Premise Of Hume Essays - Moral Philosophers,

Premise Of Hume In his Treatise of Human Nature, David Hume outlines his theory of human morality. Hume's argument is the notion that human morality is not based on rational thought and reason, but rather is a consequence of our passions. Because passions themselves can never present themselves as the product of any sort of reasoning, it would be illogical to ever judge a moral action as rational or irrational. This, therefore, raises the question, what is the role of reason in moral thinking? This paper will outline Hume's arguments on morality and attempt to discern the role of reason in morality. Additionally, it will explore the ultimate motivating factors of passionate thinking in an attempt to discern what sort of philosopher Hume really is. The basic premise of Hume's arguments on morality is simply that our actions are not governed by reason, but rather by passion or as Hume states, ?that reason alone can never be a motive to any action of the will; and secondly, that it can never oppose passion in the direction of the will.?(413) ?Reason to Hume, is the discovery of truth or falshood. Truth or falshood consists in an agreement or disagreement either to the real relations of ideas, or to real existence and matter of fact.?(458) It is Hume's understanding that rational thinking can only apply in ascertaining relationship between objects in the real world, as in an example of a scientist who uses reason to conclude that apples fall from trees because of a force called gravity. However, because reason does not apply to ideas and thoughts of the mind itself, it followed from this assertion that reason cannot move anyone to action. As Hume states, ?Abstract or demonstrative reasoning, therefore, never influences any of our actions, but only as it directs our judgment concerning causes and effects; which leads us to the second operation of the understanding.?(414) Passions, on the other hand, are not subject to an understanding of truth or falshood. They are internal thoughts, original motivations in the mind separate from the outside world. As Hume writes, ?Now ?tis evident our passions, volitions, and actions, are not susceptible of any such agreement or disagreement; being original facts and realities, complete in themselves, and implying no reference to other passions, volitions, and actions. ?Tis impossible, therefore, they can be pronounced either true or false, and be either contrary or conformable to reason.? (458) If this is the case, then the ultimate conclusion is that we can never judge our own motivating passions as rational or irrational. This notion of passions being neither reasonable nor unreasonable is important because it is Hume's belief that it is our passions that ultimately motivate our behavior. For Hume, the underlying motivations in humans arise from the notions of pleasure and pain. ?'Tis obvious, that when we have the prospect of pain or pleasure from any object, we feel a consequent emotion of aversion or propensity, and are carry'd to avoid or embrace what will give us this uneasiness or satisfaction.?(414) Thus, it is our internal desire, or passion, to limit suffering and maximize pleasure, and thus this is ultimately the founding motivator for our actions. Morality has an obvious influence on our actions. We as humans perceive the scenarios that surround us and act on them either in accordance or in specific opposition to our morality. Morals, therefore, have a definitive influence on the actions we take. As Hume states, ?Since morals, therefore, have an influence on the actions and affections, it follows, that they cannot be deriv'd from reason; and that because reason alone, as we have already prov'd, can never have any such influence. Morals excite passions, and produce or prevent actions. Reason of itself is utterly impotent in this particular. The rules of morality; therefore, are not conclusions of our reason.?(457) It is Hume's conclusion that since morality motivates us towards actions and reason does not, then morality cannot be a result of some rational decision making that occurs in our minds, and instead due to our internal passions and desires. This philosophy raises a few questions. First of all, what is the place of reason in Hume's philosophy? At a certain point in the text,

Dos and Donts of Social Security Disability Video

Dos and Donts of Social Security Disability Video Do’s and Don’ts of Social Security Disability Video Applying for Social Security Disability can be a complicated process.   If you or a relative or friend is considering applying for benefits, you may be wondering what you should do to have the best outcome.There’s a lot involved in the process, and many tips and steps to remember. To help simplify this, we’ve created an engaging video that explains the main do’s and don’ts of the application process. These simple, yet effective tips are important to keep in mind before, during and after the application process.Check out the video today and share with your loved ones to help them on the journey to receiving benefits. Also, be sure to download our SSD Process Infographic.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call  Disability Attorneys of Michigan  for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan  works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the  Social Security Disability Benefits  they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment, call  Disability Attorneys of Michigan  now for a free consultation at  800-701- 5524.Let Michigan’s experienced Social Security Disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.

Natives (or Black) Land Act No. 27 Law of 1913

Natives (or Black) Land Act No. 27 Law of 1913 The Natives Land Act (No. 27 of 1913), which was later known as the Bantu Land Act or Black Land Act, was one of the many laws that ensured the economic and social dominance of whites prior to Apartheid. Under the Black Land Act, which came into force 19 June 1913, black South Africans were no longer be able to own, or even rent, land outside of designated reserves. These reserves not only amounted to just 7-8% of South Africas land but were also less fertile than lands set aside for white owners. Impact of the Natives Land Act The Natives Land Act dispossessed black South Africans and prevented them from competing with white farm workers for jobs. As Sol Plaatje wrote in the opening lines of Native Life in South Africa, â€Å"Awakening on Friday morning, June 20, 1913, the South African Native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth.† The Natives Land Act was by no means the beginning of dispossession. White South Africans had already appropriated much of the land through colonial conquest and legislation, and this would become a vital point in the post-Apartheid era. There were also several exceptions to the Act. Cape province was initially excluded from the act as a result of the existing Black franchise rights, which were enshrined in the South Africa Act, and a few black South Africans successfully petitioned for exceptions to the law. The Land Act of 1913, however, legally established the idea that black South Africans did not belong in much of South Africa, and later legislation and policies were built around this law. In 1959, these reserves were converted to Bantustans, and in 1976, four of them were actually declared independent states within South Africa, a move that stripped those born in those 4 territories of their South African citizenship. The 1913 Act, while not the first act to dispossess black South Africans, became the basis of subsequent land legislation and evictions that ensured the segregation and destitution of much of South Africas population. Repeal of the Act There were immediate efforts to repeal the Natives Land Act. A deputation traveled to London to petition the British government to intervene since South Africa was one of the Dominions in the British Empire. The British government refused to intervene, and efforts to repeal the law came to nothing until the ending of Apartheid. In 1991, the South African legislature passed the Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures, which repealed the Natives Land Act and many of the laws that followed it. In 1994, the new, post-Apartheid parliament also passed the Restitution of Native Land Act. Restitution, however, only applied to lands taken through policies explicitly designed to ensure racial segregation. It, thus, applied to lands taken under the Natives Land Act, but not the vast territories taken prior to the act during the era of conquest and colonization. Legacies of the Act In the decades since the end of Apartheid, black ownership of South African land has improved, but the effects of the 1913 act and other moments of appropriation are still evident in the landscape and map of South Africa. Resources: Braun, Lindsay Frederick. (2014) Colonial Survey and Native Landscapes in Rural South Africa, 1850 - 1913: The Politics of Divided Space in the Cape and Transvaal. Brill. Gibson, James L. (2009). Overcoming Historical Injustices: Land Reconciliation in South Africa.   Cambridge University Press. Plaatje, Sol. (1915) Native Life in South Africa.

Corporate Social Responsibility Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Term Paper Example The concept of corporate social responsibility is underpinned by the specific idea or principle that the organizations around the globe cannot act as the isolated economic units operating in the detachment from the broader society. Traditional and old views about survival, profitability, and competitiveness have been swept away through the concept of CSR (Fukukawa, 2011, p.121). In the past, the governments of the developed and developing countries strongly relied on the regulation and legislation to deliver environmental and social objectives in the competitive business sector. Recoiling government resources, integrated with the regulation’s distrust has guided to the exploration of non-regulatory and voluntary initiatives. Growing demand for the corporate disclosure from the stakeholders including suppliers, employees, investors, communities, activist organizations, and customers are pushing business towards the CSR initiatives. Recently several investors are changing the wa y of the performance assessment of the organizations. Investors are making their investment decisions based on various criterions that include ethical concerns. According to the report of social investment forum, more than 2 trillion US dollars valued assets invested in the portfolio linked to the social and environmental responsibility. The organizations are trying to maintain proper business ethics in their business practices in order to motivate and attract shareholders and investors. In addition, employees within the organization are increasingly looking beyond several employment benefits. Effective and skilled employees are the strongest asset of an organization. Therefore, it is important for the organization to retain skilled, experienced and effective employees. The organizations are trying to motivate their employees by providing employment benefits and taking care of their professional and personal needs. In this competitive business environment, it is important for the or ganization to retain skilled employees. Moreover, the organizations are trying to maintain an effective relationship with the suppliers.  

Issues in Secondary Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Issues in Secondary Education - Essay Example This stage, which is preceded by the Concrete Operational stage, begins more or less at age 11, which is beginning of puberty and continues well into adulthood. (Abbeduto, 2006, 131)This stage is characterized by acquisition of the ability to think abstractly and draw conclusions from the information available. This stage is also important to our topic, because the students are entering puberty around this time, which leads them to many questions about themselves and their bodies; further leading to questions about just who they think they are. According to Erik Erikson, there are eight stages of human development. Along with the stages themselves, Erikson also states that a psychosocial crisis occurs during each of the stages; for this stage, the psychosocial crisis is titled Identity versus role confusion. As stated by Erikson, this stage is when the adolescent student becomes concerned with how they appear to others. Many adolescents ask themselves "Who am I? Where am I going in life?", and confusion occurs because of the cognitive and bodily changes happening to the learner. Peer groups also play a role in this stage, because they affect who a student thinks they are too. (Blair, 2006, 53) The confusion of trying to decide what peer group you fit into exacerbates the possible identity crisis. At last is Abraham Maslow, with his Hierarchy of requirements. At the same time, when above-mentioned theorists talked about various stages of development, Maslow's theory is a little bit different; his theory explains that regardless of the age of a person, everyone is willing to have their requirements fulfilled. (Cooper, P. & Mcintyre, 2008, 383) The requirements that relate the most to this topic are the Belonging and the Esteem Requirements.  Ã‚  

The Fight to Help the Snow Leopard Essay example -- Wildlife

An endangered species is â€Å"any species†¦ that is at risk of extinction because of the sudden rapid decrease in its population or loss of its habitat† (Dublin, par. 1). An animal that falls under this category is the â€Å"Panthera Uncia† (Dublin, par. 1) –more commonly known as the snow leopard. This animal is seen as a threat to many people in Central Asia –the natural habitat of the leopard. However, the conclusion is inaccurate. The snow leopard is a rare creature that is hardly seen by humans. This animal is insulated by thick fur and has tremendous paws that act like snow shoes. Snow leopards have powerful legs that allow them to jump up to at least fifty feet. Along with their unique body style, they have a long tail that helps keep their balance and can shield them from the cool mountain air (National Geographic, par. 1). This innocent animal is being destroyed by humanity. Humans are invading its home. Therefore, it needs help be fore it is too late. The snow leopard is a vital link in its natural habitat of Central Asia; immediate action must be taken by the world to prevent its extinction. The history of the snow leopard begins in1972, when it was first listed as an endangered species. There are several contributing factors to the endangerment of this beautiful mammal. These would include the destruction of their habitat and increased poaching. Although people have tried to resolve this problem, more needs to be done to save the snow leopard. The environment and habitat of the snow leopard is being ruined; consequently, resulting in their endangerment. The territory of the snow leopard is vanishing without anyone noticing. An example of this is â€Å"in Ladakh, where tourism and rapid development have taken thei... ...ters: Will Politics Prevent National Park in the High Pamirs of Tajikistan?† 44.1: EBSCO. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. Dublin, Holly. â€Å"Endangered Species.† Encyclopedia Britannica. Ed. Vol. Merriam-Webster Inc, 2012. Print. Ebrahim, Zofeen. â€Å"Endangered Snow Leopard Clawing its way Back.† The Guardian.N.p. 12 Aug. 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. Feline Conservation Federation.N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015. Knickerbocker, Brad. â€Å"Controversy Erupts Over Endangered Species Act.† The Christian Science Monitor (2007): Print. Matthiessen, Peter. The Snow Leopard.The Harvill press, 1996. Print. Miller, Tyler, and Scott Spoolman.Environmental Science.Brooks/Cole, 2008. Print. National Geographic.National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015. Snow Leopard Conservancy.N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015. Snow Leopard Trust.N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

Sociology of Sports – Baseball

There are several theoretical perspectives of looking at sports from the sociology of sports view including conflict, functionalist, interactions, and feminist. The most useful though, in looking at the sociology of sports is the functionalist view. Functionalist regard sports as an almost religious institution that uses ritual and ceremony to reinforce the common values of a society (Ekern, 2013). This means that functionalist view sports by the competition and patriotism of the younger generation and assist in maintaining a person’s physical condition. Not only do sports function as a safety valve for the viewers and the athletes for shedding destructive and tension energy in a way that is socially acceptable, but sports also assist in the joining of members of a community. The functionalist view seems to be the most appropriate over the other views in examining the sociology of sports. There are many reasons why the functionalist view is the most useful to use in viewing the sociology of sports. A big reason why the functionalist view is better is because many small communities spread throughout the world are built upon sports, especially in small communities that are not near any big cities. Sports are all they have in common and motivate the communities. Another reason is that the spectators and athletes always act in a different manner when they are either watching the sport or playing it, which is usually in an aggressive manner. When they are not watching the sport or discussing it they are usually completely different people. The last good reason is that it does help to maintain a person’s physical appearance, whether it is athletes staying in shape so they can be in top condition to compete or people that are ran by the idea of sports and want to stay in shape just like the athletes do. Sociology of sports, also referred to as sports sociology, is the study of the relationship between sports and society (Crossman, 2013). Aside from the functionalist view on sports sociology there other areas of study that are closely looked at, such as sports and gender, sports and media, and sports and gender and identity. Sports and gender targets man and women playing sports. Women were not even allowed to play sports until after the 1930’s because it was considered too masculine for them. Even in today’s age you never hear of women playing football or hockey, except maybe as a kid at school, and that is even very rare. Nowadays though in some sports they have a men’s team and a women’s team, such as basketball. There are even women that train in wrestling and boxing. The media is also another study of the sociology of sports that plays the games on the television. While the media will cover the men on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing and pro wrestling, the sports that are usually covered for the women are figure skating, diving, gymnastics, and skiing. The media will also keep the audiences informed of player’s accomplishments and achievements. The gender identity of sports is another topic that often looked at because of sports having gender specific roles that is acceptable by society. Women are generally always treated more harshly in sports than men especially at younger ages. One reason that sports engage scholarly interests is because of the teaching of important values (Lewis, 2008). Sports sociology has studied higher education and sport and sport as a functional alternative to religion. Gender and racial discrimination in sports have also been studied, as well as social mobility on the basis of sport success that includes race and gender Another area that has been studied is the social problems of the sport that includes drugs, sports violence, and injuries. As you can see, all areas and aspects of sports, whether it was in the past or present day have been studied and as always to any debate everyone has a different view and perspective. There is no right or wrong answers to the sociology of sports, just opinions on different circumstances. The reason that people participate in sports, whether it is a fan, player, or a business is for the love of the sport and the profits. Some people just love the sport, while others try to make as big a profit as they can. Sports answer to a humans needs by providing a competitive entertaining experience. Sports can be explained from a sociological point of view as a necessity to most community’s different needs and circumstances. Baseball is a favorite pastime that dates as far back as 2000 B. C. with a ball and stick type games. However, the first rules were written by Alexander Cartwright, considered to be the Father of modern baseball (Penn, 2006). Alexander was part of the NY Knickerbockers, which was the first organization to play baseball in America that was established on September 23, 1845. In 1858, the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) were created and known as the first baseball league. It wasn’t until 1860 though, that it was commonly referred to as â€Å"the National pastime† in several publications. Baseball is one of America’s most played sports and continually competitive against other teams and between individuals, especially in today’s age of baseball. The Sociodemographic description of fans and players of baseball is simple. The average MLB player rakes in over $2,000,000 a year if they are eligible for arbitration, which could come from disparate socioeconomic groups and from different countries. The average fan has an income of 30,000 to 40,000 a year and the high up luxury seats are for professionals that are in a very high income bracket and the corporate types. Being that baseball is very popular and has a very high income potential, it is definitely a professional sport. Baseball fits in to contemporary American life by giving fans something to always talk about. This sport gives society a certain set of values that fans and players live by. There are also culture trends that have impacted the sport of baseball. In fact, look at the roster of just about any Major League Baseball team, and you’ll find many of the most talented players coming from Latin American countries (Thomas, 2007). The media constantly reports on baseball, which gives the fans something to always talk, such as if they lost or won a game. If you look at the players, most of them are younger in age and usually are not over 40. All major league players are also male, which affect the views for the fans on the sport. As a beginning sociologist, the meaning of baseball as a social institution is very clear. Baseball is talked about, whether it is off season or every game, either loss or win, that gives fans something to always talk about. Over half of America enjoys this past time and every single one of them has their own opinion, depending on their team of choice and the opposing teams. Baseball is a sport that is great to attend in person, in order to get the full effect of the national past time. The baseball game that I had the chance of observing was the Rangers versus the Angels. The setting of the baseball field was split between the Ranger fans, which was a home game and the Angels fans. The field was a big diamond shape with for bases that the players have to run after a successful hit to the ball that the pitcher is throwing at them. There were also players from the opposing team that were stationed at each base and in the field closer to the stands. I notice that the environment changed drastically after each successful hit that made it close to the stands. Most of the fans would stand with excitement and all the players would scramble to get the ball and the player that hit it would try to run to as many bases before the is taken control of. The fans that were at the game that I attended were in their mid 20s to early 40s. The fans were a majority of men, but there were women there too. It seemed like a majority of the fans also wore their favorite player shirts and got excited every time the player hit the ball. It seemed that the fans age ration compared to the players were on the same levels. Most baseball player retires by time their 40, so the age comparison was evenly matched, from what I saw. The social behaviors that stood out were most fans would purchase a hot dog and beer from the concessions. It is always tradition to purchase a hot dog†, some of the fans would say. Fans would also be in groups for supporting their favorite teams. One special language and knowledge that characterizes the sport is Home Run. One particular behavior that I witnessed at the game was that when one team is winning the fans are excited and cheering and when their favorite team is losing they are booing and unhappy. Being at th e Rangers game made me aware of people’s behavior and surroundings and was a great experience to participate in. Sports use to be a big part of my life when I was a kid. I can remember collecting the Tops baseball cards with the hard piece of gum in it. It seems that every time I got some money I would go purchase the cards. Now that I look back, I realize that was my sociology behavior of being a fan. I also played baseball in school a lot, as well as other sports, such as football and basketball. When I was playing my attitude always changed to a competitive nature and I always got the mindset of crushing the opposing team. When I look back, I was two different people when I switched from a fan to a player and vice versa. The experiences of being a fan and a player as a kid didn’t have a huge impact to my adult life. I think that maybe that I played and watched sports too much as a kid, because I don’t have much interest in sports in my adult life. I read the newspaper to learn who wins and who is playing, but that is about it. I just learn enough to hold a conversation with my coworkers and friends and that’s it. So I guess the role that it plays in my life is that I played and watched it so much that it has caused me to lose interest in it. I can see how my experiences can connect me to others who are sports fans and participants. Sports are very big for kids in school and always have been. Most kids have shared the experiences that I have growing up. I’m not sure if they still sell Tops, but nonetheless kids are easily influenced and they do what everyone else is doing. Since so many adults like to watch sports and participate, it is a good assumption to say that most kids participate in some way or another, whether it is being a fan or participating in the sport itself. References Crossman, A. (2013). Sociology of Sports. Retrieved from http://sociology.about.com/od/Disciplines/a/Sociology-Of-Sports.htm. Ekern, J. (2013). Looking at Sports from Four Theoretical Perspectives. Retrieved from Article at Colorado Technical University Online. Lewis, J. (2008). Sociology of Sports. Retrieved from Kent State University at http://www.cengage.com/custom/enrichment_modules/data/0495598127_Sociology_of_Sports-mod_watermark.pdf. Penn, F. (2006). Early History of Baseball in America. Retrieved from Favorite Traditions. Com at http://www.favoritetraditions.com/baseball.html. Thomas, W. (2007). Sports – How Culture Impacts Our Choices. Retrieved from Ezine Articles at http://ezinearticles.com/?Sports—How-Culture-Impacts-Our-Choices&id=932334.