Human Superiority Myth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Superiority Myth - Essay Example What is right for us can be wrong for them. Stephen Budiansky, the author of the book If Lions Could Talk considers animals as intelligent as we are, but explains that it is another kind of intelligence. To test animal intelligence for him is the same as to test a blind person giving him a written IQ test. Budiansky asserts that every animal has his own sort of intelligence. Monkeys performed far superior to rats in test based in visual discriminations, though rats are better in the same test based in smell discrimination. "The branching tree of evolution has not just one culmination, but millions of culminations -- represented in every living species on earth today," he writes. "Each is a brilliant success at what it does." And it is the nature of such "brilliance" that remains to ponder" (Gabriel, 2000). As for language, animals speak, but their way of communication differs from ours. Researcher have counted that our closest relatives, apes, with whom humans share an astonishing 98.4% DNA, use nearly 68 different sounds in their communication. "Orangutans may have the most impressive individual call of any ape, the long call. It begins with a low soft grumble, modulating in pitch like a string bass player using vibrato" ("The Animal Communication Project", n.d.). This one means that this territory has an owner and possibly calls females. Some orangutans accompany this call by crashing snags. In response this call triggers long calls from neighboring males. The pant-hoot - is one of the best-studied chimpanzee vocalizations. "It begins with breathy, low-pitched hoots that segue into a series of quicker, higher-pitched in-and-out pants, as if the chimp were trying to play harmonica without an instrument. Finally the pant-hoot builds to a loud... The researcher states that human superiority is reconsidered today. Its peak is the animal rights movement, which final aim is to equate humans and animals beyond the law. Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation, argues that we need to extend rights to the great apes, in the first instance, followed by all other animal species. People have always considered the most distinctive feature between them and animals the sophisticated language. As Joel Wallman, author of Aping Language, explains, "...language, at least in the European intellectual tradition, is the quintessential human attribute, at once evidence and source of most that is transcendent in us, distinguishing ours from the merely mechanical nature of the beast". In the 18th century a French philosophy, Julien Offray de la Mettrie, wrote a book titled L’Homme Machine. He thought that all the creatures on the Earth are the mere machines and suggested that the reason animals â€Å"cannot speak is not because of any inf eriority in rationality to human beings but because of ‘some defect in the organs of speech.’ He believed a young ape could be taught the use of language†. The researcher then concluds that people have overestimated our superiority and this has led to the colossal losses in nature. We use animals in our needs: kill them for fun, abuse in experiments; take from them their living territory, treat cruelly. Nobody has given us such a right. And we must do our best to save and preserve what can be still saved and preserved and make animals our friends.

Critical Summary for Meilaender's Why Remember Essay

Critical Summary for Meilaender's Why Remember - Essay Example The main reason why Leonard cannot remember is that he once sustained a blow on his head from an intruder who raped and killed the wife. Form the onset, Leonard is trying to recollect all that had happened to the wife so that he could identify this intruder, and subsequently plan for revenge. As the movie unfolds, Leonard is presented as a person who is working on unproductive events. Why is it claimed that he could not remember what happen, but he is planning for a revenge of what a happen. Actually, he wants to kill the intruder who caused him his state of the brain and wife. To this extent, it may be proper to claim that the writer of the script, once Gilbert Meilaender is writing or representing on something or an ideal that is affecting the society, but the society has adamantly refused to solve the situation. Leonard remembers to forget; that is he gets a hint of what actually happened but forgets the same after sometimes. Thereafter, Leonard opted to an option of taking snaps and jotting note behind each snap. He latter remembers that he could actually note that the intruder had some tattoos on his body. This leads him to his search; nonetheless, he is couscous not to be manipulated and used by other people to kill people who may be barriers on their way. Whatever Leonard is couscous of is what is actually taking place in the entire movie after this realization (Meilaender 01). The movie is quite an irony, how could a person undertake what he is wholly unfamiliar or rather illiterate. Even if, Leonard may finally manage to avenge the death of his wife with his slim knowledge about the events of that fateful day when he lost the wife and developed memory lapse, he would be in a never-ending search for this intruder. The entire puzzle seems to be giving Leonard a sense of depression as he digs into relevant information about his enemy. The recurring nature of Leonard’s state of mind makes a little bit difficult to summarize the movie. The puzzle is that the viewer is ever in the states of not knowing, as this is the same state Leonard is at, at all time. However, the viewer may be experiencing just a little of what may be the contemporary state of events in the world (Meilaender 01). The massage that may be picked from the movie is the concern of the scriptwriter who seems to be wondering if the humanity can make sense to the world if it lacks the capacity of forming new memories and connecting the same with an older one for continuity. On an everyday basis, Leonard wakes up in full knowledge of the death of the wife. Despite of this reality, Leonard is still unable to remember the duration that has happened. Addition, it may be true to say that at certain moments the depression and the pathos he is undergoing cannot even organize events in his life coherently because to him everything is always a discovery. He once claimed that he could not heal if he could not even feel time (Meilaender 01). The movie can actually draw one i nto a reflection of a place in memory in the human sense that deals with self, especially the self-sense that deals with a meaningful construction of life. As one analyzes, Leonard’s situation, particularly the desperation he is undergoing, it is apparent the human memory is a vital or central organ in organizing an individual by creating the understanding of the meaning of life to human beings. Moreover, there are several wanting situations that Leonard underwent that need deeper

Finance Policies and Strategies of Multinational Enterprise Essay

Finance Policies and Strategies of Multinational Enterprise - Essay Example Actively managing financial risks allows us to continue doing what we do best – designing and selling great products – instead of just reacting to problems linked to events beyond our control. These risks arise due to the unavoidable effects that some political and natural events have on currency exchange and interest rates. When one of the countries where we operate slides into an economic crisis, for example, a government might impose exchange or currency controls, affecting our cash flow, profits, and funds transfer mechanisms and creating potentially adverse effects on our finances and stock price. These risks arise both from the likelihood that something good will not happen or that something bad will happen (Read and Kaufman, 1997, p. 112). Financial risks are those that threaten the efficiency of the worldwide movement of money and profits amongst our affiliated companies through internal transfer mechanisms (Shapiro, 2003, p. 26). We are exposed to this risk that has several types, amongst which the most relevant given the events just outlined are currency, credit, inflation, and market risks. Although most of the critical events are non-political in nature, their effects on the respective national economies may cause political risks that we must address. Our cost of capital and debt is affected by fluctuations in exchange and interest rates, inflation, and stock market volatility. We also need to manage transaction exposures, the possibility of incurring gains or losses on sales, purchases, and investment decisions entered into and denominated in foreign currencies (Eiteman et al., 2004, p. 155-176). International Finance Strategies Risks are uncertainties and sources of anxiety we need to deal with. Most business and financial risks are caused by outside events and changes in economic variables (GDP growth, commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and stock prices) over which we have virtually no control (Froot et al., 1994). Our inability to control these events, however, does not mean we cannot manage their effects.We manage the consequences of financial risks by adjusting our operational, financial, and investment strategies. Some risks we can take and others we cannot.

Discovering computers Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Discovering computers - Term Paper Example elated to the same, including: how computers are used, uses of the application software, components of a system unit, input and output devices, storage devices, uses and ramifications of the internet, systems software, communications and network, databases and information management, systems development, project management, use of multimedia, security, privacy and ethics issue, and controversial computer-related topics addressing the use of computers in contemporary society. To understand how computers work, one must understood what goes into them (data) and what comes out from the same (information). Basically, it is the main job of the computer to turn the said data into information through the process called information processing cycle. Computers usually work with inputs through devices that transmit data and information from external users such as the users (Shelley, et al. 2008). Input devices used for this particular function usually include the following: (1) keyboards, (2) mice, (3) touch-screen monitors and lastly, (4) network cards. On the other hand, computers also work with output by using devices that releases data from the computer to the user. As earlier stated, the computer transforms the information coming in to the information needed by the user through the process called information processing cycle (Spencer 1985). Technically, the information processing cycle is defined as that method wherein information is processed. There are four components associated with the information processing cycle of a computer; these are; (1) input – the step wherein the user enters data into the computer; (2) processing – wherein the computer performs operations on the data; (3) output- the step concerned with the presentation of the results; and finally, (4) storage – concerned with saving data, programs and output for use in the future (Shelley, et al. 2008). Perhaps, one of the most common uses of the computer nowadays is to access the World Wide Web.

Market Analysis and Prospects for Timber Buildings in The Developing Essay

Market Analysis and Prospects for Timber Buildings in The Developing World - Essay Example The rapid growth in industrialization, urbanization and civilization brought many problems by which not only human beings but also all the other livening things are suffering and our entire planet has come in danger. It has been now the major priority to save our planet from being deteriorated. In such a situation before creating anything the environmental factor is taken into consideration. Construction line is also not at all exceptional. Today as all of us are acquainted with the drawbacks of the concrete or steel buildings, it has become necessary to think the other alternatives which the environment also will accept and it won’t be harmful to the environment. The research paper aims at investigating how beneficial it will be to use the timber in constructing the buildings. The objective of this research therefore is to study different benefits of using timber in building material. It is also the aim of this research to find out the profitability in using timber for constructing the buildings and houses in rural and urban areas in developing world. For this the scientific, ecological benefits are analysed and the future market of timber buildings is also focussed. The project represents a significant portion of the final year work of a degree programme. Progress during the year and the final report are both used as part of the assessment process. For this 150 hours have been spend in research and preparation of the final report. The topic for the research project is the â€Å"Market Analysis and Prospects of Timber Buildings in Developing World.† Timber has been an ideal material for building. Historically it is proved that wood has an inherent strength and durability and that is why it is an ideal material for building. Today when the architects and engineers plan to build the buildings they look at timber as their preference. In ancient time the man used to build the houses made by the Lignocelluloses

Digital Media Platforms and Education Assignment - 10

Digital Media Platforms and Education - Assignment Example It was important to analyze this in order to come up with all the causes of global warming and a solution to the problems its causes. It has previously been understood that human actions contribute a lot to global warming. However, I found out that the extent to which human CO2 factors into the total CO2 generated by planet earth on a yearly basis is only four percent. This was quite informative and changed my way of looking at the whole issue (Archer, 29). This fact does not relieve humans of their responsibility towards the planet. Instead, it helps in putting into perspective the precise scope of the problem and the means by which it should be rectified. From my research, it has been scientifically proven that it is not only CO2 levels that determine global temperature but even the sun and the world’s oceans do. The oceans seventy percent coverage of the earth’s surface gives them a profound effect on regulating our global system’s temperature. Scientists have also recently proven that the global temperature levels have been dictated by the world’s oceans more so than was previously recognized. This is due to a number of observations (Archer, 49). I also learned that technology has contributed to new inventions and learning greatly. Digital media promote new technologies that enrich learning abilities and enable for better skills like in the case of music. Communication has been made easier and more interesting even in classrooms. The rise of social media platforms has enabled me and other people exchange ideas and learn from each other. Digital media has also enabled me and my friends produce and share information that has been helpful both academically and socially. My experience during this course was great and I got to learn about different devices used and how to use them effectively. (Archer, 57).

The Argument of Elite Theorists Essay Example for Free

The Argument of Elite Theorists Essay In order to assess how useful this view is, we must first look at the differing factions operating within the framework of elite theory. On doing this it will become apparent within the scope of Government, that this view is outdated and riddled with flaws. Elite theory originally developed from the work of Gaetano Mosca and Vilfredo Pareto, two italian sociologists writing at the turn of the last century. Pareto argued that, in the course of history, different leadership qualities are required in order to adapt society to changed circumstances. Essentially, two types of person can be distinguished, lions and foxes, the former, according to Pareto are stolid and forceful, willing to use violence. The latter are basically sly, wheeler-dealer types. One or other type will rule as long as it can cope with the political and economic problems facing it; but in certain circumstances their particular qualities will be insufficient for the task in hand, and they will be deposed by the other group. Pareto describes this process as the circulation of elites, which rise and fall through a combination of psychological aptitudes and historical circumstances, irrespective of the economic or social structure of society. There are many flaws in Paretos work, but the main ones must centre on his inability to explain the origins of the elites rise to power, and his classification of people into two -and only two-psychological types (S.MOORE,1995). The belief that a superior group forms a ruling elite underlies Moscas(1939) writings too, and it is this superiority that he sees leading the elite to power in the first place. Once there, the elite continues to rule, not solely because it is superior but also through its relatively small membership, which makes it far better organised than the mass of the population. Pareto fails to provide a method of measuring and distinguishing betwwen the supposedly superior qualities of elites. He simply assumes that the qualities of the elite are superior to those of the mass. His criterion for distinguishing between lions and foxes is merely his own interpretation of the style of elite rule (HARALAMBOS HOLBORN,1990). Whereas Pareto and Mosca attempted to provide a general theory to explain the  nature and distribution of power in all societies, the American sociologist C.Wright Mills presents a less ambitious and wide-ranging version of elite theory. He limits his analysis to American society in the 1950s. Unlike the early elite theorists, Mills does not believe that elite rule is inevitable: in fact he sees it as a fairly recent development in the U.S.A. Unlike Pareto, who rather cynically accepts the domination of the masses by elites, Mills soundly condemns it. Since he sees elite rule as based upon the exploitation of the masses, he adopts a conflict version of elite theory (HARALAMBOS HOLBORN,1990). Robert A.Dahl has criticised Mills from a pluralist perspective. He has claimed that Mills has simply shown that the power elite has potential for control. Dahl argues, the potential for control is not equivalent to actual control. Dahl maintains that actual control can only be shown to exist by examination of a series of concrete cases where key decisions are made: decisions on taxation and expenditures, subsidies, welfare progrmas, military policy and so on. Dahl claims that by omitting to investigate a range of key decisions, Mills and also like-minded British sociologists have failed to establish where actual control lies. As a result Dahl argues that the case for a power elite remains unproven (HARALAMBOS HOLBORN, 1990). Since the British variant of power elite theory(the idea of a socially and culturally cohesive establishment) was first asserted in the 1950s, it has decreased rather than gained in plausibility. This is first, because British politics has become more polarised, more open and more democratic. It became more polarised in the 1970s, as large differences between major parties displaced consensus. In these circumstances, it became virtually impossible to maintain that elections did not alter things much, and even more difficult after the general election of 1979. Clearly, the advent of Mrs Thatcher changed things a great deal. Second, British government became more open and less secretive. This happened more by inadvertence than design and it was usually resisted by governments of the day. Nonetheless by the 1980s, the public were far more aware of what went on in the inner counsels of the  Cabinet and in the Whitehall village than was the case a generation previously. The publication of politicians diaries and memoirs(Richard Crossman, Barbara Castle), leaks by civil servants(Clive Ponting) and the revelations of goings-on within the secret services by people like Peter Wright provided fascinating if somewhat selective glimpses of power in the inner sanctums of government and made its mysteries less mysterious. Finally, as we have seen, certain important sectors of British society became more democratic. In political parties, members played an increasing role in the election of leaders and the selection of party candidates; in trade unions, balloting on the choice of leaders and on strike decisions became the norm. The increasing hold of television on society tended to promote both greater openess and greater democracy -not least by providing continual public demonstrations that, far from being cohesive and untied, the so-called establishment spoke with many, often sharply divergent, voices (COXALL ROBINS,1989). The overall count against the notion of an establishment in Britain is clear; it is neither united, nor -in an age of revelations and media coverage- mysterious, nor-and most important of all -free from popular control. It is a myth.