Friday, December 27, 2019

Islamic Bank Performance And Commercial Banks Example For Free - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1528 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? CHAPTER 1 1.1 ABSTRACT 1.2 INTRODUCTIONS and BACKGROUND Banks are a one of vital institution in the development of an economy (Jairus 2007), since they are the key drivers of the economy in terms of ensuring that the financial system is running and there is money in circulation (Ayub 2007). From the primitive set-up, that was banks in the past, to the present set up of the same, banks have continued to demonstrate their pivotal role in ensuring that businesses are conducted through the provision of credits, savings facilities, safe holdings, intermediary in local and international transactions and even advisory roles (Mahlknecht, 2009). Some of the best known banks in the world like Barclays and HSBC have been in operations for many years (Rahman 2010) and are hence shaping the way in which business is conducted, by shown the best practices in the banking sector. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Islamic Bank Performance And Commercial Banks Example For Free" essay for you Create order Unlike the other sectors of the economy, banks operate on two fundamental different rules, first, banks hold money and monetary instruments and they trade on these as opposed to the other businesses which operate on other forms of goods and services against money, secondly, banks mainly operate in liabilities and not assets and their strength is indirectly gauged by this (Jairus 2007), for instance, banks take up deposits from investors and account holders (this is a liability that the banks undertake to keep other peoples money) and using this money, the banks lend to borrowers and other banks and charge interest on the same therefore, they create a financial system that is developed on the basis of liabilities (Akgunduz 2009). This mode of trading is what separates the banks from the other financial institutions and as such make the banks to be increasingly relied upon by other stakeholders in the business environment (Rahman 2010). The increased usage of money as opposed to the old aged barter system has also made the banks to be imported in all major activities of selling and buying of goods and services and in reality, riches and success are measured in terms of money (Iqbal , Llewellyn 2002, Timur 2005). As stated earlier, the normal or conventional banking system is based on the premise of interest charges that the banks have to levy in order to remain in trade, and therefore, different banks have in the recent past, made significant effort to tailor their products in such a way that the interests and other charges will be accumulated and contribute to their profits (Mahlknecht, 2009). This is not to say that interests alone make their profits, since, according to Ayub (2007), profits can also in increased by identifying the business units that require cuts and implementing these cuts. Now, the conventional way of trading as given above, is mainly based on the Western worlds model of banking which to some extent is hinged on Capitalism and has b een called by (Akgunduz 2009) as a simple way to rip other off. This does not really fell well with certain ideological leanings and certainly not with the Islamic ideology, which mainly advocates welfare and support to the have nots by the haves  [1]  , and on this premise, the banks have a duty to provide to those who are lacking (Jaffer 2005). According to Islamic teachings the Riba and usury or interest is not to be levied and is prohibited in certain terms hence it is Haraam unfair or prohibited (Timur 2005). However, this concept seem to have started just in the near past, since according to Lewis , Algaoud (2001) , a look at the works of Qureshi Annwar (1946), Naiem Siddiqi (1948) and Mahmud Ahmad (1952) show a tendency to profit sharing and not interest charges, so the company is expected not to charge interest as a way of sharing its profits (Schoon 2009). The first Islamic bank was later on formed in Egypt, but this was held secret for fear of being seen as an I slamic fundamental group and this was in 1975 (Rahman 2010). At present Islamic banking institution are worth about $400 billion and Saudi Arabia has world known banks like the Al Rajhi, and the bank Mellat. Being an Islamic nation as most of the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) , it could only follow that it is a good idea to ensure that this banking concept develops in this region to serve those clients in a way that responds to their religious needs (Hassan, Lewis, 2007). This is not to say that Islamic banks can run in isolation, especially in the wake of international business and with the recent accession of KSA to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), thereby making business between KSA and the world to increase (Rosly, 2006), besides, KSA is the largest producer of crude oil (Timur 2005), which is a product in demand all over the world and in this inter-national trade, banks must act as underwriters or even agents to the buyers and sellers (Hassan , Lewis 2007). Also, according to (Jaffer 2005), and as seen earlier, Islamic banks have been developed along the principles of conventional banks with a few but important differences. From an investors point of view, the choice of investing in an Islamic bank or a conventional commercial bank in KSA is therefore an issue that requires careful thought (Timur 2005), this is because, while an assumption can be made that being an Islamic bank in an Islamic nation, there are obvious advantages to the investor (Pock 2007), this assumption may be disputed, since, in the same environment, the conventional commercial banks may ensure that they counter the advantages of Islamic banks with tailor made products that respond to the clients needs and therefore, they may be more beneficial to the clients (Lewis , Algaoud 2001). It also depends on what the investor is looking for, because, individual investors like the corporate investors have varied investment objectives, and while it can be said that in g eneral, corporate investors may be patient and hence looking for long-term investment, individual investors may need quick benefits (Mahlknecht, 2009). Again, suppose the investors are considering monetary benefits, which is often the case for many (Khan 2010), what banking concept are they likely to invest in and at what investing limit (threshold or minimum investment) must they commit in order to achieve their objectives? (Iqbal , Llewellyn 2002). THE PROBLEM These are important questions that have driven the interest in conducting this study. The researcher wishes to find out what bank or banking concept is more likely to benefit investors. In this context, investors will be viewed as individual investors who have the power to save their money in the hope of achieving certain benefits in due time. According to (Akgunduz 2009), and also (Rosly, 2006), there is a need to find out what might motivate investors to consider investing in Islamic banks, even though, the concept of interest is forbidden and hence they are unlikely to earn any, or what might motivate them to invest in conventional commercial banks although there are charges and minimum amounts to be invested to realise some benefits. It is therefore important to ensure that a comparative analysis is conducted between Islamic and Conventional Commercial banks is undertaken with a view to fully establish the major differences in various operational aspects of these banks an d also to evaluate what banking concept of the two would be most beneficial to the investors. Hypothesis: In this study, the research is based on the premise that conventional banks still provide the best option to investors compared with Islamic banks and that as time goes by and competition in the banking sector increases, there appears to be more differences between the operations of these banks as each bank seeks to provide more diverse products and services to their clients. The research sought to evaluate the following research questions; Are there fundamental differences between Conventional commercial and Islamic banks? What are they? What are the differences in operations of Islamic and Conventional commercial banks, in KSA? What are the monetary benefits to the investors in the Islamic and Conventional banks in KSA? What banking concept would you consider for the investor in KSA in terms the general benefits? The following objectives have been evalu ated: Identifying the operational differences between Islamic and conventional banks in KSA. This involves an investigation into the functional areas of these banks as they seek to get and keep their clients including other functions that support business both locally and internationally. Discuss the performance between the Islamic and commercial banks in KSA: In this section, the financial ratios will be evaluated including liquidity, gearing and profitability ratios. Assessing the monetary benefits to the investors in investing in either Conventional or Islamic banks in the KSA. Assessing and recommending the best banking concept to the investor in terms of the long term, and short term benefits: In this section the research considered the issues of interest, duration, benefits of tailor made banking to the investors, other collateral benefits that say and account holder would be given, that non account holder would not have. The Scope: This research will mainly consider investment benefits while comparing the banking sector in KSA with relations to the banking conventions in the KSA. The focus will be on KSA, which has strong Islamic and Conventional banking sectors. CHAPTER 2 2.1 LITERATURE 2.2. METHODOLOGY CHAPTER 3 3.1 METHODOLOGY 3.2 CASES AND ANALYSIS CHAPTER 4 4,1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY CHAPTER 5 5.1 DISCUSSION 5.2 CONCLUSION CHAPTER 6

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Arthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman And The Crucible

Since the beginning of the human race, struggles and conflicts have been a constant. As individual people and as a world, there have never been perfect times. Arthur Miller’s writing style focuses on how his characters deal with external and internal problems and how their reactions to these problems reflect their characterization. Arthur Miller uses external conflict, internal conflict, and indirect characterization, in Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, to show how ideas of society do not always agree with the ideas and beliefs of others which can lead to a fatal action. There are three major external struggles brought forth in Miller’s novel The Crucible: man versus nature, man versus man, and man versus society. In Salem, Massachusetts 1692, the puritan society defines witchcraft as â€Å"dealing with the devil† (â€Å"Salem Witch Trials† 1) and if a man, woman, or child is found guilty without confession they are sentenced to death. When the chaos of man versus man is initiated, witchcraft begins in the town. Families begin to break apart and the whole town turns against each other. Man versus society occurs when the courts get involved which is caused by the man versus man conflicts. After the protagonist Abigail Williams has an affair with an out-of-town farmer John Proctor, Elizabeth’s husband, she starts the witch rituals in the forest with other girls by pleading to the devil to kill those they despise. Abigail spoke the truth to Reverend Parris who caught the girlsShow MoreRelatedEssay about Arthur Miller1626 Wor ds   |  7 PagesTheater Appreciation ARTHUR MILLER Of the list of American playwrights the one I thought I would find most interesting is Arthur Miller. Being relatively familiar with some of his work I wanted to learn more about him. Through the research I have done I have been able to find some very interesting information about Millers work as well as his personal life. Arthur Miller was born in New York on October 17, 1915. His father, Isidore Miller, was a ladies-wear manufacturer and shopkeeper whoseRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s The Crucible 1052 Words   |  5 PagesArthur Miller was one of the leading American playwrights in the 20th century. Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915 in Harlem New York City to Isidore and Augusta Miller (GradeSaver). After graduating from high school, Miller worked a variety of odd jobs including hosting a radio program; this was before the University of Michigan accepted him. At school, he studied journalism, became the night editor of the Michigan Daily, and began experimenting with theater and writing plays. He lived throughRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Death Of A Salesman 1041 Words   |  5 PagesResearch paper for â€Å"Death of a Salesman† In the play â€Å"death of a salesman† by author miller, the dramatist focuses on the theme of â€Å"the American dream†. Lowman, a botched salesman, is the protagonist of the play. Willy is certain that society only has room for winners. In support of this, the play’s theme demonstrates how a victim of â€Å"the American dream† can be destroyed by fabricated promises that will impact not only â€Å"business life but will conflict with personal relationships as well† (ElwellRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller Essay1552 Words   |  7 Pages Honor and Faith is what is questioned in Arthur Miller â€Å"The Crucible†. The Crucible is about the Salem witch trials. Several young girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft. The afflicted girls accuse people in the town of witchcraft, often choosing victims who they or their families dislike. The main antagonist Abigail Williams with the other girl’s accusations resulted in the arrests and death of many people in the community of Salem. Arthur Miller wrote this play during the time of the RedRead MoreArthur Miller s Psychological And Social Magnitude Of His Characters1657 Words   |  7 Pagessee, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less.†- Arthur Miller B. As a serious essayist and playwright who believed in the ability dramas had in bringing about change, Arthur Miller investigated the psychological and social magnitude of his characters. His plays attempted to go beyond trouble-free pieces in order to give an insight and deal in depth with ethical and moral issues. Miller was interested in how common people could live in harmony with others without surrenderingRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1487 Words   |  6 Pages Arthur Miller is famous for many of his different play’s ranging from Death of a Salesman to The Crucible. His play’s all possess a certain type of character that relate not only to the common man but to those who are facing atrocities in society. The Crucible was a very impressive play that took place in Salem in early day America, mainly focusing on the witch trials and the early American thought. While it was heavily historically based, it was also based off of the times of currentRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Millers Death Of Salesman 1611 Words   |  7 PagesResearch paper on death of salesman Arthur Miller created stories that express the deepest meanings of struggle. Miller is the most prominent twentieth-century American playwrights. He based his works on his own life, and his observations of the American scene. Arthur Asher Miller was born 17 October 1915 in Manhattan, New York city. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. His parents had a prosperous clothing company. Unfortunately when the stock market crashed, because his familyRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Millers Death Of Salesman 1548 Words   |  7 Pages Research paper on death of salesman Arthur Miller created stories that express the deepest meanings of struggle. Miller is the most prominent twentieth-century American playwrights. He based his works on his own life, and his observations of the American scene. Arthur Asher Miller was born 17 October 1915 in Manhattan, New York city. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. His parents had a prosperous clothing company. Unfortunately when the stock market crashed, because his familyRead More The Crucible - Was The Mass Hysteria Necessary? Essay1037 Words   |  5 Pages In The Crucible, there was a lot of senseless behavior. The purpose of The Crucible is to educate the reader on the insanity that can form in a group of people who think they are judging fairly upon a group of people. Judge Hawthorne believes what he is told by certain people is the truth even if little evidence is to be shown. The young girls with Abigail convince Hawthorne of others being witches so that Abigail can get what she wants , John Proctor, also so that Abigail does not blackmail theRead MoreThe Collapse Of A Cherished Businessman1571 Words   |  7 PagesThe Collapse of a Cherished Businessman Arthur Miller, a highly acclaimed and influential twentieth century dramatist, was born in New York City in 1915. Unlike normal Greek tragedies that focus on the aristocracy, Miller’s works often focus on the plight and tragedy of the common man. According to Rachel Galvin in an article for National Endowment for the Humanities, Miller generally illustrated characters that â€Å"wrestle with power conflicts, personal and social responsibility, the repercussions

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Dancehall Music free essay sample

Music is used to relax the mind and give comfort to the soul. All around the world, there are different types of music and in Jamaica dancehall music is the one of the most popular types enjoyed. My theme is dancehall music because of my growing concern to the negative impacts this type of music has brought upon the Jamaican youth population. The intention of this project is to investigate and expose the effects of dancehall music towards the Jamaican youth population. I am personally interested in this theme because I enjoy music very much and being in the music club at my school has influenced me to explore different genres of music. I am academically interested in this theme as I am currently attending afternoon classes at the Edna Manley School of Music. This theme also relates to my work-related interest because I would like to become a musician in the future, and as a future role model I want to give a positive contribution to my country. We will write a custom essay sample on Dancehall Music or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For my reflective, I have composed a narrative piece entitled; â€Å"Salecka’s Downfall†. The theme is brought out through the main character, ‘Salecka’ whose life was led in the wrong path after being negatively influenced by dancehall music. This genre was the most appropriate medium for me to fully express the changes in the life of the main character. Preface The purpose of this project is to investigate and expose the effects of dancehall music towards the Jamaican youth population. The intended audiences are the Jamaican adolescents, ages 14-17 that are exposed to this type of music to remind them to never forget who they are as well as to the parents to guide and help the teens to the right path. The general context of this project portrays young people who use dancehall music as a ‘Bible’ to guide their lives rather than just another genre of music listened for enjoyment. Meaning they forget about their original personalities and try to emulate the characteristics described in the ‘dancehall world’, whether it is the actions being sang about or using a dancehall artist as a role model. The specific context of the prose in this project is about a teenage girl who had the potential to have a successful future but threw it away after being negatively influenced by dancehall music. Salecka’s Downfall The dark room she laid in night after night was now to be called her home for years to come. With mistakes Salecka now lives to regret, she has 25 years to sit and wonder, what would her life have been had her actions been different. Salecka Martin was a short, light colored, frizzy hair, nerdy girl. She carried a draw string bag pack, huge glasses like those from the 80’s and all her uniforms were double her size. She wasn’t a people person, always preferred to stick by herself, especially since every time she went in a crowd, people would step a distance away from her. Above all of this, Salecka was intelligent and outspoken when it came to school work, she always maintained good grades and was seen as a young girl with a bright future by her teachers. That all changed as the ninth grade arrived. Danielle, a dark brown colored, coolie hair, curvy girl who wore short, tight uniforms was practically the opposite of Salecka. She did very poorly in academics and had a nasty attitude to her teachers. She always walked with a group of girls who went everywhere she did and they would sit all day and talk about the last party they attended. Everyone seemed to like them though, especially the boys. â€Å"Yow Trish, di social ago shot todeh enuh! A bare tings ago gwaan man,† said Danielle as she boasted to her friends in the bathroom, â€Å"yuhsi all Prince, I going mad him head todeh. † Salecka, coming from one of the bathroom stalls, overheard the girls talking. She was ` not very fund of these girls because she knew they were bad news. â€Å"As a member of the key club society, I would prefer if that type of behavior was not displayed at our social, thank you,† said Salecka as she exited the bathroom with a straight face. At the end of school, the hall vibrated with music and the students rushed to the gates to claim their positions. Salecka had never attended a social before and what she overheard the girls saying this morning aroused her curiosity. She decided to just go and observe what would take place. â€Å"Bruckbruckbruckbruckbruck i dung!!!! † was what met Salecka’s ears as she stepped inside the hall. The students were gyrating like wild animals against each other and the excitement in their eyes as they danced was shocking to Salecka. As she stood and observed the students, she wanted to feel as alive as they did. After about half an hour, Salecka felt so comfortable and vibrant in the music that she started to ‘church rock’ since that’s the only dance she knew. Being so caught up, she ended up staying for the entire function. When the social was over, she headed straight through the school gate because she now realized she was going to get home late. When she arrived at the bus stop, she noticed that Danielle and her friends were there too waiting for their usual ‘hype’ bus. After about twenty minutes, there came a bus approaching the bus stop, more colorful than butterflies and belting music loud enough to cause an instant headache. With her two hands over her ears, Salecka followed the girls as they entered the bus since this was her only option as she was already late. School children were packed in the bus as tight as sardines and every boy had a girl in his lap and some even two. Salecka couldn’t even hold on to anything as the bus moved off immediately. â€Å"Gyal sidung, sidung, sidung!!† was one of the songs she heard, and as it played, the girls jumped up and down in the boys’ laps and gyrated all over them. Some of the songs even uttered expletives and descriptive sexual content and the students couldn’t care less. This experience was new to Salecka and she was now beginning to like dancehall music to the extent where it became her favorite genre. She started to go to parties and ignore her school work and her manner s to persons she encountered with started to deteriorate. After three months, Salecka and the girls she was never fond of became good friends and she was a whole new person.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Search for Order by Robert H. Wiebe

Summary Written by Robert H. Wiebe in 1967, the book, The Search for Order, is a perfect chronicle of the Americans’ search for economic, political, and social order between 1877 and 1920. The search kicked off immediately after the Reconstruction Era until 1920 just before the vagaries of the Great Depression set in.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on The Search for Order by Robert H. Wiebe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Reconstruction, which was occasioned by the Civil War, failed and people started looking up to themselves and this change was supported by the growing industries. This shift from government dependence to self-actualization was at the center of the controversies that followed including the introduction of the Gold Standard, the agrarians’ fallout, and the bulging need for professionalism in the country among other issues. Theodore Roosevelt’s triumph to presidency co nsolidated the calls for professionalism in every aspect of the American livelihoods including politics. The First World War was a shocker to the US, which mistakenly thought it had enough diplomatic ties to control such an occurrence. The key concern in the book is the progressive movement that gripped the Americans, which seemed to be the genesis of the disorder that Wiebe seeks to address via this book. Critical Analysis Conventionally, by exploring the undying spirit for search for order amongst Americans from the late nineteen century, Wiebe, through the law of unintended consequences, highlights the ripe disorder that defined the American society at the time. One of the critical issues that I learnt from the book is the disorder that prevailed after the abortion of the Reconstruction and the subsequent quest for restoring order in the American society. Wiebe (1967) confesses, â€Å"Americans in a basic sense no longer knew who or what they were†¦The setting had altered b eyond their power to understand it and within an alien context they had lost themselves† (42). As aforementioned, Americans embraced professionalism in their dealings and thus they departed from the earlier way of handling issues via moral lenses. Americans embraced officialdom and thus â€Å"the heart of progressivism was the ambition of the new middle class to fulfill its destiny through bureaucratic means† (Wiebe 1967, 166). Unfortunately, while bureaucracy was initially meant to bring order and progression, it soon degenerated to chaos as the changing social, political, and the economic environment introduced new challenges. People wanted accountability from the government; however, this push was not strong enough following the government-engineered Reconstruction Era, which aborted miserably. People had lost faith in the same government that they wanted to be accountable. Therefore, in the raging confusion, the very ideals highly regarded in society like anticorrup tion started to wane. Corruption and political persecutions found their way back into the mainstream government. Unfortunately, the masses were too disorganized to voice their issues- they had neither inner push nor reason to champion for reforms. Therefore, â€Å"with no purpose beyond disclosure and conviction and very little organized support behind them, they captured the headlines, and then disappeared† (Wiebe 1967, 172).Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, as aforementioned, Wiebe’s purpose of compiling this book was to highlight how Americans realized order in a seemingly hostile and disorderly environment. Therefore, even though the author starts by highlighting a disorder, he quickly moves to the central theme and explores the journey to an ‘orderly America’. By the turn of the twentieth century, the cards were changing as alleg iance shifted from politics to professionalism. In a span of 11 years, Americans had three presidents all of which were progressives. President Theodore Roosevelt in particular was a darling to many Americans due to his liberal stand on governance. He brought order in a hitherto disorderly society grappling with the vagaries of a changing environment. While William Taft was somehow undecided on liberal issues, by the time he rose to power, the progressives had already been established and they carried on with Roosevelt’s spirit until Wilson Woodrow won the presidency and continued with restoring the order that Theodore had initiated. By 1912-1913, the American society had achieved domestic ‘order’ and so they started pushing for foreign policy and investments overseas. Unfortunately, as aforementioned, the outbreak of the First World War was a shocker to the Americans as their teething diplomatic ties were thrown into disarray and the disorder moved from domestic to the international arena. However, Wiebe is only concerned with the domestic order and as he closes up the book, he notes that the 1920s brought order in the American society –an order that had been elusive for many years. Conclusion Wiebe’s book, In Search for Order, is a masterpiece as it gives an impartial view of the American’s search for order immediately after the abortion of the Reconstruction all through to the 1920s after the First World War. The book is thematic and Wiebe does not dwell on the disorderly era for long, but he shifts to the theme of his book. He does this by dedicating a larger part of his book to the ‘search for order’ aspect. The book is informative and from it. I learnt of the Americans’ resilient journey towards ‘order’, which they ultimately realized according to Wiebe’s chronicles. Reference Wiebe, Robert. 1967. The Search for Order, 1877-1920. New York: Hill and Wang.Advertising We w ill write a custom book review sample on The Search for Order by Robert H. Wiebe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This book review on The Search for Order by Robert H. Wiebe was written and submitted by user Eva Ross to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Macintyre And Determinism Essays - Philosophy, Metaphysics

Macintyre And Determinism Behavior is quite an interesting aspect of man to observe. All day long we demonstrate diverse types of behavior, from eating certain foods to speaking in certain ways. But of most interest is rational behavior. Behavior is rational if, and only if, it can be influenced, or inhibited by the adducing of some logically relevant consideration. (p.297) In his essay MacIntyre tries to show us that rational behavior is not causally determined, but that it comes out of our free will. The discovery of causal explanations for our actions, and the like, shows, or tries to show, that we could not have done other than what we did. From this, then, there would be no point to morality, which has been at the forefront of human thought for ages. But then again, to say the human behavior is inexplicable is to deny all that we have learned from the sciences. We have already given the definition for rational behavior, but in this definition we find a point which must be clarified, that of a logically relevant consideration. What exactly is a logically relevant consideration? Well, that is logically relevant will necessarily vary from case to case. And it can vary so much that MacIntyre even goes as far as saying that the task of philosophy might almost be defined as the task of defining 'logical relevance'. (p. 297) Rational behavior is then said to be defined with reference to the possibility of altering it by some logically relevant consideration. Thus, to show that a behavior is rational is enough to show that it is not causally determined, in the sense of it being the effect of certain conditions outside of a person's control. Being that there is rational behavior, it must follow that there is such a thing non-rational behavior. Non-rational behavior is, of course, behavior which does not take logically relevant considerations into account. Such an act can be said to be impulsive. As in all philosophical discourse the opposing party usually proposes a counter-attack. In this case, the determinist has launched a three-stage counter attack against free actions. Firstly the determinist argues that, in the widest sense of the word cause, the giving of a reason may function as a cause. MacIntyre argues against this by saying that to act because you were given reasons to act would not necessarily be to act in a causally determined way. (p. 299) For, in terms of the concept of rational behavior, we can certainly differentiate between a giving of reasons which is causally effective and a giving of reasons which is rationally effective. The determinist then moves to the second stage of his argument. He will say that there are empirical grounds for believing that we can always be mistaken about rational behavior. It may seem like the behavior is influenced by rational considerations when, in fact, it is completely determined by antecedent causes. To disprove this MacIntyre says that such antecedent causes would only determine the event in the absence of logically relevant conditions. In other words, if a logically relevant idea were offered to contradict the event about to take place, it is most likely that reason would take over and prevent that event from occurring. We now come to the determinist final attempt to disprove the act of free will. He might suggest that advances in learning theory, for example, might teach us that rational, intelligent behavior was nothing more than well-drilled behavior, of which a complete causal account could be given, only provided that that account was sufficiently complex. (p. 300) But how can this be? There are two problems in this suggestion. For one thing, a man might one day decide to stop being immoral. He may weigh out the pros and cons of a situation and decide to go with what is moral. Secondly, if determinism is to rest its hopes on such a complex pattern of explanation then it becomes very hard to either verify or disprove it. MacIntyre provides us with an example. Suppose that the determinist is able to formulate a complete explanation of my behavior in causal terms. But also suppose that my behavior is rational. Now what test can determine whether I acted because

Sunday, November 24, 2019

For many years after the introduction of automobiles

For many years after the introduction of automobiles, three kinds of power sources were in common use: steam engines, gasoline engines, and electric motors. In 1920 over 2300 automobiles were registered in New York City, Boston, Massachusetts, and Chicago, Illinois. Of these, 1170 were steam cars, 800 were electric cars, and only 400 were gasoline cars. Gasoline-powered engines eventually became the nearly universal choice for automobiles because they allowed longer trips and faster speeds than engines powered by steam or electricity. By 1920 more than 8 million Americans owned cars. Major reasons for the surge in automobile ownership were Ford's Model T, the assembly-line method of building it, and the affordability of cars for the ordinary wage earner. Many new companies were formed. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. completed its first car in Japan. FIAT produced automobiles in Italy, and Daimler and Benz merged together in 1926 to begin production of the Mercedes-Benz line of automobiles. In 1928 the German manufacturer Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), also known as Bavarian Motor Works, began building automobiles. As the end of the decade neared, Ford and Chevrolet were very competitive with their price and products, which had continued through the Thirties. Other automakers, such as Cadillac, Packard, and Chrysler, began to have an impact on the market. Towards the end of the 20's the stock market crashed. The crash forced many smaller, automakers to close their doors and declare bankruptcy. Some companies held on into the Thirties and Forties, but eventually faded from the scene. Few companies have survived to modern times, but those that have are some of the world's leaders in production and sales today.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Job Fair Brochure and Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Job Fair Brochure and - Research Paper Example People know the company very well and this approach has established credibility and integrity of the company. Over the past few years, especially with the addition of Suptuous Ballroom, the profit margins have improved, sales increased and operating expenses have be reduced from 45% to 40%. Size/Growth – its effect and how management perceives it: Two staff accounts managers work under the company founder Rudy Electrum, each one handling a portfolio of clients. But positive aspect of being of small size is that company is more organic and lenient. The employees know each other very well and trust in each other. Vision/Mission Statement – What it says about the firm, and how management works toward it: There is no vision as such communicated by the management and CEO of the company but still employees have a dream of making Sumptuous Cuisine Cataering, a global catering company. Company has a mission to make the clients believe in them and trust them. Core Competencies: Company has a specific methodology of providing service according to international standards which is transparent, fluid and specialized. Moreover, its employees have high integrity, professionalism and dedication that assists them to mange and exceede client’s expectations. Client preferences, intersts and vision is held primary even if it requires unpopular decisions. Culture: The company has an informal atmosphere and all the employees know each other well. They work like a team and understand each other and work with coordination and collaboration. Due to long lasting relationship of the employees with the company, the employees understand the values and core competencies of the company which help them to perform their responsibilities well. Company has no international affiliation at this moment. The employees are self motivated to help the company to achieve its short term and long term goals. Employs believe the achievement of goals of the company as their reward. Lead ership/Decision Making: Company works under highly centralized decision making but as environment is like a team and family structure, so democracy helps in making some decisions but ultimate power lies with the founding partners Rudy Electrum and Tosca Cabrini. Leadership is very much encouraged in the company but only if you have guts and skills. Talent, skills and proposals of good projects are encouraged. Self motivation is there in the employees but as decision making is centralized, there is very limited empowerment. Recognizing & Rewarding Performance: There are no special rewards and recognitions, but only those of normal course of business. Employees believe themselves to be the incredible parts of the company and are self motivated. Innovation – Management’s perspective & the firm’s goals: Sumptuous Cuisine Catering is planning to open a Sumptuous Ballroom, to enable the company attain its future goals of becoming a â€Å"true one-stop shop† for all-inclusive events by creative competitive edge. Interaction – Marketing, personalization, and customization: Sumptuous Cuisine Catering is a professional organization and it follows the various media strategies for the promotion of its new Sumptuous Ballrom. Company is still new in the locality yet it has developed a strong credibility and integrity. People know the company very well. So marketing happens through word of mouth and transfer of business cards at dinners and in the events. Mostly, we reach our customers through the