Macintyre And Determinism Essays - Philosophy, Metaphysics

Macintyre And Determinism Behavior is quite an interesting aspect of man to observe. All day long we demonstrate diverse types of behavior, from eating certain foods to speaking in certain ways. But of most interest is rational behavior. Behavior is rational if, and only if, it can be influenced, or inhibited by the adducing of some logically relevant consideration. (p.297) In his essay MacIntyre tries to show us that rational behavior is not causally determined, but that it comes out of our free will. The discovery of causal explanations for our actions, and the like, shows, or tries to show, that we could not have done other than what we did. From this, then, there would be no point to morality, which has been at the forefront of human thought for ages. But then again, to say the human behavior is inexplicable is to deny all that we have learned from the sciences. We have already given the definition for rational behavior, but in this definition we find a point which must be clarified, that of a logically relevant consideration. What exactly is a logically relevant consideration? Well, that is logically relevant will necessarily vary from case to case. And it can vary so much that MacIntyre even goes as far as saying that the task of philosophy might almost be defined as the task of defining 'logical relevance'. (p. 297) Rational behavior is then said to be defined with reference to the possibility of altering it by some logically relevant consideration. Thus, to show that a behavior is rational is enough to show that it is not causally determined, in the sense of it being the effect of certain conditions outside of a person's control. Being that there is rational behavior, it must follow that there is such a thing non-rational behavior. Non-rational behavior is, of course, behavior which does not take logically relevant considerations into account. Such an act can be said to be impulsive. As in all philosophical discourse the opposing party usually proposes a counter-attack. In this case, the determinist has launched a three-stage counter attack against free actions. Firstly the determinist argues that, in the widest sense of the word cause, the giving of a reason may function as a cause. MacIntyre argues against this by saying that to act because you were given reasons to act would not necessarily be to act in a causally determined way. (p. 299) For, in terms of the concept of rational behavior, we can certainly differentiate between a giving of reasons which is causally effective and a giving of reasons which is rationally effective. The determinist then moves to the second stage of his argument. He will say that there are empirical grounds for believing that we can always be mistaken about rational behavior. It may seem like the behavior is influenced by rational considerations when, in fact, it is completely determined by antecedent causes. To disprove this MacIntyre says that such antecedent causes would only determine the event in the absence of logically relevant conditions. In other words, if a logically relevant idea were offered to contradict the event about to take place, it is most likely that reason would take over and prevent that event from occurring. We now come to the determinist final attempt to disprove the act of free will. He might suggest that advances in learning theory, for example, might teach us that rational, intelligent behavior was nothing more than well-drilled behavior, of which a complete causal account could be given, only provided that that account was sufficiently complex. (p. 300) But how can this be? There are two problems in this suggestion. For one thing, a man might one day decide to stop being immoral. He may weigh out the pros and cons of a situation and decide to go with what is moral. Secondly, if determinism is to rest its hopes on such a complex pattern of explanation then it becomes very hard to either verify or disprove it. MacIntyre provides us with an example. Suppose that the determinist is able to formulate a complete explanation of my behavior in causal terms. But also suppose that my behavior is rational. Now what test can determine whether I acted because

Sample of Extended Definition Essay - How to Write an Extended Definition Essay

Sample of Extended Definition Essay - How to Write an Extended Definition EssayMost of the times, writers who write short stories often get confused on how to compose their sample of extended definition essay. Here are some tips that can help you in your writing process.A good writer of short stories always starts his work by doing some research. He does so because he does not want to plagiarize the work of other writers who have already published their work. This will prevent you from getting in trouble with copyright infringement lawsuits.What is important is to keep in mind the theme of the story while writing the sample of extended definition essay. If you do so, you will be able to come up with good ideas on how to write an essay. It also means that the idea is going to be the theme of the story. For example, if the story is about a man and his daughter, the idea of the story may be about his relationship with his son.So, you have to make sure that your story is well written bef ore you proceed. Do not forget to include the story in the introduction. By including the introduction, you will be able to show the readers the kind of tone of the story and the style in which you intend to finish the story. The introduction also helps you know how to write an extended definition essay.If you want to know how to write an extended definition essay, you should be able to relate your story to the theme and other characteristics of one. Make sure that you use the same language when writing your story. If you want to avoid getting any plagiarism suits, it is better that you choose the same language when writing the essay as that is the one that is being used by other writers.If you are using the same language, you will be able to create a chain of thoughts in your story and will be able to make a connection between each part of the story. As the story starts, it will be easier for you to relate the two parts. Also, you will be able to add the events to the story with th e help of the introduction.Sample of extended definition essay can be useful in your writing process. However, you have to keep in mind that writing is a work of art. If you are able to remember all the tips, you can easily prepare your own work of art without having to worry about any mistakes.

Scelidosaurus - Facts and Figures

Scelidosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Scelidosaurus (Greek for rib of beef lizard); pronounced SKEH-lih-doe-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of western Europe and southern North America Historical Period: Early Jurassic (208-195 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 11 feet long and 500 pounds Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Bony plates and spines on back; quadrupedal posture; horny beak About Scelidosaurus As dinosaurs go, Scelidosaurus has a fairly deep provenance, popping up in the fossil record at the start of the Jurassic period, 208 million years ago, and persisting for the next 10 or 15 million years. In fact, this plant-eater was so basal in its features that paleontologists speculate it may have given rise to the family of dinosaurs, the thyreophorans, or armor-bearers, that included both the ankylosaurs (typified by Ankylosaurus) and stegosaurs (typified by Stegosaurus) of the later Mesozoic Era. Certainly, Scelidosaurus was a well-armored beast, with three rows of bony scutes embedded in its skin and tough, knobby growths on its skull and tail. Whatever its place on the thyreophoran family tree, Scelidosaurus was also one of the first ornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaurs, a family that included pretty much all of the highly specialized, herbivorous dinosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, with the exception of sauropods and titanosaurs. Some ornithischians were bipedal, some were quadrupedal, and some were capable of walking on both two and four legs; although its hind limbs were longer than its forelimbs, paleontologists speculate that Scelidosaurus was a devoted quadruped. Scelidosaurus has a complicated fossil history. The type specimen of this dinosaur was discovered in Lyme Regis, England, in the 1850s, and forwarded to the famous naturalist Richard Owen, who accidentally erected the genus name Scelidosaurus (rib of beef lizard) instead of the Greek construction he intended (lower hind limb lizard). Perhaps embarrassed by his mistake, Owen promptly forgot all about Scelidosaurus, even though its quadrupedal posture would otherwise have confirmed his early theories about dinosaurs. It was up to Richard Lydekker, a generation later, to pick up the Scelidosaurus baton, but this eminent scientist committed his own blunder, mixing up the bones of an additional fossil specimens with those of an unidentified theropod, or meat-eating dinosaur!

Contribution of Rawl's promary goods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Contribution of Rawl's promary goods - Essay Example For instance, the contribution of the Congress, in creating policies that would influence the societal justice. The existence of any human being depends on these goods. The third category is the wealth and income. Rawl argued that the primary goods had some relationship with the social welfare. Since human beings derive their happiness from the social welfare, it means that primary goods would contribute to human happiness. In most government system, policies on economic goods tend to influence the distribution of the primary goods in relation to satisfying the human rights. An individual does not have a choice when it comes to attending to the needs of basic right. Life traces its root from these rights thus; the conditions that influence these rights must be subject to control. Rawl views the primary goods as factors that will influence an individual ability to achieve the desired goals in life. While is it evident that some individuals will not exert the same efforts towards socia l development, it does not mean that authorities should practice unequal distribution of basic rights. Rawl perspective of inequality as an injustice posits that a segment within a nation would find itself unable to meet the basic liberties despite their best efforts (Sen, 1979:12). ... The existence of any human being depends on these goods. The argument tends to influence the economists view of goods. The distinction between the primary goods and other types of goods tend to borrow the perspectives of Rawl. It means that economic goods in the sense of Rawl must be either primary or secondary. Since the primary goods are essential as human basic freedom, human beings cannot do without them. In most government system, policies on economic goods tend to influence the distribution of the primary goods in relation to satisfying the human rights. An individual does not have a choice when it comes to attending to the needs of basic right. Life traces its root from these rights thus; the conditions that influence these rights must be subject to control. Rawl views the primary goods as factors that will influence an individual ability to achieve the desired goals in life. This argument tends to coincide with economists view of primary goods. The essentiality of these goods steers the society to the next level. The right to life is as primary as the basic goods. The focus that an individual may project in the society would depend on the ability to achieve the basic items. Theories about human needs tend to address the need to satisfy the basic needs as opposed to other needs (Risse, 2009:3). The primary needs affect the lives of every individual as opposed to other needs within the society. Conversely, this behaviour of the primary goods would influence attempts to initiate economic development in the society. For instance, people tend to work to satisfy the primary needs first before thinking of the other needs in the hierarchy of needs. As

Types of organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Types of organizations - Essay Example Although the world and its intelligent inhabitants have progressed greatly in these years, the importance and magnitude of innovation has been a constant factor. Even in this highly compact, globalized, industrialized culture, we need a constant burst of innovation to keep the society from going back into ultimate regression. A society that does not move forward goes backward. The reason is the constant competition, which is peculiar to the capitalist world economy. Societies, which cease to innovate, lag behind than those who keep changing for the better. Thus, in totality, they regress (Knights, 2003). Familiar with the importance of innovation in modern times, it is important to emphasize the central role it plays in the organizational settings. All sorts of organizations across the world need to keep their pace with the ever-expanding world economy. With more and more people joining the competition and striving for an upward financial mobility, the instinct to bring out something new and unique than others is of paramount importance. Companies that cannot stand out from their competitors do not survive. It is not difficult to comprehend then, that recruiters look out for candidates who stand out and have an ability to offer something new, something unique than their counterparts (Argyris, 1965). Anyhow, this paper attempts to expand on impact of innovation on organizations by evaluating three different types of organizations, namely armed forces, universities and non-governmental organizations and the role, innovation or innovative individuals play in their working. Armed forces are the most crucial part of a state. Although, popular notions about army makes one think that they are the most rigid structures available with the least amount of spaces for innovation. However, opposite is true. Army operates in times of war where all forces thrive on their estimation of the enemy’s strategies and it is at this front that innovation saves the day. By stra tegizing innovatively, the armed force can escape the estimations made by the enemy and save them a defeat. An innovative captain will save his army and land by placing his army men at spots where they are least expected. University is a place where ideas are born and tested. It is, in fact, the home of all innovations. It is also a place, which keeps changing. With an influx of new sets of students every year, a university has to keep revising its policies, criteria, and strategies to cater to the changing needs of the student body. A rigid system of education will only produce students who will not be able to survive the new world that they have been blinded from. For example, imagine what will happen if a medical, school teaches an outdated method to its students which is recently deemed dangerous. Those who were apt enough to stay updated with the new technology and learn the new methods will leave behind the doctors who did not. Finally, an NGO is one place where one cannot do without innovation. The reason being, innovation resides at the very core of the ideology at which the whole NGO industry is built up. This underlying ideology is to provide innovative solutions to the problems faced by the deprived people of developing nations. The need for innovation is crucial because the people approached by the NGOs

Cyber Bullying Essay Example for Free

Cyber Bullying Essay Cyber bullying has become an increasing issue in the last few years in the United States. The reason why this type of bulling is the worst because the bully could come from someone anonymous as well as it could come from any place and at any time. As a result, the victim that is being bullied will suffer some short and long term problems such as: mistrusting of others, anxiety, depression, poor performance at school, and can result in suicide. Due to the increasing number of teenagers being cyber bullied, it should be a criminal, punishable offense in the United States in order to protect the Nation’s children and teenagers. What is Cyber Bullying? In the rapid development in technology, there have been some issues that have come to light about the use of these products in the hands of adolescences. It has been found through some research that cyber bullying is a new form of violent behavior (Bendixen, Endresen, and Olweus, 2003). Cyber bullying behavior is described as violent behavior that is against an individual or group that is demonstrated through the usage of internet and mobile phones (Vandebsch and Cleemput, 2008). This type of violent behavior includes an individual hacking onto another individual’s personal website, leaking out damaging information through the use of communication technology such as: mobile phone, email, and sending messages. The Effects of Cyber Bullying Although cyber bullying does not occur in person, it can still have the same emotional and psychological effects of regular bullying. A child that has been bullied/cyber bullying more than likely to experience loneliness, unhappiness, anxiety, depression, and problems sleeping (Keith Martin, 2005). Many times the effects of bullying often go unnoticed due to the fact the victim feels embarrassed and/or afraid the bullying will continue. Often times, the victim tends to act anxious, less confident, and become very quiet in class (Keith Martin, 2005). As a result, the child has a significant hurdle in their development and it also can be a hindrance in their academic success. They have a fear that anything they put on any social site may be used against them by individual they know or don’t know. Punishing Cyber Bullying Cyber bullying has become a serious widespread problem that has become more savage than a schoolyard bullying (Vandebsch Cleemput, 2008). The adolescents lack the maturity to understand the consequences of their actions and feel that it is okay to retaliate without being caught (Vandebsch Cleemput, 2008). The increase stories of tragedies where children being bullied over social media sites have also increased in awareness. Stories such as Amanda Todd are coming out more and more in which the child has been bullied and the child commits suicide. Such tragic stories and nothing was ever done to the bullies or the bully was never found. As a result to the recent deaths of these children that have been bullied, many parents have pushed the government officials to do something and to criminalize cyber bullying. Amanda Todd’s mother is one that has established the Amanda Todd Trust Fund in which the donations is used to support and educate anti-bullying awareness. Many states like California has a law that makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate anyone through the web on social sites with the intent to threaten, harm, or intimidate other individuals (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). It is very difficult to make cyber bullying a federal crime in which the bullied committed suicide. The legal system is built to where the punishment fits the crime. Although cyber bullying does have its consequences and some cases do end in suicide we as a society, we must find a way to punish those that commit these crimes. Conclusion There are many different ways in how they’re exposed to the harsh life lessons of this world from predators to scam artists. Cyber bullying has come to light and it has many parents worried. One thing is for sure, it’s important for parents to be aware and learn how to navigate social media in order to help their children avoid cyber bullying and to be safe. The reason is that in the adolescence’s life, the most important stage is the period in where they develop relationships among their peers. They become more aware f issues in trying to have a place in their social world. This has a huge effect on their psychological development. Therefore, if adolescence has a positive relationship will lead to them having a successful identity and live in harmony with society (Sahin, Aydin, Sari, 2012). On the other hand, if the adolescence has a negative relationship such as bullying from their peers will harm their emotional, social, and psychological development (Sahin, Aydin, Sari, 2012). Therefore, as a society we should try the punishment that fits the crime.

Euthanasia Essays -- essays research papers

Euthanasia which comes from the Greek meaning of easy death is one of our societies highly debatable issues and the main reason for this argument is against active euthanasia, which is when a terminally ill patient is administered with a lethal drug or using other means to cause there death. There is also Passive euthanasia, which means the stopping or not starting a persons treatment, leaving their condition to run it’s course, without resuscitation. . Many people debate this issue stating that they believe that by participating in the practice of active euthanasia, that they are "playing God," but isn’t that what doctors are already doing by trying to keep their patients alive? Or perhaps, even worse, that they believe that people who support euthanasia are not acting out of mercy, but rather out of selfishness or that they are just giving up. People also think that it is just a fancy name for murder but isn’t murder defined as; â€Å"The unlawful, premeditated killing of one human being by another.† Where as with euthanasia an ill person is choosing to die and merely asking for assistance by another human being so that they can die in dignity with out having to commit suicide which can be very hard on the persons family and can also cause some legal problems. Some may also argue the point of what to do if a person is suffering with an illness of which there seems no hope of recovery, yet they are unable to make a choice for themselves, how do we know what that p...