Sunday, September 8, 2019
Clifford Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Clifford - Essay Example Evidential theory was therefore seen as an attempt to disrupt the peoples believes in God, because it justified an action basing on the existence of an evidence to support the claim. The position of this paper, is that the theory of evidentialism is the best method of justifying the occurrences of events and a belief in a deity. Arguments: According to the theory of evidentialism, an individual needs to believe an issue or an idea only if there is sufficient evidence that proves the issue or idea is correct. Clifford (2) argues that there is no justification for an individual to believe on a claim or idea without observing any sufficient evidence. According to Clifford (2) this kind of a person violates the law that regulates the ethics of belief. On the other hand, Clifford also argues that when the evidence is sufficient enough to prove a claim, and people still do not believe a claim, then these people are also guilty of breaching the laws that regulate the ethics of belief (Cliff ord, 7). On this basis, it is important to denote that belief has a law, and the main tenet of this law lies on the existence of an evidence. Clifford (1) effectively manages to use the example of a ship owner for purposes of explaining and justifying his theories of evidentialism. For instance, Clifford denotes that a ship owner failed to observe the laws that govern the ethics of belief by allowing his ship to sail, when he had doubts over the capability of the same ship to make a voyage. The ship under consideration was old, and needed many repairs (Clifford, 2). Despite these facts, the ship owner decided to allow the ship to make a voyage, just because the same ship had made many successful voyages before, and in the same condition. This, in Cliffordââ¬â¢s view is against the laws that govern and regulate the ethics of belief. On this basis therefore, the ship owner was wrong, and it doesnââ¬â¢t matter whether the voyage was successful or not. From his explanations, we ca n denote that Clifford was of the opinion that the ship owner had an option of carrying out an investigation to prove on the ability of the ship to make a voyage. This is by making the necessary repairs, and having experts to examine its capability. The ship owner comes under severe criticisms from Clifford, because his actions were based on faith and providence, and in Cliffordââ¬â¢s opinion, these do not justify the belief of a claim (Clifford, 12). Clifford also gives an explanation of consciousnes
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Ethical Relativism and Rights, Equality and Justice Essay
Ethical Relativism and Rights, Equality and Justice - Essay Example This essay discusses that to Hamas, the conflict is all about responding to an aggressive and oppressive neighbor since it refused to recognize Israel and past Palestinian agreements regarding the border and settlements thus escalating the existing border tensions since 2006. The Palestinians living in Gaza Strip and West Bank have equal rights to express their opinions, practice their religion and access basic human services such as food and gas. Accordingly, the Palestinians must be treated equally with respect and dignity. Israel blockade in Gaza has created a humanitarian crisis since 2007 since all border crossing and naval pathways have been restricted in the territory it controls. Although Israel has claimed the goal of the blockade is to diminish Hamas capability of building rockets and mortars, such move has led to the suffering of thousands of Palestinian civilians since it has restricted access to basic services such as healthcare, food, electricity, gas and construction m aterials.Israel asserts that the airstrikes and ground incursion into Hamas is a retaliation of the teenage boys abducted by Hamas and perceives Hamas as a threat since it has launched numerous rockets into Israel territory. Hamas claims that Israel has no moral right of self-defense since it has occupied Palestinian land and implemented a blockade that has led to the humanitarian crisis. However, the best action by the United States is to call for the end of the current hostilities and conflicts that have claimed lives of innocent civilians.
Friday, September 6, 2019
British North American colonies prior to 1700 Essay Example for Free
British North American colonies prior to 1700 Essay The New World was first established because a group of people in England did not agree with the religious and political ways of life advocated. Different religious groups left England to pursue more religious freedom in America. As they moved to the New World, the three different regions of the North American colonies greatly impacted not only their lifestyles but also the extent of religious freedom allowed prior to 1700. The first arrivers in the northern colonies were Puritans who came to America because they didnt agree with the Anglican Church. These early colonist yearned for a place where they could indulge in religious freedom as opposed to the extreme contrast to the strict religious persecutions they experienced in England. But the Puritans had very strict rules regarding membership into the Protestant Church and religion was viewed very strictly. The Puritans believed that they were a city upon a hill and were to be a model of a holy society for humankind. Thus they were very rigid in thought and were also very prejudiced against other religions. This group who had come seeking religious freedom soon became the most religiously intolerant group in the Americas. Quakers, who denied the authority of the Puritan clergy, were persecuted with fines and banishment. Sometimes they were even hanged. Dissenters like Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were banished and Rhode Island was established by Williams as the first colony to have complete freedom of religion. In his sewer colony, Jew, Catholics, and Quakers were all sheltered and treated equally. The Middle Colonies was an extremely religiously mixed region because of the amount of diverse people who settled there. The first to settle the region were the Dutch, in New Netherlands which would later become New York after the English took control. The Dutch practiced the Dutch Reform Church which was basically a branch of Lutheran. South of the Dutch were the Swedes practicing their own branch of Lutheran known as the Swedish Reform Church. They were later defeated and absorbed by the New Netherland colonists. But the English regarded the Dutch as the Dutch regarded the Swedes; as intruders and in 1664, Charles II granted his brother, the Duke of York, a squadron that defeated the Dutch. Although the English were now in control of the region and brought with them the Anglican Church, they did not seekà to enforce it because the Dutch made up almost half of the population. Then the establishment of Pennsylvania allowed German, French, Dutch, and English colonists entry into the New World under William Penns broad view of religious tolerance. With so many ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse groups in the region, there can be nothing but immense religious toleration. The Southern Colonies, were the earliest colonies to be settled, but didnt strive for the religious haven the New England Colonies desired. The only settlers in the South were from the Church of England so that was the predominant faith. But because the souths economy was based on agriculture and farming on large plantations and most things were business-oriented, there were few towns which meant few churches. Poor white farmers with small land areas did not have the money or resources to build churches and the large plantation owners did not have churches on their plantations so they basically did whatever they wanted. Religious tolerance was not high but the dominant religion itself was not rigidly enforced. In the midst of such religious indifference, the evangelist religions were born. Although immigrants to the New World all came with intentions of pursuing religious freedom never experienced in their native countries, the regional differences and religious views soon spread them far apart from each other. The New Englanders were mostly Puritans who believed in tight communities and so they remained as they were, fervent worshippers of God and intolerant of other religions. The Middle Colonies, with its wide range of races and the fact that it was established for business and trade ventures, dealt with immense religious diversity and thus immense religious tolerance. The South, preoccupied with the large-scale planting of tobacco had no time to enforce the Anglican Church. Such diverse thoughts of religious tolerance in the three regions that made up America before 1700 greatly impacts the America that we know today.
Patriot Act Essay Example for Free
Patriot Act Essay In her article, Cathy Zeljak maintains that the Patriot Act has infringed on Americansââ¬â¢ civil liberties, particularly the Fourth Amendmentââ¬â¢s protections against illegal searches and surveillance. Using the recent history of legal decisions on law enforcement agenciesââ¬â¢ information-gathering practices, the author argues that the Patriot Act strips citizens of the legal protections they received in the late 1970s. Throughout the piece, she asks, ââ¬Å"Are we sacrificing essential liberties in the fight against terrorism? (Zeljak, 2004, p. 69), and her answer (the overriding thesis of this article) is ââ¬Å"yes. â⬠Zeljak argues that the Patriot Act undermines both the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Act, which was passed in 1978 to impose guidelines on government surveillance of private citizens. Before then, government surveillance of citizens lacked clear guidelines, and government agencies behaved arbitrarily as a result. Supposed ââ¬Å"threats,â⬠like antiwar activists and civil-rights leaders like Martin Luther King, were frequently monitored and harassed. The FISA Act aimed to curb these abuses and placed more legal guidelines on federal surveillance, requiring that foreign intelligence had to be a primary cause for issuing a warrant to conduct surveillance on an individual. However, the Patriot Act has removed many of the FISA Actââ¬â¢s protections, now allowing warrants to be issued with foreign intelligence purposes as only a tangential reason, not a primary cause. In addition, law enforcement officials may now seize a wider array of records, using the broad definition ââ¬Å"any tangible thingâ⬠(Zeljak, 2004, p. 70) instead of the narrow lists specified by the FISA Act. The Patriot Act also allows government agencies to spy on innocent third parties as a means of obtaining information about primary suspects, further weakening the Fourth Amendmentââ¬â¢s protections, and it allows agencies to share information more freely, without letting accused individuals known what evidence exists against them. In March 2002, FISC rejected John Ashcroftââ¬â¢s proposals to allow law enforcement officials broader access to (and use of) information gathered under the Patriot Act. In effect, says Zeljak, this ââ¬Å"transferred fundamental rights away from individual citizens, greatly increasing the authority of intelligence and investigative agenciesâ⬠(Zeljak, 2004, p. 70). FISA warrants can thus be used for criminal investigations without clear probable cause. Zeljak also claims that, despite two court defeats on this issue, the Bush administration hopes to further expand its surveillance and prosecutory powers with Patriot Act II, which would automatically grant federal agents who conduct illegal searches complete immunity and allow the government to deport American citizens found guilty of helping terrorist organizations. Basically, she maintains, such an expansion of the Patriot Act would allow the government near-total freedom to conduct investigations with few legal guidelines, and would considerably curtail citizensââ¬â¢ protections and civil liberties. Zeljak concludes the article by stating that ââ¬Å"Americans must wonder whether we are sacrificing essential liberties in the fight against terrorism,â⬠and ends with a provocative question: ââ¬Å". . . have the terrorists already won the opening round? â⬠(Zeljak, 2004, p. 0) Zeljak takes a clear stance against the Patriot Act, considering it a flagrant violation of American citizensââ¬â¢ constitutionally-guaranteed rights against illegal surveillance. She asserts that the FISA Act has essentially been gutted and that plans to widen the Patriot Act would further deprive citizens of legal protection, making their rights meaningless in the name of intelligence gathering. Her concluding question implies that, with the Patriot Act, democracy has been undermined.
Thursday, September 5, 2019
The Dutch Disease: Lessons from Norway
The Dutch Disease: Lessons from Norway Methodology This research has exploratory and its empirical object is the Dutch Disease healing process by other countries and through this information offer solutions for Nigeria. The methodology used is the case study and development analysis of the strategies used by other countries for the neutralization of the Dutch Disease. The study consists in a research approach method which is characterized by describing the case of an event and its implications. There are several types of case studies, but here is one exploratory case study in order to create a better conceptual definition and understanding of the cure of Dutch Disease. A literature search was performed from a review, using secondary data analysis. Studies on secondary sources involve bibliographic books and research already done on the subject under study. We selected some expert authors on the subject related to this step. We chose to work with significant authors on the subject for further study each of them. This analysis was organized into three chronological poles, as advocated by Bardin (2004): pre-analysis, material exploration and treatment of results, inference and interpretation. The first phase is characterized as the organizational phase and has three missions: the choice of documents to be submitted to analysis, the formulation of hypotheses and objectives and the development of indicators to substantiate the final interpretation. (Bardin, 2004 p.89). Finally, it was done the treatment and interpretation of the results obtained, in which the raw results are treated in order to be meaningful and valid. (Bardin, 2004, p.95). Thus found significant results that indicate how to neutralize the Dutch in Nigeria, as proposed for the work. Bardin (2004) points out, however, that the results obtained may have a different outcome to the goal initially presented, serving as a basis for further analysis arranged around new theoretical dimensions, or practiced thanks to different techniques. Finally, a conclusion is made about the Dutch Disease by the authors of this work, assessing all the information collected and selected. Norway Norway for decades was the poorest country of the Scandinavian region. However, in the recent economic history the country has been distinguished from the others presenting higher GDP growth compared to the rest of Europe and other developed countries such as United States, as presented in the graph below. This turn of events is conventionally attributed to Norwayââ¬â¢s oil discovery in 1969 and subsequent extraction from 1971. In 2012, the petroleum sector represented more than 23 per cent of the countryââ¬â¢s total value creation. The revenues from the petroleum sector constitute 30 percent of the state revenues. Today Norway is the 7th largest exporter of oil and the 3rd largest producer of gas in the world. With per capita GDP around $100,000, the Norwegian lifestyle has become such that the work week averages less than 33 hours, one of the lowest in the world, and while unemployment is low, there is large underemployment, made possible by benefits. GDP Growth Source: OECD (2015) However, it is insufficient in explaining the Norwegian economic growth pointing to oil revenues as it was previously explained in detail about the negative relationship between resource wealth and wealth caused by the economic illness of Dutch Disease. In fact, Norway have managed successfully its oil wealth and avoided falling into trap of natural curse. Larsen (2004) explains the change in the speed of growth in the decade after starting the exploration of oil was consistent with symptoms of Dutch Disease, however, continued growing over the two subsequent decades. This is an evidence of an escape from Resource Curse; thus, Norway did not experience retardation from mid-70s to mid-90s. Mehlum, Moene and Torvik (2006) pointed to Norway and other few countries as the only ones that were able to counteract the resource curse and the rent-seeking activities that are usually associated with it. Fosu (2012, pg. 45) argued that Norway escaped from Dutch Disease for several reasons: Norway has a history of natural resource management and integration with other industries through various linkages; The institutions already were developed to handle shocks to the economy such as large changes in terms of trades; The revenues from oil extraction were gradually separated from spending these rents by establishing a buffer fund that helped to stabilize the economy; According these rents from oil exportation became more significant, the buffer fund became larger and a new fiscal policy was implemented in 2001; This fund invested abroad and the returns are used to finance public expenditure with less deadweight loss. In 1996 the Norwegian government signed the Petroleum Act which constitutes the legal basis for the regulation of petroleum sector. In principle, it stated the rent from oil and gas belongs to the Norwegian people through their government. Gylfason (2001) describes that as the Norwegian government has high interest in controlling the oil sector, has decided to expropriate the oil and gas rent through taxes and fees. The State awards a small fee to domestic and foreign oil companies and receives roughly 40 percent of all produced through direct partnership with licensees, taxes and fees that corresponded to about 80 of the resource rent since 1980. Bresser-Pereira (2008) in its paper about a Ricardian approach of Dutch Disease describes that the severity of the natural curse varies according to the difference between the exchange rate equilibrium of the ââ¬Å"market rateâ⬠and the ââ¬Å"industrial rateâ⬠. The author points to the management of exchange rate through export tax on the commodities as the principal instrument for neutralization of Dutch Disease. Furthermore, the author argues that the resources from tax created to neutralize the natural curse should not be invested in the country but in international fund; therefore, the inflow of resources does not entail the revaluation of the local currency. Bresser-Pereira (2008) explains that Norway by imposing a tax on commodities adjusted the exchange rate equilibrium bringing it to the same level of tradable sector exchange rate equilibrium; thus, neutralizing the Dutch Disease. Moreover, the new ââ¬Å"adjustedâ⬠exchange rate will be more beneficial than the previous one; thus, the country will have a structural current account surplus. Gylfason (2001) also describes the oil revenues are deposited in the Norwegian Petroleum Fund allowed to invest only in foreign securities for the benefit of the current and future Norwegians generations. Only the real rate return of these assets is transferred to the annual State budget, according to the fiscal guideline, the government deficit cannot exceed 4 percent of the assets. This is also important to shield the domestic economy from mismanagement, waste and overinvestment. Larsen (2004) defines this shield important because protects the economy from excessive demand and real appreciation when at full capacity, therefore, reduce loss of competitiveness. It is also beneficial when it is not at full capacity to allow some increases in aggregate demand. Fosu (2012) described the two functions of this fund. The first is to secure that oil windfall is not consumed, but converted into financial wealth. The second is to separate these revenues from the domestic spending that would not vary according to the oil price fluctuation (fiscal policy). The idea is to have a stable spending of the oil revenues without interfere in the industry sector structure. Additionally, it helps to shield the non-oil economy from shocks in the oil sector, which can put pressure on the exchange rate. Brahmbhatt, Canuto, and Vostroknutova (2010) discuss solutions for solving the natural resource issue. They argue that fiscal policy is the most important instrument because can make the increase in wealth permanent as the same time as it can constrain the spending effect to reduce volatility. Spending policies toward tradable sector (including imports) and general policies toward improving productivity of private firms help to reduce the negative impacts. Additionally, the government can encourage demand for imports to reduce demand pressure on the non-tradable sector while mitigates pressure on exchange rate appreciation and other adverse effects of natural resource windfall. In the case of Norway we can see in graph below the country has stimulated improvements in the manufacturing sector that has increased its participation in the economy by 5% of GDP while the energy sector has fallen about 10 percent and non-tradable sector remained stable. We can infer that has an effort from the government to push the manufacturing sector through investment in education, business regulations, or reducing trade barriers and bureaucracy. Brahmbhatt et al. (2010) describes that these reforms have the aim of promoting foreign direct investment and create conditions for learning by doing. The exchange rate is impacted by the size of the non-oil budget deficit, or spending revenues as illustrated by Aamodt (2014). In short term oil and gas companies purchases NOK and the Norges Bankââ¬â¢s exchange transactions have influence on the krone exchange rate. Conversely, in long term is the size of non-oil deficit that affects the Norwayââ¬â¢s exchange rate. The revenues from oil do not have an impact by the fact that all government revenues from oil are accrued directly in foreign currency. But the government appreciates NOK when sells foreign currency to buy NOK in an amount equivalent to the budget deficit. In other words the breakdown of the governmentââ¬â¢s net cash flow from oil sector into foreign exchange revenues resulting from oil and gas companies has no influence on the krone exchange rate. With the Petroleum Fund the government isolates the effects of oil shocks and the oil price fluctuations on Norwegian economy because the entry of money into the economy is controlled and planned according to the need of the country. The State can make long term plan regarded to its domestic spending and; consequently; maintain the krone exchange rate and inflation stable even when the oil demand decreases. Other factors were important to neutralize the resource curse in Norway as stated by Gylfason (2001). The author explains that Norway has a centralized wage formation system to limit general wage increases at the magnitude of productivity increases in manufacturing sector. This is possible because the trade unions are large coalitions of employers and employees that are able to consider aggregate interests instead of special ones. Additionally, both parts use a neutral agency to compute productivity increases in the manufacturing sector, institutionalize this information as ceilings of general wage increases. Therefore; the countryââ¬â¢s centralized wage negotiation system contributes to prevent fast appreciation of salaries in different sectors. Larsen (2004) argues that income coordination is important as the public sector limited wage increases to the productivity growth in the internationally competing industrial sector. In other words, this income coordination neutralized the impact of externality in the manufacturing sector avoiding high inequalities between tradable sector and resource sector. This is an important factor for the neutralization of Dutch Disease as reduces the labor shift between the two sectors. The graph below shows the wage evolution in Norway since 2002 in which we can see that gap between oil sector and the others never exceeded 2 per cent in this period. Institutional quality is considered by Mehlum et al. (2006) as an important element to reduce the effects of Dutch Disease as natural resource abundance stimulates the shift from production rent-seeking to the activities related to resource extraction. The authors associate the lack of natural curse with the existence of efficient, bureaucratic and transparent government. They presented a model in which shows the negative effect of resource abundance on growth vanishes in countries with high institutional quality like Norway. The quality of institutions is also related to the corruption perception index as a measure of rent-seeking. Gylfason (2001) found a relation between natural resources wealth and increase in corruption and; consequently; decrease the per capita growth. In Norwayââ¬â¢s case, the author showed that since oil was discovered, the corruption has declined and countryââ¬â¢s GDP growth was stable during the last three decades. The graphs below shows Norway keeps a high level of freedom of corruption placed between 10 less corrupted countries of the world while economic growth spurted since the oil descovery, especially after 2000. Finally, the public expenditure on education in Norway did not decrease after oil descovery. According to OECD, Norway has an incredible 100% literacy rate and is third country which invests more in education, what proves the government decisions are not oriented to favor natural resource extraction instead of other tradable goods production. Gylfason (2000, p. 4) in its studies about the correlation between natural resources, education and economic development showed that countries with natural resources wealth invest less in education and; consequently; has a poor economic performance. Nevertheless, the author mentions that Norway is one of the few exceptions: ââ¬Å"The Norwegians show no signs of neglecting education, on the contrary, as the proportion of each cohort attending colleges and universities in Norway rose from 26 percent in 1980 to 62% in 1997â⬠.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Embryonic Stem Cells Research Essay -- Biology, Science Experiment
Embryonic stem cells research is a very conflicting subject in the United States. Some people think that it is morally and religiously incorrect as they are killing a human life at the first stage of life. While some think it is ok because the human life to them starts at the stage of the fetus. In this paper we are going to discuss the total aspect meaning: how the government takes playThe intention of this research paper is to inform about the benefits of animal testing for humankind through the development of medical treatments and the quality of life throughout history. Also try to persuade the society that is opposed to this practice about the many positive factors that has given us the animal experiments in the battle against diseases and conditions. By which today are successfully eradicated many viruses and pests that once were fatal. Finally, we will also demonstrate ours arguments availing ourselves of some books and articles published on the internet about this controvers ial issue. Ours purposes are to expose the many positive factors that have animal testing on the few disadvantages that some organizations in most cases deliberately exaggerated. Animal Testing We decided to do this research about the animal testing because is one of the issues that have generated more controversy worldwide over the years. Like any issue that is an international ethical dilemma, there is always a part of the society that supports, and another that condemns it. We intend through this research to determine the reasons why we're all in favor of this practice and support it in its entirety. To reinforce this point of view in this work we have included three arti... ...kes, Alzheimer, birth defects, organ transplant and many more. Imagine how other people will benefit from those studies. We may be even able to assist other countries with the study of embryonic stem cell. We could save peopleââ¬â¢s lives or make them live a bit longer until a real cure is found. We have reviewed many areas of embryonic stem cells. We have discuses how the government takes play in the research of embryonic stem cells. We also touch how embryonic stem cells are created, and that there are different ways to take embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo. Finally we were able to find one FDA approved trail going on involving embryonic stem cell research. We still havenââ¬â¢t decided if this is a good or bad research as there are many different aspects and point of views on this controversy topic. Guess we have to agree to disagree on this one.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
lung cancer Essay -- essays research papers
LUNG CANCER à à à à à Lung cancer is a carcinoma that develops in the epithelial cells that form the interior lining to the lungs. The airways get the most exposure to inhaled pollutants, thus most people who get lung cancer are smokers. Lung cancer is not just one disease. There are many types of cancer that form in the lungs most of which you can only see through a microscope. à à à à à The most common cancer of the lungs is epidermoid. It is also known as squamous carcinoma because its cells look like a flat surface called a squamous cell. This cancer produces keratin, a substance found in skin and hair, which can be seen in a tumor. Squamous carcinoma is more common in smokers because it develops in the bronchi and spreads by invading local tissues, than to the lymph nodes and into the blood. à à à à à Large - cell carcinoma is a tumor that is fairly larger than other types. They donââ¬â¢t form keratin but they are common in smokers. They develop in the central or peripheral part of the lungs and the lymph glands. à à à à à Small cell carcinoma tumors are small and fragile. They are divided into groups by their shapes. The term ââ¬Å"oat cell carcinomaâ⬠is used to develop in smokers and usually in the central part of the lung. They spread by the lymph glands and into the blood stream early. This type of tumors can only be seen through an electron microscope on high magnification. A rare type of lung cancer, which develops from hormone producing cells are carcinoid tumors. They have a much less malignant course than small cell carcinoma. à à à à à Lung cancer has been blamed on many factors but the most important is smoking. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. The more often and longer a person smokes increases there chances of lung cancer. Cigarettes are supposed to relieve stress and depression, thirst and hunger. In reality they are only killing inside of you although you cant see it. Many people who have smoked for years figure the damage is already done so why quit. The risk of death from lung cancer is related to the number of smoked cigarettes per day and the age the smoker started. There is only a small risk for non smokers to develop lung cancer. Although there is a risk of people who are around a lot of smokers from second hand smoke. à ... ...ave lost a lot of weight or who have had prior radiotherapy are likely to respond poorly to drug therapy. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à By: unknownà à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Ã
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