Enviromental Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enviromental Change - Essay Example Global warming has many greater effects other than melting ice caps and warmer winters. Its effects are escalating over the years and the climate is changing at a very rapid rate. If things are not changed around the earth is going to be a tough place to subsist in. Not just for us but for most animals and creatures. Global warming may be simply defined as the average increase in the earth's atmospheric temperature. Global temperatures have increased by 0.74 0.18C. This rise in temperature has many effects on the environment.The polar ice caps are melting at a rapid rate and this will lead to a rise in sea level by about 1.3 meters within the next century (Carlson, 2008). For most glaciers worldwide, it is predicted that there will be an average volume loss of 60% by the year 2050 (Schneeberger, 2003). This melting can cause flash floods and overflowing of lakes. The changes in climate is leading to a change in the ecosystem.There will be an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. Places at lower altitudes are at a higher risk from climate change. It is said that there will be lesser rainfall and an increase in the risk of drought in some places, while at some places the rainfall will increase. Global warming has many causes, which are split into two groups, natural causes and man-made or anthropogenic causes. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas and is naturally released from the tundra and wetland regions. A greenhouse gas is one which traps heat in the earths atmosphere. The man-made cause of global warming is basically pollution. Burning and mining of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Minning for fossil fuels releases methane which is found naturally in the earth. Burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of global warming. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses such as CO2. Today cars are the main culprits and are responible for releasing 36% of the total amount of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Everyday cars emmit many tonnes of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere which leads to an increase in global warming. If swift action is not taken soon sceintists fear that there will be catastrophic consequences. Cars are not going to go away. If anything the number of cars are going to increase. "Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) projections envisions that by 2025, there will have been between 82 and 142 per cent growth in national traffic over 1989 levels. In the UK bus, cycle and rail growth has been essentially stagnant since 1952, according to the DETR figures, but car traffic has increased enormously, from less than 100 billion kilometres a year to 600 billion in 1990(when it began to level off) " (Motavalli, 2001). This increase in cars is leading to an increase in emmisions and so increase in greenhouse gasses which leads to thus car companys are taking an initiative and are developing hybrid cars. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinctive power sources. Usually hybrid vehicles use an internal combustion engine along with some another eco-friendly source of power such as electric power. Now

Case Study analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis - Case Study Example It is an evident fact that communication is very important in a relationship. In such situations, in most cases, it has been observed that men communicate to achieve problem solution. This is similar in the case of western women but again the percentage is relatively low. Women are more likely to avoid the problem solving function of the communication between both the partners. In the chosen case of the marital couple, it becomes easy to understand that female partner is trying to discuss the issue with aggression (Broughton, 2008). The case also notes that both the partners are trying to set scores with each other which indicates the condition of conflict. It should be noted that if conflict resolution is not undertaken then it can lead up to complicated crisis between the couple. This is the situation where the Sum Zero concept is introduced which means that one of both the parties have to lose it to find out a resolution. This gives a lead to other situation where one party can ex pect a balance of score in any forthcoming conflict (Pappalardo, 1995). It should also be noted that the case under review is a conversation between a marriage couples who has egalitarian manner of relationship in which both the partners are empowered but the economic responsibilities of man makes him dominant in the relationship. The female oriented families (matriarchal couple) are those where a woman’s right must be completely considered as supreme. But in the case, it is to be noted that the male’s job is much important than the woman because of his limited scope of job (Hitch & Youatt, 2001). The conversation between the couple has been noted to be of less abusive language. There is no indication of abusive words used at regular interval showing that the couple is not from a very low socio-economic status. But it would be better to mention that the female partner needs to calm her tone so that the discussion between the couple can be taken easily so that they can find out the solution (Broughton, 2008). Recommendations: It is being suggested that women playing an emotional part in a relationship needs to evaluate communication function. At times, it is better to listen to the other partner when you do not seem to find out the relationship. In the evaluated case, it can be observed that male partner suggested her to have a new workplace to work because teaching is a very diverse field of interest. This notes that at least the male partner suggested a solution to the problem rather than just beating about the bush. Another situation analysis clause would be to let the other partner win. This does not make one lose it forever. A marital relationship is for life where one win can transform into another loss. This loss is not about property or possession but rather an argument or conflict. This practice is suggested to be solved through zero sum strategy. The use of power needs to be exercised when the family type is completely understood. Consid ering the fact that the couple is an egalitarian marriage bonded, it is suggested to the male partner to exercise his power for the need of elaborating decision making process to the female partner. And also, the woman partner needs to understand the imperativeness of the job of the man because he is the sole and base responsible end of the relationship in terms of

Airbus A3XX- Developing the World's Largest Commercial Jet (A) Case Study

Airbus A3XX- Developing the World's Largest Commercial Jet (A) - Case Study Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that there was a risk in terms of the upfront investment required for the project and also the uncertainty of demand, made this decision are a critical and daunting one. The response on the earlier orders had been a positive one but the hitch being the fact that initial orders do not imply long-term demand. As it is launch customers are offered hefty initial discounts. The delivery was not to take place before 2006 and there were very airlines that were willing to order more planes 5-6 years in advance. This made it even more difficult for Airbus to decide on the launch if it could not reach its pre-launch target of 50-100 orders. The aviation industry is a very risky one. There is no grey in this industry; it’s either black or white. Every 3-4 years, one has to put the business at a stake and if a launch failed then the consequences can be as drastic as culminating into an exit demand from the industry. In recent years, companies like Glen Martin, General Dynamics, and Lockheed have met the same fate. Irrespective of the risks lying ahead of it, Airbus went ahead with the launch. Now the deal would be to rectify and work upon the issues on the way and ensure that the launch is successful. Boeing which would be one of its biggest competitors would also have something ready up its sleeves to counter the launch. This threat can also be not denied. They would bring down the prices of their 747s or come up with a new version of 747. Given, their status in the industry, Airbus will have to counter the threat received from their end. Even the projected costs of the venture have been stipulated to be 13 billion dollars; some critics believe that it would shoot up to 15 billion dollars. The financial success of Airbus thus depends on their ability to drive enough early sales home through the learning curve effect.

Green Design Essay Example for Free

Green Design Essay The notion of a responsible architecture design is something that flourished way back in 1970s. However, green designs during that time were only developed on a domestic or small scale basis (Papanek 4). It is only in the late 1980s that green commercial developments are done as an effect not only of the 1980 economic boom but also of various social, political and design factors (Beaufoy 199). At the present age, the author argues that the attempts of modern architecture to merge new trends in office design and environmental friendly features are primarily commercial in nature and not really fully environmental. Having such premise in mind, the author formulated the research question: Should interior designers encourage clients to go with green design? In order to sufficiently answer this question, the author have provided a comparative analysis of the pros and cons of the green design and then significantly deduce based from the said arguments the writer’s stance weather he will respond to the question on the affirmative or the negative manner. Arguments on the affirmative side claims that: (1) The green design will help reduce the environmental burdens that the present society brings to the aforementioned and also help man conserve energy (Winter 8); and (2) The green design will help to minimize or to an extent prevent sickness that are acquired within a particular building or house. On the other hand, the arguments on the negative side are the following: (1) The green design raises the costs in erecting buildings or houses; (2) The green design is difficult to implement on certain states, depending on the statutory laws governing a particular state. Body The body of the research elaborates on the positive and the downsides of implementing green design. Reducing Environmental Burdens and Energy Conservation The relevance of green buildings on a global level and its effect to the environment and energy conservation is one of the major arguments in terms of promoting green designs. Buildings or houses that are tailored to be such are expected to reduce carbon dioxide and CFC emissions that are brought about by airconditioning (Beaufoy 203). For instance, IBM has been creating buildings that are completely asbestos free and avoids the use of hardwoods unless the latter came from a sustainable source. They are also using low ozone-depleting chemicals and has been controlling the ozone emission of their airconditioning, and even planning in the near future to eliminate aircondition altogether. In some instances, where green buildings use glass on the exterior, such helps to lessen the need for heating, and the small amount of heat that is needed could be gas-fired. Corollary with this, one can also help to reduce the use of light bulbs of fluorescent lights, hence conserving energy (Beaufoy 203). The use of energy efficient devices such as those of modern HVAC devices helps buildings to save operating costs and could even make the former eligible for rebates offered by local energy companies. In addition with this, through designing building facilities that make use of energy through natural ventilation and daylight also reduces operating costs (Meyerson 47). Health Benefits One of the major premises why green buildings are favorable is due to the health benefits that it could bring to people. For instance if a building is designed to draw air at a high level, cooled and the filtered, the air conditioning or water system of the aforementioned could help eliminate the risk of Legionnaires Disease (Beaufoy 203). The Greenpeace building in Islington, London are also geared towards creating a more environmentally sustained building in their inclination to reduce the risks of office illnesses that result due to the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions of airconditions (Beaufoy 204). Increased Construction and Soft Costs The actual costs of building green architecture are something that is too expensive that a lot of green features can not be really accommodated by most marginalized companies (Johnston 1). As such it is often argued that green buildings are only for wealthy people (Wilson 1). The problem of first costs or the initial expenses that has to be paid prior to building a house is something that is of a growing concern for customers. For instance, the use of uncommon trades and materials could increase costs in addition to LEED commissioning (Syphers et al 8). In addition with this, higher soft costs are also most likely to be incurred in green buildings. The use of additional design analysis, computer modeling, commissioning, product research and lifecycle costs analysis for materials that could be substituted could also paved the way for up-front costs (Syphers et al 8). Legal Considerations Local conditions that are unique to every country and state cold also be one of the problems in terms of attempting to erect green buildings, for some state regulations could pose certain problems on the aforementioned. For instance, the state of California prohibits the use of water-free urinals that could have saved certain buildings a significant amount of water (Syphers et al 6). In relation with this, the use of solar panels that could have help buildings to save electricity, though highly encouraged within various states regulations; also poses some problems as the law requires buildings to locate these panels somewhere that could not be seen on public roads due to the risk of accidents. Also, local building codes have given limitations on the height windmills including its zone restrictions (Syphers et al 7). As generally known, windmills are also one of the most environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. Analysis After presenting the abovementioned arguments of the positive and the downsides of the use of the green design, it is also noteworthy to tell that amidst all of these most basic issues, the author perceived that the advocacy for the adaptation of green buildings is something that is primarily commercial in nature rather than really environmental in focus. Although it could be significantly noted that green buildings indeed helps the environment due to cutting the use of certain machines that could have harmed for instance the ozone layer, it could be implied that the primary motivation of customers is indeed on cost cutting and juxtaposed with that of course is a relatively healthy lifestyle. In this respect, it could be said that although the positive side of green architecture is emphasized most specially its environmental underpinnings, the fact couldn’t be hidden that such an endeavor is not really one hundred percent pro nature as one could see a compromise between capitalism and protecting the environment. It is with this respect that the author remembered that capitalism is indeed a necessary evil. There are a number of human endeavors that will not proceed without its aid, and such includes even the environment. In addition to these issues, the notion of the difficulty of implementing the architectural design of green buildings is something that should also be taken into consideration. The initial construction costs and soft costs could be really expensive; however, experts still argue that the life cycle costs of the building in the long run could be very cost effective (California Integrated Waste Management Board 1). The legal considerations of course are something that is imperative in order to assure order and efficiency to the society. Albeit it should be noted that the process of adopting green design is something that is still in the process of development; hence it is theoretically possible that the future technology could bring about changes that could fully actualize the fullest utility of the program. Conclusion Given the abovementioned factors, the author wishes to answer the research question: â€Å"Should interior designers encourage clients to go with green design? † in the affirmative. It could be seen that although the green design has a number of short comings, it could not be denied that these flaws are only minute in comparison to the overall utility that it could bring to man and to the environment. The short comings of green design could be solved through active collaboration of various stakeholders that are concerned to such like customers, contractors, architects, interior designers, engineers, the government, non government organizations, private corporations and the likes. Literature Cited Beaufoy, Helena. â€Å"Case Study: The Green Office in Britain A Critical Analysis†. Journal of Design History 6,3 (1993) 206. California Integrated Waste Management Board. January 2007. Sustainable (Green) Building: Project Design Cost Issues. 23 October 2007 http://www. ciwmb. ca. gov/GreenBuilding/Design/CostIssues. htm#Primers Johnston, Ritchey. Actual Costs Is Building Green Too Expensive? January 2000. Housing Zone. 23 October 2007 http://www. housingzone. com/topics/nahb/green/nhb00ca029. asp Meyerson, Andrew. â€Å"The Dollars and Cents of Green Construction: Being Environmentally Friendly Brings Financial as Well as Social Benefits†. Journal of Accountancy 199,5 (2005) 47. Papanek, Victor. Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change. London: Thames Hudson, 1985. Syphers, Geof et al. October 2003 Managing the Cost of Green Buildings K-12 Public Schools Research Laboratories Public Libraries Multi-family Affordable Housing. State of California and Almeda COunty Waste Management Authority. 23 October 2007 http://www. ciwmb. ca. gov/GreenBuilding/Design/ManagingCost. pdf Winter, Metta, â€Å"The Greening of Design: Jack Elliott Believes Interior Designers Can and Should Play a Major Role in Preventing Environmental Degradation, That Sustainability Should Be Central to All Design Decisions†. Human Ecology 30,1 (2002) 8. Wilson, Alex. Building Green on a Budget. May 1999. Building Green. com. 23 October 2007 http://www. buildinggreen. com/auth/article. cfm? fileName=080501a. xmla

Walden by Henry David Thoreau Essay Example for Free

Walden by Henry David Thoreau Essay In a modern America where â€Å"liberal† means â€Å"amoral,† and â€Å"idealist† means â€Å"hopeless fool,† cell-phones â€Å"ring† to the tunes of Ashlee Simpson and Eminem; SUV’s growl and vomit fumes during rush hour; TV’s blast continuous images of sex and violence, reality and fiction combined in a way to fool and entice and unify all under the blanket of consumerist conformity. Peace is an abstract concept and quiet is for the dead. The world is fast, loud, scary, and smaller than anyone ever imagined. In these fearful times, conformity and resigned desperation are the king and queen. Individuality in American society is looked upon with suspicious eyes, as even feigned unity is preferable to sincere integrity. Even â€Å"freedom† has a new meaning, as leaders repeat it like a mantra to justify the latest horrifically comical atrocity. What better time than to disappear into the woods in the pastoral tradition of the transcendentalists? Walden Summary In an 1841 oration, leading transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson said, â€Å"The universal does not attract us until housed in an individual,† and nowhere is this truer than with his friend, Henry David Thoreau, who came embody an enlightened sense of natural awareness. At a remote lake on his friend Emerson’s property, found the inspiration for Thoreau to create his masterwork about nature, individuality, change—life. Walden captured the two years he spent on Emerson’s Concord property in the mid-1840s, Thoreau created a literary escape for those alienated by the ills of â€Å"proper† society. From the construction of his simple house, to his natural diet, to the woodland creatures that became his neighbors and lone company, every aspect of his simple existence is detailed. In eighteen chapters, Walden covers the world around Thoreau and his little cabin. With chapter titles like Economy, Where I Lived, and What I Lived For, and The Pond in Winter, the simple aspects of existence are the most important. Thoreau begins with a long chapter on Economy, in which he explains his incarceration for refusing to pay a poll-tax he saw as unjust, and his desire for simplicity. Thoreau spends a great deal of the book discussing the simplicity of Nature and how it relates to humanity, morality, and knowledge. While insight runs all through the book, Walden possesses some chapters that are particularly powerful and deal with knowledge, individualism, and friendship. In the chapter Reading, Thoreau explains the importance of books saying, â€Å"To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any exercise which the customs of the day esteem. It requires training such as the athletes underwent the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object. † This quote is very important because Thoreau is saying that reading is not an easy task, but it also requires lots of practice and training just as athletes undergo. Throughout the chapter, Thoreau states how everyone should read books, and modern humans could end up like pygmies and manikins. â€Å"No wonder that Alexander carried the Iliad with him on his expeditions in a precious casket† (Thoreau). To Thoreau, reading and knowledge are the keys to civilization. In the chapter on Solitude, Thoreau explains how being alone is not at all a bad thing. â€Å"But for the most part it is as solitary where I live as on the prairies. It is as much Asia or Africa as New England, I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself. † Thoreau does not look at solitude as being something bad or a punishment, but looks at it as if it were a gift. When he says that he has his own little world all to himself, it makes readers ponder their own solitude. To Americans in the twenty-first century, the concept of solitude is relatively foreign, but as described by Thoreau, it makes it more desirable. In the chapter Visitors, Thoreau talks about how having people around is just as good as being in solitude. â€Å"I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. When visitors came in larger and unexpected numbers there was but the third chair for them all, but they generally economized the room by standing up. † When Thoreau said that he wanted to keep things as simple as possible, he meant it, offering only three chairs to his visitors. Thoreau says that it was amazing how he could fit twenty-five to thirty people in his tiny house, and how that brought him and all of his visitors closer together. â€Å"I could not but notice some of the peculiarities of my visitors. Girls and boys and young women generally seemed glad to be in the woods. They looked in the pond and at the flowers, and improved their time. † (Coleridge) Negative Criticisms Walden is required reading for many high school students unfamiliar with the things Thoreau discusses in the book. He explained the importance and necessity of reading, he showed how being alone is usually a good thing, and he also showed how great visitors can be. While many high school students appreciate visitors, reading and solitude are things they avoid. Today a majority of high school students do not read books because it is considered â€Å"boring,† and with todays technology, no one has to read. With news and TV, someone or something else often reads to most people. Despite the fact that many people in modern America do not read, Walden is still read by many reluctant students who would rather be online or on the phone. Thoreau defends his book against those who read and fail to understand what they are reading: â€Å"It is not all books that are as dull as their readers. † The people who might find the insights of Thoreau and the desire for the simple life boring, are in fact boring thinkers. Some others may find Thoreau’s distrust of modern civilization misplaced, as many find the progress of the industrial and computer revolutions to be ideal for humanity. The idea of sacrificing that for a rough life in the woods may seem ludicrous. Someone like Thoreau may be seen as a crazy hippie or mountain man, and today’s world favors the engineers, entertainers, and the high life. Society has not simplified one bit in the last one hundred fifty years, and this could signify that Walden has had little real effect on American culture. However, this is not the case in American literature. Positive Criticisms Few question the importance of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden in American literature. Thoreau’s descriptions of life in its simplest and most idyllic continue to inspire conservation efforts and serve as a testament to the value of Nature. From the construction of his house in the thick of the New England woods, to his diet, and to the woodland creatures that became his neighbors and lone company, every aspect of his simple existence is elegantly detailed. Much of his reverence for Nature leads contemporary Americans to believe Thoreau and Walden to be exclusively environmental and conversationalist, but those truly enamored with Thoreau and his transcendentalist ideals know better. Walden retains a timeless wisdom, reminding readers the value of smelling the proverbial roses. â€Å"Our life is frittered away by detail†¦ Simplify, simplify† (Thoreau 89). Whether in the throws of the Industrial Revolution as Thoreau, or in the era of ambitious terrorism and open-ended declarations of war as modern humans, details create confusion. Humans forget about life while they live it, often concerned mainly with conformity. â€Å"Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer† (317). Perhaps, the strongest issue put forth in the book is that of individuality, as themes of self-reliance and stoicism run throughout the work. Individualism, the importance of the individual, self-reliance, and personal independence is one of the leading characteristics of the era of Romanticism. Henry David Thoreau wrote about individualism and demonstrated his belief by the way he lived. Living at Walden Pond, standing up to his government, refusing to pay a poll-tax to a government with which he viewed as corrupt are examples of his fierce independence and individuality. Thoreau is a stellar example of what individuality can produce. A worthy goal is to make the effort to devote oneself to thought and work, to in fact nurture ones own individuality, rather than becoming lost in the mainstream of life. This will allow greater individuality and diversity to complement current day society. The true secret to Walden’s success and timelessness is that Americans still make the same mistakes and take the same things for granted as they did 150 years ago. Everything still applies, in nature and man. Only the details have changed. Technology still marches on; war still looms large over the landscape; America continues to grow and spread its influence, for better or worse. In the case of Thoreau, for better, at least according to George Eliot who said, â€Å"we have a bit of pure American life (not the go a-head species, but its opposite pole), animated by that energetic, yet calm spirit of innovation† (Eliot 46). In modern America, where the go a-head species lead us blindly into an abyss, it is the voices of Americans like Thoreau: peacefully simple. Perhaps, Emerson said it best when he eulogized his friend, â€Å"No truer American existed than Thoreau† (Emerson). And, there have been few books that have been more American than Walden. Conclusion Thoreau went to the woods to get to the most basic facts of life and to appreciate and enjoy everything about these most basic facts. Thoreau viewed the woods in particular, and Nature in general, as a teacher of life and living. Thoreau believed that the simpler his life became the greater his opportunity to appreciate life. Thoreau did not want to allow society to determine that which he knew as life. To live an existence based on the common experience of others would be as to neglect ones own experience. Individualism and an appreciation for nature and solitude do not necessarily mean living as a hermit. Thoreau believed that in order to truly appreciate life, to understand and experience life as ones own life, it is necessary to quiet the mind of all the surrounding trappings of society. To this day, Walden serves as one of the greatest examples of the benefits of living the simple life. References Coleridge, S. T. , (1969). The Collected Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. ed. Kathleen Coburn, Princeton: Princeton UP. , 6: 30. Eliot, G. (1988). â€Å"Review of Walden. † Critical Essays on Thoreau’s Walden. Ed. Joel Myerson. Boston: C. K. Hall Co. , 46. Emerson, R. W. (8 Dec. 1997). â€Å"The Eulogy of Henry David Thoreau. † RWE. org – The Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Accessed 29 Jan. 2007 from http://www. rwe. org/pages/eulogy_of_thoreau. htm Thoreau, H. D. (2004). Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition. Ed. Jeffery S. Cramer. New Haven: Yale University Press. (Original work published 1854)

The History And Background Of Ethical Egoism

The History And Background Of Ethical Egoism Introduction Ethics, in Greek language means morals. In fact, ethics is de ¬Ã‚ ned as the re ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ection on what is moral Ethical theories deal with the question of how human beings ought to behave in relation to one another. (Dontigney, 2012 They attempt to systemize, defend and recommend concepts of right and wrong behaviour. They can be applied both individually and on a bigger scale like in companies. Different companies make their decisions based on various sets of theories. These theories are more like viewpoints from which guides them when making a decision. Each theory influences decisions made by an individual or company like predicting an outcome or following duties to reach what is called an ethically correct decision.For a company to zero in on a single theory to follow, it is important for the company to realize that not everyone makes decisions in the same way. There are mainly two different sets of ethical theories. Teleological which are consequential theories and deontological which are non-consequential theories. These can be further broken down into ethical egoism, utilitarianism and virtue ethics for teleological theories and for deontological theories; it would consist of Kantian and justice ethics. Let us take a detailed look into all these theories before making a statement on which theory is the most useful in making company decisions. Teleological Theories The word teleology in Greek language means ends. It is more concerned about the end product of a decision made rather than the actions.The goodness or badness of the outcome makes or breaks the decision made. However, the actions undertaken have no say. An example according to this theory can be, killing a bad person is morally correct if it is for the greater good. Ethical Egoism Ethical egoism is a standardized or an accepted philosophical view. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest. It does not describe how people behave but how they are supposed to behave. Ethical egoism is the normative theory whereby people ought to act exclusively in their self-interest (Jones et al., 2007). Therefore, the moral principle of ethical egoism suggests that an act is ethical when it promotes the individuals long-term interest. It is possible for people to help others, follow the rules of society, and even grant gifts if they believe that those actions are in their own best interest. Ethical egoism is different from the other ethical positions as it portrays that other peoples interests is or should never be considered in making a moral decision. An ethical egoist believes sacrificing something for others is not a moral action unless it makes them happy or if the sacrifice gives himself benefits. This could satisfy a person in the short term, but in the long run it is not advisable as if everyone is just as egoistic, nobody would want to help when in times of need. An example would be that this individual who loves to shop. She sees this dress in a shop and wants to buy. However, she only has enough money to buy food for her household. So in an act of ethical egoism, she decides to spend the food money on the dress instead of getting food for her family as it benefits her and does not care about the people at home who have not had their food. Utilitarianism A utilitarian considers doing something is right if the action proves useful in bringing about the best consequences in the end. Utilitarian decision makers are required to estimate the effect of each alternative on all parties concerned, and to select the one that optimizes the satisfaction of the greatest number (Velasquez, 1998). Utilitarianism represents the dominant and most influential consequence based or teleological theory. Utilitarianism focuses on ends and not on the means required to achieving those ends and it takes into account all present and future benefits and harms that accrues or might accrue to anyone who is affected by the action, including items that may be difficult to evaluate accurately (Schumann, 2001). So in this theory, it is clear that as long as the work is done or the outcome of an action is desirable, one can undertake any methods. The flaw of this method is that it does not assume that all individuals should be treated in the same way. An real life ex ample would be the Americans bombings in Japan during World War 2. The Americans point is that the Japanese were developing the same kind of weapon to wage war so if that happened, many other countries could be affected. So before such a disaster could happen, they acted early and dropped a bomb of their own, killing thousands rather than sacrificing millions. Virtue Ethics The general concept behind Virtue Ethics is that it focuses on what the individual should choose for his/her own personal inward behaviour or character rather than the individual relying solely on the external laws and customs of the persons culture, and if a persons character is good then so ought the persons choices and actions be good. (Gowdy, 2010) This theory as it suggests, is used to make moral decisions. This method is based on the person having moral character and intentions, and their actions being ethical on that basis. It relies on an individual and not on other factors such as religion, society or culture. It is based on the question what sort of person should I be rather than what should I do. In simple terms, it is more of ones character and integrity. Its about what you are, rather than what you do. This is more of a practice knowledge. The more you practice, the more virtuous you are. The more virtuous you are, the more you will more likely make moral decisions. Ther e are many examples to this theory like, not stealing, not taking medical leave unless you are legitimately sick, showing up to meetings or work on time and not lying unless it is for a good cause. Deontological Theories Deontological theories, or duty-based theories, hold that human beings have a moral obligation to follow certain principles. Deontology is one of those kinds of normative theories regarding which choices are morally required, forbidden, or permitted. (Alexander et, al, 2008) According to these theories, the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfil our duty. Justice Ethics According to Rawls (1971), under a veil of ignorance, rational, self-interested, and equal individuals will agree that each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties. Moreover, social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged, and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity (Budd, 2004). In Rawlss opinion, the first virtue of social institutions is justice for the individual and not aggregate welfare. He is concerned more with how the pie is divided than with how large it is. Inequalities are just only if they result in benefits for everyone, with particular emphasis on the least advantaged (Jones, 2007). The theory of justice requires decision makers to be guided by equity, fairness, and impartiality (Cavanagh et al., 1981). It relies on three types of moral prescriptions: (a) that individuals who are similar i n a relevant respect should be treated similarly and individuals who are different in a relevant respect should be treated differently in proportion to the difference between them; (b) that rules should be administrated fairly and clearly; and (c) that individuals should not be held responsible for matters over which they have no control, and should be compensated for the cost of their injuries by those responsible for these injuries (Cavanaugh et al., 1981). Decision making and reasoning based on the theory of justice focus on the distributional effect of actions (Cavanagh et al., 1981). Statement and Conclusion Now since all the theories have been explained and analysed, it is time to make a statement on which ethical theory is the most useful in guiding company decisions and why so. Based on my research, I feel that utilitarianism is the most useful and quite important in guiding company decision making. One can argue that utilitarianism does not please everyone emotionally and only takes the big picture into account. An act or choice is morally right if, in carrying out the act, one exercises, exhibits or develops a morally virtuous character. It is morally wrong to the extent that by making the choice or doing the act one exercises, exhibits or develops a morally vicious character. (Garrett, 2005) Every theory has its very own pros and cons. But for a company to make the correct decision in moving forward, they have to be utilitarian. In these times, a company is judged on how much profits they make and what is the position of the company. To be the best, you cannot give in to your emoti ons and set of rules of what to do and what not to do. The main aim here is to reap the sows. Business managers have to realise that when it comes to business decisions, its always a win-lose situation. Like for example, in order for gaining market share, a company must make its competitors to lose their shares. One cannot refuse to do such an act saying that it is morally wrong and giving in to their emotions. Another example would be increasing the value of a long term shareholder may require sacrificing of short term profits such as bonuses or monetary rewards to a companys employees or even the employer himself. But in the long term, there would be much more profits and monetary rewards to share. Lastly, I feel that the utilitarian approach is the best as a utilitarian is much more flexible in responding to different situations. A utilitarian only has two mind-sets varying from short term to long term goals or financial to non-financial goals. So when faced with a problem, a uti litarian will weigh up options and consider the corporate profitability instead of other factors such as employees or the community. Virtue Ethics A Basic Introductory Essay, by Dr. Garrett Latest minor modification November 28, 2005 Garrett, 2005 http://www.ethicsmorals.com/ethicsvirtue.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8404891_pros-cons-ethical-theories.html Alexander, Larry and Moore, Michael, Deontological Ethics, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = .

Sane Versus Insane Essay -- Health Care, Mental Hospital

Whether it is called a mental hospital, insane asylum or sanatorium, there are negative connotations connected to these titles. Your head is immediately filled with images of people off their rockers, some drooling and others moaning or crying out while others are being strapped down to gurneys being transported behind dark doors. When one thinks of the patients at these hospitals, one’s mind may wander to inquire about those behind the scenes, running it all. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey hints that Nurse Ratched is herself insane. It provides irony throughout the novel and social commentary about the corrupt system of mental institutions for the audience. By taking Ratched’s behavior and reactions throughout the novel into consideration, it becomes more apparent that she may fit in with the patients more than with her colleagues. Also, Kesey worked as a janitor at a mental hospital and began to think that the patients â€Å"were not really cra zy after all, just more individualized than society was willing to accept† (Whitley). Through first hand experience, Kesey was able to write this satire on both the patients and staff. Nurse Ratched displays paranoiac tendencies throughout, which push her closer and closer to the edge as her limits are tested by the patients. Her desire and need for the strict routine is the first sign. She â€Å"tends to get real put out if something keeps her outfit from running smooth† (28). When something goes wrong she is infuriated, but only on the inside, for she has an odd ability to constantly keep her temper in check. The routine is what keeps everything predictable for her and she is in a constant fear of something getting off its track. Her paranoia is the reason that she detests McMur... ... social commentary for the audience. He is putting the corrupt system of mental institutions on display in a crafty way. Because Kesey has worked in mental hospitals in the past, he is a liable source to give a first hand look into that world that few citizens are aware of. The fact that these hospitals have someone employed that is potentially mentally incapable or unstable is not a comforting thought to anyone, let alone the families of the patients. In the 1960’s, mental hospitals were notorious for having unorthodox methods and sadistic caretakers, which provides a nice little category for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to fit into. Kesey is using this medium to make his option that mental institutions are run under a corrupt system and staff known. Since then, more investigations were done and regulations put in place so that the patients treatment improved.