Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Business ethics - Essay Example ctive of the business ethics is to whether the practice of supporting the failing financial institutions through the tax money is morally correct given the fact that financial institutions failed to perform their duties. After the financial crisis of 2008, US and other governments from the developed nations bailed-out their financial institutions by pouring in the public money. This issue created significant moral debate regarding the role of the financial institutions and the government in having allowed the bailing out of the financial institutions. Most of the arguments were based upon the notion that public money should not be spent on those who behaved irresponsibly and are the very cause of the crisis itself. The role of the financial managers in managing the money and engaging into business practices which were risky and speculative was also being deplored. This business ethics issue will therefore be explored from the perspective of the utilitarianism as well as deontology. Both these philosophical theories will be discussed first and applied to this issue in greater details. Deontological ethics are based upon the moral evaluation of the actions based upon whether the actions actually followed or adhered to any rules or not. It is also because of this reason that the deontology is often considered as rule based ethics as it stresses upon the adherence to the rules if any action is to be considered as ethical or not. There are however, different theories of deontology which outline as to how to actually treat an issue from certain perspectives. Kantian ethics of deontology suggests that the morally right way of doing things is as to whether the individuals actually performed from the perspective of the duty or not. Kant also suggests that the morality of actions shall be based upon the motives of the individuals rather than the overall consequences of taking such actions. (Shaw) Utilitarianism however, is an alternative philosophical theory which

Gulf Oil Spill Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gulf Oil Spill - Case Study Example These kinds of natural disasters damage property, displace lives, as well as, harm and kill. These events are bad enough, but there are other disasters have nothing to do with nature. They are the product of man-made structures, facilities, or endeavors. Human error or mechanical failures have resulted in devastating disaster with unbelievable immediate and long term effects and consequences. Chernobyl in Russian, for example, which leaked nuclear radiation for miles and miles. Plants operated in multiple industries all over the world have had failings that have resulted in dangerous toxins, chemicals, or substances to be released into the environment and human society. The British Petroleum oil spill is one such example. History On April 20, 2010 the Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by the British Petroleum company, exploded where it stood. Spreading smoke and burning chemicals into the air. As can be seen in the pictures above, the fire was massive. Worse the oil being relea sed was spreading across the water, blackened ooze. Located 250 miles south of Houston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, it, also, threatened coastal Louisiana and Florida. As it spread the malfunctioning, damaged machinery, was forcing gallons upon gallons of oil directly into the ocean waters. Below is an example of the what it looked like under the waves and on the surface when this disaster occurred (The Daily Green, 2013). As it spread, it began to cling to and hinder the marine life and birds, as can be seen in the images shown below. These animals are hardly recognizable, coated in thick goo that renders them, essentially, helpless. The first initial explosion took the lives of 11 workers and seriously injured, nearly, twice as many (British Petroleum, 2013). However, the damage of the BP oil spill would have far more reaching ramifications than most people would have ever expected. Oil is made up of carbon and hydrogen molecules. Their states allows it easily to â€Å"goopâ₠¬  together and stick to anything that it comes in contact with. This is dangerous enough, but because the incident occurred in the mid-ocean it allowed it to move farther and faster than spills in the past. The effects of the spill could be felt immediately by the neighboring environments; be it plant life, animals or human beings. It, also, nearly economically crippled the populations living and working in and around the Gulf, which lead to serious economic hardships (Tiffany, 2013).The entire ordeal continued for weeks, but the ramification may be felt for some time. Discussion The ecological ramifications are, essentially, obvious. The number of animals trapped in the sludge and coated in thick, blackish-brown goo is not acceptable. This exposure prevents the animals from functioning, but, also, it can be incredibly damaging to their internal health as well. However what could be seen was only the beginning. Underwater plant life and animals, like fish and shellfish, were, also , suffering. Approximately, 8,000 animals died as a result of the spill, many of which were species already considered endangered. Human beings were, also, having serious immediate responses. People were experiencing respiratory issues, skin rashes, serious headaches, and confusion or disorientation. They, also, were quickly starting to get sick from eating the fish procured from the Gulf (Tiffany, 2013). This is how the spill represented a

Symbolism In the short story Repent Harlquin Said the Ticktockman Essay

Symbolism In the short story Repent Harlquin Said the Ticktockman - Essay Example The symbols discussed in this essay are in consideration to Ellison’ story and three other sources. In a society where everyone is a conformist to the set rules and codes of conduct, Ellison’s first symbol is the protagonist, the Harlequin. The Harlequin is a defiant character who refuses to conform to the rules and regulations of the society. According to Bresin (2006, p.1) the Harlequin is a symbol of individualism against a backdrop of bureaucracy and totalitarian rule. The Harlequin is an allegory of disobedience and dissent in a utopian society, who incites the citizen against the regime. As White (pp. 1) writes that the Harlequin symbolizes the efforts of a few people in the society trying to save fellow men from historical equilibrium. The aim of such men is not to dislodge the state from power rather; it is to urge the people to act freely and let their conscience rule over their actions. In this regard, therefore, White (ibid) sees the Harlequin as a symbol of morality, when he chooses to follow his conscience and rebel against oppression. In a society controlled by the ticking of the clock, the Harlequin has no regard for punctuality, a fact well known by state apparatus. As Bresin (pp.1) illustrates, the Harlequin is a threat to the culture of the Ticktockman society. ... Rather, the citizens should come out and enjoy the sunshine and life in general. While the people are busy listening to his defiance of the Ticktockman and watching his antics, a lot of time is lost. In an effort to curtail the activities of the Harlequin, the Ticktockman orders all the at the construction site to stop their work and hunt down the Harlequin. The construction workers waste a lot of time looking for the harlequin, time that would have been used to build the economy of this authoritarian society. This is an achievement for the Harlequin who has managed to make people shift away from the ideals of the society, even if it is to hunt him down. In addition to his antics, the Harlequin has a dress code distinct from everyone else’s in the society. He dresses in colorful costumes, themselves a symbol of forgotten times when society was not so grey and mechanized. He uses these costumes to attract the attention of the law-abiding citizens, causing them to listen to him and fail to carry out their duties. Obviously, the Harlequin’s actions and costumes do not amuse many of the conformists, such as Alice, Everett’s (the Harlequin’s real name) lover. Alice is displeased with Everett’s actions, when she asks him why he is always outdoors at night â€Å"in the ghastly clown suit, running around annoying people† (Ellison, pp.220). The Ticktockman, the antagonist, is an image of civil suppression in a tyrannical society. It is hard to tell whether the Ticktockman is a real man or a robot since he is always wearing a mask Bryant (pp.163). At the end of the story, however, the Ticktockman appears to be more of a robot than a human being as he breaks down into a

Measurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Measurement - Essay Example neers observe measurements, why measurements are much needed in the world, the role of measurements in quality control, and different type of measurements techniques used in engineering will be discussed. The term â€Å"measurement† is derived from the Greek word metron which means limited proportion. The first measurement systems were astronomical objects. Babylonians and Egyptians are believed to have invented use of measurement. However, they mainly used comparisons to measure things. For example, they would compare capacity of containers by filling the smaller container and emptying it into the bigger one to measure the volumes (Manseau & Shields, 2005). However, Gabriel Mouton, who was an astronomer, invented the metric system. He also suggested the swing length of pendulum, which is used as a unit of measuring length. In engineering and construction, there are different metric systems depending on what is being measured. For example, construction materials that are in liquid form are measured using measures such as gallons and liters. In case of length, units such as inches, meters, and feet are used depending on the size being measured. While measuring mass, unit such as pounds, kilograms, and grams are applied (Manseau & Shields, 2005). Although scientists make use of standardized metric units, there are two different types of metric systems. The type of metric system being used depends on the application. When measuring small units of length or mass, engineers make use of the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system. However, MKS (meter-kilogram-second) system is used while measuring large quantities (Manseau & Shields, 2005). With globalization, metric system is becoming widely acceptable worldwide though some countries such as United States are resistant to switch to the metric system. US makes use of a mixture of different systems of measurement. In 1960, the General Conference of Weights and Measures revised and simplified the measurement system. Seven

Compare and contrast Stopping by woods on a snowny evening & The Road Essay

Compare and contrast Stopping by woods on a snowny evening & The Road Not Taken - Essay Example The woods, although beautiful and serene, represent a dark and lonely place away from society and responsibilities. This isolation is tempting and seems to offer peace and quiet but is something no one would want or advise. For example, even the owner of these woods is away in his village on this â€Å"darkest evening of the year† (8). The village symbolizes society and civilization and is separate from this lonely, isolated spot so that even the owner won’t know that this visitor was here. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the narrator comes across a fork in the road and is presented with two choices. Both are seemingly the same and there is no sure way to choose the right one, â€Å"the passing there/ Had worn them really about the same† (9-10). What matters most is that a choice has to be made. The narrator does, however, spend a lot of time judging his decision (Fagan 295). For example, he looks down one path and analyzes it as best he can, â€Å"long I stood /And looked down one as far as I could/ To where it bent in the undergrowth† (3-5). Also, the narrator realizes that any choice he makes will lead him to other choices and he won’t be able to come back to the first one. In both poems, Frost uses nature imagery to symbolize the journey of life. For example, in â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening†, the woods represent a place and choice away from society, free from any obligations. Similarly, in the â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the two paths in the woods are symbolic of life’s critical choices and decisions that one has to make (Fagan 295). Also, the imagery of grass represents the people that have already traveled down that particular path. Both poems also allude to the fact that both narrators have a long way to go and that their journey does not stop at these woods or cross roads of life. For example, in â€Å"The Road

The Progressive Movement Essay Example for Free

The Progressive Movement Essay Some forms of progressive movement are progressivism which embraces the widespread of many sided efforts to build a better society; scientific investigation the studies by the federal government of immigration; child labor; economic practices and social research by privately funded foundation; academic expertise to have the skills and knowledge about the problems America was facing during the 1900; pragmatism which judged ideas by their consequences; and muckraker journalists who exposed the underside of American life. During this time there were no agreed upon agenda’s nor were there any unifying organizations. Both the Republican and Democratic parties had progressive elements which caused each group to interact with different social groups with different views. This period was the beginning of the analysis of human activity which offered solutions to waste, inefficiency in municipal government, schools, hospitals and homes. Scientific management thought Frederick W. Taylor, could solve the problems of the United States social ills that arise from our acts of ill-directed, or inefficient. Scientific management was an American invention which made America feels like a part of the transatlantic world. Also, the social politics overseas was much more advanced than the United States which made the Americans feel like we have fallen behind. America was no longer the leader in teaching how democracy worked but was learning about democracy from other countries. The main objective was to resist ways of thinking that discouraged purposeful action. Social Darwinists beliefs that society developed according to fixed and unchanging laws was wrong. William James, Harvard philosopher said it is foolish to speak of the â€Å"laws of history† like it is inevitable, which science only has to discover and which anyone can then  foretell and observe, but do nothing to alter or avert. Progressives prided themselves on being tough minded, and on being experts on making things happen. But they were not indifferent to the moral grounds for reform. Progressives were considered to be unabashed idealists. Progressive leaders characteristically grew up in homes imbued with evangelical piety. Many went through a religious crisis, ultimately settling on a career in social work, education, or politics where religious striving might be translated into secular action. Some of the players in there reforms were Jane Adams taken up settlement-house work believing by uplifting the poor, she would herself be uplifted: she would experience â€Å"the joy of finding Christ† by acting â€Å"in fellowship† with the needy. Lincoln Steffen article is credited with starting a trend about writing about â€Å"the shame of the cities† – the corrupt ties between business and political machines. Ida Tarbell attached the Standard Oil monopoly, and David Graham Phillips told how money controlled the Senate William Hard exposed industrial accidents in â€Å"Making Steel and Killing Men† (1907) and child labor in â€Å"De Kid Wot Works at Night† (1908). Hardly a sordid corner of American life escaped the scrutiny of these tireless reporters. Theodore Roosevelt, among many thought they went too far. However the muckrakers became attached to the journalists who exposed the underside of American life. There efforts were in fact health giving. More than any other group, the muckrakers called the people to arms. Women progressives shouldered the burden of humanitarian work in American cities. They were the foot soldiers for charity organizations, visiting needy families, assessing their problems, and referring them to relief agencies. Josephine Shaw Lowell of New York City concluded giving assistance to the poor was not enough. She felt it was better to save them before they go under, than to spend your life fishing them out of afterward. The welfare state, insofar as it arrived in America in these years, was what women progressives had made of it: they erected a â€Å"maternalist† welfare system. During the progressive years, scores of settlement houses sprang up in the ghetto of the nation’s cities, serving as community centers and spark plugs for neighborhood reform. Jane Addams led battles for garbage removal, playgrounds, better street lighting, and police protection. The main goals of the Progressive reforms were: 1) To change other people by having them adopt the Progressive vision of middle class behavior and thought. This particularly applied to issues of recreation and leisure, the status of the family, sexual orientation and behavior. Protecting Social Welfare. 2) Toe end class conflict between the â€Å"have’s† (the privileged class) and â€Å"the have less, â€Å"(or have not). Fostering Efficiency. 3) To effect a measure of control over big business. Moral Improvement. Another movement was segregate society into groups, based on occupation (labor, management, etc.) race, sex (laws protecting women insured secondary status in employment), and immigration status. Segregation of the races was seen by Progressives as a method of stabilizing race relationship. Economic Reform. The major players in these reforms were Cleveland, McKinley, T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge all of them were presidents of this era. Their foreign and domestic policies shaped their world and whose policies continue to impact our world. It is amazing how some of the things are still incorporated in our society today. I think the movements were genuine concern for social problems. As a matter of fact because of the some of the progressive movement some people are still reaping the benefits of their labor today. However, I do feel like some of the people that are benefiting from some of the reforms have caused themselves to be control by trying to live off of the system rather than using it as a stepping stone to do better for themselves. References Henertta, James A Brody, David (2010). America A Concise History. Boston NewYork: Bedford/ St. Martin’s

Turkey and Saudi Arabia Similarities and Differences

Turkey and Saudi Arabia Similarities and Differences Today we are going to discuss the similarities and differences between two societies, Turkish and Saudi Arabian, from the cultural and moral point of view. Firstly it is important to get familiar with these definitions. Culture is the way of life, shared beliefs, values, customs and behaviours, that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning. Norms specify the type of behaviour that is considered appropriate and normal in a society. For example, norms of dress give guidelines on what to wear. Norms are set of rules that vary from society to society. A change in society leads to new ways of behaving and therefore culture and norms are always changing. Values are general rules and principles that tell us what is good, important and worth striving for in our society. Values lay down general principles and guidelines. Inequality concerns differences in access to scarce resources when one group is better positioned than the other in society. Social inequality involves voting rights, freedom of speech, education and many more. Inequality is present in every society, even if it is said that all members in society are equal. Both countries share similar history, culture and values. Religion in particular plays a big part in peoples lives. The major religion is Islam, the second largest religion in the world. In Saudi Arabia, Islam is the only officially recognized religion and other religions in the country are not tolerated. Turkey is more democratic in this way. While in Turkey state and church are separated, religion in Saudi Arabia influences every aspect of social and political life. Even the legal system is based on sharia (Islamic) law. The forms of punishment in this country are, according to some organizations, against human rights. For example, theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand. Flogging is way of punishment for offenses against religion, drunkenness and gambling. The death penalty is the highest form of punishment in the country and is used for a range of convictions including the distribution of drugs from abroad. The death sentence was also practiced in Turkey, but it has s ince been reduced to thirty years imprisonment. Homosexuality is strictly forbidden in both societies (a view strongly linked to religious beliefs), and is punishable by lashing, prison or death. Inequality, in both societies, is most distinguished between men and women. Saudi women suffer discrimination in a range of areas within their daily lives. For example, women are not allowed to drive cars or ride bicycles on public roads and the driving age of 25 is one of the highest in the world. Saudi Arabia is also one of the four remaining countries that have not granted women the right to vote. Women cannot travel abroad without the permission or presence of a male guardian (mahram), and also have to be accompanied by a close male from the family (father or brothers) when outside of house. As chastity and sexual modesty are very highly valued, women can be arrested for socializing with a man who is not a relative and may be charged with prostitution. In public, dancing, playing music and showing movies is forbidden. Women make up just 5% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia, which is the lowest proportion in the world. A womans status within the family is high, especially in the ro les of mother and sister. However, their rights may continue to be restricted, for example, it is believed that women should stay at home, caring for their husbands and children. Most marriages are arranged and polygamy is permitted up to four wives. Similar attitudes towards women had existed in Turkey, but in 1926 new reforms brought changes to the position of women in society. Polygamy was abolished and it is very rare nowadays. Along with religious marriages and divorce, child custody became the right of both women and men. Education levels of women have increased since the reforms and many Turkish women are able to access education, have jobs and careers. The right to vote was granted in 1930. Although the position of women outside of family has changed significantly, inside it remains more or less the same. Husbands remain at the head of family and woman must have their permission to work or their approval if going out. Both Saudi Arabian and Turkish societies place huge value on the family and take their responsibilities seriously. Families tend to be large and the extended family remains close. Significant inequality also exists between women from different sectors of societies. Women in these two states have different life styles and rights. For example, abortion in Turkey is legal up to ten weeks, while in Saudi Arabia it remains illegal, except in situations where the mothers life may be at risk. The norms for public behaviour in Saudi Arabia are extremely conservative. To ensure that these standards of conduct are observed, the Saudi religious police can arrest foreigners for improper dress and other alleged infractions, such as consumption of alcohol. Turkish women no longer have to wear the veils and long garments, whereas in Saudi Arabia it is still required by the old religious beliefs. While alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia, it is allowed in Turkey. In Turkey, Friday is considered a normal working day, regardless of the fact that to Muslims it is considered a holy day. Saudi Arabians continue to acknowledge this tradition most shops and other public places are closed on Friday and individuals practice their prayers. All Muslims pray five times a day and during the holy month of Ramadan they must fast from dawn to dusk (this includes eating, drinking and smoking). According to Islam, the left hand is considered unclean and reserved for personal hygiene. To conclude, Turkey is now considered a secular state, the first ever Islamic society to be considered as such. In contrast, Saudi Arabias unique culture makes marks it as a distinguished Islamic country. People in these countries are extremely proud of their culture, heritage and nationality. Bibliography M. Haralambos and M. Holborn (2008) Sociology , Themes and Perspectives http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingglossary/g/normsdef.htm http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/courses/122/module1/culture.html http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1012.html http://www.enjoyturkey.com/info/culture.htm http://www.eastwestinquirer.com/Islamic%20Turkey%20Versus%20Islamist%20Saudi%20Arabia.htm