Exposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe Essay

Exposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it? Questions regarding the nature of truth have always been central to not only philosophers, but all men (and women, of course) who possess any desire for knowledge. For while truth itself is an elusive concept, it is also the underlying theme of all science -- which is the basis of knowledge -- and so the seeker of learning must first discover his own truth about the world; without a strong belief, the slippery nature of truth will only serve to confuse and mislead the student of life. A person who is lacking a basic understanding of truth can never fully grasp the fine distinction between appearance and reality, yet the ability to separate the two is essential to anyone interested in knowledge at a higher level, where appearances lead only to dead ends. Or do they? And who says appearance is not reality? At the heart of this matter is the conflict between truth as an absolute and the truth of the senses; while this may seem like a trivia l matter (truth is true, isn't it?), it is anything but. If there does indeed exist an absolute truth, as the Socratics claim, then all attempts to understand the universe are futile, since human senses can never adequately grasp a truth that is so far above everyday experience. On the other hand, the Epicurean view of truth is much more encouraging; after all, this explanation of truth as being of the senses offers the hope that individuals have the ability to create, and therefore understand, their own universe. The Epicureans, by advocating truth of the senses, basically claim that whatever appears to be something, really is, whereas followers of Socrates would disc... ...y that this debate over its relativity can ever be satisfactorily settled. Nevertheless, both philosophies have valid arguments, and each also has its merits from the common man's point of view; while Plato's truth appeals to the seekers of knowledge and idealists who dream of a perfect world, Lucretius' definition of truth brings comfort to those who need to believe that what they can see and feel is a reliable representation of reality. Both of these explanations could be valid, yet the question remains, and will continue to haunt philosophers as long as man continues to philosophize: what is truth, and if someone accidentally stumbles on its actual nature, how will he recognize it when all he has learned is the art of doubt? Bibliography   Lucretius. On the Nature of the Universe. Tr. R. E. Latham. Introduction by John Godwin. Penguin Books, London: 1994.

A good and simple example is given by Fromlet

One fundamental notion in the finance and economic fields with regards to decision making has always been based on the underlying assumption that individuals or decision making agents are rational and objective. However, in many cases, rationalistic explanations have failed to answer major financial occurrences in the past.A good and simple example is given by Fromlet (2001), In 2001 the Swedish currency – the crown- was seriously undervalued in the foreign exchange market despite the fact that Swedish economy enjoyed a good economic growth record, had the lowest inflation rate among the 12 European Monetary union members, surplus government budget and a good, positive balance of payment position. Thus in this case all the rationalistic theories could not adequately explain the weakening of the crown given the fact that all economic indicators showed that it should be stronger.According to many theorists, even though realism cannot be attained, a good theoretical model should include mechanisms that help in relaxing as much assumptions as possible to attain a near realistic empirically based theory. Most of the traditional and neoclassical financial theory such as the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and expected utility theory (EUT) are based on the unrealistic assumptions that can be explained as:†¢ Representative agents and players in the financial market are rational therefore base their decisions with the objective of maximizing wealth therefore asset pricing reflect the real value of the asset at any particular time (Thaler, 1999). †¢ The market given time will settle on an equilibrium point and that the equilibrium price reflects the real value of the asset that can rationally be explained using traditional theories (Ideal or rationally explained equilibrium) (Thaler, 1999).Behavioral finance is a relatively new field of study that has made tremendous progress in the attempt to answer these unrealistic assumptions and offer an alternat ive explanation of the financial market. Behavioral finance holds that the market is unrealistic due to the human element; therefore, in evaluation of financial market decision making and market condition, financial theories should recognize the role of human behavior in financial assets price determination.The composition of financial investors is diverse from fathers and mothers, household, spouses, students, businessmen, government leaders etc. are all decision makers in the financial market thus the assumption of rationality as provided by these theories is unrealistic (Ritter, 2003). These paper is an in depth evaluation of the behavioral theory and its application in the financial market. The paper will look at the strength and weaknesses of behavioral finance in an attempt to show its applicability as a tool in the financial market.Definition and description of behavioral finance. Behavioral finance is an empirically based theory, Behavioral finance theorists argue that to un derstand the performance and decision making in market, it important to integrate psychological and behavioral variables and classical financial theories in decision making and market atmosphere. According to this theory, the market is sometimes information inefficient and participants do not often make decision rationally.Behavioral finance uses to main concepts namely cognitive psychology and limits to arbitrage. Cognitive psychology as applied in behavioral finance focuses on behavioral factors influencing investor’s decision making or how people think; it postulates that investors make systematic errors in the manner they think and this contributes to irrationality in decision making. For instance, some investors might be overconfident and end up loosing due making investment decision based on this behavioral trait.This cognitive biases lead to irrational decision and can explain the weaknesses of classical financial theories with regards to why the market fails to attain equilibrium or conceptual expectation of rational investor decision in the financial market. (Ritter, 2003). Cognitive biases. Cognitive psychologists hold that there several cognitive biases that affect investor’s decisions in the market, as mentioned this biases lead investors to make systematic errors hence explaining irrationality in the financial market.This paper will highlight the cognitive biases by combining some of the documented behavioral patterns in arguing the case and behavior finance model case in the financial market it should be noted that psychological patterns and behavior categories as presented are interlinked to the extent that an individual can make decisions due to several behavioral patterns (Fromlet, 2001): 1/n Heuristics or rule of thumb. Heuristics or the rule of thumb is one common behavioral technique applied in decision making.According to the definition (as quoted in Fromlet, 2001), â€Å" heuristic means ‘use of experience and practic al efforts to answer questions or to improve performance. † Heuristics mean fast, selective interpretation of information, determined to a high extent by intuition–taking into account that the conclusions may not give the desired results because of the velocity and/or the incompleteness in the decision-making. †This technique makes it easier for investor’s since information in the market usually spreads faster, changes often and has become more complicated to interpret. Therefore, given various options many investors use the 1/n rule by spreading their funds equally or proportionately on the available options since it is easier than choosing the rational option based on the information hence introducing irrationality in the market in terms of decision making.A good example is if in a given financial market six different economic indicators are published, economists and investors have to assimilate and use the information as fast as they can to take advantag e of the market, some result to heuristic approach. This sometimes leads to suboptimal results and explains the difference between the ideal classical financial market of a rational investor and the real world. (Fromlet, 2001 and Ritter, 2003).Thaler (1999), argue that from empirical evidence collected in their research most individuals investing for retirement have little or no knowledge of the financial market hence uses the rule of thumb or 1/n heuristic approach to make decisions on where to put there retirement savings. Overconfidence and preference for certain information. Another pattern that manifests itself and lead to irrationality in decision making in the financial market is overconfidence.Ritter (2003), notes that entrepreneurs tend to be overconfident and hence invest too much in stocks or options that they are familiar with. This can be termed as an irrational tendency to the extent that it leads overconfident entrepreneurs tend to limit their options by not diversify ing their portfolio hence irrational since they tie up their assets (for example real estates) to the company they are familiar with partly due to the fact that they would feel in control of local familiar stocks compared to high returns stocks that are outside their control, this is referred to as control illusions.A good example world over is the fact that most workers tend to invest too much in the company they work for and this has led to loss of entire savings to many of the companies in the event of insolvency (see Ritter, 2003 pg. 434 for examples). Furthermore, it was noted that generally, men are more overconfident than women and this behavior extends to investment decisions. It was found out in a research by Bernard and Odeon (2001 as quoted in Ritter 2003) that the more men on average perform worse than women and this is partly attributed to the fact that they are overconfident than women.

Perspectives and approaches to management theory Essay

1. Why is it important to understand the different perspectives and approaches to management theory that have evolved throughout the history of organizations? Management is constantly changing. It changes over time to meet new needs. if we know what happened in the past (WHAT WORK/ WHAT DIDN’T) WE WILL be able to understand the present and plan for the future. Some ideas from the past (stock ownership, open book management) are still relevant to management today. it is also important for us to understand the evolution of management because it allows us to learn from the mistakes made by others, so as not to repeat them and use the success in order to use them at the appropriate time. 2. How do societal forces influence the practice and theory of management? Do you think new management techniques are a response to these forces? Social forces deal with the society. The people in the society their beliefs, culture and needs. so new management techniques are a response to these factors because management is always evolving to meet new needs of society. 3. Based on your experience at work or school, de-scribe some ways in which the principles of scientific management and bureaucracy are still used in organizations. Do you believe these characteristics will ever cease to be a part of organizational life? Discuss. Scientific management and bureaucracy are still use in organization today, for example we are still operating in a bureaucratic way when it comes to the education sector in Belize. There is the main boss and we always look up our bosses they are the single authority figure. In system work is assign and authority is clearly defined. 4. A management professor once said that for successful management, studying the present was most important, studying the past was next, and studying the future was least important. Do you agree? Why? Yes I agree to this statement because if we know what has occurred in the past, what work well and what didn’t we will be able to learn from the mistake made by others and use there success as a spring board to our success. The future is most important because it is the situation were in now, if we know what work we will be able to make wise discussion in the present and plan smartly for the future. 5. Which of the three characteristics of learning organizations do you find most appealing? As a manager, which would be hardest for you to adopt? Why? The characteristic that I find most appealing is the team based, I find it appealing because it deals with team work employee work hand in hand to get the task done. As a manager I would find the employee empowerment most difficult bec ause here it unleashing the power and creativity of employees by giving them the freedom, resources, information, and skills to make decisions and perform effectively do believe that it could at times become coatic and would bring about many conflicts. 6. As organizations become more technology-driven, which do you think will become more important—the management of the human element of the organization or the management of technology? Discuss. I believe that the management of technology is more important because in the world around technology is advancing day by day and we need to keep up with it. Technology helps in some many ways it makes life easier and speeds up work as a result allowing you to meet organizational goals quicker 7. Why do you think Mary Parker Follet’s ideas tended to be popular with business people of her day, but were ignored by management scholars? Why are her ideas appreciated more today? In the days of Mary Follet management was done the old way, where there were strict rules and procedures. A task was given to you and you were to get it done without asking questions or saying anything. Now Mary Follet view that workers should analyse there job for improvement because they are the one that wil l do the job so they should know the best way to improve the job. This is now heading towards modern management that while her ideas are wide appreciated today. 8. Explain the basic idea underlying the contingency view. How would you go about identifying the key contingencies facing an organization? The basic idea underlying the contingency view is that there is no one set way to organize. Managers should analzie there situations well because what work for someone else may not work for them. They need to identify patterns and characteristics and find a stable solution 9. Why can an event such as the Hawthorne studies be a major turning point in the history of management even if the idea is later shown to be in error? Discuss. The Hawthorne studies can be a major turning point in history of management because i believe this is where the shift towards mother management began. The focus was now on the individual It was discovered that employees behaved differently because they were treated differently. The strict manager was not there but a motivating one instead so the employees perform better. 10. Identify the major components of systems theory. Is this perspective primarily internal or external to the organization? Explain. The system theory composes of five components Inputs Transformation Process Outputs Feedback Environment. it take input such as resources and finance from the external environment turns it into output product or service through the transformation process and the gives feedback. 11. Do you think management theory will ever be as precise as theories in the fields of finance, accounting, or experimental psychology? Why or why not? Management theories will never be precise. We live in an ever changing world and managers are force to keep up with it so there are times that they will need to adapt ne strategies to fit their situation. People are always finding new ways to do things and no one way is best so i believe that it would be an on-going process. 12. To what degree do you think that effective control comes from within the individual worker, or do workers need rules, rewards, and punishments to perform effectively? Explain your reasoning I believe that we should start adapting new management where team work is key. Rules, rewards and punishment are part of old management. i believe effective control comes from within an individual because if your happy with what you do you will do it to the best of your ability. On the other hand is you’re in a bureaucratic system you will just get the job done because you need to.

Conflict Process Analysis

My thesis is a story of a dispute about a mobile phone and phone expenses between Telecommunication (a Chinese mobile telephone operation company) and me. I will use some organizational conflict theories, several types of conflicts and methods to handle with them to finish my dissertation. Telecommunication offered considerable discounts, while the rules were harsh. Staffs did not know the specific regulations, and I lost the best opportunity to undo the damage. The conflict occurred because of those things.Finally we overcame these obstacles with a good alternative. Handing with mobile phone affairs is close to our daily life. Moreover, it includes interest between the customer, Telecommunication and its staffs. My counterparts and I were strangers originally. Then we became game rivals through the event, and after that we became friends. Describe the situation of this dispute, the analysis of the situation and evaluations for Telecommunications are integral to my paper. Description of the Situation The owner of a branch of B & you, Flavor, two staffs, Julie and Sophie were involved in the conflict.Flavor is the boss of Julie and Sophie, and I was their customer. In August 2010, I got an admission to the university. Meanwhile, I received two discount coupons from Telecommunication (for you easy to understand, I use the B &you replacing the Telecommunication, and Flake and Julie replacing the owner's and the staffs original names). At the end of August, I went to university and went to B , planning to use the two discount coupons. One of them is for a new smart phone with which I can use it as 1700 RMI cash, and another one is for phone expenses with which I can use it as RHOMB.Julie, as a staff off branch of B (as most of TTS colleagues, she has a high quit rate because of low salary), told me that, with the voucher 1700 RMI, I could only pay 800 RMI and got a brand new Samsung phone whose price Is RHOMB. In addition, the voucher RHOMB can be sent to my phone account Into 24 months, 37. 5 RMI per month. This means that If I choose 68 ARM'S package (including mobile phone calls, text messaging, Internet), I can only pay 68 mines 37. Arm's part, which is 30. 5 RMI. Meanwhile, the contracts of the smart phone and the package were for two years.I had four years of college life. Obviously, this combination was very worthwhile. I signed a contract, paid REARMS in cash, got the phone. In the end of August, I had missed a strange call, and I did not put that In mind. On September 2nd, Julie called me to Inform me to go to B with my mobile phone. Intuition told me that something wrong happened, so I came to B with my phone and the contract. Julie told me B requested the customers to buy a mobile with the voucher in your hometown-City Changes, and to use the phone expenses voucher in your university city- Nanjing.I didn't meet the requests simultaneously, so I have to give up one discount. Due to the mobile phone cannot to e back, so I have to pay the whole package fee 68 RMI without any discount. That telecommunication company. And the regulation was too sudden for me to accept it. There was no such rule cited on our contract. Because it involves the interests of the owner of B &you branch, Flavor, she also came forward. She gave rise to the conflict. I asked to cancel the contract, however, Julie explained it was impossible. Because all the data about me has been uploaded to corporation, and the contract has been activated.She added that on the last day of August, she tried to inform about it and anted to ask me if I accept it or not, but the call was not connected. We cannot comprise with each other. Flavor insisted the contract can not be cancelled. If it was cancelled, she had to compensate for this phone (this phone belonged to B &you company). At the same time, I cannot accept the full price of the bill. For a student, 68 RMI per month was expensive. And B &you are not the most popular mobile companies. My friends tend to use Orange, whose services are better.If there had not been two vouchers, I would have not considered to use B &you. From my point of view, there are three reasons contributed to the conflict. The rules of you were harsh. Staffs do not know the specific regulations. And I lost the best opportunity to undo the damage. Julie would view the event as a big mistake, complaining about the complex rules of company. Flavor would regard the conflict as a loss in business. Apparently, the main issue was that we should we cancel the contract which the company added some rules in or not. Who should be the compromiser?The situation was deadlocked. Clerk Julie distressed. She did several things wrong. Firstly, she was not familiar with the company policy, not following the company's rules. Secondly, she id not contact me successfully at the critical moment when we can limit the damage. 1700 Arm's damage was almost half a month of her salary. I could see that she wanted to escape from the situation. Flavor did not understand the actual regulations, and she asked me blindly to compromise to reduce her loss, regardless of our contract. My feelings were angry and frustrated.At that time, another staff Sophie came over. She came up with a solution. She provided a very favorable B &you card, only 20 RMI per month, including telephone calls, text messaging, Internet. If I use this card, I still continue to use the B &you hone and SIMI card, and reach a two-year contract period. Meanwhile, owner Flavor losses can be minimized, because I follow the regulations, I only use the phone vouchers and do not cancel the contract. We have come to an agreement. After several hours' debate, we agreed with Sophie's proposal to resolve the conflict.Flavor, Julie, Sophie and I became friend from then on. We chat happily when I go to B &you branch for doing cellophane's affairs. I was lack of experience at that time, but I should say to myself for sticking to it and not compromising easily Just because the rival was a competitor. Analyzing the situation Obviously, the whole matter was an organizational conflict rather than an interpersonal conflict , as it focused on the matter itself than the relationships between the staffs and me. When Sophie supplied her free phone card, the entire conflict entered a controlled phase.If we did not enter the controlled phase, we would fail to reach any consensus. The owner may be forced to take the phone out of me, and my friend and I may be fight for it. Flavor has run a B shop at my university for almost five years, enjoying a certain reputation. She cannot make things wrong as a businesswoman, continuously asked us to comprise. , as a student, would not be allowed to use violence to resolve this conflict. The relationship between the owner and the customer restricted the conflict, and a good proposal ended the dispute. We all wanted to solve this conflict, because we were all stakeholders.In fact, there is no right or wrong in this conflict, and it is B complicated rules that resulted to the conflict. Flavor, Julie and I wanted to minimize our own losses. Flavor did not understand the actual regulations, and she asked me blindly compromise to reduce her loss, and regardless of our contract expressly provided. Apparently, she an be defined to be a competitive negotiator. Flavor only believed in something specific and credible, for instance, her less cost about the phone. So she adopted Sophie' proposal, it cost her little. Obviously, Julies response to the dispute can be defined as an avoiding approach.The avoiding approach (uncooperative, unassertive) neglects the interests of both parties by sidestepping the conflict or postponing a solutions. She was under great pressure. When conflict happened. Her body appeared compressive reaction, accelerating the secretion of adrenaline, showing rapid breath and a flushed face. She had a tendency to break down. Such reactions were bound to damage her health. When conflict was resolved, we were very satisfied. Apparently, Flavor, Julie and I will be the first three persons who observed the conflict resolved.At the time, the other staffs would notice that. This matter would bring to our friends and family later. In this conflict, no one will benefit from our conflict unresolved, so no one would want to keep the conflict. Finally, our outcomes were good. We did not lose a cellophane or paying high-priced charges. We minimized our lost and maintained a very good staff-customers relationship. Julie embedded this fault and spent more time in learning company's rules. Wrong interpretation of company policy caused this conflict between shopkeepers and the customer. Roles determine the ideas and behavior.We all tend to meet our own personal goals, as an assertiveness rather than cooperativeness when faced with the conflict. There is some potential opposition between us. They are businesswomen, paying attention to their profits and reputation, and I am a student, trying to get more discount. When conflict happened, we tend to a win- lose situation. Sophie was a mediator. Bonuses for collaboration reduced the conflicts. With her help, the estimation became an integrative bargaining rather than a distributive bargaining. We accepted the new proposal and created a win-win situation.It seems that providing a less expensive SIMI card was the best alternative to a negotiated agreement. To be honest, without the help of Sophie, I had no better way to resolve this matter. Such weakness will only make the problem deadlocked. Maybe I will consult the teacher or my parents to see if they have any good way. Recommendations The conflict was all about an up-to-dated contract should be canceled or not, including the shopkeeper Flavor, the staff Julie and the customer me' s interests. We signed a contract about two discount coupons at first. Then B & you added some harsh rules about it.

Service Matrix Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Service Matrix - Coursework Example Product process matrix is an analytical tool that attempts to show the relationship between the technological life cycle of a product and its standard life cycle. The matrix is useful in the organization in pinpointing the production approach to be used when producing a particular product based on the customization requirements of the product and the amounts of product to be used. The similarity between the product process matrix and the service-positioning matrix is that the management with the intention of helping them make sound decisions that affect the business uses them both (Bukula, & Snaddon 18). The difference between the two matrixes is that while service positioning matrix aims at attracting the customers to the firm, the product process matrix is used to help reduce costs of production and storage. Doctors mainly use service-positioning matrix. The doctors understand how their patients like to be treated and can use the matrix to achieve better results. The benefit is that the services rendered are at a personalized level and this is good for the profession. The limitation of the matrix in the hospitality industry is that it can lead to increase in resources since the doctors’ use most of their time and resources, as well. Product process matrix is mainly used in the manufacturing industries. Businesses need to know how much to produce efficiently. The benefit is that it cuts costs. The major limitation is that it may lead the business to make losses in the worst-case scenario (Bukula, & Snaddon 23). The uniqueness of the service matrix is that it deals with customers. On the other hand, the uniqueness of the product-process matrix is that it deals with the production process of the

Capitalism - cause of Global Economic Crisis Essay

Capitalism - cause of Global Economic Crisis - Essay Example Roubini has little doubts about the fact that capitalism is being doomed because the governments have failed to find out solutions to the problems caused by the system of market economy. The governments and policy makers took a number of different steps to bring the economy back on track but all policy measures taken to prevent the downfall of economic system failed one after the other. As the last resort the governments are trying to bring stability to the economy by cutting the expenditures however this will not be able to bring the economy back to track until new taxes are levied or the previous raised. Most of the countries that are following the principle of market economy have failed to restore the living standard of the public despite giving salary raises and subsidizing commodities because the effect of raised taxes is much higher as compared to the monetary assistances provided by the governments. Injecting more money into the failing economy in the form of bank bailouts is not an available option now for most of the countries because of the increasing political and public pressures because such measures are taken at the expense of public welfare expenditures which is totally unacceptable to the already suffering people, moreover another series of bank bailouts is also economically unfeasible. Currency depreciation is an option because a weaker currency and better trade balance can restore the economic growth but rendering the currencies weak is not an option for economically advanced countries therefore currency wars are currently in order. The Eurozone countries managed to help their cause a bit by the establishment of the European Financial Stabilization Facility but in the current circumstances the ESFS will not be able to pay bailouts for countries as big as Italy or Spain because of the limited assets whereas adding to the assets of ESFS is not possible because currently no country in Europe could sponsor such a move and this will receive resista nce from countries like Germany. In effect, the capitalist system of economy has stuck itself in a circle of self-destruction as suggested by Karl Marx where jobs are being cut because of the lack of demand in the market and this cutting of jobs is further adding to the lack of demand resulting in more job cuts and so on and this is the approach which has been adopted by the followers of the Keynesian system. The world currently is facing the problems which were predicted by the critics of capitalism hundreds of years ago such as poverty, unemployment, hopelessness, lack of basic facilities of life and the most important of all which can be considered as the root cause of these problems is the increasing inequality between people (Roubini, 2011). In the end Roubini suggests that there is a need of â€Å"investing in human capital, skills and social safety nets to increase productivity† and this can surely be the only possible solution to the present economic crisis. According to Roubini the present economic system based on market economy has essentially failed to provide effective solution the problems faced by man therefore a modified capitalist model is required to take over. Sen on the other hand gives prime stress to find out what exactly is the problem with the economic system of the present time and put forwards

The Human Experience and Communication in Movie Assignment - 1

The Human Experience and Communication in Movie - Assignment Example b) Relational needs; the younger brother expresses dissatisfaction about his relationship with the father and reveals that they have not talked for the last ten years. They later meet in an intensely emotional scene at the end of the film after the older brother arranges for a meeting with the father. c) Identity; to find a personal identity, the brothers try to relate with the less fortunate like the lost children in Peru and the lepers in Ghana. They try to find their purpose in life by helping the less fortunate stigmatized groups of people 2 a) Self-awareness; the journey makes the brothers more aware of themselves when they find out the privileges they have in life. They also find their main purpose in life is to be of use to others by helping them for example by helping the AIDS victims in Ghana and hospitalizing the abandoned disabled children in Peru. b)Adaptability; the brothers learn to adapt to different situations, places and to different people they come across. They have to adapt to the situation in New Yorks cold streets by asking for food and building a cardboard shelter. They adapt to the situation of the lepers in Ghana and the homeless in Peru c) Empathy; throughout the film the brothers show empathy to people in different kinds of situations, they empathize with the homeless in the streets of New York by putting themselves in their shoes, then with the abandoned disabled children in Peru who they take to clinic for treatment and with the AIDS victims and lepers in Ghana. d) A person’s cognitive complexity is their ability to analyze a situation from different angles. The brothers analyze life from different perspectives from the problems in the first world in New York and Peru and the third world problems in Africa. They also explore interpersonal relationship  problems between father and son and try to solve all these problems e) Ethics; the brothers are improving their social ethics by practicing their social responsibility towards the society. They have decided to abandon an attitude of apathy and chosen to be concerned with what is going on in the society around them.