Quiz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Quiz - Essay Example The Third Reich’s objective, according to Hitler in 1940, was to transform the entirety of Western Europe by radically transforming it into the Nazi Herrenvolk—the living space of the Nazi Master Race. READ: http://www.dac.neu.edu/holocaust/Hitlers_Plans.htm #16: When he first became Chancellor of Germany in the early 1930’s, Hitler declared Christianity was the foundation of German society. He spent the rest of his life promoting National Socialism which was hostile towards religion, he eroded the rights of all churches, persecuted the Jewish people, gradually began to suppress the rights of evangelical Christians and Catholics—ending denominational and youth organizations, prohibiting denominational schools, and widely defaming and imprisoning clergy of the Christian church who refused to be silent about the truth. #20: Hitler solved the Jewish question with the â€Å"Final Solution†, not only in Germany, but across Western Europe. He makes this statement as if he were speaking from a table in a country that is not at war, which is not taking over other countries, with plans to take over even more. Every country occupied by the Third Reich, saw imprisonment, repression and extermination of the Jewish citizens who lived there. In a speech in 1939 he said, â€Å"Workers of all classes and of all nations, recognize your common enemy! The common enemy was the Jewish race. READ:http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitjew.html #24: The context of this statement was in relation to research remaining free of any state restrictions. In that context I agree with the statement. Taken out of context, truth can be evil; especially in relation to Hitler’s views that his was the only truth when it came to the promotion of National Socialism and the eradication of the Jewish people. #26: I find this surprising given the fact that Hitler hated America and all things American. In one conversation he ridiculed America’s reliance on

Critically Assess the View That We Are Not Responsible for Our Evil Actions Essay Example for Free

Critically Assess the View That We Are Not Responsible for Our Evil Actions Essay Many Philosophers, such as Hoderich and John Calvin, believe that humans do not have free will to act in moral situations and that all moral actions have uncontrollable prior causes. Hard determinists, therefore, follow the belief that humans can not be morally blameworthy for their actions, evil or not, because their actions are predetermined. However, this is a ridiculous stance to take as humans are free to make moral choices, meaning they are entirely responsible for their evil actions. Many argue that hard determinism is the best approach to take when assessing this hypothesis as once you abandon the outdated notion of freedom; you can create a much better world. B.F. Skinner supports this view by recognising that since people are ultimately the result of their conditions, â€Å"and will get conditioned by their upbringing and environments anyway†, we ought to control people’s upbringing and environments as much as possible to ensure that their conditioning is positive. Skinner argued that such a plan would be more helpful than the current situation, in which peoples conditions is ultimately dependent on to luck. The case of Leopold and Loeb demonstrates this idea perfectly. If you look at the case on the surface, it seems like an act of pure evil, both boys kidnapped Bobby Franks and demanded ransom from his family, when this failed, they murdered him by hitting him over the head with a chisel. Harrow, whom was their lawyer and a follower of hard determinism, argued that â€Å"they killed [Bobby Franks] because they were made that way. Because somewhere in the infinite process that go to the making up of the boy or the man something slipped†. If one looks into the background of these two boys, evidence refutes this point; both of these boys were from very privileged backgrounds, Leob was actually the son of the vice president. Despite this, Leob was fascinated by detective stories; he read about crimes, he planned them and he eventually committed them. Leopold, on the other hand, who was reading Philosophy at the University of Chicago, became attracted to Friedrich Nitezche and his criticism of moral codes; he believed that those who followed Nitezche were super human and did not have to abide by the moral laws that others did. Darrow argued that Leopold’s obsession with crime and Loebs fascination with Nitezhce was a form of rebellion against the well-meaning, but strict and controlling, governess who raised him. They can not be hold morally responsible for the murder of Bobby Franks because each â€Å"child takes one shape or another shape depending not upon the boy himself, but on what surrounds him.†. However, this is a weak view to take as it suggests that people do not need to feel guilty for their actions; they have no moral responsibility, as their actions are already determined. If people were not morally responsible for their evil actions, then the world by a chaotic place, people could commit evil crimes and blame it upon their surroundings. It is therefore clear that hard determinism is a ridiculous view to take when assessing this hypothesis, as it would lead to utter anarchy and the notion of sin would be undermined. Many argue that soft determinism is the best approach to take when assessing the question, as it does not rule out free will- the two are compatible and so moral decisions and moral debate remains possible. Followers of soft determinism believe that some of our actions are conditioned, while others have so complex a collection of causes that they may properly be described as freely decided or willed. Hume is the Philosopher who is normally associated with this idea. Hume believed that events are determined because of a casual link between objects. Take for example, in 2012, when the travellers were prevented from flying as a result of ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland. For Hume, this casual link is called the constant union of objects. For instance, the volcano’s eruption prevents you from flying; that is outside of the control of the individual. But the response to that situation produces free will. In relation to murder, one could argue that your upbringing is determined, but the way you respond is a result of free will. This is a differing view to that of Take for instance the case of Mary Bell in 1968 who was convicted of the murder of two toddles. She was subject to an awful upbringing; her mother was a prostitute who specialised in sado- masochism- Mary was forced to listen to her mother perform these acts. A soft- determinist could argue that although Mary was subject to an abusive upbringing, she must hold some moral responsibility for her actions. Although this view seems highly logical, soft determinists have not agreed on precisely what is and what is not a determining factor in human action. This means that contradictions between followers of soft determinists are highly likely. Many disagree that Libertarianism is the best approach to apply to questions surrounding moral responsibility. They believe that cause and affect is too apparent in the world for us to simply disregard it; it must have an impact on human actions. Take for instance, the idea of murder, if you are brought up in a family in which murder is regarded as a sin, you are less likely to commit such a crime as one understands that murder immoral. This demonstrates the idea of cause and effect perfectly; someone teaches you that murder is immoral; the cause, you understand this and therefore do not do it; the effect. Despite this, one could refute this weakness by arguing that these are just moral rules that coincide with the societal norm, they do not strip us of our free will. Even if we were not brought up with these moral codes, we can still abide by them as we posses free will. The idea of free will also makes logical sense to us. In our day-to-day lives, we feel as if we posses it; we make daily decisions based upon our feelings, not something that has already been determined. As put by Aquinas, â€Å"man chooses not of necessity but freely†. Peter Van Inwagen’s also follows this approach, he argues that we can see that we posses free will by the deliberation of two choices of action; if we are able to do both, then we must have it as it ultimately is our choice to do either or. Peter Van Inwagen used an analogy to demonstrate this idea; you are walking along a road with many branches on it, which branch you choose to go down is your decision. Therefore, in relation to moral responsibility, we should all be held responsible for any evil actions committed as they do not come about as a result of chance or random events. Some may be subject to events which could potentially alter their morality, but they are free to choose which path they take. To conclude, although hard- determinism has some strengths, the fact that it believes that we should not be held morally responsible for actions mean it is useless when looking at questions surrounding moral responsibility. Soft- determinism, on the other hand, is far too vague and would produce many contradictions. Libertarianism is the best approach to take as it makes logical sense; we can see we possess free will and we should therefore be punished if we commit evil actions.

Rene Descartes Impact on the Scientific Method Essay -- Philosophy E

Rene Descartes' Impact on the Scientific Method People have always thought about the world around them. Through the centuries they have wondered about what their surroundings were made of. Modern science has proven to be most effective in explaining our environment. What makes modern science superior to the ancient schools of thought is the employment of the scientific method. The man credited to a great extent with the development of the scientific method is Renà © Descartes, a French philosopher who lived from 1596 to 1650. The Cartesian method maintains that in order to arrive at a groundwork for a structure of thought, commonly accepted knowledge must be abandoned, based as it is on the subjective nature of the senses. Science is a framework for gaining and organizing knowledge. The idea that this framework needs to be based on a solid foundation is an essential part of Descartes' writing. This belief is expressed in Descartes' Meditation I : It is now some years since I detected how many were the false beliefs that I had from my earliest youth admitted as true, and how doubtful was everything I had since constructed on this basis; and from that time I was convinced that I must once for all seriously undertake to rid myself of all the opinions which I had formerly accepted, and commence to build anew from the foundation, if I wanted to establish any frame and permanent structure in the sciences. (Porter 31) Analogous to Descartes' pursuit of finding a groundwork for his structure of thought, the scientific method calls for rigorous proofs of every part of the scientific framework, especially of its foundation. One result of this pursuit was that of giving calculus a solid structure and basis in the 19th century. Ev... ...iments to refine or replace the existing theories. This is generally done," he continues, "by using the currently accepted theory to make a prediction and then performing an experiment to see whether the results bear out this prediction" (Zumdahl 5). Some contemporary philosophers question the Cartesian method, arguing that it disregards things like intuition. However, no other method has been as successful as the Cartesian one. The overwhelming progress of modern science is strong evidence for Descartes' philosophy, a kind of evidence no other school of thought can claim. Works Cited Porter, Burton. Philosophy. 3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace college Publishers, 1995. Zumdahl, Steven. Chemistry. 3rd ed. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Heath and Company, 1993. Halliday, David, and Krane. Physics. 4th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1992.

Nurture Influence Early Human Development

Early human development is a very important process in implicating the chain of infant’s future. Therefore, there are two most important process; first one is â€Å"Nature† i. e. Heredity and second one is â€Å"Nurture† i. e. Environment. For saying, the 17th century British Highbrow John Locke, the knowledge comes to adults who arrived in the newly world through their senses. The newborn infant are have their brain as a â€Å"Blank Slate†, that can be changed and turn into any kind in future by Locke. That’s filling for their experience on the way he/she hear, taste, identify, and sense.So I believe that human development is inherited, but it can be made more concise that nurture plays most important role then nature. Therefore these essays outline the influences of nurture on early human development that means of training, family background, society and environmental factor. It can be argued that nature influence early human development. Accordin g to Charis Darwin, he emphasised that human development is inherited and genetically program. Many researchers agree, but; not only that ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ playing important roles in human life.Than that they combine continuously to key development. Example: The developments of every character such as poignant stability appear to be manipulating to be like heredity and upbringing. In addition, some behaviourist such as Watson and Skinner are also believed that a newborn baby can be qualified into any professional type; it might be doctors, sport persons, and pilots etc. Regardless of his/her ability and talent. The motor development is based on a fill children metro born has goes through the same cycle at the different period in a life.The recent studies by (Dennis & Dennis and Gesell & Thompson) indicate that practice can be accelerating that appearance to their behaviour. For example: The newborn baby learn to walk which is called as stepping reflex; if we keep a baby’s feet on the floor he/she will walk by placing one foot in front of the other. This is not really walking but it’s a step of learning. Where he/she can walk early in their life, by practice for a few minute every day during the first ten week they short. So they learn early than other babies who had not practice.Therefore learning, training or experience plays an important role in the early human development. The other influences are the family and society where they live and brought up in their life. The children who are living in a family or society which has a good education system. Where child gets proper care and batter livelihood and seem to be learn & speak early. The newborn baby can as well differentiate between the similar. Such as the tones this is analogous meaning (Bridger 1961). He say that the noise that infant have the sense of hearing from there foreigner language beginning their family.For example: A baby after one or two months ca n notify the difference between parallel sounds such as ‘pa’ and ‘ba’. So one year child will picked up in enough information about verbal communication. That it will have also begun to â€Å"Screen out† sound it does not use (kuhl et al. , 1992). The latter is the environmental measures to be strong-minded in the untimely human expansion. The personal characteristics are determined by the genetic structure of the work. Take it as parent’s genes, so that the infant can grow that skin, eyes, hair and general body size could be also same.This genetic outcome is expressed in development through the process of physical or mental progression changes. For example: the developing infants develop within the mother’s body. During pregnancy, such as an infant turn around and kick which also follows depend on the growth. In other hand, the environment is serious or else abnormal in some other hand, than the processes can be disrupted. That’ s like, if the fetus causes a problem during the first eight months at the pregnancy. The infant may be born. Their eyes are blind, deft or brain –damaged. It’s depending on the stage of development at the time of infection.The other physical factors such as consumption of drugs and alcohol can be affecting the fetus. These are the environmental factors that will be affected the early human development. In conclusion, nurture and nature influence early human development. That children can became kind of adult by receiving proper care, training and experience. It is also depend upon the family and society in the way to speak and learn. And at the last the environment factors that effect by mentally and physically in early life of newborn baby. So this essay outline the nurture strongly influence early human development.

Pressco Case Study Essay

In reviewing the proposal presented by Pressco, Inc. to provide new mechanical drying equipment at a cost of $2.9 million I have considered the cash flow implications of the purchase in terms of present value of the investment and estimated resulting savings, as well as possible alternatives to purchase, and the current political climate as it affects the business issues of taxation and energy policy. Following this review, it is my recommendation that we enter into a contract for the purchase of the equipment in question before the end of the year for the following reasons. Currently, our tax rate is not particularly favorable. We have experienced some small reductions in the late 1970’s, however the introduction of Supply-Side economics into mainstream policy indicates more favorable rates as rumored are on the horizon, making this a better time to spend money and reduce our taxable income. The projected cost savings will not begin until we are likely to be benefitting from a more favorable tax rate, letting us make more money when it costs us less in terms of taxation. We are spending when spending is cheaper and making more money when making money is cheaper as well. I have provided additional detail on the options and my rationale below. Assessment of Investment Cash Flows: Assuming purchase of the equipment for cash, at a total cost of $2.9 million, there are several possible scenarios to consider: tax and depreciation rates remaining as they are or changing and the loss or continuation of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Without providing an excess of detail here, those scenarios include: a possible tax rate decrease from the current level of 46% to 34%, possible extension of depreciation to 7 years, and the possible repeal for the ITC tax credit, as well as the possibility of â€Å"Grandfathering† the last two options. Additional detail on these calculations and the possible permutations considered is available in Appendix A. To summarize my findings, purchase options resulted in net present values ranging from $1.4 million to $1.9 million for a return on our investment over the next 10 years. Assessing the likelihood of each option and assigning weight to each possibility is an inexact science, but I believe it in unlikely that in the current political climate we will not see both a reduction in the tax rate and an increase in the length of time over which we are required to depreciate capital assets. I have assigned weights  to each option with this in mind, and have come up with an average weighted estimate of the net present value of the investment of: $1.7 million. Alternatives to Purchase: As opposed to purchasing new equipment, we could opt to maintain the equipment we currently have, which has an estimated service life of 11 years remaining. We could retain all of our claimed Investment Tax Credit for this purchase, which has two years of depreciation left, and would not be required to invest in any new training for our employees. We would recognize $31,000 in depreciation in present value terms, as well as save an estimated $200,000 in training costs and losses due to lower production during the â€Å"learning curve†. I estimate these savings to be approximately one month of payroll to include both the time spent on training, and our reduced production as employees learn how to use the new equipment. Additional detail of this option is provided in Appendix B, C, & D. In conjunction with keeping the existing equipment, we would have the opportunity to make a different investment with the $2.9 million. Current Taxation Environment: The current Congress and Presidential administration have made a number of changes to the business environment through taxation and associated regulations in the past several years. As such, it is important to consider as many likely and reasonable options as possible when evaluating the effects of taxes on capital purchases. With the election of President Regan, the previously more fringe notion of Supply-Side Economics has begun to be implemented, starting first with the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, which in addition to other business incentives, accelerated depreciation for capital expenditures to 5 years. This provision was repealed the following year as part of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. We saw the back & forth over reducing tax rates and providing spending incentives to businesses again with the failed Tax Reform Act of 1983 which ultimately was rolled into the Tax Reform Act of 1984. It has become clear that the one thing we do know about the future situation of business tax is uncertain. Because of the strong bias of the current Presidential administration towards lowering tax rates, I believe that it is likely we will experience a certain degree of relief in that area. However, it is more important than  ever at this time that we not depend to heavily on benefits derived from more favorable tax treatment. As such, it is in our interest to also determine if a given project will produce a positive financial result, even in less favorable taxation scenarios. Fuel Efficiency Considerations: Of the $560,000/year savings Pressco, Inc. has estimated we will enjoy as a result of purchasing their equipment, $360,000 (or 64%) is allocated to fuel-efficiency. Therefore, we must closely examine the current climate surrounding fuel efficiency. There are two components to considering the effect of fuel economy: the possibility of future tax incentives and/or penalties for fuel efficiency in manufacturing, and the price of fuel. The most likely scenario for tax incentives to increase fuel efficiency will be in the form of credits for purchases, which through buying now we will likely not be able to take advantage of. Penalties for higher fuel consumption may be levied at a point in the not-too-distant future as the Federal Government strives to both more comprehensively address environmental concerns, and regulate the price of fuel. We saw both of these in The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, and with the Highway Revenue Act of 1982, which temporarily increased the gaso line excise tax by $0.05 (an increase from $0.04 to $0.09). The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 established reserves of crude oil and gave the President the authority to order maximum domestic production as well as rationing and conservation measures in times of crisis. This is important because these measures are clear indicators of the interest the Federal Government is taking in reducing and stabilizing fuel prices. When looking at the history of fuel prices, I see that we are in a period of unusually high prices. It is of critical importance that we evaluate the likelihood of prices remaining this high for the life of the equipment in order to consider how much of the $360,000/year savings is credible in the long-term. From 1948 through the 1960’s, the price of crude oil was fairly consistent with the price of inflation, but in 1973 as a result of the oil embargo, crude oil prices increased four-fold. Prices remained fairly stable at this level through the rest of the decade, increasing three-and-a-half-fold again with the war in Iran again disrupting production. Most recently, OPEC has been  unsuccessful in setting production quotas low enough to stabilize prices, and they have again begun to drop. While we cannot expect prices to drop back to their 1971 levels, it is wise to examine the effect of lowered fuel prices on the overall investment value. Reducing the savings attributed to fuel efficiency by 25% ($270,000/year) reduces the weighted average net present value of the investment to $1.5 million, and reducing those savings brings the net present value to $1.2 million. Still arguably viable, but less attractive. See Appendix E & F for additional detail. Conclusion: While the savings proposed by Pressco, Inc. may not be as great as anticipated by their marketing representative, we are still in a strong position to make this purchase with cash available and take advantage of the cost savings. Even if the savings attributed to fuel efficiency are  ½ of what is projected, the equipment will still provide an investment value of over $1 million in excess of the purchase price. Additionally, even if our tax rate were to stay the same, we would continue to realize financial benefits, making this investment one that is based o more than mere speculation or salesmanship.