Explain why some creationists do not believe in the big bang theory Essay

Creationism is commonly recognised as a religion that does not regard the big bang theory or evolution to be true. Creationists are a group of, often evangelical Christians, who have a literal belief in the creation stories of the bible; it teaches that everything in the universes ultimate cause is God. Although it is important to note that there is not just one type of creationist and not just one single belief that is creationism. There are many varieties including progressive creationists, who make a link with bible accounts and the big bang theory, and day age creationists who believe in the Genesis account of creation however state that each of the 6 days of creation in the bible was actually a period of millions of years. Although progressive creationists make a link between the big band and god, most creationists would reject this view. Dr Russel Humphreys, a young earth creationist, believes â€Å"the order is all wrong as well as the timescales.† When it comes to matc hing bible creation accounts with the big bang. For example, Genesis chapter 1 states that the universe starts with darkness however the big bang theory explains the universe starts with light. Creationists also find a problem with the big bang theory because it states that the whole universe began with a singularity, and creationists claim that scientists can’t determine where this came from, therefore proving a major flaw in the theory. Another growing belief of creationists is that the universe is only between 6000-10000 years old, and was created by God. On the ground of this belief the big bang theory is not a logical possibility. This particular theory was devised by Philip Gosse and is known as the Omplalos argument. Gosse used the Julian calendar to work backwards, and this lead him to conclude that the universe began on October 23rf 4004BC, and was created by God in 6 days. He stated that although there is evidence such as fossils to suggest that the world is older, these and other things were just made by God, and the universe was created with an apparent history that isn’t actually true. Consequently any discoveries that scientists make that go beyo nd the date of 4004BC are wrong and can’t be used as evidence for the creation of the universe. Aside from theories that provide a new explanation of how the universe began, some creationists simply believe that the big bang theory cannot be correct as it goes against their views of a benevolent, omnipotent God. They believe that the big bang theory does not reflect a God that is powerful enough to create the universe itself because  the scientific view does not accept a view that God could have created the Big Bang. It’s also argued that the big bang could not have created such a perfect world and the universes design must be down to an intelligent designer that is God. Dr Robert Matthews, a researcher at the institute for creation research, says â€Å"why for instance is our universe and its laws just right for the existence of life? Some argue that it’s because it was specially made for us by a benevolent creator.† This belief is one that belong to the denomination of creationism called Neo-creationism. The majority of creationists do not believe in the big bang theory, as the Holy Scriptures are believed to be the word of God, and are interpreted literally. The fact that creationists interpret the creation stories literally means that the book of Genesis provides the only explanation of the creation of the universe that could be true. As a result of this belief, creationists attempt to prove this b focusing research into finding scientific proof for the stories of Genesis, such as finding evidence for Noah’s flood.

Book of job: the unwritten message

The Bible is a library of many passages, written by authors from the ancient times dealing with different topics like creation, faith, suffering, glory. These and many more are scribbled all through out the texts and are divided into clusters called the books. The authors of these books came from different times and places. There are even views that additional chapters are added after the original book has been finished. Having said these, one cannot be sure of the exact origin of the stories, nor the message conveyed with in them. One of these books tackled on the idea of just punishment, a very simple one yet with a lot of twists. It was a part of the bible that was read, reread, and tested from time to time. Scholars tried to translate the many double meanings found in the book, as well as come up with their own ideas regarding it. The Book of Job tells the story of a man, Job, who had everything that he could possibly dream of. He has a nice family, good health, material possessions, and a peaceful life; all of which he thanked God for. This was noticed by the devil, who in turn made a wager with God – saying that Job only praises God because he has everything he would ever need, and that in times of misfortune he would definitely curse God. God agreed, and allowed Job to lose his possessions, his sons and daughters killed, his skin covered with boils, and his life completely ruined, provided that Job would not be dead. After these tragedies, the book focused next on the debates Job had with his three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. These debates marked the first of several conversations found in the book. The speeches were designed in such a way that Job answered each one of them and tried to defend himself. In the end, God himself talked to Job, taking part in another speech portion which led to God’s answers. The story ended with God giving back Job his lost health and wealth. God also ordered Job’s friends, who misinterpreted Job’s misfortunes, to ask him to pray for them. The Book of Job is a very controversial part of the Bible, since it deconstructs the logical belief on punishment – that a just punishment is given to those who have sinned and the level of the punishment depends on how grave the committed sin is. But for punishment to be rendered to someone like Job who in his whole life praised and worshipped God for all the goodness He has given him and the prosperity he has acquired, surely, we may say that there is injustice. That is why there are many assumptions on why God allowed these to happen to Job. It may be to prove to the devil that Job is really God’s man, or to show that God is really all powerful and all righteous, or it may also be for the atonement of the sins that Job’s sons had committed. These are wild guesses and can’t be really answered without reading and understanding the book as a whole. In the story, God responded to Job’s questions by a series of statements that could mean many things. His replies are intellectual, and may be interpreted in many ways and may take many points of view. In fact, the story itself may be seen in many ways. It all depends on who reads the text and how the said text is understood. The last chapters of the book define many things and answer a lot of questions that is reflected all throughout the book as well. To narrow it down, God’s reply can be found in chapters 38 to 41. The first verses from the said chapters may be analyzed in two ways. At a first glance, one can see God’s answers to Job’s questions as proof of His omnipotence and self righteousness. And the questions such as ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ (Job 38:4), ‘Have you seen the gates of death?’ (Job 38:17) and ‘Who provided food for the young?’ (Job 38:41) that seem to have God as the only answer thus proves His confirmation of   His omnipotence and self righteousness more. They can be interpreted as God’s way of proving to Job that though the reasons behind His actions may be uncertain to us humans, He, in contrast, as an almighty being is certain of them. Another possible explanation would be that of God’s attempt in providing proof that ideas such as that of providence and purpose exist; purpose defined as being the reason given to everything that happens within the realm of God and providence as His way for intervention with everyday human life. And so, these assumptions suggest that there indeed is a purpose behind Job’s suffering. This â€Å"purpose† is also evident in evil which can be seen in God’s second speech to Job. God portrayed evil in the form of two fearsome beasts – the behemoth and the leviathan. The behemoth was described as having â€Å"bones of brass and gristles of iron† (Job 40:18). And that it could be found in the mountains eating â€Å"ox as if they were grass† (Job 40:15). On the other hand, the leviathan was depicted as a beast that lives by the river and that it has skin so hard it would be questionable to â€Å"pierce it with barbed irons and fish spears† (Job 40:31). The Bible had even more descriptions of this leviathan scattered in the Book of Isaiah, all pertaining to the beast as a possible manifestation of evil itself. Having said these, God made a point to Job that humans are indeed no match to these beasts and that nothing could bring them down except God Himself. In doing so, He admitted to have created these evils and He alone has the power to banish them (Job 40:19). Therefore, God concluded in His second speech that the purpose of evil in this case, Job’s suffering, will be explained at the end of the world as He smites the beasts. God, in His conclusion, only gave a hint of His side of the argument without actually producing a clear answer to Jobs many questions about his misfortunes. In this lack of explanation, a chance opened up for Job to question and criticize God. But instead, he still chose not to condemn God but to worship Him even further. It seems that despite everything, he understood the existence of the hidden purpose in evil. He also came to realize that had judged God prematurely and without faith. By analyzing God’s response to Job, we can draw a number of conclusions as to what He wishes us to understand. One is the purpose in evil, which was discussed in the previous paragraphs. Another is the presumptuousness of mankind. God may want to show that humans think that they know all. But by asking questions such as ‘Do you observe the calving of deer? Can you hunt the prey for the lions?’ (Job 39:1), He can easily mock this said high intelligence of humans probably hoping that instances as such may instill humility. Also, in the debate between Job and his friends, we can see another pitfall in human perspective, which is the hasty judgment of suffering as the end result of wrongdoing. It was stated in the book that his friends even asked Job to repent for sins that he didn’t commit. This is because we tend to see a misfortune merely as a retribution for offense. In line with this thinking, we automatically assume that there is a need for repentance, and that it is the only way to redeem ourselves and be given back what we lost through misconduct. The next conclusion is the mentioned existence of the end of time where unanswerable questions will be answered. It is also in this said time that God will put an end to the evil He has created. Finally, the statements made by God reveals a kind of test for us humanity – Will we condemn God so that we can justify ourselves? The Book of Job may seem controversial, but God in the end provided some sort of answers which to some may be incomplete. The way to view this book may differ from time to time, from reader to reader and from place to place. We really can’t put our finger on what the final message is but I believe that the conclusions drawn above are enough for now.   Summarizing the whole paper, we humans seem to have a certain fear against punishment, and quickly tie it with some sin or some failures. The Book of Job awakens us that the reasons for punishment come in different forms, and as long as we are certain of our faith, we must not judge and condemn anyone, for that matter, prematurely. Works Cited The New Oxford Annotated Bible â€Å"Book of Job† Chapters 1-31; 38-42   

TRICARE. The Health Insurance Company Research Paper

TRICARE. The Health Insurance Company - Research Paper Example At this time TRICARE developed the program entitled Emergency Maternal and Infant Care (EMIC). This program provided maternity and infant care to dependents of service members in the lowest four pay grades. There was another change when the Korean Conflict arose and problems began. This was known as Civilian Health and Medical Program of Uniformed Services in 1966 CHAMPUS was formed. In the 1980’s this company wanted to improve access to health care programs and TRICARE was formed in 1998. TRICARE offers three options. â€Å"TRICARE Prime- This program provides the most comprehensive benefits at low cost. It allows a primary care manager to be assigned to each enrollee and military base hospital for the primary source to healthcare.†1 â€Å" This program also has TRICARE Remote and it is for active-duty service members not served by the traditional military healthcare system. Another program this includes is TRICARE Senior and this is for retirees who are 65 years of age and older and their dependents and survivors. â€Å"2 ... ovided to participants.’ TRICARE Standard This program incorporates the services previously stated in the other programs and the beneficiaries can choose any physician or healthcare provider. It pays a set percentage of the providers’ fees and the enrollee pays the rest. It allows the most flexibility, but may be the most expensive for the enrollee particularly when the providers’ charges are higher than the amounts allowed by the program. Survival of Program The program will survive into the next decade for there will always be a need for the military and their families will need medical insurance to receive necessary care for them. Some services may change, but that would depend on the circumstances that occur with the enrollee or the family. Possible changes that could occur would be who can receive benefits and how much they will need for coverage. This program will also depend on how the government uses the military and if they will still let service members ’ families be entitled to services and if they will be entitled to services which of them will they be allowed. Quality of Improvement This process will mean that the programs will have to meet governmental standards and have the participants fill in questionnaires telling how the services are working for them. Questionnaires include questions about the program itself and the physicians and other care providers who provide the care and if they are fulfilling their obligations. This program has changed through the decades and changed or developed new programs to fit society needs. This program does this by holding to the basic vision of the original program. It also measures success, delegates, listens to staff and asks them what will make the programs better, and they must be willing to make changes. In

Strategies UNIT-5P Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategies UNIT-5P - Essay Example In order to support the worldwide demand for its products, the company established seven production plants in different countries worldwide. Dell’s produces its diverse products on its manufacturing facilities located in: Austin, Texas; Winston-Salem, California; Lebanon, Tennessee; Eldorado do Sul, Brazil; Limerick, Ireland; Penang, Malaysia; and Xiamen China (Dell Annual Report 2005) As stated above, the production activities of Dell are conducted in seven locations worldwide. From this, it can be seen that the manufacturing operation of the company is highly decentralized. The company does not utilize a single production plant to manufacture all its products. Instead, it opts to establish manufacturing facilities in order to reap specific business opportunities present in a region. The geographical locations of the manufacturing plants are very much strategic as they embody the primary business model and strategy of Dell which is cost leadership. For example, Brazil is chosen as a site for production because of â€Å"its sophisticated labor force, its economic incentives to attract technology manufacturing companies in the region, and its strategic location as an export hub to other South American countries† (Mahoney, 1999). The decentralization of production enables Dell to customize its products according to customers’ specifications. This is also strongly in line with the company’s efforts of motivating employees through empowerment. These factors hinder Dell in confining its manufacturing activities in a single location. Dell strongly boasts its strategy of customizing its product and services according to the specification of the customers. The company recognizes that each customer should be provided only with the products and services which suit their specific needs. Thus, the company has installed a direct business model in order to specifically address each customer’s wants. The company’s website states that â€Å"Culture plays a

A Kuwaiti National Studying in the United Kingdom Essay

A Kuwaiti National Studying in the United Kingdom - Essay Example The culture in Kuwaiti universities is more formal and structured. Instructors expect to be addressed using formal titles, with students to manifest respecting the barrier between students and professors, and to respect the level of prestige gained from the achievement of gaining higher education; otherwise, sanctions and penalties from violation of this code of discipline are applied. What I learned: The difference in cultural orientation has provided me with the privilege of gaining more knowledge in terms of interpersonal communication and relationships with people from various cultures and from different age groups, gender, and profession. The effects of this are an improvement in personal confidence as more training and practice were encouraged in the use of English, as a second language; and from insights and theoretical perspectives relayed by my mentors. I became happier and more optimistic, as a person, as a student, and as a colleague. How and When I Can Apply this Knowledg e: Due to experience, the improvement in English as a second language will increase future opportunities for employment, not only in Kuwait but in other global organizations, as well. Date: January 02, 2011 Place: In the University Activity Undertaken: Essay writing in the UK required the use of the Harvard style of writing. This is not at all used nor acknowledged in writing essays in Kuwait. Further, the university is very strict regarding the observance of plagiarism. It came as a culture shock to me because I panicked the first time I need to use Harvard referencing in my essay. I had to search through the library sources, through the Internet and reorient myself on rules on in-text citing, making the reference list, among others. I am also very careful in paraphrasing other authors’ statements so that I would not be charged with plagiarism.

How is food gendered How do men or women differentiate themselves from Essay

How is food gendered How do men or women differentiate themselves from the other gender with food What does this accomplish in terms of identity and their r - Essay Example In contemporary times, especially in the western world, there is a tendency to focus on the thinness of the body as a symbol of self-control, power and assertion of individuality. This is in contrast to other cultures such as that in Jamaica and Fiji, where a plump body is acceptable and preferred, with its connotations of care-giving, generosity and social cohesion. In the United States power relations are established through subordination, where women frequently experience dissatisfaction and self-hatred directed at their body. This results in women and to some extent men, spending huge amounts of time and energy for relentlessly pursuing thinness. Differentiation between the genders and personal identity construction is increasingly food-related. Where the desire for thinness is predominant and obsessive, psychopathological outcomes such as Anorexia nervosa and bulimia may result (Counihan, 1999: 11). The purpose of this paper is to examine how food is gendered, how differentiation from the other gender is conceptualized by men or women based on food; determine its impact on the formation of personal identity, and on relationships with own gender and the opposite gender. Women almost exclusively have observed fasts since centuries, using food as a unique voice to express themselves. Among men and women in several cultures, food is used as a means of differentiating between the genders as well as a channel of connection between them. Males and females claim different roles with regard to food, and specific attributes through identification with particular foods. Food is used as a means for defining their masculinity and femininity along with similarities and differences between them (Counihan, 1999: 13). In Papua New Guinea, Wamiran men and women define gender through their relation to taro a food that is considered both nutritionally and symbolically to be of great significance. Taro plants grown

Telefonica Spain Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Telefonica Spain - Case Study Example The privatization of state-owned enterprises was among the changes within the political environment, which motivated the global expansion of Telefonica Spain. Additionally, the rise of globalization caused the company to seek new markets in foreign countries. In addition, there was government deregulation and hence liberalization of the market which allowed the company to expand to foreign markets. The changes in the economic environment which stirred Telefonica’s global expansion include the competitiveness in the market especially in labor, returns on revenue, market share and shareholder values. It is argued that companies expand into foreign markets as a measure of adapting to the changes in the political, economic and social-cultural environment (Hill, 2011). Telefonica Spain’s initial focus in Latin America as opposed to its expansion into the European market was as a result of the deep social cultural and language ties that Spain had with Latin America. The social-cultural factor is the most significant consideration by a company which seeks to expand internationally. This is because culture defines the preferences and values of the consumers and hence determines their decisions to purchase and use a company’s products (Hill, 2011). Additionally, the rapid growth of the telecommunication industry within Latin America in terms of both mobile communications and internet connections inspired Telefonica Spain to expand into this market to meet the expanding needs of consumers for telecommunication services and products. Question 3: Telefonica has used acquisitions, rather than Greenfield ventures, as its entry strategy. Why do you think this has been the case? What are the potential risks associated with this entry strategy?

Memo of intent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Memo of intent - Essay Example My thesis statement will be analysis of technology as a driver of innovation in the hotel industry explains the notable hotel success. The focus of my research will rest squarely on technology as a driver of innovation, investigating, technology for customer’s engagement, hospitality systems and customer’s check-ins and checkouts. My three broad headings will be innovation in customer engagement, quality hospitality systems and fast customer check in and check out. My research seeks to investigate contribution of technology in enabling a high level of service in the hotel industry, the new challenges presented in the industry. This undertaking also seeks to address whether technology is efficient and effective when used for real customer engagement, appreciating customers accustomed to online space conducting online transactions for instance advance bookings. According to Ray, soon new central reservations and PMS facilities will be cloud based, improving hospitality systems. Fast check-in and checkouts by customers is an essential function in the hotel industry. Hotel industry also embraces the socia l media sites as strategic communication points (Mattsson, 2009). Technological innovation reduces the time take for check process. I intend to use the article on technology driving innovation in the hotel industry, innovative hotel check-ins by Charles Gandee, 2010. Technology is the lifeblood of innovation in the hotel industry making check-ins experience more personalized more technology compliant and seamless (Mattsson, 2009). Advanced technology means high cost for most average hotels. I will be glad to discus with you following any direction you

Human Atrocities Essay Example for Free

Human Atrocities Essay In the age of terrorism and nuclear wars, one of the greatest challenges that the human community is facing right now is to curb human rights violations that is occurring in almost all parts of the world. Even the citizens of the most democratic of nations are not spared from a certain degree of human rights violations or atrocities. This is a fact that all citizens of the world must face and bravely address. But the bigger question is this: who is responsible to curb human atrocities? More specifically, what can the international and local community do to intervene in such atrocities? To answer these questions, I believe we must first arrive at a definition of human rights violations or atrocities. According to Wikipedia, human rights refers to the universal rights of all human beings regardless of race, color, nationality, religion gender and culture. From the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is basically based on inherent human dignity. Concurrently, human atrocities are violations of rights inherent to an individual. Normally, it is a term used when a government violates national or international law related to the protection of human rights. (Wikipedia, 2007) I am of the opinion that the international community has an inherent responsibility to stand up against any form of human rights abuse. International courts such as the International Criminal Court and international organizations such as the United Nations must be vigilant in protecting the rights of each human being. They must be the first to safeguard the interest of each person against any crime that may be done against them by either the military in their respective government or their government per se. For instance, the International Criminal Court is designed to bring into effect those peremptory norms of international law which safeguard such fundamental values as human dignity, the respect for life and limb of innocent persons, and the protection of ethnic, religious or racial groups. (Cassesse, 2007) In addition, the International Criminal Court must bring to justice any state which violates the dignity of its citizens. Doing so will uphold the most important international values, including the respect for human rights. Moreover, taking these steps will uphold and vindicate community rights. International non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch is an indication of what the international community can do in order to help curb the rise of human atrocities in any country. They have the resources to let the international community know of any wrongdoings being done in certain areas of the world. They can mobilize other local organizations to stand up against these atrocities by mobilizing public opinion. For instance, Amnesty International has worked and is further exerting its efforts for the protection of those detained because of their non-violent opinions and is seeking that Articles 18 and 19 of the UDHR be recognized globally. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch opposes basic human rights violations like death penalty and sex discrimination. It is an advocate of freedom relating to fundamental human rights like freedom of religion and the press. Another significant player in the bid to curb human atrocities is the local community. One cannot overemphasize on the power of the locals to intervene in such problems. Setting up international organizations will not solve the problems that are festering a country. Healing must come from within. The local community must always be on the look-out for any atrocities being done and must bravely report this to the authorities. As noted in the website of the Crimes of War Project, each international institution will need the support and cooperation of other institutions and, most significantly, of States themselves and local communities for that matter. For example, local community can be a source of vital information related to the patterns and mechanisms of the problems in the community that can help solve an international crisis. (Cassesse, 2007) I also believe that the power of media can be best utilized in addressing the realities of human rights violations. Since the media can effectively capture the attention of many people, the local and international media should make it their responsibility to report any news of wrongdoings or injustice. (Cassesse, 2007) This will also help in making each community –whether local or international—to be more vigilant in such cases. It must be understood that the measures to be taken by the international community will have no significant bearing without the support of the local community. No amount of intervention will be effective if the local community will not render its support. As noted by Antonio Cassesse in an article entitled â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice†, the best response to atrocities lies in a prudent and well thought-out combination of various approaches both local and international. (Cassesse, 2007) He writes, â€Å"international criminal law is a branch of law that, more than any other, is about human folly, human wickedness, and human aggressiveness. It deals with the darkest side of our nature. It also deals with the way societies organize themselves to stem violence and viciousness as much as possible. Clearly, given the magnitude of the task, no single response may suffice. Instead, a broad array of responses, each tailored to specific circumstances, is needed effectively to fight international criminality. † (Cassesse, 2007) Hence, intervention of human atrocities is both a local and international responsibility –one that must be taken seriously and diligently by all societies in the world. Cited Works Cassesse, Antonio. crimesofwar. org. â€Å"A Big Step Forward for International Justice. † 7 March 2007. http://www. crimesofwar. org/icc_magazine/icc-cassese. html Wikipedia. â€Å"Human Rights. † 7 March 2007. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human_rights#Violations_of_human_rights

United States Declaration of Independence and British Soldiers Essay Example for Free

United States Declaration of Independence and British Soldiers Essay 1. Examine the factors that led to the colonies’ declaration of independence from England. Make sure to explain WHY the colonies decided to break from their mother-country as well as any risks that doing so might have entailed. Also include your interpretation of whether or not breaking away from England was a good idea for the colonies. After the French and Indian War, Great Britain gained lots of territories but lost lots of money. Great Britain did not want to quickly occupy this territory so they decided to make the Quartering acts. The first quartering acts basically said that British Soldiers can board free at inns and stay at abandon houses. In order to make up for the loss of money. Great Britain put lots of taxes on imports and exports as well as other laws that limited Port Cities like Boston from making money off their ports. Taxation without representation was the main factor which led the American colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain. The Sugar Act was the first in the series of British Colonial taxation acts that provided fuel for revolutionary mood in American colonies. Shortly thereafter came the British Stamp Act. This time the new tax burden took form of official stamps that colonists had to purchase and that were required for legal contracts, newspapers, and other official paperwork. The protests in the colonies started as the news broke. This led to the creation of The Sons of Liberty. Under John Adams they organized riots and violent attacks to intimidate tax collectors. The Sons of Liberty decided to harass a couple of British Soldiers Stationed at Boston. The Soldiers had no choice but to fire on the crowd killing a few people, this was called the Boston massacre. Later a British Official decided to confront John Hancock for smuggling tea. Later the sons of liberty destroyed an entire shipment of British tea. This Caused Great Britain to bring in even harsher laws. These included the following, British soldiers and officials are to be tried in a British Court and not in the colonies. British Soldiers are to quarter any houses they want and board in them without the permission of the owner. The Colonies were prohibited from having their own town council meetings. This caused the Colonist to form the Continental Congress. John Adams, who represented Massachusetts, tried to convince the rest of the colonist to fight but he had trouble convincing other colonies, mostly Pennsylvania. A few meetings later with the help of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence. After years of fighting the Parliament and the King finally recognized the colonies as their own separate country. Although, breaking from their mother-country would make The British Empire, the largest in the world at the time, become their enemies, the Colonies would be free of obeying any laws set out by the British, could create their own democracy and get France as an ally.

Should the government be blamed for increase in human trafficking

Should the government be blamed for increase in human trafficking What is human trafficking and where does it happen? Human trafficking is the business of helping people to enter a country illegally and forcing them to work there for very little money because they have no rights (Macmillan Dictionary, 2010). Practically, it happens all over the world. Below is a true story of one of the human trafficking victims who survived. I dont know who my parents are. As a child I remember being cold all the time. I was abandoned and raped when I was 12. Two years later I was sold off and forced to marry. My husband would get drunk, he beat me and raped me, hed fire bullets which passed just by my head or my feet. I took the gun and shot him in the foot. I was 15. I didnt want to kill him, just hurt him as he had hurt me. Im more of a Buddhist now, and I try to be reasonable. But when I see rapists I see red. Im not perfect. My husband sold me to a brothel. I had to accept five or six clients a day. Once a client called me and another girl; he said he was with just one other man. In fact, there were 20 of them; they treated us so badly I wanted revenge. I wanted to kill the man who called us. Then I thought his family would suffer, so I left him alone (Follain, 2005). In the TIP Reports of 2004 all the way through 2006, it was stated that about 600,000 to 800,000 victims are reported to be trafficked across international borders each year. According to International Labor Organization in year 2005, about 32 billion profits were made by the human trafficking industry (Polaris Project, 2009). Victims can be trafficked in many ways. Scam, force and enforcement are several ways how victims can be trafficked (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 2010).There are so many factors that can contribute to human trafficking. Among them are the ineffective anti-trafficking legislation, ineffective government enforcement, lack of education, poverty and many more (Caritas.org, n.d.). The list can go on and on but the main question is who should be blamed for the rise in human trafficking? Abraham Lincoln once said, If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong (Better World Quotes, 2010). Even though many people agree that many agents play a role in combating human trafficking, the government should be solely blamed for the rise in human trafficking as they play the biggest role in contributing to the rise of this issue. Firstly, lack of government enforcement causes an increase in human trafficking. Government has weak implementation of anti-trafficking laws especially in countries like India. For example, the Nepals 2008 Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act has not successfully decreased the rate of human trafficking. According to Shyam Kumar Pokharel, the managing director of Samrakshak Samuha Nepal, this weak implementation of law has led the traffickers to operate without difficulty. There were many times traffickers were caught but only few of them were found guilty. This shows the weak implementation of law had not help to decrease the number of traffickers at all. Besides that, the government also practices non intervention in the immigration procedure and identification of traffickers. Most of the times the NGOs were the one who lend a helping hand instead of the government. There are many cases that were not reported. Up to the year 2010, only 123 cases were reported. These ca ses are only a portion of the actual number of cases of human trafficking (IRIN, 2010). In addition, law enforcement is also often vulnerable by many like official indifferences. For example, in Thailand, the police do not want to acknowledge migrants who were mistreated by traffickers as trafficking victims. There was a case in April 2008 whereby 57 Burmese who were supposed to be trafficked into Thailand got suffocated in a container. The police denied the fact that they are trafficking victims instead stated that they are illegal immigrants. On the other hand, the United Nation classifies trafficking victims as anyone who is transported for purposes of exploitation (Head, 2008). Furthermore, another reason for the increase in human trafficking is because criminals are gaining authority and law enforcement people are becoming more corrupt making it difficult to end human trafficking (Hughes, 2001). Law enforcement is vulnerable by conspiracy with traffickers, lacking regulatory devices and failure to prosecute public officials involved in trafficking. Law enforcement also tends to have excessive controls over victims as they put their needs first hence causing victims unwilling to be a witness. This just shifts the control from the traffickers to the law enforcement officials (Lin et. al, n.d.). Hence, it can be concluded that lack of government enforcement causes an increase in human trafficking. Secondly, lack of suitable and successful legislation on trafficking also contributes to the increase in human trafficking. Most of the countries had legislation that cannot counter attack the rise in this issue. The legislation in most countries does not take legal action directly on people convicted for human trafficking crime. Most of the time, the legislators take this issue lightly. Even when trafficking cases are very apparent, the traffickers might not be prosecuted for the crime of trafficking but for lighter punishment like prostitution or pimping. Besides that, existing trafficking laws are only confined to sexual exploitation and not other types of slavery. Next, governments focus too much on how to punish others but less on how to prevent this issue from rising (Lin et. al, n.d.). An example of an ineffective legislation is the Trafficking Victims Protection Act or TVPA. TVPA is the only national anti-trafficking law. One weakness about this law is that it only punishes t hose who can be verified guilty in the court that is those who are involved in force, coercion or scam. However, the traffickers can easily cover up this wrong doings and it would be a difficult task to prove these traffickers guilty. Besides that, this process might take months or even a few years. A trafficking victim does not have the capability to fight the case. With this, the TVPA seems meaningless as it could not really help the trafficking victims nor punish the traffickers (Brannon, 2010). In addition, trafficked victims and not the traffickers were given cruel punishment. This happens because of the ineffective judicial system. Instead of helping those victims, the authorities mistreat the victims by locking them up in jail. Thus the authorities do not treat them as victims but as criminals. Das family is a good proof of this case. Das father had become one of the trafficking victims who were tricked to work in Bangkok. Das mother had to pay a large amount of money to get him back. Da and her mother went and beg. However, not long after that police picked them up and sent them to jail pending for their transfer back to Cambodia (Bjork and Chalk, 2009). On the other hand, the traffickers are well protected and are not punished for their wrongs. Occasionally, sex trafficking victims were sent back to their country of origin after being arrested in brothel raids. Then, they will have to face embarrassment as many people will look down on them (Tiefenbrun, 2002). Hence, t he government should be blamed for ineffective anti-trafficking legislation. Thirdly, the situation in the country of origin also leads to human trafficking. One of the main causes of human trafficking is poverty. More than half of the citizens survive only on US$ 1 per day in places where victims stayed (Getu, 2006). Many victims of human trafficking came from poor country where they live in poverty. Then, the next question asked is who is responsible for causing poverty. Governments are the ones to be blamed as they refuse to acknowledge poverty (Huckstep, 2009-2010). Although these trafficking victims knew that they are going to be underpaid by private enterprise, these victims who live in poverty are still attracted to the pay. This is because they know that this pay is better than continuing to live in poverty in their own country. Besides that, there are some governments that persuade their citizens to work abroad. In order to pay back the international debts, countries like Philippine had developed a program called the Philippine Labor Export Program t o persuade their citizens to work abroad for the in-flow of overseas income even though the work is hazardous (Oxman-Martinez et. al, 2000). Furthermore, governments poor ruling politically, socially and economically also contributes to the increase of human trafficking. This causes countries to be prone to become a source of trafficking victims even if laws are carried out properly (Ghosh, 2008). Besides that, many children, even those as young as two years old are trafficked and exploited from Bangladesh, Pakistan, in South Asia and Africa and countries in the East Africa as camel jockeys in the Gulf states. These children have no bright future because they do not have useful skills or teachings and they are physically and psychologically traumatized for a very long time (U.S. Department of State, 2005). Some of the victims of trafficking want to find for a better education but they were tricked and became victims of human trafficking. Thus, in terms of education, government is also responsible for the lack of education as some governments do not do much to improve the education in their countries. Governments should be more engaged in and come out with positive ways to tackle the lack of education as it can cause human trafficking, eventually. Thus, governments are to be blamed for causing the country to be in a poor state and more citizens become victims of human trafficking. Fourthly, the lack of unity between governments and other institutions is also one of the causes for the rise in this issue. Since there is a lack of national anti-trafficking plans, most of these plans are developed within the perspective of each individual agencys mission. Eventually, plans are poorly developed as they are not based on a higher level supervision (Langberg, 2010). National structures were established by South Eastern Europe and there is a noticeable progress made. However, the national structures that are established did not mean human trafficking was combated successfully. Combating human trafficking is initiated by the local NGOs then only it was supported by international and intergovernmental organizations. The purpose of this structure is to shift the duty to governments but instead governments take over the NGOs that was administrating the programs (Trafficking in Human Beings in South Eastern Europe, 2004). In addition, there is also a lack of government programs and funding with other institutions. For example, in Romania, the government does not give much assistance with anti-trafficking NGOs and did not assigned funding for NGOs to provide services and carry out programs for human trafficking victims after National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP) became an assistant agency of the National Police under the Ministry of Interior (Embassy of the United States Bucharest Romania, 2010). There are different definitions by the government and NGO that causes a gap between them. Government defines human trafficking according to United Nation but the NGO defines trafficking based on the result only. In order to prove this, we can look at the different statistics of human trafficking by NGOs and governments (Piper, 2005). According to International Justice Mission, an NGO who claim to cooperate with the government to combat human trafficking, almost 2 million children are exploite d in the commercial sex trade (International Justice Mission, n.d.). However, this contradicts with the statistics given by the U.S. Department of State in 2005 that stated 1 million children are exploited in the commercial sex trade (Polaris Project, 2009). Based on the difference in statistic, we can say that NGO and governments have different definition of human trafficking. Hence, it can be concluded that lack of governments cooperation with other institutions also increases the number of human trafficking cases. However, there are some people who think that the media should be blamed for the increase in human trafficking as well. Newspapers, television and radio are examples of media that play a vital role in educating the public on human trafficking. Gradually, the Internet also can play a role in tackling this issue. The media can highlight the rise of this issue and how it affects everybody. Conversely, media coverage is weak in many parts of the world (UN.Gift, 2006). There is no wide medias exposure on human trafficking issue on an international level and the coverage is somewhat inadequate (Bruckert and Parent, 2002). The media should give a report that is reliable and fair. They should also help to inform and increase the understanding of the public on the advantages, disadvantages and the perils of human trafficking (Lin et. al, n.d.). In America, the media was also one of the mediums for human trafficking. Newspapers, radios and especially the Internet gave false advertisements and false job opportunities in order to tricked American citizens to become victims of human trafficking. The media was also used to support and promote demand for marketable sexual services (International Human Rights Law Institute DePaul University College of Law, 2005). At the same time, private enterprise should also be blamed for the increase in human trafficking. Private enterprise should take part of the blame because 2.5 million out of 9.8 million abused by private sectors, are victims of human trafficking. Private sectors had made a lot of profits from trafficked victims and majority of the profit comes from industrialized countries (Belser et. al, 2005). Besides that, there are times when the employers fail to work in the same mind with organizations to combat human trafficking. For example, an employers organization had started a program in Kunming City, China to motivate employers to go against exploitation of workers and human trafficking. This program also motivates employers to monitor themselves through anti-trafficking network especially in sectors where human trafficking is more obvious. However, employers seem to be neglecting this use or fail to see the importance of this issue to their work. There are some employers who refuse to j oin in trainings. Furthermore, employers demand contradicts with this program organized by the employers organization (International Labour Organization, n.d.). Thus, private enterprise should also blamed and not just solely the government. Many people blame the media for the increase in human trafficking. One thing that many people are unaware of is that many media are possessed by governments. A study was done in 97 countries and it was found that most of the media firms are possessed by the governments especially in broadcasting. Governments ownership is supposed to bring exposure of information like traditions which might not be provided by private enterprise (Djankov et. al, 2001). However, if the media is one of the mediums for human trafficking, this shows that the governments have weak ownership over the media. This all goes back to square one that is governments are the one to be blamed. Eventually governments are causing an increase in human trafficking. Besides that, many people also blame the private enterprise for the increase human trafficking but people should consider the responsibilities of the government in controlling the private enterprise. In actual fact, government should be blamed for they have not set strict rules and regulations. This is especially true in Japan where criminal organizations, like Yakusa, control the victims, more so sex trafficking victims, as law enforcer care less about them. This shows that governments are not paying attention to human trafficking and at the same time denying it. Thus, trafficked women and children who are part of the Japanese sex trade are outside the reach of the law and anyone else who can save them from a fate that is dependent exclusively upon the whims of organized criminal elements (The International Human Rights Law Institute DePaul University College of Law, 2001). Thus, the government should be blamed for not implementing strict rules and regulations to prevent human traff icking. In addition, it was also said that labor inspection is governments responsibility. One of the main obstacles in labor inspection is the governments support in terms of financial. The budget allocation for labor inspection is very minimal and it is so little that there is nothing that can be done with that amount of money. Thus, it is said that weak labor inspection is directly affected by the government. When labor inspection is inefficient, it will also be hard to tackle human trafficking as well (Richthofen, 2002). On the whole, the lack of government enforcement in human trafficking, the lack of suitable and successful legislation on human trafficking, the situation in the country of origin and also the lack of cooperation between governments with other institutions causes an increase in human trafficking. Thus, the misconception of people about why the media and private enterprise should be blamed for human trafficking should be cleared. In conclusion, governments should solely be blamed for the increase in human trafficking as governments are one of the main contributors to the rise in this issue. Human trafficking can be combated if the government has proper governance. In order to solve this issue, governments, non-governmental organizations, private enterprise, media and local communities should work hand in hand as one-side approach would not be effective. Martin Luther King Jr., an American black leader and a Nobel Prize winner in 1964, stated that Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed (Proverbia.net, 2009). (2, 506 words)

Fantasy In Cairo Essay example -- essays research papers

Fantasy in Cairo   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the film Purple Rose of Cairo, by Woody Allen, fantasy and reality are two very poignant themes. However, through discussion, the class brought up points regarding fantasy being Tom Baxter, and reality being Gill Shepherd; my perspective was different. Tom Baxter portrays the main theme of reality while Gill Shepherd demonstrates the role of fantasy. Also, the characteristic strength demonstrated by Cecilia as well as by Tom Baxter is pertinent to the story line. The remainder of this essay will entail why I have seen this film from a twisted view by using examples from the film.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the film Cecilia is lonely and weak due to the fact that her husband shamelessly gambles away their money as well as hits her. Cecilia hopelessly goes to the movies to find solace and peace away from her miserable world. While at the movie, Purple Rose of Cairo, she is enchanted by the thought of running away with the lead character. Tom Baxter, one of the main characters in the film, catches Cecilia looking at him with adoration and strongly decides to leave the film and run off with the lonely Cecilia. Tom is a wholesome, naà ¯ve, and sensitive man, who is everything that Cecilia's current husband, is not. Although Tom jumping out of the screen and into Cecilia's arms may seem more like fantasy than reality, it is Tom himself who represents reality to Cecilia. By Cecilia being lonely and abused by...

Iago, Master of Cruelty in Shakespeares Othello :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Iago, Master of Cruelty in Othello Iago stands supreme among Shakespeare's evil characters because of his intense and subtle cruelty, perfectly combined with his exceptional powers of will and intellect. As a result of this, his motivations are unclear; however the innocent, loyal, and honest character Iago portrays to the others, does not reflect his true character. He is the ultimate puppet master. Every action is preplanned and manipulated for his audience to perceive him as this trustworthy decent man. Iago possesses such intelligence and acting ability that he forces others to act on and believe what he tells them. The other characters see him as what he wants them to see, and not for what he really is. The three main emotional weapons Iago uses to destroy everyone are reputation, desire and jealousy. A good reputation is the most important virtue to the characters of this play. Their good name is what keeps them in high standing in society. What family one comes from and how one uses that status permeates every facet of life. Iago uses this as a weakness. He does everything in his power to destroy the reputation of others by creating illusions and lies and sharing them with those whom would listen. Iago was so trusted by all, that people would continuously look to him for advise and he would use these opportunities to manipulate their opinions and thoughts towards others. The importance of reputation and its usefulness is shown when Iago says, "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls."(Othello. Act III. iii. 182-183.) One way Iago uses others importance of reputation to destroy them is in the case of Cassio. Early on in the story, Othello, who is a Moorish general in the Venetian army has an opening for a second in command. Although Iago wants this position desperately, Cassio is chosen. When the opportunity arises for Iago to avenge this, he does. Iago convinces Cassio , known as a responsible, loyal and trustworthy man to abandon his night watch and go out drinking. He eventually gets into a fight with another lieutenant and is discovered by Othello. When asked to explain the situation, Iago lies and tells Othello that Cassio behaves like this all of the time. Using jealousy as a weapon is what prompts Iago to plot the ultimate downfall of the characters in Othello and especially Othello himself.

“a Comparative Study of Personal Financial Planning Awareness and Its Degree of Implementation Among Age Groups.”

Abstract Financial planning may mean different things to different people. For one person, it may mean  planning investments  to provide security during retirement. For another, it may mean planning savings and investments to provide money for a dependent's college education. Financial planning may even mean making career-related decisions or choosing the right insurance products. In reality Financial Planning is the process of meeting financial goals through the proper management of finances.It is generally seen that people have a misconception that financial planning is about saving more and spending less but that is not the case, it is more about saving the right amount so that future goals can be met. The objective of financial planning is * To ensure that the right amount of money is available in right hands at right point of time in the future to achieve the desired goals and objectives. It * Provides direction and meaning to your financial decisions. * It allows you to und erstand how each financial decision you make affects other areas of your finances. Financial planning and investments can be undertaken by anyone with a clear assessment of one's inflow of funds and the goals that need to be achieved from time to time. Keywords: Financial planning, wealth management, investment instruments, real estate Introduction Financial planning is achieving your financial goals in the most efficient manner. The broad areas of financial planning include  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ | | | 1. 2. | Investment planning  -Your wealth will only grow over time if you have invested it in assets. Investment planning  deals with the kind of investments an individual should invest in to get the best out of his wealth.Financial StatementsIn this the risk and return profiling of an individual is done based on his life stage, spending requirements with respect to his income and wealth, time horizon and liquidity requirements and various individual specific constraints. Investment Plannin g is important because it helps you to derive the maximum benefit from your investments. | Cash flow planning  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ In simple terms, cash flow refers to the inflow and outflow of money. It is a record of your income and expenses. Though this sounds simple, very few people actually take time out to find out what comes in and what goes out of their hands each month.Cash flow planning refers to the process of identifying the major expenditures in future (both short-term and long-term) and making planned investments so that the required amount is accumulated within the required time frame. Cash flow planning is the first thing that should be done prior to starting an investment exercise, because only then will you be in a position to know how your finances look like, and what is it that you can invest without causing a strain on yourself. It will also enable you to understand if a particular investment matches with your flow requirement| | | 3. Retirement planning  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Reti rement planning means making sure you will have enough money to live on after retiring from work. Retirement should be the best period of your life, when you can literally sit back and relax or enjoy your life by reaping benefits of what you earn in so many years of hard work. But it is easier said than done. To achieve a hassle-free retired life, you need to make prudent investment decisions during your working life, thus putting your hard-earned money to work for you in future. Planning for retirement is as important as planning your career and marriage.Life takes its own course and from the poorest to the wealthiest, no one gets spared. We get older every day, without realizing. However, we assume that old age is never going to touch us. The future depends to a great extent on the choices you make today. Right decisions with the help of proper financial planning, taken at the right time will assure smile and success at the time of retirement. Retirement Planning acquires added im portance because of the fact that though longevity has increased, the number of working years haven't. |   | 4. Tax planning  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Tax evasion is illegal but tax minimization is legal. Thus you can reduce your tax liability by planning effectively. With proper tax planning you can increase your after tax income. |   | 5. | Children future planning- It is essential to plan for the future of your children. The purpose of Children's Future Planning is to create a corpus for foreseeable expenditures such as those on higher education and wedding and to provide for an adequate security cover during their growing years. Savings alone is no longer enough.For ensuring adequate funding of your child's education, you as a parent need to invest appropriate amount systematically and at regular intervals to provide for a financial security to cover any casualties. |   | 6. | Insurance planning  -Insurance Planning is concerned with ensuring adequate coverage against insurable risks. Calculating the right level of risk cover require considerable expertise. Proper Insurance Planning can help you look at the possibility of getting a wider coverage for the same amount of premium or the same level of coverage for the same amount of premium or the same level of coverage for a reduced premium.Insurance, simply put, is the cover for the risks that we run during our lives. Insurance enables you to live your lives to the fullest, without worrying about the financial impact of events that could hamper it. In other words, insurance protects you from the contingencies. So insurance planning is very important. |   | 7. | Estate planning- Every individual acquires a considerable amount of estate during his lifetime which after his death or during his lifetime is transferred to either his heirs or to institutions or to charities.Planning this transfer in the most efficient way is termed as Estate planning. | Who requires financial planning and how is it different from wealt h management Almost everyone requires  financial planning. As the old adage goes-If one is failing to plan, they are surely planning to fail. Good and thoughtful  investment planning  is the cornerstone of an individual's good financial health. Although similar fundamentally, Financial planning defers as compared with wealth management.Wealth management though similar to  financial planning  is dissimilar in the sense that To do wealth management a considerable amount of wealth is required. Financial planning on the other hand is required by everybody as it deals with planning related to achieve financial goals in the most effective manner. It is wise to seek expert advice from professionals such as a financial planning expert because in the attempt to save on the fees, you could end up with poor financial information and decisions that can prove disastrous for family funds.In the case of the working individual, insufficient or random saving for retirement can lead to a re duced lifestyle later, while in the case of the businessman, poorly managed tax preparation could culminate in unexpected tax debt and a loss of carefully accumulated wealth. Most popular Investment Avenues in India 1. Public Provident Fund 2. Life Insurance Policy 3. Housing Property 4. National Saving Certificate 5. Gold& Precious stones 6. Equity 7. Fixed Deposit 8. Mutual Fund 9. Systematic Investment Plan 10. Exchange Traded funds Source : Economic Times. Objective: 1.Spread awareness about personal financial planning among individuals. 2. To know the degree of financial planning awareness and its implementation by individual. 3. To know the most popular investment instrument among individuals Conceptual framework Financial Planning is all about preparing a sequence of action steps to achieve a specific financial goal. A financial plan is a roadmap to achieve your life's financial goals. It is like a map, where you can always see how much you have progressed towards your projec ted financial goal and how far you are from your destination.Financial planning is a process consisting of the following activities- | * Assessing present assets and resources to understand the current situation| | * Setting objectives- Both in terms of returns and risks | | * Determining constraints and financial planning areas like Taxes, Legalities, time horizon, liquidity, unique circumstances | | * Determining appropriate plan and strategy to achieve financial goals. | | * Evaluating the plan in a timely manner. | | * Adjusting and modifying the plan if change in conditions. | Review of LiteratureElaine King, discussed that you should identify your senior parent’s core values and priorities (i. e. financial lifestyle and potential health care costs) and proactively plan to integrate them seamlessly into your multigenerational family’s financial objectives. He also discussed know who your aging parent’s physicians, financial planners, and legal and tax profe ssionals are, and become well-versed in the advice and information your parents are receiving. Who should make financial, legal, and medical decisions for your elderly parents, if they are no longer capable of handling their own affairs?Tim Sobolewski, CFP ® said that Choosing a financial planner is as important as choosing a doctor or lawyer; it's a very personal relationship. In addition to competency, a financial planner should have integrity, trust and a commitment to ethical behavior and high professional standards. You want a planner who puts your needs and interests first. Jessie Foster, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Where does the Money Go? Said that many people would rather do anything else than attempt to understand or set a budget for themselves and their families. The standard advice from most inancial planners when it comes to budgeting is to â€Å"spend less and save more†. But for most families this is easier said than done, no matter what their income level. A nd exactly what do we mean by â€Å"spend less†, less on what? Most people do not even know where their money goes never mind where to cut back Doug Lennick provides a simple and clear four-step method, known as the 4Rs, for making wise financial and life decisions based on your core values. When you find yourself in a highly charged event, such as the Dow Jones plummeting, rash decisions often follow-like selling out your entire stock portfolio at record lows!Madhu Sinha has explained Financial Planning is meant for lay investors, financial planners and students pursuing courses on financial planning. It simplifies financial mathematics to enable an investor map financial goals that she would like to achieve. The book includes solved problems on retirement planning and over 350 questions and answers on time value of money. Besides theses, it dwells on mutual funds and other investment products that are currently available. The book also discusses the process of constructing and revising a financial plan on the basis of an investor's financial goals.STEPHEN’S states some things that financial planning consist of is investments, insurance, credit cards, scholarships, tuition, and housing. Investments are basically a method of putting money away in the expectation that it will grow into a larger amount. Insurance is a form risk management used to negate the risk of loss in which the provider covers the monetary loss of an object in the case of an event in exchange for a premium paid by the customer. Research MethodologyThe main investigation of the study is to identify the degree of awareness about financial planning and how many people are actually doing financial planning for achieving their financial goals. The study covers both primary and secondary data . Primary data is collected by distributing questionnaire to the individuals ; secondary data collected from various journals, articles, websites This is an empirical study based on survey meth od. The techniques of questionnaires, discussion, interviews and observations were followed to obtain the required information.All the selected individuals were given the questionnaire to get the information their financial standings. A questionnaire containing a set of 18 questions have been distributed among the individuals who are working with the IT firms in Pune. The study is conducted within the Pune specifically in and around Hinjewadi area. The respondents were particularly in the age group of 30-4o years and are higher middle class people. Hypothesis 1. Individual is aware about personal financial planning and is implementing the same. 2.Life Insurance plans are most popular among the investors. 3. Fixed Deposits are most popular among the investors. 4. Wills are current of Individuals 5. Individuals take professional help for their financial planning. Findings: 1) All the 50 respondents were in the age group of 30-40years which falls in accumulation stage and needs strong financial planning. Among them 70% of them wanted to retire in 15 years and 27% wanted to retire in 20 years and only 3% wanted to retire after 20 years. 2) Majority of the respondents i. e. 0% of them didn’t knew how much they would require at the time of retirement and only 10% of them had a exact calculation of how much they would require. 3) 5% of the respondents are taking professional help for their financial planning. 4) Almost everyone was aware about all the avenues available in the market. But only 60% of the people are investing only in Real estate, gold, Life insurance and Fixed deposits. 5) Most popular investment options among the investors are as follows most popular follow by least popular from top to bottom: a. Real estate . Public Provident Fund c. Life insurance d. Fixed Deposit e. National Saving Certificate f. Gold g. Mutual fund h. Equity i. Systematic investment plan j. Exchange traded funds 6) 95% of the respondents have not done a will and 100% of the m have a home loan with home loan insurance as it is mandatory by the housing loan providing banks. 7) 60% of the people have an additional insurance cover over and above the cover provided by its employers. All these 60% i. e. 30 respondents have a term plan. 8) None of the individual interviewed had made their Will.Conclusion Awareness of available financial products is high in the target population. However, a number of factors — including a series of high-profile scams, detrimental practices of advisors with a short-term view and the lack of a strong investor protection environment — have contributed to investor insecurity. This is the primary reason why the targeted respondents are taking a myopic view towards investments, largely discarding the option of long-term investments and personal retirement planning unless offered as an additional tax savings instrument.The most popular investment avenue is real estate among the respondents especially a residential house , as it gives a huge capital appreciation and also a considerable rental income, in additional there is limited risk associated to it. Barring few bad years, property prices in India have been moving upwards. Moreover, loan taken on a residential property has a tax deduction. And the second most popular investment avenue is PPF as it is mandatory to have PPF account and employer’s contribution too. Scope of the Study for Further Study 1. Subject matter is related to the investor’s approach towards various investment objectives. . People of age between 30-40 (accumulation stage) 3. Whole Pune Area 4. Demographics include names, age, qualification, occupation, marital status and annual income. Limitations of the Study No study is free from limitations. The limitations of this study can be: * Sample size taken is small and may not be sufficient to predict the results with 100% accuracy. * The result is based on primary and secondary data that has its own limitations. * Th e study only covers the area of Pune that may not be applicable to other areas. Suggestions 1.It is suggested to individual to inculcate the habit of financial planning as soon as one starts earning 2. Every individual interviewed was suggested to look into various investment avenues apart from conservation investment options like PPF, FD, and Residential property. 3. Individuals are suggested to take professional help to set and evaluate the financial goals, this will help them to set goals practically and know the proper way to achieve them 4. Individuals were also guided not to fall prey to financial consultants. They should do their through study before making any investment decision. 5.Individual were suggested to make their will and fill the form for nomination for each investment. Biblography 1. Sreekant V, CFPCM,Managing Partner, Sabarigiri Institute The Third Inevitable:Impact of Inflation on Financial Planning, 2008 2. Akhilesh Tilotia, CFPCM,Director, Director, PARK Finan cial Advisors Pvt. Ltd. Why should you think long term? 2008 3. Elaine King, CFP ®, CDFATM  and Philip Herzberg, CFP ®, AEP ®, MSF  Financial Parenting for Young Adults 4. Elaine King, CFP ®, CDFAâ„ ¢, and Philip Herzberg, CFP ®, MSF Financial Planning for Your Family’s Well-being 2010 5. Tim Sobolewski, CFP ®, How to Choose a Financial Adviser 2011 . Financial Planners Association, Build a Solid Financial Plan! August 2009 7. Jessie Foster, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Where does the Money Go? August 20, 2012 8. Lisa Holton, The Encyclopeidia of Finanicail Plannning FPA Press p24 9. Financial Intelligence: How to Make Smart, Values-Based Decisions with Your Money and Your Life Doug Lennick FPA, p82 10. Madhu Sinha Financial Planning McGrawHill Education 11. Stacie Zoe Berg, The Unofficial Guide to Managing Your Personal Finances, Wiley p210 12. Consumer Panel Research Paper: March 2006 Financial Services Consumer Panel, p36 13.Agshe, Anil, (2009), â€Å"Fi nancial Service, Market ; Regulation† 1st edition, Himalaya Publishing House, Mumbai. 14. 8. Mishkin, Fredric, (2011), â€Å"Financial Market ; Institution†, 6th edition, Pearson Education, New Jersey. 15. Pradian, Punithavathy, (2009), â€Å"Financial Services ; Market†2nd edition, Vikas Publishing House, Noida, India. 16. Raja rajan (1997,1998) high lightened segmentation of investors on the basis of their characteristics, investment size, and the relationship between stage in life cycle of the investors and their investment pattern. References 1. http://www. kotaksecurities. om/university/ 2. http://www. fpanet. org/ToolsResources/ArticlesBooksChecklists/ 3. http://www. fpanet. org/ToolsResources/ArticlesBooksChecklists/Articles/FinancialPlanning/ 4. http://financial-planning. stsd. wikispaces. net/ 5. http://economictimes. indiatimes. com/ 6. http://www. financialexpress. com/ 7. http://wealth. moneycontrol. com/ Annexure A This questionnaire is solely for th e research purpose and personal information will be treated highly confidential. We strictly follow do not disturb policy. If you do not want to disclose any of the personal information that is fully acceptable.Questionnaire 1) Please check the range below which includes your age: under 30 30-39 40-49 2) Which of the following best describes your current employment situation? Please choose one: Full-time Homemaker Part-time Temporary Unemployed Retired Working Student 3) Please indicate which of the following includes your annual personal income, before taxes: Under INR 5,00,000 INR 5 – 12 LAKHS INR 12 – 18 LAKHS Over INR 18 LAKHS 4) In how many years do you plan to retire? I am retired 15 years 20 years More than 20 years 5) Have you planned for retirement YES NO ) Do you know how much you need after retirement per annum? 6 Lakhs 12 Lakhs 18 Lakhs 24 Lakhs 7) Are you saving for retirement? Yes No 8) Which investment instruments are you aware of? Life Insurance Policy Equity MF Real Estate ETF FD Gold; Precious stones NSC SIP MF Real estate 9) In which of the following instruments you invest for retirement? FD Pension Plans LIC Health Insurance Real Estate Precious Metals and Stones Any other (please Specify) 10) Can you give a % wise break up of investments from above investment instruments? Life Insurance policy NSC Equitydebt InstrumentsMF SIP Real estate Real Estate ETF Gold and silver 11) Do you take a professional help for your financial planning? Yes No 12) Have you started investing in children’s education plan? Yes No 13) Have you done the will? No Yes Thinking 14) Do you have a home loan? Yes No 15) Is your home loan insurance covered? Yes No Partly 16) Does your company give you insurance cover? Yes No 17) Do you hold additional personal Life insurance cover apart from what company provides you? YES NO 18) Which insurance do u hold? Term plan   Life Insurance policy ULIP Name : (optional) Organization Name: (optional)

Learning by Doint Essay

Your state’s statute that defines what is considered to be a public record that must be made available to the public upon request. Public Records are documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs and computer-based or generated information. Access to public records is available to both local nonresidential individuals of Georgia. Residents of Georgia have the right to Public records under the Georgia Open Records Act. Nonresidents of Georgia have the right to public records under the instruction of the Attorney General. Under the Open Records Acts, Georgia mandated Every state department, agency, board, bureau, commission, public corporation, authority, county, municipal corporation, school district and other political subdivision, department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority and similar body of each county, municipal corporation or other political subdivision of the state; city, county, regional or other authority established pursuant to state law; and non-profit organizations that receive more than one-third of their funds from a direct allocation of state funds from the governing authority of an agency. The archives Georgia state’s statue define a public record that should be made available to public upon request are Court Records, Criminal Records, Birth Records, Death Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records, and Genealogy records. Government meetings, election results, crime statistics, home deeds, annual tax on homes and vehicles, and food service inspections are open to the public as well. (Baker, 2008) The pre-World War I opinion by the U. S. Supreme Court holding, on re-argument, that a federal income tax was unconstitutional. Prior to World War I the United Stated had few taxes. The government was supported by internal taxes. The U. S. Supreme Court decided that the income tax was unconstitutional because it was not apportioned among the states in conformity with the Constitution. Protesters were in favor of the decision. (Siegal) The federal statute authorizing the U. S. Secretary of Transportation to make payments to states for the value of materials stockpiled near federal highway construction projects in conformity with the project specifications. The federal governments provides the state with funding for projects such as highway reconstruction. No funding is given unless the secretary follows up with inspections. There are several administrations that aid in the department of transportation such as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA , Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety, Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Maritime Administration (MARAD), National Highway Traffic Safety, Administration (NHTSA), Office of Inspector General (OIG) , Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the Surface Transportation Board. The federal joint regulation of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of Commerce, identifying the factors for listing, delisting, or reclassifying endangered species. The federal joint regulation of the U. S.  Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of Commerce, identifying the factors for listing, delisting, or reclassifying endangered species provides a list of endangered species or are in danger or becoming endangered. Issues that are addressed are the present he present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range, over utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes, disease or predation, the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms and other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. Plans to protect natural resources are tackled. Recovery and protections plans are also addressed. The department of commerce promotes economic growth. The department focus on the creation of jobs and the enhancement of living standards. Your state’s administrative regulations specifying the licensure process for real estate agents. The Georgia real estate and commission boards determine the regulations for the licensure process for real estate agents. There job is to ensure the housing market is fair and honest. Background checks are performed and successful completion of education is required. There is also a real estate test to be taken before an individual can practice. Georgia also has real estates schools. The local ordinance in your municipality governing noise. There are several cities which have laws prohibiting noise above a certain level. In the state of Georgia, it unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud or excessive noise which unreasonably interferes with the comfort, response, health and safety of others within the jurisdiction of the city. For example, the younger generation install systems in their vehicles which allows their vehicles to play music really loud. The music is so loud it causes other vehicles to feel the vibration. This excessive noise is a violation of the Georgia noise ordinance. The noise ordinance does not only pertain to music in a vehicle, it pertains to a television, pets that make noise, machinery, and emergency signaling devices. The most recent opinion of your state’s highest appeals court describing the extent to which the state constitution requires that the power of eminent domain be exercised only for a public use. Recently, Augusta, Georgia, did some reconstruction with the roads on Mike Padgent High way due to so many deaths. The deaths were caused by the accidents on the highway because there is no turning lane. The only solution was to widen the highways and make a turning lane. In order to do so, land must be purchase from the homeowners and used to extend the highway. The state was in favor of this opinion because is would save so many life on †Death Highway. † A recent federal trial court decision in your federal district describing the standard for summary judgment in federal court. Barnes vs. Zaccari is a very significant court case which lead to setting a standard for summary judgment is federal court. The Barnes VS. Zaccari case The president of Valdosta State University, Ronald Zaccari expelled Thomas Hayden Barnes for exemplifying a clear and present danger to other students on campus. Barnes sued Zaccari in the federal courts because he did not receive a warning before he was withdrawn from school. Barns won the his case against Zaccari. The case describe the violation of the due process clause which claims that Barnes was due notice on the charges against him. Ley, 2012) A law-review article published within the past five (5) years about libel law and political campaign advertisements. It never fails during campaign season, there are always political advertisement with candidates bashing their opponents. Political parties compete against their parties make statements about what their opponent stands for. The advertisements are used to expose individuals to the U. S. citizens in hopes to gain votes. There are certain statements that are on the verge of defamation. Defamation is providing false information that can be proven false on an individual that harms that person’s reputation. Opinions which express negativity on someone is also protected by the first amendment.

Shutter Island

The movie I chose to watch is called â€Å"Shutter Island†. Shutter Island, released in February 2010, is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. The story is set in Boston in 1954. The main character is a U. S Marshal, named Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo Dicaprio. Teddy plays the role of a U. S Marshal. He is assigned to investigate a missing patient from Boston’s Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital along with this partner Chuck. The patient they are trying to find is named Rachel Solando.She had been admitted to this hospital because she had drowned her 3 kids. As he began his investigation he soon begins to realise that this place isn’t what it seems to be. As the movie begins, Daniels and his partner are shown traveling to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a mental hospital. However, as the plot unravels we see that Daniels has a mental disorder of his own. Teddy seems to have more than one disorder or mental i llness due to all the things he’s been through.One of the illness’s he has is Dissociative Identity Disorder. He shows two very distinct identities. He switches from being a mental patient who murdered his wife, to being a U. S Marshal investigating a mental institution. When he is in one identity he forgets about his other one. He also experiences many hallucinations, where he thinks he’s seeing a certain object but it really isn’t there and that is a symptom of the identity disorder.An identity that is not in control may nonetheless gain access to a consciousness by producing visual hallucinations. In this movie Teddy has a lot of sudden migraines, It is said that an individual who has an identity disorder will experience migraines, asthma attacks and bowel syndrome. He also has Schizophrenia. He constantly experiences hallucinations and is occupied with one or more at a time. Another disorder that is presented is Delusional Disorder.

Metaphysics: Philosophy and Idealism Essay

Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy that focuses on the nature of reality, including abstract concepts such as being and knowing. The term literally means ‘beyond the physical. ’ It attempts to find unity across the domains of experience and thought. There are five broad philosophical schools of thought that apply to education today and these general frameworks provide the base from which the various educational philosophies are derived. Idealism is the view that ideas or thoughts make up fundamental reality. Idealism is a label which covers a number of philosophical positions with quite different implications and tendencies, including: 1. Objective idealism asserts that the reality of experiencing combines and transcends the reality of the object experienced and that of the mind of the observer. 2 Objective idealists accept common sense realism but reject naturalism. In other words, objective idealists accept the view that material objects exist but reject the concept that the mind and spiritual values have emerged from material things. * Proponents include Thomas Hill Green, Josiah Royce, and Benedetto Croce. 2. Subjective Idealism describes a relationship between experience and the world in which objects are no more than collections or â€Å"bundles† of sense data in the perceiver. 2 Subjective idealists assert both metaphysical and epistemological idealism while denying that material objects exist independently of human perception and thus are opposed to both realism and naturalism. * Proponents include Berkeley, the Bishop of Cloyne. 3. Transcendental idealism is a doctrine that maintains that the mind shapes the world we perceive into the form of space-and-time. 2 Transcendental idealists are strong skeptics of a mind-independent world, asserting epistemological and not metaphysical idealism. * Proponents include founder, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Friedrich Schelling. 4. Absolute idealism is the view that in order for human reason to be able to know the world at all, there must be, in some sense, an identity of thought and being; otherwise, we would never have any means of access to the world, and we would have no certainty about any of our knowledge. 6 * Proponents include founder, G. W. F. Hegel. As well as several more minor variants or related concepts, including: 5. Epistemological Idealism asserts that minds perceive only their own ideas, and not external objects; therefore we cannot directly know things in themselves or things as they really are. The only thing we can ever have knowledge about is the world of phenomenal human experience which leaves no reason to suspect that reality mirrors our perceptions and thoughts. 6. Actual Idealism is a form of idealism that contrasted Transcendental Idealism and Absolute Idealism. This system saw thought as all-embracing, and claimed that no-one could actually leave their sphere of thinking, or exceed their own thought. 6 * Proponents include Giovanni Gentile. 7. Buddhist Idealism is the concept in that all existence is nothing but consciousness, and therefore there is nothing that lies outside of the mind. 8. Panpsychism holds that that all parts of matter involve mind or that the whole universe is an organism that possesses a mind. Therefore all objects of experience are also subjects. * Proponents include Gottfried Leibniz. 9. Practical Idealism is a political philosophy which holds it to be an ethical imperative to implement ideals of virtue or good. * Proponents include Mahatma Gandhi. Realism is the view that entities of a certain type have a reality that is completely ontologically independent of our conceptual schemes, linguistic practices, beliefs, etc. There are many different types and degrees of Realism, including: 1. Platonic Realism is the view that universals exist. A universal is a property of an object, which can exist in more than one place at the same time. * Proponents include founder Plato, who formed a solution to the problem of universals. 2. Moderate Realism is the view that there is no separate realm where universals exist, but that they are located in space and time wherever they happen to be manifest. * Conceptualism, initiated by Peter Abelard, is the doctrine that universals exist only within the mind and have no external or substantial reality. * Modern Conceptualism, as represented by Immanuel Kant, holds that universals have no connection with external things because they are exclusively produced by our a priori mental structures and functions. 7 * Proponents include Aristotle St. Thomas Aquinas, Jacques Maritain and Etienne Gilson. 3. Modal Realism is the view that possible worlds are just as real as the actual world we live in, and not just abstract possibilities. * Propounded by David Lewis. 4. Moral Realism is the meta-ethical view that there are objective moral values which are independent of our perception of them or our stance towards them. Therefore, moral judgments describe moral facts. 7 * Proponents include Plato and Immanuel Kant. There are many others disciplines which are related to Realism, including: 1. Transcendental Realism is the theory that implies individuals have a perfect understanding of the limitations of their own minds. 2. Organic Realism is the metaphysical philosophy in which subjective forms complement Plato’s Forms. The theory holds that change in not illusory or purely accidental to the substance, but rather the very cornerstone of reality or Being. * Propounded by Alfred North Whitehead. Ontology is traditionally listed as a part of the major branch of philosophy known as metaphysics, while being the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence, or reality, as well as their relations. Ontology deals with questions concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and how these entities can be grouped and subdivided according to similarities and differences. G. W. F. Hegel Wikipedia. com Wikipedia. com Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher as well as a major figure in German Idealism. His historicist and idealist account of reality revolutionized European philosophy and was an important precursor to Continental philosophy and Marxism. 19 Without eliminating either pole or reducing one to the other, he developed the concept that mind manifested itself in a set of contradictions and oppositions that it ultimately integrated and united. Hegel attempted to elaborate a comprehensive and systematic ontology from a logical starting point throughout his published writings, as well as in his lectures. In 1801 Hegel moved to Jena to join Schelling at the University of Jena, where Fichte had studied previously; although at that time, the prime of Jena idealism was over. In this same year, Hegel published his first philosophical work, The Difference between Fichte’s and Schelling’s System of Philosophy. He worked with Schelling closely and together they edited the Critical Journal of Philosophy. He wanted to develop a system of science in which he displayed in his writings. Phenomenology of Spirit was considered his project and one of his main works where he speaks of his thoughts on the evolution of consciousness from sense perception to absolute knowledge. He also believed that human cognition changes from one generation to the next; as well as the idea that our experiences are what make us who we are and we make our experiences ours. His thinking can be understood as a constructive development within the general tradition that includes Plato and Kant, as well as Plotinus and Gottfried Leibniz. A common trait that these thinkers share is that they regard freedom or self-determination both as real and as having important ontological implications, for soul or mind or divinity. His concern with Kantian topics such as morality and freedom, including their ontological implications, is omnipresent. He aimed to incorporate it within ‘true infinity’, ‘spirit’ and ‘ethical life’, rather than simply reject his dualism of freedom versus nature. He incorporated it in such as way he rendered Kantian’s duality as intelligible. He saw a relational unity as well as a metaphysical unity between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus is both divine and human, according to Hegel. He further attested that God not only died, but that a reversal had taken place, that is to say that God maintained himself in the process and the latter is only the death of death. He claimed God rose again to life and thus things are reversed. 19 Karl Marx Wikipedia. com Wikipedia. com Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, journalist, historian and revolutionary socialist. His ideas had a significant influence in the development of social science and the socialist movement. He wrote and published many works but the most important of all was the Communist Manifesto. Being born into a wealthy middle class family, he studied at the University of Bonn as well as the University of Berlin, where he became interested in the Young Hegelians philosophical ideas. After writing for a couple radical newspapers and being exiled to Brussels, he became a leading figure of the Communist League. Once he returned to Cologne, he founded his own newspaper. Even experiencing poverty, he continued writing and formulating his theories about the nature of society and how he believed that it could be improved. His theories about society, politics and economics are known as Marxism and these theories hold that all societies progress through a conflict between ownership class which controls production and a lower class which produces the labor for goods. His view of history, which came to be called historical materialism, certainly shows the influence of Hegel’s claim that one should view reality as well as history dialectically. However, Hegel had thought in idealist terms, putting ideas in the forefront, whereas Marx sought to rewrite dialectics in materialist terms, arguing for the primacy of matter over idea. Where Hegel saw the â€Å"spirit† as driving history, Marx saw this as an unnecessary mystification, obscuring the reality of humanity and its physical actions shaping the world. He wrote that Hegelianism stood the movement of reality on its head, and that one needed to set it upon its feet. 21 He believed that only large scale change in the economic system could bring about real change; he criticized utopian socialists by arguing that their favored small scale socialistic communities would be bound to marginalization and poverty. Engel’s book, The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844, led Marx to conceive the modern working class as the most progressive force for revolution. In opposition to traditional theology, he believed that human beings had created God in their own image and that worshipping God diverted human beings from enjoying their own human powers. He explains that religion is a response to alienation in material life and that it can’t be removed until human material life is set free, resulting in the deterioration of religion. Epistemology is branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and limitations of knowledge. It addresses mainly the following questions: * What is knowledge? * How is knowledge acquired? * To what extent is it possible for a given subject or entity to be known? 13 Rene Descartes Wikipedia. com Wikipedia. com Dubbed the ‘Father of Modern Philosophy’, Rene Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He is known for having made an important connection between geometry and algebra, thus allowing a solution for geometrical problems by way of algebraic equations. He is perhaps best known for the philosophical statement â€Å"Cogito ergo sum†, meaning I think, therefore I am. From 1604-1612 he attended Jesuit school, where he learned the standard scholastic, Aristotelian philosophy. In 1619 he embarked on his life’s work of rebuilding the whole universe because he believed everything he had learned was wrong. To do this he used what is known as his method of doubt. He meditated on various possible skeptical scenarios to help him doubt even things that seemed possibly true. First he considered that, when asleep and dreaming, everything seemed just as real and true as when he was awake. This led him to think that perhaps he is dreaming at that very moment, in which case he may not be really sitting in a chair but dreaming that he is sitting in a chair. Descartes, to make his doubting even more radical, considered the possibility that God is evil and has the aim of deceiving him as much as possible by placing fictitious sensory inputs directly into his conscious mind. This resulted in his famous statement: I think, therefore I am. His argument for the existence of God begins with the belief that ‘I have a concept of God, as perfect and infinite. This concept is clear and distinct; therefore an idea must have a cause-even an idea cannot appear from nowhere. A greater object can cause a lesser one but the reverse is impossible. Thus, my idea of God, which is supremely great, can only have been caused by just such a being. Thus God, as I conceive him, must exist. ’16 With his belief in the reliability of his senses restored, he was then able to acquire common-sense beliefs about material objects. He went on to build an elaborate system of mechanics, a theory of planetary motions, among many others. David Hume Oregon State. edu Oregon State. edu The most important philosopher ever to write in English and one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment was David Hume. He was also well-known in his own time as a philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist. Among the interesting features of Hume’s empiricist philosophy are a revolutionary view of causality, the problem of induction, and the distinction between fact and value. Hume advocates various forms of moderate or mitigated skepticism. He was a relentless critic of metaphysics and religion. 10 Hume was born in Edinburgh on April 26, 1711 and spent his childhood at Ninewells, the family’s modest estate near Berwickshire. His family thought he was suited for a career in the law, but he preferred reading classical authors and pursuing the goal of becoming a scholar and philosopher. He followed a rigorous program of reading and reflection for three years while pursuing this goal. Hume’s Problem of Causation has remained unsolved for two-hundred fifty years and this uncertainty has greatly prejudiced our belief in the possibility of metaphysics and the certainty of science, and has ultimately led to postmodernism. Hume explains that until we know what exists and the ‘necessary connections’ between these things that exist, it is impossible for humanity to have certainty of knowledge. This in return leads to the Problem of Induction, for if we do not know the a priori cause of events then we have no principles from which to logically deduce our conclusions. Then we are simply left observing that one event follows another and somehow they seem connected, yet we don’t know why or how; therefore we must depend upon induction to determine the laws of nature. This problem of induction can be demonstrated using his simple example of dropping a stone such that when I let go of the stone it falls to earth. And despite the amount of times this experiment is repeated does this inductively infer that the stone must fall the next time I let it go. He argued that it doesn’t, that it is simply a habit of thinking that it does and that it is quite possible that at some point in the future the stone will not fall. Hume stated, ‘The supposition that the future resembles the past, is not founded on arguments of any kind, but is derived entirely from habit. ’11 He believed that a priori ideas did not exist and that they are not innate but derived from experience of perceptions. He believed these perceptions could be divided into impressions and ideas. He believed that humans learned through impressions and if there are no impressions then there is no idea. He also believed that every person’s perceptions were his alone and different from other peoples. 17 For the argument for the existence of God, Hume began by laying down the principle that we can ascribe capacities to a God only if they are evident in the world. He believed humans have no reason to infer an almighty God from the world because the world is manifestly finite and imperfect and any argument from such is unwarranted. He claimed that the hypothesis of a God is useless; that there is no practical gain in positing such a being. 1. Oregon State. â€Å"Section III – Philosophical Perspectives in Education† Web. October 16, 2012. 2. Wikipedia. â€Å"Idealism† October 13, 2012. Web. October 16, 2012. 3. Wikipedia. â€Å"Objective Idealism† May 5, 2012. Web. October 16, 2012. 4. Wikipedia. â€Å"Transcendental Idealism† September 30, 2012. Web. October 16, 2012. 5. Wikipedia. â€Å"Neo-Platonism† October 6, 2012. Web. October 16, 2012. 6. The Basics of Philosophy. â€Å"Idealism† Web. October 16, 2012. 7. The Basics of Philosophy. â€Å"Realism† Web. October 16, 2012. 8. Wikipedia. â€Å"David Hume† October 12, 2012. Web. October 16, 2012. 9. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. â€Å"David Hume† May 15, 2009. Web. October 16, 2012. 10. Oregon State. â€Å"David Hume† Web. October 16, 2012. 11. On Truth & Reality. â€Å"Meta-physics: David Hume† Web. October 16, 2012. 12. Wikipedia. â€Å"Ontology† October 29, 2012. Web. October 30, 2012. 13. Wikipedia. â€Å"Epistemology† October 30, 2012. Web. October 30, 2012.