California Election Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

California Election Analysis - Research Paper Example The databases of California were consistently and constantly updated throughout the entire election cycle. It not only settled on the next United State’s president, but it also resulted in a supermajority for California’s state Democrats, thanks to Obama emerging victorious. New rules of elections and districts that were redrawn opened the likelihood of a Democrats supermajority in California, in a state that, even before elections, had Democratic majorities and a Democratic governor in both state legislatures. A good number people had and still have an intuitive reaction to a single party taking control of everything. Bob Huff, the Minority Leader of the state Senate said that a supermajority would not be a good thing. The media coverage was a bit biased to one candidate. Mitt Romney’s media overage was particularly negative in the final election days. A final gush of positive media coverage drove President Obama in the final two weeks of the race to the preside ncy, whereas Mitt Romney’s coverage remained, not only negative, but also narrowed down in volume. This was probably for the reason that news outlets transferred their attention to the recent Superstorm Sandy, in accordance with a new study. The Pew Research Center's Excellence in Journalism Project, which is based in Washington,  established that the positive coverage on Obama, which was estimated at 29%, outnumbered his negative coverage, which was estimated at 19%, by 10 points in the final week before voting. On the 6th of November, a survey of 59 news channels established that Romney got significantly more negative opinion and coverage, both in the period dating back to the nominating conferences, and at the conclusion of the campaign, commencing in late August. I feel like final surge of Obama’s positive press decidedly connected to his immense showing in most polls. There were a lot of amplified positive coverage and impressions of the President Obama that sta rted with surveys that trended in his direction. These conclusions were arrived at by measuring statements value in radio stores, television, Internet and newspaper (www.latimes.com). When it comes to ads, the impact on preferences of vote looked harsh and gloomy for Mitt Romney. Negative ads had a greater impact on Mitt Romney, than it had on president Obama. President Obama’s ads drove down Romney’s support and drove up support for the president. It, however, did not move swing voters. Many were marginal voters who did not even turn up on day of Election. On the front of â€Å"likely voter†,  Romney was consistently winning the war of ads. Both the Obama and Romney  ads augmented enthusiasm  among  possible  Romney  voters,  but  not for those of Obama.   Romney’s ads had  impacts on marginal,  decisive  voters, and this raised the probability of voters who  said  they had a preference on him turning out  to vote. Obamaâ₠¬â„¢s campaign had run its ads over 68,000 times, with just about 80% of them attacking Romney. They were loose with facts and at the same time negative. An example is this ad by Obama, when he said that Romney had never stood up to China. Obama claimed that all Romney had ever done was to send them American’s jobs. This was opposed by many as not being true. Many argued that Romney’s previous Bain Capital Company may have invested in firms with businesses and operations in China. Most importantly, there was no

The Evolution of Public Relations Essay Example for Free

The Evolution of Public Relations Essay Introduction In order for us to understand how public relations have evolved through history, we must first understand what public relations are. Public relations as defined by (Wilcox and Cameron 2004) that Professors Long and Hazelton believe it to be, â€Å" a communication function of management through which organizations adapt to alter, or to maintain their environment for the purpose of achieving organizational goals†(p.5). With that said we could now go back through history and discover how it has or has not changed through time. First, we will look at how effective public relations were almost from the beginning of time and how it was relayed to the masses. Second, we will discuss how public relations changed in the 17th to the 20th century and why it changed. Lastly, we will see how the past has defined what public relations is today and see how much it has evolved through time. Public Relation Beginnings As long as there has been humans on this earth communication was the key to organization how people lived their everyday lives. There has always been one or more persons leaders of these tribes or groups. Within this groups it would be decided where they would live, when it was time to farm the lands or hunt for food, settle disputes amongst themselves and how to protect themselves from outsiders. These decisions were in turn related to the masses. This practice can be loosely described as public relations in its raw stage a one-way communication form. People had no say in how daily life was lived because decisions were made to keep life for them as organized as possible. Public Relations in the 17th to early 20th Century As time passed, the population grew and people moved about more freely, people began to change, as did technology. By the 1700s printer presses were invented and information became more readily available to the public. Before than information was slow in coming and the public was ill informed. With the invention 0f, the printer press larger volumes of publications, books and newspapers were available. Traditionally, society elite had access to information on trade and politics, and used it amongst themselves to speak and make decisions for the masses. Public relations was still a one-way communication. Over time, the public was able to gain access to publications and now were able to form their own views and opinions. They became more vocal about government and politics because they were now better informed. This was what Paul Starr (2004) called a â€Å"public sphere†, a term used by Jà ¼rgen Habermas, there was communication and accessibility to information (p.24). The better-informed people became the more open they were with their views. Public relations change from a one-way communication to a two-way communication because people now realized the power they have in their voices. This changed the way in which public relations campaigns were run. Public Relation firms now had to please the masses whereas years before they made most of the decisions and were not concerned with their opinions. Public Relations Today Today, public relations is used in every conceivable form. We use it to sell products, make people aware of social issues, promote others, and raise money and to influence or help people decide on particular issues. With the invention of the World Wide Web, information is available to the public almost instantaneously. This has become a very powerful tool to public relations firms. Firms will use it to create or repair damage to a company or an individual’s image. Kathleen Neil (2001) says it best that public relations is to inform the people about what they have available for them, to establish and maintain a good relationship with the public (ix). Conclusion The foundation of public relations has not changed over time it still used to influence, maintain and organize the environment in which we live, but has evolved to include a broader range of topics. Public relation started out as a means to organize and maintain stability in a community, to informing the people about what is going on in the community and giving them a voice. The latter is the most significant change public relations made during its evolution. It went from a one-way communication to a two-way communication with the people in public relations valuing the opinions of the masses whereas in the past their opinions did not count. Alternatively, do the really value our opinions? Have we become too dependent on them or they too powerful that the can spin any type of web they choose? Is it all about dollars and cents? This led me to a quote by Scott M, Cutlip (1995) â€Å"Let Truth and Falsehood Grapple â€Å"(xii). References Cutlip, S. (1995). Public relations history: From the 17th to the 20th century. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Neal, K. (2001). A primer on non-profit PR: If charity begins at home Florida: Pineapple Press. Starr, P. (2004). The creation of the media: Political origins of modern communication. New York: Basic Books. Wilcox, D. Cameron, G. (8th ed.). (2006). Public relations: Strategies and tactics: Boston. Allyn and Bacon.

Hamlet Essay -- essays research papers

During Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the main character Hamlet has to deal with the responsibility of revenging his father’s murder. He learns of his tragic death when the ghost of King Hamlet comes to him and tells him the truth of his murder: he was killed by his brother Claudius, for his crown and his wife. Hamlet decides that the best plan of action is to fake madness to attain his father’s vengeance by murdering Claudius. As the play develops, Hamlets act of being a madman becomes more and more believable, and his friends and family react as you’d expect someone who is discovering that their loved one is slowly turning insane would. As we read the play and begin to understand Hamlet’s mentality, his inner thoughts, and the reasons for his actions, it becomes clear to the reader that Hamlet is, in fact, totally and healthily sane. It becomes evident that he is simply simulating insanity so that it is easier to fulfill his duties to his father, and that Claudius’s murder doesn’t rest so guiltily on his conscience. Hamlet only feigns madness because it allows him to do and say things that he otherwise could not say without severe repercussions and suspicion being held against him. It also prevents people from blaming him for his ridiculous antics, and from taking him seriously. We first see Hamlet’s initial plan of faking insanity falling into place when he is talking to Horatio and Marcellus, telling them not to comment to anyone about his â€Å"antic disposition (Shakespeare, 75).† Hamlet’s supposed madness allows him to talk to his friends, family, and especially to Ophelia in a manner that is totally unsuitable for a human being to act, especially a prince. He is completely disrespectful and insulting in his remarks, and although his antic disposition backfires while he is talking to his mother, it allows him to severely reprimand her actions and criticize her for her disloyalty to her deceased husband because Gertrude thinks he is insane. She therefore is very passive in her response to Hamlet, being very dismissive of his actions and harsh words because of his supposed insanity. Throughout the play, Hamlet also makes some very sexually inappropriate remarks to Ophelia such as â€Å"That’s a fair thought to lie between a maids` legs (Shakespeare, 157).† He can inappropriately vent his anger toward Ophelia for her abandonment in any way he pleases, being emotion... ...the play sane, normal, healthy, loving, but with the discovery of his father’s murder and his mother’s remarriage, he dies selfish, distraught, and cold-hearted. His feigned madness is maintained throughout the entire play because it allows him to follow through with his plans, which makes Hamlet not only completely sane, but truly genius. Maybe Hamlet thought too much, but he thought (and acted) as only a sane man could. He commits no actions whatsoever without much thought and reason, and he is far too organized, particular, and articulate to be proclaimed insane. His one downfall is also responsible of his many successes: his intelligence. Hamlet thinks far too much and has too much of a conscience to behave as a madman would, and going on a murdering rampage to kill Claudius. His hesitation in doing so is the main key that allows the reader to realize that Hamlet’s insanity is a complete farce, used to help Hamlet to maximize his father’s revenge a gainst Claudius in the most efficient and effective way possible, leaving few repercussions for Hamlet. Hamlet’s portrayal of a mad man is also very complicated because it not only gets his point made, but in a believably insane way.

The Study Of Akali Metal Contamination In Road Side Soil :: essays research papers

The Study of Akali Metal Contamination in Road Side Soil Abstract Six soil samples were taken from a roadside that was expected to exhibit characteristic of road salt contamination. This contamination is characterized by the presence of magnesium, calcium and sodium. The relationship between akali metal concentration and distance from the pavement was examined and determined to be nonexistent. Additionally, atomic absorbtion and atomic emission spectroscopy were compared and and atomic absorbtion was found to be 1.89 times as sensitive as atomic emission. Introduction A common technique in snow and ice removal on roadways is the application of magnesium, calcium, and sodium chloride salts to the surface of the road. When the ice melts it dissolves these salts and causes them to migrate into soil that is adjacent to the pavement. Over time, the accumulation akali metal salts can change the chemical profile of the soil which can lead to detrimental biological effects. Flame atomic spectroscopy provides a technique that can quantify metal concentrations in the extracts of the soil samples and consequently examine the relationship between distance from the point of road salt application and akali metal concentrations. Experimental Soil preparation: Six surface soil samples were collected at the intersection of Cold Spring Lane and the exit ramp of Interstate 83, in northwest Baltimore city. These samples were collected at distances from the roadway of 0m, 2m, 4m, 6m, 10m, and 20m. These samples were dried in a convection oven at 110Â °C for over 24 hours then crushed. Aliquots of approximately one gram were weighed and then extracted with 10.0 mL of 1M ammonium acetate. The extract was filtered with an inline filter disc with a pore size of 5mm and then diluted to 100.0 mL. Instrumental: The extracts were analyzed for Ca, Na, and Mg using a Varian model AA-3 flame atomization spectrophotometer with a diffraction grating monochromator. Data was collected with a Houston Instrument chart recorder. An acetylene/air reducing flame was used for all determinations (10 psi acetylene/7 psi air). Two replicates of each sample were made and averaged for both AA and AE. The analysis was seperated into two methods; atomic absorbtion (AA) and atomic emission (AE). The emission intensities and absorbances were determined from the measured peak height obtained from the chart recordings. Atomic Emission: Na and Ca concentrations in the soil were determined using AE. The spectrophotometer was calibrated using the standard series method for both elements. Regression analysis was performed on the calibration data to provide a functional relationship between emision intensity and concentration. Results and Conclusions: Sodium: The atomic line used in the analysis for sodium was at 589.0 nm. The relationship between emision intensity and concentration was found to be

Newton’s Third Law of Motion Essay

Introduction – The understanding of the physical sciences and the law governing it is not complete without the understanding of the different physical laws provided by Isaac Newton, whose contribution to the field of science is very important and crucial in the development of the human understanding of the physical forces governing the way of life. Newton’s Third Law of Motion – Newton’s Third Law of Motion is a part of Newton’s three different laws of motion which are interrelated with each other. In the third law of motion, Newton posits that everything that exerts effort or force against something is also the recipient of an equal amount of force being exerted by the object to which the initial force was being applied to. Newton has a Latin translation, as well as the lengthy version of the third law of motion, which can be very confusing and very difficult to understand. Browne simplified it a it b explaining the third law of motion in this context: â€Å"If body A pulls or pushes on body B, then body B also pulls or pushes on body A. The force on each body has the same magnitude, but the forces are oppositely directed† (Browne, p. 58). Why Newton’s Third Law is important to the ascent of science – Newton is one of the highly respected and veneered scientists of all time because of his contribution to the society and to the field of science in particular. Because of his pioneering thoughts like the different laws of motion, other aspects involved in the physical sciences were allowed to flourish and many other scientists are more mentally equipped to tackle more scientific queries which previously cannot be explored because of the absence of the understanding of man in the laws of motion and other important physical laws that Newton helped develop (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2006). Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which posits the idea of the presence of an equal yet opposite force directed to the exerted force, provided an important groundwork for some important breakthroughs and discoveries involving the physical sciences; the third law of motion of Newton was important in the formulation of the law about the conservation of momentum; ideas like the propulsion of rockets and how they exert effort against the void in space, the action-reaction from the recoiling effect a gun manifests when firing and pushing out the bullet towards a certain direction, the line of thinking in sports science and other aspects of training, rehabilitation and performance enhancement with the use of the idea of the exertion of force and the presence of the action-reaction forces (Gibilisco, p. 188). How the third Law relates to the First and Second Laws – The third law of Motion of Newton relates to the first and second laws through the state of being in motion or being at rest depending on the current state of an object and how another intervening force or object affects both the state of the first object and the second object. Using two tennis balls to illustrate the three different laws of motion of Newton and how they are related to each other by each becoming a momentary experience before undergoing the next stage or a change in the state of motion or non-movement, it can be deduced that the third law of Newton’s Law of Motion will have each of the two tennis balls when rolled towards each other using the same speed, moving and covering the same distance and meeting in the middle exerting the same amount of effort or force as that which is given by the opposite ball. The two balls’ current stage experiencing the third law of motion originated from another stage wherein the two balls are undergoing one of the two other laws of motion; they may have been, prior to the collision resulting to the illustration of the third law of motion, manifesting the idea of the first law of motion, which states that both of the objects remain in their current state of motion or stillness until / unless an intervening force prompted them to change the nature of their movement or stillness. The two tennis balls may have been both at rest until a hand or an object put them in motion, wherein with equal variables applied to each tennis ball resulting in the illustration of the third law of motion. The second law of motion is related to the third law because it discusses the use of force used to intervene upon objects at rest, prompting them to move and the force of the moving object is proportional to the force applied to it that prompted it to move (Browne, p. 60). Conclusion – The laws of motion that Newton espoused was as much applauded by the scientific community during his time, and even way past his time, as it was criticized heavily by some of his contemporaries in the scientific circle, yet, despite what had transpired, the laws of motion of Newton remains to be one of the important pillars in the understanding of physical laws governing everything. Newton was a genius and his contribution to the society, like the ideas leading and originating from the laws of motion, is something that has indeed greatly affected the way human life was shaped over time. References: Browne, Michael. (July, 1999). Schaum’s Outline of Physics for Engineering & Science. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies. Gibilisco, Stan. (August 2002). Physics Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (March 16, 2006). Newton’s Third Law Applied to Aerodynamics. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from http://www. grc. nasa. gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/newton3. html

Luxury and Ethics

Luxury and Ethics Ethics is a philosophical concept that describes what is good or evil with reference to ascribed standards of action (Mackenzie, 2008). Being ethical is perceived differently by different people. For some people, it means great concern for the environment while for others it is great concern for both workers and the society.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Luxury and Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For purposes of this paper, being ethical means great concern for the environment, the society, workers and consumers at large. In fashion industry, ‘ethical fashion’ reflects concerns in different areas including workers’ rights, trading relationships, production and processing practices, transportation of products, and social and environmental effects (Labor Behind the Label, n.d). When it comes to luxury fashion, there is a dilemma as to luxury and sustainability. While ethics dictat e luxury brands to be environmental friendly, luxury dictates that luxury brands reflect the highest quality and creativity ever and should not be restricted in any way. This thus leads to the question, is being ethical crucial for the survival of luxury fashion brands in the market? Today’s marketplace has become more challenging as consumers are increasingly becoming aware of ethical codes of conduct and practices. In the marketplace, there is emerging type of consumers who are more concerned about the ethical performance of companies when making their buying decisions. The case is even more serious when it comes to luxury brands. Luxury is never a priority and as more consumers become aware of ethical luxury, it only means that unethical brands might soon be faced out of the market. The luxury fashion market has been dominated by the most prominent and high ranking people in the society for a long time. Such people are well-aware of the prevailing business ethics and can u se their knowledge when making buying decisions. Even though, the luxury market has expanded to accommodate the low-class in the society, ethics remain a necessary tool for fashion brands to survive. Bearing in mind that luxury is not a necessity, consumers are most likely to go for fashion brands that they feel have value for their money and in this case not the monetary value, but the ethical value. Similarly, fashion has the power to evoke change in the society (Chenay, 2011).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As Jem Bendell and Antony Kleanthous (2007) states, â€Å"luxury brands have the power to influence consumer aspiration and behavior by editing consumer choices through product design, distribution and marketing; and influencing how, when and for how long consumers use their products† (as cited in Chenay, 2011). In this case, luxury fashion b rands can use ethical practices as a necessary tool to influence consumer buying behaviors. This paper, therefore, seeks to examine the relationship between luxury and ethics. The paper explains the significance of ethics to the survival of luxury brands in the market as presented below. The significance of ethics to marketing of luxury brands Traditionally, fashion industries had little concern for ethics. With globalization taking centre stage, marketing of luxury fashion brands is faced with a number of challenges including counterfeiting, fast fashion, casual consumer, maturing new markets, democratized luxury, and western existentialism (Lode, 2008). At the same time, consumers now use available information to question how production and marketing decisions of various luxury brands affect the social and environmental realms of life. In this regard, luxury fashion brands often face ethical problems while marketing. As disposable income decreases owing to the recent economic rece ssion, consumers are increasingly becoming conscious of their buying behavior. Consumers are now more than ever concerned about the ethical performance of companies while making decisions to support their luxury brands. Besides, the luxury market is dominated by the affluent and global elite who show great concern for social and environmental issues, but at the same time are concerned about the luxury element of individual success in the products they purchase (Lode, 2008). With the increasing demand from ethical consumers, fashion companies are forced to revise their marketing strategies. In order to survive in the current market, fashion industries have to show concern for the environment, professionalism, and the society as well (Lode, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Luxury and Ethics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the current economic and environmental crises, sustainability cannot be over looked. Consumers are now more conscious about their consumption habits. Most people only invest in luxury when it becomes a necessity. For this reason, companies dealing in luxury fashion brands must stand out so that their brands are considered. Companies must convince consumers that they offer more than just status. They must make consumers believe that they offer some solution to the current crises. This can only be achieved through ethical practice. When consumers are convinced that a company brand offer solution to their problems, they will not think twice about supporting the same company by purchasing its luxury brands. It is for this reason that Marks and Spencer is currently involved in a  £200 million eco-plan with a vision of becoming carbon neutral by 2012 (Eassey, 2009). The company engages in ethical production practices, which includes fair wages and eco-friendly dyes and eventually offers affordable prices to its target consumers who are the youth. There is a wide spread notion that fashion industry encourages conspicuous consumption when sustainability dictates otherwise. In such a marketplace, companies have to be ethical in order to survive. Unless fashion brands convince consumers that they are playing an active role in environmental conservation through their activities, ethical consumers would never support their luxury brands. This is usually achieved through Fair trade and organic clothing, which most consumers consider environmental friendly. Going green is an ethical strategy that is currently being used by most companies, fashion brands included, to lure ethical consumers into buying their products. Mark and Spencer plan A initiative is a perfect example of how far luxury fashion brands are ready to go in order to survive in the market. Similarly, the UK-based Monkee Genes has managed to be successful in the luxury fashion market simply because of its eco-friendly jeans and products (Just-style.com, 2011). According to previous res earch findings, being ethical is crucial for luxury fashion brands to survive in the current market (Varley, n.d). There have been reported cases where consumers boycott luxury fashion brands on the basis of their ethical performance.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Balenciaga, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent, all from PPR SA, are some of the brands that have been faced with boycotts in the recent past for their unethical production practices. Boycotts on these brands were based on the belief that these brands have no respect for animal rights as they predominantly use animal fur in their products. Better still, available data shows that brands have made remarkable sales when consumers perceive them to be ethical (Varley, n.d). According to Co-operative Bank Ethical Consumerism Report 2007, organic and Fair trade cotton increased sales by 79% between 2005 and 2006 while 2006 recorded significant boycotts in ‘low-cost’ clothing (as cited in Labour in the Label, n.d). Luxury fashion brands are expected to cost a premium. If this is not reflected in the prices, then such brands may not attract ethical consumers. Besides, ‘low cost’ is perceived as an indicator of poor production and labor practices hence ethically incorrect . Consumers will always choose to support luxury fashion brands that they trust and share values with even if they cost a premium. If a consumer is more environmental conscience, then he or she would rather support fashion brands that embrace sustainable environmental practices in their production process. Similarly, consumers that are more concerned about business ethics will choose to support luxury fashion brands from companies they consider to have the best business ethics. In an effort to lure ethical consumers to their products, fashion brands are currently taking a notch higher with their ethical practices. For instance, Ermernegildo Zegna has embraced environmental sustainability it its â€Å"Solar jacket† brand that is able to charge handheld electric devices. Similarly, Stella McCartney has embraced eco-design in her shoes which has biodegradable rubber soles. Such initiatives have made their brands attractive to environmental friendly consumers. Furthermore, the cu rrent luxury market has become accessible to many fashion brands hence making it too competitive for a brand to survive on the basis of exclusivity. With many competitors in the market, fashion brands have to work out marketing strategies that will make them stand out as the finest in the market. With the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) gaining momentum, that much needed added value could come from â€Å"deeper brand values and more sustainable business practices† (Lode, p.13). In other words, it is high time luxury brands consider ethics as a luxury attribute in order to survive in the current market where the population of ethical consumers is rising by each passing day. Consumers will be more than willing to stand by those brands, which show concern for the environment, the society, and embrace acceptable labor practices. Corporate Social responsibility is now the norm of the day hence there is no way a luxury brand would expect to survive in the market if it does not reflect this in its operation. In this regard, the US-based Toms Shoes has managed to curve out a niche in the market through their social responsibility marketing strategy. Known for trendy sneaker-style shoes, Toms Shoes is involved in a youth movement initiative whereby for every pair of shoes bought, they give a pair to a needy child (just-style.com, 2011). This has made it attractive to consumers who value philanthropist initiatives. Luxury is often associated with elitism, prestige, and premium (Chenay, 2011). This is an important ethical issue that cannot be underrated when marketing luxury fashion brands. Both the company and its products must be a reflection of luxury based on the premise, ‘nothing except the finest’ (Chenay, 2011). This should be reflected in the company’s practices across its chains. Unless, consumers are made to believe that the brands are the finest in the market, they would not choose those brands over the others availa ble in the market. The company must strive to be reputable in terms of its production practices and employment as well as its marketing approach. As the say goes, â€Å"survival is for the fittest.† For a luxury fashion brand to survive in the current market, it must have all aspects of ethics. For instance, a company may be environmental conscience and have good employments practices, but produces counterfeit fashion brands. Such brands can never survive in the current market where consumers are well aware of patent property rights. Similarly, a company that offers low prices for its luxury fashion brands may be perceived to be having poor production practices that translate into low prices hence may as well not survive in the current luxury market. However, with the current economic crisis, ‘low cost’ fashion brands may still survive in the market so long as consumers perceive them to be the ‘finest’ in the market. In order to attract ethical consu mers, companies will thus have to convince consumers that their low prices are in the benefit of consumers and that their practices are ethically right. Unless this is achieved, it will not be easy for a ‘low cost’ luxury fashion brand to survive in the market. Conclusion This paper has managed to address the role played by ethics in marketing of luxury fashion brands. From the discussion above, ethics is a must have tool for luxury fashion brands to survive in the current and the future market. The future market even poses more challenge as consumers are increasingly becoming aware of ethical consumption and ethical campaigns taking centre stage. It will take more than just being the finest for luxury fashion brands to survive in the market. It is, therefore, the responsibility of luxury brands to revise their production and operation strategies so that consumers perceive their performance as being ethical. Some luxury fashion brands have made recommendable efforts in this area, but the fashion industry still has to do more to convince consumers that they offer ethical value for their money. References Chenay, N., 2011. Ethical luxury. Excerpt from MA design Research. Web. Eassey, M., 2009. Fashion marketing, 3rd ed. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Just-style.com, 2011. Just-style management briefing: Eco-fashion retailers walk a fine line. Web. Labour in the Label. Ethical consumerism. An ethical industry discussion paper. Labour in the Label. Web. Lode, S. B., 2008. The development of luxury fashion attributes: from class to mass to†¦ sustainable luxury?  Papers by Silje. Web. Mackenzie, J., 2008. A manual of ethics. London: Read Books. Varley, R. Ethical issues in fashion and marketing. Excerpt from Parker, L., and Dickson, M.A. Sustainable Fashion: A handbook for educators. UK: Labour Behind the Label.

The Importance of Arts and Humanities.

The Importance of Arts and Humanities. "The arts and humanities are more essential than ever to the endurance of our democratic values of tolerance, pluralism and freedom. At a time when so much is happening to change the way we work and live, the way we relate to one another and the way we relate to the rest of the world, we cannot fully understand the past, nor envision the future we need to pursuer without the arts and humanities."- Excerpts from First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's remarks to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, Washington, D.C. February 25, 1997.What are arts and humanities? Is it simply history, philosophy, literature, arts and music? Arts and humanities are far beyond that. It helps us to have a better vision of the past and how the world is changing through out times. On the other hand, arts and humanities can help us think, make decisions upon the mistakes that had already be done in the past and also the great things people accomplished.National Arts & Humanities MonthHowever, wi th the never-ending demands of new technology and invention, the society is starting to pay less attention to the importance of arts and humanities. Therefore generations today are lacking the knowledge of these subjects. As a result, generations today without arts and humanities are lacking the ability of critical thinking as well as how the world revolves around us, and the ability to read, reason and communicate.As time goes by, technology is improving in order to keep up with the world and the public demand. Therefore people are more focusing on the subject of science so that new invention and creation can be created to improve their qualities of life. In fact arts and humanities also have the power to improve the quality of life. The presence of performing...

How to Keep a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern from Rotting

How to Keep a Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern from Rotting Here is a fun, seasonal science fair project that examines various ways of keeping a carved pumpkin fresh. Can you determine the best way to keep a Halloween jack o lantern from rotting? Purpose The purpose of this project is to see whether or not treating a Halloween jack-o- lantern, or any carved pumpkin, will help keep it from rotting. Hypothesis The hypothesis (because its the easiest to disprove) is that treating a Halloween jack-o-lantern will not keep it from rotting any better than doing nothing at all (the control). Experiment Summary This is a great fall science fair project  since pumpkins are readily available from late summer through winter. You could conduct a similar project during the spring using another variety of produce. Since nothing lasts forever, a good timeframe for collecting data is 2 weeks. If all of your pumpkins rot before then, you may choose to end the data collection phase of this project sooner. Since temperature plays a part in the shelf life of a jack-o-lantern, its possible your pumpkins may last several weeks if kept in cool conditions. If this is the case, your project may run for a month. Keep the time and temperature in mind when planning your science project. Materials The main materials for this project are freshly carved jack-o-lanterns and various pumpkin preservatives. The most commonly applied preservatives are bleach solution, borax solution, petroleum jelly, hairspray, white glue, and commercial pumpkin preservative (if available). You can test any or all of these, plus more  if you can think of other preservatives. You will need pumpkins for every method you test, plus a control pumpkin, which will be carved, but untreated. Experimental Procedure Carve your jack-o-lanterns. It helps if you give them different faces so they are easy to tell apart. Try to scrape as much pumpkin goo as possible from the inside of the jack-o-lanterns so they will be easier to treat with chemicals.Leave your control pumpkin alone. Apply the treatments to the other pumpkins. Either photograph the pumpkins or write down your observations about the appearance of each jack-o-lantern. Pumpkin Treatments Bleach Solution - Mix up enough bleach in water (2 teaspoons bleach per gallon of water) to fill a bucket or tub big enough to submerge your pumpkin. Immediately after carving the pumpkin, soak it in the bleach solution for 8 hours or overnight. Drain the pumpkin and allow it to dry. Each day, spritz the outside and inside of the pumpkin with bleach solution.Borax Solution - Mix up a solution of borax in water (probably 1 teaspoon per gallon) and apply it the same way as you would use the bleach solution.Petroleum Jelly - Smear petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline) all over the cut surface of the pumpkin. Reapply once a day if necessary.White Glue - Smear non-toxic white school glue all over the carved pumpkin and allow it to dry.Hairspray - Spray the carved pumpkin, inside and outside, with hairspray. You can reapply the hairspray daily, or not, as you prefer.Commercial Pumpkin Preservative - Follow the instructions on the container.    You can use these methods of applying pumpkin treatments or else you can come up with your own ideas.Each day, take a photo of the pumpkin and describe its appearance. Is mold present or absent? Is there any shriveling? Is the pumpkin getting soft or smelly or showing any other indications of rotting?Continue collecting data until the pumpkins have rotted. Discard the rotten pumpkins. Data The data for this project will be your photographs and observations regarding the appearance of each pumpkin. Results Make a table that shows time in days and whether each pumpkin showed mold, shriveling, or rot. You can indicate the degree of each condition by assigning a numerical value to it, if you like (e.g., 0 no mold, 1 slight mold, 2 moderate mold, 3 totally moldy). Conclusions Was the hypothesis supported? Did the control pumpkin rot at the same time as all of the other pumpkins? Things to Think About If you want a more complex experiment, add temperature as a factor. This will require additional pumpkins. Leave one of each type of pumpkin at room temperature. Refrigerate one of each type of pumpkin or (since that would take a lot of space) leave one of each type of pumpkin in a hot environment.

Language is being replaced by icons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Language is being replaced by icons - Essay Example The thesis of this paper is as following: Universalized symbols and icons are much more powerful means of communication than any existing language of the world, because the power of their message that can be easily deciphered leading in the direction decoder wants. Consciously or subconsciously people read the sign and receive the message. Read Mercer Schuchardt, the author of the online article â€Å"Swoosh!†, discusses the theme of icon-driven marketing. The author acknowledges that the very idea of symbols, acronyms, icons is not a new one. The early followers of Christ created symbols which were known only to Christians. One of the recognized icons of the modern sportswear is the Nike Swoosh. The symbol itself is very simple. Nonetheless, it is very famous and known even to children. Moreover, simple design of Swoosh has become famous and improved selling shoes contributing to company’s general success. Image of Swoosh became so popular that the goods went out witho ut the word Nike. Today the image is well-known worldwide. The author makes such conclusion regarding importance of textless image in today’s business world: â€Å"the truly successful icon must be able to stand by itself, evoking all the manufactured associations that form a corporation’s public identity† (Schuchardt).

Religious Controversies on Contraception and Ethics Essay

Religious Controversies on Contraception and Ethics - Essay Example Religious groups such as Wheaton College claim that ACA policy that faith-based institutions should cover contraception is a violation of their religious freedom. However, these institutions forget that as much as a careful consideration is demanded by freedom of religion, so does the right of employees and students to obtain safe and affordable healthcare services. In other words, institutions like Wheaton College may be right to protect their religious freedom; however, they should consider the unethical bit of denying students their rights to medical coverage. Moreover, just as commented by Hollinger, there is much that can be commended in the Biblical teachings that sex is fundamentally procreative. However, birth control can be given defense through the use of contraceptive devices that are fundamentally not immoral. Wheaton College before exercising their complete removal of birth control coverage should consider this aspect. WHO estimates that provision of contraception to wom en living in developing nations can prevent 54 million unintended pregnancies, 7 million miscarriages, and 26 million abortions (whereby 16 million would be risky abortions). WHO therefore emphasizes that this would prevent infant mortality and maternal mortality (79, 000 maternal deaths). Generally, these statistics prove that most women rely on contraceptives for medical purposes, for instance, women may rely on birth control pills to help the lower menstrual pain, prevent migraines, and treat excessive bleeding.

American Nurses Association Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Nurses Association - Essay Example They include, fostering high standards of nursing practice, lobbying the Congress and the healthcare regulatory agencies on such issues that re capable of affecting nurses and the public, protecting both the positive and realistic view if nurses and promoting and protecting the right of nurses at the workplace. The ANA organization addresses various issues including those dealing with leadership, nursing quality, staffing, compensation, professional standards and improving nursing practice, which are all under nursing practice. On the other hand, the association also handles ethical issues such as the end of life, code of ethics as well as courage and distress. Looking at staffing, for example, there are various issues that the association is addressing. The association acknowledges that staffing issues are those of going concern that affects both the nurses as well as the patients being served. The nurse-to-patient ratio usually determines the satisfaction level of the patients taken care of by the nurses. As such, the higher the ratio is, the more satisfied the patients usually are. Sometimes, when the ratio of nurses to patients is low, the patients may have to stay longer in the hospital waiting to receive services. This increase in the length of stay in the hospital has a lot of losses to the patient. One such loss is that the patient may stay longer to contract new infections, and the hospital bill will also be higher when a patient stays longer in the hospital.

Assignment 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

2 - Assignment Example The in-depth interviews involved a word association exercise with the informants. A diagram that shows the concepts that students relate to marketing was developed, based on the results of in-depth interviews, indicating the most frequently occurring connections. A detailed explanation of what was learnt about how college students view marketing was provided. As indicated earlier, the informants comprised of four college students who are not business majors. The main aim was to find out the perceptions of these students on marketing. The following questions were asked during the in-depth interviews and the informants were allowed to provide their responses in detail: The first informant defined marketing as the act of advertising and promotion of products or services. The second informant claimed that he understood marketing as an effort that is carried out to create brand awareness. The third informant linked marketing to consumer research, whereby she said that all marketing personnel should possess the ability to find out about the needs of consumers so that they can sell appropriate products and services to them. The fourth respondent defined marketing as manipulation of a consumer’s beliefs to enhance selling. According to the four informants, marketing involves various activities. For instance, one informant said that promotion, which is majorly carried out through advertising was the main activity of marketing. Another respondent perceived pricing and retail decision making as a major activity of marketing. Creation of brand awareness by marketing personnel was perceived as one of the main activities of marketing by one of the respondents. On the other hand, one of the informants claimed that the main activity of market research, which enables marketers to create a brand by carrying out quality research on how consumers perceive a product, service or organization. This research involves the identification of clients’ needs, and

MULTINATIONAL CORP-EVOL & CUR ISSUE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

MULTINATIONAL CORP-EVOL & CUR ISSUE - Essay Example However, it is important that one understands the significance of this merger to the two companies, their shareholders, competitors, the industry and the consumer (Rumyantseva and Enkel, 2002). In any given industry â€Å"The Rule of Three† manifests itself in the manner in which companies move within the market. The Technology Sector is undoubtedly one of the most oligopolistic, yet monopolistic markets in the modern day. This makes it conform to the rule of three, a fact that may have influenced and possibly affected the manner in which the market is shaped. The rule of three suggests that every industry that is free of major entry barriers and regulatory constraints depicts two types of competitors; full time generalists and product/market specialists (Tu, 2014). Full line generalists are volume-driven and as their market share grows, so does their financial performance they own 10 to 40% of the market share. These full-line generalists usually depict very good financial performance as long as they maintain their control of the market (Sheth and Sisodia, 2002). Product or market specialists on the other hand control 1 to 5 % and have curved out a niche in the market in which they control considerably. Their financial performance is inversely proportional to its market share, i.e. as their market share grows, their financial performance diminishes. Any firm that owns more than 5% but less than 10% of the market is in the ditch. Such companies depict the worst financial performance and are either taken over by a full-line generalist to increase their market share or by a product/market specialist seeking to grow into a full-line generalist (Sheth and Sisodia, 2002). Every market usually has three full-line generalists. Even though at one time there would be more than three, the market usually shakes up to provide three full-line generalists. Consider the

Assignment 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

2 - Assignment Example The in-depth interviews involved a word association exercise with the informants. A diagram that shows the concepts that students relate to marketing was developed, based on the results of in-depth interviews, indicating the most frequently occurring connections. A detailed explanation of what was learnt about how college students view marketing was provided. As indicated earlier, the informants comprised of four college students who are not business majors. The main aim was to find out the perceptions of these students on marketing. The following questions were asked during the in-depth interviews and the informants were allowed to provide their responses in detail: The first informant defined marketing as the act of advertising and promotion of products or services. The second informant claimed that he understood marketing as an effort that is carried out to create brand awareness. The third informant linked marketing to consumer research, whereby she said that all marketing personnel should possess the ability to find out about the needs of consumers so that they can sell appropriate products and services to them. The fourth respondent defined marketing as manipulation of a consumer’s beliefs to enhance selling. According to the four informants, marketing involves various activities. For instance, one informant said that promotion, which is majorly carried out through advertising was the main activity of marketing. Another respondent perceived pricing and retail decision making as a major activity of marketing. Creation of brand awareness by marketing personnel was perceived as one of the main activities of marketing by one of the respondents. On the other hand, one of the informants claimed that the main activity of market research, which enables marketers to create a brand by carrying out quality research on how consumers perceive a product, service or organization. This research involves the identification of clients’ needs, and

Lack of Motivation and Leadership Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Lack of Motivation and Leadership Issues - Essay Example A number of solutions have been proposed such as the introduction of the motivational program, transformation in leadership, facilitating teamwork etc. However, among that introduction of incentive scheme and adoption of democratic leadership style have been recommended. Finally, the implementation process has been emphasized. The case entails the owner of Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Riccardo Lombardi. The owner was extremely worried despite the fact that his business was doing extremely well. However, his primary concern was regarding the fact that whether the success will continue or it will diminish as a number of competitors are entering the market. The franchise was purchased by Riccardo 10 years ago from the American Giovanni’s Pizzeria. Since then it has been able to establish 40 stores around the markets of Australia. It has its headquarters in Glen Waverley, Victoria. The franchise is segmented into six areas. The operations of each and every area are looked upon by a state manager. Furthermore, all the stores are administered by a store a manager along with two assistant managers. The company has different policies for hiring employees. However, they do not consider education as the only indication factor for getting a job in the stores. Most of the employees who work on the store have tertiary education and of age 24 to 27. They get selected on the basis of their abilities to perform the job. There are issues within the company for not providing any formal training. However, it is a secondary issue. The case further details that the company’s Ballarat store of Victoria was facing a number of issues such as increasing percentage of unsold and damaged goods, malpractices of the employees, high employee turnover due to stringent policies and also dissatisfaction among the employees due to autocratic leadership style. In order to reduce the impact of the problems on the day to day operations of the operations of the outlet, the  store manager Marcello imposed a set of guidelines.  

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay Example for Free

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay From 1027-221 BCE, the Zhou era, Chinese philosophers â€Å"offered insights into how humans should behave in regard to their families, the state, and nature. † Different philosophers tried to achieve a similar goal of having a well-ordered Chinese society, but they all had vastly different methods of achieving this goal. There were three different schools of Chinese thought that all tried to achieve the goal of having a peaceful society that lived in harmony. All of these ideas were exceptionally diverse and they all varied in different ideas. â€Å"Daoism emphasized harmony with nature; Confucianism emphasized the harmony of relationships; and Legalism emphasized the harmony of a well-regulated state. † The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. Confucianism is a philosophy that pushed for a well-ordered society by emphasizing human relationships, a righteous leader, and a good education. The discoverer of this idea was Confucius, a philosopher and teacher. He grew up in the period of Eastern Zhou, the age of a hundred schools. His goal was to transform the Chinese society into a state of coherence and righteous. He planned this goal was to be achieved by something called filial piety, devotion and service to parents, ancestors, and superiors. He found filial piety important because he believed it would make the people act moral. Another way he planned to achieve this goal was having a wise and moral leader that was able to set good examples for his people. The Analects state that Confucius said â€Å"If you preside over them with dignity, they will be reverent; if you are filial and loving, they will be loyal; if you promote the good and instruct the incapable, they will be mutually encouraging. † This proves that he believed the ruler should often set a good example for his people in order for them to be moral and show goodness. Another factor that played a huge role in Confucianism was the human relationships. The emphasized relationships were ruler-people; parent-child; husband-wife; elder sibling- younger sibling and friend to friend. These relationships were crucially important because Confucius believed each person had obligations to fulfill and a certain stance in society. And to fulfill those duties each person was expected to behave. Also the goodness of the people was expected to start at the home. He said, â€Å" Only when the roots are well planted will the Way grow â€Å" This reveals that the longer moral ways have appeared the more moral the person is likely to be. But if you juxtaposed the other two philosophies compared to Confucianism you would realize that are extremely different. In the contrary one of the other philosophies, Legalism, is much different than Confucianism and is a lot harsher. Legalism also had the goal of well-ordered society but had different idea of achieving this common goal. The dynasties that used the idea of Legalism were the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. The Qin Dynasty used Legalism to the full extent while the Han Dynasty infused Confucianism and Legalism together. Han Feizi, the prince of the Han dynasty, through his writings outlined how to maintain a stable society through laws, punishments and other factors. He believed that one way to reach a well-ordered society was to have a strict and strong ruler. Quoted from The Writings Of Master Han Fei, Fei said, â€Å" If conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are weak, the country is weak †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . From this you can conclude that Han Fei truly believed that a harsh ruler was the key to a successful society. Another aspects that contributed to the success of the community were to have enforced laws. As stated from The Writings of Master Han Fei â€Å" To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong. † This reveals that Han Fei also thought that through praising the good people and punishing the bad the society would be â€Å"well-ordered†. Which also shows that Han Fei believed in harsh punishments to tame the people of his country. A final belief of Legalism was a strong base of realism opposed to idealism. Realism was encouraged because Fei thought â€Å" †¦a strong dose of realism was needed to bring his present-day world out of the chaos that beset it† In other words means idealism was not a strict enough way to achieve a well-ordered society. But the idea of Daoism would strongly disagree with the previous concepts. Daoism, also known as â€Å" The Way That Is and Is Not â€Å", enormously differs from the other two philosophies. Daoism was used in the time period of the Eastern Zhou. The originator of this philosophy was Laozi, an â€Å"old master†, who was supposedly immortal. Laozi was against Confucianism and its concepts and perceived things from a diverse view. The goal of Daoism was to maintain a common goal of a well-ordered society. But he planned to attain this goal by following The Law of The Dao is it’s being what it is. Which simply means things are the way they are and you should not interfere. He wanted the people to follow their Dao, their destiny, something you’re naturally good at that doesn’t take any effort. And he believed by just doing that the society would be in harmony with nature. An additional way to achieve his goal was to have hands off government and ruler that were not strict or influential to the society. This is proven in The Dao Dejing; it says, â€Å" I will do nothing, and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In other words Laozi expected the ruler to let the people govern themselves and learn from their own mistakes as opposed to having laws to obey. Which also relates to a concept that is well known to most Daosist called Nonaction. In summary in Daoism to achieve the goal of having a well-ordered society you must follow your dao and be in harmony with nature. In conclusion The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. They also still have an impact on today’s modern society. Each one of these philosophies have some how branched off to religions or philosophes that are still encouraged today. For example Daoism also helped mold the religion of Buddhism. Legalism appears in several of countries around the world where the rulers of a society give there people strict laws with cruel punishments. And for Confucianism Chinese society’s still focus on having relationships with people closest to them. Therefore it was extremely important that these philosophies were studied and discovered.

Can a Historian Look at the Past Objectively?

Can a Historian Look at the Past Objectively? In the following lines, it is going to be discussed the statement It is impossible for an historian not to view the recent past through a moral or ideological lens. In order to offer a deeper insight in the topic, it has been considered appropriate to reformulate the statement, turning it into a question and formulating it in a positive way. As well, though we will go back to it later, it has been considered as well to remove the nuance recent from the question. Thus, this is the result: It is possible for a historian not to view the past through a moral and ideological lens?. These modifications, that as we may see dont distort the essence of the original proposal, will make easier to think about the topic, as facilitates the task of consider it from a historical and epistemological-based perspective, which enables us to give a broader picture about it and its historical roots. Anyway, in the conclusion, the original statement will be brought back again, and answered. The first step before going deep in this issue, is to define briefly what do we understand for moral and ideological lens. To question if history is written through a moral lens, applied to the case of historical studies, can be understood as questioning whereas all studies in the field are morally biased or not; what is to say, if beneath any text is it possible to find some clues about the moral position of the author. To explain what it is understood by ideological lens, it has been judged appropriated the definition given by professor Michael Hunt: an interrelated set of convictions or assumptions that reduce the complexity of a particular slice of reality to easily comprehensive terms and suggests appropriate ways of dealing with that reality[1]. Maybe this definition can seem too broad, but it has been chosen precisely because of that: it allows to include in thiscategory not only the structures of thought that are usually considered as ideologies, such as Marxism or Liberalism, but as well different intellectual trends or other theories of knowledge. In other words, ideology is understood as an accepted body of ideas that helps to conduct a research and explain processes, in the field of social sciences. Hence, an approach through an ideological lens consists on the analysis and reconstruction of historical events through the referential points given by this structure. So, the discussion about if it is possible for a historian whether to see or not the recent past through a moral or ideological lens is about his capacity of keeping his own position and concerns outside the view of the past that is offering through his writings. In the end, the issue under discussion here can be identified with the recurring argument in historiography about objectivity and subjectivity in historical research. Therefore, along the essay we will make a lot of references to it. Once the concepts have been focused, everything is ready to continue diving in our issue. As it has been seen, the matter that occupies us can be identified with the historiographical discussion of whether objectivity is possible or not. In the following lines, we will bring up the main positions stood among scholars around this question, and the shifts that those views have experienced along the last century. This will help to give some steps towards a solution to it. Traditionally, related to the issue of objectivity and subjectivity, from the theoretical positions among the scholars in the field, we could distinguish two currents. On one hand, those who defend that objectivity can be achievable, and that is mandatory; on the other, those who think that is not only an unrealistic aim, but an undesirable one. Of course, as always in social sciences, this distinction must not be intended to be pure and rigid. On the first group, we could find the pioneer of the discipline Leopold Von Ranke, and his line has been followed by other historians such as Trevelyan or David Thomson[2]. Quoting Ranke, the main position of this group can be summarized in the idea that history is about simply to show how it really was[3]; to learn it in its own terms. They justify this main statement in the idea that there is a need to give primacy to the facts, that them should be the main point of departure of any historical research. Hence, history should be about establishing facts in a first stance, and identifying connections, but with a total detachment from the object of study, without contaminating historical reality with personal prejudices[4]. Of course, we can find some variants among this group, as some objectivists will concede some space to speculation or personal interpretation. This is the case of Trevelyan indeed, or of a XIX century intellectual who stated that facts are sacred, opinion is free[5]. But they all share the main standpoint that primacy have to be given to the facts, and that interpretation and historical reconstruction must be perfectly distinguished. On the other hand, we could find a school of historians which can be englobed in a more subjectivist trend. In this group, we can find historians such as Benedetto Croce, in the early XX century, or Carr himself, in the sixties. One of the most enlightening summaries of this view Croces statement all history is contemporary history[6]; they understood that the task of the historian was to see the past through the eyes of the present, and to evaluate it (from it)[7]. Therefore, they argued that all his ideas, theories and assumptions, his ideological and moral background, were reflected upon the text. In this way, Carr would argue that, despite facts are the backbone of historical studies, are not its reason[8]. It can be said that what he was trying to say is that facts are necessary condition, but not sufficient. But this group distinction is not useful anymore, since the outbreak in the late XX Century of a new school of thought that shivered, and still doing, the foundations of historical theory: postmodernism. Despite all the differences of perspective that confronted both trends, they were discussing inside a shared paradigm: modernity. Maybe they didnt agree in the relationship of the historian with his work, in the idea of detachment, or on the primacy of the facts doctrine, but all of them agreed on the idea that the achievable aim of the discipline was related to historical truth. It can be counterargued that they stood a different conception of the concept of historical truth, but undoubtedly shared the standpoint that his works where referring to an external truth. The outbreak of postmodernism from the late sixties onwards broke with this shared paradigm. From the field of philology and philosophy, the idea that there is not linkage between reality and the works that try to explain it, spread to the other branches of knowledge. Postmodernists, such as the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, regarded that objectivity in historical studies must be understood as an unachievable myth, a mere product of what might be called the referential illusion[9]. Following the path charted by the early postmodernists on the sixties, some historians such as Theodore Zeldin[10] accepted these basis, assuming a relativism through the acceptance of the premises that historical texts are not bound to any historical truth, so are to be seen as mere subjective personal views.[11] These assumptions were elevated to the category of rights, understanding that every historical explanation should be regarded as a personal tale, concluding therefore, as Zeldin states, everyone has the right to find his own perspective[12]. As we can see, if we want to preserve the binary distinction of two confronted groups, to gain a faithful picture of the current discussion, we have to reformulate it. Then, in one side we find the post-modernist view, which claims not only that any view in history is biased by moral and ideological concerns, but that everything is ideology and morals, those of the author, who stands behind the tale. On the other, those who believe that reference to historical truth is achievable. Inside this group, we may find some differences about the specific definition of truth or the role of ideology and so on, but this main point unifies them. Nowadays, it is commonly accepted that some ideological and moral bias is unavoidable[13], but among this group it is denied that this doesnt allow to reach certain objective conclusions. So, if we want to stay in the frame of the current polemics in the field, the question about whether it is impossible not to view the past through a moral or ideological lens requires to inquiry in which way historians pre-assumptions are reflected on his work, to which extent does it distort the vision about the past, and whether this enables us to talk about an achievable objective historical truth or not. Until now, we have been focusing the question: first, by clarifying the concepts; later, by having a brief look to the status of the issue among scholars. The latter point lead us to the stance that is widely accepted that moral and ideology are present in any historical work. There is no one easy answer to what are the implications of it, and we have thought that the best way of understanding it is by revising some of the main elements that take part in historical research. Through a brief study of how history is made, we will be able to understand how the moral and ideological assumptions of the author, his subjectivity, are present on his works. But before that, as are very related to the question of How?, it would be interesting to have a brief look to the question of What is the historian looking for? and the reasons of why is it judged of interest. Of course, the questions of What? and Why history? would deserve a whole essay. But our aim is not to tackle with the topic of the nature of history. Therefore, we will devote just a few lines to these matters. 4.1) What? The question of what history is was first critically formulated by Ranke, who developed the idea that historys aim was to study it in its own terms, how it really was[14]. The idea was that the historian had to go to the archives, and collect facts which would explain how was the past. So, we can say, he understood that history was a reality that resided in the sources, and that was within reach for the historian, who could carry on a reconstruction of it. This conception of history explains why some historians from the positivist school, in the late XIX Century, thought that they were near the moment where, been all the archives revised, definite historical truth was going to be reached[15]. The problem is that it seems to be an out-of-focus vision. The past is not out there anymore, it is dead. This have been emphasized by some historians along the XX Century, such as Marwick who remarks the idea that past doesnt exist anymore, and that all we have from it are relics and traces through which the historian has to work in order to offer a more or less plausible synthesis of the past[16]. And this can be complemented with Carrs emphasis on the fact that historical research is made from the present, from a different context and perspective than its object of study[17]. Though sometimes is near falling in a relativist view often criticised by other scholars, asElton did[18], he has helped to develop among the discipline a valuable concern about how our study of the past is conducted by interests and ways of doing moulded by the present time. So, this leads us to a new idea of history as a discipline: instead of the reconstruction of the past, it is a representation where the role of the historian should be taken into account. The past is dead, and it is not going to be brought into live again. What we only have are traces, rests, ruins of it, and the task of the historian is to create explanatory models from them, trying to be faithful to the historical reality they refer to. In a metaphorical way, we can say that history is like the representation of a landscape painted by a painter backwards it, guided by the indications of a man in who he relies. He doesnt see the landscape, but he can create a more or less faithful image of it; depending on how skilful he is, on his capability of asking the accurate questions to his friend, on his ability of deduction and his experience and so on, he would create a better or worse representation of it. But the representation would not be an exact reproduction of the landscape. First, because it would not be the intention: it is a 2-D representation of a 3-D reality. But as well because a lot of data would be missed, even being his friend a good guide, and the painter would have to deduce some of the connections made on the canvas, implying all his capacities of reasoning, deducing, comparing, thinkingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ always at service of the, for him fragmented, reality that is trying to portray. Following this example, a postmodernist could argue that is pointless to think that there could be a real bond between our blind painters representation and the landscape. So, he shouldnt try it; what he would have to do is to be conscious that his representation is a totally disengaged vision of the landscape, so what he would only be able to do is to create freely his own personal interpretation. But then he wouldnt be accomplishing the task he has been initially asked: to reach a proper representation of the landscape. He would create a beautiful and colourful composition, but a meaningless one. Coming back from the metaphor,the historian who is unaware of the object of study, history, cannot be conceived as a writer of history, but of poetry or literature. Hence, post-modernism is not applicable to history, as both are incompatible: the historian who fully accepts that premises cannot be called a historian, as he is rejecting the main foundation of the discipline: to offer a proper representation of history. So, what we can conclude from all this is: a) Historian aspires, at most, to a representation of the past. b) Hence, the historian, with his moral and ideological beliefs, is present on his work, as he interprets and establishes connections from the present. c) This doesnt mean that the outcome is a mere creation: his construction is supposed to be bonded to reality, to the ideal of how it was. If he rejects that, reducing it to a mere self-expression of personal moral and ideological points of view, is doing anything but history. 4.2) Why? This issue will be briefly sketched out, with the main aim of presenting the point of view stood along the essay. Why history? Why is historical inquiry of interest? We have found an almost infinite range of points of view along the bibliography selected, from its justification due to the explanation of development of human values through history, to the argument that is the only way of understand our contemporary context.[19] As we will see on following lines the Why? stood by the historian determines the How? is the research carried on. But, however, there is an essential characteristic that lies under any of the different points of view: interest in history stems from the interest of understanding the human being in society. And from there, different ways of facing this issue enrich the whole. Hence: a) There is not a specific answer to the question Why history?, but all can be summarized in the study of the past of the human being in society. b) The different ways and perspectives through it is studied enriches the whole. 4.3) How? Once the questions of the What? and Why? history have been overviewed, we are reaching the central point of this essay: to see which is the role played by the ideological and moral own views of the historian in his work through answering to the question of How is it done?. Having a look to some of the essential aspects that intervene in the process of writing history will enable us to see how historians personal concerns are reflected on his work and how does this happen. First, a brief insight to the relationship between the historian and the facts and sources[20]. Carr defines it through a comparison with fishery: [Facts] are like fish swimming about in a vast and sometimes inaccessible ocean; and what the historian catches will depend [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] on what part of the ocean he chooses to fish in and what tackle he chooses to use- these two factors been determined by the kind of fish he wants to catch.[21] What he is trying to explain is how the historian is not a mere passive processer of data, but an active agent from the very starting point of selecting the information in which is going to root his research. But the question is: in base to what does he make the selection? In base to his own concerns? Or in base of the preferences of history? What is to say: the facts he looks for are determined by his own interests or by what history demands? As we have argued previously, history is about a representation of the past, where it is the main character, the object of study. So, it seems that would make sense to assert that the questions that the historian asks to the raw materials may be pounded faithfully to the preferences of history. Of course, at a first stance, when he hardly knows anything about the topic is going to study, his research will be driven by questions raised in the present, related to his concerns. But this will change progressively as he makes progress. Through inquiring the raw sources, to make them talk[22], the historian comes up with more questions, but this time not formulated in base to the present but to the foreign country[23] which is been re-visited. And by keeping this process, he manages to go deeper in the past, to understand better the people who lived there, the process that affected their lives. So, in theory, it appears to be possible the goal set by Ranke of getting to know the past in its own terms[24]. But when we examine any work of history, even the considered to be the best ones, we discover that, indeed, this doesnt happen. Every history book or paper can be classified in an ideological or moral spectrum due to its conclusions. In order to understand properly why does this happen, in the next lines we are going to proceed to an insight to what has been called the nature of the historian. Through this, we will go back to some of the issues which have just been covered. So, in the following lines we are going to deal with the issue of the nature of the historian in what pretends to be an invitation for the reader to think about who is the historian and how does his moral and ideological point of view affects his historical production. We will focus on three aspects, which are those who have been seen to be the most problematic: context, ideology as framework and categories as a vehicle for indirect judgement. As is aforementioned, the historian is not a machine, but a human who has his own beliefs and experiences emotions, who is part of his society, so shares the cultural background of his epoch and is affected by academic theories or trends. As Jordanova argues all historians have ideas already in their minds when they study primary materials- models of human behaviour, established chronologies, assumptions about responsibility, notions of identity and so on[25]. On the other hand, the historian is a professional devoted to the study from the past, through the construction of explanatory models of it in the most accurate way possible. Hence, we can detect the dual reality of the historian, which causes tensions. Lets have a look to how all this corpus of premises affects the historians craft. First of all, we have to bear in mind that the historian is part of a specific time and society that constrains him when creates his explanatory models about the past. For example, a historian in the sixties would be attracted by schools such as the cliometricians in the US or Annales in France, based on theories that championed more integration of the discipline with other social sciences such as sociology or economy, as some of them they understood that it was the way of reaching certain and objective conclusions[26]. This was translated into the predominance of a history based on the processing of data, quantifiable perspectives of the past, on analysis rather than narrative, predominance of social perspective rather than the study of individuals and so on.[27] Part of this schools where Emmanuel Roy de Laudurie and Lawrence Stone, who argued respectively that history that is not quantifiable cannot claim to be scientific[28] and that quantification was the way of pushing back widely spread historical myths[29]. But this conception wrecked partly because of its own exhaustion, partly because new trends surpassed it, such as post-modernist trends (that emphasized the study of the unconscious instead of data at a social level), radical historians (that argued for a more narrative history instead of analysis and promoted new objects of study such as what they understood of the hidden and oppressed of history)[30], and so on. And with this change of paradigm, a lot of supporters of the quantitative view changed their mind, as is the case of both Le Roy and Stone. The former wrote in the sixties a book about the collective imagery in a French medieval village; the latter is well known for having written a high-impact paper claiming for the revival of narrative[31]. As we can see, if changes the context where the ideological premises of the historian have been built, also changes the way of understanding it. In the end, changes the anthropological conception of who and how the human being is. Is the case of Le Roy: his idea of human as a being constrained by the means of production rooted in a materialist view of the world gave way to a new vision where the un-material (imaginaries and so on) was judged as more relevant in order to explain his anthropological basis. Hence, we can see that the context may influence heavily the ideological premises of the historian; and with a shift on it, changes, consequently, his way of ponderingthe past. Especially important is the case of that historiography explicitly based on an ideology. Maybe the most remarkable case is the Marxist historiography, which has kept a strong presence in the field during almost the whole XX century. Great historians such as E.P Thompson, Christopher Hill or Eric Hobsbawm didnt hesitate in defending Marxism as an especially useful point of departure for historical research[32]. As confessed Marxists they were, his studies focused on topics related to the world of labour from a materialistic perspective and dealt with categories and concepts such as bourgeois, class and class struggle, means of production à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ full of Marxists implications. The use of categories in history is another example of how present is historians moral and ideological point of view in his work. Categories are not neutral, but full of implications. As we have seen, Marxist historians are predisposed to explain history through Marxist categories. But we can think on an infinite range of examples: categories such as democratic or fascist, and so on, are often used as a way of setting moral judgements. Hence, through the mere choice of categories, the historian is, though implicitly, judging. Facing this picture, it could seem that post-modernist assumptions about the impossibility of getting over ones point of view and reach historical truths are certain. To counterargue this conclusion, has been found (as Evans also does) [33] to be very useful the concept of objectivity encouraged by Thomas Haskell, which regards it more as a quality of the historian itself than of the text: ascetic self-discipline that enables a person to do such things as abandon wishful thinking, assimilate bad news, discard pleasing interpretations that cannot past elementary tests of evidence and logic, and, most important at all, suspend [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] ones own perceptions long enough to enter sympathetically into the alien and possibly repugnant perspectives of rival thinkers.[34] In the end, we could say that writing good history, capable of reaching historical truth, is about been able of transcending ones point of view and subordinate it to the historical reality faced along the study of the sources. It could be said that is a matter of primacy, of been able to give primacy to the history rather than to ones position. Lets examine this with some of the examples aforementioned. We have mentioned the case of Hobsbawm. As it has been said, he developed a historical analysis from a Marxist point of view. But when we say that we are not assuming that he was fitting his conclusions into that premises, enforcing reality to fit it into his ideological point of view. Indeed, he was able to reach conclusions which challenged the traditional Marxist point of view, as happens when asserts that macro-social analysis difficulties to understand the nature of Revolutions by exaggerating structure and devaluating situation, as them can only been explained historically, focusing on the specific, and not theoretically, through generalisations[35]. Or when writes about nationalism in a much more cultural way than just based on Marxists social theory and framework[36]. Marxist theory guided his historical inquiry, but he was not closed to re-interpreting it if the sources demanded it, and was opened as well to consider historical problems without absolutizing any kind of historical causes or perspectives. His capacity of considering all the points of view, of not closing his historical inquiry to his ideological preferences, and to giving primacy to the historical sources rather than to his personal ideological premises, makes his work valid until today[37]. A counter example would be the case of Carr, whose History of Soviet Russia has been often criticised because of overlooking Stalinist repression[38]. And is a precise critique: in what he said was an accurate accountant of the development of the Soviet state, he disregarded that crucial point due to a strong ideological bias. Or the case of some ideologically-motivated gender history, that absolutizes ahistorical concepts, such as patriarchy, fitting history into its predetermined framework[39]. Another example are Foucaultspseudo-historical writings, which are more a kind of philosophical works based on historical examples, where theory clearly outweighs historical rigor.[40] In this cases, the primacy of history is not preserved; far from that, it is toughly violated, as is placed at the service of the moral and ideological framework of the writer. We have mentioned as well the issue of categories as a way of implicit moral and ideological judgement. The historian will never get rid of it, but can perfectionate his ability to represent history accurately through them. Lets bring again the example of the category fascist. If the historian is able to understand it properly, and is conscious of all its implications, he will be able to make an appropriate use of it, according to historical standards. Then, if he remains faithful to the sources, would be in the position of identifying fascist movements, or fascist behaviours as were historically understood in the time studied. It will, for example, help him to differentiate it from other kind of authoritarian ideologies, point which is often confused. And this is the way that objectivity should be understood: as a capacity of detachment that allows the historian to overcome a fully present-minded and ideological interpretation. And departs from the assertion that primacy must be given to the demands of history, to the guidance of the sources. A way of assessing if this has been achieved is through the test of time: the validity of its conclusions through a wide span of time. Quoting again Tosh, is what made him to assert that Hobsbawms Age of Revolution still unsurpassed[41], even when Marxism is not anymore seen as a reliable framework of interpretation. All of this can be achievable only if this principle of objectivity is assumed. But it is just a necessary condition, but not sufficient. To accomplish it depends as well on the skill of the historian. But without it, doesnt matter how much skilful the historian is, that his work will not stand the test of time. Along this essay, we have revised some polemic aspects about the historians relationship with his object of study. First of all, after fixing definitions of moral and ideology, we have revised some of the attitudes across the historiography about our topic. Then, through answering to the questions What?, Why? and How? we have explored the relationship between the historian and history, between his perso

binge drinking Essay -- essays research papers fc

What Causes Binge Drinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Binge Drinking is an intriguing phenomenon that many college students take part in all across the country. The issue of binge drinking has been a problem on college campuses for decades. Binge drinking has many horrible effects, but the problem starts with the causes for it. If the causes could be controlled then the issue would not get out of hand. Many college students give different causes for their drinking problems, and experts on the subject have their explanations as well. The problem is, while growing through adolescence anything can become an excuse for drinking, such as  ¡Ã‚ §its Thursday the day before Friday, we need to drink ¡Ã‚ ¨ or,  ¡Ã‚ §it ¡Ã‚ ¦s the last Wednesday of the semester, lets get some beer. ¡Ã‚ ¨   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Binge drinking has different definitions but many would agree that  ¡Ã‚ §Binge drinking has been defined as drinking more than 4-5 drinks in a row in one sitting. A drink is defined as a 12 ounce can or bottle of beer, a wine cooler, a four ounce glass of wine, or a shot of liquor ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Rhodes 1). Others believe that men who consume 5-6 drinks and women who consume 4-5 drinks are also considered Binge Drinkers. Personally I do not think that sex matters, if someone is consuming multiple drinks to become highly intoxicated they should be considered a Binge Drinker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One article that covers the results of a national survey states that  ¡Ã‚ §Adolescents ¡Ã‚ ¦ levels of alcohol and drug use have been found to be strongly associated with peers ¡Ã‚ ¦ use. However, other studies have shown that a student ¡Ã‚ ¦s drinking was more strongly influenced by how much he or she thought close friends drank than by perceptions of the extent of use by students in general ¡Ã‚ ¨(Results 2). This is a statement that I can agree with because growing up I have watched many young people become greatly influenced by their friends. Now a days the phrase  ¡Ã‚ §peer pressure ¡Ã‚ ¨ concentrates on pressure from a direct group of friends rather than a students peers as a whole. Another reason the article gives for the cause of Binge Drinking is that  ¡Ã‚ §Students who perceive that more drinking occurs than actually does provide themselves with an excuse for drinking more because  ¡Ã‚ ¥everyone is doing it ¡Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Results 2). E veryone knows that most youngsters want what every other kid has, this idea relates in the... ...nge drinking. Almost anything can become a cause for binge drinking. There are things that directly lead to drinking problems such as depression but most of the causes for it are just any old excuse. If I had to decide on main causes for binge drinking they would be depression and simple excuses that give students a reason to drink. People that are depressed usually have thoughts of giving up on life, so by drinking they are just easing their pain. Most of the binge drinking that goes on in college is because students feel that they are supposed to drink, its a college tradition in a way. This is why students will use any excuse they can to drink. Works Cited Anxiety and Binge Drinking. 30 Oct. 2000. Houser, Regan. Message in a Bottle. 30 Oct. 2000. Prevention Primer: Binge Drinking. 30 Oct.2000. Wechsler, Henry and Kuo, Meichun. College Students Define Binge Drinking and Estimate Its Prevalence: Results of a National Survey. EBSCO Publishing 29 Oct. 2000

Important People of History Essay

Ancient Greece was known for many things, including great thinkers and philosophers. Many names come to mind from this period, including that of Socrates. Certainly, none are so colorful. He wrote nothing, but his impact was unmatched by others. His ideas were revolutionary, and caused enough controversy that he was finally put on trial in Athens, guaranteeing that his mark on history would be indelible. Socrates was born in 469 B. C. E. to Sophroniscus and Phaenarete. Little is known about him beyond what others wrote, since he resisted any urges to put words on paper. What is known about him comes from Aristophanes, Xenophon, and Plato, all of whom wrote about him. However, their narratives differ in some crucial ways, and so there are some things that will never be known about the enigmatic philosopher. Socrates was a firm believer in the power of the intellect. He insisted that â€Å"a man must order his life by the guidance of his own intellect,† believing that it was this above all that must be cultivated. He never hesitated in saying what he believed, and this tendency made him unpopular in many circles. However, he did not allow this to deter him from expressing these beliefs. Knowledge and truth were paramount to him, and he would not sacrifice these virtues for anything. When he was eighteen, Socrates was required to do the duty of every citizen, and this included training in the Athenian militia. He served the years that were expected of him, engaging in battle in 432 as a foot soldier to help put down a revolt. On the way home from the siege that followed, Socrates saved the life of Alcibiades during a subsequent battle near Spartolus, losing the battle. They returned to Athens in 429, where he was accused of helping the playwright Euripides to write his tragedies. Important People of History Page 2 of 5 Socrates next saw battle at Delium in 424. The Athenians saw defeat yet again, although Socrates distinguished himself once more. In another year, he was yet again immersed in battle, this time at Amphipolis. This ended in another defeat, and was also the last battle that Socrates fought. Peace was made between Athens and Sparta, and this is when Socrates could begin to concentrate in earnest on debates and discussions to pass on his ideas and beliefs. Education, democracy, and Mystery religion were key themes in this. During this time, Socrates married Xanthippe, and they would have two sons. Socrates perhaps became best known for the Socratic Method. This method was meant to help intellectuals come to correct conclusions, and it made definition the most essential point of this. In a desire to find the truth, Socrates believed that one must â€Å"require a standard of truth and an explanation of the causes of error. † The comparison of two ideas is necessary in making a judgment, and those ideas must be clear and not vague. This method lasted throughout the centuries, and is still practiced today. Socrates is also known as the founder of utilitarianism. Ethics and the process of applying his methods to them was a key interest of his, and this study led to utilitarian ideas. With this, he came to the conclusion that good is useful and â€Å"virtue is happiness. † This formed the core of his paradox, which is that men do not willingly commit wrongs, and that this is done only through ignorance. While Socrates wrote nothing, he spent a great deal of his life conversing with others. This was a major part of his Socratic method. He never attempted to teach, for he believed that he had no knowledge. He professed that he was only exceptional in the fact Important People of History Page 3 of 5 that he knew that he knew nothing. It was a goal of his to prove that popular ideas were inconsistent, and he wished to convince all to whom he spoke that their convictions could not stand up under examination. Socrates was well known for frequenting places such as marketplaces, where he would engage people in conversation. He enjoyed doing this with people of all ranks and stations, often putting off important people and gaining their animosity. His manner and lack of deference gained him many enemies; many resenting what they felt were his ridicule. There was nothing that Socrates felt was too sacred to question and criticize, and this included both religion and government. He was perhaps more agnostic than anything, and he had no compunctions about questioning and criticizing the gods. This added to feelings of animosity against him, as did the fact that he was also quite vocal against the ruling powers. It was this that was to lead to his arrest and subsequent trial, which is perhaps the pinnacle of his career. Socrates was arrested when he was seventy on charges that â€Å"he does not believe in the gods recognized by the city, but introduces strange supernatural beings; he is also guilty, because he corrupts the youth. † The political reasons were kept quiet, instead focusing on impiety, and the sentence proposed was that of death, although those who accused him had no real desire to put him to death, only to force him to leave and no longer be a thorn in their sides. However, Socrates refused to leave, instead remaining behind to face the charges against him. A life away from his interactions with the Athenians would not have suited him, and so he remained. Important People of History Page 4 of 5 Socrates faced a jury of 501 men. This jury, as all Athenian juries, would vote twice. Their first vote was on guilt or innocence, and their second vote was for the sentence. While Socrates expected that he would be convicted, he expressed surprise at â€Å"how closely the jury was split on the first and basic question. † It was a difference of six percent that would have turned the tide, acquitting him. Socrates had the chance to avoid a sentence of death once the verdict came in. It was a practice of the Athenian law system to allow the defendant to put forth another punishment, and the jury would choose between the two. However, the punishment that Socrates suggested was merely a small fine, which was so minuscule a punishment that the jury had little choice but to condemn him to death. It was not for thirty days after his trial that Socrates would meet his end. During that time, his friend Crito appealed to him to escape, but Socrates believed that the harm that would come from that would be a greater harm to the city than to allow himself to follow through with the sentence, and that it would have â€Å"brought shame on his family and friends. † Socrates did not seem to fear his death. In fact, on the day upon which he was scheduled to die, he seemed quite happy and pleasant. Death was perhaps another opportunity for him to learn and experience. He was also not alone when the end came, as his wife and younger son, as well as friends, were present. He spent his last day doing what he loved best, discussing philosophy and once more passing on his wisdom. Xanthippe was taken home before his actual death took place, leaving him with his Important People of History Page 5 of 5 friends and advising them to agree if they believed what he said was truth, and to oppose it if they did not, refusing to restrain themselves. To the end, he was determined to hold onto his ideals and beliefs, and insisted on others doing so as well. After bathing and then meeting with his family once more, he met with his executioners. He was given a glass of hemlock after having its effects explained to him. After this formality, he â€Å"cheerfully took the cup and drank. † Thus ended the life of one of the most profound leaders of philosophy. Socrates, through all of his life, lived up to the ideals and beliefs that he taught. He never compromised these, even up to the day that he died. To him, the importance of remaining true to himself and his teachings was paramount, and to do otherwise would be an injustice. He did not simply talk and hope that others learned from him; he lived by example and died by the same. His legacy proved to be quite enduring, and is still a cornerstone of philosophy to this day. His students, such as Plato, helped to preserve this and pass it on. Without Plato and others, little would be known today of Socrates. The impression he made was a lasting one, and a good example even today, encouraging people not to be afraid to question and discuss, because without these things, learning cannot be successful. Works Cited Bury, J. B. and Russell Meiggs. A History of Greece. London: Macmillan Education LTD, 1975. Nails, Debra. â€Å"Socrates. † Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 16 Sept. 2005. . Stone, I. F. The Trial of Socrates. New York: Doubleday, 1989.