Defining Pholosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Defining Pholosophy - Essay Example Bertrand Russell, a philosopher, states that philosophy â€Å"is something intermediate between theology and science. Like theology, it consists of speculations on matters as to which definite knowledge has, so far, been unascertainable; but like science, it appeals to human reason..." (What is philosophy?, n.d.) The four main branches of philosophy are logic, epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. These branches of philosophy are divided as to the nature of the questions asked in each area; however, these divisions cannot be rigidly separated. Logic pertains to the attempt to codify the rules of rational thought. This is one of the primary tools used by philosophers in their inquiries. Logicians explore the structure of arguments that preserve truth or allow the optimal extraction of knowledge from evidence. The second branch of philosophy is epistemology which is the study of knowledge itself. It deals with the nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge. Epistemologists ask quest ions such as what are the limits to our knowledge, does science give us knowledge at all or can our powers of reasoning give us knowledge. The third branch of philosophy is metaphysics which is the study of the nature of things. Metaphysicians ask what kinds of things exist, and what they are like. This is the area of philosophy which deals with the ultimate nature of reality. Metaphysicians reason about whether or not people have free will, in what sense abstract objects can be said to exist, and how it is that brains are able to generate minds. Examples of questions asked by metaphysicians are: Given that something exists, why that and not something else? Why that and not nothing? Why is there change? How can there also be permanence through change? Ethics is the fourth branch of philosophy which deals with the study of the rightness and wrongness of actions, the kinds of things which are good or desirable, and the blameworthy and praiseworthy actions. This area deals with how we conduct ourselves within the world. Moral philosophers may investigate questions such as, is it right for rape victims to abort their babies or is euthanasia the solution to a comatose patient? Philosophical questions are conceptual not factual. Generally speaking, philosophical questions are often a series of "why-questions." These are questions which cannot be fully answered with a simple â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no†. These questions come about when people reflect on their lives and their world. They are often questions about our concepts and the relation between our concepts and the world they represent. Russell states that philosophical questions â€Å"appeal to human reason† (What is philosophy?, n.d.). Some philosophical questions are practical while others are theoretical. Example of a practical question is, "Is divorce justifiable?" A theoretical question on the other hand, often arise through thinking about practical issues such as â€Å"What is the meaning and purpose of our existence?† According to Stroll and Popkin, philosophical questions have seven characteristics (1972). First, it is a reflection about and the things nothing in it. Example is if one has a pen in his hand and took it off, there is nothing in his hand. So, does that mean that everything exists in nothing? The second characteristic of a philosophical question is it is a conceptual rather than a practical activity. The third characteristic is the use of reason and argumentation to establish a point. Fourth, a philosophical question asks for an explanation of the puzzling features of things such as the mirror, whether it reverses up or down or left or right. A philosophical question also digs beyond the obvious like what is a fact? Is a computer a fact? Another characteristic of

Hobbes’ And Lockes Political Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Hobbes’ And Lockes Political Philosophy Essay On Hobbes’ Political Philosophy Hobbes’ scientistic philosophy presupposed that man is the self-sufficient interpreter of the facts of life and that man can correctly define what the facts of life are. Similar to the Sophists, Hobbes asserted that the knowable facts of life are only particular empirical things. Thus, Hobbes asserted that universal words, such as good and evil, are incomprehensible to man in the objective sense as rooted in reality. Because they are non-empirical and universal, they are mere names. Like the Sophists, Hobbes was also a nominalist. Moreover, Hobbes asserted that metaphysical essences and metaphysical forms do not exist. God’s attributes are merely names that man thinks would honor Him. Thus, like the Sophists, there is no natural hierarchy tied to the essences or purposes of things, but only a realm of natural causes. For Hobbes, man existed individually in a state of nature before civil government was formed. He asserted that human equality is based upon an empirical condition, namely power. Man in the state of nature was obligated only to seek Peace by self-preservation. Hobbes embraced a negative theory of freedom. There was really no law in the state of nature because the obligation to seek peace was not declared from a higher power; no one had a Bible in the state of nature to proclaim to him the will of almighty God. As one who believed in God’s existence, Hobbes’ scientistic epistemology and ontology forced him to embrace theological voluntarism. Ultimately, morals are grounded in the arbitrary will of God rather than His character. Hobbes postulated that the superior will and power are the only legitimate grounds of law.[1] In terms of what is good and evil, just and unjust, the natural man in a state of nature did whatever he reasonably thought was right in his own eyes to preserve his life. If killing another person was deemed necessary to preserve his life, then it was good and just in the sense that it preserved the peace. Thus, because good and evil, just and unjust are mere names whose meanings no one can agree on, the state of nature is a state of war, every man against every man. And because man naturally avoids the risk of harm, he arms himself to preserve the peace.[2] For Hobbes, only civil society has a supreme sovereign to give the citizens the standard they so desperately need to judge between good and evil, virtue and vice. For Hobbes, good and evil are not objective ideas rooted in reality that man can conceive and understand with his own mind. Therein is the fountain from which springs forth the conflict of individual man in a state of nature. Man, as a risk avoider, contracts with his fellow man to leave the state of nature and create an artificial civil society in which a third party will act as the supreme power. Hobbes pointed, the will of the parties in their social contract create their duties to each other and to the third party. The third party, the king, must define for the society what is good and evil, just and unjust so that the natural war of all against all will cease. The king, however, is not a party to the contract. The king has no contractual duty to the citizens, but only a natural duty to God to seek peace. The king seeks peace by deterring evildoers (the king defines who is evil) by wielding the sword and restricting free speech. Thus, any punishment meted out by the government is for the purpose of deterring wrongdoing, not retribution. That is, the â€Å"evildoer† is neither punished because he necessarily deserves it nor punished proportionally to his just desert, but because the punishment is an example to others how seriously the king takes his duty to preserve the peace. Thus, logically, the king could â€Å"rightly† punish an innocent citizen. The only inalienable right the citizens have is the natural right to preserve their life. Thus, they contracted to obey the king; they did not contract not to resist the king when being punished. In the state of nature, no man is obligated to heed another person’s opinion or power. Every person has a right to all things, to define what is good and what is evil, even to kill a person if one does not trust him. For Hobbes, the primary means of achieving peace is by creating an â€Å"artificial† society through individual covenantal relationships (Ibid, 66). In De Cive, Hobbes defined a contract as â€Å"the act of two, or more, mutually conveying their rights† and a covenant as that which involves promises that bind one to perform in the future (Ibid, 35-36). Hobbes’ political theory involves more of a social covenant idea than a social contract. But he does tend to use the two terms interchangeably, as is evidenced below, perhaps signifying both that rights are given up and that one is bound to perform in the future with the creation of civil society out of the state of nature.[3] Most assuredly, Hobbes’ political philosophy is a recipe for a tyrannical and oppressive government Similar to the Sophists, Hobbes’ scientistic philosophy supports the argument that any philosophy that has scientific presuppositions and begins with physical particulars produces a negative view of freedom, a simple view of human equality based upon power, authority that is equated with mere power and sanction, a deterrence theory of punishment, a natural law that can only be known in selfish generalities, natural rights that are grounded in man’s self-interests, nominalism, and theological voluntarism. In addition, because the social contract or covenant is made with each other and not with the sovereign, the sovereign has no obligation to the people that arises from the social contract. The only obligation the absolute sovereign king has is to God. In Leviathan, Hobbes discusses why a king with such absolute power â€Å"will not take all, spoil all, kill all†. Hobbes states: â€Å"[T]hough by right, that is, without injury to them, he may do it, yet can he not do it justly, that is, without breach of the natural laws, and injury against God. And therefore there is some security for subjects in the oaths which princes take†.[4] Hobbes seems to say that the king would not be seeking peace, the one obligation of the natural law, if he sought to â€Å"take all, spoil all, and kill all†. But if the king does abuse his power, the citizens have an inalienable right to resist death. For Hobbes, the citizens contracted or covenanted away their natural right to all things, but one: the preservation of life. According to Hobbes, that is the one inalienable right that men have. In essence, men contract or covenant with each other that the king may kill them if they do not perform their contractual duty, not that they will not resist when then king attempts to kill them. Although the king can â€Å"sin against God,† in no situation â€Å"is the right taken away from him, of slaying those who shall refuse to obey him†.[5] Moreover, the king has the right â€Å"to judge what opinions and doctrines are enemies unto peace, and also that he forbid them to be taught†.[6] Hence, it is the sole purpose of having a civic government. On Locke’s Political Philosophy The state of nature refers to the natural pre-political state of man. Except for the fact that Locke believed man naturally is a social person in a family, he agreed with Hobbes that man is not naturally a social being. Similar to Hobbes, civil society is not natural, but artificial. In a state of nature, man was free within the bounds of the natural law and was equal in power in relation to everyone else to act as judge in his own case and controversy with anyone else. The natural law obligates man to preserve himself: to do no harm, and to preserve the community in the absence of competition.[7] Similar to Hobbes, Locke equated human equality with power. Although Locke believed in a positive view of freedom whereby man is free only within law, Locke failed to show that man could know the specifics of the natural law code and thus, he failed to show that man really possessed a positive freedom in the state of nature. Do no harm does not provide much moral guidance. In reality, like Hobbes, for Locke man possessed a negative freedom. Locke stated â€Å"state all men are naturally in†¦ is a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions, and persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man. A state also of equality, wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another†.[8] Similar to the Sophists and Hobbes, Locke believed man began his existence in a state of nature. For Locke, the state of nature is divided into two historical stages. In the first stage, man had a natural property right over his own body. Everything else was naturally held in common. When a man labored over something that was held in common, he acquired property in it. Moreover, man had a natural right of subsistence, which was regulated by spoilage. In other words, what man possessed as property by mixing his labor with it was limited by what he could consume before spoiling. The second stage of the state of nature was initiated in by the invention and use of money. With the invention of money, man could enlarge his possessions way beyond what he could consume before spoiling. Money does not spoil. Although the use of money produced the unequal division of the earth, overall, Locke argues everyone is better off: For Locke, mankind socially compacted to form civil society for several reasons: first, some in the state of nature were ignorant of the law of nature, second some were biased by the amount of property they had, third, there was no impartial judge to resolve disputes, and fourth, there was no third power to execute the law of nature. Underlying all of these reasons to form civil society is, similar to the Sophists and Hobbes, man’s self-interested passion to preserve himself. Because not one theoretical or practical principle is written on man’s heart, the natural law is not written on man’s heart. Because the natural law can be known only from a lawmaker, those who are ignorant of God’s existence because they fail to apply their reason are ignorant of the natural law. For those who do apply their reason and come to know of God’s existence and the natural law, Locke claimed that they could know the natural law code as they could know the specifics of mathematics. But Locke never came close to showing that the specific moral code is capable of mathematical demonstration. Locke extremely overestimated how much moral knowledge his empiricist epistemology could deliver. Locke’s empiricist epistemology could not demonstrate in detail what was good or evil, just or unjust For Locke, man’s conscience is nothing other than his own opinion of what is right and wrong. Thus, similar to the Sophists and Hobbes, Locke was essentially a skeptic. God’s natural law governs his creatures. Although Locke wrote of God’s right and authority to rule over his creatures, Locke never justifies his assertion. Locke never demonstrated that God was anything except the most powerful being that could compel obedience through rewards and punishments. Locke’s empiricist epistemology does not allow him to draw the distinction between authority and mere power. Thus, like Hobbes, punishment for Locke was merely deterrence. Moreover, because Locke was so consumed with, and analyzed so thoroughly, the empiricist epistemology of natural law, Locke demonstrates clearer than Hobbes that scientism coupled with a belief in God leads to nothing but theological voluntarism, i.e., the law is ultimately grounded in God’s almighty will, not His unchanging character, such that God can will anything to be moral. Thus, whoever embraces an empiricist epistemology and at the same time, acknowledges God as the ultimate lawgiver, will be left with nothing but theological voluntarism. Thus, scientistic modernism destroyed the firm and unchanging foundation of civil law and the only real restraint to civil tyranny, namely, a natural law grounded in God’s eternal and unchanging character. Similar to Hobbes, the source of civil governmental power for Locke is the consent of the people. There are two natural powers that are given to civil society, the legislative and executive. The legislative power in any civil government is superior over the executive because it gives the laws to the executive. Some of man’s natural executive power is retained. This is so because mans natural right of self-preservation is inalienable, i.e., it cannot be given over to civil government. Thus, men in civil society have a right to resist the civil government if, after a long train of abuses, their opinion on the basis of their feelings grounded in their experience is that the civil government has violated the natural law. The civil governmental authority puts itself into a state of war with the people when it repeatedly violates the natural law. Tyranny occurs when the civil government acts out of its own self-interest and does not protect the property of the people. Locke’s theory of civil resistance is weak, however, because he failed to demonstrate that the specific code of the natural law is knowable.[9] Similar to Hobbes, Locke’s empiricist epistemology made the end of civil government empirical, i.e., the self-preservation of the people. Locke’s theory of civil resistance is based upon the personal opinions of the people. Thus, Locke could support that notion that the civil government should tolerate every religious opinion that does not threaten the people’s physical property.[10] Moreover, Locke placed most religious beliefs in the realm of mere opinions. For Locke, only a few religious propositions were within the realm of demonstrative knowledge. Overall, Locke’s theory of religious toleration is a two-edged sword. In a sense, it encouraged theological relativism. In another sense, it allowed religious liberty, albeit seemingly equating toleration with liberty (negative freedom). Finally, if Hobbes’ political philosophy described how a society of skeptics could live together under one sovereign power, then Lockes political philosophy described how a society of skeptics could live together by balancing their opinions with the civil governments. Thus, contrary to Hobbes, Locke believed that a little civil resistance now and then is a good thing. Although Lockes political philosophy guards against tyranny better than the political philosophy of the Sophists and Hobbes, similar to the Sophists and Hobbes, Locke’s scientistic philosophy supports the argument that any philosophy that has scientific presuppositions and begins with physical particulars produces a negative view of freedom, a simple view of human equality based upon power, authority that is equated with mere power and sanction, a deterrence theory of punishment, a natural law that can only be known in selfish generalities, natural rights that are grounded in mans self-interests, nominalism, and theological voluntarism. BIBILIOGRAPHY Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan: Or the Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, ed. Michael Oakeshott. New York: Simon . Schuster, Inc., 1997. Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government, ed. Peter Laslett. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. [1]   Hobbes, Thomas, Leviathan: Or the Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil (New York: Simon . Schuster, Inc., 1997), 54-63) [2] Ibid, 72-77. [3] Ibid, 11-21. [4] Ibid, 77. [5] Ibid, 79. [6] Ibid, 76. [7] Locke, John, Two Treatises of Government (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988) 283-290. [8] Ibid, 263. [9] Ibid, 290-292. [10] Ibid.

Obesity In New Zealand

Obesity In New Zealand There are many social issues facing New Zealanders today, couple these with low economics and low employment and these factors start turning these issues into health problems such as obesity. This essay will outline a social issue of obesity. It will then give a brief explanation of sociological theories, upon doing so the essay will then relate the social issue back to the three sociology theories. Lastly this essay will explore how obesity is affecting MÄ ori. Obesity in New Zealand has become a major health and social issue facing people of all ages. Recent statistics on this issue have highlighted just how much of a problem obesity has become.in the years 2008/09 27.8% of all adults (aged 15+) are obese thats 1 in 4 and childhood obesity is no better with 1 in 12 children (aged 2 15) being obese thats 8.3% (Ministry of health, 2011). This breaks down to males being 27.7% and females being 28.7%, compare these to 1997 where the statistics were vastly different. Only 17% of males were obese and 20.6% females were obese (Ministry of health, 2011). Childrens statistics are similar but there is a definite trend for children as only some in the total population are affected. All factors have been addressed while these statistics have been complied such as food intake, food types and psychical activities. The health issues that have steamed from social issue include type 2 diabetes, and heart disease among others in adults, However in children the problems are far more serious . Obese children face a lifetime of health problems such as high blood pressure and asthma. For obese children there is a greater risk of bullying, body dissatisfaction as well as psychological problems (Ministry of health, 2011). There has been research to suggest that obesity in children may lead to strokes, common cancers, reproductive problems and musculoskeletal problems (Ministry of health, 2011). Obese children often lead to obese adults; this is now not just a health problem but a social issue as the repercussions that stem from this are far reaching. Our children will have to face this head on as it will be down to their generation who ultimately have to deal with this issue. Conflict theory, structural functionalism and symbolic interactionism are all theories used in sociology. They provide perspectives on how we see the world, something to grab a hold of so to understand the information we receive. Each of these theories provides a unique way of looking at situations for example a conflict theorist would say that all relationships are centred on power and someone holding more power than the other (Brent, Thompson, Vale, 2000) . A conflict theorist believes that social economics are determined by the wealthy and therefore they hold the power over the majority of the people (Brent, Thompson, Vale, 2000). With this happening it clearly breaks society into two groups rich and poor, the boss and the workers or as Karl Marx put it the bourgeoisie and the proletariats ( M.E. Sharpe, 2005), this division between the masses proves to be beneficial for the richer of society (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). When dealing with social problems the conflict theory c an be broken into two areas Non-Marxist conflict theory and Marxist conflict theory. Marxists focus on conflicts in our society that develop from differences in financial status (Ellison, 1987). Non-Marxists focus on conflicts in our society that arise from differing and oppositional ethics amongst different groups (Ellison, 1987). A structural functionalist has a different view on the world as they believe that our society is a group of interrelated individuals that coexist in a manner that creates symmetry for all (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). With this belief comes the realisation that corporations and families are equal in society, families reproduce, nurture and educate children who in turn provide workers with the skills and knowledge base for the corporations to continue (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). Structural functionalism highlights how a society works together and how one part of society influences another part of society (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). Symbolic interactionism is largely based on work by George H Mead and Max Webber. Symbolic interactionism looks at the whole picture while analysing the micro level, as theorist who follows this perspective believe that by analysing the macro level the social problem could be broken down to see what level has been affected (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). This perspective is occupied with the inner workings of a small group to see how human behaviour is influenced while interacting within the small group vs. a larger group (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). This perspective also advocates that a persons self is shaped and influenced by interaction with others in a social situation (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, 2000). Looking at obesity from a structural functionalist point of view you would have to say that not one person is to blame as it is a collective problem, that a collective has to come to terms with. With this understanding it then becomes hard to correct the problem as if one part of society is influencing to the wrong degree then that will impact on another part of society and then a domino effect is created (Nestle, 2006). Marketing advertisements in modern media that depict high fat and high in sugar foods utilising graphical images that portray healthy people, make the average consumer believe that eating this style of foods will have no effect on them (Witkowski, 2007). This is just one example of the major corporations influencing society to buy items which is propelling the obesity problem. This is one part of society influencing another part of society. A conflict theorist would look at this social issue and would simply ask who is benefiting from this. Companies who promote unhealthy eating like fast food establishments who make unhealthy food readily available at a low cost point are the only ones who make a gain (Beck, 2007). By making appetizing food which tastes good with no nutritional value in bulk the fast food companies are able to keep costs down and in doing so they hold power over the consumer as they are able to purchase a cheap filling meal at no great cost to them (Young Nestle, 2007). There is research that links the proliferation of fast food outlets to the growing challenge of obesity this factor linked with low exercise rates due to motorized transport and jobs that no longer require manual labour has led to a sequence of events in our society where obesity is one of the outcomes (Freund Martin, 2008) . This has become the typical power struggle in our todays society. A symbolic interaction theorist would look at how people are being influenced by those they surround themselves with, how a person/people receives and interprets the information being beamed through all media outlets and peers a like (Kumanyika, 2008). By bringing the person down to the macro level a theorist would look to see how these influences are being processed, how media influences peoples buying patterns and challenges our ability to see right from wrong and good from bad. The use of modern media practice gives visuals of healthy people consuming high fat unhealthy food (Nestle, 2006). The image contradicts the act and therefore legitimises this in their mind, consequently making it ok to eat unhealthy. This is how obesity has become a social issue.

The Dream Team Era Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Dream Team Era During the summer of 1992, the NBA took center stage as the world watched the greatest team in sports ever assembled joke, pose, and finally play its way to the gold medal at the summer Olympic games. The team was named the â€Å"Dream Team† and it featured eleven of the NBA’s best players. Names like Michael Jordan, Earvin â€Å"Magic† Johnson, and Larry Bird headlined the games and the play of Scottie Pippen and â€Å"Sir† Charles Barkley stole the show. After only eight games, the world of USA basketball would never be the same. Since 1992 two more teams called themselves the â€Å"Dream Team† and two were simply labeled as â€Å"Team USA† but one thing is for certain, International basketball has taken a step in the right direction thanks in part to the NBA and its Dream Team era. Over time the faces of those players may have changed, but the goal has always stayed the same and that’s the goal of bringing home the gold medal. After dominating men’s Olympic basketball for years, the men’s USA basketball team lost to the USSR in the 1988 Seoul games which cost them a shot at winning the gold medal, but they did come home with the bronze. The United States Olympic committee decided that since the rest of the world were sending their best players into the Olympic games that when it came to basketball it was time for them to do the same. The decision was made in 1989 to allow players from the NBA to represent their country in the 1992 Barcelona games. That one decision was the most important decision in the history of international basketball with one goal in mind; to put together the best possible team that they could. The goal of putting a great basketball team of NBA players together seemed impossible especially when it came to dealing with the egos of today’s athletes, but what seemed impossible became a reality. Established veterans like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and future Hall of Famers/MVP’s like Michael Jordan and best friend Charles Barkley were added to the team. Big men David Robinson and Patrick Ewing were added to control the paint and guards Clyde â€Å"The Glide† Drexler and John Stockton were added to run the show. The man picked to coach the team was Chuck Daly who had won two of the last three NBA Championships with the Detroit Pistons. Knowing that no other team would ever be as potentially great as this one, sportswriters around the world dubbe... ...could secure an 85-83 win, but only after Lithuania’s game winning shot fell short at the buzzer (Games). Even though Team USA wasn’t as star-studded as the previous two Olympic teams, they still achieved the goal of winning a gold medal, but the path that they took to get there was much tougher than the path of teams in the past. With that being said, Team USA helped the United States Men’s basketball program to reach 109 wins with only two losses spread across 14 different Olympic games. Despite the fact that the era and aura of the Dream Team was destroyed, the memories of the games will live on forever. Names like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Vince Carter will always be remembered for having great NBA careers, but also for bring home the gold medal for their country and doing it with a class and a grace that will never be seen again. Works Cited â€Å"Games of the XXVth Olympiad—2000.† 17 Oct. 2003 Taylor, Phill. â€Å"Slam Dunk.† Sports Illustrated August 1996: 48-53. The Dream Team: Simply the Best. Videocassette. Xenon Entertainment Group, 1997. 73 min. USA Basketball: â€Å"96 Olympic Gold.† Videocassette. CBS FOX Video Sports, 1996. 50 min.

Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

â€Å"Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that gets worse over time. It leads to nerve cell death, and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions. It gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn and carry out daily activities such as talking, eating, and going to the bathroom† (What Is Alzheimer’s). Early symptoms include personality changes, memory impairment, problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality. Alzheimer’s was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died of an unusual mental illness. After she died, he examined her and found plaques and tangles in her brain which are the two main features of Alzheimer’s. â€Å"Patients with Alzheimer’s often die earlier than normal, although a patient may live anywhere from 3-20 years after diagnosis.† Death often occurs from an infection or a failure of other body systems. â€Å"Early diagnosis relies largely on documenting mental decline. Biomarkers are reliable predictors and indicators of a disease process.† Alzheimer’s begins as early as 10 to 20 years before any problems are evident. It develops in your 30s, 40s, 50s, but usually after age 60. As many as 5.1 million Americans may have this disease. â€Å"There is no specific test today that confirms you have Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor will make a judgment about whether Alzheimer's is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.† Doctors typically rely on physical and neurological exams to check your reflexes and sense of touch and sight, lab t... ... Researchers are looking for new treatments to alter the course of the disease and improve the quality of life for people with dementia. Works Cited 1. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 2. "Alzheimer's Disease." helpguide.org. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 3. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.alz.org. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. .. 4. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.nia.nih.gov. 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 5. Powell, Lenore S. Alzheimer's Disease. New York City, USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1983. Print.

A Report on Conversation Analysis Techniques

Conversation analysis, usually abridged as CA, is a general method to the review of dialogues. It is the evaluation of the discourse in communication in almost all aspects of discussions on a daily basis. In all of these, we can say that â€Å"talk makes things happen†. The CA commonly tries to depict the organization of composition and chronological arrangement of interaction. As we can notice in the transcription, it can be taken into account as a naturalized transcription, where statements are recorded in as much feature as viable, most frequently observed in conversation analysis investigation.In trying to understand this particular transcription, it is a fundamental approach of CA that the action, which the partakers articulates, will depend not only on its verbal communication manner, but also on its position in the series, on the framework, on the distinctiveness of the presenter, and many others. Recently, the CA techniques of sequential examination have been in work b y phoneticians to delve into the good phonetic aspect of speech. Some of the basic techniques and methods are the following: Turn-taking Organization This is a technique wherein a talk is made in and via turns.Turn-taking is a means by which interrelating people apportion the privilege or responsibility to take part in the diversion of an exchange of ideas. In accordance with CA, the turn-taking scheme is made up of two mechanisms which are the turn constructional component and the turn allocation component. These techniques for dialogues were recognized inductively during pragmatic study of copies of demonstrations where discourse members chat one by one. This can be observed in the quoted part of transcription in which the people conversing take their turns alternately.â€Å"1. R: Hello Julia! How are you? Long time no see. 2. J: Yeah! Hi! How are you Richard? 3. R: I am good. I am good. I've been away for a few weeks. I have been with my father at work† The turn constructi onal component illustrates principal elements which achieve identifiable common dealings. It can be remarked that not every factor types may exist in all languages. Besides, it is likely that there are parts in other vernaculars, such as units in Asian speech that may not be present in English, French, and many other languages.This may be identified by an alteration in the tone or loudness of the expression, the last part of a syntactic element of speech, a brief stillness or stop, or a few variety of body movement. Changeover linking the participants typically takes place at such a situation. However, this component is not applied in the transition since the two chatting participants have a common set of language. While the turn allocation component expresses how chances to speak are shared by the presenters in a discussion. This can be used by directing, referring to a name, applying eye contact, etc.; and is evident in the transcription since Julia addresses Richard through using his name. Sequence Organization This affects how events are arranged in discussion. This comprises adjacency pairs and pre-sequences. Adjacency pairs are described with chats that are inclined to come about in reactive pairs; though, they may be divided over a succession of turns. Participants talk about a switch over of views and compliments because a lot of spoken deeds entitle a specific sort of vocal reaction as an immediate reply.Other dealings appeal for a dissimilar kind of accomplishment such as requests with approvals or refusals. Pre-sequences, on the other hand, employ chains of conversation prior to resolute chat. They arise when certain initial act is taken ahead of starting the primary element of an adjacency pair. Prior to uttering a demand, for example, it regularly creates meaning to make sure whether the other character has the thing one desires. In the transcription, a question-answer pair can be cited which sets up a request-approval.â€Å"52. R: Ok I will have to come down and visit you then = 53. J: = Of course! =† Preference organization This technique coincides with the sequence organization technique since it also involves preferences for a number of act categories in the channel of communication over other dealings. The modes in which the two classes of collective actions are fulfilled successively are referred to as preferred and dispreferred. The idea of predilection of communicators induces their understanding of spoken acts.A hush in response to an appeal, as an example, may be taken as substantiation of a possible imminent unfavored answer or a disclaimer. However, this technique is not applied in the transcription since there is no request that was approved or rejected. Alignment For a discourse to flow easily and efficiently, the orderliness of exchanges must be directed well and must follow a particular trajectory. The reaction to a remark normally offers a form of explanation of the previous statement and so signifies the alignment.Appraisals such as â€Å"That’s good†, inscriptions such as â€Å"Oh, wow! †, formulations like providing the general idea of what has been said, and two-way final points of the presenter’s statements, all supply confirmations of how the dialogue of the conversing persons is being comprehended. Repairs are used to mend a failure of discussion and reinstate alignment. Failures can be misinterpretations like â€Å"What did you say? â€Å"; â€Å"What do you mean? † as well as discords like â€Å"I think you’re wrong†, denunciation such as â€Å"No, I won’t† and other complexity.Revisions may occur when the speaker can anticipate that trouble is likely and reformulates talk accordingly. Alignment is especially important at the openings and closings of conversation. â€Å"13. R: I am so glad i am not having any busy= 15. J: =Ohhh†¦. hehehe†¦. I do not think so†¦. I hate exams (laughs)† Response Tokens Like spontaneous verbal communication, there are other units of language that, while not fairly terms, are nonetheless type of speech. Yet in this case, they are on purpose. Among the more ordinary of these are Hm, Ok, Ah, Yeah,Um, Uh, and Uh huh or Nuh uh.Words such as Ok, or Uh huh are utilized to document conformity with the presenter. Acknowledgements in another view, such as Mm and Yeah, express concurrence or awareness between the conversing persons like in this quote from the transcription â€Å"140. R: Yeah, I understand enough 141. J: Ah, Ok. † And another is a repair, such as Huh, that ask the presenter to repeat or to put in another way a thought or an inquiry. In several state of affairs, tokens function to tote up more facet and feeling to what the presenter is aiming to convey. Speech actsIn using this method, words do not basically subsist; but are brought into play to carry out points. Forming a claim is plainly one idea that can be undertaken by speech. A wide-ranging assumption of sense must be founded on the knowledge of these meanings and their circumstances of practice. This speech acts become more and more helpful in substance detection and classification of contribution of dialogues through verbal communication and content they are composed of five groups namely the commissives, directives, assertives, expressives, and declarations.Commisives are used to entrust the presenter to different strategies such as a assurance like â€Å"I will not impart to anyone what you have just found out†, proposal like â€Å"91. J: eh (. ) Could you say that again? † or hand over a guarantee such as in the transcript â€Å"19. J: †¦ but when I finish I will go out. † Directives, conversely, try to make the addressee get something done such as a demand like â€Å"Please tell me more†, an instruction like â€Å"Tell me about that†, a suggestion like â€Å"122. R: I suggest you to go to the Nort h, it is very beautiful†, a permission like â€Å"You can share that if you wish.†, and a query like in the transcription â€Å"50. R: Will you be with your family in the south? †.On the contrary, assertives try to show the addresser’s principle of the firm subject matter of the statement such as stating and describing like â€Å"97. J: But I want to look for a job but not in Spain, in another country to improve my skills†, predicting like â€Å"It will surely rain tomorrow†, and speculating like â€Å"I wonder whether it will rain tomorrow† as referred to in the transcription. Next are expressives which try to put across the addresser’s mental state such as a compliment like â€Å"268.R: Oh perfect!†¦ †, an apology like â€Å"228. J: Ah! Sorry sorry on Saturday†, a welcome like â€Å"215. R: It's nice to see you again†, gratitude like â€Å"Thanks very much! â€Å", and greetings like â€Å"245. M: Hello Richard Hello Julia†¦Ã¢â‚¬  as recorded. And lastly are declarations which are executed by an aptly authoritative addresser such as dismissing like â€Å"You are now fired! †, settling on like â€Å"You are liable on this from this day forward† and condemning like â€Å"I sentence you to six years in prison†; although these declarations are not present in the transcription. PragmaticsIn linguistics and semiotics, this is involved in connecting the descriptive difference between sentence gist and the presenter’s denotation. The analysis of how the milieu affects the version is in this case imperative. In this setting, the perspective stands for any feature as linguistic, factual, or personal that influences the real construal of symbols and terminologies. Pragmatics is concerned for the most part in utterances, typically in the structure of discussions, and a peculiarity is incorporated in it between sentence meaning and presenters’ way of articulating their thoughts and feelings.Additionally, it is considered as one of the most thought-provoking facets for communication novices to be able to ascertain and gain knowledge of, but it is believed that one can only actually master it with acquiring knowledge with experience. Sentence meaning is the verbatim sense of the sentence, while the speaker gist is the bits and pieces of details or facts that the presenters are making an effort to convey. In the transcription, the speakers made use of a readily understandable language, with the use of direct words and statements, and without having any symbolisms or codes.But there are some kinds of omissions or shortcuts of the speakers’ sentences and some repetition of statements for emphasis. But in spite of those things, both presenters have the aptitude to comprehend what the addresser means to say. Overlaps This method expresses findings of coinciding and intersecting views, with beginning and end of overlapping rem arks. The addressee eventually gets the main idea conveyed by the initial speaker right away, even if the speaker is not able to finish or complete his or her sentence, so overlapping of statements occurs.This can be seen in this quote from the transcription. â€Å"52. R: Ok I will have to come down and visit you then = 53. J: = Of course! =† In this case, the benefit of this columnar format over the more ordinary type of transcription is that it illustrates how communicational symmetries or asymmetries are present between conversational participants. As a conclusion, we can deduce that transcription is indeed an influential act of representation. This account can impinge on how the information is conceptualized.The transcription procedure must be integrated more thoroughly into qualitative study frameworks and techniques. Phases of contemplation at fundamental patterns and performance details of dialogues may generate an important training and implementation in marking of bo th the course of action of study and partakers’ speech a distinction. The goal of translating examiners is to figure out and communicate the manner by which the members appreciate their dealings that brings into being the occurrence of social actuality.Complementary to other philosophies, the conversation analysis techniques which are applied to the transcription barely appraise natural discourse. The investigation upholds that it is feasible to interpret a talk based on the record alone. Even if we had been taking notes while it was happening, we can't be sure we'd got things down accurately, and we'd probably have missed quite a lot. And if we hadn't been taking notes, then relying on later recall is doubly risky. We'd be battling against the everyday mistakes of memory as well.

Are Unions Still Relevant in USA Essay

Labor Unions, which formed to represent the workforce when needed, its rights to be discuss with the organizations management. Unions bring matters as wages, and benefits to the Collective Bargain to get an agreement with the management. Unions where big up to the 2000; from there on where power and the number of members is experiencing declining. In 2009, 771,000 members left the movement; because of the recession of 2008-2009 the majority of the member are from the public sector and not the private organizations (Devinatz, 2010). It is true that the idea of an institution that works on benefit of employees hand to hand with employers is the ideal to have in every organization; however, how can somebody said is working on employees behalf if their needs if the requirement can put the organization stability in danger. With a good number of companies closing their doors, going to bankruptcy, or moving their manufacturing overseas the workforce forthcoming is turning to small businesses and entrepreneurship collective bargain turn out to be unnecessary and irrelevant (Subramani & Ramdas, 2011). Been raised and grownup in a country where unions were called federations, usually only participating at organizations relate to technical and trade professions, have not had a close relation or even learned to much about. Maybe this influenced in acquiring the concept that there is no need for an institution to deal the benefits and needs of employees. Organizations have developed and today management and human resources worked together on behalf of the organization and its employees. Human resources on an organization are who take care and seeks for the benefits and needs of the employee as well as the organization (Heizer & Render, 2011). Because the people who conform the human resources department is part of the organization would try to do what benefits employers and employees. After reading a handful of comments and experiences with unions and their work on different businesses and organizations, my personal point of view is that unions at the beginning of it history maybe was the solution for unfairness and illegal actions from bosses and managers to its employees. Indeed their ideology, thoughts, and what they express said they worked 100% to get the best for employees we are seeing today lots of manufacture businesses closing their doors and big businesses outsourcing their jobs because they cannot afford the unions requests on keep raising wages. Of course this influence in workers wanting a union at their jobs; but is not more rewarding and satisfying to know you are receiving what your personal review is saying; at the same time having more stability, meaning that the institution we are working for does not run the risk of having to reduce personnel or worst close its doors. It is also true that organizations need to have representatives that would attend management meetings and present the employees’ point of view, concerns, aspirations, and those bright ideas that would help to have a better working environment and job satisfaction. In 2008, Reynolds article on Labor Unions showed how union are declining its power with employees and the number of members in the private sector is being minimum comparing with the public sector. Reynolds also suggested that workers associations, formed by regular employees and that would work closely to the organization’s human resources department could replace the unions. People would always think that employers do not worry or work for the employees’ benefits, that they take advantage and the only goal is to make them work hard and generate bigger profit. Unions said they will bargain the best for them, making their wages raised, but who is worrying of the quality of the job and service? Who is worrying of having a secure income and not having the fear of layoffs or bankrupts? In conclusion, we can see unions is declining in the number of members, also in the power they had over employees to convinced they are working only on their benefits without any political interest; and that the actual corporation organization with its human resources department do not have the need of unions trying to tell what the employees need or want because they can do it themselves.