Thursday, December 26, 2019

Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person by Harry...

In â€Å"Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person†, Harry Frankfurt illustrates the concepts of freedom of will and freedom of action, but more importantly, Frankfurt has refined the compatibilism theory. Compatibilism allows the freedom of will to exist in the deterministic world. According to determinism theory, the future state of worlds is determined by some events in the distant past (E) and the laws of nature (L). More specifically, E refers to the history, such as experiences or states whereas L refers to scientific or physical law like gravity. For example, an alcoholic’s action is determined that he will not stop drinking. Here E is that he had been drinking in the past, and L is the physiological addiction effect caused by†¦show more content†¦According to Frankfurt, â€Å"there is no more than an innocuous appearance of paradox in the proposition that it is determined, ineluctably and by forces beyond their control, that certain people have f ree wills and that others do not† (20). Frankfurt’s theory is purely based on the relationship between different orders of desires, instead of the origin of the desires. In other words, so long as one has the freedom to desire a particular first-order desire of his, he has the freedom of will, even though all of his desires are causally determined. There is one objection to the necessity of higher order desires. Consider Hugh wants to have another drink at the bar, and he also wants to drive safely on the road. At last, he chooses not to drink another glass of wine and drives safely home. The simple structure of Humean compatibilism is that one is free when his action is followed by his desire. Since Hugh has a desire to drive home safely and he makes this effective, he is free. Yet, using Frankfurtean view leads to confusing conclusion. First, Hugh has two conflicting first order desires, and he also has a second order desire not to be moved by his first order desire, which is to have another the drink. Due to the fact that Hugh chooses not to have another drink, Hugh has freedom of will and acts freely. Nevertheless, it does seem that Hugh forms his second order desire, basedShow MoreRelatedHarry Frankfurt : An Introduction920 Words   |  4 PagesHarry Frankfurt – An Introduction Harry Frankfurt is one of the most prominent defenders of a compatibilist view point of free will. He is the professor of emeritus philosophy at Princeton University. His major areas of interest include 17th century rationalism, actions, moral philosophy and philosophy of mind. According to Frankfurt, a person is a â€Å"specific structure of will†. He defined will in the terms of first-order desires. Following are the concepts of ‘First-order desires’, ‘Second-orderRead MoreThe Metaphysical Issue Of Free Will1368 Words   |  6 Pages Everyone believes himself or herself to possess the freedom of will. If we do not have free will, then that suggests that we lack any power or control over anything, therefore, nothing is up to us. This would impair our view and perception of our society, community and the world. The metaphysical issue of free will is if the initial conditions are fixed and all the laws of nature are deterministic, then the resulting outcome that will happen thereafter is also fixed, because of the laws of natureRead MoreFreedom of the Will and the Concept of the Person697 Words   |  3 PagesFreedom of the Will and the Concept of the Person Harry Frankfurt essay â€Å"Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person† is centered around two major ideas. First is a person’s will is a set of effective first-order desires, and the second is that a person is a creature that has second-order volitions. Frankfurt offes the concept of a person vested with first-order desires and second-order desires which play the major role in decision making process. First-order desireRead MoreHarry Frankfurt s Arguments For The Compatibilism Of Determinism And Freedom Of Will1578 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper, I will consider Harry Frankfurt s arguments for the compatibilism of determinism and freedom of will, as presented in Freedom of Will and the Concept of Person and some problems that arise with his reasoning. I will claim that those problems do not come from any propositions central to Frankfurt s argument, but rather from his neglect of the issue of the relationship between freedom of will and moral responsibility. I will argue, that Frankfurt makes an invalid implicit assumptionRead MoreDavid Hume : Free Will And Determinism1261 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Jack† Christopher Miller Jr. November 22, 2016 Rough Draft for Final Paper Over the course of time, in the dominion of philosophy, there has been a constant debate involving two major concepts: free will and determinism. Are our paths in life pre-determined? Do we have the ability to make decisions by using our freedom of will? While heavily subjective questions that have been answered many different authors, philosophers, etc., two authors in particular have answered these questions very similarlyRead MoreThe Theory Of Free Will950 Words   |  4 PagesAs a concept, free will offers a tremendous opportunity to pursue rationality of purpose. Within this rationality, individuals find wisdom whenever they exercise it appropriately. Both Skinner and Bandura state that free will explore the determinant to the ability of humanity to discover the space around them (Koons, 2002). Over time, philosophers have maintained that free will offers itself as a gift to humanity. It is presumed, therefore, that free will is God’s ordination, and as such, man should Read MoreConception of Free Will and the Concept of a Person1392 Words   |  6 Pages Philosopher’s Frankfurt and Sartre both argue about the conception of free will and the concept of a person. Sartre’s main point is on existentialism, the fundamentals of freedom and the responsibilities of our emotions and desires. Frankfurt focuses on the first order and second order desires. Identifying with a desire and externalizing them and taking a stance as an agent, as well as, the importance of morality and self interest. Jean-Paul Sartre is a philosopher who argues about the conceptionRead MoreThe Case Of The Unwilling Addict1479 Words   |  6 Pagesand Moral Responsibility We have certain notions of what free-will is. But before we can discuss the notion of free-will, we need to establish the meaning of this term. Having free-will refers to one’s choices or desires (O’Connor, â€Å"Free Will†). A person who is able to act according to the determinations of their will (i.e., choices or desires) is free (Russell, â€Å"Hume on Free Will†). But is it always fair to blame people for performing morally wrong actions when they act on the basis of their ownRead MoreFree Will And Determinism Vs. Determinism1074 Words   |  5 Pagesand oversee some of the actions that are yet to happen considering what one already did. In another context, free will is having the freedom to choose our behavior whether good or bad. For this case some good or bad things happen because of our past choices. In other words, everyone is responsible for their own actions. However, some attempts to explain the concept of determinism argue that some outcomes or actions are beyond our control, or they are automatic. For this case, this type of determinismRead MoreCausal Determinism Threatens This Principal904 Words   |  4 Pagesotherwise. For example, if a person is pre-determined to watch a certain television show one evening, one does not have the ability to choose a different show to watch, and therefore, there is no use of free will. So, in the determinist’s eyes, free will is nonexistent. Some proponents of free will argue that by choosing to do something, one causes oneself to act. One could have caused oneself to act in another manner, and therefore the act, although caused by that person, is still a free choice. However

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Marxism And Its Effects On The World s Republic Of China

During the nineteenth century, in the midst of increased industrialization, worker exploitation, and growing gaps in wealth, Karl Marx formulated a political theory which would go on to remodel global politics in an unprecedented manner. Marxism, as it would later be known, or more generally, Communism, was destined to guide countless nations’ paths to â€Å"liberation.† Two countries in particular, the USSR and the People’s Republic of China, can trace their rapid escapes from â€Å"backwardness† into industrial powerhouses, and international superpower and rising superpower, respectively, to their adoption, as well as their exclusive interpretations, of Marxism. However, such flexible and broad adaptations of Marxism to these nations’†¦show more content†¦The aforementioned information is detailed within The Marxian Revolution Chapters 1 and 3. So where did Lenin and Mao diverge from and align with the ideas of Marx? From the start, Lenin was working with a Russia that did not yet meet the criteria of a conscious proletariat, indicating readiness for revolution. As such, he amended Marxism to better suit the circumstances of the Russian population. The first manner in which Lenin contrasts with Marx is through his utilization of a peasant uprising, rather than a worker uprising. At that point in Russia’s history, Russia was still in a feudal phase, where industry has not yet taken off, and the vast majority of the population was peasants, whom were controlled by landlords as well as the Tsarist Government. Lenin justified the propriety of revolution by asserting that Russia was in a state of capitalism. Lenin further diverged from Marx in the fact that Marx believed that the revolution should be lead by the self aware proletariat, rather than merely consisting of proletarian participants. However, lacking both a proletariat majority, as well as a conscious class, Lenin determined that the revolution must be lead by an elite base. As mentioned in Comrades!, Marx greatly feared a preemptive revolution, and it is plausible that such a faulty foundation of Communism in Russia is what eventually lead to the USSR’s downfall. Nonetheless, Lenin proceeded with his Bolshevik Revolution and disbanded withShow MoreRelatedChinese Civil War : The Wuchang Uprising1649 Words   |  7 PagesDue to many economic issues in China, including the devastating effects of the Opium Wars of European imperialism, the Wuchang Uprising, followed by the Xinhai Rebellion, occurred and led to the Qing Dynasty s fall in 1911 (Szczepanski; Wuchang). Soon after, the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party), under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen, established the Republic of China, but it did not stop the centralized political power in China from becoming dismantled and fragmented into many warlord factionsRead MoreMao Tse Tung : A Chinese Dictator Responsible For Over 49 Million Deaths974 Words   |  4 PagesMao Tse-tung was a Chinese dictator responsible for over 49 million deaths which are mainly comprised of policy reforms. Mao was born in a village in the Shaoshan countryside on December 26th, 1893. This being in the southern province of Hunan, China, Mao grew up living an average peasant life which where his time was mostly comprised of working in the rice fields. He had no siblings, only parents, his father, Mao Zedong was a grain dealer, and his mother, Wem Qimei, was a responsible for raisingRead MoreTo What Extent Was the Chinese Revolution, 1927-1949, a Socialist Revolution as Defined by Marx?4672 Words   |  19 Pagesextent that the revolution adhered to Marxist doctrine. Classical Marxism will be defined by the works of Karl Marx and Fedrich Engels and Mao Zedong thought will be defined by the works of Mao Zedong. The primary sources used for this essay are Selected Work of Mao Zedong and Marx and Engels: Selected Works. To investigate the Marxist nature of the Chinese revolut ion, I break down the revolution into three parts: cause, process and effect. To analyse these three parts, three consequential questions areRead MoreCommunism Of The Vietnam War And The Cold War1181 Words   |  5 Pageshistory more than one-third of the globe. This ideology is followed by Russia, Cuba, Laos, China, North Korea, and Vietnam. This ideology is the source of many revolutions and conflicts throughout the history likes the English Civil War, the Bolshevik Revolution, the Vietnam War, the Korea War and the Cold War. However, what makes Communism different from other ideologies is its origin, its policy, and its effects on the poor and the working class. Communism originated during the Stone Age, at the beginningRead MoreThe Left And The Right Wing1575 Words   |  7 Pageshave the same point of views or are they slightly different? How exaggerated will their ideas be considering that both ideologies were influenced by the same principles. Would they have the same methods and goals? Are they all the same, that there s no point in finding the differences between a traditional conservatives and a reactionary? Or are they simply contradicting themselves? Looking at the radical side of the political spectrum we are faced with the theories of Karl Marx, who rejected theRead MoreMao Zedong and Cultural Revolution1484 Words   |  6 Pagesinitiated a series of revolutions to change the way China ran, the final being the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution starting in 1966 and ending in 1976 (1). The goal of this investigation is to determine Mao Zedong’s motives as a leader to initiate such a movement that ended up with the loss of culture, struggle between social classes, force of government, and the loss of human life (2). This investigation will describe Mao as a person, China as a country, the Cultural Revolution as a movementRead MoreRussia And The Russian Federation Essay1844 Words   |  8 Pageslargest country in the world at 17,075,200 square kilometres by surface area, covering more than one eighth of Earth s inhabited land, and the ninth most populous, with over 146.6 million people as of end of March 2016. The Eu ropean western part of the country is much more populated and urbanised than the East, with almost eight-tenths of the population living within the European region of Russia. Russia s capital, Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe and the world. Its ohter major urbanRead MoreThe Khmer Rouge s Rise Into Power1308 Words   |  6 PagesWhat Effect Did The US Have On The Khmer Rouge’s Rise Into Power The Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975 as Democratic Kampuchea, ending a six hundred year monarchy. The leader Pol Pot swiftly placed the entire population into rural communes, where death was the penalty for disobeying orders. Prince Sihanouk had tried to maintain Cambodian neutrality, but the communist Khmer Rouge, supported by their North Vietnamese allies, had waged a very effective war against Cambodian government forces. AfterRead MoreEconomics And The International System2303 Words   |  10 PagesRunning head: CHINA: WHERE IT’S BEEN AND WHERE IT’S GOING 1 China’s Economy: Where it’s been, and where it’s going An Analysis and Literature Review Norwich University Author Note This paper was prepared for GD530 Economics and the International System, taught by Professor Snow CHINA: WHERE IT’S BEEN AND WHERE IT’S GOING 2 Abstract The purpose of this essay is to show how the economy of China has, and is changingRead MorePestel for HM in China5292 Words   |  22 PagesPESTEL China 1. Politics Today’s China is the most populous country in the world and is so one of the most important political and economical forces in the world. 1.1. Country name In English China is official called â€Å"People’s Republic of China† https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html and in Chinese â€Å"Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo† https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html. 1.2. Capital The capital of China is Beijing, which is located

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Benihana Case free essay sample

The best method of breaking batching into certain time periods is to start of the first two dinner intervals with batches of 8 as we discovered above it is the most efficient way of allocating your overheads across customers and accommodating the largest number of customers in a given period of time. For the last dining time period we decided to go with the tables of 4 batching because the number of customers that flow through the restaurant decreases so we would have to decrease the number per batch to avoid losing customers due to larger wait times. Between 7 pm and 8 pm, once again on average, we find there to be about 1 minute between arrivals, increasing back to 4 minutes per arrival from 8 pm to 9 pm. If the average party size is 4, then we can sum up these averages to be (60/4*4) + (60/1 * 4) + (60/4 *4) = 360 customers, which is BH’s demand. With 15 tables and batching, BH has a capacity of 15*8= 120 seats at any given time and since the average dining time observed from the simulation is 1 hour, the total capacity within the 3 hour period is 120*3= 360. We will write a custom essay sample on Benihana Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Since capacity meets demand, one would think the utilization rate should be 100%, but yet for the 15 table simulation run earlier, we find the number to be at 52. 21%. The reason for this is that there is variability in demand, size of a party, and even in the dining times. Customers don’t always arrive at a steady stream of 8 per table. There is a higher concentration between 7 pm and 8 pm, in comparison to the other timeframes during which demand can’t be met with capacity while during other times, there will be unused capacity. Customers also don’t always arrive in a perfect batch of 8; a batch of 7 might leave one seat unused. And sometimes, customers tend to stay longer than the average one hour, causing a bottleneck in the capacity. Because of this variability, utilization is not 100%. 3C) From the aforementioned simulation run in 3A, we can see that the bar and batching reduces the variability and increases utilization as well as profits. The increased number of bar seats provide for a waiting area for full batches to be formed as well as serving as a revenue generator.

Monday, December 2, 2019

TOSCO MARKETING COMPANY Essays - Petroleum Products,

TOSCO MARKETING COMPANY Quality control comes in many forms. For some it is following a specific philosophy, such as those developed by Demming or Juran. For others it is achieving a specific degree of merit as that established by the Malcolm Baldridge Awards, or International Standard Organizations (ISO). However, the petroleum industry as a whole has compromised, shifted, and remained adaptable to an ever-changing world filled with government regulations and restrictions. The negative environmental impact of the petroleum industry is either not understood, grossly downplayed, or it is blatantly ignored. Government agencies have amended and abolished amendments in many of their policies so quickly that establishing best practices is nearly impossible. However, one thing in the petroleum industry remains the same. Safety is a key quality concept that must be adhered to. Tosco Corporation made a bad name for itself by ignoring certain safety issues. Quality control in the safety department was ineffective, and people died because of their neglect. Only recently have they outsourced the development of their safety program to Dupont. Introduction to Government Standards The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require an insurmountable amount of data, reports, testing, and auditing to ensure the compliance of all U.S. Oil Companies around the world. The most recent concern regarding the petroleum industry is that of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE's) that are put in our fuel. Early on it was believed that adding MTBE's to fuel would result in cleaner burning gasoline. However, according to the "Ground Water Monitor" small amounts seeped into the ground water and caused an unacceptable amount of contamination. The conception of MTBE's was in 1967 with the passage of the Clean Air Act. This is the primary statute governing air quality in the United States. It assigns responsibilities to government and industry to reduce emissions from pollution sources such as automobiles, refineries, chemical plants, and power plants. However, it seems as though every solution to meet the stringent requirements poses another problem. The Clean Air Act has been amended several times, and most recently it is to be amended to ban MTBE's by the year 2002. Many of the large oil companies, including Tosco Corp., have already made plans to completely remove MTBE's from their fuel production (MTBE's have already been removed from Connecticut fuel production). Currently the EPA requires operators of facilities handling a regulated substance that exceeded a threshold quantity to prepare a Risk Management Plan (RMP). However, According to Hydrocarbon Processing (Nov 1997), it is the EPA's intention to implement a nationwide standard in accordance with policies specified by ISO 14001 (an International Organization Standard related to environmentally hazardous materials). REFINERY OPERATIONS Most people do not understand the complete process involved with fuel production. However, it is necessary to understand when the quality control of the product or the operation is being analyzed. A Refinery is a factory that cost billions to build, millions to maintain, and they run around the clock 365 days per year. They create the basis for many of the products that we see and/or use daily. The following is a short list of some of those products: ? Ammonia ? Bubble Gum ? Crayons ? Denture Adhesive ? Eyeglass Frames ? Eyeglass frames ? Plastics ? Antiseptics ? Floor Polish ? Guitar Strings ? Heart Valves ? Paint ? Mascara To put it simply, there are three basic steps that can be clearly identified in the production process. The first step is the separation of the petroleum. The next step is the conversion process so that definitive boundaries between the types of petroleum can be set. Last is the treatment of the finished product. Separation is as simple as separating the heavy and the light petroleum. Inside the towers the liquids and vapors are separated into fractions according to weight and boiling point. The lightest fractions are what we all know as "liquid petroleum gas" or LPG's. Medium weight liquids are turned into diesel fuel and kerosene. The tar like fraction, or "residuum" comes from the bottom of the barrel. Most of this is what is used to make plastics and other products. The most complicated step in the refinement of petroleum occurs in the "conversion" stage. The most widely used method of conversion is call "cracking" or "Hydrocracking." Once again, this is using heat and pressure to crack heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter