Theory of utilitarianism Essay Example for Free

Theory of utilitarianism Essay The Philosophy of Utilitarianism may have a positive outcome, but it can be flawed at times as well. The Utilitarian theory states â€Å" The greatest happiness for the greatest number of people†. Some say this approach is flawed due to it lacking reason and consequence, I believe this depends on specific circumstances. Abortion is a big issue now a days and I feel that the utilitarian theory would be a reasonable outlook on this particular situation. To apply the Utilitarian theory to abortion, first we must relinquish right and wrong and the innate morals that follow, and focus on whether the end result compliments the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. An example of such would be, Lets say a lady gets raped and becomes impregnated by the rapist, first and foremost one would gather that this woman would not want to bare her rapist child, being that the pregnancy will remind her everyday of this horrendous event, causing her constant displeasure and despair emotionally, physically, and mentally. An opposing party would say that adoption would be an alternative, and yes it would be, but this means that she would have to carry this child to term, go through the pain of childbirth and the legality of the adoption process. Everything stated causes this woman displeasure. If she does go this route there still is an issue, the child itself. Secrets always come out, one day this child will find out his/her father is a rapist and that will have a detrimental negative affect on this child. Also, what if he/she wants to meet the biological mother and she protests, yet again more displeasure. What if he/she is persistant on meeting the biological mother and a meeting does take place, the woman is faced with numerous discontentment, she would have to relive and face the events that she tried so hard to bury away in her mind. The utilitarian theory would state that having this child will cause nothing but pain for everyone in the situation including the unborn fetus. If abortion did take place the outcome would be in favor of the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Another example would be a young teenager experimenting in the sexual field, she can have a boyfriend or perhaps she has a one night stand and become pregnant. We will evaluate the situation from an utilitarian point of view, she is young, in school, single, lives at home with her parents and does not have an income. Again, adoption is an alternative, but she would still have to tell her parents, and be forced to grow up to early and miss out on her youth. Also, the pregnancy will become a burden on the teenagers parents, mentally, emotionally and financially, the outcome is unhappiness for all parties involved. Now what if a young couple gets pregnant, they would both have to drop out of school, the boyfriend who is a teenager has to become a man overnight and find a way to financially support the baby, a household and the mother. The couples parents would have to get involved and be burdened as well because of course they will try to help the young couple. A pregnancy is a blessing but it can also be a burden. An unplanned pregnancy puts stress and burdens on individuals and on couples and it is extremely hard to get through. Yet again adoption is relavant to all of these situations, but it still causes everyone involved displeasure including the baby. In all example the baby would suffer and be deprived in one way or another, whether it is proper schooling, being fed and clothed everyday and on an emotional level as well. The rapists child would one day find out the truth of how he/she was conceived. The single teenager and teenage couple would not be able to properly provide for the child, resulting in needing some sort of government assistance such as medical insurance and welfare where responsible adults pay their hard earned tax dollars. The overall outcome in all situation would not coinside with the utilitarian theory. An unexpected pregnancy is a difficult situation for any woman or couple to be in, regardless of financial stability or age. I am pro choice and believe in women having the right to choose. I also think that a woman in this situation should view it from an utilitarian’s point of view being that this theory takes the outcome of overall happiness to all people in this situation under strong consideration. If we considered this theory on the topic of abortion. I feel that the philosophy of utilitarianism would be an adequate choice.

Feminist Perspective of John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums Essay

A Feminist Perspective of John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums   John Steinbeck, in his short story "The Chrysanthemums" depicts the trials of a woman attempting to gain power in a man's world. Elisa Allen tries to define the boundaries of her role as a woman in such a closed society. While her environment is portrayed as a tool for social repression, it is through nature in her garden where Elisa gains and shows off her power. As the story progresses, Elisa has trouble extending this power outside of the fence that surrounds her garden. In the end, Elisa learns but does not readily accept, that she possesses a feminine power weak for the time, not the masculine one she had tried so hard to achieve through its imitation. The work begins with a look at the story's setting. "The Chrysanthemums" was written in 1938, and the story takes place roughly around the same time. It is winter in Salinas Valley, California. The most prominent feature is the "gray-flannel fog" which hid the valley "from the rest of the world" (396). The mountains and valleys and sky and fog encapsulate everything inside as a "closed pot" (396). Inside this shut-off habitat the environment is trying to change. Just as the farmers are waiting for an unlikely rain, Elisa and all women   are hopeful for a change in their enclosed lives. Steinbeck’s   foreshadows, "It was a time of quiet and waiting" (396). The action of the story opens with Elisa Allen working in her garden. She is surrounded by a wire fence, which physically is there to protect her flowers from the farm animals. This barrier symbolizes her life; she is fenced in from the real world, from a man's world. It is a smaller, on-earth version of the environment in which they live. This man's... ...mean she couldn't still be strong. The peddler's business of selling his service of fixing pots closes women out of his world just as natural fog closes of the valley. Although we hope her tears can be compared to the pruning she does to her precious chrysanthemums, clipping them backed for future and stronger growth, Steinbeck leaves the reader questioning the future for women. Elisa's tears will not rid the valley of the fog, for as Steinbeck tells us in the beginning, "fog and rain do not go together" (396). While Elisa will continue to dominate her immediate surrounding inside the fence using her power from nature, but she will not gain power outside of it, in a man's world. Work Cited Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 6th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1995.

Addressing international legal and ethical issues-Introduction Essay

The cultural differences and the difference between the local and international laws are the influential factors involved in the international business partnerships. Confusing ethical values, different legislations, and conflicts between various interests are the factors which are to be taken into serious consideration. When a US company enters in an agreement with a company located in another country, the legal enforceability of the terms of the contract must be ensured, with a foresight on any future eventualities. Apart from the legal aspects, there are various important factors related to the difference in ethical and cultural aspects between the two different societies. In the present case, CadMex pharma, the Florida based US pharmaceutical company is entering in an agreement with a Candore based biotechnology company Gentura. Candore is a country ruled by president Gwendoz, a dictator. Therefore the political and economic environment in that country is not as transparent as that of the US. See more: Beowulf essay essay CadMex is a company with a global reach having business operations in about 127 countries. For the contract between CadMex and Gentura the United States law must be made applicable. The companies from the member countries of WTO can opt for WTO as the forum for dispute settlement. However taking into consideration of the politically fragile situation in Candore, it is advisable to have a US based dispute settlement forum. Global marketing rights for Proprez, the medicine developed by Gentura will be given to CadMex. In return the Gentura will get technology license from CadMex. Contract for international sale of goods (CISG) can be considered as the best choice of law for CadMex, because the condorean regulations are relaxed only in the recent past after them entering into WTO very recently. From the point of view of CadMex, referring the cases to the US courts is considered preferable. But in this regard the agreement of Gentura must be obtained. In case of breach of contract it is better to get compensated through financial settlement. While two companies from different countries are entering into a contractual relationship, the international legal and ethical issues must be addressed carefully. Along with the legal issues, several aspects regarding the involvement of social, economic, political, religious, and cultural factors must also be taken into serious consideration. Addressing international legal and ethical issues-Introduction Essay The cultural differences and the difference between the local and international laws are the influential factors involved in the international business partnerships. Confusing ethical values, different legislations, and conflicts between various interests are the factors which are to be taken into serious consideration. When a US company enters in an agreement with a company located in another country, the legal enforceability of the terms of the contract must be ensured, with a foresight on any future eventualities. Apart from the legal aspects, there are various important factors related to the difference in ethical and cultural aspects between the two different societies. In the present case, CadMex pharma, the Florida based US pharmaceutical company is entering in an agreement with a Candore based biotechnology company Gentura. Candore is a country ruled by president Gwendoz, a dictator. Therefore the political and economic environment in that country is not as transparent as that of the US. See more:Â  Capital budgeting essay CadMex is a company with a global reach having business operations in about 127 countries. For the contract between CadMex and Gentura the United States law must be made applicable. The companies from the member countries of WTO can opt for WTO as the forum for dispute settlement. However taking into consideration of the politically fragile situation in Candore, it is advisable to have a US based dispute settlement forum. Global marketing rights for Proprez, the medicine developed by Gentura will be given to CadMex. In return the Gentura will get technology license from CadMex. Contract for international sale of goods (CISG) can be considered as the best choice of law for CadMex, because the condorean regulations are relaxed only in the recent past after them entering into WTO very recently. From the point of view of CadMex, referring the cases to the US courts is considered preferable. But in this regard the agreement of Gentura must be obtained. In case of breach of contract it is better to get compensated through financial settlement. While two companies from different countries are entering into a contractual relationship, the international legal and ethical issues must be addressed carefully. Along with the legal issues, several aspects regarding the involvement of social, economic, political, religious, and cultural factors must also be taken into serious consideration.

Romeo And Juliet Vs. The Miracle Worker Essays - Free Essays

Romeo And Juliet Vs. The Miracle Worker Essays - Free Essays Romeo And Juliet Vs. The Miracle Worker Relationship between Romeo and Juliet and Annie and Helen Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare. It is a love story between two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo who is a Montague falls in love with Juliet who happens to be a Capulet. It is love at first sight, but if their parents find out there will be no way that Romeo will ever see Juliet again. The Miracle Worker is another play that we read. It is about a little girl named Helen Keller who is both deaf and blind. Her parents pity her and let her do whatever she wants. They want to be able to communicate with her so they write a doctor in Baltimore for help. The doctor sends Annie Sullivan to help Helen, which is worth it because she finally gets Helen to be polite and talk. Three people from Romeo and Juliet compare to three people in The Miracle Worker. To begin with, the Montagues and the Capulets along with Mr. and Mrs. Keller and Annie are the first similar group of people. Because the two families disliked each other so much, it kept their children from being able to date each other openly. It forced their children to keep secrets from their parents and made it hard to see each other. The parents in The Miracle Worker are pretty much the same. Mr. and Mrs. Keller didnt like the way Annie was handling and taking care of Helen. They almost made Annie quit teaching because of that. Annie made Helen eat with a fork instead of her fingers. When she wouldnt hold the fork Annie forced her to hold it. The Kellers didnt like this and told Annie to let Helen eat however she wanted but Annie wanted Helen to learn the proper way to eat and behave. Annie was very strict and made disciplined Helen well. Next there are two people who were dependable and friendly to Romeo and Juliet and Annie and Helen. For example Friar Laurence knew all about the marriage between Romeo and Juliet because he is the one who married them. He thought that if they got married it would end the feuds between the families. In addition he also came up the plan for Juliet to drink the potion to make it look like she was dead and when Romeo came it would look like he save her so the Capulet family would like him. James, Captain Kellers son by his first marriage was the only one who believed in Annie at first. For instance he was the first to see Annie teach Helen the alphabet and also got the ladder for Annie when Helen locked her in the room. Also James lets Annie take Helen to the pump by telling Mr. Keller to let Annie teach Helen her way and that for once he is wrong and Annie can successfully teach Helen. Finally the last two people that influenced the relationships are the Nurse and Doctor. The Nurse knew about the relationship between Romeo and Juliet and could have told someone but never did. If she told someone of their marriage she could have saved the two kids lives. Even though the nurse tried to get Juliet to like Paris she couldnt get her to because she loved Romeo. The doctor told the Kellers that hes never seen a baby with more vitality, which was untrue. However he tells them it was only acute congestion. After he leaves, Mrs. Keller tries to get Helen's attention, but she cant because Helen cant hear or see. If the doctor had been better he would have noticed she was mute and told them before or try to save her. Although two different authors wrote the plays in two different times they still have qualities that can be compared. They all have plots, climaxes and settings. Shakespeares words and way of writing was more advanced than William Gibsons but they both have good work. Romeo and Juliets ending wasnt happy like Annie and Helens but in the end they both got what they wanted. Romeo and Juliet were finally together and the families

Whats the Difference Weighted vs Unweighted GPA

What's the Difference Weighted vs Unweighted GPA SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most students think a lot about their GPA in high school. There’s no doubt that GPA is one of the most important pieces of information colleges will consider in your application. However, GPA can vary drastically in the way it’s calculated at different schools. Some high schools use unweighted GPAs and some use weighted GPAs. I’ll give you an overview of the differences between the two and what each type of GPA might mean in the context of your personal experiences. Basic Differences Between Weighted and Unweighted GPAs So what are weighted and unweighted GPAs? Here are the main differences between the two. Unweighted GPA Traditionally, GPA is calculated on an unweighted scale.Unweighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0. It doesn’t take the difficulty of a student’s coursework into account.An unweighted GPA represents an A as a 4.0 whether it was earned in an honors class, AP class, or lower-level class. Weighted GPA Weighted GPA is often used by high schools to better represent students’ academic accomplishments.Weighted GPA takes into account course difficulty rather than providing the same letter grade to GPA conversion for every student.Usually, weighted GPA is measured on a scale of 0 to 5.0, although some scales go higher.An A in an AP class may translate into a 5.0 weighted GPA, while an A in a regular-level class will give you a 4.0 weighted GPA. Many schools also have mid-level classes (such as honors classes) where the highest weighted GPA you can earn is a 4.5. Differences in Calculation As you might expect, unweighted and weighted GPAs are calculated differently. In this section we give an in-depth explanation of how to calculate both GPA types. Unweighted GPA Unweighted GPA is much simpler to calculate than weighted GPA.This is because you don’t have to consider the levels of your classes in the calculations. Let’s say you’re taking five classes, and you have As in two of them and Bs in three of them.The two As will each translate to 4.0s, and the three Bs will each translate to 3.0s.If you add 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 and then divide by five, you’ll get an unweighted GPA of 3.4. If your grades aren’t quite as simple as that, here’s a quick letter grade and percentile to GPA conversion chart to make things easier. Letter Grade Percentile GPA A+ 97-100 4.0 A 93-96 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 65-66 1.0 F Below 65 0.0 Most schools more or less follow this scale for unweighted GPAs. Yours may be slightly different, but it shouldn’t vary too much. Weighted GPA The calculations for weighted GPA can get a little more tricky because you may be taking a variety of courses at different academic levels. Going withthe example that we used for unweighted GPA, let’s say once again that you’re taking five classes and getting As in two of them and Bs in three of them.But this time let’s also say that one A is in a regular-level class, one A is in an honors class, two Bs are in AP classes, and one B is in an honors class. How is your weighted GPA calculated?Well, each grade has to be considered in conjunction with class level.This means using the unweighted GPA conversion scale for grades in regular-level classes, adding 0.5 to the scale for mid-level/honors classes, and adding 1.0 for high level/AP classes. This means: The A in a regular-level class would still be a 4.0 The A in an honors class would be a 4.5 The two Bs in AP classes would each be 4.0s The B in the honors class would be a 3.5 If you add 4.0 + 4.5 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.5 and divide by 5, you get a 4.0 weighted GPA. Remember, not all schools will use this exact weighted GPA scale, but as you can see, there can be a big difference between the numbers you get for unweighted GPA and weighted GPA based on the types of classes you’re taking. Even if two students have identical grades, one might have a weighted GPA that’s a full point higher than the other. Let's say you have a 3.2 unweighted GPA and are taking five classes. If even two out of the five classes are honors or AP and the rest are regular-level, your GPA would get bumped up to a 3.6 on a weighted scale. A slight difference in the levels of your classes can make a big difference in your weighted GPA. Go for it! All you have to do is believe! (and study more, but mostly believe!) What Does All of This Mean for You? Whether your school uses weighted or unweighted GPA can impact your class rank and experiences in the college admissions process. If Your School Uses Unweighted GPAs†¦ Admissions committees look at your coursework in conjunction with your GPA to reach conclusions about your academic potential.They understand that some schools do not take the difficulty of students’ classes into consideration when calculating GPA.If you challenge yourself in your classes but don’t have a perfect GPA, you will look better in the college admissions process than someone in regular-level classes who has a 4.0. It may be harder to stand out from your classmates with your GPA because more students will have GPAs that are at the same level when class difficulty is not a factor in the calculation.If class rank is based purely on unweighted GPA, your class rank may not reflect the effort you expended.Students with a lot of AP classes can have lower unweighted GPAs than students who took less difficult classes despite being more academically driven. Don’t worry too much though. College admissions officers are aware of the limits of the unweighted system, and they will look closely at your course record to determine whether your GPA is an accurate reflection of your academic potential. If Your School Uses Weighted GPAs†¦ First off, you should know that having a 4.0 weighted GPA doesn’t mean you can get into any college.A 4.0 may be the commonly accepted gold standard, but with weighted GPAs everything shifts upward.A truly elite GPA under the weighted system will actually be close to a 5.0, so you will need to make sure you adapt your concept of what constitutes a high GPA to fit this model. With a weighted GPA, your class rank is more likely to reflect your academic drive and ability because your GPA is a reflection of both your grades and the levels of the classes in which you earned them.You’ll have a higher rank than someone who earns the same grades as you in lower level classes. Weighted GPAs mean that you need to be careful because they can be deceptive. A lot of the advice that's out there is targeted towards unweighted GPAs, so you'll need to adjust your thinking to account for the size of the GPA scale at your school. The bottom line is that colleges will look deeper than the raw numbers when evaluating your high school academic record regardless of whether your GPA is weighted or unweighted. Admissions officers willbe able to tell which classes you took and how much you pushed yourself, so your GPA by itself becomes only one part of a much larger picture. You will also be required to lift the weight of your GPA times 40 in order to walk at graduation, so start training. Why do you think valedictorians are always so ripped? Do Colleges Look at Weighted or Unweighted GPAs? So, which do colleges care more about then, your weighted or unweighted GPA? The short answer is that most colleges care somewhat more about weighted GPAs because they do a better job showing the difficulty of the classes you took. However, colleges care more about your entire record of coursework than just your GPA out of context. They'll look to see which classes you took, how difficult those classes typically are, and what your class rank is. All of these factors are going to give them a better understanding of your GPA. So, when you're wondering which GPA is more important, the real answer is that colleges will look at all the information they're given to get the best idea of your academic skills. They won't just glance at your GPA and decide whether it's a good number or not without looking at other factors. If your transcript shows increasing difficulty in your coursework, this will look impressive to colleges, even if your GPA isn’t perfect.If you have a 4.0 GPA but took all the least challenging classes in high school, colleges will be less impressed since you didn’t push yourself academically.This means you should continue working on taking difficult classes and getting high grades in them in order to be as impressive as possible. Summary Your high school GPA may be measured on either an unweighted or weighted scale.The main difference between the two is that weighted GPAs take into account the difficulty of your coursework and unweighted GPAs don’t.Most unweighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 4.0, and most weighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 5.0. For the most part, whether your high school uses unweighted or weighted GPA shouldn’t affect you in the college application process.Colleges will look at your GPA, but they will also consider the bigger picture. Their greatest concern is that you’ve managed to challenge yourself intellectually with your coursework. GPA is important, but proof of your determination and perseverance in the face of academic struggles is often more impressive than a 4.0. What's Next? Want more information about how to interpret your GPA in the college search process? Find out what it means to have a good or bad GPA for college. Is your GPA above average? Do you need to work on bringing it up? Learn more about the average high school GPA. Your college GPA may end up being very different from your high school GPA. Read this article about average GPAs in college to see what might be in store.

Why is media studies an important academic discipline Essay

Why is media studies an important academic discipline - Essay Example The basic field of media studies or media sciences as one might inter relate the two terms is to make sure that there is complete harmony of understanding the different media related regimes when it comes to getting the message to the right people at the right time and in the right capacity. The media contributes to public opinion and provides understanding of the news. The media entertains us, watches government and social institutions, and gives the public information for debate and discussion about local and international affairs. The role of media in the world of today is unparalleled, so much so that it literally overshadows the extent of impact any other field of life or work can have. Media manipulations thus also are quite rampant and would remain in the thick of things until a sense of responsibility and fair play is brought into this scenario. Thus this issue brings to light the task played by the spin doctors with the passage of time. These people are basically biased towards a cause, an event or have a set objective to start with. Media has a huge role to play in any country’s day to day activities and the mannerisms in which it usually deals with the people living in a region or country for that matter. (Curran, 2000) Its role cannot be denied its du e right especially since it can literally make or break the cultural values and traditions of any country. When we speak of media studies, we must remember that it is composed of a number of subsets namely advertising, film, television, print, animation and so on and so forth. Media communications demands a lot of word of mouth approach that essentially takes into consideration the fact that the more people are happy and satisfied with the brand and its related associations, the more they will buy it again and again as well as encourage their near and dear ones to take that step of having the eventual purchase on

The Criticism against New York City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Criticism against New York City - Essay Example These include hygiene and health issues, overcrowding, crime, poverty, ethnic conflict, and abysmal housing conditions, particularly in the tenements. A study of the criticisms about the city and the grounds on which it is based is very illuminating. The problem of cleanliness has plagued New York City throughout its history and its association with filth remains to this day. Steinbeck said "New York is an ugly city, a dirty city".1 At one time, it was so dirty, pigs made the city their home and roamed the streets freely. Charles Dickens in his American Notes (1842), 2 gives a humorous account of the "gentlemen hogs" as the city's self - appointed scavengers and contributors of filth and disease. In addition to the disgraceful lack of cleanliness, the city did not have an adequate garbage disposal or sewer system. Therefore the city was susceptible to the attack of infectious diseases. New York has found itself in the grip of epidemic disease more often than it would care to remember. In the words of Lankevich, "Yellow fever visited the city five times between 1795 and 1822, and in 1832, a new strain of cholera swept into New York. Cholera reappeared in 1834, 1849, and 1855, typhoid fever ravaged the immigrants in 1837, and typhus erupted in 1842".3 Frances Trollope in her Domestic Manners of the Americans remarked on the queer practice New Yorkers had of fleeing the city in particular seasons in order to escape the dreaded plague. Over the years as the situation became increasingly serious and disease continued to ravage the city and its populace, public officials and the citizens themselves did everything they could to improve living conditions. Consequently there was considerable improvement in cleanliness levels and killer diseases were kept at bay. It is the general opinion that New York has failed to resolve its hygiene issues to this very day. Most critics insist that the city has not risen to the challenge of sanitation. They point to the slums which remain cesspools of dirt and disease, as evidence to support their claim. Moreover the city continues to wrestle with health issues, particularly the problem of communicable diseases. While diseases like cholera and typhoid have been effectively controlled thanks to the intervention of modern medical science, more threatening diseases like Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have emerged to plague the populace. At one time it was considered to be hardly a cause for alarm as it was believed to be restricted exclusively to the homosexual community. Statistics however tell a different story of the rapid spread of AIDS in epidemic proportions. Greenfield and Reid state, "New York City ranks number one in the country when it comes to its rate of AIDS cases per population - and has more cases than the four runner - up cities combined".4 Truly a shocking state of affairs! From hordes of swine to deadly viruses the city continues to struggle with hygiene and disease. In the face of things, hygiene and disease seem miniscule issues when compared to the problems that have stemmed from the city's rapidly increasing population. New York City has thrown open its gates to immigrants of various ethnic backgrounds. Russians, Germans, Irish, Jews and Asians have thronged to its shores