Category: Uncategorized

Moral Absolutism: Right Or Wrong?

Moral absolutism is defined as “the belief that some moral rules are binding on everyone, regardless of cultural differences.”1 Many people support this belief based on the ideals and values of their culture. They think that there should be a specific set of principles protecting and governing all human beings. However, others believe that values can be accepted in one culture and rejected in another culture. This idea is based on the belief that moral principles differ across cultures. The views of the relativist and absolutist are contrary to one another. In this paper, I will argue that the absolutist’s beliefs are well-developed and humble, whereas the relativist’s views are flawed and contradictory.

In Philosophical Dilemmas, Washburn uses an article entitled, “Right for You, Wrong for Me?” to demonstrate an absolutist’s point of view. The absolutist dissects and criticizes the relativist’s beliefs in two main areas. First, he questions the relativist’s belief that an action may be right for one person and unacceptable for another person. Much emphasis and criticism is placed on this concept and the absolutist argues that there is no influential difference between people to justify such a belief. Secondly, the absolutist condemns relativism for its inability to recognize that different cultures encounter one another. He points out that, in the event of cultural contact, an action by a person in one group will affect a person in another group. In this situation, the relativist would say that the action is right for one person, but wrong for the other person. The absolutist proclaims that the possibility of an action being both right and wrong is non-existent. These views of relativism are flawed and contradictory.

“In general, some say that every person must decide what moral principles to adopt. It is a personal decision, and no one can judge another, or say another’s principles are wrong. What is right for you may not be right for me, some say….The relativist is saying that a person’s belief that he should do something is enough to make it morally right that he should do it….Different climates, different diets, different beliefs, different educations are not enough to make an action right in one place and wrong in another….Relativism has another flaw. It does not recognize that people with different principles come into contact….Moral relativism sounds reasonable, until two groups with different values come into contact, and an action by a person in one group affects a person in another group. When that happens, relativism collapses. The relativist who says that the action is both right and wrong isn’t saying anything….That is empty and uninformative….If you are going to have any moral principles at all, then you are going to have to say everyone else should have the same principles. That isn’t arrogant. In fact it is humbling.”2

Premise #1: Geography, beliefs, and education are characteristics of every culture.

Premise #2: Every culture adopts moral principles that are life-governing.

Interim Conclusion #1: Different climates, different diets, different beliefs, different educations are not enough to make an action right in one culture and wrong in another.

Premise #4: If different climates, different diets, different beliefs, different educations are not enough to make an action right in one culture and wrong in another, then when two groups with different values come into contact an action by a person in one group will affect a person in another group.

Premise #5: If different climates, different diets, different beliefs, different educations are not enough to make an action right in one culture and wrong in another, then a group cannot make an action morally right or wrong simply by saying it is right or wrong.

Premise #6: If different climates, different diets, different beliefs, different educations are not enough to make an action right in one culture and wrong in another, then all people around the world share similar cultural beliefs.

Interim Conclusion #2: Every cultural belief consists of basic moral judgments.

Conclusion: All people around the world share similar basic moral judgments.

The absolutist constructs and maintains a sound and valid argument in opposition to moral relativism. I agree with the absolutist’s conclusion because I believe that all the premises are true. He arrives at a conclusion through the isolation and criticism of the major concepts to which moral relativism was founded. He boldly states, “…relativism is a confused and contradictory doctrine.”3 Throughout the article, the absolutist provides detailed, theoretical situations for each of his claims. I believe that through a somewhat brief article, the absolutist manages to disprove the concepts of moral relativism. However, relativists would quickly disagree with this criticism. A relativist would read the absolutist’s argument in premise-conclusion form and disagree with Interim Conclusion #1 and Premise #5. The relativist’s response to Interim Conclusion #1 would state, “Someone might say that one’s society’s rules are objectively ‘better’ than another’s. But that judgment implies that a person can stand outside the two societies and evaluate them on the basis of some independent standard.”4 The relativist is claiming that no one can rise above all societies and make moral judgments about them. Therefore, a relativist would criticize Interim Conclusion #1 with the retort that because no one can rise above all societies, one cannot truthfully state that different beliefs and educations are not enough to make an action right in one culture and wrong in another culture. The relativist’s response to Premise #5 may be that “all people are taught to have a conscience. But different people’s consciences tell them different things about right and wrong”5 and that “there is no difference between what a society believes is right and what is right.”6 Therefore, a relativist would criticize Premise #5 with the retort that “a person’s belief that he should do something is enough to make it morally right that he should do it.”7 These counterarguments seem reasonable and valid. However through the eyes of an absolutist, these retorts seem “empty and uninformative.”8

Through the direct criticism of moral relativism, the absolutist anticipates these objections put forth by relativists. He establishes his criticism in this way to reject the relativist’s argument. In his first strike against moral relativism, the absolutist claims that “the problem isn’t that moral relativists approve of actions that offend me (although they do). The problem is that they cannot explain what they believe in a clear, coherent way.”9 The absolutist supports this claim with the theoretical use of a situation. He uses an example of a woman in Mali, named Mrs. Diarra, and a relativist Frenchwoman, named Mrs. Robert. The woman in Mali helps circumcise her 3-month-old baby, which is an honored tradition and part of her moral principles. However, the Frenchwoman says that, even though she would never perform such an act upon her daughter, the woman in Mali did the right thing according to her moral values. The incoherence of the relativist’s views applied to this story arrives when he says that a person’s belief that he should do something is enough to make it morally right that he should do it. As a refutation to that statement, an absolutist would respond, “If it is right for Diarra to circumcise her daughter because she believes it is right, then it is right for a child molester to abuse children, so long as he believes it is right.”10 This concept makes no sense. Therefore, a relativist cannot explain what he believes in a clear, coherent way. In conclusion of this story, the absolutist states that there is no difference between Mrs. Diarra and Mrs. Robert that is important enough to justify the relativist’s view. The absolutist supports Interim Conclusion #1 in this context through the theoretical use of a real-life situation. He supports and defends Premise #5 as well. He declares, “The idea that what is right for one person may be wrong for another person (in the same situation) is an idea that sounds attractive….And it would be nice if we never had to judge anyone else. But the idea makes no sense.”11 I agree with the absolutist’s statement that if one believes that something is right for one’s self, then one has to believe that it is right for anyone else in similar situations. Relativists cannot provide any important differences that make an action right for one person but wrong for another person. Thus, Premise #5 truthfully states that a group cannot make an action morally right or wrong simply by saying it is right or wrong. The absolutist anticipates the relativist’s objections and provides influential support for his argument.

In conclusion of this paper, I have argued that the absolutist’s beliefs are well-developed and humble, whereas the relativist’s views are flawed and contradictory. The absolutist presents a sound and valid argument against the popular ideals of moral relativism. He criticizes and disproves these ideals through the theoretical use of real-life situations. Although the concepts of moral relativism seem reasonable, the absolutist opposes these contradictory claims. He argues that there is no difference between cultures that is important enough to justify the relativist’s view. Also, he argues that relativism sounds logical until two cultures encounter one another and an action by a person in one culture affects a person in another culture. After the absolutist’s intense criticism and disproving of its concepts, moral relativism collapses.

Bibliography:

Endnotes

1Phil Washburn, Philosophical Dilemmas: A Pro and Con Introduction to the Major Questions, 2nd edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), p. 214.

2Washburn, p.219-221

3Washburn, p. 221

4Washburn, p. 216

5Washburn, p. 216

6Washburn, p. 225

7Washburn, p. 220

8Washburn, p. 221

9Washburn, p. 219

10Washburn, p. 220

11Washburn, p. 220

MOVIE ANALYSIS

Name

Institutional Affiliations

Date

Bates Motel Analysis: Season Two

Episode three

In episode three, the story line revolved around unexpected turn of events, the characters are Norman, Christine Heldens, George, Nick, and Emma and the setting of the story is in the community set up. In this episode, Norman is disappointed to learn that she was not involved in the community play and that makes her to make new friend with Christine for companion. Christine invites Norman to a party and introduced her to new friends (Weigand, 2013). With the death of Bradley in their mind, Emma organizes a memorial at the beach; however, things do not go as planned as Caleb appears unannounced hence shattering Norman’s dreams.

Episode four

The story line is about denial and emotional and the setting is in the motel. The characters in the play are Dylan, Caleb, Norman Sheriff Romeo, Emma, and Zane. Dylan gets drunk after the revelation that Caleb is not his father; he further confronts Norma who admits that she never told anyone about the secrets of his parental status. The ever outrageous Norman goes to acting out as his mother and visits Caleb as these unfolds , Emma wakes up in the morning to find out that she slept with the boy she met in the beach party (Bellour & Penley, 2014). The events in this episode show how Dylan gets disillusioned in life in realizing that Caleb is not his father. It also gives as a picture of how careless people are when Emma slept with a boy she met in the beach party.

Episode five

The theme of the story is secrecy and the characters are Dylan, Zane Cody, and Norman. The typical setting is within the family set up. In this episode, Norma trust Cody with the family secrets and want Cody to keep them by himself at the same time, Dylan finds himself in trouble as he fights for his life that was engineered by Zane drug war. The turn of events makes Norman to have a deal with a strange mysterious man to help stop the bypass as Norman faces some of his childhood demons (Weigand, 2013). This story reveals hidden secrets that Norman has been keeping and his bad behaviour during his childhood has come to haunt him. The story can clearly tell the character traits of Norman as a wicked person through the haunting by the demons.

Episode six

The theme of the episode is plunge and the characters involved are Norman, Cody, Emma, and Dylan. The setting of the play is in the business sectors or firm as can be seen by the employment scenario. In this case, Norman works tirelessly to get appointed to the council and this makes him to look for the driving licenses to enable him get the position. At the same time, Norman has to deal with the incident concerning Emma and Cody situation at work. The scene ends when Dylan gets to know his boss. The scene depicts frustrations within the society as can be seen on how Norman is frustrated and tries to make life easy though it does not work for him. It further tells how the employers are too bossy to know their staff that comes out when Dylan gets to know his boss after long time (Bellour & Penley, 2014).

Episode seven

The theme of the episode is revenge as the characters are presumed to be innocent though in the real case it is not. The characters involved are; Norman, Zane, Miss Watson, Romero, Dylan, and Cody. Norman questions himself about his faith and tries to get the motives behind his miseries (Bellour & Penley, 2014). At the same time, Zane is burning with revenge and is eager to do anything to threaten Dylan for the death of Miss Watson, however, Romero presents new evidence that may change the course of the case of Miss Watson’s murder and breaks the friendship of Cody and Norman. This episode brings about betrayal of characters in the scene and how it is hard to trust a friend. The evaluation of the scene is that you cannot fully trust a friend, however close you have been and that the best person who knows your secrets is your best friends.

Episode eight

The story line in episode eight is looking for truth and the characters presents are; Romero, Dylan, and Norman. The setting is in the family set-up. Romero is busy digging for the truth regarding Miss Watson murder and at the same time, the war between the drug families presents Dylan with a hard choice to make. Norman is forced to push Dylan away so as to get the truth he is looking for. The story reveals how it is hard to get the truth of any matter in the society since there are many obstacle in the way that want to conceal secretes like Dylan did when Norman was looking for the murderer of Miss Watson (Bellour & Penley, 2014).

Episode nine

The story line in this episode is about betrayal and death. The characters involved are; Norman, Nick Ford, Zane, Dylan, Romero, and Declan and the setting are in a home set-up. Zane returns home in the morning and finds Norma still sleeping; she gets a call from Nick who wants Norman dead, Norman is kept in a metal box in the middle of nowhere that makes him recall the events of Miss Watson death. The story reveals how Norman was involved in Miss Watson’s death and how Norman had hidden such secretes to himself (Weigand, 2013).

Episode ten

The theme is rescue operation and the characters involved are; Norman, Zane, Dylan and Romero while the setting is in Norman’s home. In this scene, Norman is being rescued by Dylan and his friends that take Norman back to his mother where Norman reveals the murderer of Miss Watson of which he was the one involved (Bellour & Penley, 2014). Romero finds it hard to trust Norman and thereby she is forced to keep him at bay. The revelation of the story reveals how wicked Norman was and also how secretive he was to the extent of going to his grave with those secretes. .

 

References

Bellour, R., & Penley, C. (2014). The Analysis of Film. Bloomington [u.a.: Indiana Univ. Press.

Weigand, D. (2013). ‘Bates Motel’ Review: Norman’s ‘Psycho’ path. HYPERLINK “http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Bates-Motel-review-Norman-s-Psycho-path-4355457.php#next” http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Bates-Motel-review-Norman-s-Psycho-path-4355457.php#next

CASE STUDY 3: DESIGNING WORK

For this memo, you will be analyzing a case and providing recommendations based on your analysis. Use the guidelines in Chapters 1 – 5 of your book to help form your recommendation and develop your plans.

You are the HR Manager for a large non-profit hospital in Nashville, TN. The hospital was formed following a merger by two smaller hospitals is currently divided into 10 different organizational units (5 that existed under hospital A and 5 that existed under hospital B). Patients receive care in all different areas of the hospital, so their care needs to be coordinated across these units. However, the existing technology does not connect medical records across these units and the hospital staff do not work well with people outside of their organizational unit.

Now that the merger is complete, the hospital needs to develop a new strategic intent and goals. Based off of the new strategic intent and goals, the hospital then needs to adjust its organizational design and effectiveness outcomes to fit these changes.

ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN YOUR CASE STUDY:

For this memo, answer the following questions. Note: you should start your memo by clearly identifying your recommendation.

Based on your analysis, make a recommendation regarding the new strategic intent for the hospital.

What is the new strategic intent and what are the goals for the hospital?

For each, explain why you have selected this strategic intent or goal (hint: your answer should be based on an assessment of the external and internal environment).

What are the structural dimensions of organizational design for this hospital?

Explain the structural dimensions of the hospital: formalization, specialization, hierarchy of authority, complexity, and centralization.

For each structural dimension, explain why you have made this selection.

Based on your answers to the questions above, which effectiveness approaches do you think the hospital should use?

Explain why you have made this selection.

Explain the positives and negatives associated with this selection.

Based on your answers to the questions above, which organization structure should the hospital adopt?

Explain why you have made this selection.

Explain the positives and negatives associated with this selection.

MEMO ASSIGNMENT:

Prepare a 3-5 page, single-spaced memo that answers the questions above. The formatting should be as follows:

Length: 3-5 page

Single-spaced

Times New Roman, 12 point font

1 inch margins

Include page numbers on each page

Make sure your name is on the first page of the memo

No cover pages or fancy report covers needed

Your recommendations should be formatted as a memo, following the guidelines presented in class lectures. Major section headings should be formatted with bold lettering, left justified, and ended with a period. Sample memos and the lecture slides on memo writing are posted on eLearn.

Name

Professor

Course

Date

Actors Performance in the Play King Lear

Introduction

Shakespeare’s play King Lear, which was written in the 17th century, is about a royal family which violates their bonds in the name of authority and order. The play also highlights the battle for supremacy as the fundamental cause of conflict. In the play, the King is betrayed by his two daughters. Even though Lear comes to repent for what he had done and reunites with his daughter Cordelia, almost all the characters lose their lives at the end. The post-Medieval era’s catastrophic occurrences are seen through the lenses of envy, mistrust, and deception. This paper discusses Laurence Olivier as King Lear, Anna Calder-Marshall as Cordelia and John Hurt as the fool. It outlines the verbal and physical decisions the actors made throughout the play by demonstrating the clarity, rationality, and contentment of their decisions.

Laurence Olivier as King Lear

Olivier’s performance in the play led him to winning several awards. It was however his last performance of Shakespeare’s plays. He was 75 years old when he took up the demanding role but that did not stop him from performing tremendously. In the play, Olivier’s character was that of an ancient British king named King Lear. Everyone remained submissive to his commands during his tenure but when he transferred his authority to his two female offspring, Goneril and Regan, the situation, and changes for the worst.

Despite being older, Olivier’s vocal acting abilities were unimpaired. As he makes his first appearance in the play, he is dressed as a king with a white beard and white hair, having an image similar to that of God (Shakespeare 00:03:47-00:04:04). His skill due to experience and age fit the king’s character perfectly. He plays more intelligently, if not harder, like a seasoned athlete. Olivier’s Lear is a masterpiece of nuance, distracting yet pointless, empathetic and apprehensive. He is crazy when we see him after the storm, still has the ability to trap and skin a rabbit thanks to his kinesthetic memory (Shakespear, 01:09:51- 01:13:52). Then, when his vocal performance appears to have peaked, his aging body takes control. Once in Cordelia’s care, they shave off his beard, which makes him appear older visually. The viewers were left feeling both sympathetic and amazed that he could still carry Cordelia’s dead body using his old body (Shakespeare, 02:30:47- 02:35:20). Lear finally admits his shortcomings, saying, “When we are born, we grieve that we have come to this big stage of fools.” However, his revelation does not prevent him from becoming insane or dying.

Anna Calder-Marshall as Cordelia

Anna plays the part of the youngest daughter of King Lear, Cordelia. Shakespeare uses Cordelia as an illustration of kindness and morality. She declines to flatter her father during the ceremonial of relinquishing authority as the daughter of a King (Shakespeare, 00:06:19- 00:09:38). Despite the harsh treatment, Cordelia stays devoted to her father even after the monarch abdicates her royal rank. When King Lear decides to divide the land amongst his three daughters, Anna’s Cordelia is seen to question and pity herself since she knows that she cannot express her love for her father through words (Shakespeare, 00:03:41- 00:06:19). Even when Kent pleads on her behalf she does not utter a single word but watches as her father’s anger range into frustration. She was her father’s favorite daughter and the fact that she could not flatter him was ununderstandable to King Lear. The king of France soon comes and leaves with Cordelia.

Cordelia is not seen in the play again up until her soldiers rescue King Lear (Shakespear, 01:57:47- 02:01:29). Lear is taken to Cordelia’s camp where he begs for forgiveness. Anna Calder-Marshall brings out Cordelia’s kind, merciful and forgiving character as she kisses her father’s hands and face in his sleep. She weeps speaking of the betrayal and hardship her sisters put her father through. It is evident that she does not look back to when her father disowned her. Anna’s Cordelia shows much more commitment to her father because she listens intently as he speaks when they are at the verge of being put in prison (Shakespeare, 02:13:50- 02:14:11). Their father-daughter relationship is very evident as Lear speaks of how he does not mind being imprisoned with her. It was easier for Olivier to carry Anna portraying how Lear carried Cordelia’s dead body since Anna’s body was light and Olivier was old (Shakespeare, 02:30:47- 02:35:20) . Incase Anna weighed more I doubt Olivier would have been able to carry her and bring out that scene as perfectly as he did.

John Hurt as the Fool

John Hurt was a renowned English actor who focused in his career for over sixty years. He performed in many films with diverse roles. In this version of King Lear, he was the King’s fool. His performance only lasted for one scene. John Hurt brought out the fool’s character very well. His hair was not combed or well kept and his clothing had no nobility in them (Shakespeare, 00:40:39- 00:43:36). As much as his appearance was not pleasing, the king spoke to him like he would an adviser. The Fool appears to be more intelligent than the monarch, and their interactions are heartwarming, compassionate, and occasionally amazing. John Hurt’s voice as he plays the fool is almost that of a child who speaks his thoughts without being concerned of the consequences (Shakespeare, 00:40:39- 00:43:36). He makes King Lear identify his mistake in dividing his kingdom living him with nothing and also how wrong it was to disown Cordelia.

Conclusion

Through their performances, John Hurt, Anna Calder-Marshall, and Laurence Olivier help the audience better comprehend the characters. The decisions they make and the developments that take place as the play progresses reflect their characters well. The characters that the viewers see each have various motivations for carrying out their roles and are all intimately affected by its outcomes. This essay has shown how actor analysis may support and develop performance and performance theory. It also outlines how an actor’s comprehension of the play and its character types can widen and contribute to viewers understanding of it. In the end, the play is elaborated upon and given criticism in equal measure.

Works Cited

KING LEAR – Laurence Olivier and John Hurt – 1983 – TV – Remastered – 4K. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdn07wgUrno

Case Study #4: A South African Investment

Author’s name

Institutional Affiliation

Case Study #4: A South African Investment

Question 1

Depending on how one may look at it, it might be factual that the feasible utilitarian benefits of the 1977 construction of the Caltex plant in South Africa may have been more essential than amending the immoral features of Apartheid. However, that does not imply that Apartheid in any form or structure is right, justified or tolerable. However, there is legitimacy to the actuality that the employment opportunities granted in the plant might have been among the most appropriate means accessible for the minorities as well as the blacks in South Africa obtain means of income. While comprehensive civil rights as well as freedom are critically imperative to all people in order that they can realize their full potential and assert their appropriate place in humanity, there are other, supplementary fundamental needs that ought to be satisfied prior to a person worries about spiritual, intellectual and related individual freedoms and rights. It may not be reasonable to offer an individual full government, social, as well as legal rights if they are deprived any reasonable sources of livelihood.

Caltex had the power to influence political policies on the South African government in order that the government may revive its laws. This has happened in other parts of the world, whereby conglomerates influence government policies in order to create a conducive environment for business. Foreign financial investments mean a great deal in any country since it revitalizes the social-economic status of the population and the national economy as well. It is an ignominy that Caltex had no problem investing in a country whose laws were exceedingly abhorrent to humanity. On the other hand, it is factual that in that era the living standards of the South African minorities as well as the Blacks were in a deplorable state. They vast majority of these populations lived in pitiable homes, had poor access to high quality educational programs, were deprived of the right to practice certain jobs or careers, and were granted wages that were exceedingly less than that of the white population in South Africa.

For numerous South African Blacks at the time, for whom so several outside the nation had the courage to confront the repressive regime may have chosen to take up jobs at the Caltex plant which granted them better living wages and better workplace environment than in the civil service. It is justifiable to imply that absolute freedom may not have been the priority for all Black South Africans who needed better living standards. Therefore the Caltex plant may have been the kind of investments that were actually required in the country at the time. The only provision Caltex ought to have added would have been the maintenance of reasonable wages and reasonable housing for its black and colored human resources.

Question 2.

As a stockholder in Standard Oil or Texaco, it would have been appropriate to vote in agreement with the three stockholder declarations. While it is factual that under the utilitarian philosophies it might not of necessity have been the most appropriate option for Caltex, Standard Oil or Texaco to desist from investing in South Africa, as a stockholder, it would have been appropriate to vote according to individual conscience. Any type of financial recompense, such as facilitating the generation of national income from the mining of natural resources or construction of national industries such as in petroleum, appears as unconscionable in regard to the fundamental premise on which the South African government operated and survived.

The first resolution demanded that Caltex terminates all its operations in South Africa unless and until the government ceased to enforce its Apartheid laws. It would have been suitable to vote in favor of that resolution. The failure to take a position and speak out against apartheid would have implied as consent and participation in its continuation. Failing to oppose a regime so wrong, in effect, it would mean that one supports repression as exhibited by the South African regime of the time.

The second resolution explicitly required Caltex to desist from trading its operations to the military. It would have been appropriate to vote in support of this resolution. The corporation, operated within its right to decline putting up for a vote in several areas since it asked the company to infringe on the laws of the country in which it functioned. It is factual that by trading its operations to the military the corporation failed to act or speak out in opposition to Apartheid. In sanctioning trading to the government and the military the corporation in effect became an accomplice in Apartheid by providing the Apartheid regime with an essential commodity.

It would as well have been appropriate to vote in support of the final resolution that required sustaining the Tutu principles. Desmond Tutu requested the company to assume an active role in operating toward the eradication of Apartheid as well as the establishment of fundamental rights to the blacks in South Africa. If Caltex, Standard Oil, and Texaco had no problem in sustaining the Apartheid government by trading its resources to sustain the military forces, it ought to have had no problem in supporting the divergent opinions of the majority populace of South Africa. In the two ways it impedes in the politics of South Africa at the time, although by supporting Tutu’s principles it would have acted in the way that the majority of the populace desired.

Question 3.

It may not be the prerogative of corporations to take on legislative policies or viewpoints in foreign nations that they operate in. However, corporation and its senior management bear the right to formulate decisions which, in their opinion, may bring competitive advantage and profitability to the business. It may not be the responsibility of a corporation to establish how a foreign government should operate. Corporations’ principal ethical obligation is to its shareholders as well as their investments. If a corporation’s management considers that a resolution, which is lawful, will realize prosperity to its shareholders then, except advised otherwise by its shareholders, the corporation ought to pursue its resolution. All three resolutions endeavored to substitute the ethics, values, as well as beliefs of a diminutive number of stockholders on the managers. These managers could have had to consent to the proposals made, although they were not obliged to sustain them. Providing that management did not take action to unethically thwart or defeat the resolutions from being proposed to the stockholders, the management acted appropriately in regard.

Question 4.

At the very fundamental plane, corporate management hold no greater liability than to guarantee the business’s financial success and prosperity. Corporate management is not recruited to perform as the conscience of a company. On the contrary, it is recruited to be the company’s investment, operational, as well as management leadership. Corporations are not in normal circumstances in business to operate for the general good of the public. It would be prudent if all people would assume responsibility for the mutual good, but that responsibility cannot be obligatory on individuals.

It is the prerogative of the shareholders as the bona fide owners of a corporation to elect board members, and it is consequently up to the board members to manage the corporation. If sufficient stockholders feel that the management ought to assume a social or political stand on given issue, then they hold the power, by means of their vote, to advise the management to act as required. However, devoid of that indication, it is neither feasible nor acceptable for the managers to take action based on their personal conscience if that act would be counter productive in regard to the interests of the company.

Business managers ought to restrict their actions to the decisions that relate to investment principles and the law. Only in the event that two potential options are equal in regard to the law and returns on investment, should a manager reflect on ethical concerns.

Activity 3: Communication & Education

Lucreshia Jackson

American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Dr Teri Logghe

21st September 2022

Activity 3: Communication & Education

Communication and education influence the health status of a community. Communication influences health by creating a positive connection between the communication skills of the health associates and the ability of the patients to track through with the given medical sanctions, manage a chronic health condition by themselves, and adopt preventive behaviours of health (Butow & Hoque, 2020). On the other hand, education allows those educated within the community to experience better health care, as reflected by the higher levels of self-reported health and low mortality, disability, and morbidity (Andersson, 2022).

Using various communication channels allows health messages to shape interpersonal. Mass media, community, small group, and community level campaigns. These communication strategies related to health aim to alter a community’s attitudes, knowledge, and behaviours, for example, reinforcing positive behaviours and increasing risk perception (Butow & Hoque, 2020). Quality education provides the foundation for well-being and health (Andersson, 2022). For the community to lead productive and healthy lives, they require the knowledge of preventing diseases and sickness. For both adolescents and children to learn, they would need to be healthy and nourished.

Communication and education assessment of sentinel city

Education

After undertaking a slow tour around Sentinel City, I observed only a single school, the Sentinel City School District that was found in Industrial Heights. This school was in good shape with a crossing guard. The school had a playground that appeared to be in good shape with all working equipment. The children in the school were in their uniforms and also had backpacks. However, there were no signs of parents dropping their kids to school in cars or buses. The children in the school were middle-aged and could be seen walking in groups. I could not locate a university despite there being offered a brochure while on my tour, which had the programs offered, graduation rates, and course offerings. I could also not see any public library, but I observed a bookstore in Acer Tech Center.

The immunization data of Sentinel City provided showcased that the number of kids in Kindergarten was below the national average. The highest percentage of children in Kindergarten were from Nightingale Square, with only a few percentages below the national average. At the same time, the Industrial heights had the highest percentage, at 10%, of those below the national average (Sentinel City, 2022). There were also daycares in Sentinel City, such as the ABC daycare in Casper Park. There were several other daycares around the city. There were 8 daycares in Nightingale, 29 daycares in Acer Tech, 7 in Industrial Heights, and 21 in Casper Park (Sentinel City, 2022). This curriculum explored weekly topics as the majority and a mix of crafts and home-based arts. The immunization records for kids between 18-35 months in Industrial Heights were at 78%, while Nightingale Square was at 94% (Sentinel City, 2022).

Communication

The usage of billboards for advertisement is common in Sentinel City. The four neighbourhoods of this city have billboards. These billboards have primarily been used for business advertisements. There are also informative billboards used to educate the public—for example, the noticeboard between Elm and Stephen Street. The bulletin board along Louche road informs the community about the planned housing redevelopment project. As I took the tour around the city, I observed a demonstration by the citizens around the City Hall, suggesting that the residents are active politically. This means there are predominant party associations in the area. The three forms of formal communication in Sentinel City include mass media, bulletin boards, and billboards. Mass media channels include WSEN, NEWS4V television channel and Radio Buzz FM. An informal form of media is Twitter, which reports the hostage situation around the ABC centre (Sentinel City, 2022).

Therefore, from this information, billboards are an effective method of mass communication to educate the residents of Sentinel City about the foodborne outbreak involving E.coli. E. Co is an infection related to hygiene and spreads through eating and drinking contaminated food (RCDCP, 2021). Billboards are everywhere in Sentinel City and can be accessed even by vulnerable populations such as the homeless. The public billboards in this city are also known to provide informative education.

References

Andersson, H., Svensson, A., Frank, C., Rantala, A., Holmberg, M., & Bremer, A. (2022). An integrative systematic review of ethics education to support ethical competence learning in healthcare. BMC medical ethics, 23(1), 1-26.

Butow, P., & Hoque, E. (2020). Using artificial intelligence to analyze and teach communication in healthcare. The Breast, 50, 49-55.

Review Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). National Notifiable Infectious Conditions.

Sentinel, C. (2022). Getting on the bus: Evaluating Sentinel City® 3.0 virtual simulation in community/population health clinical placement. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 17(1).

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Actors Performance in the play Macbeth

Introduction

Macbeth is a tragic story written by Shakespeare in the seventeenth century. It is a story about a soldier, Macbeth, who is in search of power. In his quest, he goes ahead to commit murder. Shakespeare used the play to show how poor ambitions and the will to get power in the wrong way can lead to severe consequences. All the bad choices made by the soldier Macbeth in pursuit of power caught up with him in the end. This paper discusses the performances of the actors Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and John Woodvine in the play as Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo respectively. It describes the choices the actors made in the play both physical and verbal. It goes ahead to illustrate their choices in terms of clarity, logic and satisfaction.

Ian McKellen as Macbeth

Ian McKellen is a renowned actor and the part of Macbeth was one of his best performances. Macbeth is a trusted soldier in Scotland who emerges successful in the war. The other soldiers and King Duncun give him the name brave Macbeth. The King also awards him with the title Thane of Cawdor (Shakespeare, 00:04:20- 00:07:08). However he meets three witches who prophesy that he will be king in the near future. At first he doesn’t believe them. The character of Macbeth is expected to be ambitious and craving for power. Ian McKellen brings out this character well. When he hears the prophesy from the three witches, Macbeth is shown to want to kill the king but tells Banquo that he will leave it to fate. Macbeth also wants to know more about the prophesy but the witches, disappear before he could ask questions (Shakespeare, 00:09:14- 00:11:40). The fact that he thought about killing the king shows that Macbeth’s character is morally corrupt. He goes ahead to write to his wife . Macbeth had thought of killing the king but was against it when his wife suggested it. She has to insult him and bring up their dead child so that he can comply (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). As the play continues, Macbeth has to kill Banquo so as to cover his bad deeds. The death of Banquo is followed by Banquo’s ghost appearing during banquets in the castle. The ghost traumatizes Macbeth and he starts to behave in a beastly manner (Shakespeare, 01:17:55- 01:20:10). This scene clearly illustrates Macbeth’s humanity and how he has been reduced to someone who needs sympathy and pity.

Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth

The character of Lady Macbeth, played by Judi Dench, depicts a different motivation for her actions than the painful loss of a child; instead, her readiness to commit regicide is motivated by her love for her husband. In a tender speech, Judi Dench’s Lady Macbeth explains how she would assist Ian McKellen’s Macbeth in assassinating the monarch (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). Later, when she is successful in summoning the spirits, she starts to feel afraid. Dench’s Lady, notwithstanding her fear, resumes the incantation because she is determined to fulfill her husband’s dream (Shakespeare, 00:28:30- 00:33:00). Her affection is also seen when she reads Macbeth’s long affectionate letter to her telling her of his endeavors and the witches’ prophesy.

Judi Dench acting as Lady Macbeth is very passionate to her husband because after Banqou’s death, she gets worried when her husband goes mad. This is unlike her husband’s behavior when she dies. Macbeth reacts and comments that her death was inevitable (Shakespeare, 02:13:30- 02:13:40). Dench was also very good in illustrating how Lady Macbeth was affected by all the occurrences. As much as she was the mastermind behind the murder of King Duncun, she was tormented and ended up sleepwalking (Shakespeare, 02:01:50- 02:02:11). She also calls out to hell in the midst of her torment, showing fear on her face as she looks at her hands covered with imaginary blood (Shakespeare, 02:01:50- 02:02:11). The imagery used to portray the character by Dench leaves the viewers feeling like she is beyond redemption. I however don’t think Lady Macbeth was a villain as the play illustrated. Her main goal was to support her ambitious husband which led to her death.

John Woodvine as Banquo

The character Banquo is Macbeth’s best friend. The three witches appear to both Macbeth and Banquo and prophesy that Macbeth is destined to be king of Scotland while Banquo’s sons will be kings of Scotland (Shakespeare, 00:09:14- 00:11:40). John Woodvine brought out Banquos character as observant, less spoken, furtive and shrewd. Both characters are seen to be ambitious. After the death of King Duncan, Macbeth takes over the throne (Shakespeare, 00:57:20- 01:00:05). Banquo swears loyalty to the new king. However, Macbeth sees him as a threat since he is the only person other than his wife who knows about the meeting with the witches. He sends assassins to kill Banquo but Banquo’s son ends up escaping (Shakespeare, 00:13:50- 00:14:35). Banquo’s character as a ghost brings out the fear in Macbeth almost turning him mad. The ghost brings mental imbalance to Macbeth making him move around the stage like a mad man. Nobody else in the feast appears to see what Macbeth is seeing so they all react in confusion (Shakespeare, 01:17:55- 01:20:10). The viewers are left to conclude for themselves that Macbeth’s sins have started to catch up with him. Maybe Woodvine would have appeared on the scene but dressed in white clothes to illustrate that he is a ghost would have been more direct to the viewers.

Conclusion

The actors in the play use their performances to make the viewers understand the characters better. Their personalities are well brought out in the choices that they make and the changes that occur as the play continues. The viewers observe different characters, each of whom has a unique motivation for carrying out the deed and is personally impacted by its results. This essay has demonstrated not only how content analysis can support and advance performance and performance theory but also how the understanding of each actor can broaden and contribute to our understanding of the play and its character types. Eventually, the play gives and receives critical elaboration.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skhaOegpLA

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Motorcycle subculture in America

According to Shelby, black solidarity is advocated due to the level of racism that the group faces in the United States.  Solidarity in the given context is the process of black Americans uniting to fight racism on their personal and collective experience. This solidarity of the blacks has been the foundation of the black nationalism (Shelby 23). He explores how the quest for black solidarity has been pursued from ancient times to the present time. He lightly notes that black solidarity is the solution to racism and the prevalent white supremacy. He contends that the notion that underlies black solidarity is their collective identity. Shelby also critiques the notion underlying the black nationalism based on a black collective identity as the basis for black identity.

He notes that the calls for black collective identity are doomed to fail in this era of post-civil rights. The main evident reason behind this is to ensure that it due to the presence of a diversity of various political and other social opinions in black community. The diversity brings about various ways of being black. The call to collective identity masks and conceals these differences. They all agree on the need to end racism but differ on the availability of a black identity. Shelby thinks that a more pragmatic approach called the pragmatic nationalism is more reasonable. He points that individuals should only draw look at the impact has on the individual lives of blacks, thus rallying for black solidarity in a manner that accommodates all. He contends that both the blacks and non-blacks can support this pragmatic nationalism because it does not present any of the problems based on collective identity. Thus, individuals who feel that they are in need of ending racism and injustices can collaborate with other individuals who are like-minded without feeling the pressure of a need to adhere to a form of collective identity.

He believes that solidarity that is built on some form of collective identity can be viewed as illiberal. He goes along the line to discuss that person who push for collective identity on conceptions of most black’s solidarity is often disrespectful to the blacks who may think along different ideological lines about them being black (Sylvan, 345). Thus, this collective identity view is illiberal. He is in dire need of presenting nationalism that respects the traditional liberal traditions. Blacks that have different political persuasions could collaborate to end racism and the injustices seen. He identifies that African Americans should feel free to choose how they identify themselves.

He points out that they should also be allowed to choose how they relate and view their relationships with other black African Americans and the larger community of non-African communities. In this context, he sidelines the context of individuals such as Appiah and outlaws the concept about the value of retaining racism. For him, whether an individual views himself or herself as racist or not is not an issue if they are committed to the racial equality plus their social justice. This is true since most persons who are deemed African Americans do not want their own country whether in America or outside its mass. Since their own goal is living in peace and having a productive life, their role should be in making race play a less role in the lives of the African Americans.

The main debatable issue here is whether there is an underlying role of racism in history of black Americans at this period of post-colonial era. An argument is possible that Shelby is arguing that the initial barriers present that prevented most of the African Americans from enjoying their overall freedom has been eliminated (Hayes 134). The present political and even the social climate demands for a change of the previous political strategies in place to eliminate racism. While the conception of a collective identity of individuals being black or not may have faced prior justifications in the past due to the levels of legislation passed, the social and political climates in place now allows for reassessing the current perceived understanding of the ongoing collective identity on black solidarity.

In the past era of post-civil rights, the appeal of collective identity separates the blacks more than it does unite them. However, Shelby is correct in identifying that there are various many ways of individuals identifying themselves as blacks. The concept of individuals pushing for collective identity may result into alienation of those individuals who are committed to liberation of the blacks. These alienated individuals of the black dynasty view collective identity as having, many confining rules, and regulations that individuals are supposed to abide with. He thinks that without trying to bring out the issues of collective identity, it would be easier to form good working relations that are past the ideologies formed by the individuals willing to find collective identity in their relationships.

Individual blacks can still find better means of relating with each other even without having to abide by various set rules and regulations. The idea of black community is also difficult in this situation given that Shelby argues against people identifying with similar behavioral ethics or code of conduct. If individuals were aware that to bring change to their lives, they have to share similar fears and beliefs about them being black, then they would rather not solve the underlying issues of racism and ethnicity that emerge. The reason is that these blacks are diversified individuals with different modes of thinking and different behavioral patterns. So telling them to behave in a certain way so that they can fit in would be difficult for them to conform with. Shelby believes that ending racism is the aspect of all blacks and doing away with racial boundaries is something that all blacks should do.

Motorcycling subculture

It was a culture that was established back after world war two into the current cultures of individuals living in America (Stich 100). The members of this subculture are mostly the African Americans who are bound together by solidarity of being blacks. They are in dire need of fighting the aspect of racism that faces them in the United States. Though the level of racism has declined now comparing to how it was in the past during the formation of the sub-culture in the 1950s, they are involved in various activities that describe their solidarity. These members come together with their bikes to bond together and assist each member in the event of any problems arising. These members of the motorcycle sub culture are associated with engaging in high-risk motorcycle racing. Though this kind of racing is dangerous, members identify with each other through these kinds of racing.

A few non-African Americans are settling down and joining these subcultures and they are even seen attending functions of these individuals. Women are also joining the brotherhood of bikers. After years of feminists’ progress in the larger society, some of the females are playing subordinate roles in the motorcycle subculture. Other women have become full-fledged of the American sub-cultures participating in all the events recorded in the sub-cultures. Though the motorcycle subculture is regarded as an outlaw in America because they are not in the American Motorcycle clubs and do not adhere to the rules set.

The sub-culture has their own laws, which members have to follow for their own good. Some members of this sub culture have engaged in creation of motorcycle clubs, which are viewed, as outlawed. Though most of the individuals in the outlawed motorcycle clubs do not engage in criminal activities, others do peddle drugs and engage in criminal activities. To them, solidarity is important, they come together to fight cases of shunning by various members of the community who view them as criminals. They also come together to help each other in times of needs. Such individuals identify themselves by adorning a motorcycle vest with large specifications of the club, which can be either a specific patch or patches. They engage in collective identity when it comes to finding solutions to the problems facing them.

The organization of this subculture differs according to the typical organization of the members. The members of these sub-cultures are not criminals pa se. they adopt similar codes of doing their activities including charity events. In accordance with the aspect of diversity, such members share similar views and fears. They have to abide by the set rules and regulation of the sub-culture else, they seize becoming members. It is not difficult to spot members of different groups of the sub-culture due to the various forms of clothing that they adorn according to the specifications of the specific group of the subculture.

Various groups of the motorcycle sub-culture including the motorcycle club and the biker gangs relate to the initial group for which they are part by the aspect of all of them being participating in various events of the cycling. All their functions must have some motorcycle activity else, they will not feel fulfilled. Thus, in accordance with the considerations of Shelby, the groups forming the sub culture are organized have their group identity that they identify with. It is important for members to follow the recommended and set laws thus enabling them to be in a better understanding of the requirements of the group.

In some instances, some of the groups in the motorcycle sub culture engage in criminal activities besides their main connection of bike riding. Most of them even maintain a website where they identify themselves through possession of tattoos and patches, they have written their own constitution and trademarks and their clubs have names and logos. Most of these groups also have public campaigns aimed at cleansing their public image. What makes such groups that engage in criminal activities different from the mafia is that they do not use violence and crimes in the pursuit of profits unlike the mafias. Their priorities are reversed and they indicate that the acts of mayhem and also lawlessness is important in living. Such are the members who ruin the name of all other individuals in the motorcycle sub culture.

Due to the lawlessness of these few groups in the subculture of motorcycles, most individuals view all the groups in this subculture as lawless. Moreover, because most of these groups engage in the acts of charity works or other helping activities to their members and also fight for the rights of its members in the larger society, their activities are viewed as lawless and they can sometimes be apprehended for conducting their activists’ activities in public. Like in the case of solidarity that Shelby identifies with, these members come together in various aspects of the society when called for. They live in such unity such that a member cannot be having problems and they fail to come in and help. Moreover, they are supposed to abide by the set rules and code of conduct in all they do despite the current situation facing them. Most individuals point out that such groups are attracted together by the mystique of the images they portray despite the effect such situations have on the members of the public.

A typical group of the motorcycle subculture is often composed of a president, a vice president, treasurer, secretary, a road captain and often an individual who acts as a sergeant at arms. It is common to find such group members adorning similar insignia, organizational structures, and trappings including beards and also leather outfits. Though there are other non-members of such groups who also adorn such outfits and structures, sometimes it becomes difficult for members of the public to tell the difference between the two.

Works Cited

Hayes, Bill. American biker. Birmingham: Flash Productions, 2010.

Shelby, Tommie. We Who Are Dark. Havard: Havard University Press, 2009.

Stich, Sidra. Made in USA . Berkeley: University Of Calfonia, 2007.

Sylvan, Robin. Traces of the spirit. New York: New York University Press, 2009.

Movie Analysis Paper

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Institution

Question #4

Introduction

Issues pertaining to love, friendships and romance have always made popular and controversial topics in the contemporary human society. Indeed, these issues have been considerably explored both in literature and in film. It goes without saying that these films and literary works often have varying themes and messages that they want to pass across, often guided by the experiences of the authors or film directors. Indeed, these works are aimed at sending a particular message about the society of the authors or the story directors, as well as shape certain ideas or influence some social changes in the thinking and the way of doing things in the societies within which they live. This is the case for the movie “When Larry Met Sally”.

Written in 1989, “When Larry Met Sally” is a romantic comedy that follows the romantic journey of Harry Burns and Sally Albright. They have just cleared school and are sharing a drive to New York City. Sally is just about to start studies at a journalism school, while Harry will be kicking of a career. Of particular note is that Harry, at the time is dating Amanda, a friend of Sally’s. In the course of the drive, the two have a discussion pertaining to their different ideas pertaining to friendship between males and females, with Harry holding the opinion that men and women can never be just friends as sex will always come in (Pasupathi, 2006). They part ways in unfriendly terms with Sally becoming angry with Harry for telling her that she is attractive. Their meeting, five years later, involves Harry trying to mend fences with Sally and trying to clear the air on his opinions as to men and women not being friends as the sex part will always come in. After another five years, they meet again and, this time round, have the capacity to be friends to the extent of spending quite a lot of time together. Eventually, the two have sex after Harry goes to comfort Sally, who is devastated about her ex-lover getting married to his assistant. While their love meets varied hiccups, they eventually make up and proclaim their love for each other.

While love, friendship and romance feature prominently in the movie, “When Harry Met Sally” is really about the differing ideas that men and women have pertaining to friendships between the sexes. In essence, the central theme is the differing ideas that men and women have regarding relationships and love. Indeed, it is evident that the two genders have different aspirations or ideas as to what constitutes friendships, or rather what purpose friendship serves. Sally thinks that friendship is merely for emotional support and social purposes, a notion that Harry seems to agree to but cannot see how that would fail to invite the prospects of sex (Pasupathi, 2006).

The differing ideas that women and women have pertaining to friendships and relationships are what keep Harry and Sally from having a romantic relationship. The recurring theme of the movie is essentially the place of sex in friendships, and especially with regard to whether men and women can be just friends without having sex. As much as Sally would disagree on Harry on the possibility of being just friends, Harry is eventually proved right when they have sex. Friendship, evidently, is a precursor for romantic relationships, which may never survive without sex.

This is, essentially, the message that the filmmakers are attempting to pass. They are insinuating that men and women have a considerably different view of friendship and what they entail, to even the purpose that sex serves in relationships. For Sally, it is evident that sex is not merely for recreational purposes rather it is bound to enhance the bond between two people. Harry, while not disagreeing per se with this notion, also underlines its recreational purposes component. Indeed, the importance of sex is underlined by the older couples’ interviews in the movie. For instance, when Harry and Sally are out at a restaurant and Sally begins faking an orgasm, an old woman asks the waiter to bring Sally is having, not in reference to the food, but rather to what would give her such pleasure (Pasupathi, 2006).

References

Pasupathi, V. C (2006). The Rhetoric of Love and Seduction. University of Texas at Austin

Moon Tiger mood and setting

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Moon Tiger mood and setting

In the passage, the author uses playful and deliberate language to try and bring the reader into the overall mood of the story. At the beginning of the passage, we are made to believe that it is animals that are present and searching for their prize. The writer utilizes words and brings the reader closer, ensnaring the senses of the reader and bringing the reader into the world that she describes. At that point, the mood is tense. For instance, the passage says, “and squats, searching the blue-grey fragments of rock furiously around her.” In that simple sentence, the writer has used imagery to create the idea of frantic behavior. Frantic behavior is often associated with anxiety, tension as you will. That is what the author intended to display at the beginning of the passage. The author then shifts gear by bringing in Gordon, who, the narrator, is in the heels off. She constantly wonders what Gordon has as he climbs the imaginary cliffs. She wants to get there before he does, further and further she climbs, in competition with Gordon. Gordon bags something, and by doing so, the writer briefly changes the tone and mood of the story from that of tension to a lighter, more victorious one. She does so briefly, however, for we are quickly thrust back to the world of competition.

The author also briefly introduces the mood of despair. The protagonist has so far competed with Gordon. It is her wish to become triumphant over Gordon, hence the need to go higher and higher. She eventually comes close to achieving the victory, but it is stripped from her. Her sense of achievement turned sour as she realizes that she has lost to Gordon. Gordon has pushed her and secured victory at that cost. She feels aggrieved that Gordon would push her to win. The mood is also a playful one throughout the passage.

It is revealed at the end that the beaches described and the cliffs seem to be imaginary, the raw figment of the imagination of two kids who it seems designed the game to make light of a depressing setting. It would seem that they are in a hospital environment since, at the very end, nurses are mentioned. Nurses could only be found either in hospitals or nursing homes. But it seems unlikely y-that that is a nursing home; therefore, it appears to be a hospital. The children maintain a playful mood in the halls of the hospital while the mother watches on.

The writer diverts the reader’s attention making the reader think that the setting is indeed based on a cliff off a beach. The children are depicted as creatures in competition, a fact that seems only to be a figment of their imagination. Therefore, it is safe to say that the setting of the story is a hospital environment, and it seems to be so thoughtful.

However, what does change is the mood of the story all through. The author does not hesitate to provide us, the reader with a myriad of moods that are perfectly placed to evoke the perfect reaction when reading the text. The mood constantly shifts from a tense, competitive one, to a playful one and then to both a blend of victory and despair. One more mood can be seen, and it applies to the mother. The mother creates a somber mood that draws the children from their make-believe world. She has had enough of their games, and she shouts at Gordon to keep quiet. By doing so, she has summarized the overall mood. She seems to like sort of a “killjoy.”

Works Cited

Lively, Penelope. Moon tiger. Penguin UK, 2010.