receive payment from credit customers. = Trade debtors x 365 Sales LIQUIDITY RATIOS: This reflects the health position of the business and its liability to meet its short-term obligation. This could be compared by using the following ratios. Current Ratio: This is an overall measure of the liquidity of the business. = Current assets Current Liabilities Acid test(times): This indicate the ability of the company to pay its creditors in short-term =Current Stock Current liability (D) Gearing Ratio: They are generally concerned with the relationship between debt and equity capital, the financial structure of an organisation. These ratios are both used in describing the relative proportions of debts and equity used to finance a business. Long term debts Equity + long term debt Interest covered: This ratio calculates the number of times the interest payable is covered by profits available for such payments. = Profit before interest and tax Interest payable (E) Investment ratio: This indicates the extent to which the business is undertaking capital expenditure to ensure survival. Bockzko Davies(2005). Dividend cover: The number of times profit is attributed to equity shareholders covers the dividends payable for the period. = earnings per share Dividend per share Earnings per share: This measures the return per share of earnings available to share holders. Bockzko Davies (2005). = profit after tax- preference share dividends Number of ordinary shares in issue INTERPRETATION OF THE CALCULATED FINANCIAL RATIO OF SIANSBURY MARKS AND SPENCER 20099/2008. This report will be represented according to the standard set by A CIMA (1990) financial report can be presented as follows: To: GRIGORIOUS THEODOSPOUIOS FROM: DATE; 13/11/2010 SUBJECT: THE TWO COMPANYS PERFORMANCE A mere examination of accounting figures is normally insufficvient to allow for any meaningful conclusion to be reached, and ratio analysis enables enable the data available to be used on more comfortable basis. The information used toproduce this report is the extract from the |historical cost account for the year ended> of two companies. The calculated ratios are found in the appendix to the report LIQUIDITY RATIO Their is very much higher liquidity figure of creditors of Marks and Spencer in 2009 compare to Sainsbury in 2009. Also applicable in 2008. It appears that Marks Spencer is more Liquidity compare to Sainsbury in respective years. This may be that both companies are not running on same assets and liability. EFFICIENCY RATIO Sainsbury is having a stock turnover of 14days compare to the previous year as 15 days. This may indicate that stock is being managed efficiently, it is taking the business longer to collect debtors, although even at 11.5days compare to previous year which was 2008. Sainsbury debtors are not finding it difficult to pay their debts .They have been able to do this within 3.8days in 2009 compared to debtors owned in 2008. This within 3.8days in 2009 compared to debtors owned in 2008. This might lead to Sainsbury discounting amount own for quick payment. PROFITABILITY Sainsbury is having 13.1% of return on capital employed in 2009 which is higher to that of Marks and Spencer as 6.24%. This simply indicate that Sainsbury have been able to properly make use of their resources within their reach. A company should be profitable and efficient at the same time. Marks Spencer is having a high profit Margin of 7.8% in 2009. This might be that the company is operating at low price. Sainsbury profit Margin is very low at 2.5% in same year. This may be as a result of the company running its product at high price to bring about sales. GEARING RATIO Sainsbury and Marks Spencer would not be having problem in paying interest charged simply because they have a high profit to pay their lender in year 2009. Considering their gearing ratio, Sainsbury is having a very high gearing ratio to Marks Spencer INVESTORS RATIO In 2009 Marks and Spencer earning per share made available to its shareholder is 0.6 p compare to Sainsbury as 0.3p. It simply means that marks and Spencer is having a high return for it investors. In this case it will interest Marks and Spencer shareholder to invest more money into the business. In 2009 Marks and shows 1.4 times its profit attributes to equity shareholders covering dividends payable for the period compared to Sainsbury in 2009 for 1.3times. Limitation of financial ratio Gillespie et al(1997) States that, financial statement do not give sufficient information to draw firm conclusions. Therefore, in interpreting the financial statements of the two companies there is need to bear in mind that the analysis are based on profit and loss accounts and balance sheets which are subject to all the limitations of historical cost accounting. Inflation, specific price changes and differing bases of valuation are likely to distort comparisons References Bendrey,M., Hussey, R., West, C. (2004) Essential of financial acconnting in business. 1st edition Uk: TJ international.p.341. CIMA (1990) Stage 3 advanced financial Accounting. 3rd edition. England: BPP Publishing Limited.p.520. Davies, T. Boczko, T. (2005) Business Accounting and finance. 2nd edition.uk: McGraw-Hill education. Pp.154-176. Gillespie. I, Lewis, R., Hamilton, K.(1997)Principles of Financial Accounting.1st edition. Great Bretain: T. J international ltd. Neuman, B.R. Conner, E.C.(2007) Financial accounting: practical tools for analysing financial statements. 4th editions: Kendall Hot publishing company Skousen,K., Albrecht,W.S.,Stice,J.D.,Stice,E.K. Swain,.M.R(1999) Accounting concept and applications.7th edition.USA:International Thomson Publishing.p308-309. Bibliography References Gowthorpe, C. (2003) Business Accounting and finance: For non-specialist. 1st edition. Uk: Thomson Learning.pp373-392 Balance sheet Retrieved 20th Nov, 2010 available at:  http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/ar09/financialstatements/groupincome.shtml Financial statements Retrieved 20th Nov, 2010 available at:  http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/ar09/financialstatements/ Edwards, J.R., Mellett, H.J. (1989) Introduction to Accounting. 1st edition.: St Edmunds bury press.pp.283-310. Income statement Retrieved 20th Nov, 2010 Available at:  http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/ar09/financialstatements/groupincome.shtml Meigs, R.F., Williams, J.R., Haka, S.R., Bettner, M.S. (199) Accounting: The basis for business Decision.11th edition.USA:Von Hoffmann Press.pp613-630. Davies, T. Boczko, T(2005) Business Accounting and finance. 2nd edition.uk: McGraw-Hill education. Pp.154-177.

Suffering in Job and The Aeneid Essay -- Comparison Compare Contrast E

Suffering in Job and The Aeneid      Ã‚   Throughout Virgil's Aeneid and Job   from the Old Testament, great obstacles block the paths of the protagonists.  Ã‚   Mental and physical, anguish is placed upon Job and Aeneas.   Though both men suffer extreme pain, the extent and content of the tribulations are different.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Job's suffering is placed upon him without provocation.   Aeneas also believes his  ³pain [is] so great and unmerited! ² (Virgil 2.89).   Juno's hatred towards the Trojans, however,   is fueled by many things such as the descent of the Trojans from Jupiter's illegitimate son and the fact that the Trojan people are fated to destroy Carthage, her favorite city.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  God takes away everone deat to Job.   He is physically alone except for Eliphaz, Bilad, Zophar and Elihu.   These men, although they are the only people to speak to Job, offer very little sympathy.   They blame him for his misfortune and tell Job that he has probably angered God to an extent that his punishment is deserved.   Aeneas, though,   has the companionship of his men and other friends which help him along his journey.   Not  Ã‚   only are his men friendly and admiring of Aeneas, they are on his side.   They   help him on his journey.   They are all fighting for the same cause.   This fact alone makes Job's misfortune more taxing.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their mental anguish is not limited to matters of this world.   Each man is faced with dillemas concerning their spiritual beliefs. Though he begs and calls to God for an explanation, Job receives nothing.   This causes alone causes more mental anguish than anything else that happens in either work.   Job's family is exterminated, he is pile of fermenting flesh, and he has no sign from God as to why t... ... He has thousands of mortals working with him, not to mention the fact that he has the gods working to protect him too.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The proportionate level of suffering weighs heavily on Job's side. Aeneas has some tough times, but Job suffers almost beyond human capabilities. Aeneas had moments of excitement and adventure along his path, while Job had utter misery.   Aeneas had far from a pain free voyage, but he was also worlds away from feeling the desperation and unheralded torture of Job.    Works Cited Block, Elizabeth. The Effects of Divine Manifestation on the Reader's Perspective in Vergil's Aeneid.   Arno Press, New York, 1981. Green, Joel B., & Longman, Tremper (Eds.).   Holy Bible -- The Everday Study Edition. Dallas: Word Publishing. 1996. Quinn, Kenneth. Vergil's Aeneid, A Critical Description. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. 1968.