What Role Does Language and Language Diversity Play in the Critical Thinking Process?

Language is probably the best instrument for individuals. Through dialects we can speak with others through our pity, happiness, outrage and disarray. When there are two individuals, it is unavoidable that our lines will cross and how it settle relies upon correspondence. Language encourages us sort out what we wish to tell the other individual. At the point when we don’t realize the language all around ok, we experience trouble in seeing one another. Besides, it is generally held that realizing more language extends our comprehension of our encounters. Some portion of the explanation is on the grounds that when you learn new dialects, you become familiar with the way of life that accompanies it. For instance, we can't completely become familiar with the Korean language without know in the way of life. In the learning procedure, we should become familiar with the way of life inside the language itself. We additionally should know that a few words don't mean other language. All things considered, we need to think fundamentally on how we could depict in the most ideal manner to convey. As we do that, we get more expertise in conveying to another, for example, taking into account what the other individual may be encountering. Language and language decent variety have a major influence in sorting out, summing up, and above all reacting to the entire procedure of basic reasoning. In basic reasoning, correspondence is the result and language clearly is a major piece of correspondence. Correspondence requires understanding. As I presented, language is planned with the goal that we can convey for getting what and how we feel. Utilizing visual language, for example, signals, signs, and pictures likewise assists with the way toward comprehension. Curiously, words have equivocal implications dependent on the various settings. It is essential to have the option to perceive the setting in which the word is utilized all together that there will be clear basic reasoning. I accept that language enables or confines the statement of our considerations, anyway I likewise realize that we have feelings that are exceptionally hard to portray. With an absence of jargon, we can have a troublesome time in communicating our actual musings and emotions. Language is made so we can convey our feelings inside ourselves, and in the event that it is hard to convey that exact message, it has the ability to improve or restrain the statement of our contemplations. For example, if I somehow happened to talk with an individual who communicates in an alternate language, it will be hard to convey the a reasonable message in view of the language obstruction. The main thing that could help in the circumstance is the individual information on the language. In the event that we know the various implications of words and the foundation of the individual you are addressing, we likely could characterize terms cautiously and position our words effectively. Basic reasoning could be the most significant job in procedure of influence. To begin with, we need to look at and assess the circumstance from a few unique perspectives so as to build up our sentiment. This is fundamentally the same as the progression of determination in basic reasoning. At that point, we have to gather the source that underpins the assessment. This will help significantly while summing up the end. In the subsequent stage, basic reasoning will be utilized again as we have to understand the significance of understanding the issues. One of the most significant viewpoints that we should know about in influence is to comprehend what the other individual is thinking with the end goal of better influence. In conclusion, we have to sum up the strategy, at the end of the day, how you will introduce as indicated by the supposition and coherent examination with significant sources. As I portray this bit by bit, I am persuaded that basic reasoning holds a urgent job in influence. It is basic to know about the intensity of language. It permits us to impart and comprehend to progress in our general public. Information will likewise be gone on through language, and when you join that information with basic reasoning, it will broaden your comprehension to have the option to speak with various individuals. At the point when language engages or restricts the declaration of our contemplations, we have to think basically to look for the words that may have the option to mention to the next individual what you truly feel. Finally, influence can be meddled by the feelings. We have to keep up inside basic deduction to have the option to dissect coherently. In the event that we don't utilize the language appropriately, it will cause misconstruing, hurt, and harms through correspondences. Notwithstanding, in the event that we realize how to utilize it right and have the better information and comprehension, it will assist with improving this world to a spot.

Themes in Heart of Darkness free essay sample

What is the core of dimness of the novel’s title? Think regarding dynamic ideas just as of spots and characters. 2. MAN AND THE NATURAL WORLD Nature and human progress rather definitively speak to the polarity of crude non-Europeans and refined Europeans. Human progress comes to allude to the alleged illumination and refinement of the Western world. The British radicals feel their originations of dark brutality are affirmed when the local Africans assault the pioneers and uncover their savagery. The white Europeans look to tame these Africans with human advancement, yet the thought becomes dangerous when honorable charitableness goes about as a shield for dazzle government. The white men who call their activities benevolent are immediately perceived by the perusers as charlatans. Inquiries Concerning Man and the Natural World right away, what does progress speak to? What does nature speak to? Does this differentiation remain constant as the novel advances? How does the idea of human advancement become hazardous as the novel advances? How are the Company’s endeavors to ‘civilize’ the Africans tricky? On the off chance that nature is franticness initiating, what does this say about human instinct, particularly the local Africans? How do various parts of nature, particularly the waterway and the wilderness, become characters in their own right? What is nature’s mentality towards man? Inquiries Regarding Fate and Free Will How are the two old sewing ladies encapsulations of Fate? For what reason does Marlow imagine them toward the end? Are for the most part the mishaps that continue deferring Marlow’s venture into the inside really accidental? How is Kurtz a result of destiny? What exactly degree do his own decisions influence his drop into franticness? Could his end have been forestalled? Is Marlow bound to meet Kurtz? How do his own decisions towards the finish of the novel influence Kurtz, himself, and the Intended? QOUTES In the road †I don’t know why †a strange inclination came to me that I was a sham. We will compose a custom exposition test on Topics in Heart of Darkness or then again any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Odd thing that I, who used to get out for any piece of the world at a twenty-four hours’ notice, with less idea than most men provide for the going across of a road, had a second †I won’t state of wavering, yet of frightened delay, before this ordinary issue. The most ideal way I can disclose it to you is by saying that, for a second or two, I felt as if, rather than setting off to the focal point of a mainland, I were going to embark for the focal point of the earth. (1. 30) Marlow feels an apprehensive expectation about beginning his excursion, just as Fate accepts he isn't skilled. Statement #5 But as I remained on this slope, I anticipated that in the blinding daylight of that land I would get familiar with an out of shape, imagining, powerless peered toward fallen angel of a greedy and savage habit. How tricky he could be, as well, I was distinctly to discover a while later and a thousand miles farther. For a second I stood dismayed, just as by a notice. (1. 3 7) Fate permits Marlow to perceive what revulsions lay coming up for him, explicitly another sort of fiend which Marlow is curious about with. For one brief fit of a second, he has questions about whether he ought to go on subsequent to seeing Fate’s notice. Be that as it may, he permits this uncertainty to manage him just for a moment. Statement #6 [The accountant]: Oh, he [Kurtz] will go far, far, he started once more. He will be a someone in the Administration in a little while. They, above †the Council in Europe, you realize mean him to be. (1. 47) Kurtz is introduced as a man bound for incredible things. Statement #7 [At the Central Station]: One of them, a bold, sensitive chap [†¦] educated me [†¦] that my liner was at the base of the waterway. I was amazed. What, how, why? Goodness, it was OK. The director himself was there. All very right [†¦] I didn't see the genuine importance of that disaster area on the double. I extravagant I see it now, however I don't know †not in the slightest degree. Unquestionably the undertaking was too moronic †when I consider it †to be through and through normal. Still†¦but right now it introduced itself basically as a perplexed irritation. The liner was sunk. They had begun two days before in an abrupt rush up the stream with the director ready, accountable for some volunteer captain, and before they had been out three hours they removed the base from her on stones, and she sank close to the south bank†¦. the fixes when I carried the pieces to the station, took a few months. (1. 50-51)

School-Based Consultations

Conduct model takes a gander at the practices of the people in question, by returning by gathering information on their social history. The conduct demonstrating is intended to survey at the personal conduct standards of a person from an earlier time and identify with them to the present, know why individual is carrying on in that abnormal habits, regardless of whether the reasons for the conduct change could be the family, condition, the companions, the working environment or the network and afterward search for methodologies that can help with remedying the conduct. In social displaying the expert should search for methods of attempting to adjust the conduct of the kid and furthermore know why the kid is carrying on in that odd manner. Inside a general setting of worry for the boy’s intrigue, the consultant’s mediation can be categorized as one of the accompanying classes; a) prescriptive which is tied in with offering guidance and guidelines and being order and basic, b) educational by bestowing new information, training and deciphering, c) standing up to which is testing a prohibitive disposition or direct input inside a mindful setting, d) carthartic, which is trying to discharge feeling as chuckling, trembling and outrage, e)catalytic which is urging the kid to find and investigate his own dormant considerations and sentiments and f) strong which is offering solace and endorsement, asserting the boy’s natural worth. On the setting and foundation issues, the advisor ought to be arranged completely for the activity. He/she ought to have all the fundamental foundation data about the kid to be talked. The expert ought to at any rate be advised by the educator on what has been done and regions which should be taken a gander at, with the end goal that when taking care of the kid, it could be anything but difficult to move toward him and recognize what sort of inquiries to pose to him. The spot/room ought to be set for the interview exercise and it ought to be advantageous to the kid. The kid ought to be mentally arranged for the activity for it to be effective. The objectives of discussion are to draw in experienced and qualified work force in a specific field from outside the establishment, family, school association or any set up in order to have the option to deal with a specific issue or issue from an alternate point of view without impact from anyone. The specialist should be an individual who is exceptionally qualified and who has been in the field/calling for quite a while and has that experience which is expected to deal with a specific issue with no issue. The expert ought to be an individual who has great ethics, follows the set down proficient morals and sets of accepted rules and who regards his/her customers without in regards to their age yet treating them with much regard and care. They should be individuals who are exceptionally trustworthy in light of the fact that their final result will be a significant archive which will be utilized to uphold or execute extraordinary estimates that are intended to improve the current state of an individual from more regrettable to better. For any consultancy to be embraced, the specialist ought to be met to see if he/she will have the option to deal with the current issue. This is intended to spare time and get the normal outcomes toward the finish of the consultancy. On the consultee (the kid), the advisor should see if has had any experience with any specialist beforehand and know how they collaborated. The kid ought to at any rate know what counsels implies and what is expected of him during the activity. The model facilitates a lot of what is called steps which should address two appropriate inquiries; when should each progression be taken? furthermore, when are the contributions to each progression decided? The means incorporate the accompanying; an) Initiating a meeting the specialist should initially start a meeting for conversation. He/she ought to present him/herself to the kid so the kid could know about who he will examine with. The underlying affinity will decide on how the conversation will stream. The expert should mention to the kid what he anticipates from him and the kid ought to be offered time to choose if he will converse with the advisor. b) Find out about the authentic foundation of the family/data assembling the specialist ought to basically take a gander at the standards of conduct of the boy’s family before making ends. He should discover whether actually the father’s disorder influences his presentation. Are there different individuals from the family who are still in school and have been influenced by the equivalent? The advisor should see if the kid was directed beforehand and if there was any effect. He should think about the scholastic execution of the kid before the dad was debilitated and during the time he is wiped out and afterward concoct an end. It might be conceivable that the kid could be utilizing the father’s infection to perform ineffectively. Simultaneously if the family has a place with a fundamentalist strict faction that had been dependent upon analytical news coverage into supposed psyche control by a national news appear, this can likewise change the boy’s conduct. The fundamentalist factions show their adherents on radical issues which totally changes the psyche and conduct settings of their supporters. A lot of radicalism and fundamentalism may have gone into the young men mind and transformed him totally and along these lines influenced his scholarly exhibition. The standards of conduct of the kid ought to be followed from the time he joined the fundamentalist strict organization and simultaneously take a gander at the personal conduct standards of the other relatives. c) Explaining and arranging this is the best second for the advisor to give the right sum and kind of data that is required from the kid. Some data may not be vital and it is dependent upon the specialist to control the conversation with the kid and stick just to the subject so as not to sit around idly on issues that won't be useful. The specialist ought to likewise make the kid review of his most noticeably terrible conduct acts to such an extent that these can bring the kid nearer into censuring himself and yet attempting to make a social change inside himself without being constrained. This is intended to accomplishing a mutual comprehension between the kid and the specialist and clears a path for a common dynamic. d) Isolation-the kid ought to be detached from others, yet a few people ought to be with him to give him organization and must be visited to screen on his social change. The experts ought to in detachment with the kid study his practices and recognize what is truly occurring. He should delve profound into the previous history of the kid, the practices of the family and the conditions that have made him to act like so. This data must be gotten from the kid when he is separated from everyone else with the expert whereby he has the opportunity of communicating uninhibitedly. At the point when a casualty of the situation is blended in with individuals of a similar issue it turns out to be hard to get data from him/her in light of the fact that the individuals who are with that individual may impact his/her addressing to the inquiries posed. Separation doesn't imply that the kid ought to be totally disconnected from other kids or the family however put in disengagement when conversing with the specialist. The advisor should likewise ensure that the detachment procedure doesn't influence the kid yet improves his focus during the conversation work out. ) Show the fatherly and maternal love-the specialist ought to at his/her level best the fatherly and maternal love to the kid. The kid may have been influenced by the father’s infection in that the kid may have been extremely near his dad and now he is wiped out and possibly conceded in the clinic. The kid is feeling the loss of the fatherly love from the time the dad got wiped out. This has focused on the by to a point he can’t perform well in class. This is something significant that the expert should take a gander at acutely. Each individual needs the adoration for the two guardians to develop and grow ordinarily and if the kid is feeling the loss of the affection and nonattendance of the dad, his mentality and conduct will change. The instructor may presume that the boy’s practices have change including his presentation and that he is utilizing the father’s ailment to perform ineffectively without thinking about that, genuine the father’s ailment is a contributing element to his social changes and poor scholarly execution. f) Become nearer to the kid the specialist ought to build up a cozy relationship with the kid. He should make the kid to be OK with him/her all the time they will spend together. The advisor ought not be thoughtful to the kid as this will intensify the circumstance however should ensure that kid comprehends what he is experiencing and should build up an uplifting disposition towards change as this will be to help his mental prosperity. The advisor should likewise include the companions of the kid to discover progressively about the boy’s conduct when they are as one. The companions ought to be urged to converse with the kid on changing his standard of conduct and they ought to simultaneously reveal to him the results of his changed terrible conduct in a more amicable way. The advisor ought to try and remove the kid from the school if the kid feels that the spot is awkward for him for conversations. This will give the kid more opportunity to communicate and will assemble certainty and trust among him and the specialist. It is up to the advisor additionally to manufacture the rust and certainty with the kid and this will depend regarding how she/he will deal with himself/herself towards the kid. The specialist should likewise include the relatives who ought to be asked to turn out to be nearer to the kid. May be the mother is caught up with taking care of the husband’s ailment thus there is nobody to try and help the kid to soothe the pressures and stresses that are upsetting his prosperity. The relatives and companions should assume a greater job in displaying the conduct of this kid through being nearer and talking

The Tempest vs. Macbeth - Free Essay Example

In Shakespeares The Tempest and Macbeth, supernatural elements and magic are quite prevalent throughout the stories. From witches to spirits readers experience these other worlds that Shakespeare creates in his writing. The way magic is used and represented in these two plays is very different. Magic in Macbeth is used to show evil and darkness while the magic in The Tempest is far more natural and follows the laws of nature. The very first people in Macbeth that speak are the three witches. They are seen chanting and seemingly predicting future events. The play is set up right away with this idea of the supernatural world. The witches put you right into a place of magic and wonder. The strategic use of the witches at the beginning tells you that magic will be a part of the play. The witches being used as foreshadowing agents allows the readers to get the supernatural essence that the characters bring. They end the first scene with the famous line Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air (1.1, 12-13). As the play progresses into the third scene, Macbeth states So foul and fair a day I have not seen (1.3, 137). By using the exact same words as the witches used in scene one, it clearly shows that the witches have these powers to see into the future. Banquo even refers to the witches as instruments of darkness and they are symbolized as evil beings (1.3, 236). Another way that mag ic and the supernatural is symbolized as evil in Macbeth is with the floating dagger. In the first scene of act two Macbeth is plotting the murder of Duncan in order to fulfill the witches prophecies. While this plotting is happening, Macbeth sees a dagger floating towards him. As Macbeth gets his first look at the dagger he says, Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight? Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which now I draw (2.1, 613-620). It is unclear if this is a hallucination or a ghostly omen, but this proves to the audience that the supernatural occurs whenever something evil is stirring. As the play continues into act three after the murder of Banquo we see his ghost appear during the banquet. Macbeth is the only one wh o can see Banquos ghost, so this begins to show Macbeths mental state in the play. I believe Banquos ghost is used to represent all the crimes that Macbeth has committed. Overall, the supernatural elements in Macbeth are used to depict evil and darkness. In The Tempest the magic doesnt feel as dark and sinister as it does in Macbeth. The story of The Tempest really revolves around magic and the plot wouldnt exist without it. While the magic of this show really drives the plot, it is also used as a tool to mesmerize its audience. Several of the characters in this play have magical powers. Perhaps the most central magical character is Prospero. His magic is not evil, nor does it represent evil in the story. In act one Prospero says The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touched the very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such provision in mine art so safely ordered that there is no soulNo, not so much perdition as an hair, Betid to any creature in the vessel (1.2.33-38). This proves that Prospero has been thoughtful in the fact that he is trying to make sure that everyone is safe. So, even though his magic may seem to be bad, his intentions are good and he wants to make sure that everyone is safe in the process. The magic of The Tempest is different because instead of representing something evil, Prosperos true purpose is to use mans natural born goodness to create change a potential path of evil and turn it into something good. His powers allow him to manipulate what happens in the story and gives him the power to affect peoples lives and relationships. After reading The Tempest, I considered Prosperos magic more as a use of metaphorically being the playwright of the story. His powers allow to essentially control everything that is going to happen to the people around him, therefore seemingly being the puppet master to this entire story. This is different from Macbeth because the magic or supernatural elements dont necessarily drive the plot of the story. They are just there to be symbolic elements. Whereas The Tempest would not exist without magic. In the fourth act Prospero says Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits and are melted into air, into thin air; and like the baseless fabric of this vision, the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve, and, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep (4.1.165-175). This to me is very representative of theater and storytelling, thus proving that Prospero could be a metaphor for a playwright. Shakespeare was great at incorporating magic and the supernatural world into his stories. What is more amazing though is that he was able to incorporate it into multiple stories and making them completely different. Macbeth and The Tempest may have both included supernatural elements, but they couldnt be more different stories. Macbeth was able to tell a darker story with its supernatural elements while The Tempest went in a completely different direction with its magic.

The Rise Of Labor Unions Essay - 1155 Words

The main reason of the rise of labor unions was the quick industrialization of the US economy. During the post-Civil War period, the US economy became extremely industrialized. This meant that more and more people were working in factories owned by large companies rather than working in small shops for themselves or for small businesses. In addition, large numbers of immigrants were coming to the US. They created a huge pool of labor that made labor prices go down and the quality of working conditions. During this time pay was low and working conditions were very bad. People were working in factories for large companies. These issues combined to make many workers unhappy with their position in life. They wanted a much better deal for themselves and they thought that unions were a good way to achieve that. It was in this way, industrialization led to the rise of labor unions. The labor movement in the United States grew out of the need to protect the interest of workers. For those in the industrial area, organized labor unions struggled fighting for better wages, reasonable hours and much safer working conditions. The labor movement fought to stop child labor, give better health benefits and provide help to workers who were injured and/or retired. Since many laborers were immigrants, they frequently spoke different languages and harbored racial and cultural biases. Many only planned to stay in America long enough to earn enough money to return to their homelandsShow MoreRelatedThe rise and fall of Labor Unions1545 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Kevin Campusano Class Prof. 30 November 2014 The rise and fall of labor unions Labor union is an organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. During the industrial revolution in Europe there was a rise in new workers without representation in the workplace. In the 19th century the industrial revolution spread to the United States from Europe, this resulted in the economy shifting to manufacturing from agriculture as an economicRead MoreThe Rise Of Labor Unions, Strikes, Protests And Uprisings Essay2145 Words   |  9 PagesThe later half of the 19th century was characterized by the rise of labor unions, strikes, protests and uprisings. Starting in the 1960s, workers started to feel strongly the presence and pressure of instability in social mobility. â€Å"The truth could hardly be denied. Class, as defined in terms of dignity, was increasingly insecure† [Isenberg[8]] The gap between the rich and the poor became wider and the working class erroneously placed in-between began to que stion their identity and in the processRead MoreApush Labor Union Dbq Essay809 Words   |  4 PagesThe 1800s is characterized with the rise of industrial America. As technological advances were introduced to industry, unskilled labor also rose in accordance to the rise in factories. However, this rise also introduced several labor unions such as the Knights of Labor, which organized a series of protests and riots. The labor unions had good intentions, aiming to lower the average work hours for workers, as well as increase their wages. However, their methods which involved riots and protests,Read MoreThe Pros and Cons of Labor Unions Essay686 Words   |  3 PagesThe rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system in the United States made the rise of unions inevitable; given the natural division between those with capital that control the means of production, and labor, who is treated simply as another factor of production (Hodson Sullivan, 2008). While labor unions have m ade significant improvements to the working environment, with the regulation of safety, environment, labor and wage; labor unions have also contributed to the decline of U.S. dominanceRead MoreGlobalizations Effect on Labor Unions1670 Words   |  7 PagesLabor unions once represented a significant portion of the entire United States labor force, peaking at around 35 percent in the 1950’s (Vachon). However, this percentage has steadily declined over the decade and nowadays only 12% of the labor force is unionized (Vachon). In many obvious ways, globalization has complicated the labor movement by stratifying it into domestic and international spheres. Globalization, the rapid increases in the pace and accessibility of world markets, is a relativelyRead MoreThe Machine That Changed The World, And Milkman s `` The New Linden ``1294 Words   |  6 Pagesworker, management, and unions. With the rise of â€Å"lean production† came an improvement in labor-management relatio ns with focus on the individual-- through stronger job protections, and positive interactions between employees and technology in the workspace. Despite this, these improvements came at the cost of decreased union influence, and the ability to collectively bargain. Consequently, the American adoption of â€Å"lean production† is further representative of a shift in labor-management relationsRead MoreBus 405 Wk 6 Quiz 5 Chapter 7 - All Possible Questions1310 Words   |  6 PagesPossible Questions TRUE/FALSE 1. The majority of private sector union contracts do not contain a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) clause. 2. The majority of private sector employees participate in a profit sharing plan. 3. Most unions consider gain sharing plans as an adequate substitute for traditional negotiated hourly wage gains. 4. The global economy of today has made it easier for employers to pass labor cost increases on to consumers by raising product or service prices. Read MoreA Briref Look at Labor Unions837 Words   |  3 Pagesfinally, gave rise to labor unions. The labor unions fought for higher wages, safe working conditions and fair working hours. Yet, a businesss main goal is to maximize its revenue by either reducing the cost of producing goods and services, or increasing the sales of its goods and services. In the case of reducing production costs, how can a business and its union employees come to terms with balancing both their needs and desires? Because, often, the interests of companies and union workers collideRead MoreLabor Movements Of South Africa1275 Words   |  6 PagesIn the years following the First World War, South Africa became part of a major labor movement that involved many workers of mines, textile industries, agriculture and other major businesses that made up the economy. Labor movements played a big role in the South African society politically and economically. The movements took a major role in creating many unions and with that many protests, boycotts, and violence took place in various sectors of the South African society. Workers from regions ofRead MoreEssay on Mexicos Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)845 Words   |  4 Pagesthis way, it become the political extension and tool of the government.† In 2000, however, the PRI’s loss of its monopoly on political power and institutional corruption gave rise to inter-cartel violence that was created in the political void left after the PAN won the national presidential election. These conditions gave rise to the Zetas: a new type of cartel that changed the operational structure of previous drug cartels. The Zetas operate in a new militant structure associated with a higher brand

The Concept Of The American Family - 2188 Words

Ashley Guy Professor Edwards EN 101-2 4 December 2014 Transracial Adoption Introduction: Over the years, the concept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation. The change in the concept of the American family is now reflecting society’s acceptance that just 50 years ago was impossible to even imagine. We are now accepting the unification of blacks and whites and are coming to terms with homosexuality and the unification of a more diverse family. Among all divisions of society, there is a greater acceptance of the differences in families from single parenting to blended families to same sex parenting of children, but there is still some controversy in racism that can cause problems in the adoption process. A majority of†¦show more content†¦Adoption offers new opportunities for children who have been left behind by their biological parents to grow up with a more fitting family that will love and accept them for who they are. Transracial Adoption: Much like the apples, adoption ranges greatly. There are now five types of adoptions: Agency, Independent, Step Parent, International, and Open Agency Adoption. An international adoption or transracial adoption is defined as, â€Å"the joining of racially different parents and children together in adoptive families† (Silverman 104). Among the five types of adoptions, international adoption is considered a controversial topic. Good or Bad? I personally find adoption to be a positive issue that is turned into a negative issue due to the comments toward diversity. I also believe that in the future, people will be more accepting towards a more diverse family whether it is towards their sexuality, age, and/ or appearance. Slowly, but surely, we are becoming more open to different races coming together, and with that said, we are adjusting to social circumstances. Blacks and whites are now going to the same schools, and even getting married. I feel as though we are more open and accepting to different things, so why not have the same marriage, or adopt children of different races? I feel as though families in the future are going to shy away from the more â€Å"traditional† family and become a lot more diverse and unique through

Development Trend Of Management Accounting -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Development Trend Of Management Accounting? Answer: Introduction The organizational and the present statutory requirements that the management of the firm should consider is a strategic plan for achieving the business plan effectively. This can be achieved by decreasing the gross profit by 1% so that the firm incurs a stable revenue in spite of the trading period being tough. $70,000 has also been added to the advertising budget for the achievement of the larger market sector. Moreover, the wages and salaries apportioned for the firm have been increased by an amount of $172,500. The statutory requirements include the superannuation to be of a 9% of wages and salaries. The payroll tax is 4.75% of wages and salaries. The workers compensation accounts for 2% of wages and salaries. The company tax is 30%. Luxury Car tax, Payroll tax, Fringe Benefits tax and GST are the tax related liabilities of VTI Homecare Pty Ltd. The compliance requirements for VTI Homecare Pty Ltd under the Corporations Act 2001has been that there should be a defined code for governing the conduct of the employees and a suitable structure regards to corporate governance. The financial reporting to ASIC should be processed in such a way that it reflects the true and fair view of the company. The audit of the financial statements should also be carried out annually in order to adhere to the requirements of the Corporations Act, 2001. Moreover, the VTI Homecare Pty Ltd should also arrange for a board of directors[1]. The sustainability and the effectiveness of the accounting software, MYOB can be obtained from the facilitation of widening of the visibility scope and business performance. The simplification of the complicated business activities and the acceleration of the speed of the business operations by the further simplification of the management structure is facilitated by the accounting software, MYOB[2]. The other accounting software that are commercially available are Xero and FreshBooks. These accounting software have been the primary competitor of MYOB. FreshBooks has been the mostly used accounting software by the small business owners. This particular accounting software can be utilized on any device like android, iPhone, iPad or Mac. The cost of installation of FreshBooks is generally high. Xero is the accounting software that is primarily designed to suit any business irrespective of the nature of business conducted by the business firm. The facilities offered by Xero are a simplified setup process, clarified recording of the transactions, a proper overview into the current financial health of business and other associated benefits. The only disadvantage provided by this particular accounting software is that the small business owners cannot afford it[3]. The matching principle can be applied by recording the income along with the relevant expenditure for the purpose of ascertaining the profit. The account group indicates the summary of accounts that has been grouped in terms with the specified criteria and can be referred to while the budgets are prepared. It is always recommended to prepare the budgets on the basis of a specific time-period. This is because the budget prepared for a specified time period results in more accurate forecasts. The implication of probity results in the financial probity. The insurance of the management in regards to the funds is facilitated by the financial probity along with the agreement with the fact that the legal obligations have been met. The advertisement expenses have been reduced in the first quarter of the financial year of 2016-17. The salary and wages have been increased in the first quarter of the financial year of 2016-17 and the gross profit have been reduced by 1%. The items that can be included in the budgets for VTI Homeware Pty Ltd are transportation, staff amenities and office expenses. he internal controls that should be implemented in the organization for functioning the smooth operation of business is segregation of duties. The sales budget has been prepared by gathering the relevant information. The most important outcome that has come up with the preparation of the sales budget is that the revenue in regards to the sale of bedroom decorative has increased from $848,562 to $1,018,274. This reflects the demand for bedroom decorative in the market. This budget reveals the total amount of GST to be paid is $406,905 The financial probity in regards to the preparation of the budget has been that all the financial transactions in regards to the debtors have been financially recognized and legally met. The variances have generally occurred in regards to the expenses. This can be assumed as a result of the faulty accounting information system that has recorded the mistaken value of the transactions. However, the other reasons might be the elevation in the price of the raw materials or price level due to the inflation in the economy[4]. The financial performance of the firm has not been well. The margin in regards to the gross profit margin has decreased. The management of the firm should take enough initiative by boosting the sales activities of the firm by rigorous advertising campaigns and other promotional activities. Internal controls like the segregation of duties should be implemented while utilizing the accounting software[5]. The particular recommendation in regards to the specified case is that the management should consider restructuring the entire sales process. The marketing strategies implemented by the organization should be reviewed and improved. Moreover, the internal controls should be qualitatively improved [6]. The primary issue with the selected firm, VTI Homeware Pty Ltd has been that the accounting software utilized in the firm is faulty. Thus, it is highly recommended that the firm considers the installation of a new accounting software. The management should also consider the innovation of the products in order to derive increased sales revenue. The internal controls existing in the organization should also be reviewed and modified and new controls should be implemented in order to make the implemented strategy, a success[7]. References Amirul SM, Mail R, Bakar MA, Ripain N. Information Technology Knowledge and Skills for Accounting Graduates: An Insight from Public Accounting Firms. Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 2017 Mar 20;10(12). Aziz MA, Ab Rahman H, Alam MM, Said J. Enhancement of the accountability of public sectors through integrity system, internal control system and leadership practices: A review study. Procedia Economics and Finance. 2015 Jan 1;28:163-9. Balsam S, Jiang W, Lu B. Equity incentives and internal control weaknesses. Contemporary Accounting Research. 2014 Mar 1;31(1):178-201. Boulianne E. Impact of accounting software utilization on students' knowledge acquisition: An important change in accounting education. Journal of Accounting Organizational Change. 2014 Feb 25;10(1):22-48. DeFond ML, Lennox CS. Do PCAOB inspections improve the quality of internal control audits?. Journal of Accounting Research. 2017 Jun 1;55(3):591-627. Dimitriu O, Matei M. Cloud accounting: a new business model in a challenging context. Procedia Economics and Finance. 2015 Jan 1;32:665-71. Drew J. Accounting firms moving slowly toward cloud. Journal of Accountancy. 2015 Mar 1;219(3):44. Ge W, Li Z, Liu Q, McVay S. The effect of internal control on corporate corruption: Evidence from China. National Natural Science Foundation of China Project. 2014 Nov 4(71332008). Hooghiemstra R, Hermes N, Emanuels J. National culture and internal control disclosures: A cross?country analysis. Corporate Governance: An International Review. 2015 Jul 1;23(4):357-77. Islam K, CH AR, Bilal AR, Ilyas MU. Accounting Information Systems: Traditions and Future Directions (By Using AIS in Traditional Organizations). The Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce. 2017 Jul 27;22(2):1-3. Kelly M. Best Business Accounting: Quickbooks51 Reasons Why. Kowalewski M, Niedzielska J. A Study of the Financial Accounting Software Used by Small Enterprises in Olsztyn. Olsztyn Economic Journal. 2015(10 (3)):233-45. Machado M. Management accounting software and accounting practices: empirical study on SME enterprises. WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics. 2016(1):94-103. Newton NJ, Persellin JS, Wang D, Wilkins MS. Internal control opinion shopping and audit market competition. The Accounting Review. 2015 May;91(2):603-23. Quinn M, Kristandl G. Business information systems for accounting students. Pearson Education Ltd.; 2014 Apr 3. Rahman MM, Elahi T, Gupta S, Rahman I. Assessment of Accounting Software Practices in Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of Bangladesh: A Survey of Barrier and Adoption (Dhaka City). Sampaio D, Bernardino J. Open source accounting software for SMEs. International Journal of Business Information Systems. 2016;23(3):287-306. Tuzarov S, Mejzlk L. The IFRS Assessment by Publicly Traded Companies. InThe Impact of Globalization on International Finance and Accounting 2018 (pp. 341-346). Springer, Cham. Zhou Z. 90. Framework and Development Trend of Management Accounting Information SystemBased on the Empirical Analysis of Guangju Energy Chemical Listed Companies. Boletn Tcnico, ISSN: 0376-723X. 2017 Oct 6;55(9). Zimmerman J, Libby DV. BASIC BOOKKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING FOR THE PRIVATE PRACTITIONER. Handbook of Private Practice: Keys to Success for Mental Health Practitioners. 2017 Mar 13.

Violence In Sports Essays (2386 words) - Sports Business

Violence In Sports VIOLENCE IN SPORTS Steeler running back Rocky Bleier, whose war time experiences, not so oddly, offer some insights. To Bleier, there are interesting parallels between survival in war and survival in the NFL. ?The experiences with war injuries and football injuries are quite the same,' he said.? (Casay) The injuries that are accumulated during sports are rapidly increasing to the point that there are injured players on every team in each game that is played. This is especially true in the most physical professional sports, i.e., NFL and the NHL. Most of these injuries are directly related to the increasing violent nature of pro athletes. ?`The cost of the aggression -- the punishment -- has to be greater than the benefits,' said Dr. Brenda Bredemeier, sports psychology consultant at the University of California-Berkley. The latest outbreak of violence occurred in Bredemeier's back yard, Oakland, where (Latrell) Sprewell attacked Coach P.J. Carlesimo during practice and, according to published reports, threatened to kill him if he wasn't traded.?(Detroit Press) Pro athletes are committing criminal acts and the law for the most part is letting them get away with crimes. Another case of violence by a pro athlete happened recently. Ray Lewis was initially charged with murder along with two of his friends for an altercation that happened in Atlanta after the Superbowl on January 31, 2000. The three men got into a fight with two other men and killed them. ?Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and Superior Court Judge Alice D. Bonner sentenced Lewis to 12 months' probation, the maximum sentence for a first-time of fender.?(CNNSI) This case made me think to myself, ?Would a man facing murder charges with two of his friends be able to walk a free man with no jail time at all and still be accepted by society Pro athletes receive star status by the public and the media, encouraging law enforcement officials to look the other way whenever they break the law. Our judicial system in turn hands out less severe penalties for criminal offences committed by pro athletes than the average criminal offender. Violence in professional sports is seen in the actions of one player against another, but is now rapidly increasing outside of the games to where the players are now being deemed as criminals as well as athletes and tarnishes their image as role models to kids. Athletes in pro sports are paid outrageous amounts to play, which gives them more incentive to be violent. Some argue that the athletes deserve these wages. These enormous amounts of money that pro athletes are making are ridiculous. ?The average earned income in major league baseball is over $800,000 a season?(Fizel, 83), and some of these players just sit the bench all year. These high salaries are beneficial in making the athletes more violent. How is it fair that a man that can hit a ball four hundred feet to send a baseball out of the park make $30 million a season? Barry Bonds is truly a great athlete, but to be paid that much he should be able to hit home runs with his eyes closed. Michael Jordan is the greatest man to ever walk across the hard wood floors of professional basketball, but to be paid $63 million in one season is almost sickening. Football players aren't any better but are a little different when it comes to why they are paid so much. They have a lot more at stake when they go out on to the field to do battle. They have to consider the possibility of getting injured at any time because of the violent nature of the sport. They are paid to be big, mean, fast, and ruthless out on the field against men just as big and ruthless as themselves. Kevin Green, a defensive linebacker said ? It is true that we are getting paid outrageous amount for what we do out on the turf, but we are the most likely to get hurt in all professional sports. We want to make sure we get what we need before we get out of the league.?(O'Hara, 12) That is the typical mindset of pro football players. The signification of

How and why the definition of development has changed Essays

How and why the definition of development has changed Essays How and why the definition of development has changed Essay How and why the definition of development has changed Essay How and why the definition of development has changed The definition of development has changed radically, and was first only characterized by using economic indicators as its primary factor. Predominantly, economic Is the mall contributing factor, however, in modern times, living conditions, and other contributing factors to the well-being of a population has helped manipulate whether a country is developed or not. Basing development on the economic status was commonly used decades ago; however the deflation of It has become less narrow In the 21 SST century, with broader concepts other than the wealth of a country being seed. This Is mainly because as times have changed, so have peoples pollens on the significance of certain Indicators, with less focus aimed at how much Different factors can help determine what development means, with social, environmental, political and sustainability all being used Communication and travel networks have developed over the past few decades, with the first electronic computers introduced in the 1 sass. This has provided people with the Web, and thus an extensive source of information that people can utilize it make them aware of global affairs and the tuitions of other foreign countries. This has helped people become aware of how to differentiate between different levels of development, as they can identify strengths and weaknesses from current affairs either through social networking, or other forms of media. Sociability is a significant factor as a lack of community spirit or unity can help show that even if a country is producing a vast output, that relationships between people may be mixed. Subsequently a countrys development needs to help reflect the extent of social well-being. Environmental and sustainability are closely interlinked when defining development, as a country shouldnt be regarded as developed if the environment is being neglected for a countrys growth in wealth. In addition, if resources are being depleted for this necessary short term development then it is going to effect the future generations ability to grow, so development has had to take into consideration the sustainability of these countries. If future generations have a limited opportunity to utilize resources then a country is not truly developed, so In addition, there was a very vague generalization that the Brandt line presented a split in development of countries. The Brandt line has adapted Its shape In recent times, with some southern hemisphere countries developing at such a rate they cannot be regarded as Inferior to some northern counterparts. Despite the anomalies, the Brandt line Is still used to represent a North/ South divide between those countries who are developed and those who are not. Even though It remains quite true even today with the revised definition, It Is still vague and Is often disputed. Another reason that the definition may have changed Is the Improvement f the ethics and morals of people In modern society. Many people now have an ethos of equality between social classes and because of this; It has been seen as quite offensive to label something as third world. Using the notion of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd world hierarchy system has meant its very difficult to escape from it as there is class an hence less developed is something of the past, with each country developed within their own right. The main reason, as aforementioned, that the definition of development has changed, is because the concept has evolved further from Just economically developed. Before, acronyms such as LED and MED (Less Economically Developed Country and More Economically Developed Country respectively) were used but in recent times, they have been scrapped and OLD and MAD have been replaced for them instead. This represents a huge shift from the idea that economic prowess was the only factor that contributed to whether a country was developed or not. Economics Just shows the wealth of a country and how many goods or services it can produce within a year. Whilst the level of production and standards of living can be closely linked, it cannot be proven that welfare increases in all cases where there is economic growth. As a result, other factors have been used in collaboration with economics so a more even and fair definition of development could be used. Literacy has been conceptualized traditionally as having a major role in developing a nation. Literacy helps to spread awareness among the people of their rights. People with good literacy skills enjoy a higher standard of living, have better opportunities of finding Jobs, and are able to continue to learn new skills that will help them in the workplace. A nation with high literacy rate is more keel to attract a large pool of investors and entrepreneurs as well as the inflow of money which in turn have a great impact on the nations economy. A societys economic prosperity and literacy have great influence on each other as they Jointly grow together. As a result of this, more people are sharing opinions on how development should be characterized, which has led to a shift away from economic toward a more diverse spread of criteria. Only those who are narrow-minded have allowed development to be branded in such a simplistic fashion, but with the increase in education, there are less people who share that narrow-minded view.

The Bloom Box Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

The Bloom Box - Essay Example The company uses fuel cells, which are not a new form of technology. In addition, the use of methane and oxygen to create energy is comparable to natural gas production plants. In the end, I believe that the technology was merely overhyped, and is not as revolutionary as the media presents it, neither is it better than other green energy forms. Despite the criticism it faces, the company still has a bright future considering the green technology advancements it promotes. Its technologies represent the future of energy production as they have the necessary expertise. Although the company does not necessarily provide new energy technology, it provides a better service that is more efficient than that of other green-source energy producers. Even so, Microsoft’s new fuel cell partner, Redox Power (Mick 1), seeks to advance the technology that Bloom Box provides. In the end, competition in the market is beneficial for both consumers and the

Marxism and the Financial Crisis in China Essay

Marxism and the Financial Crisis in China - Essay Example Although china is a communist nation, it can be said that there are no real communists in the country. The Chinese communist party consists of about 70 million members, yet there are a few or no devoted Marxists to be found in the country. According to Gross, "The elites in China are more interested in capitalism as it is believed to result in better outcomes. They believe that the evolvement of capitalism in a state-controlled economy, under the supervision of the Communist Party will have great results." (Gross, Daniel. 2009) The Chinese communist party was founded in 1921, in Shanghai. Even 10 years before the party was formed, there were student uprisings concerning communism. The party was founded by two Beijing University Professors; Chen Duxin and Li Dazhao. One of Li's students was Mao Zedong. These people believed in communism and Marxism-Leninism. There became two parties trying to rule the country; the Communist Party of China and the Nationalist government of China. In 19 23 the Communists and the Nationalists joined forces to beat the warlords. But the Nationalist turned on the Communists and when they got to Shanghai, and they decided to clear out the communists In China, the communist party has shown flexibility when implementing policies. It is important to note that Karl Marx and his philosophy is very much respected and referenced by the party members. His wisdom has always been appreciated and is never forgotten. But another important thing to note is that Mr. Marx's ideas are very old and do not fit in today's era of science and technology, because even though this ideology seems appropriate, it would put a restraint on professionalism. (Jochnowitz) The pure Marxist ideology is a political philosophy, economic and sociological worldview with a basis on the materialist interpretation of history, a social change theory, a Marxist analysis of capitalism, and an atheist view of the liberation of humans. The major primary aspects this ideology, as put forward by Friedrich Engels and Karl are The dialectical and materialist concept of history, an advocacy of proletarian revolution, and a critique of capitalism In today's competitively developing world, China cannot afford to stay backward by adopting a pure Marxist ideology. Therefore it must adopt policies and processes that promote monetary growth and development. It is true that there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor in the country. But this does not mean that adopting Marxism and such policies would help in development. The ultimate objective is, undoubtedly, the prosperity of the entire nation, but the belief is that national prosperity could only be achieved through capitalism. (Gross, Daniel. 2009) The pure Marxist ideology has been rejected through out the world. The main reason for this is that states which adopted this system tended to remain backward as the rest of the world developed and progressed. From Marx's and Engel's perspetive, "the ideal society was one in which the principle of the common ownership of wealth and advocates the values of community, cooperation, equality and the satisfaction of need." (Heywood 1998:328) Communism also encompasses wider ideologies based on Marxist principles, such as socialism In the early to mid 1980s, there was a only a hint of Communism left in the economic system

Bretton Woods international monetary system Essay

Bretton Woods international monetary system - Essay Example This paper outlines the main features of the Bretton Woods international monetary system, that had effectively replaced the gold standard system. The conference at Bretton Woods was held in the year 1944. The delegates present during the conference were from 44 countries. The conference led to the creation of a new monetary system commonly referred to as the Bretton Woods system. The new system was supposed to be more effective in governing the financial and economic relations among the greatest economies in the world. Judging by the economic disasters that were experienced in the 1930s a new monetary system was considered to be a necessity. Due to the failure of the gold standard during the World War II there was a breakdown in international economic cooperation with each and every country devolving their economic policies. This is believed to have further fuelled the growth of the great depression. As a result of the Bretton Woods system each member country was expected to adopt a monetary policy that ensured that the exchange rates of their currency remain at a certain value. In such fixed rates, there was evidently an increase in the ease of undertaking international commercial transactions. In order to see to it that the Bretton Woods system was successful the delegates decided that they would establish two financial institutions. One of the two institutions was the International Monetary Fund . The other institution that was brought into existence was the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

A Perfect Education :: Teaching Education

A Perfect Education There are many ideas as to what constitutes an ideal education. A number of factors come together to make an ideal education. Parents have to be concerned with the education of their children. Teachers must be completely devoted to their students' educations. Students must have faith in their teachers and the education which they are receiving. Students, parents and teachers are the key elements in a model education. A good relationship among the three parties is essential to a good education. Parents are an important ingredient to the perfect education. Parents who aren't involved in their children's education only impede the efforts made by teachers and students to create a good education. These parents are oftentimes uninterested with their children's education as a whole. To achieve perfection in the educational system, parents have to take an active role in that education. Parents who don't include themselves in their children's education aren't always informed about the student's progress, aren't aware of the current curriculum, and don't have any idea of the student's strengths and weaknesses in school. An involved parent is informed and sometimes included in the decision-making process. Parents who take an active role are kept informed of the progress made by their children. The parents know the curriculum and assist the children with their nightly studies, and can discuss their children's feelings about education. Devoted teachers are extremely important to a perfect education. The teacher is just about the most important of the three parties necessary to create a model education. Teachers have the responsibility of forming good relationships with both students and parents. Teachers must also be able to effectively communicate with both parents and students in order to ensure that there are no misconceptions or confusions about the children's educations. A good teacher is aware of any special needs that certain children may have and is able to help those children adjust to the curriculum accordingly. Although it may seem obvious, teachers need to be patient and empathetic when dealing with his or her students. The vast majority of teachers already possess these qualities. Many students, however, have complained of teachers that appear to have "no time" for their students. Teachers with an unenthusiastic attitude relay a negative feeling back to their students and that can create problems in the classroom. As mentioned earlier though, people usually won't become teachers if they are uninterested in providing an excellent education to their students.

Human Beings are More Alike than Different

â€Å"Human beings are more alike than different.† This is a statement that may be argued by many people. Personally I agree with this statement because even thought, all of us are unique individuals, but the purpose of our existence is the same.Humans are greedy, greed is a feeling where we want more than what most people have in the world. People are this way because of society and the world in general. People all want money, we cannot do much unless we have money.People choose to be greedy and keep money because they feel as if they earn it they have to keep it. Some people fake their divorce to get money from the government and even fake their income so they can get free medical care, food stamps.Humans are selfish, if there is one thing that we love the most in this world would be ourselves. We are no different from each other, we become selfish without seeing or knowing it because we always want to believe we're right at all costs. After we are born, we cry for our needs to be known, we cry to have attention.Slowly we learned to live with others and accommodate others but at times of crisis, our instincts tell us to save ourselves first. We judge and gossip others, even whole societies or whole other countries, on too little information or on media reports.Humans all want freedom, we all want freedom because everything we do has to do with freedom. Nothing could be done right without freedom, without freedom, we would be forced do to do things we do not want to do, and no way to change it at all. Consequently it is indeed that â€Å"human beings are more alike than different. †

Hard Determinism

Hard determinism is a philosophical position that consists of two main claims: Determinism is true.Free will is an illusion. The distinction between â€Å"hard determinism† and â€Å"soft determinism† was first made by the American philosopher William James (1842-1910). Both positions insist on the truth of determinism: that is, they both assert that every event, including every human action, is the necessary result of prior causes operating according to the laws of nature. But whereas soft determinists claim that this is compatible with our having free will, hard determinists deny this. While soft determinism is a form of compatibilism, hard determinism is a form of incompatibilism. Arguments for hard determinism Why would anyone want to deny that human beings have free will? The main argument is simple. Ever since the scientific revolution, led by the discoveries of people like Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, science has largely presupposed that we live in a deterministic universe. The principle of sufficient reason asserts that every event has a complete explanation. We may not know what that explanation is, but we assume that everything that happens can be explained. Moreover, the explanation will consist of identifying the relevant causes and laws of nature that brought about the event in question. To say that every event is determined by prior causes and the operation of laws of nature means that it was bound to happen, given those prior conditions. If we could rewind the universe to a few seconds before the event and play the sequence through again, we’d get the same result. Lightning would strike in exactly the same spot; the car would break down at exactly the same time; the goalkeeper would save the penalty in exactly the same way; you would choose exactly the same item from the restaurant’s menu. The course of events is predetermined and therefore, at least in principle, predictable. One of the best-known statements of this doctrine was given by the French scientist Pierre-Simon Laplace (11749-1827).  He wrote: We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of its past and the cause of its future. An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces that set nature in motion, and all positions of all items of which nature is composed, if this intellect were also vast enough to submit these data to analysis, it would embrace in a single formula the movements of the greatest bodies of the universe and those of the tiniest atom; for such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes. Science cannot really prove that determinism is true. After all, we often do encounter events for which we don’t have an explanation. But when this happens, we don’t assume that we are witnessing an uncaused event; rather, we just assume that we haven’t discovered the cause yet. But the remarkable success of science, and especially its predictive power, is a powerful reason for supposing that determinism is true. For with one notable exception–quantum mechanics (about which see below) the history of modern science has been a history of the success of deterministic thinking as we have succeeded in making increasingly accurate predictions about everything, from what we see in the sky to how our bodies react to particular chemical substances. Hard determinists look at this record of successful prediction and conclude that the assumption it rests on–every event is causally determined–is well-established and allows for no exceptions. That means that human decisions and actions are as predetermined as any other event. So the common belief that we enjoy a special sort of autonomy, or self-determination, because we can exercise a mysterious power we call â€Å"free will,† is an illusion. An understandable illusion, perhaps, since it makes us feel that we are importantly different from the rest of nature; but an illusion all the same. What about quantum mechanics? Determinism as an all-encompassing view of things received a severe blow in the 1920s with the development of quantum mechanics, a branch of physics dealing with the behavior of subatomic particles. According to the widely accepted model proposed by Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr, the subatomic world contains some indeterminacy.  For instance, sometimes an electron jumps from one orbit around its atom’s nucleus to another orbit, and this is understood to be an event without a cause.  Similarly, atoms will sometimes emit radioactive particles, but this, too, is viewed as an event without a cause. Consequently, such events cannot be predicted. We can say that there is, say, a 90% probability that something will happen, meaning that nine times out of ten, a specific set of conditions will produce that happening. But the reason we can’t be more precise is not because we are lacking a relevant piece of information; it is just that a degree of indeterminacy is built int o nature. The discovery of quantum indeterminacy was one of the most surprising discoveries in the history of science, and it has never been universally accepted.  Einstein, for one, could not countenance it, and still today there are physicists who believe that the indeterminacy is only apparent, that eventually a new model will be developed which reinstates a thoroughly deterministic point of view.  At present, though, quantum indeterminacy is generally accepted for much the same sort of reason that determinism is accepted outside quantum mechanics: the science that presupposes it is phenomenally successful. Quantum mechanics may have dented the prestige of determinism as a universal doctrine, but that doesn’t mean it has salvaged the idea of free will. There are still plenty of hard determinists around. This is because when it comes to macro objects like human beings and human brains, and with macro events such as human actions, the effects of quantum indeterminacy is thought to be negligible to non-existent. All that is needed to rule out free will in this realm  is what is sometimes called â€Å"near determinism.† This is what it sounds like–the view that determinism holds throughout most of nature.  Yes, there may be some subatomic indeterminacy. But what is merely probabilistic at the subatomic level still translates into deterministic necessity when we are talking about the behavior of larger objects. What about the feeling that we have free will? For most people, the strongest objection to hard determinism has always been the fact that when we choose to act in a certain way, it feels as if our choice is free: that is, it feels as if we are in control and exercising a power of self-determination. This is true whether we are making life-altering choices such as deciding to get married, or trivial choices such as opting for apple pie rather than cheesecake. How strong is this objection?  It is certainly convincing to many people. Samuel Johnson probably spoke for many when he said, â€Å"We know our will is free, and there’s an end to it!†Ã‚  But the history of philosophy and science contains many examples of claims that seem obviously true to common sense but turn out to be false. After all, it feels as if the earth is still while the sun moves around it; it seems as if material objects are dense and solid when in fact they consist mainly of empty space. So the appeal to subjective impressions, to how things feel is problematic. On the other hand, one could argue that the case of free will is different from these other examples of common sense being wrong. We can accommodate the scientific truth about the solar system or the nature of material objects fairly easily. But it’s hard to imagine living a normal life without believing that you are responsible for your actions. The idea that we are responsible for what we do underlies our willingness to praise and blame, reward and punish, take pride in what we do or feel remorse. Our whole moral belief system and our legal system seem to rest on this idea of individual responsibility. This points to a further problem with hard determinism. If every event is causally determined by forces beyond our control, then this must include the event of the determinist concluding that determinism is true. But this admission seems to undermine the whole idea of arriving at our beliefs through a process of rational reflection. It also seems to render pointless the whole business of debating issues like free will and determinism, since it is already predetermined who will hold what view. Someone making this objection doesn’t have to deny that all our thought processes have correlated physical processes going on in the brain. But there is still something odd about treating one’s beliefs as the necessary effect of these brain processes rather than as the result of reflection. On these grounds, some critics view hard determinism as self-refuting. Related links Soft determinism Indeterminism and free will Fatalism