New Personality Self-Portrait Text: Why you think, work, love

Character inventories have consistently been a famous point with individuals, as they hold inside them the ability to uncover to us something about our natural selves which we didn’t know previously, and the chance of helping us comprehend ourselves better, and thusly, making us more joyful individuals. As mental information progressed, in the United States character inventories turned into a much-refreshing subject of books, articles and explores as the greater part of these looked to misrepresent the effect of independence while making light of the impacts of social and financial factors on childhood and social conduct. Character tests have frequently been scrutinized character tests and put them on the continuum of soothsaying, fortune-telling and horoscopes, calling their substance similarly nonexclusive and oversimplified in nature with the goal that individuals find in any event something in the tests which has a connection to their life or self, and they disregard the remainder of the substance of the tests which don't have such a connection. Another basic view is that these tests excessively streamline character, which intrinsically is an intricate marvel, and that these tests frequently need logical descriptors. The traditional tests all contain a progression of irregular inquiries and individual scores are arranged dependent on the extremity of reactions produced by these inquiries. While these tests keep up that nobody individual can fit totally and entirely into one classification, yet the introduction of the character types themselves is, best case scenario, inflexible and profoundly clear cut. Nonetheless, John M. Oldham, a doctor, therapist, specialist, scholarly director and essayist has built up a character test which counters these reactions and rises as one of the more solid evaluation tries out of the different alternatives accessible. Oldham's character test likewise has a stock of inquiries and simply like different tests before it, it allots focuses on answers and uncovers character types dependent on focuses. Be that as it may, it is better than other well known inventories in light of the fact that the character types are not the ordinary ones, got from mainstream accord, rather, they depend on mental clinical classifications of character issue in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. At that point, Oldham has recognized â€Å"the normal, absolutely human, nonpatholocial renditions of the extraordinary, cluttered constellations† from this manual. He has followed this methodology in light of the fact that as indicated by him, character issue are the â€Å"extremes of ordinary human patterns†, essentially, what character involves. Consequently, the book depends on the reason of characterizing the typical character styles, the extraordinary renditions of which convert into character issue. Pundits of Oldham's book, which is an advocacy, have said that while the test works fine, the models Oldham has utilized can be diverting and deceiving. The circumstances and responses that have been credited to these invented characters have the danger of not being paid attention to by individuals as their portrayal does not have any social, financial, natural or moral component, which is the thing that makes characters conceivable. Another downside of the test is that the legitimacy is totally subject to the reactions of the individual, and there are no adjustment scales, which are available in other normalized character instruments. One of the solid purposes of this test is that the descriptors are short, yet clear in their importance, and on the whole, figure out how to give far reaching inclusion of a wide range of characters. By giving a character style-issue continuum, Oldham has perceived that characters are not simply gatherings of character characteristics; rather, they exist on a range which ranges from ordinary character styles to their partner character issue. The book is a well known one, and its target group is laypeople and not clinical experts. It gives a basic view on character styles and to certain individuals, may seem, by all accounts, to be inadequate with regards to the specialized advancement which all the more thoroughly created and normalized character inventories may contain.

Syllabus: Rational Number and Gwalior Glory High

Compose laws of forces and types (alongside one model) in an AY Size sheet. Puzzle comprehending dependent on Rational Nose. Science l-Explore your fridge or capacity cabinet and rundown 8-10 food things that are safeguarded utilizing additives. Get some answers concerning the method of activity of every additive record the information in a given plain configuration. Al-Product Name Method of bundling Expiry date Method of (fixed sack, bottle, can, container and so on ) (best previously) conservation You can take help from pig. 18 of your science book. Or on the other hand To make a breeze chem.. (Insight : Use 4-6 bits of empty metal containers of various lengths †paint them in various colors.Hang them on a cardboard so they swing and strike one another) Social Studies l-Collect photos of certain assets you use in your home and homeroom and make a composition in your duplicate with the photos. Al-Write the Preamble of the Indian Constitution in your duplicate. Sick Visit a hist orical center and discover the different wellsprings of data of present day history. Glue the photos and mark them in your duplicate. PC Prepare a document or a graph clarifying the sorts of networks.Write laws of types alongside one model on AY Size Sheet. Q. 2 Solve the riddle dependent on sane numbers. Peruse the given intimations Smallest arrangement of numbers which is shut under deduction. Some of the structure p where p, q are whole numbers and q 0 q 7 A number detachable by Related to a procedure on discerning number which gives same outcome in any event, when the number change places. Inverse of the word negative Additive character for sane numbers A prime number which is aggregate of a considerably number and a prime number.

The Power Of Gratitude

The Power Of Gratitude Never underestimate the power that a simple “Thank you” wields. Sadly, this is not something that you hear every day, and not everyone realizes just how powerful it is, whether on a personal level, shared between family members, friends and acquaintances, or on a more professional plane, between business partners and collaborators. © Shutterstock | GajusIn this article, we share some insights into 1) what is gratitude, 2) what are the benefits of being grateful, and 3) what are the benefits of gratitude in business.WHAT IS GRATITUDE?Gratitude can be defined in several ways. The first, and probably most common, definition describes it as the quality of being appreciative or thankful. It is the state of being ready and willing to show appreciation and to return kindness received. Another definition refers to it as the “ability to be keenly aware of the good things that happen to you, and to never take them for granted”.People have different ways of expressing gratitude. The most obvious, of course, would be saying the words out loud. “Thank you” and “I am grateful” are clearly the most straightforward ways to show how thankful a person is, but those are not the only ways of expressing them. Body language and gestures are also just as effective, and others would even say that acts of kindness and simi lar actions are just as effective in showing one’s gratefulness. Others even take the form of giving material items, such as money, gifts and the like. The method may vary, but the intention is the same.Here is where you have to make the distinction between saying “thank you” just to be polite, and saying “thank you” because you truly are a grateful. The former is obligatory; the latter is true gratitude. Gratefulness is something that is heartfelt, not something that is done because you are expected to.Here is a list of 25 things you should be grateful about.[slideshare id=55805298doc=25-reasons-to-be-grateful-151204025434-lva1-app6891w=640h=330]BENEFITS OF BEING GRATEFULAccording to researchers, individuals who are freer and more generous in expressing gratitude are generally healthier and happier. Let us try to look at the bigger picture here and discuss the various benefits of gratitude.Improved health and well-being.This covers one’s emotional and physical health, a s well as social well-being.Emotional healthThe fast pace of life that people are living today is wreaking havoc on their emotional well-being, and the sad part is that they do not realize it until it is too late. Stress levels are often unusually high, especially for those who are working jobs that demand too much of their time. As a result, they end up falling prey to feelings of anxiety and depression, to the point that they become hindrances to their normal day-to-day functioning.A simple “thank you”, when received from other people, can boost one’s spirits and, for the person saying it, give them a feeling of lightness knowing that they showed how thankful they are. One of the most apparent effects on both sides is an increased feeling of optimism. People who are thankful and have no hesitations about expressing it tend to be the ones who have an easier time achieving contentment and, subsequently, happiness. They know that they did or said something good, which is why so meone was grateful to them, or they are fully aware that they were able to make someone happy the moment they expressed their own gratitude. Negativity is greatly reduced, and your overall mood and outlook is improved.Humans have a natural hunger for appreciation â€" the real kind â€" and thanks. In a way, being appreciated, and being made aware of it, is one way of letting us know that we matter, and that our efforts at anything and everything we do, actually amount to something.Physical healthSurprisingly, physical health also benefits from expressing and receiving gratitude. People who are more optimistic tend to display higher energy levels. When they are aware that they were able to do something that others were grateful for, one of the most natural responses is to do better, or to do more. It inspires them to perform better, or even go out of their way to do something for others.Not having to deal with high stress and anxiety levels is also good for one’s health. Depression certainly takes a toll on the body, and if you can keep it at bay, then you will be better protected against diseases and illnesses. Being positive, which can be obtained through acts and words of gratitude spoken or received, is effective in strengthening one’s immune system.This positivity will also trickle down to the person’s conscious decisions to take better care of their bodies. They do so by observing a healthy and balanced diet and even exercising or engaging in physical activities to further improve their health.Social well-beingThis is considered by many to be the biggest benefit of the expression of gratitude. It is human nature to find a group to belong to, in order for them to feel connected or, at least, be a part of something. Gratitude is very effective in building and maintaining relationships, so it is also a vital factor in achieving a sense of belonging.Improved self-esteem and self-confidence.Growth and maturity comes from within. It starts within yourself, and you have better chances of growing as a person, an individual, a career professional, and a business person, if you have self-esteem and have more than enough confidence in yourself. You’ll be amazed at how a simple “thank you” uttered by other people will give your self-esteem a much needed boost.Improves relationships.It is a fact that we cannot do everything by ourselves. We are bound to find ourselves relying on other people, and if we maintain a good relationship with them, this will be much easier. Being appreciative of other people, and having them appreciate you back, is a good way to build a relationship and maintain it, to keep it stronger long into the future.Improves clarity.Stress, negativity and being at odds with other people is sure to blur your view on a lot of things. With gratitude, you will be able to think clearly, because there is nothing negative clouding your judgment. You will notice that your problem-solving skills are much improved, and making d ecisions becomes easier, because there is nothing dragging you down. You will be more alert, and your sense of observation more keen than ever. It improves your focus, so you become more attentive to the things that matter most. It is easier to maintain objectivity when you have a positive disposition, and you will also find that you are much open to new learning opportunities.You will notice that the abovementioned benefits are quite broad. How does this apply to something more specific, say, in business?BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE IN BUSINESSA wise and smart businessman looks at gratitude as a business tool or a strategy, one that he can use in order to make his business endeavors a success. Business goals often encompass increasing productivity and profitability and gratitude plays an important role in both. Although some may refute this, saying that gratitude cannot be quantified, many are also arguing that the results speak volumes.Let us take a look at how gratitude can be useful in business, and why it is something that all entrepreneurs and businessmen should adapt and implement in their business dealings. Some say that gratitude applies to a business’ management and organizational structure; others claim it is more apparent in how it implements its marketing strategy. Some even go so far as say that it is an essential element in operations, while finance does not really benefit much from it.At this point, it is safe to say that gratitude applies to all aspects of the business.A. Gratitude improves business relationships.Relationships are important in business. In fact, some even say that relationships are the lifeblood of business. And there is a lot of truth in this. Business owners have a relationship with their business partners, investors, financial institutions and providers of financing, suppliers and distributors, and its consumers. Businesses also have relationships with their competitors.In all these relationships, gratitude plays a very importan t role.Business owners should show gratefulness to the investors and lenders who are willing to provide funds for the business to start and expand. These third parties are likely to look upon you more favorably if they know that you are genuine in your appreciation of what they did (or what they gave), because it shows that you look at them as partners rather than mere sources of capital and financing. The next time you go to them for more financing, you will have better chances of obtaining the money that you need.While it is true that your relationship with suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and other service providers is one where you both give and take, it is also encouraged that you show your gratitude for each other. They will be more motivated to continue working with you. A business will actually look forward to conducting transactions with another business that it appreciates, and vice versa.Being grateful to your customers makes it easier for you to connect with them â €" and keep that connection solid for a very long time â€" so they will be more loyal to you and buy your products and services. You are looking at increased sales and profits, which is another way of saying that gratitude also brings in the sales.Gratitude is an effective trust-builder. It makes you sincere and likable, so customers, partners, collaborators, investors and other businesses are likely to trust you more. There is truth to the statement “gratitude begets gratitude”. Be thankful to other people, and they will also feel grateful to you.B. Gratitude improves and encourages learning.Business people should never stop learning. The ever-changing and volatile landscape of business requires being alert and always ready for new opportunities. Change is also constant, so you should expect something new to crop up every now and then.The enthusiasm that was boosted by feelings of gratitude will encourage one to seek new knowledge, in a conscious effort to know more, become bet ter and improve as an individual, a team member, a manager, or a leader.C. Gratitude improves problem-solving skills.Gratitude makes you more self-reflective and deliberate in your actions and your words, so making decisions is not something that you will take lightly. Objectivity is improved, because you are able to focus on the relevant issues or the things that matter. Thus, you will be able to pinpoint problems more easily, and you can proceed on finding solutions for these problems in a faster and more systematic manner.People who are grateful have a tendency to be more forward-looking and thing long-term rather than short-term, which makes them the better problem-solvers. This is because they are inclined to have more patience, and be more persevering in any undertaking.Resiliency is also another offshoot of gratitude. The positivity that gratefulness brings enables a businessman to be able to cope well with difficult events and circumstances. It is very important in business to keep a level head, since panicking will get you nowhere. Resilient businesses have higher chances of being able to bounce back after a setback or crisis.D. Gratitude improves your reputation and image.Believe it or not, gratitude gives a very strong impression that you are successful. If your business is known as one that does not hold back when it comes to expressing gratitude, people will look at your business as a success.In business, impressions play a role in building one’s reputation and image. As mentioned earlier, a willingness to convey thanks makes you likable, relatable and thus worthy of trust. Customers, investors and other interested parties will gladly do more business with you if you were able to cultivate an image and reputation of being a trustworthy and likable company.Compare a retail company that thanks its customers for their patronage to another company that does not do anything. The tendency is for you to have a better impression of the first company, be cause they seem to care more about what you, the customer, thinks and feels, than the other retailer.E. Gratitude makes you a better leader.Teamwork is one of the components found at the core of every organization or business. The best ideas often spring from collaboration among creative individuals belonging to a team or a group, and that team can only come up with these ideas if they are cohesive. And what makes a cohesive unit? A lot of factors, but one of them is a good leader.An exhausted and tired team is a poorly or non-functioning team. An appreciated team, on the other hand, can easily sweep their exhaustion to the side and get their work done. It is the responsibility of the team leader to “rally the troops”, so to speak. Boost and maintain their morale as best they could, so they can push through any limitations they are exposed to in performing their assigned tasks.A leader who is not above being grateful to his people has a greater tendency to be more objective in v iewing his people. He can easily focus on the strengths and positive characteristics of the members of his team, so he is able to match and assign tasks better.F. Gratitude makes people work harder.This is in conjunction with the previously discussed benefit of gratitude making someone a better leader. Try to compare two teams, Team A and Team B. Team A has been assigned a relatively easy task, while Team B was handed the more difficult assignment. However, the leader of Team A barely takes the time to show his appreciation for his team members. The team members feel unmotivated to finish their work or do a good job, because they feel that they will not be appreciated for it, anyway.Team B, on the other hand, has a leader who consistently expresses his gratitude to his team members. As a result, despite the difficulty of their tasks, the team members are more motivated to work harder, because they know that not only are their efforts noticed, they are also appreciated.Motivation is a crucial factor in how people work, and it can be derived from various sources: from your co-workers, from your bosses and supervisors, and even from customers or end-users. There is a different, almost special, quality to hearing your leader or boss appreciate your efforts. It makes you want to work harder, be better at your job, and even go beyond what is expected of you.It works both ways, too. Workers who are grateful for their jobs tend to put more effort in their jobs, thereby increasing their productivity. If they appreciate what the company does for them, then they will not hesitate to return the favor, and that is by doing their best at their assigned duties and responsibilities.Here is another important point business should understand about gratitude: it has to be expressed. It is one thing to feel grateful; it is another to feel it, and actually express it or show it.Never mind that you cannot put an exact quantity or amount for gratitude, or place it anywhere on your f inancials. The truth is that you can never really put a value on something so valuable, especially when you can see that it brings wonderful results. Gratitude is a very powerful thing, and it is a tool that every business person should use if he or she wants to achieve his or her goals.

Is Drone Strikes Against Terrorism - 1150 Words

September 11, 2001: one of the most grueling days in the history of the United States, the biggest terrorist attack on American soil. Not only did these attacks destroy symbols of America and take the lives of innocent workers, family members, heroes, and friends, but they sparked the discussion of public safety pitted against personal security in the country. On October 7, 2001, President George W. Bush administered the first use of drones in the fight against terrorism. The controversial topic has left many Americans asking themselves the crucial question: Should the United States continue using drone strikes against terrorists? The morality and effectiveness of drones has prompted discussions in the fight against terrorism on the homefront. The United States should continue to use drone strikes to fight in the war against terrorism as it is an ethical strategy in order to save the lives of many Americans. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, drones are commonly defined as an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers. Drones have various uses that go from delivering pizza and packages, spying, farming, fighting in the war on terrorism, studying hurricanes, helping police fight crime and so much more. It is important to note that not all drones were first implemented with bombs and devices of mass destruction and still today, many drones do not bomb. According to an article published by TopYaps, â€Å"This technology hasn’t been confined toShow MoreRelatedDrone Strikes Against Terrorism Essay1200 Words   |  5 PagesReasons Why U.S. Should Discontinue Drone Strikes against Terrorists The U.S. government has received a lot of condemnation from individuals, local and international community on its use of drone strikes as a mode of fighting terrorism. 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In his book Bruce Hoffman defines terrorism as â€Å"the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change.† The United Sta tes does not have the luxury of kicking back and watching from the sidelines the war against terrorism take place. Currently the USA is not only involved in but is one of the prime combatants against terrorism in the following wars: War inRead MoreEssay on The Legitimacy of U.S. Drone Strikes 1642 Words   |  7 Pagesvehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. Because of their technological capabilities and strategic advantages, drones have been used by the United States government as one of the main weapons in ‘war against terrorism.’ An unmanned aircraft was first used by Elmer Sperry, creator of the gyroscope, when sinking a German captured battleship, but its usage for military purposes began after 1985 (Shaw, 2012, p. 1490). As the United States initiated the use drones against Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, vastRead MoreEye Of The Sky, The Biggest Moral Dilemma Of Drone Warfare1423 Words   |  6 PagesEye in the sky, The biggest moral dilemma of drone warfare The use of drones in battle fields remains to be one of the most divisive subjects in modern warfare. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles has become the hallmark of the war against terror. The move has elicited debate which is constantly gaining traction as more damming statistics are released on collateral damages associated with drone warfare. The United States has frequently deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to track down and kill enemy combatantsRead MoreMilitary Drones : The Weapon Of Choice1537 Words   |  7 Pages Military Drones: The Weapon of Choice George Servidad South University May 29, 2016 Drones, the US choice of weapon to combat ISIS. It is automated, unpiloted, and work on their own. They do surveillance, hunt, identify and kill enemies based on calculations made by the software, not decisions made by humans. They kill from a distance through technological mediation, without the shock of direct confrontation. Boyle (2013) states that drones operate with a reduce view of effectivenessRead Moreposition paper 1022 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿24985343 Position Paper Topic: Uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) Country: United States I. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, also known as drones, are remote-controlled aircrafts that may be armed with missiles and/or bombs for attack operations. Since September 11th, 2001, known to most as the day terrorist’s attacked the World Trade Center in New York City, the United States has used drones as a defense mechanism in order to eliminate suspected terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, SomaliaRead MoreArticle Review : Why Drones Fail, And Jordan s Article, When Heads Roll1346 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are many aspects to consider when making them. Cronin’s article, Why Drones Fail, and Jordan’s article, When Heads Roll, argue that state responses to terrorism have shown to be ineffective in many aspects. Jordan’s article explicitly argues that killing leaders of terrorist groups will not always lead to the demise of the groups especially if they are religious based and decentralized. Cronin argues that misusing drones in an attempt to kill member s of terrorist groups may have the long termRead MoreThe Threat Of The Cold War829 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States has been fighting a war against terrorism. One may ask, what constitutes terrorism? Terrorism is a premeditated, politically motivated, violent attack against noncombatants, to influence an audience, and carried out by a subnational group. To combat global terrorism, as of 2004 the US started to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to launch missiles and kill terrorists, and the kill to death ratio shows the success of drones. First, what causes someone to become a terrorist

Best Research Paper Service Ideas

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Veil of Roses Free Essays

Book Report Noor-ul-ain Zar 4/29/12 8-10 The book I have chosen to do this month is Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald. I have chosen this book because I think it describes some similar things, I have heard of and some things that happen in my country sometimes too. The genre of this book is realistic fiction. We will write a custom essay sample on Veil of Roses or any similar topic only for you Order Now And realistic fiction means, it’s not real but it could definitely happen to anyone. The book is basically about an Iranian-women named Tamila who has been basically stuck in Iran for the longest time and finally got to come to America for the first time. And she is so used to not having any freedom, America opens many doors for her. But only on one condition, she has to find a husband in two months, which is hard work. The setting on this book goes to America to Tucson, Arizona. It also takes place in, houses, coffee shops, English class and even outside. The mood of this book (or how the reader feels when reading the story) goes on and off. It goes from mysteries, to happiness, and sadness too. Usually, the tone of the book reflects the mood of the book. If the way the author writes the book, and a certain chapter is sad, then the reader will also feel sad. The point of view the book is in first person. And I know it’s first person because it contains the words â€Å" I, and me†. The characters in this book are, Tamila Soroush or known as Tami Joon (the main character) basically she is fun, shy, and open to new things. She basically has been shut in a box because she hasn’t had much rights and now that she is in America, she is very experimental. She has a family who cares a lot about her, but also are very protective. Maryam, Tami’s sister is very protective. She loves Tami a lot, but always has an eye on her. She tries to get Tami the best husband as possible but needs to realize that Tami should be on her own to find one. Ardishir ( Maryam’s husband) is very supportive, rich and also takes care of Tami. He seems Tami’s point of view in things, and is very nice and not that important in the story. Ike (Tami’s love interest) she meets him in America at a coffee place and at first they don’t click but later they do. And the other character, Haroun who potentially wants to marry Tami. This story is basically about a girl named Tami, who comes from Iran to America to live with her sister Maryam and her husband Ardishir until she finds a husband. She only has a short period of time, and cannot live with Maryam and her husband for long because her Visa will expire. If she does not find a husband, who has a Visa she will have to go back to Iran forever. So she comes and lives with Maryam, and isn’t adapting to change very well. When she gets to America, she is open to all types of things she never got to do when she was in Iran. She got to go out without her hijab (covering of woman’s head) and got to do everyday things that are usually taken for granted like going out for coffee, which cannot be done in Iran. So as she searches for a husband one day she goes to a coffee shop on her way to her English class and meets an American guy named Ike. She doesn’t try to talk to him, but when Tami gets confused because shes from Iran, Ike helps her out and they become friends, but she hides Ike from Maryam because she isn’t supposed to engage a conversation with any other American guy. Then Maryam finds other people for Tami, and none are good and after tons of hardships Tami finally marries Ike. Yes, the story is very effective and powerful. I enjoyed the story very much. The strengths are that, the author made it so believable that she is from Iran even though it’s realistic fiction. The weaknesses are that it could have been written more effective, and better words. My overall response to the book, is that I enjoyed it very much and mostly because I could relate to it being from a different country and knowing how hard it is to settle to a new country, and see how differently things are done and different places. I would recommend this to people with the similar, country or someone who understands being from other places. But I would also recommend this to people who aren’t from other countries so they can learn about new cultures and how things are done in Iran. Overall, I really did enjoy the book and I think If people actually didn’t judge the book by the cover and read it, they would enjoy it. It teaches a lot of things, and opens you to new cultures. You will also start, to learn how we take little things for granted like simply walking down the street for granted. But, overall this book was amazing and I would recommend this, to everyone. How to cite Veil of Roses, Essay examples

Environmental Scanning Techniques Essay Example

Environmental Scanning Techniques Paper These factors are explained below: Events are important and specific occurrences taking place in different environmental sectors. Trends are the general tendencies of the courses of action along which events take place. Issues are the current concerns that arise in response to events and trends. Expectations are the demands made by interested groups in the light of their concern for issues. Take the example of the first public issue of shares of Reliance Industries in 1977. That was a specific event. The trend that started was of wider participation of public in equity investment in private sector companies. Note that earlier to that event, equity participation in India was limited to an exclusive class of investors and the general public was not aware or interested in investing money in shares. The issue that emerged was of the development of equity culture in India. The expectations by the general public that resulted was that the fruits of the economic development in the corporate sector would be shared by all and sundry. An allied expectation that ensued was of protection of small or minority shareholders from rapacious private business persons through legislation and governmental action. Environmental influences are a complex amalgam of the events, trends, issues and expectations that continually shape the business environment of an organization. There is some research evidence to suggest that Indian organizations conduct environmental scanning for strategic planning. By monitoring the environment through environmental scanning, an organization can consider the impact of the different events, trends, issues and expectations on its strategic management process. Since the environment facing any organization is complex and scanning it is absolutely essential, strategists have to deal cautiously with the process of environmental scanning. Approaches to Environmental Scanning Sub has suggested three approaches which could be adopted for sorting out information for environmental scanning. We could call these approaches as systematic, ad hoc and processed-form approaches. We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Scanning Techniques specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Scanning Techniques specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Scanning Techniques specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Systematic Approach: Legend this approach, information for environmental scanning is collected systematically. Information related to markets and customers, changes in legislation and regulations that have a direct impact on an organizations activities, government policy statements pertaining to the organizations business and industry, etc. Could be collected continuously to monitor changes and take the relevant factors into account. Continuously updating such information is necessary not only for strategic management but also for operational activities. Ad hoc Approach: Using this approach, an organization may conduct special surveys and studies to deal with specific environmental issues from time to time. Such studies may be conducted, for instance, when an organization has to undertake special projects, evaluate existing strategies or device new strategies. Changes and unforeseen developments may also be investigates with regard to their impact on the organization. Processed-form Approach: For adopting this approach, the organization sees information in a processed form, available from different sources both inside and outside the organization. When an organization uses information supplied by government agencies or private institutions, it uses secondary sources of data and the information is available in a processes form. Since environmental scan inning is absolutely necessary for strategy formulation, organizations use different practical combinations or approaches to monitor their relevant environments. These approaches may range from an informal assessment of the environmental factors to a highly systematic and formal procedure. Informal assessment may be adopted as a reactive measure to a crisis and ad hoc studies may be undertaken occasionally. A highly systematic and formal procedure may be used as a proactive measure in anticipation of changes in environmental factors and structured data collection and processing system may be used continuously. Methods and Techniques Used for Environmental Scanning The range of methods and techniques available for environmental scanning is wide. There are formal and systematic techniques as well as intuitive methods available. Strategists may choose from among these methods and cuisines, those which suit their needs in terms of the quantity, quality, availability, timeliness, relevance and cost of environmental information. Various authors have mentioned the methods and techniques used for environmental scanning. Label and Crasser outline nine groups of techniques: single-variable extrapolation, theoretical limit envelopes, dynamic modes, mapping, multivariate interaction analysis, unstructured expert opinion, structured expert opinion, structured inexpert opinion and unstructured inexpert speculation. Fay, King and Maryanne have included ten techniques in their survey of environmental scanning and forecasting in strategic planning. These are: scenario-writing, simulation, morphological analysis, PBS, game theory, cross-impact analysis, field anomaly-relation, multimillion coordination and other forecasting techniques. TOP ( Environmental Threat and Opportunity Profile) There are many techniques available to structure the environmental appraisal. One such technique, suggested by Cluck, is that of preparing an environmental threat and opportunity profile (TOP) for an organization. The preparation of an TOP involves dividing the environment into different sectors and then analyzing the impact of each sector on the organization. A comprehensive TOP requires subdividing each environmental sector into cofactors and then the impact of each subtracts on the organization is described in the form of the statement. A summary TOP may only show the major factors for the sake of simplicity. The preparation of TOP provides a clear picture to the strategies about which sectors and the different factors in each sector, have a favorable impact on the organization. By the means of an TOP, the organization knows where it stands with respect to its environment. Obviously, such an understanding can be of a great help to an organization in formulating appropriate strategies to take advantage of the opportunities and counter the threats in its environment. Opportunities are the situations in which the firm can improve its strategic position. The first Step in the planning process is to be aware Of opportunities. For small businesses, environmental scanning through which the firm can effectively determine its core competencies and opportunities acts as a major factor in the realization of strategic management for the firm. Suppose our hypothetical firm is operating in a hi-tech industry. Any technological change in the industry which can generate new sales, opportunities or potential customers could be considered as an opportunity. If a firm is involved in either long or medium run planning, they have to have clear vision of the future and potential opportunities available. It is difficult to prepare an effective business plan without considering the opportunities. Therefore, small businesses usually succeed or fail based on how accurately they can identify the opportunity and benefit from these advantages. Since in the competitive environment the needs of the customer are changing, the rims need to analyze the environment as often as possible. While as, Threats are the main obstacles and issues in the external environment of the organization. Any changes in the external environment of the Seems that have the potential to disrupt the firms wellbeing could be considered as threats. For example, we recently witnessed rapid changes in technology and, as a result, in the business environment. Should the SEEM not be capable of adapting to these technological changes it will not be able to survive. In this case the changes in technology could be considered as a threat to the firm. For Seems the environment is littered with threats to their survival.

Attitude Analysis and the book The Fantabulous Fens

Attitude Analysis and the book The Fantabulous Fens Attitude analysis in a piece of writing helps in defining the intention of an author towards specific characters and themes in the text. The book â€Å"The Fantabulous Fens† will be used in this paper to analyze the way attitude is presented by the author. Authors always use diction to portray a given attitude towards someone or something.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attitude Analysis and the book â€Å"The Fantabulous Fens† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The following quote was taken from this book. The decision of choosing specific words or phrases over the others is always meant to create some form of emphasis on what is being described. The quote below was taken from the book mentioned above. â€Å"Daku and Bhoku were experts at doing nothing, and they were doing nothing at the time. They were neither sleeping nor eating nor working nor playing nor watching television: they were simply doing nothing, like they often did.† (Sen 34). It is important to understand how attitude is created from the above statement. The above quote reflects some form of contempt, especially given the manner in which the author emphasizes on the word nothing. The author creates this attitude by using the word nothing to describe their behavior. The two are portrayed as lazy individuals who are not able to do anything constructive. They prefer idle sitting, neither playing nor engaging in any active work. This contempt that the author has towards the two individuals is demonstrated in the manner at which their character is defined. The author gives the perception that Daku and Bhoku would almost sit lifelessly in their house waiting for an opportunity to cause mayhem to active members of the society. This attitude serves to give an overall impression of what the author seeks to achieve in the entire text. It would be necessary to understand why the author is using this particular attitude . The author is trying to discourage laziness in the society, and the two are used to demonstrate the effect of idleness among active members of the society.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Daku and Bhoku have been used to achieve the goal of the author through their unfortunate eventualities because of being lazy, cunning, and criminal minded. The quote below is a further demonstration of the attitude of the author towards people who shun hard work. â€Å"The ‘little bloke’ had spiky hair. He was the first street urchin in the world to have spiky hair†¦ You good-for-nothing†¦ You son of a bum† (Sen 34). In this quote, the author uses some form of irony to depict the attitude he has towards laziness in the society. The irony is presented in the fact that Daku, an individual who has been described as being very lazy, rebukes the stree t urchin for his laziness and the fact that he contributes nothing to the society. Even this lazy man appreciates that laziness is a vice that is unacceptable in the society. The way the author uses diction in this sentence helps in demonstrating his feelings towards the street children. The author uses the words little and bloke to describe the street boy. It would be important to understand how attitude of the author is presented in this second quote. Although the word bloke has a general meaning of a guy, it has a negative connotation and it is mostly used when one is referring to something one has negative attitude towards. The author finds no difference between the street children and the two lazy individuals named Daku and Bhoku. These two groups represent a lazy crop of people who are living by begging or stealing from other hard working members of the society. Instead of using the term ‘street boy’ or ‘street child’, the author uses the word ‘ street urchin’ to describe these street children. This is a sign of hatred that the author has towards this group of people. The word urchin gives the connotation that this is a group of individuals who causes some form of anarchy within the society. Daku is quick to point out that the street urchin is good for nothing, not realizing that their value to the society is the same.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attitude Analysis and the book â€Å"The Fantabulous Fens† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Daku further refers to the urchin as son of a bum. This is to emphasize on the fact that this street urchin, and his entire family, is of little or no value to the society. Even in the eyes of a lazy man, laziness if a vice that cannot be tolerated if the society is to achieve the desired development.. It would be necessary to analyze why the author decides to portray this attitude toward the lazy individua ls. A bum is a person who lives on begging, and is generally considered a burden to other members of the society. Referring to the boy as a son of a bum is an indication that both the street urchin and his parents have been leading a parasitic life in the society for a long time. They have been of no value to the society as they wait to attack others and rob them of their hard-earned properties. This hatred is used to discourage this nature of parasitic lifestyle in the society. The author is trying to demonstrate that it is wrong to lazy about, only depending on unscrupulous activities to earn a living. This is demonstrated throughout the text where this lazy group of people is poised as villains to other morally upright members of the society. Through this, the author seeks to encourage every member of the society to shun laziness. Sen, Gautam. The Fantabulous Fens. Sydney: ireadiwrite Publishing, 2010. Print.

5 Nerdy Essay Writing Skills You Cant Get Away from

5 Nerdy Essay Writing Skills You Cant Get Away from 5 Nerdy Essay Writing Skills You Cant Get Away from Writing essay in college requires many essay writing skills, including those listed below. Using these tips and integrating these skills will help you achieve great things. Planning Ahead Although planning is a practical approach to time management, it is also important to take into account different ideas for making and keeping a sensible time schedule. In preparing your schedule, it is crucial to be detailed and explicit in how you intend to spend your time. If, for example, you intend to work on history questions, indicate ‘Page 14, review questions 1-10’ as opposed to simply stating ‘history questions’. Working in the Same Spot To train your body to settle and concentrate faster during your study time, study in a regular location. Use this place only to study so that your body naturally relates this location to the activity. Consider places that are serene and have the items that you would need to study e.g. computers. Avoid places that make you too comfortable to do any constructive work a bed or comfortable couch is probably not a good idea. It is better to find a location where you can sit straight at a desk. Reading Some reading assignments demand that you know the details of a specific segment of chapter. In these cases, you can get by with reading only these sections; read with a definite intention and take notes of key words, descriptions and any other relevant material that will help you to limit the amount of reading that you will do. Great English The subject of your sentence is the person, the place, or the thing that is acting. The object is the person, place or thing that is being acted upon. An adverb is designed to modify a verb, and it is easy to remember this because â€Å"verb† is in the name. An adjective is meant to modify a noun. So if someone asks you â€Å"how are you doing?† you should answer â€Å"I am doing poorly† or â€Å"I am doing well†, NOT â€Å"I am doing good†. The reason for this is that â€Å"to do† is a verb, so whatever you put after â€Å"doing† needs to be an adverb so that it can modify your verb. â€Å"Good† in this case is an adjective which does not belong here. If someone asks you â€Å"how are you?† you can say â€Å"I am good† because you are modifying yourself, or a noun. Concentrating on One Thing at a Time Be sure to concentrate on one activity at a time, giving your mind a more conducive working environment and guaranteeing that you work effectively. Allocate the most droning tasks first to work on them while your mind is still fresh. If you push these forward to a time when you are tired, you will likely be overwhelmed and give up, choosing instead to sleep or watch TV. Identify whether your peak study time is during the day or at night and organize your time accordingly. Overall, essay writing in college requires many skills, including those listed above. You can improve upon your writing style by following the tips or by hiring our custom essay writers online.

Morocco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Morocco - Essay Example According to Alami (1), the type of education offered to graduates has left them ill-equipped for job access in the market. Additionally, Alami claims that the level of education offered to students depends entirely on the economic status of their parents. In relation to this assertion, it is apparent that the students lack equal chances of succeeding in Morocco. Despite all these, it is evident that over 6.5 million students have the chance of joining colleges after completing their schooling at elementary and high schools. In addition to this, 600,000 students are registered in higher education. From this, it is apparent that the number of unqualified graduates will increase significantly from the current number. The rate of unemployment among the Moroccans is very high. In tandem with this assertion, Aljazeera (1) claims that the unemployment rate in Morocco is 9.1%nationally, 16% for graduates and 31.4% for citizens below the age of 34 years. The poor quality of education offered to the graduates has contributed to them lacking access to job opportunities. In other words, the job market is very hostile to the Moroccan graduates. Corruption also plays a part in the high rate of unemployment in Morocco. According to Alami (1), money and network are very essential for one to get a job in Morocco. Additionally, the rate of unemployment among Moroccans is also as a result of high number of dropouts which is as a result of language shift. It is as a result of high number of Moroccans’ unemployment that many protests are experienced in Morocco. In relation to this, Aljazeera (1) reported that â€Å"five unemployed university graduates burned themselves during demonstration.† â€Å"Young unemployed graduates during a protest in 2011 against unemployment and the cost of living in front of the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat† Retrieved from

21st century medication treatments. and 1960's medication treatments Research Paper

21st century medication treatments. and 1960's medication treatments - Research Paper Example has remained the same throughout the years, the ways of providing such treatment have changed, with the development of more efficient ways and medication to do so. Some diseases, which were previously thought to be untreatable, can now  be  more easily treated  than  before, and these include some mental disorders. In this paper, there shall be a comparison of the way treatments were done in the 1960s and how they are handled in the contemporary period. Among the areas to be discussed, include the medication that is given to patients, therapies, the various types of surgeries, and several minor treatments. In the twenty first century, there are medications for almost every medical condition, which is known to medical practitioners. These medications are based on a long period of research, and most have been proven to work extremely efficiently. Many of these medications have been designed to treat ailments and are continuously being improved to achieve the best result. However, most of the medications that are used in the twenty first century are dedicated to medical conditions, which are currently prevalent, and rarely are medications developed to deal with diseases that are thought to have been eradicated. This is highly risky because it enables such diseases as smallpox, which was thought to have been eradicated, to form new strains, which would be virtually untreatable using modern medicine. Despite this, it can still be said that contemporary medications have exceedingly improved the lives of people, and it has enabled people to lead normal lives despite some severe conditions wh ich they might have (Hitron 243). Medications in the 1960s were not advanced, as those used in the twenty first century, because  the technology used for their development was not advanced. However, it is during this period that research on various medical conditions began to be conducted so that cures could be found. It can be said that the medications used in the 1960s were still in

An Analysis Of Dantes Inferno English Literature Essay

An Analysis Of Dantes Inferno English Literature Essay Dantes Inferno represents a microcosm of society; that is, laymen, clergy, lovers, wagers of war, politicians, and scholars are all collected into one place and punished for their worst and most human attributes. Hell, despite its otherworldly appearance and brutal, ugly nature, is somewhat humanized by the fact that those who are punished come from every country (Dante 3.123) and every walk of life, regardless of age, race, sex, or creed. While Dante Alighieri did not invent the idea of Hell as a place of punishment for the wayward and sinful souls in the afterlife, he did create the most powerful and enduring (Raffa 1) imagining of a concept which has received significant attention in biblical, classical, and medieval works. Dantes Divine Comedy was written sometime between 1308 and 1321 and is considered the supreme work of Italian literature (Norwich 27). It is an epic poem divided into three separate sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, respec tively. The personal element of the journey through Hell in Dantes Inferno literally explores the descent of one man into sin; through the use of poetic justice, both contemporary and historical figures, and mythological figures, Dante crafts an immediate and enthralling work dealing with the nature of sin and its place in society. The concept of poetic justice is famously explored in Inferno, where it is put to dramatic effect devising appropriate torments for each particular sin (Raffa 3). From Limbo to Treachery, Dante catalogues and documents the punishment of sinners both infamous and beloved, famous and unknown. In every case, the punishment fits the crime in a twisted and malignant fashion after all, the poem does discuss the realm of Satan, the Christian embodiment of evil. The nine circles of Hell described in Inferno are as follows: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice and Prodigality, Wrath and Sullenness, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. These nine circles are based off of the idea of the Seven Deadly Sins, with some additions such as Limbo created by Dante. The poem begins with Dante lost in a dark wood, assailed by three beasts he cannot evade, and unable to move straight along (Dante 1.18) the road to salvation, represented by a mountain. A lion, a leopard, and a she-wolf symbolizing pride, envy, and avarice, respectively block Dantes path to the top of the mountain, forcing him to descend into the depths of Hell with Virgil. The entire journey documented in the Divine Comedy is an allegory for mans fall into sin before achieving redemption (represented by Purgatorio) and eventually salvation (represented by Paradiso). Before Dante even enters the gates of Hell, he is introduced to his guide for the first two realms of the afterlife, Inferno and Paradiso. For this role, Dante chose Virgil (70-19 BCE), who lived under the rule of Julius Caesar and later Augustus during Romes transition from a republic into an empire, and is most famous for the Aeneid. Two episodes in Virgils work were of particular interest to Dante. Book IV tells the tale of Aeneas and Dido, the queen of Carthage, who kills herself when Aeneas abandons her to continue his journey and [found] a new civilization in Italy (Raffa 8). Book VI recounts Aeneas journey into Hades to meet the shade of his father and learn of future events in his journey. Many elements in the Aeneid are present in heavily modified form in Dantes Inferno. Many of Dantes mythological elements are based on Book VI of Virgils Aeneid, which recounts Aeneas visit to the underworld. Virgil imbued his version of the underworld with a fluid, dreamlike atmosphere (5), while Dante instead strives for greater realism, providing sharply drawn and tangible figures. After passing through the gateway to hell, marked ominously with the words ABANDON EVERY HOPE, WHO ENTER HERE (Dante 3.9), Dante and Virgil witness a realm of miserable people who lived without disgrace and without praise (3.17-35) on the periphery of the Inferno. In this realm, the two poets encounter the souls of those who lived such undistinguished and cowardly lives that they have been cast out by Heaven and refused entry by Hell. These souls are forced to race after a banner which never comes to a stop, and are stung repeatedly by flies and wasps, their blood and tears nourishing the sickening worms (3.69) at their feet. The punishment for these cowardly souls is clear; just as in life they refused to be decisive and act, they now are barred from both eternal paradise and eternal damnation, and chase down a waving banner which they will never be able to reach. Next, Dante and Virgil meet Charon, Hells boatman. In the Aeneid, Charon is the pilot of the vessel that transports shades of the dead across the waters into the underworld. In both works, he is an irritable old man with hair white with years (3.83) who objects to taking a living man (Aeneas, Dante) into the realm of the dead. In each case, the protagonists guide (the Sybil, Virgil) provides Charon the proper credentials, and their journey continues. In Limbo, the guiltless damned, noble non-Christian souls, and those who lived before the time of Christianity are punished. The idea of a place for souls who did not sin; and yet lacked baptism (4.34-35) existed in Christian theology prior to Dante, but his vision is more generous than most. Dante includes unbaptized babies, as well as notable non-Christian adults in his version of Limbo, which bears a resemblance to the Asphodel Meadows, a section of the Greek underworld where indifferent and ordinary souls were sent to live after death. Dante suggests that those in Limbo are being punished for their ignorance of God by being forced to spend the afterlife in a deficient form of Heaven; while certainly not as hellish as the other circles, Limbo is by no means a paradise. Dante encounters the classical poets Homer (eighth or ninth century BCE), Horace (65-8 BCE), Ovid (43 BCE -17 CE), and Lucan (39-65 CE), who welcome back their comrade Virgil and honour Dante and one of their own (Dante 4.79-102). Philosophers Socrates and Aristotle also make appearances in Limbo as the shades of men renowned for their outstanding intellectual achievements. Socrates (born ca. 470 BCE in Athens) was a legendary teacher known for the rigorous method of questioning that characterizes the dialogues of Plato (ca. 428-ca. 347 BCE), who also appears. In addition, one notable non-Christian soul finds himself in Limbo, separated from the rest: Saladin, the distinguished military leader and Egyptian sultan who fought against the crusading armies of Europe yet was admired even by his enemies for his chivalry and magnanimity. Dantes implication is that all virtuous non-Christians find themselves in Limbo. The Lustful are punished in the second circle by being blown about by a hellish hurricane, which never rests wheeling and pounding (5.31-33). Lust, for many of the inhabitants of this circle, led to the sin of adultery and in the cases of Dido, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, and others a violent death. The violent winds are symbolic of lust, and represent the power it holds in affairs of blind passion and physical love. Lust contains the shades of many famous lovers: Semiramis, Dido, Paris, Achilles, and Tristan, among others. Semiramis was a powerful Assyrian queen alleged to ave been so perverse that she even made incest a legal practice (Raffa 27); Dido, queen of Carthage and widow of Sychaeus, committed suicide after her lover Aeneas abandoned her (Virgil IV); Paris later died during the Trojan war; Achilles was the most formidable (Raffa 27) Greek hero in the war against the Trojans, who was killed by Paris (according to medieval accounts); finally, Tristan was the nephew of king Mark of Cornwall who fell in love in Iseult (Marks fiancee) and was killed by Marks poisoned arrow. Minos, the one who judges and assigns (Dante 5.6) the souls during their descent into Hell, is an amalgam of figures from classical sources, completed with several personal touches from Dante. He is a combination of two figures of the same name, one the grandfather of the other, both rulers of Crete. The elder Minos was admired for his wisdom and the laws of his kingdom. The second Minos imposed a harsh penalty on the Athenians (who had killed his son Androgeos), demanding an annual tribute of fourteen youths (seven boys and seven girls), who were sacrificed to the Minotaur, which appears later in Inferno. Minos long tail which he wraps around himself, that marks the sinners level (Dante 5.11-12) is Dantes invention. Gluttony is punished in the third circle. The souls of the damned lie in a vile, grimy slush brought about by cold, unending, heavy, and accursed rain (6.7-8). These former gluttons lie sightless and heedless of their neighbours, symbolizing their cold, selfish, and empty pursuit of hedonism and empty sensuality. The slush, representative of overindulgence and sensuality, serves to cut one off from both the outside world and from Gods deliverance. Gluttonous individuals of note include a Florentine contemporary of Dantes, identified as Ciacco ( pig in Italian). Ciacco speaks to Dante regarding the political conflict in the city of Florence between two rival parties, the White and Black Guelphs, and predicts the defeat of the White Guelphs, Dantes party. This event did indeed occur, and would lead to Dantes own exile in 1302. As the poem is set in the year 1300, before Dantes exile, he uses the events of his own life to illustrate the unique ability of shades in Inferno to predict the future, a theme which is returned to later in the poem. Cerberus, guardian of Gluttony, is similar to the beast of Greek mythology. In the Aeneid, Virgil describes Cerberus the three-headed dog which guards the entrance to the classical underworld as loud, huge, and terrifying. Dantes Cerberus displays similar canine qualities: his three throats produce a deafening bark, and he eagerly devours the fistful of dirt Virgil throws into his mouths like a dog intent on its meal. Cerberus bloodred (6.16) eyes, greasy, black (6.16) beard, and large gut link him to the gluttonous spirits whom he tears, flays, and rends (6.18) with his clawed hands. The Avaricious and the Prodigal are punished together in the fourth circle. Avarice, or greed, is one of the inequities that most incurs Dantes scorn and wrath (Raffa 37). Prodigality is defined as the opposite of Avarice; that is, the trait of excessive spending. Both groups are forced to eternally joust with one another, using cumbersome stone weights as weapons. They call out to each other: Why do you hoard? Why do you squander? (Dante 7.30). Here Dante describes the punishment of both extremes, criticizing excessive desire for and against the possession of material goods using the classical principle of moderation. In the fifth circle, the Wrathful and the Sullen are punished. The wrathful fight each other eternally on the surface of the river Styx, which runs darker than deep purple (7.103), while the sullen lie gurgling beneath the water. Dante describes how the Wrathful combat one another: [They] struck each other not with hands alone, but with their heads and chests and with their feet, and tore each other piecemeal with their teeth (7.112-114). The wrathful are damned to eternally struggle and fight without direction or purpose, while the sullen have withdrawn into a black sulkiness from which they can find joy in neither God nor life. In the fifth circle, Filippo Argenti, a prominent Florentine and a Black Guelph, calls to Dante. A hotheaded character (Raffa 40), little is known regarding Filippo except what transpires in Inferno. He quarrels with Dante, lays his hands upon the boat the poets travel on, and is eventually torn apart by his wrathful cohorts. The two men were political opponents, but Dantes behaviour towards Filippo indicates a more personal grievance. Perhaps he had humiliated Dante in life, or had taken some part of Dantes property after his exile from the city. Phlegyas is the solitary boatman (Dante 8.17) who transports Dante and Virgil in his boat across the Styx, the circle of the wrathful and sullen. He was known in Greek mythology for his impetuous behaviour; in a fit of rage, Phlegyas set fire to the temple of Apollo because the god had raped his daughter Apollo promptly slew him in response. Phlegyas appears in Virgils underworld as an admonition against showing contempt for the gods (Virgil 6.618-620), a role which he reprises in Inferno. Between the fifth and sixth circles lie the walls of Dis, the fortressed city of Lower Hell (Raffa 39). The fallen angels who guard the gates of Dis refuse entry to the two poets, requiring the arrival of a messenger from Heaven to open the gate for them. Dante designates all of Lower Hell circles six through nine, where the most serious of sins are punished as the walled city of Dis, with its grave citizens, its great battalions (Dante 8.69). The first five circles, which exist outside of Dis, are collectively known as Upper Hell, as they are where the lesser sins are punished. With the appearance of the three infernal (9.38) Furies, who threaten to call on Medusa, Virgils credibility and Dantes survival appear to be at risk. Furies were often invoked in Virgils classical world to exact revenge on behalf of offended mortal and gods. Medusas hair was turned into snakes by an angry Minerva after Medusa made love with Neptune in the goddesss temple, and became too horrifying to look at without being turned to stone. Dante describes Medusa as the Queen of never-ending lamentation (9.44). The Furies names evil thought (Allecto), evil words (Tisiphone), and evil deeds (Magaera) (9.45-48) describe the three manifestations of sin, which can turn people to stone by making them obstinate cultivators of earthly things (Raffa 41). Heretics are punished inside the walls of Dis, in a spreading plain of lamentation and atrocious pain (Dante 9.110-111) resembling a cemetery. The sixth circle contains souls trapped and enclosed in fiery tombs for failing to believe in God and the afterlife. Since they did not believe in Hell, the Heretics are punished by being sealed away from it in the most unpleasant possible way inside a flaming sepulchre. Among the tombstones of the sixth circle, Dante encounters more Italian contemporaries. A pair of Epicurian Florentines are disocvered sharing a tomb: Farinata degli Uberti, a Ghibelline; and Cavalcante de Cavalcanti, a fellow Guelph and the father of Guido Cavalcanti, Dantes fellow poet and closest friend. Farinata is an imposing figure, rising out of his inflamed sepulchre from the waist up and seeming to have great contempt for Hell (10.31-36). As the leader of the Ghibellines, Farinata was an enemy to the Guelphs, the party of Dantes ancestors. Farinata declares that his colleagues would have annihilated Florence (10.92), had he not interceded forcefully, an act which has earned him Dantes respect. Cavalcante was an enemy to the Ghibellines, like Dante, and married his son Guido to Farinatas daughter in order to foster peace between the two parties. Dantes best friend, Guido Cavalcanti, was a poet who held the philosophical belief that love is a dark force which leads only to mis ery and death. Therefore, Cavalcantes appearance in Hell might be more a matter of guilt by association to his sons worldview than any kind of reflection on himself. The Minotaur is the guardian and mythological symbol for the seventh circle, Violence. At the sight of Dante and Virgil, the minotaur reacts like one whom fury devastates within (12.15), and his frenzied bucking allows the travellers to proceed unharmed. The Minotaur is a physical manifestation of violence in Inferno: almost every part of the Minotaurs story, from its creation to its demise, contains some form of violence (Raffa 55). The sinners in the seventh circle are divided into three groups: the violent against people and property, the violent against themselves, and the violent against God and nature (Dante 11.28-33). The first group comprised of assassins and murderers, among others are immersed in Phlegethon, a bloodred, boiling (12.101) river of blood and fire, up to a level commensurate with their sins (12.73-75). Because they committed such acts of bloodshed and destruction in their lives, they are punished by being immersed in a river of that which they have spilt. The second group the suicides are transformed into knotted, gnarled (13.5) thorny bushes and trees, which are fed upon by Harpies. These souls have given away their physical bodies through suicide, and are forced to maintain treelike forms. These suffering trees cannot speak until Dante accidentally injures one and causes it to bleed. Dante uses the soul-trees as a metaphor for the state of mind which leads to self-harm and suicide. Finall y, the third group blasphemers and sodomites reside in a desert of sand, fire and brimstone falling from the sky. The blasphemers lie down upon the sand, the usurers recline, and the sodomites wander seemingly aimlessly in huddling groups, all while being burned by distended flakes of fire (14.28-29). This symbolizes how those who act violently against God and that which God has provided are perpetually unable to find peace and comfort in their lives. Among those immersed in Phlegethon is Alexander the Great, submerged up to his eyebrows in blood. He suffers for his reputation as a cruel, bloodthirsty man who inflicted great harm upon the world and its peoples. In the forest of suicides, Dante hears the tale of Pier delle Vigne, who killed himself after falling out of favour with Emperor Frederick II (Dante 13.64-69). Dante encounters his mentor, Brunetto Latini, among the sodomites. Surprised and touched by this encounter, Dante shows Brunetto great respect and admiration, thus refuting suggestions that the poet Dante placed only his enemies in Hell (15.43-45). The Centaurs are men from the waist up with the lower bodies of horses (Raffa 55) who guard the river Phlegethon. Thousands of centaurs patrol the bank of the river, using bows and arrows to keep damned souls submerged. In classical mythology, Centaurs are best known for their uncouth, violent behaviour. Chiron, leader of the Centaurs, enjoyed a favourable reputation as the sage tutor of both Hercules and Achilles. Pholus and Nessus the Centaurs assigned to escort Dante and Virgil have fully earned their negative reputations, however: Pholus who Virgil describes as full of rage (Dante 12.72) had been killed when a fight broke out during a wedding after he and his fellow centaurs attempted to carry off the bride and several other girls, and Nessus was killed by Hercules with a poison arrow for attempting to rape the heros wife, Deinira, after Hercules entrusted him with carrying her across a river (12.67-69). The penultimate circle as well as the most detailed is Fraud, which Dante describes as a place in Hell made all of stone the colour of crude iron (18.1-2). This circle is divided up into ten smaller pockets: panderers and seducers, flatterers, simonists, sorcerers, barrators, hypocrites, thieves, fraudulent advisers and evil councillors, sowers of discord, and falsifiers. Panderers (pimps) and seducers march eternally in opposite directions, lashed cruelly (18.36) by demons. Just as they used passion and seduction to bend others to their will, they are now themselves driven by hellish demons. Flatterers exploited other people using language, therefore, they are plunged in excrement (18.113), representing the false words they produced. Simonists payed for positions of power within the Catholic Church, and are placed upside-down into holes in the floor, with both soles [of their feet] on fire (9.25). The holes into which their heads are planted resemble baptismal fonts, used in several religious rituals a constant reminder of the corrupt nature of their former positions in the church. Sorcerers, astrologers, and false prophets have had their heads twisted toward their haunches (20.13) so that they can not see what is ahead of them. This symbolizes the twisted nature of magic in general specifically, it refers to the use of forbidden means to see into the future. Dante felt particularly unforgiving towards politicians after his exile from Florence, thus, corrupt politicians (barrators) are immersed in a stew of sticky pitch (21.8). Their punishment represents the sticky fingers, corrupt deals, and dark secrets inherent in positions of political power. The hypocrites listlessly walk with lagging steps, in circles, with features tired and defeated (23.59-60), wearing leaden cloaks, representing the falsity behind the appearance of their actions. This falsity literally weighs these souls down and renders any sort of progress impossible. The thieves are pursued and at tacked by lizards and snakes, their bites causing them to undergo various transformations (24-25). Just as they stole in life, their very human identity becomes subject to theft in Hell. Fraudulent advisers and evil councillors are encased within individual pyres. These individuals did not give false advice out of ignorance; rather, Dante refers to rhetoric [used] by talented people for insidious ends (Raffa 99). In life, they caused those whom they advised to do ill without dirtying their own hands now they are punished alone in their fires. The sowers of discord are hacked apart, their bodies dividing as in life they caused division among others. Their wounds are quickly healed, only to have themselves hacked apart again (Dante 28.139-142). Dante considers falsifiers (alchemists, counterfeiters, perjurers, and impersonators) a disease upon society, and their corrupting influence is reflected in their diseased bodies and minds (Raffa 99) in the tenth pouch. In the eighth circle, Dante meets a number of notably fraudulent individuals. Venedico Caccianemico, who sold his own sister to the Marchese dEste, is recognized among the pimps in the first pouch, despite his attempts to avoid detection (Dante 18.40-60). In the fifth ditch, the thief Vanni Fucci is burnt to ashes before being reincarnated; Agnel blends together with a reptilian Cianfa; and Buoso exchanges forms with Francesco. Vanni Fucci was a black Guelph from Pistoia, a town not far from rival Florence; Dante says he knew Vanni as a man of blood and anger (Dante 24.129). Agnel is thought to be Agnello Dei Brunelleschi, a man who joined the white Guelphs Dante s party but then switched to the black faction when they came to power. Both he and Cianfa are renowned for their thievery. Buoso stole while serving in public office, then arranged for Francesco de Cavalcanti to take over and steal on his behalf. In the eighth pit, Ulysses and Diomedes are condemned for the deception of the Trojan Horse, luring Achilles into the war effort, and stealing a statue of Athena from Troy (26.58-63). Dante encounters the schismatic prophet Muhammad; the poet views Islam as an off-shoot from Christianity, and similarly condemns Ali, Muhammads son-in-law, for the schism between Sunni and Shiite Muslims (28.22-33). The Malebranche ( Evil claws in Italian) are the devils of the fifth pocket of circle eight who bring to Hell the shades of corrupt political officials and employees. They are agile, smart, and fierce (Raffa 77), they are armed with long hooks, which they use to keep the shades under the surface of the black pitch (Dante 21.55-57). It is likely that the names Dante coined for individual demons ( Bad Dog, Sneering Dragon, Curly Beard, etc.) are based on actual family names of civic leaders in Florence and the surrounding towns. The Giants physically connect circles eight and nine: standing on the floor of circle nine, they tower over the inner ledge of circle eight with the upper halve of their immense bodies. They are archetypal examples of defiant rebels: Nimrod, who attempted to build the Tower of Babel before it was knocked down by God and his people were scattered; Ephialtes, who fought against Jove and the other Olympian gods; and Antaeus, whose relationship with the titans who stormed Mt. Olympus damned him, despite the fact that he was born after his brothers had waged war against the gods. Nimrod has been punished by being forced to speak an incomprehensible language; that is, his language is as strange to others as theirs is to him. Ephialtes, like the rest of the titans who challenged the gods, is immobilized with heavy chains. Antaeus is not given any exceptional punishment, for he is only guilty by association. It is Antaeus who assists Virgil and Dante by lowering them down to the ninth circle , after being enticed by Virgil with the prospect of eternal fame upon Dantes return to the world (31.115-129). The final circle is Treachery, a frozen lake at the centre of Hell, which is divided into four Rounds: Ca?na, Antenora, Ptolomaea, and Judecca. In Ca?na, traitors to their kindred are immersed in ice up to their faces. In Antenora, traitors to political entities are located similarly in the ice. In Ptolomaea, traitors to their guests are punished, lying on their backs in the ice, with only their faces uncovered. In Judecca, the traitors to their lords and benefactors are completely encapsulated in ice, distorted in pain. In the first round of Treachery, Dante encounters Mordred, who attacked his uncle King Arthur and was pierced mortally by Arthurs lance (Dante 32.61-62). In the second round, Count Ugolino pauses from his ceaseless assault upon the head of his rival, Archbishop Ruggieri, to tell Dante how Ruggieri imprisoned and killed him with his children. This story, the longest single episode related by a damned soul in Inferno, serves as Dantes final dramatic representation of mankinds capacity for evil and cruelty. Fra Alberigo, who had his brother killed at a banquet, explains a key conceit of Dantes Inferno: sometimes, a soul falls into Hell before they have actually died. Their earthly bodies are possessed by demons, so what appears to be a walking, living man is actually beyond the point of repentance (33.134-147). Finally, Lucifer the emperor of the despondent kingdom (34.28) lies at the centre of the Inferno. As ugly as he once was beautiful (34.34-36), Lucifer is a wretched contrast with his limited autonomy and mobility. Lucifers three faces (black, yellow, and red) parody the doctrine of the Holy Trinity: three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in one divine nature the Divine Power, Highest Wisdom, and Primal Love which also created the gates of Hell, and, by extension, the entire realm of eternal damnation. His flapping wings generate the wind that keeps lake at the centre of Hell frozen, while his three mouths chew on the shade-bodies of the three archtraitors Judas, Brutus, and Cassius the gore mixing with tears gushing out of his three sets of eyes (34.53-57). Dantes Inferno heralded a revolution in Christian theology through its innovative use of poetic justice, historical and contemporary figures, and classical mythology. By combining these disparate elements into a single, cohesive poem, Dante effectively changed the way the Western world imagined the afterlife and Hell in particular. By focusing on the details of the scenes and the identities of those whom the fictional Dante converses with, Inferno illustrates a horrifyingly real and immediate vision of Hell, one which has persisted at least in some part to this day. By focusing on the personal journey of one man through the afterlife, the focus of the narrative is shifted onto the reader, who can easily identify with Dante as the first-person narrator. While the circumstances surrounding the creation of the Divine Comedy Dantes exile from Florence, his fall from political grace, and his eventual death soon after the completion of his magnum opus are rather tragic, they all contribute to Dantes work in a way which colours the text and gives it a personality and passion which is still felt to this day. For seven hundred years, Inferno has elicited strong responses from its readers from fascination to revulsion and everything in between (Raffa 5). Regardless as to the readership, the response to Inferno has been, and will continue to be, anything but apathetic.

Buddhism from a Philosophical Standpoint

When one attempts to put religion under the inquiry of philosophy, there is an important thing that must be clarified. One must be aware that philosophy is both a science of systematic thinking and a way of life. As a science, philosophy explores the ultimate causes and purposes of all things that exist. It entails adherence to rigorous logic and impassioned critique of nearly all things that may be put into question. Which is why, it is a strict rational science (if not the most rigorous one).However, one needs to equally remember that philosophy can also pertain to a principle about life, or a life-influencing belief system. To be sure, this second notion of philosophy enjoys more usage than the previous one nowadays. For instance, many self-help books promising to teach people new philosophies to help them emerge successful in life end up in bookstores as top-sellers and/or top-grosser. One can call both of them – the philosophic inquiry into things and the less rigorous ad herence to some principles about life – as philosophies in their own respects.Studying religion from a philosophical standpoint entails an inquiry figuring in two levels as well. Religion must be seen both as a subject that can be assessed, and a way of life that has to be lived. As an object of philosophic inquiry, religion must be evaluated according to the tenets it holds or the doctrines it teaches. As a way of life, religion must be seen in the context of ritual or ethical practices stemming from a belief system. Thus, in studying religion, one is able to gather philosophical analyses from certain practices and beliefs.In a way, it is the result of combining the two basic understandings of philosophy into a single framework. Rationale and Methodology The aim of this paper is to present Buddhism from the standpoint of philosophy. This means that some of the basic questions that philosophy asks shall be answered in the light of what Buddhism teaches. What could those basic questions be? First, there is a question about ontology. Under this specific inquiry, one looks at how Buddhism perceives all things that exist.Next, there is cosmology; an inquiry which enables one to ask: how does Buddhism understand the world? Other concerns include anthropology (read: how do they understand man? ) and ethics (read: how do they assess what could be morally acceptable or not). But ultimately, since Buddhism is acknowledged as one of the major religions of the world right now, a philosophic inquiry should include exploring their basic notions about God; and thus, theology. After all, religion is essentially about a â€Å"belief in Spiritual Beings† (McCutcheon, 2007, p.22) translated most frequently into a belief in a kind of God. Buddhism: History and Core Doctrines Buddhism is a religious movement which started approximately 500 years before Christ (Griffiths, 1997, p. 15). It first spread across most of the Indian peninsula, only to be dispersed outside the region later on. At present, its influence is embraced not just by Indians but also by those coming from countries which comprise the South and South East Asia region, a few areas in Japan and some provinces of China.It needs to be mentioned that Buddhism is a religious phenomenon characterized by diversity in forms and practices. Buddhism, says one author, is a â€Å"very differentiated† religion (Griffiths, 1997, p. 5). One may not find the same strain of Buddhism found, say, in South East Asia, and another one coming from, say, a southern province of India. Right now, there are a myriad of groups claiming to adhere to a unique practice of Buddhism on their own. In effect, it makes Buddhism a kind of religion that seems neither to teach nor require uniformity of doctrines from all its adherents.Buddhism is a religion that draws heavily from the inspiration lent by its recognized founder, Gautama Sakayamuni (later on to become Gautama Buddha) – a person who exempl ified for them a life of total freedom and perpetual meditation in order to arrive at an utterly blissful state called Nirvana. By and large, it is about an adherence to a lifestyle that seeks authentic enlightenment; and not about a longing for the Transcendent which most religions of the world are concerned with. For this reason, some thinkers are entertaining the idea that Buddhism is, after all, â€Å"not a religion but a way of life† (Humphreys, 1997, p.13). Buddhism, as many authors have noted, is a movement associated not so much with a set of doctrinal teachings as a â€Å"body of teachings with spiritual benefits† (Williams, 1989, p. 2). In fact, many Buddhism-inclined literatures encompass teachings not really about religious worship, but about way of living, ritual practices, devotional meditation (Mitchell, 2002, p. 1), among others. Owing much from the teachings which Gautama Buddha has left, Buddhism teaches that life is in a state of perpetual quest for enlightenment marked by a feeling of constant dissatisfaction (Williams, 1989, p.34). Buddha himself was a testament to this. After leaving home at an early age, Gautama ventured on a life-journey to seek for enlightenment; a precious state he could not seem to find in the world as he got to know it. As he tried to quell the gripping loneliness and instinctive drive to satisfy pleasures, Gautama sought answer and solace through meditation. His meditation led him to see that impermanence, dissatisfaction and a fluid sense of self constitute the basic truths of reality (Williams, 1989, pp.34-36). He further taught that a human person is really nothing, but only takes form as someone constituted by five different â€Å"aggregates† namely, â€Å"form (material constitution), sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness† (Williams, 1989, p. 37). One should now that one of the chief elements that defines the uniqueness of Buddhism lies in how they consider all things to be illusory, since they subscribe to the idea that â€Å"things are not what they seem† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 20).Some of their other teachings about life include the following: value for the principle of moderation, belief in Karma and perpetual recurrence of everything that exists, belief in life’s four noble truths (life is suffering, the cause of suffering is cravings for pleasure, freedom from suffering is temperance from pleasures, and a way to stop suffering is by following the eight-fold path), and the practice of the noble eight-fold paths (right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right living, right conduct, right mindfulness and right concentration) in one’s life (Mitchell, 2002, pp. 45-47). A Philosophical AnalysisJudging from the ideas raised in the Introduction of this work, it is clear that one must consider Buddhism a type of philosophy – that is, as a way of life. Many authors have already proceeded to claim that this particular religious phenomenon is chiefly characterized by the numerous practical precepts which serve as guides towards an enlightened living. It is good to note that Buddhism, pretty much like philosophy, is concerned with the pursuit of enlightenment or truth. An enlightened self – immortalized perhaps in Western Philosophy by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – is surely the goal why one enters into philosophical discourses.In so far as Buddhism offers its own distinct ways to attain enlightenment as well, it is therefore with good reasons that one should classify this religion as philosophical in many ways. Buddhism however does not stop at stipulating suggestions for right living alone. As a system of belief, it also offers perspectives about the whole of reality. Like philosophical discourses, Buddhism is a belief system that speaks of its perspective about the ultimate realities like human existence, cosmology, human knowledge, ontology and theology.Sur ely, there is a need to look into these briefly Buddhism’s take on reality encourages an attitude of detachment on account of a belief that â€Å"everything is impermanent† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 16), and therefore in a state of constant flux. Much of Buddhism’s view about reality rests on the belief that the world is full of ‘diversity’, and the more is able to ‘reveal’ or appreciate it, the closer is one to the truth about the ever passing universe (Williams, 1989, p. 3).This idea is interestingly shared by an ancient Western philosopher that went by the name Heraclitus, who taught that â€Å"fire†- an element in a perpetual state of movement – is the basic element that constitutes reality. Buddhism, one need to remember, is not so much concerned with the rigorous definition of reality. But in so far it embraces an attitude of non-attachment in relating to all things, Buddhism has to anchor this belief system on a formidab le reason – that one’s attachment over things is futile given the fact that all things pass away.In fact, most of what Buddhism teaches is drawn from this ontological belief; and this doctrine of impermanence must be seen as a recurrent theme in its whole system of perspective. As far as Epistemology is concerned, the doctrine of impermanence is also maintained. Buddhism teaches that nothing can be known with exact certitude because all things are ephemeral and thus, as mentioned a while ago, â€Å"they are not what they seem† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 19). Everything is subject to change and passes away.Thus, one may not arrive at a definitive knowledge about things at all. Which is why, Buddha maintained that â€Å"dissatisfaction† is a constant theme that defines the feelings of all who search for knowledge or truth (Mitchell, 2002, p. 33). No one is able to know what reality is; and its appearance is often misleading. One may notice that this epistemology is actually consistent with Buddhism’s anthropology, or, its understanding of human nature. If one checks the teachings of Buddha about man, one can clearly see the doctrine of impermanence as patent in it too.Buddha believes that human nature is nothing but a constitution of events called materiality, sensation, conceptualization, volition and consciousness (Griffiths, 1997, p. 20). This type of anthropology views man not as an existing individual substance (which most of Western Philosophy have understood what human nature is), but an â€Å"impermanent self† constituted by personal events (Griffith, 1997, p. 20). Cosmology for Buddhism follows the same line of logic. Constant flux is patent in its belief that the world follows a rhythm of birth and rebirth, of cycle and current, of existence and passage.The bulk of Buddhism’s teachings therefore solemnly enjoin its adherents to develop an attitude of detachment. Anchored on a belief that nothing in this world ever remains the same over a period of time, Buddhism points that the path towards Nirvana – or ultimate sense of bliss – lies in a state of total freedom from what this world actually offers. Lastly, it is quite interesting to point out that Buddhism rarely engages in a question about the ultimate reality or God. Broadly speaking, the whole philosophy of impermanence is at odds with a concept of deity.The general theory about God stipulates that ‘It† is a Supreme Being defined by eternality, omniscience, omnipotence and changelessness. In a belief system where the central truth about reality rests on the ephemeral nature of all things, the concept of God is really something hard to conceive (Griffiths, 1997, p. 22). How can there be such a Being when the general characteristic of all things – supposedly including God – is change and flux? More importantly, one can ask: how can one consider Buddhism a religion at all if one is not willing to r econcile its theology with its ontology?Griffith believes that the metaphysics of impermanence makes Buddhism deny the existence of God all together (Griffith, 1997, p. 23). But the image of Buddha as the exemplification of their quest for a transcendent end, translated in Nirvana, is perhaps the only figure of deity Buddhism actually posses. Conclusion Buddhism is both a philosophy and a religious movement. As a philosophy, it offers its adherents a way of life observed in a tradition marked by meditation, introspection, constant purgation of desire and an unending quest for enlightenment.As a religious movement, it is concerned with the pursuit of â€Å"transcendent ends† (Slater, 1978, p. 6) they call Nirvana. Buddhism offers its own understanding of reality too. Its doctrines are highly influenced by the teachings of its founder Gautama Buddha. In this paper, it has been noted that their belief system can also be evaluated under the categories which Western philosophy use s – metaphysics, epistemology, cosmology, anthropology and theology.These aspects are given meaning by a pervading concept of impermanence and dissatisfaction. Buddhism draws largely from a belief that everything in the world is impermanent, and that all people are enjoined to meet it with an attitude of detachment and self-control. The path towards true enlightenment happens only when one is able to see beyond what reality offers, and seek the true meaning of existence that lies only within. References Humphreys, C. (1997). A Popular Dictionary of Buddhism.Chicago: NTC. Griffiths, P. Buddhism. In Quinn, P. & Taliaferro, C. (Eds. ), A Companion to Philosophy of Religion. Massachusetts: Blackwell. McCutcheon, R. (2007). Studying Religion. An Introduction. London: Equinox. Mitchell, D. (2002). Introducing the Buddhist Experience. New York: Oxford University Slater, P. (1978). The Dynamics of Religion. Meaning and Change in Religious Traditions. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Wi lliams, P. (1989). Mahayana Buddhism. Doctrinal Foundations. New York: Routledge.