Philosophy - Is Memory Reliable Essay Example for Free

Philosophy Is Memory Reliable Essay How would I prove that my memory or reasoning processes are reliable? There really is no good way to answer this question. My first thought was, well that should be easy, because I can prove my memory is reliable by the fact that I remember where class is every day that I show up. If I can remember where the classroom is, that must show my memory is reliable. But then I realized that I’m relying on a memory to come up with that example. This makes the question seem like a paradox to even try and answer, because in order to figure out if there is a way to prove my memory is reliable, I must use my memory to recall memories that might apply, and I must also assume the accuracy of the memories I might draw from as example. I cannot prove memory reliability by using logic drawn from the assumption that the memories I used are reliable. This seems to create a fallacy in logic before even getting started. In reality it seems easy to say that yes, although our memories are sometimes wrong, generally more often than not they are right. We know this because we recall from our memory many times each day to do the simplest tasks. If our memory was that flawed, we would be unable to survive on a day to day basis. Where do I get water? How do I get food? How do I drive a car? While this does show that we are able to rely on our memories to complete everyday tasks, it doesn’t prove our memory is consistently true. We cannot be sure that any memory we’ve ever had actually happened exactly the way we remember it (unless material sources are used, like video or pictures to back up the memory) because of a multitude of problems with memory like delusion and distortion. Memories can be easily manipulated and altered in many different ways, from simple re-telling where little details may be unwittingly changed each time a memory is told, to the power of suggestion in which an entirely false memory can be implanted into a persons mind and believed to be true by that person. Although these memories may seem very real to us, even to the point where we are willing to fight for their reliability, they are still factually false. This actually happens a lot! Although it practice these issues with memory exist, they are mostly ignored because we typically use other methods beyond memory alone to help collaborate what we remember. We are validated by others who share the same memory, photos, ect. So although in a philosophical world it seems impossible to find solid clear evidence that memory is truly reliable, but it seems silly, and even dangerous to continually doubt that memory can be reliably called upon. For example, I decide to cross the road without looking both ways because I cannot be sure that being hit by a car would kill me. I might have seen and heard of people being killed by cars in the past, but if I doubt my own memory how could I be sure that speeding cars have the potential to actually kill people. Because of this seemingly correct logic I might then be hit by a car and become a victim of what many would say is clear common sense. So although there is no good way to prove the reliability of memory, we must still rely on it all the same.

Croatia Pest Analysis Essay Example for Free

Croatia Pest Analysis Essay Material quality (the hotels’ interior design and entertainment activities) Immaterial quality (quality in services and organization) (www. oecd. org) Pure service performance would diminish the profit. Therefore, the organization provides staff training, job security and high supervision in order to maintain quality human resource management. Technology such as OnQ forecast management System is implemented. (www. microsoft. om) Through this system the organization becomes precise in pricing and financing strategies and meets the customer preferences. (Ganesh D. at al. , 2001) Given that the company belongs to the tourism industry, the remaining value chain is: Principles Intermediary Customers Hamilton Hotels build vertical integration with their principles which provides additional activities. (Smeral, 1998) The cooperation includes arrangements with restaurants, leisure, recreation centers and banks and insurance companies. This vertical integration is expanded with airlines, rent a car and credit card companies. (www. oecd. rg) As far as the geographical expansion and the promotion of the Hamilton Hotels are concerned, intermediaries perform as major device. The most appreciated influencers are travel agencies. (Smeral, 1998) According to the management of Hamilton hotels, services after the accommodation could only increase the cost. In order to maintain low prices and meet the standards of customers, unnecessary services have been removed (Smeral, 1998) 3. PEST analysis 3. 1 Political analysis Croatia is constitutionally parliamentary democratic country. Signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995, brought high level of security and protection. (www. state. ov) Though, corruption is awkward issue that remains. In addition, the political forces in the country, in 2004 outlined a Commission that will prevent conflicts of interests and legislation that will stop money laundering. (www. buyusa. gov) In orde r to secure the success of transition into a market economy, Croatia implements reforms in legal institutions, policy development and investment plans. While being influenced by the requirements from the EU membership, Croatia has executed several projects for harmonization. (Strategy for Croatia, 2005) First step was to prepare the legal Croatian system according to the EU norms and rules. According to Anon (2005) â€Å" EU policies, as well as the obligations from its IMF stand-by arrangement, World Bank structural adjustment loans and WTO membership- commit Croatia to increase transparency and to equitable application of laws to both domestic and foreign business†. Thus, Croatia maintains good connections with many significant EU political and financial institutions and its neighbors. The market economy involves implementation of government anti-inflationary policy and progress of the private sector through privatization. Priority Action Plan (PAP) was the result of the government aim. Strategy for Croatia, 2005) 3. 2 Economic analysis Under the tight fiscal and monetary policy, Croatia had 4. 3 % growth of GDP in 2005 ( 30 950 million â‚ ¬). (www. shelter. incom. hr) The forecasting predicts continuously improvement since increased personal consumption and service growth, especially in the tourism industry, will occur. (www. balcanionline. it) Croatia appl ies its monetary policy to maintain price stability and stable value of national currency. (www. hgk. hr) The inflation rate in 2005 was 3. 3. The impact of unemployment in Croatia can’t be evaluated because of grey economy. However, the unemployment rate for persons older than 15 years in 2005 was 12. 7. During the last period, banks improved their performance through loan activities. Loans for personal consumption dominated in 2000-2001, thus nowadays, corporate loans indicate the boosting investment activities. (www. balcanionline. it) According to the Global Competitiveness Index in 2006 , Croatia is ranked on the 51st place, which is 13 places up from the previous year. (www. apin. hr) 3. 3 Social analysis Researches show that Croatian consumers prefer the domestic product if it has equal price and quality as foreign products. Also, they prefer easy available, attractive, intensively advertised and products with good value for money. (www. croatiasa. com) The population is ageing and the standard of living in Croatia rises with small step. Thus, people between 20 and 55 years have the highest disposable income. The consumer lifestyle is influenced by the Italian model of healthy, sport life. (www. hrcak. hr) Consequently, investing in sport centers, summer resorts, spa and ski resorts are the main investing attraction nowadays. (www. croatiasa. com) Croatian are aware of green issues and put effort to protect the environment. Major issues for Croatia are waste management, water treatment and sewerage. Since tourism is the main investing attraction, Croatia implemented project for 177 coastal towns in order to find adequate protection. (www. croatiasa. com) 3. 4 Technological analysis Croatian Program for Innovative Technological Development is established in order to reinforce the RD activities. (www. unpan1. un. org) According to Anon (2004 p. 17) RD is reinforced since â€Å"the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MSES) appoints councils for specific areas of science like natural, technical, biomedical, bio-technical, social science and the humanities. In 1975 Croatian IT Society was established. This organization uses IT and enables easier communication in Croatia through: organizing research and development projects and providing services, information and advice, especially for interdisciplinary activities. (www. ifip. or. at) One recent activity is installation of ECDL. Another advanced technology program is E-learning academy (ELA) that provides learning at a distance. (www. e-mentor. edu. pl) 4. Entry mode Given that Hamilton Hotels intend to expand the business, adequate entry mode would be acquisition. Alvarez-Gil at al. , 2003) Acquisition is less risky since the company will operate with familiar operations. Additionally, income will increase by using the already existing skill force, technology, capacity and easy available local capital and market research. (Hereemann, 2006) Croatia with 4. 5 million population, Slovenia as neighbor and direct access to Adriatic Sea, has convenient attractions. Skilled labor, developed transport infrastructure and easy communication are another advantages. (www. croatiaproperty. rg) According to the Investment Promotion Law level foreign and domestic investors are delighted with equal incentives. (www. croatiaproperty. org) With only 1 month required to register the business, Croatia proposes several incentives: 1)corporate tax Companies that invest approximately 700 000 $ and will create 10 new jobs, have 10 ? corporate tax level. 30 jobs and investing 1. 8 million $ brings 7 ? tax. 3 ? tax level is for 3. 5 million $ invested with 50 jobs and 0 ? tax level is for 10. 6 million $ and 75 new jobs. (www. mingorp. hr) 2)Property ownership rights Foreign company in Croatia established for business activities is registered as domestic legal entity (www. croatiabiz. com ) 3) Repatriation of profits Foreign investor can relocate the earnings without legal restrictions according to the Foreign Exchange Transaction and Trade in Gold Act (www. croatiabiz. com ) 4) Free zones Free Trade Zones are built in the area affected by wars. The government offers 50 % deducting of corporate tax if operations are launched there. Those companies that are involved in building the infrastructure in the free zones, don’t pay corporate tax.

Sociological perspective

Sociological perspective A complete state of ones physical, mental and emotional well being can be defined as health. A healthy environment or society is a factor that determines the healthy of an individual. From a sociological point of view, a functioning society comprises of healthy people and individuals who are able to control diseases (Durkheim, 1982). In view of murder and suicide, this research paper looks into sociological theories and sociological perspective on murder and suicide. Introduction There are various sociological perspectives that define how society views different actions taken by an individual. The various sociological perspectives are as a result of either macro sociology or micro sociology. The macro sociology examines and individual behavior; in this note, an individual behavior can thus be as a result of the society he/she has lived in. on the other had, micro sociology defines the way one looks at things. Sociologists have defined suicide as an act done in private and lacking approval from the society. According to the study conducted by Durkheim the level at which individuals may involve themselves with suicide acts is not determined by their level of insanity. In his study, he found out that men were more likely to get into suicide acts than were female. The rates of suicide acts were also in the increase when compared to wealthy and unmarried people. This in other words is to mean that some people are more prone to committing suicide than others. The a bove noted level of differences in committing suicide corresponds to an individual level of social integration. In simpler terms, individuals with greater social commitment have are less inclined to committing suicide than individuals who had little or no any commitment in the society (Durkheim, 1982). The sociological perspective: Social factors Emile Durkheim postulated that suicide occurs as a result of the kind of fit that an individual experiences in his or her society (Stillion McDowell, 1996, p. 65). Durckheim (1982) uses integration theory to show how an individual suicide acts relates to his/her involvement in the society. In his elaboration of social integration theory, the author has used two variables, that is, social integration and social regulation. In view to social integration, individuals are susceptible to egoistic suicide. Social integration variable measures the level of an individual acceptance to the shared beliefs in the society. In this case, there are those individuals who have accepted and those who have not accepted the set social beliefs. The author has distinguished this in terms of altruistic suicide and egoistic suicide. In this case, individuals who have accepted the laid down social beliefs are susceptible to altruistic suicide. Such individuals have a strong bond with the society or are deeply integrated into the society. An individual who happens to be over-integrated into the societal norms may have an ingrained tendency to kill themselves in an effort to abide to the set social imperatives.[1] On the contrary, those individuals who lack a bond between them and the society become distanced from the social life and eventually become a victim of excess individualism leading to egoistic suicide (Stillion McDowell, 1996). In his explanation of these social factors, Durkheim argued that, The suicide rates of his time were higher among Protestants than among Catholics; his explanation was that Catholics received more support from their church while Protestants were left more to their individual devices. At the same time, more single people committed suicide than married people and fewer married women with children committed suicide than unmarried women. Durkheim believed that the incidence of egoistic suicide is inversely related to family density (Stillion McDowell, 1996, p. 65). Social regulation variable refers to the degree of social control imposed by society on the individuals motives and feelings (Cutter, 1998, para. 4). In his explanations, the author has argued that those individuals who have a strong belief in social regulation are prone to fatalistic suicide while those on the contrary are susceptible to anomic suicides. Fatalistic suicide usually comes about when an individual is over-regulated and is oppressed by the society. In most cases, such oppression may be directed to a certain group of people in the society.[2] Individuals who commit anomic suicides usually lack society regulation.[3] The author has also observed that individuals who are at the middle of these two variables or who are neither in the two categories are less prone to suicide. In other words, such individuals tend to die from other causes apart from suicidal mode. Cutter (1998) in support of social regulation have argued that when the external societal restraints are not accepted or are weak, individual aggression may be directed towards self and as a result, individuals may result into suicidal behaviors/acts. In his explanation, the author quotes the work of Gibbs and Martin (1964) arguing that the rate of suicide of a population varies with the stability and durability of social relations within that population (Cutter, 1998, para. 5). According to Stillion and McDowell (1996), a suicidal behavior cannot be viewed outside of the context in which it occurs (Stillion McDowell, 1996, p. 64). In his explain, the authors point out that individuals in their varying cultures have their unique psychological problems at varying times. An augmented increase in the understanding of how the body functions in relation to the prevailing literature on psychoanalytic literature have resulted to a decreased value in the number of individuals with this artificial physiological problem. Sociological perspective on murder Criminological theories may either be classified in the social structure or in social process theory. The social structure theory assumes that some individuals are more susceptible to delinquency and criminality as a result of their status in the society or on the community.[4] According to the social process theory, criminal behavior results from social learning and socialization process. The society in which an individual lives in or has been brought up affects greatly his social understandings or groupings. For instance exposing a child to violent acts in the society may serve as a valuable input to later violence behaviors. In support of this insight, Ronald Holmes and Stephen Holmes argues that the basic development of the person in society is predicted in no small part on the unique experiences that each person is exposed to in the course of living a normal life (Holmes Holmes, 2009, p. 65). Conclusion Its of great value if suicide is viewed from a sociological perspective. This will enable individuals to look at suicide deaths from different cultural environments at varying times in history. Such factors may help the suicidal students to understand their risks and thus offer the necessary advice. One may also observe that the society in which we live in clearly defines our behaviors or the expected behavioral acts in our life. References Cutter, F. (1998). Review of the 20th century theories. Retrieved on February 23, 2010 from: http://suicidepreventtriangle.org/Suichap3.htm Durkheim, E.(1982). The Rules of the Sociological Method, (Ed. by Steven Lukes; trans. by W.D. Halls). New York, NY: Free Press, pp. 50-59. Holmes, R. Holmes, S. (2009). Serial Murder: the sociological perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Stillion, M. McDowell, E. (1996). Suicide across the life span: premature exits. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis. [1] A good example can be drawn from an Indian ritual suicide acts named as Suttee. In this case, Indian widow would through themselves on their husbands funeral pyre, and thus committing suicide. Another example can also be drawn from the Japanese Kamikaze pilots of World War II. In this case, some young boys less than 15 years of age volunteered to fly planes on a mission to destroy U.S Ships. The planes provided for use unfortunately did not have enough fuel for their trip back home. The mechanisms on the plane were also tampered with such that they would not have a safe landing at any time. this indicates that the young boys had the love of their country such that they were ready to commit suicide in exchange. [2] Fatalistic suicide may be found among slaves or prisoners subjected to barbaric and punitive environments. For instance, in concentration camps. [3] Evidence to support anomic suicide can be drawn from the fact that the rates of suicide tends to be in the increase in economic depression and in times of greater prosperity. In this case, since the individual lacks social regulations, he/she therefore feels alienated from the society (irrespective of societal wellbeing) and subsequently commits suicide. [4] In this regard, poor people are assumed to be more criminally inclined since they have actually do not have access to the path leading to prosperity. However, although this is true to some extent, there is no evidence pointing out that murderers are poor or rich, black or white. In this regard therefore, one may argue that such killers may not have a material gain motive but rather, act on psychological gains.

Thomas Edison :: essays research papers fc

Edison was born in the village of Milan, Ohio, on Feb. 11, 1847, and his family later moved to Port Huron, Mich. In his early life as a kid he played jokes on people and got into trouble. One time he set his father's barn on fire because he wanted to see what fire look like when it burned. His schooling was three months long because he quit when too many people made fun of him. At the age of seven his mother taught him, and he loved to read books. The book Schoool of Natural Philosophy sparked his likeing for science and, soon after he set up his first lab. At age 12 his father could no longer buy supplies for his lab so he became a train-boy, selling magazines and food on the Grand Trunk Railroad. He spent all he earned on books and supplies for his laboratory.At this time he stoped sleeping and only took cat-naps so he could work on experiments at night in the bagage car. An accident at this time led to a loss of hearing about 50%. Two things which contributed to loss of his hearing was a conductor pulling on his ear and, a conductor clapping his ears for setting the bagage car on fire it was only an accident. Soon after he left this job. A station agent taught him telegraph code and procedures, and at age 15, Edison became manager of a telegraph office. His first inventions were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph. At 21, Edison made improvements on the stock ticker for printing stock-exchange quotations. With the $40,000 he was paid for the improvements in tickers, he established real laboratory in Newark, N.J. Deciding to give up manufacturing, he moved the laboratory to Menlo Park, N.J., where he was in charge of groups of employees working on various projects. In 1878, Edison started work on an electric lamp and looked for things that could be electrically heated to incandescence in a vacuum. At first he used platinum wire in glass bulbs at 10 volts.He realized, however, that independent lamp control would be necessary for home and office use. He then developed a three-wire system with a supply of 220 volts. Each lamp operated at 110 volts, but the higher voltage required a new substance other than that of platinum. Edison conducted an extensive search for another filament material, on Oct.

The Death Penalty is Effective Essay -- Support Capital Punishment Ess

The Death Penalty is Effective   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital Punishment in this country is a very controversial issue, and has been for quite some time. The history of the death penalty in America dates all the ways back to 1622, where Daniel Frank was executed in the Colony of Virginia for the crime of theft. (UAA) Many more unrecorded executions occurred until the U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics began keeping track in 1930. During that time, there was an average of about 150 executions per year. That number rose until about 1938 then began to decline until 1967, when executions in the U.S. came to a halt. There was no law or court ruling that resulted in this, it was more of a self-induced moratorium on the state level. The legal and moral questions seemed to be coming into play. Then a ruling in 1972 by the U.S. Supreme Court stated that the death penalty under current statutes is 'arbitrary and capricious' and therefore unconstitutional under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. (Furman v. Georgia) That rulin g was reached on a vote of five to four, clearly showing how even the U.S. Supreme Court Justices, the highest authority of the law, were torn on the issue. This ruling essentially made Capital Punishment illegal in the United States. This lasted about four years, until another case heard before the U.S. Supreme Court (Gregg v. Georgia 1976) that reinstated the death penalty. It stated that it must be administered with guided discretion, meaning it must be applied fairly and uniformly. Two additional cases brought before the Supreme Court this year (Jurek v. Texas) and ( Proffit v. Florida) upheld the original ruling, that the death penalty is Constitutional. All of these court rulings deal with only the legality and constitutionality on Capital Punishment. However, there are many more fractions to be examined to truly evaluate the effectiveness of the death penalty. The question of morality enters into the equation. Is state sanctioned Capital Punishment moral? Deterrence is also a nother large factor. Does the death penalty deter capital crimes? Any problems within the justice system have to be reviewed, such as defense for lower income individuals, judges discretion, and discrimination. Public opinion on the subject is a fairly important issue, as the laws in this country should reflect the public interest. The economic cost of the death penalty is of cour... .... "Wrongful Executions are Unlikely." Opposing Viewpoints . Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Shenendehowa Public Library. 24 Nov. 2003 Pataki, George E. "Capital Punishment is a Deterrent." Opposing Viewpoints . Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Shenendehowa Public Library. 24 Nov. 2003 Pojman, Louis P. "Unfair Application of Capital Punishment does not Justify Abolishing it." Opposing Viewpoints.   Ã‚  Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Shenendehowa Public Library. 19 Nov. 2003 Proffitt v. Florida. UAA Justice Center Web Site U.S. Supreme Ct. 1976. 18 Nov. 2003 http://www.uaa.alaska.edu>. Pulley v. Harris. UAA Justice Center Web Site U.S. Supreme Ct. 1984. 18 Nov. 2003 . Recent Poll Results from around the Country. 18 Nov. 2003 . Scalia, Antonin. "The Death Penalty is Legally Just." Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Shenendehowa Public Library. 19 Nov. 2003 Tucker, William. "Society Needs the Death Penalty to Deter Murderers." Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Shenendehowa Public Library. 24 Nov. 2003 Woodson v. North Carolina. UAA Justice Center Web Site U.S. Supreme Ct. 1976. 18 Nov. 2003.

Adolf Hitler Essay example -- Biography

Adolf Hitler was born and raised in Austria. From the early start of his life he had a very brutal look on life. When he moved to Munich his life on the streets worsened his views. In the 30s he moved to seize power and make Germany a dictatorship. After becoming Dictator he used his powers to cleanse the nation. His racial views on life and brutal tactics made Germany a world Power. Hitler was born on the eve of April 20th 1889. He had two sisters and a brother. The first three children of his mom Ida Hitler died shortly after their birth. There are few records about Hitler’s first years in Braunau Austria. His own book Mein Kamph gave little detail and they are based on translations (Kershaw 3). He was born to Alois and Klara Hitler. They moved around from time to time to different small farm towns in Austria (Adolf Hitler 3). One day while his father was eating breakfast he collapsed and died. Years later in 1907 his mom died, he then dropped out of high school and headed to Vienna Italy (Adolf Hitler 3). He went to realize his dream of being a painter. He applied to the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts hoping to realize his vision. His paintings got him into the exam but he didn’t score high enough to get in (Adolf Hitler 3). He lived painting and sketching in low taverns while living on the streets (Adolf Hitler1). In 1913 he traveled to Munich. At first he was living on the streets going day to day doing odd jobs. Then he wound up in a men’s home. This is where his Nationalist and Anti- Semitic views skyrocketed (Adolf Hitler1). He developed his first education in politics by studying the Demagogic techniques of Christian Social Mayor Karl Lugar (Adolf Hitler1). This view was brutal and was about keeping the German race pur... ...ermany Hitler’s top officials plotted an assassination attempt, they failed and were all shot. Hitler hired new officials and told them that there Germans were to fight to the death. He holed up in Berlin with the remainder of the Third Reich. The Allied forces stormed the city from all sides and soon the Reich fell. Before they broke the defenses Hitler married his love Eva Braun and a day later the both slaughtered themselves. This brought a end to what is referred to as Germanys darkest days (Adolf Hitler2). Hitler was one of the most brilliant strategists of all time. He was a good leader and rallied his troops although his intentions weren’t noble. He moved Germany from depression and a time of crisis to a formidable force. When Hitler died it put an end to a oppressive tyranny. In Germany today the holocaust isn’t taught because of those dark days.

Software Development Outsourcing

Outsourcing is an arrangement in which one company provides services for another company that could also be or usually have been provided in-house. Nowadays, outsourcing is a trend in a competitive software development and it is expanding all over the world. Software development is very much suitable for the better working of a company. This means that another company is hired to do the task of software development. Outsourcing the software development projects can be advantageous, but sometimes if it is incorrectly executed, it can result to unusable projects. In this article, let's see some of its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of Software Development Outsourcing: Cost efficiency – companies don't have to worry about buying expensive software and hardware. Software development technology indulge it. Lower Training cost – it is very expensive thing to give trainings to the new employees. Normally, three or more days are consumed. So, by hiring services from a software outsourcing company, the time and efforts are saved. Time – due to strict time line of some software projects, it is become required to outsource a component of software development projects in order to meet the time demand of the projects. Software companies take credit of immediate pool of skilled developers. Skills – in a situation like software companies outsource, sometimes need a skilled personnel for software development technologies. The disadvantages of Software Development Outsourcing: Disappointment – companies can produce code of a poor quality. It involves here who will be the responsible for maintaining the code or project. Need of Constant Management – one of the main reason why projects fail because there is no good manager. A leader who is in constant communication to the clients and also understands the needs or requirements of the clients. Testing is more difficult – generally, testing phase is the most difficult stage in system's development life cycle. You will undergo more testing cases. If you test a piece of software that was developed in an offshore in-house and find a problem, so there's a need to communicate to the offshore vendor. This could cause problems because the offshore vendor might not be able to propagate the problem. It could possibly easy to fix the problem if they could see the machine. Or maybe the problem is not properly communicated. These are the different advantages and disadvantages of software development outsourcing.