Category: Uncategorized



Accounting Concepts and Systems of Wesfarmers’

Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Subject:

Instructor:

August 31, 2013

Wesfarmers’ cash and cash equivalents include demand deposits and cash on hand, together with highly liquid short term investments which are convertible readily to a known cash amount and which are subject to an inconsequential change risk in value. Wesfarmers’ help notes show that normally an investment meets cash equivalent definition when it has a three or less month’s maturity from the acquisition date. Equity investments are left out, except if they are in cash equivalent substance (for instance preferred equity share within three months of the detailed date of redemption (Wesfarmers Annual report 2012, page 177). Repayable on demand bank overdrafts that also form an important component of the cash management of the company are also incorporated as part of cash equivalent and cash.

The operating cash flow was to a tune of $1,472 million. The core revenue generating activities of the company which are not financing or investing activities are the operating activities and therefore, the operating cash flows comprised of cash paid to employees and suppliers as well cash obtained from customers. Investing activities included long term assets disposal and acquisition as well as other investments which are not viewed to be cash equivalents. The financing activities were entries that change the borrowing structure and equity capital of the company. Dividends and interest paid and received were categorized as financing, investing and operating cash flows because they were consistently classified as such the entire period.

The company used the direct method to indicate each major category of gross cash payments and gross cash receipts. The section of operating cash flow of the cash flow statement looked like the below illustration since they used the direct method (Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012 page 178).

Cash paid to employees 276,098

Interest paid 156,084

Customer’s Cash receipts 987,367

Cash paid to workers 28,746

“ to suppliers 65,976

Paid income taxes 256,865

Net operating cash flow 1,471,636

Cash flows from financing and investing activities were classified as gross by main cash receipts class and cash payment major class, apart from the below instances, that can be entered on a net basis.

Cash payments and cash receipts on customers behalf (for instance, repayment and receipt of banks demand deposit as well as receipts collected and paid over on behalf of the property owner).

Cash payments and receipts for particulars whereby the turnover is rapid, has shorter maturities and amounts are huge (Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012 page 179).

3

The cash flows from investing activities were cash outflows and inflows associated to external financing sources (creditors and owners) for the investment. They included in this group were cash inflows drawn from bonds, mortgages, borrowing on notes, and proceeds from stock issuance and additional debt from other creditors. Succeeding transactions linked to these investing activities, for instance stock buyback, debt repayment and the shareholders dividend payments were also classified as investing activities (Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012 page 180).

Outflows

Cash payments made for:

Shareholders’ dividends

Stock repurchasing from owners

Principal payment to creditors (apart from interest that is of course an operating activity).

Inflows

They include Cash receipts from

Stock issuance to owners

Bonds, mortgages, borrowing notes, from creditors

4.

Financing activities comprised of owners or stockholders’ equity and liabilities. Financing activities are entered on its side of the financial statement referred to as cash flow statement. Long term liabilities examples of financing activities comprised redemption and issuance of bonds. Bonds payable increase in recorded as a positive figure of the financing activities. The positive figure implies a cash source or that the issuance of additional bonds provided that cash (Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012, page 181).

Entries of financing activities regarding owners’ equity comprised the issuance of preferred stock and common stock. When these stock accounts increase that was captured by the positive figures within the financing activities portion of the cash flow statement. The positive figure implies that cash provided through the issuance of more stock shares (cash source). Some of the uses of cash that were recorded in negative figures within the financing activities portion of the cash flow statement comprised the company’s purchase of its stock, as well as the dividends paid and declared on its stock.

5

Free Cash Flow = Net operating cash flow minus expenditure capital minus cash dividends.

FCF = Operating Cash Flow {depreciation + NOPAT {EBIT (1-Tax rate)-Operating capital gross investment {depreciation + operating capital net investment {(inventories + A/R +cash)-(accruals +A/P) + long term operating assets (equipment & net plant).

N/B

NOPAT = EBIT (1-Tax rate)

EBIT – Income Tax Expense

(1,519, 138 – 497, 972)=1, 021,166 (NOPAT)

Operating cash flow = depreciation + NOPAT

= (339,299-1,021,166) = 1,360, 465

Operating capital net investment

= (3,186, 205 – 3,413, 731) = -227, 526

Operating capital gross investment

= (-227,526 + 339,299) = 111, 773

Free Cash Flow = (1,360, 465- 111,773) = 1,248, 692.

Value investors consider free cash flow to be more significant than earnings. The reason being that in principle, shareholders own the net cash, which can be taken from the entity. FCF can be utilized to reduce debt, grow business or return to shareholders in share buybacks and dividends. The calculation of FCF can be used to establish the intrinsic values of the firm.

6.

The retail to coal conglomerate recorded a net profit totaling $.2.26 billion within 12 months, from $2.13 billion that was recorded last financial year.

The company’s shares increased 1.8% to $42.72 after the announcement of the capital return and financial results. Liquor and food earnings before tax and interest at Wesfarmers’ Coles stores that account for nearly 40% of its total revenue increased 11.4% to 1.37 billion. Woolworths, Cole’s biggest competitor recorded a 4.3 % increase for the group’s total revenue, and this can be attributed to the fact that liquor and food sales momentum rose in the second quarter of FY 2012. Both firms which control almost 80% of the grocery market have cut the cost of basic commodities for instance toilet papers, milk and food to increase sales. From its resources component, EBIT declined by 66% to $148 this is because of the higher Australian Dollar and low export prices resulted in a considerable drop in the export revenue.

7.

I think that the statement means that business managers depend on correct financial information and materials to make sound decisions regarding the business. The cash flow statement and the balance sheet can all the used for this purpose. However, cash flow statement provides vital information regarding the cash that the company spends and takes in, as well as the amount of equity that belongs to the owner in the entity. Cash flow statement also provide information about the cash funds that the company has paid out or taken in from any other sources over a given time period. It is the same as the income statement only that it does not provide details for the accrued items that are recorded within the income statement. CFS is usually prepared by the close of an accounting duration and it provides details of all the cash activities for the particular time period.

8.

Lenders: Institutions that lend review the financial statement of a company when deciding on how much to lend, if to lend, for what collateral and at what interest rate.

Investors: The venture capital companies will look at the financial statements history to check the performance of the firm and to assess the capabilities of the management team. Venture capital Company as opposed to lenders in interested in the future of the company since the company anticipates a higher return on investment.

Executives and Owners: All owners have to look the financial statement of the firm every month. Revenue shortfalls, as well as expenses exceeding estimated budget levels have to be addressed. A combination of high expenses and low revenues can in the long run be deadly. Unit managers assess P & L of their departments. Chief operating officers and CEOs asses the P& L of every department as well as the balance sheet and company P & L.

Government: The internal income service does not assess firm financial statement, however the information regarding the loss and profit statement in included in the firm’s tax returns. A number of governments have laws that require tax returns to be completed. If the firm is listed, the financial statement must be reported on annual and quarterly basis to the Exchange and Securities Commission.

Shareholders: The financial annual report that comprises of balance sheet as well as profit and loss statement is sent to the shareholders, also known as stockholders of the companies that are established as corporations.

9

Wesfarmers Board of Directors is a great supporter of good corporate governance. It is dedicated offering a suitable return to the shareholders and discharging its corporate governance responsibilities and obligations to the best interest on the organization as well as its stakeholder. The company conforms to the ASX second edition of the Corporate Governance Recommendations and Principles that was published in 2007 and amended in 2010. The company’s corporate governance activities for the financial year closing 30th June 2012 are detailed in the section of the corporate governance brief that makes up part of that annual report.

The framework for governance is entrenched within the Trust’s compliance structure (referred under the section Compliance and risk control, page 22) to reinforce transparency and ethical behavior and to protect the interest of unit holders. Wesfarmers corporate governance statement summarizes the fundamental practices of corporate governance of the responsibly company, that they accomplished the entire year. In compliance with the ASX guidelines, Wesfarmers being a responsibly entity has published its corporate governance practices on their website ( HYPERLINK “http://www.bwtrust.com.au” www.bwtrust.com.au).

10

Business Sustainability

Wesfarmers includes sustainability in its financial statement. For instance, one of their unit operations (the target) is devoted to entrenching sustainability in the business and developing a culture reliable for becoming a sustainability leader. Regarding safety, the supermarket teams were involved through enlightening DVD to enhance safe work awareness practices, with the lost time injury rate FY2012 7.99% in comparison to 6.87 the previous year. The decrease in energy consumption resulting from air conditioning supermarkets went on with a progressive adoption of variable temperature control, which are connected to external conditions and regulated fresh air levels. Moreover, systems for automated controls for decreased lighting past trading hours have been put in place and in a number of outlets power factor correction facilities have been installed to enhance energy efficiency (Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012 page 30).

Reference

Wesfarmers Annual Report 2012 pdf.

The US Film Industry

Name

Institution

The US Film Industry

IntroductionThe US film industry has been appreciated worldwide, and this has been as a result of the various history and development procedures that have been implemented to enhance the growth of this sector. The society has benefited from the landmark events that have shaped the US film industry from the early days to the present day. The US film sector has been addressed as the Hollywood where most superstars have emerged as the industry has created different job opportunities in the film market. It is the role of the media to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information through various social platforms that seek to improve the conditions of the society. The paper reflects on the different ways that the US film industry has shaped the country and how this segment has been influenced by the emerging social conditions. The development of this medium can be linked to the occurrence of significant events that ensured the success of the industry. Industry rivals have emerged as time progresses by the US film industry has adopted the most effective measures and strategies to ensure that they have higher bargaining power in the film market. Their higher competitive advantage is associated with its historical development and the social conditions that have shaped it to the position it stands in the modern community.

The History and Development of the US Film Industry

The origin of motion pictures as well as movies started in the late 1800’s where there was the creation of motion toys that were intended to lure the eye into seeing an illusion of gesture from a spectacle of still frames in a quick sequence. The first actual motion picture was initiated in 1872 by Edward Muybridge as he placed twelve different cameras on a racetrack and fitted them to capture shots in a quick series of running horses in front of the lenses (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This invention by Edward gave other inventors the courage to try forming similar devices that would capture such motion. The most successful person was Thomas Edison who produced the kinetoscope, and this device was used by earliest filmmakers in their film production process. This indicates that the emergence of this device gave filmmakers an opportunity to produce movies that would entertain the audience. This was a good starting point because, as time passed by, the filmmakers decided to try new alternatives because the kinetoscope was heavy and massive and it stressed them during their shoots.

D.W. Griffith, on the other hand, realized that a static camera was not sufficient to mediate vision and he developed movie editing. In 1915, he was the first person to shoot a movie in Hollywood that was a three-hour classic about the Civil War and its immediate aftermath. Movie editing has helped the filmmakers in the past and modern societies to produce exquisite pieces of artwork that have helped the audience to get inspired or motivated because it allows the creation of high definition films that have improved as technology intensifies. The major film genres that emerged during this era include slapstick comedies, historical films, swashbucklers, as well as melodramas. The Jazz Singer of 1927 was premiered, and it marked the launch of a new technological breakthrough known as the talking picture or talkie. This consequently led to the fall of the silent film and most actors lost their careers because they not meet the demands of the new style of moviemaking. This was disappointing because most actors disappeared and the U.S film industry was affected by the adoption of the new method of making movies.

In the 1930s, other movie genres had emerged, and they included musical, biographical pictures and animated cartoon. During this era, the producers, actors, film technicians, as well as directors worked on specific studios. There emerged different studios that developed cinemas in the cities where they managed to show their films. Therefore, each studio had its personnel, and their salaries depended on the culture of the studio they worked with. General Wills Hays, however, introduced the Protection Code that was enforced in 1934 to set specific guidelines for artwork concerning violence, sex, and religion (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This was meant to regulate the infamous affairs and scandals that were prevalent in the U.S film sector. In the 1930s, other film genres that were developed include horror films, adventure and fantasy movies. This expanded the US film industry, and the government identified this sector to be significant because it improved the country’s economy by raising huge revenues.

The major studios that operated since the 1920s included the MGM films, Twentieth Century Fox, and Paramount Pictures. These studies gave actors a chance to exercise their careers, and it helped them to grow and develop filmmaking skills to advance their careers. Films managed to attract talented actors because there existed numerous cinemas that were owned by the studios that had been created (O’Connor & Jackson, 2016). This changed the US film industry because there emerged experienced and skilled directors, actors, producers, as well as technicians. It was an industry on the rise, and it allowed people to enjoy scenes that reflected their day-to-day life experiences. It is understood that most audiences were aware of the importance of the film industry and they were motivated and encouraged to ensure that this sector succeeds and attains the stipulated goal and objectives. This influenced the filmmakers to create epic movies that reflected on the society giving the people ideas of addressing various problems within the community.

The desire for wartime propaganda influenced the US film industry to respond to World War II in the early 1940’s. It was a tough time for the industry, but the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese sparked a mixture of reactions (Shindler, 2014). During this time, movie production had advanced because technology use helped the filmmakers to make movies modern and appealing by improving sound recording quality, beginning to use colour film and using specific effects to come up with quality pieces of art. It was during the World War II that the US film industry decided to create a surge of wartime pictures that enhanced American patriotism because they managed to generate war-related propaganda, documentaries, and created awareness to American citizens of the wartime need (Shindler, 2014). This influenced high attendances at the theatres helping the film industry to make huge profits. The aspect of patriotism was instilled during this wartime, and most people were encouraged by the educational pictures to join the US defence forces to protect the freedom of the United States primarily from the Germans and the Japanese who had declared war on America.

In the 1950s, the American Film Industry recorded substantial loses because the society was introduced to televisions. Most families by this time had a TV in their home and the activities of the cinemas reduced. In response to this, the filmmakers began making films for television to avoid minimizing the profits acquired through the movie theatres (Foster et al., 2015). This period marked the entity of the US film into the television industry. The late 1960s were characterized by the push for social change. Movies focused on fashion, fun, shifts in cultural values, and societal transitions. This was influenced by the Vietnam War and the rapid changes in governmental power. This time also marked the difference in the world’s view of America and the country’s culture. This indicates that the film industry was growing at a faster rate than expected amid technological advancements that were taking place in the world. America is an excellent example of how the film industry has helped the society to address various social issues that slow growth and development of the country.

In the modern society, the use of special effects while producing films has increased the production costs of films. Most studios seek to capitalize on improvements in special effects technology, and this has helped them to focus on the quality of their product. In 1992, CD-ROM’s were developed and this helped movies to be watched on DVD. In addition, films and series can be viewed on smartphones, computers, tablets because technology has paved the way for the development of advanced streaming services like Netflix (Crane, 2014). Directors and producers have focused on creating films that imitate different themes that they intend to portray. This is accompanied by the use of the right personnel to ensure that the film produced captures the mind of the audience where he or she can point out the ideas of the writers. Various social institutions have used the film industry to create awareness to the people regarding social issues helping them to acquire information on the ways they can address the issues that affect them as a community. The American film industry has undergone changes that have increased their level of global competitiveness vital in the competitive film market.

Conclusion

Different events and social issues have shaped the US film industry since its birth. The modern society enjoys the fruits of these land marking events because Hollywood is the best in filmmaking across the world. The sector produces numerous movies and series that entertain the people of all backgrounds. Today, most people worldwide enjoy the films and sequence provided by the US film industry, and this has been a source of income for many. There are thousands of directors, actors and actresses, producers, and film technicians who have revolutionized the US film sector. Americans are proud because Hollywood has managed to build a strong brand image that is appreciated and respected across the world. The filmmakers have also recognized the works done by the earliest people in the industry because they have given them a chance to be who they are today amid the challenges that they experienced. In the society, the US film industry has contributed to the success of the nation because there has been the production of educative pictures and documentaries that have been used by most institutions to increase knowledge and acquire new information. It has been an industry that has struggled against the social changes and preferences in the country, but with the appropriate measures and strategies, the US film sector has managed to improve their level of global competitiveness.

References

Bodnar, J. (2017). Memorializing Pearl Harbor: Unfinished Histories and the Work of Remembrance.

Crane, D. (2014). Cultural globalization and the dominance of the American film industry: cultural policies, national film industries, and transnational film. International journal of cultural policy, 20(4), 365-382.

Foster, P., Manning, S., & Terkla, D. (2015). The rise of Hollywood East: Regional film offices as intermediaries in film and television production clusters. Regional Studies, 49(3), 433-450.

O’Connor, J. E., & Jackson, M. A. (Eds.). (2016). American History/American Film: Interpreting the Hollywood Image. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Shindler, C. (2014). Hollywood Goes to War: Films and American Society, 1939-1952. Routledge.

Takaya Matsuki

Professor Bei

English 1302

3 May 2019

The Use of Stereotypes

The multiple stereotypes between the inferior and superior relating to gender, race, and culture is what constructed M. Butterfly. It is referring to the gender and ethnic stereotype that one is inferior to the other. In most cases, the East is inferior to the West, and women are inferior to men. Yet, in this case, Hwang is able reverse the stereotype to make the Western man the weak minded compared to the Oriental woman. Now imagine the Westerner obsessing and loving the Oriental. The woman no longer being considered the inferior, flipping the table to create a plot. Not only that, but it was due to politics to create such conflict involving the stereotypes. The stereotype of gender and race is able to negotiate with each other in order to create such a conflict which propels the story.

It is evident with the history between the Chinese and the Western part of the world, the Westerners look at Orientals with a shameful attitude. This hierarchy that is placed in the world is what Hwang is trying to reverse and deconstruct in the play. As Hwang explains in an interview with John Louis DiGaetani, “I wrote M. Butterfly as an attempt to deal with some aspects of Orientalism” (DiGaetani 141). This allows Hwang to present a conflict based on ethnic and sexual inequity. Hwang executes this perfectly by the setting and characters presented in the play. Gallimard, a Western white man involved with Song, an Oriental “female”, who is also a communist, during the 1960’s in China. In the late 1960’s, Orientals were looked down at by the Westerners due to the wars and political dispute between the two sides of the world. That is why Gallimard is so obsessive towards Song, because to him, she is this submissive being that he can take control of. “Gallimard adheres to stereotyped images of women and of the Orient” (Kondo 15). Yet, to Song, Gallimard is this white parasite who likes to attach to passive woman, which she takes advantage of. “One of the things I found interesting is that your play suggested the Western naivete about the East. Many Westerners tend to think of the East as a pretty little Madame Butterfly rather than seeing what is actually there in the orient” (DiGaetani 141). Gallimard so naïve about the stereotype that he underestimates the orients. When he is brought to the court about how Song is a male communist, Gallimard is ashamed of himself. It is not because Song is a man, but because he let an Oriental fool him like that. The stereotype between the superior and inferior are able to compliment each other in order to create a conflict for the story. At the end the East sees the West as inferior like how the West sees the East as the inferior. There are more similarities than differences between the two and that is Hwang is trying to portray. “I think one of the more simple things the play’s trying to say is that eventually one must look past all the cultural stereotyping we do of each other, West to East and East to West, and deal with each other just as humans if we’re really to reach any point of true understanding” (DiGaetani146).

The gender inequality is what conflicts M. Butterfly. This whole story is man versus woman. Even though Comrade Chin has a higher placing in the military, Song is still considered the superior because of the gender hierarchy placed in China. “You don’t understand the mind of a man” (Hwang 72). Till now in modern day China, men are still the superior. Gallimard is so attracted to Song not only to the fact that Song is an oriental, but also the fact in Gallimard’s eyes, he is a woman. “Suddenly, it hit me–“All he wants is for her to submit. Once a woman submits. a man is always ready to become ‘generous’ ” (Hwang 62). That is why Song is able to manipulate him so flawlessly, he knows what a man wants from a such submissive woman. “Right. Song Liling is able to be such an effective fantasy for Gallimard because, as a man, she knows how a man wants to see women, and therefore can become a man’s woman-which is why Gallimard says toward the end of the play: “I was a man in love with a woman created by a man, and now everything else simply falls short” (DiGaetani 146). Gallimard being such a parasite for inferior woman, Song acts in such a passive way to please Gallimard. This superiority feeling over women gives Gallimard a confidence boost.

“His superior congratulates Gallimard on his masculine performance: “A year ago, you would’ve been out. But the past few months, I don’t know how it happened, you’ve become this new aggressive confident … thing” (37-38). Admiring the extramarital interracial (and supposedly heterosexual) activity of his “thing,” the representative of Western society approves of Gallimard’s machismo” (Saal 632).

Once Gallimard found out Song is man, he felt so embarrassed. His confidence he gained from dominating over the submissive Song went down the drain.

The whole reason as to why this is a story is due to the political differences between the East and West. China rising as a communist nation and is trying to spread communism throughout the world. Song being a communist spy, is assigned to get intel from his enemy. Meeting Gallimard, then realizing his weakness for submissive women, Song takes advantage of that. Thus, creating the entire plot. From the beginning to the end this is all because of politics. Song is willing to do anything to serve his people, that’s all he wants to do. As he yells to Comrade Chin, “I want to serve the people” (Hwang 60). He did do anything to complete his mission. He faked a love story between him and Gallimard, gaining as much intel he can. He even goes to extreme measures just to get information from Gallimard. “I let him put it up my ass!” (Hwang 70). He committed an act of homosexuality, which is looked down upon in Chinese culture, just to get intel so he can give weekly reports to Comrade Chin. It was his commitment for his people that made him act as a woman and homosexual. His devotion for communism made him do what he did in the story.

Hwang centers his entire story around gender, race, and politics. Politics being the main reason as to why there even is a conflict. Using a character’s devotion to communism to propel a story. Using the stereotype of gender and race as more as an advantage for Song. Politics is the whole reasoning behind the story, but the story focuses on the gender inequality and racial stereotype. Having two characters from the opposite of the world, having completely different mindset and views come together. Of course, with having different views on each other, they will treat one another differently than how they would normally treat their own. Hwang wanted to use that to plot a story.

“One of the things I wanted to do was to indicate both the differences between cultures as perceived by Asians and the similarities as perceived by Westerners. In other words, the West looks at the “East” as sort of a monolith. Whether we’ve been at war against Japan or Korea or Vietnam or in a Cold War with China, it’s all “Oriental.” But of course, the Asians see themselves as very different. I also have to say, again, that the reverse is true, that Asians tend to see the West as very monolithic. Perhaps from each point of view, it’s a legitimate position to take because there are probably more similarities between the Asian cultures as opposed to the West than differences, and vice versa. But from the point of view of the West, America does not consider itself to be the same as France. And Japan does not consider itself to be China” (DiGaetani 146).

Not only that, but he also wanted to put in the topic of gender inequality. Which is a perfect to include that because China is well known for their hierarchy regarding men and women. Hwang stirs the three topics together in order to create a conflict which propels the story.

Works Cited

Hwang, David, and Giacomo Puccini. M. Butterfly. New York, N.Y: New American Library 1989. Print.

Hwang, David Henry, and John Louis DiGaetani. “‘M. Butterfly’: An Interview with David Henry Hwang.” TDR (1988-), vol. 33, no. 3, 1989, pp. 141–153. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1145993.

Kondo, Dorinne K. “‘M. Butterfly’: Orientalism, Gender, and a Critique of Essentialist Identity.” Cultural Critique, no. 16, 1990, pp. 5–29. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1354343.

Saal, Ilka. “Performance and Perception: Gender, Sexuality, and Culture in David Henry Hwang’s ‘M. Butterfly.’” Amerikastudien / American Studies, vol. 43, no. 4, 1998, pp. 629–644. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41157422.

Outline

Introduction

Thesis: The stereotype of gender and race is able to negotiate with each other in order to create such a conflict which propels the story

Body 1

Topic Sentence: It is evident with the history between the Chinese and the Western part of the world, the Westerners look at Orientals with a shameful attitude.

-Discuss about how Hwang presents the West and Orientals in the play.

-How are both perceived at by the world.

-The conflict is based on the point of views by each race towards one another.

Body 2

Topic sentence: Even now, women in China are known as the inferior because that is just their culture.

-Even though Song dressed as a woman, he still is a man which puts him above Comrade Chin.

-Gallimard only was in love with Song because her being an Oriental woman in China makes her submissive towards him, which he liked. Yet, as soon as Song was revealed as a man, Gallimard did not want to do anything with him. As if he was scared of him.

Conclusion: Discuss the race and gender topic and how it created a conflict in the story.

Name

Professor

Course

Date

The US Immigration Policies

One of the thorny issues currently across the United States is matters to do with the country’s immigration laws policies and the recent developments with President Trump’s presidency has brought much focus to immigration issues. Historically, the United States is known to be a country of immigrants and this over the years has made the immigration policies contagious. The first law that was enacted in the United States to address the challenges of immigration includes the Immigration and Nation Act in 1952. The country later sought to address illegal migration through the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. The act ensures that the welfare that was initially available to illegal immigrants was squashed away and more sanctions were slashed on employers of illegal immigrants. The American constitution has vested all the powers of the formulation of all the immigration related regulations on the Congress while the president and the executive plays the role of enforcement of the immigration laws.

The constitution has ensured that the conflicts between state and federal laws concerning immigration laws are addressed by allowing federal laws to overrule state laws. The supremacy of federal laws has in many occasions been affirmed by rulings by the American Supreme Court on issues that related to conflicts between state and federal immigration laws. According to rulings by the the Supreme Court, the mandate of the federal government is broader and exclusive in the regulation of immigration issues in the country compared to state and local laws. The state immigration laws are often supposed to stem from the existing federal laws to avoid the conflicts that might arise.

The Texas State immigration laws have been seen by many as conservative and retrogressive. Over the years, many state governments have complained that the federal government was reluctant in enforcing the country’s immigration laws and this has led to a strain on state budgets that have to bear the costs of illegal immigration. Historically, states such as California, Texas and Florida has sued the federal government for lack of commitment in enforcing existing immigration laws leading to numerous undocumented immigrants within their areas of jurisdiction. The latest of the state’s immigration laws was the attempt to target sanctuary cities. The immigration law although its application was suspended by a court of law. Many critics of the Texas immigration law SB 4 have condemned it and termed it as a blow towards achieving good governance. The law that was signed by the Texas governor requires the police chiefs, state sheriffs the powers to inquire into immigration status of the people living within the state’s sanctuary cities and even ensures that if such officials do not implement it they face hefty fines, imprisonment or removal from office.

Currently, research has shown that the state government of Texas has often employed punitive actions as a way of deterring illegal immigration into Texas. Many people have challenged the success of this policy as a majority of the critics have argued that it has not succeeded in meeting its intended purpose. The immigration rate into the state continues to soar and there is need for change of tactic if the issue of undocumented persons in Texas has to be addressed. According to the official federal and state figures, about 17 percent of the state’s population comprises of fore-born immigration persons with a majority of them being from Mexico. By 2016, research showed that 15 percent of the people who lived in Texas and were legal citizens had one parent being an immigrant.

In initiating the changes required in the state’s immigration policies, there is need for the state to move from punitive measures to generous and all inclusive measures. The state should focus on coming up with measures that allow undocumented immigrants to come up and acquire legal residence without any fear of victimization. This is important as it will ensure that the state has proper documentation on immigrants and put measures that can restrict future immigrations into Texas.

There are various policy options that the state of Texas should use in addressing the immigration challenges that it faces in a lawful and morally acceptable manner. First, there is need for advocating for increased border security especially across the border with Mexico where many immigrants are using to access the state. The state should work with the federal government to increase the use of advanced technology to ensure the American southern border is not porous and it is not used by immigrants who want to move into the country illegally.

There is also need for policy intervention on interior enforcement of immigration laws to ensure that undocumented persons can be identified and be undertaken through the justice system. The American laws makes illegal immigration a crime against the country and any person who is in within Texas illegally should face the wrath of the law. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 gives state and federal organs the powers to investigate, arrest and prosecute aliens. There is need for empowerment of state departments concerned with immigration and homeland security to legally deal with immigrants. The state should also ensure it implements the e-verify properly and make changes to the legal immigration systems to ensure immigrants who qualify to attain legal residence are able to do so.

Although these policy interventions are necessary, there are various challenges that are likely to come with their implementation. For instance, when it comes to strengthening border security, many measures that have taken in the past have received global criticism and did not attract public support. For instance, the attempts by the President Trump’s administration to construct a wall across the Mexican border with the United States forced public uproar. Many people seemed not to buy the idea as it seemed not to foster proper working relationships with neighboring countries. The state government has made attempts to strengthen interior immigration law enforcement but resistance from the public and slow decision making form the judiciary has ensured that the process drugs along. A policy intervention that ensures that illegal immigration can legalize their status could act as a motivation for more people to move into the country as legalizing their status might seem easy and simple.

It is important for the government of the state of Texas and the federal government to realize that immigration is a sensitive issue that requires continuous cooperation with various stakeholders. The federal government and the state government cannot succeed in dealing with illegal immigration issues without involving the local communities with immigrants live. Since the immigrants exist within the communities, public sensitization is important in ensuring the public understands why immigration is not working for the benefit of them or the government itself. If the public understands this, they will be able to cooperate with state and federal departments in dealing with the issue. The state and federal government should come up with policy interventions that work towards improving the lives of the neighboring countries by promoting good governance that will lead to improved living standards for Mexicans and other neighboring people. This will ensure that more people will not need to move into America in search for better economic and educational opportunities.

I believe that promoting public participation in dealing with immigration will help state and federal enforcement officials succeed enormously. Empowering our neighbors by promoting democracy and good governance will improve the living standards of people in such countries and create more economic opportunities for them. Once our neighbors have jobs and employment opportunities, they will not need to immigrate into the USA in search for better economic opportunities and this will reduce immigration significantly.

ReferencesDoty, Roxanne Lynn. The law into their own hands: Immigration and the politics of exceptionalism. University of Arizona Press, 2016.

Hoekstra, Mark, and Sandra Orozco-Aleman. “Illegal immigration, state law, and deterrence.” American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 9.2 (2017): 228-52.

Johnson, Kevin R. “Immigration in the Supreme Court, 2009-13: A New Era of Immigration Law Unexceptionalism.” Okla. L. Rev. 68 (2015): 57.

Motomura, Hiroshi. “The President’s Dilemma: Executive Authority, Enforcement, and the Rule of Law in Immigration Law.” Washburn LJ 55 (2015): 1.

Case Study-Leadership

Student’s Name:

Institution:

Question 1

According to the case, I agree that Ho Ching is an influential leader. Ho Ching came from a humble beginning and having done engineering entered into the position of leading and displayed her presence. An influential leader has a capable confident persona. The attractive force of the charming identity attracts individuals and urges them to trail the steps of the leader. They confide in the authority and encourage employee to have sure feeling of self.

Ho Ching in demonstrating and making her presence known searched out for undertakings that others will take note. She employed the technique that when one exceeds expectations at imperceptible activities, just those in the area of expertise will take note. When one exceed expectations at unmistakable ventures, or tasks that deliver income, one extend the deceivability substantially more-and to higher administration levels. Ho Ching has a persuasive tactic. She work out a sound, principled contention from their perspective of the other employees as she is in a fantastic position to fabricate agreement and structure the partnerships you have to help your venture succeed (Haslam, Reicher, & Platow, 2013).

Question 2

The sources of power are Coercive Power and reward power. Coercive force is gotten from an individual’s capacity to impact others by means of dangers, disciplines or approvals. A lesser staff part may work late to meet a due date to maintain a strategic distance from disciplinary activity from his manager. Coercive force is, thus, an individual’s capacity to rebuff, terminate or censure an alternate representative. Coercive force helps control the conduct of representatives by guaranteeing that they hold fast to the association’s strategies and standards.

Reward Power emerges from the capacity of an individual to impact the allotment of motivations in an association. These motivations incorporate compensation increases, positive examinations and advancements. In an association, individuals who wield prize power have a tendency to impact the activities of different representatives. The power, if utilized well, significantly propels workers. Anyhow on the chance that it’s connected through partiality, prize force can enormously unsettle representatives and decrease their yield (Selznick, 2011).

References

Haslam, S. A., Reicher, S. D., & Platow, M. J. (2013). The new psychology of leadership:

Identity, influence and power. Psychology Press.

Selznick, P. (2011). Leadership in administration: A sociological interpretation. Quid Pro

Books.

Institution

Instructor

Class

Student

Date

Ancient Greece

According to the Percy Bysshe Shelley, the great Romantic English Poet, “we are all Greeks”. There are many ways as to how the current world generation emulates the Greeks. This ways of the Greeks would be seen from the western Culture including the European and American cultures. The western culture has grown greatly to all continents and given that the culture emulates the ancient Greeks way of life, it follows that the Greeks’ culture has grown vastly around the world. When Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet, said that people were all Greeks, he meant that almost all cultures have a great aspect of the ancient Greece culture.

The western culture’s resemblance to the Greece culture could be viewed from various points including philosophies, architecture, politics, as well as in other areas of civilization. Mesopotamia is in one way or another considered being the soul to western culture (McEvilley, 3). It is claimed that the western culture was born in Greece since there has been many admirations of the Ancient Greece activities and cultures by the western communities. Most of the historical discoveries and inventions are related to the Greeks and that the western world only went ahead to improve whatever the Greeks had invented. These inventions could include various architects including the wheel, pulley systems, and related sciences.

In terms of superiority and power over other nations, the western way of gaining power over most world nations could be associated with the way the Greeks ruled over the barbarians after the Persian Wars. These wars had Alexander the Great as a key figure and made the nation the most inseparable part within the Eastern sphere of cultures (McEvilley, 135). The Greece influence spread to the Neo-Babylonian empires extending all the way to the west. It seemed that influence of culture, art, science, politics, and philosophy was a move from the east to west since the Greeks and Ionians accepted influence from the eastern region of their location. The Greeks notion of superiority and the existing documentation of cultural influence towards the west are adequate to point that the Greece culture gave birth to the western culture.

The interaction of the Greek culture, Hellenistic culture and Buddhist culture was influenced by Alexander the Great who went on to concur various parts of Europe and Asia such as Achaemenid Empire and Central Asia (McEvilley, 234). This Greet man is emulated greatly by various western political leaders as a way of gaining power over other nations especially during the World War I and World War II. The emulation of the Greeks range from politics, through religion, to science, and artistic works done by the Greeks As far as religion is concerned, one would say that religion originated from the east through the Greeks and landed to the western culture. It then happened that the western culture countries such as Britain had the ability and resources to pass the same culture perhaps in a twisted version to other parts of the world including America, Asia, and Africa.

The palace structure according to historical descriptions of its beauty has been for many years a key attractive feature to the United Kingdom and British culture. The palace belonged to King Ashurnasirpal II in early ninth century BC (PARPOLA, 9). The attraction of the palace structure to the British culture is evident in the Assyrian Galleries belonging to the British Government. An artistic gallery of the palace is located behind the British royal throne to depict a sense of power, holiness, among other traits associated with kingdoms. From the Ancient Greece superiority notion and the Greek cultural attractions to the western way of life, it follows that the western culture was born from the Ancient Greece culture. The growth of these cultures to all parts of the world strengthens the fact that “we are all Greek”.

Works Cited

McEvilley, Thomas. The Shape of Ancient Thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies. NY: Allworth Press and the School of Visual Arts, ISBN 1-58115-203-5, 2002.

PARPOLA, SIMO. The Mesopotamian Soul of Western Culture. 2012. 29 Jan 2013 <http://www.atour.com/education/pdf/SimoParpola-TheMesopotamianSoulOfWesternCulture.pdf>.

The Use and Impact of Social Media on Tertiary Institution Students

Student’s Name:

Institution Affiliated:

Date:

Introduction

The introduction of social media as a category of online discourse has made it possible for individuals to produce, share, bookmark, and network at an unprecedented pace. Social media is rapidly altering public conversation and creating trends and agendas across a wide variety of issues, from the environment and politics to technology and the entertainment industry, due to its simplicity of use, speed, and reach (Al-Rahmi et al., 2018). Thanks to the introduction of social media, the online world has changed tremendously in the past 10 years. Young men and women today communicate thoughts, sentiments, personal information, images, and videos at an astounding pace. Seventy-three percent of all wired American teenagers currently use social media.

Communications and sharing images and videos are the primary goals of using these sites like Facebook and MySpace. However, for the sake of this research, social media is defined as the use of the internet by individuals to communicate, share ideas, and share images and videos through Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Skype, MySpace, and Yahoo Messenger. Recent years have seen a global upsurge in the usage of social networking websites of all kinds. Initially a pastime for computer-savvy individuals, social media has evolved into a way of life for people throughout the globe. To stay in touch with their peer group, exchange information, reinvent their identities, and put their social lives on display, young adults and teenagers have taken to social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace in particularly large numbers (Alnjadat et al., 2019).

The rise of social media websites in recent years has given young people a new avenue to connect and communicate with one another and the rest of the world. After Facebook and MySpace were launched between 2004 and 2006, social networking exploded in popularity. Facebook, for example, has more than 500 million members and is continually growing, and over 85 percent of undergraduate students use Facebook. Since Facebook’s user base continues to expand, these statistics are projected to rise. This is not only the case with Facebook but also with YouTube.

Communication, knowledge sharing, and new connections may all be facilitated by social networking platforms. As we learn to live in an ever-more technologically advanced society, the advent of social networking websites has had a significant impact on the way we communicate with one another. A lot has changed in the way online users communicate and engage with one another. Using the internet to socialize is taking away from the face-to-face interaction that has been there for a long time. By altering how we communicate face-to-face, how we acquire information, and how our social groups and friendships function, social networking websites have had an impact on our social interactions.

The fast progress of media technology has had a major influence on the way people interact daily. The expanding dimension of the usage of social media among the young of today cannot be over-stressed. Over the years, social networking among students has gotten more and more popular. It is a means to create relationships, not just on campus but with people outside of school (Cao & Sun, 2018). Social networking is a strategy that helps individuals feel they belong to a group. Due to its rising ubiquity of it, economists and educators are asking if the grades of students will not be influenced by how much time is spent on these sites.

The usage of technology such as the internet is one of the most critical variables that might impact the educational performance of pupils favorably or badly. Many parents and guardians are anxious that pupils are spending too much time on Facebook and other social media sites and do have not enough time to study.

Internet platforms, services, and behaviors that enable collaboration building communities, participation, and sharing” are known as “social media” or “social networking.” It is impossible to overstate the importance of social media in today’s youth. Social networking has grown in popularity among second-year students in recent years. It’s a great method to interact with people both on and off-campus (Giunchiglia et al., 2018). Many individuals benefit from the sense of belonging that comes with social networking. Researchers and professors are beginning to wonder whether students’ grades are being harmed by their increasing use of these sites.

About 57% of users on Facebook are between the ages of 18 and 29 and maintain a personal profile on various social media platforms (Zachos et al., 2018). There was a wide range in the daily time spent on social networking sites. However, a study of the data showed that most individuals spent roughly thirty minutes a day socializing, with the majority of this time occurring between 9 pm and 12 am. Social networking sites are often visited by more than half of college students. Almost two-thirds of college students admitted to checking Facebook multiple times a day. When it came to keeping in contact with high school and local acquaintances, younger students use Facebook more often than older students.

Social networking sites have been shown to have a detrimental impact on student’s academic achievement in several studies by experts. It has been estimated that 25 percent of students’ internet use is spent on social networking sites. Social media users tend to be less diligent in their studies, which results in worse grades. Students who utilize social networks have lower grades (GPAs) than those who don’t, according to recent research. While many diversions are unique to each age, Facebook has remained a key one for the present one. Students who are heavy Facebook users often suffer academically (Mastrodicasa & Metellus, 2013). Similarly, students’ use of social media has been shown to have a detrimental impact on their academic performance, making its disadvantages much more significant than its benefits. The surge in internet use has been a direct result of the rise in online addiction. Researchers found that people who are hooked to the internet tend to put off personal and academic duties in favor of their internet usage, which may lead to worse grades.

The use of synchronous communication programs, such as online sites and forums, has been linked to academic performance problems and internet reliance (Hou et al., 2019). There is a negative correlation between first-year university students’ self-reported GPA and their usage of different media, including mobile phones. Study participants were found to have allowed their mobile phone usage to disrupt their academic pursuits, according to the findings of the study. Students’ self-reported assessments of academic difficulty are linked to the frequency with which they check their phones each day. “Excessive” mobile phone usage is linked to school failure, according to studies.

Ninety percent of youths in the U. S. have an Internet connection, and 75 percent of these kids use the Internet more than once a day, according to the results of an online poll. Teens who have Internet access are also users of social networking sites and utilize the Internet to arrange plans with peers, new research found. Only 16 percent of all 18-29-year-old internet users were using social networking sites in September 2005, but this figure jumped to 86 percent in the following year.

Conclusion

According to this research, the majority of students have smartphones with internet access and are aware of the presence of social media platforms. As a consequence, they spend anything from 30 minutes to 3 hours a day on social media. Students’ academic performance was severely impacted by their usage of social media, according to this research, which also proved the substantial link between social media use and academic performance (Moghavvemi et al., 2018). More people use social media for chatting than for academic purposes, according to this study.

References

Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. CMAJ, 192(6), E136–E141. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434

Al-Rahmi, W. M., Alias, N., Othman, M. S., Marin, V. I., & Tur, G. (2018). A model of factors affecting learning performance through the use of social media in Malaysian higher education. Computers & Education, 121, 59–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.02.010

Alnjadat, R., Hmaidi, M. M., Samha, T. E., Kilani, M. M., & Hasswan, A. M. (2019). Gender variations in social media usage and academic performance among the students of University of Sharjah. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 14(4), 390–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2019.05.002

Cao, X., & Sun, J. (2018). Exploring the effect of overload on the discontinuous intention of social media users: An S-O-R perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 81, 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.035

Giunchiglia, F., Zeni, M., Gobbi, E., Bignotti, E., & Bison, I. (2018). Mobile social media usage and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 82, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.12.041

Hou, Y., Xiong, D., Jiang, T., Song, L., & Wang, Q. (2019). Social media addiction: Its impact, mediation, and intervention. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 13(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2019-1-4

Moghavvemi, S., Sulaiman, A., Jaafar, N. I., & Kasem, N. (2018). Social media as a complementary learning tool for teaching and learning: The case of youtube. The International Journal of Management Education, 16(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2017.12.001

Zachos, G., Paraskevopoulou-Kollia, E.-A., & Anagnostopoulos, I. (2018). Social Media Use in Higher Education: A Review. Education Sciences, 8(4), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040194

The use of imagery varies among different poets with each author using imagery to their own benefit. Poetry is a form of literature which uses the power of words and language in the form of using rhythm and rhyme, as well as textual devices such as alliteration, assonance, metaphor and simile to express a message; thus, use of imagery simplifies the understanding of the poem by the reader.

Use of imagery in poems helps the reader to clearly envision the scenes and participate in the meaning of the poem (Creely, 2019). This is because the author of the poem is able to create a vivid picture or influence a physical sensation which enables the reader to easily relate the intended meaning of the poem (Creely, 2019). Some poets use images to represent their feelings or ideas to illustrate different meanings with words, while others use images that evoke strong reactions from readers as they draw on their own personal experiences to interpret their symbols. In order for any work that includes imagery to be successful in assisting a reader’s understanding, it is important for the writer or poet to create an image that prompts the desired response from their audience. By doing so, the poet is able to affect the reader’s feelings and emotions; thus, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the message. Use of imagery in poems also enables incorporation of the reader’s senses which include seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, and hearing (Creely, 2019). This is achieved by use of images which are familiar to specific interpretations; thus, the reader is able to compare the discussion of the poem to real life actions or items. There are five types of imagery, and each one is related to every human sense. They include visual imagery, auditory imagery, olfactory imagery, gustatory imagery, and tactile imagery; the imagery types affect human senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching (Creely, 2019). Gustatory imagery is used by many writers especially those who use food in order to evoke feelings of hunger or satisfaction in their audience; while auditory imagery is mostly used by poets who describe sounds to convey feelings such as hearing thunder or birds chirping in order to elicit feelings such as anger or happiness from readers. The reader’s attention is also captivated by use of imagery in poems as it somehow gives life to the message; thus, making it effective enough to affect the reader’s emotions and feelings. As a result, the intended message of the author is successfully conveyed to the reader.

In conclusion, imagery is a feature commonly used throughout most verses in everyday language; therefore, it plays a very important role in poems. As a result, poetry has been regarded by many authors as equivalent to painting or drawing which also uses images to portray scenes and express various feelings from readers (Ramadhanti & Yanda, 2018). Besides, poetry is usually separated into genres, and imagery may determine the style of writing used by an author. For example, a poet who utilizes vivid description such as similes and metaphors when describing images or objects is considered to have a poetic license. By doing so, the poet is able to show a strong affinity for imagery and demonstrate their understanding of how to write in a style that causes strong response from their audience (Ramadhanti & Yanda, 2018)..

References

Creely, E. (2019). ‘Poetry is dying’: Creating a (re) new (ed) pedagogical vision for teaching poetry. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 42(2), 116-127. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/aeipt.223597Ramadhanti, D., & Yanda, D. P. (2018). Understanding poetry through the use of cooperative learning model. Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan, 37(3). https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/cp/article/view/20675

Name

Institution:

Course:

Tutor:

Date:

Quiz Two

Question 1

According to the prepositions put forth by Charles Darwin, there is no human nature. He introduced the theory of evolution that denotes that humans did evolve from the ape. This is unlike the biblical and religious teachings that contend that humans were created in the image of God. In addition, Darwin’s concept contradicted the viewpoint of Aristotle that perceives man to have a purpose in life. In this regard, Aristotle indicates that man’s purpose it to reason and come up with viable decisions that are objective and devoid of the influence of appetites. Darwin’s evolution theory disregards this and indicates that man does not have any purpose in life. According to him, the origin of man dates back to millions of years when he lived in the universe with just a few species. The condition demanded that every species competes with the rest for survival.

Notably, man successfully passed through the numerous filters that characterized natural selection and were employed in determining the suitability of a species to survive. This was attributed to his diverse skills, physical attributes and intellectual traits. Seemingly, other creatures did not have this and as such, in most instances, man surpassed them. With time he became the most prominent predator that depended on the other species for food and general survival. According to Pojman (2006), this gave him a chance to significantly diminish the possibility of him becoming a prey. The ability of man to assume the top position on the food chain demonstrates the notion of “survival of the fittest”.

Thus Darwin maintains that competition and struggle are at the core of human existence. In addition, they play a fundamental role of perpetuating biological reproduction and the wellbeing of man. Also, Darwin indicated that the concepts of inheritance and hereditary are vital and therefore need to be accorded equal attention in reproduction as well as marriage. At this point, it can e contended that the aspect of man having superb survival skills that enhanced his survival can be considered to be valid. To date, man seems to have better skills than the rest of the species and therefore behaves in a totally different way from the rest of nature. These skills have also enabled him to devise different survival tips that are more sophisticated and effective than those employed by other species. His wellbeing has further been enhanced by the intrinsic power that he has over nature.

In addition, the concept of competition and struggle that has been cited to be at the core of human survival can not be disputed. In an environment that had various species that were competing for relatively few resources, some degree of struggle was inevitable. This notion is also illustrated in the modern world where the ability to compete favorably determine the success and survival of individuals. The weak that are unable to compete for the limited resources always tend to be eliminated from the system earlier than those with the ability to struggle.

Question 2

From the perception of the Greeks, man is the only being that has the capacity to employ reason in understanding the purpose of life that he lives. This reason should therefore act as guidance to enable man to face and overcome the daily challenges with ease. Essentially, it is a form of empowerment that gives man the ability to optimize on particular events and experiences and derive the highest degree of benefits from the same.

However, the Judeo Christian point of view considers man to be solely charged with the responsibility of loving and serving God throughout his lifetime. According to this perception, this defines the purpose for which man was created by God. Further, this view point contends that these two functions are open and therefore apply to all men irrespective of the level of understanding that one has. Further, it is contended that the individuals that fail to serve and love God accordingly do commit the greatest of all sins. Notably, there is a contrast between the purposes of man’s life between the two thoughts. While the Judeo Christian perspective contends that man was entirely created to serve and love God, the Greek perception thinks otherwise and believes that man is responsible for deciphering the purpose of his or her life through reason.

St Augustine who is the proponent of the Judeo Christian perspective agreed to Plato’s idea that emphasizes that the free will has a critical role to play in the life of humanity. He argued that this will is vitally important as it enables man to make viable choices between what is good or and choose to further either. This correlates with Plato’s thinking that implied that humans are moral beings. As such, they have the capacity to distinguish between what is good and what is evil. They are able to distinguish truth from lies and appreciate the former accordingly.

However, both the Greek and Judeo Christian perception indicate that man has continuously failed to pursue what is good, irrespective of the fact that he has the ability to. They believe that this can be attributed to the various appetites and desires that undermine the ability of man to uphold morality. Unlike Plato, Augustine believes that this can be overcome through faith in God. According to the Judeo Christian view point, trusting in God enables man to develop viable ideas that characterize the power of reasoning. Notably, Christians believe that this reason enables humanity to know God and develop a close relationship with the same. This then enables man to attain the highest degree of happiness and fulfill the purpose of life.

On the contrary, the Greek perception indicates that happiness is determined by knowledge. This enables man to employ reason and achieve a considerable level of goodness. The highest level of goodness in this regard is what constitutes happiness. Seemingly, although the eastern and western thoughts regarding the mode of attaining happiness differ, both conclude that this is an ideal state that humanity works towards achieving.

Question 5

The theory of functionalism presumes that an individual’s mental states that range from desires and hopes to beliefs and pains are entirety constituted by the functional role that they play. In other words they are responsible for triggering other mental states, behavioral outputs and /or sensory inputs. Notably, these prepositions are similar to those presented in behaviorism and the identity theory of the mind. Further, the theory argues that since the various mental states are largely defined by their respective functional roles, they are realized on various levels. This means that they can be easily manifested in different systems provided the respective system performs the necessary and relevant functions. Just like computers whose output is entirely depended on the input, Pojman (2006) posits that human behavior is depended on the various inputs that are computed by the brain. According to this theory, the brain is responsible for one sole function that includes consciousness. By defining the mind from the functional view point, this theory fails to delineate the process that the brain assumes in functioning. Notably, these are complex and determined by various social, economic and political environments.

This theory has various inherent weaknesses that undermine its effective application. To begin with, it fails to provide a clear distinction between the conscious and physical states of the human perceptions. In this respect, it can be speculated that a person could be a renowned neurologist but fail to understand the relationship between the mind and the material aspects of his or her life such as the food that the person eats. Furthermore, functionalism theory has ascribed the human consciousness in relatively very simple terms. At this juncture it is worth acknowledging that the functions of the human mind are very complex and can not be likened to the functioning of machines such as computers. Scientific evidence ascertains that unlike the computer, the human mind does not entirely depend on the input to produce a definite output. In other words, it can not be programmed and its ‘computation’ of issues depends on multiple intricate and augmenting factors that can not be easily defined. This is because of the fact that they are also influenced by personality factors that are determined by various complex factors.

Thus unlike the computer whose functioning can be easily defined by observation the human mind can not be observed. Its physical processes can not be easily determined by another person as it is posited in psychology. At this juncture, it is also worth mentioning that there are some machines that seek to define the thinking process of a human being. Although medical studies ascertain that they are effective in determining the same, this can be contested because they do not address the consciousness aspect of the given individual. As such, their effectiveness in performing the relative jobs is largely at stake.

Reference

Pojman, L. (2006). Who Are We? Theories of Human Nature. Oxford: University Press.