Where do you stand on the question of women in math and science Essay

Where do you stand on the question of women in math and science - Essay Example The point is, both gender has the same cognitive ability and aptitude. These abilities however can only be similar under normal conditions and without the intervention and threat of gender stereotype. The gap in academic performance will appear once the threat prejudice is applied and this persists in the professional life assuming that the female student was able to overcome the threat stereotype condition in the academe. In the essay "Women in Math and Science" of the book Writing Arguments -A Rhetoric with Readings, it showed how powerful prejudice and stereotype threat condition is in debilitating the capability of a person. In fact a study showed that even men are vulnerable to it. In a controlled condition conducted, two sets of white Caucasian men were asked to take an exam in math. The other set was subjected to stereotype threat condition that Asian are better than them in math while the other set took their test regularly. The result showed that Caucasian men who were subje cted to the prejudice of stereotype threat performed less than the other group who were not subjected to the same prejudice. Of course the group who underperformed is not less tough or less than bright than the other group but only showed how stereotype threat can undermine one’s ability. ... In fact, the cases among women are quite strange. Despite incidence of women who are performing well in school particularly in math and science, there are still fewer of them who are in the field of engineering and science. As I write this paper, I cannot recall anybody who is a popular female engineer, a scientist, or an astronaut. Apparently, prejudice still haunts them beyond school. That even if they managed to overcome the threat of stereotype in the academe, the prejudice still exists against them along the way when they are charting their career path. Somehow somewhere, this gender stereotype is still sabotaging them to land in a profession that is heavy in math and science because they are women. The sorry thing about this phenomenon is not that the threat stereotype condition can still hinder women in realizing their potential and contributing fully to society but rather, on our failure as a society to optimize the capability to contribute to the general good of society and to themselves. It may be subtler now and not as overt during the Middle Ages but it still exist. We can only glean from the evidence of women’s lack or non-participation in professions they are very much capable of but are excluded by the stereotype of male domination. In fact, the women’s challenge in dealing with subjects that relates to math and science is twice as much as men. First, she has to overcome the prejudice of gender stereotype which is known to effectively debilitate women’s ability to perform according to her potential. And if she is able to overcome it, the profession that she intends to practice her ability limits her option because she is a woman. Yet, despite this prejudice against her gender, she could even be still considered lucky because she is in

External Factors Affect On Organisations | Case Study

External Factors Affect On Organisations | Case Study External factors have an immediate effect on an organizations planning. Marketing a product takes thorough planning. Managers organize ideas on where to market a product that provides benefits to other countries. Leading globalization can be difficult because other countries may not want to use a product they are unfamiliar with. Therefore, a thorough explanation of why a product would be beneficial in another country is very important (Moon, 2010). The cell phone for instance has brought forth much controversy. Rates, service areas for Internet, communication, contractual agreements, and a wide range of other issues have been broad topics for subscribers of cell phones. To control globalization, cell phone providers must have management teams that extend enough information about products to other countries to determine if the product is marketable around the globe (Moon, 2010). Information is organized through technology; via Internet so customers are better informed regarding price, and other vital information before purchasing. Innovative technology has brought forth social networking sites. Companies such as Google have created blog forums where customers can share thoughts about a product hence, making others aware before purchasing. 1.2.the needs and Expectations of stakeholders in orchid The board of Piramal Healthcare has approved the spin-off of the New Chemical Entity (NCE) from Piramal Life Sciences, reports CNBC-TV18. The unit will then be merged with parent. According to the company filing with BSE, shareholders will be issued one fully paid up equity share of Rs 2 of parent Piramal Healthcare for every four shares of Rs 10 held of Piramal Life Sciences. Investment in NCE research calls for sharper research focus, longer time horizon and higher risk appetite, said a press release. CNBC-TV18 had earlier reported about how Piramal Health is more poised to take the risks arising from the drug discovery business than Piramal Life Sciences. This demerger is expected to be completed in six months, Ajay Piramal was quoted as saying. Piramal hopes, ultimately, to re-absorb Piramal Life Sciences back into the company. According to CNBC-TV18, long-term strategies of the company include hiking capacity in active pharmaceutical ingredients segment and formulations business. 1.3. major changes taking place in the external environment it affects stretegy This process is most applicable to strategic management at the business unit level of the organization. For large corporations, strategy at the corporate level is more concerned with managing a portfolio of businesses. For example, corporate level strategy involves decisions about which business units to grow, resource allocation among the business units, taking advantage of synergies among the business units, and mergers and acquisitions. In the process outlined here, company or firm will be used to denote a single-business firm or a single business unit of a diversified firm. Once the firm has specified its objectives, it begins with its current situation to devise a strategic plan to reach those objectives. Changes in the external environment often present new opportunities and new ways to reach the objectives. An environmental scan is performed to identify the available opportunities. The firm also must know its own capabilities and limitations in order to select the opportunities that it can pursue with a higher probability of success. The situation analysis therefore involves an analysis of both the external and internal environment. The external environment has two aspects: the macro-environment that affects all firms and a micro-environment that affects only the firms in a particular industry. The macro-environmental analysis includes political, economic, social, and technological factors and sometimes is referred to as a PEST analysis. 2.1. Appropriate Tools to analyse Current business Plan What next? This is the question on the minds of the shareholders. We have drawn up a growth blueprint for the company, segregated into short and medium-term business drivers focusing on ramping up of the existing business verticals, creating front-end marketing organisations and entering new high-growth product segments. In the short term, we have identified key areas which will drive business growth for your company. We will cater to the API needs of Hospira and other global innovators in addition to our regular API and formulation sales in the emerging markets. We will strengthen our geographical presence in key regulated markets like the US, Europe and Japan. Currently, we are marketing around 10 products in the oral cephalosporins segment and 5 products in the NPNC (Non-penicillin, Non-cephalosporin) segment. Your company will further strengthen its product basket for catering to these markets. Our focus on acquiring front-end marketing companies possessing infrastructure, people, product registrations and approvals will augur well in the medium term. Our product pipeline in the regulated markets will be filled with our own molecules, ANDAs and in-licensed products. This will help us strengthen our product basket and maximise and internalise value which was earlier shared with our marketing partners. 2.2.Orchid Chemicals in its current market Since inception, your company established a strong foothold in niche therapeutic segments which are relatively uncluttered due to the inherent technical complexity. In doing so, your company grew in size and is now a global name in its operating domains. In recent times, your companys performance in the global and domestic markets could not translate into robust growth for the company and superior shareholder value creation. This was primarily owing to the sizeable debt burden which weighed heavy on your companys profitability. With the debt levels coming down and with a strong growth strategy in place, this is set to change going forward. My fellow shareholders may have a number of apprehensions about the future of the company 2.3.competitive strength and weakness e expect strong year-on-year growth over the next three years by focusing on the non-penicillin, non-cephalosporin (NPNC) segment where we possess a strong basket of over 73 products spanning diverse therapeutic areas. We possess marketing alliances in the US and Europe with prominent players such as Actavis, North Star and Alvogen for 31 NPNC products. We also expect to capitalise on Para IV opportunities; our 8 Para IV FTF filings provide a revenue potential of about US$ 80 Mn. A favourable outcome in any patent challenge litigation could result in our being awarded the 180-day exclusivity. 3.1. strategic options What next? This is the question on the minds of the shareholders. We have drawn up a growth blueprint for the company, segregated into short and medium-term business drivers focusing on ramping up of the existing business verticals, creating front-end marketing organisations and entering new high-growth product segments. In the short term, we have identified key areas which will drive business growth for your company. We will cater to the API needs of Hospira and other global innovators in addition to our regular API and formulation sales in the emerging markets. We will strengthen our geographical presence in key regulated markets like the US, Europe and Japan. Currently, we are marketing around 10 products in the oral cephalosporins segment and 5 products in the NPNC (Non-penicillin, Non-cephalosporin) segment. Your company will further strengthen its product basket for catering to these markets. 3.2. comparative understanding of an activity The performance of your company in the first quarter of the current financial year reflects the start of a robust growth journey. Going forward, your company is well poised to ramp up its API and formulations business based on specific product-market contracts and regulatory filings which will help spread the growth canvas wider. We entered into an out-licensing and distribution agreement with the US-based pharma major Alvogen for marketing 8 oral non-antibiotic generic formulations in the US market. These products cater to the high-growth therapeutic segments of CNS and osteoporosis, among others and have a cumulative addressable market size estimated at USD 8 billion. Your company also recently acquired Karalex Pharma, LLC, a US-based generic marketing and sales services company through an all-cash deal for creating a front-end presence in the US market to deliver generic products to the US customers directly. Karalex Pharma is a leading provider of generic pharmaceuticals, focused exclusively on the US healthcare market. 3.4. future organizational strategy Our focus on acquiring front-end marketing companies possessing infrastructure, people, product registrations and approvals will augur well in the medium term. Our product pipeline in the regulated markets will be filled with our own molecules, ANDAs and in-licensed products. This will help us strengthen our product basket and maximise and internalise value which was earlier shared with our marketing partners. 4.1. participation from all stake holders I take the opportunity to thank the Central and State governments, financial institutions, public and private sector banks, government agencies and non-government institutions for extending their support in your companys growth and development. 4.2. potential options for strategy plan I thank your companys valued business stakeholders namely vendors, customers, strategic alliance partners and business associates for their exceptional support during difficult times, in accomplishing our business plans. Most importantly, I acknowledge the critical role played by the employees whose contribution to your companys business growth has been paramount. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all the shareholders for their unstinted support in helping your company enhance its technological and business strengths and remain on the growth path. 4.3.strtegy plan includes resorce implication: n the API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) segment, your company increased its cumulative US DMF filing count to 82. The break-up of the total filings is: 30 in the cephalosporin Segment, 39 in NPNC segment, 2 in the betalactam segment and 11 in the carbapenems segment. The cumulative filings of CoS (Certificate of Suitability) for the European market stood at 20 which includes 13 in cephalosporin segment, 6 in the NPNC segment and 1 in the betalactam segment. With a robust product development pipeline, your Companys filing and approval count is poised to increase in the coming months and quarters. 5.1. organizational Values: Most organisations are mostly driven by strategies. We are also driven by values. Corporate Social Responsibility Respect for the Individual Excellence Innovation Value for Stakeholders 5.2 vission and mission statements: Vision Enriching Lives through Innovation in Healthcare Mission Discovery to Delivery Orchid is a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company with established research, manufacturing and marketing capabilities across multi-therapeutic domains. We successfully leverage our penchant for science and technology to create niche products and manufacturing platforms leading to attractive growth. 5.3. Future Management Objrctive: Innovation drives growth. Sensitive to market needs and committed to innovation, here at Orchid we focus on niche product manufacturing platforms, combining cutting-edge technology and the best minds in the business. Valuing People We value individuality and creativity. Our unique People and Process Paradigm helps achieve the twin objective emphasis on regulatory and compliance on one hand, while fostering innovation and creativity on the other. Peak Performance We seek to build a sustainable organisational eco-system where one is constantly motivated to attain new heights and empowered to discover new avenues for growth. Quality Quality has always been a strong part of Orchids proposition. Our quality initiative covers all aspects including product quality, operational quality, environmental quality and finally a good quality of life for our people. Harmony with Society We seek to balance environmental impact and economic interest in all our business activities. Committed to the development of the society, culture and economy, we dutifully observe laws; demonstrate high ethical standards and endeavour to preserve the environment. 5.4. Evaluating Stretegy Plan Government: It has the mechanics to receive and document the needs of society. It also has the legislative and administrative power to take forward development programs. Industry: It has the strength of technology and managerial skills required to identify solutions and execute projects in a time-bound manner. NGOs and other Institutions: They penetrate deep into the community to propagate ideas and act as a vibrant feedback mechanism. We have always believed that enhancing the social well-being of individuals would add a lot more meaning to our overall business existence. Caring for the people and the community has therefore been an important facet of our business philosophy. We are happy that we have influenced the lives of several people in the vicinity of our facilitates through the several initiatives and programmes undertaken by the Trust. 6.1. Schedule for implementing stretgic planning Our oral non-cephalosporin formulations facility specialises in the manufacturing of nutraceutical products. The facility produces a range of dietary supplements for the advanced markets. Many other high-value products like anti-diabetics, cardio vascular drugs (CVS), anti-depressants and anti-epileptics are manufactured in this facility to cater to the emerging markets. 6.2. To gain commitment from stake holders We have a long tradition of successful collaborations. Our approach to partnerships has been path-breaking and successful in the Indian pharmaceutical industry in terms of product and market coverage and leveraging each others partnership strengths. They are an essential and integral part of our research and business strategy. Every day, we commit ourselves to aligning our capabilities with business opportunities and everything we do is based on being easy to work with to ensure mutual success. We continuously engage in new projects to aid technology development, development of new molecules, chemical process enhancement and innovative drug delivery systems development 6.3.monitoring the evaluation system for the implementation of a strategy plan rchid has emerged as a full-fledged pharmaceutical corporation with end-to-end connectivity from discovery to delivery. Each alliance we build is based on a shared vision with well-defined goals and objectives. We have the ability to leverage and represent our entire portfolio of products and services based on their core competencies, partner great models, build and sustain operations. By pooling the talents of our science and business teams, we have engaged in numerous collaborations with a range of companies and research institutions. We look to build upon our existing strengths as well as to create new areas of expertise. Lab Report: Heat Capacity Ratio For Gases Lab Report: Heat Capacity Ratio For Gases Jekathjenani Ratnakumaran Introduction: Heat capacity of gases is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one mole of the gas through one degree Celsius at constant pressure or volume. Heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp), the volume will increase and heat capacity at constant volume (CV), the pressure will increase. The main physical properties of gases are compressed in the state, expand themselves to fill the entire containers, and thus obeys the second law of thermodynamics. It occupies more space, compare to liquids and solids. Gases has no fixed shape. The physical state of the gases can be defined by, PV = nRT P- pressure of the gas, V- Volume of the gas, T- Temperature of the gas, n- number of moles of the substance present on the gas and R- Gas constant. The purpose of this study is to determine the value of the heat capacity ratio, ÃŽ ³ = Cp/CV for giving gases such as argon, oxygen, nitrogen and nitrous oxide using adiabatic expansion. This experiment is mainly based on measuring the pressure of the gases. Pressure can be measured by the force applied by the collision of the molecules or atoms with the surface or the walls of the tube. Pressure is measured in psi (Pounds per Square Inch) unit using manometer (P.Atkins et al, 2008). At room temperature, nitrogen is a colorless diatomic molecule of gas. It occupied 78.09% of earths atmosphere. Nitrogen occurs in all living organisms and about 3% of nitrogen are available in human body. Similarly, oxygen is a colorless, diatomic molecules and occupied about 20.95% earths atmosphere. Its a highly reactive organic element and also it plays an important role in the respiration mechanism. Argon is another important gas, also called as inert gas as it is stable. It occupied about 0.93% of earths atmosphere and its colorless, nontoxic element. Nitrous oxide is a colorless, nonflammable gas and also known as laughing gas. It also takes place in the earths atmosphere as it is produced by the bacteria in the soil and ocean. Adiabatic expansion is the process which takes place with no transfer of heat between the system and surroundings. The ratio, ÃŽ ³ will be compared with the theoretical value. Using the adiabatic expansion, three states of gas such as before the expansion (P1), immediately after expansion (P2) and after returning to room temperature (P3) can be observed. Based on these values, the heat capacity ratio can be determined. The ratio of heat capacity can be calculated using the following formula, ÃŽ ³ ratio of heat capacity Cp- heat capacity at constant pressure Cv- heat capacity at constant volume Methods: This experiment was conducted by following the procedure given in the laboratory manual by the department of chemistry, Trent University. Related questions Answers: Ideal gas law, PV = nRT As the density, Ï  = m/V, the density can be calculated using the above equation, Ï  = PM / RT P = Pressure; M = Molar mass; R = gas constant; T = Temperature For Nitrogen, P = 14.476 psi = 1.018 kg/cm2 T = 22 0C = 295 K M = 0.028 Kg /mol R = 8.314 Jm3/Kmol = 84.784 x 10-6 m3 kg/cm2.K-1mol-1 Using the above calculation method, density of remaining gases was calculated. For oxygen, Ï  = 1.301 Kgm-3 For argon, Ï  = 1.595 Kgm-3 For nitrous oxide, Ï  = 1.790Kgm-3 PV = nRT P = 14.550 psi = 0.9900 atm V = 30 L R = 0.08206 Latm/Kmol T = 295K n = 1.227 mol Molecules = n x 6.022 x1023 = 7.389 x 1023 molecules the carboy holds under prevailing laboratory conditions. For nitrogen, Collision frequency of molecules of nitrogen can be calculated using the following formula, N = 6.022 x 1023/ mol A = 0.60 m2 P = 0.985 atm = 99808.5066 pa R = 8.314 J/K mol = 8.314 Kg m2 /s2 K mol M = 28 g / mol = 0.028 Kg/mol T = 295 K Z = 1.736 x 1027 s-1 Results: Table 1 represents the observations and reading of pressure obtained for the Argon, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Nitrous Oxide. The unit of pressure is recorded in psi. Figure 1 represents the heat capacity ratio of the given gases: nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and Nitrous Oxide. Data Analysis Calculations: For Nitrogen: ÃŽ ³1 = 0.02773 / 0.02111 = 1.3134 Mean value Nitrogen, ÃŽ ³ = (ÃŽ ³1 + ÃŽ ³2 + ÃŽ ³3) / 3 = (1.3134 + 1.2476 + 1.2834) / 3 = 1.2814 Discussion: The experiment was conducted with careful consideration to get the result as close as to the real value. However, due to the some experimental error involved in this experiment, the calculated values are not close to the literature value. The calculated heat capacity ratios for the given gases: nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and nitrous oxide are 1.2815, 1.0248, 1.4268, 1.0163 respectively. The literature heat capacity ratio values are 1.4000 (nitrogen), 1.6667 (argon), 1.4000 (oxygen) and 1.3100 (nitrous oxide) (P.Atkins et al, 2008). Figure 1 represents the heat capacity ratio of the given gases. Based on the graph shown on figure 1, heat capacity ratio of oxygen and nitrous oxide are lower than the nitrogen and argon. In comparison with the literature value, nitrogen and argon are closer to the calculated heat capacity value. However, the calculated percentage error is 8.46% and 14.4% respectively. In the case of oxygen and nitrous oxide, calculated value more deviated from the literatu re value and the calculated percentage error are 26.8% and 22.42% respectively. These differences between the calculated and literature value heat capacity ratio value occurred due to the experimental error. Equipments used in this experiment were used by the previous batch. As the experiment was conducted using the pre setup equipments, there might be an error in the flow of gases through the tubes. Due to these occurrences, there might be changes in the pressure. Since the flow rate of gases are in larger amount, it could have heavily affected the final results. Gas leak is one of the major concern which lead to decrease in pressure and affected the result. Moreover, the adjustment made at the flow rate of gases also might be lead to the error in the heat capacity value. As the digital manometer is open ended to the atmosphere, there might be an error due to the unstable atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, due to the weather condition (winter), temperature and pressure changes and might not favored to conduct the experiment. Conclusion: In conclusion, the heat capacity ratio of nitrogen, oxygen, argon and nitrous oxide were calculated using the adiabatic expansion. In order to get accuracy of result, the precision can be improved by more attention on the experimental procedure and handling the equipments. Also, accurate result can be made by observing the measurements such as notifying the pressure of gases and units in a proper manner. References K.Lunder et al (1999); Heat Capacity Ratios For Gases: The Sound Velocity Method, Physical Chemistry 301, Augustana College P. Atkins and J. de Paula, Atkins’ Physical Chemistry, 8th ed., W. H.Freeman and Co., New York (2006).

Dead Mens Path by Chinua Achebe Essay example -- Chinua Achebe Dead

â€Å"Dead Men’s Path† by Chinua Achebe   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this short story â€Å"Dead Men’s Path,† Chinua Achebe gives the protagonist an exciting chance to fulfill his dream. Michael Obi was fixed officially headmaster of Ndume Central School, which was backward in every sense. He had to turn the school into a progressive one, however the school received a bad report when the supervisor came to inspect. Why did the school get a nasty report and Obi could not become a glorious headmaster even though he put his whole life into it? In order to find out the answer, we have to examine Michael Obi’s personality and the event that made the supervisor to write an airier result.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Michael Obi was a secondary school teacher. â€Å"The Ndume Central School had always been an unprogressive, so the mission authorities decided to send a young and energetic man to run it† (331). Obi was a juvenile and a jaunty man. Within Obi’s confidence, the reader can see his ardent desire. â€Å"He had many wonderful ideas and this was an opportunity to put them into practice† (331). By this golden chance he wanted to show other people how a school should be run. Obi wanted â€Å"his associates to give all their time and energy to the school† (331) because they were not married. He and his wife were very excited to work for the school. They both had made a plan to make the school modern and delightful. Even though Obi accepted his responsibility with enthusiasm, he could not become a great principal. Why? There should be some ...

Buddhism from a Philosophical Standpoint

When one attempts to put religion under the inquiry of philosophy, there is an important thing that must be clarified. One must be aware that philosophy is both a science of systematic thinking and a way of life. As a science, philosophy explores the ultimate causes and purposes of all things that exist. It entails adherence to rigorous logic and impassioned critique of nearly all things that may be put into question. Which is why, it is a strict rational science (if not the most rigorous one).However, one needs to equally remember that philosophy can also pertain to a principle about life, or a life-influencing belief system. To be sure, this second notion of philosophy enjoys more usage than the previous one nowadays. For instance, many self-help books promising to teach people new philosophies to help them emerge successful in life end up in bookstores as top-sellers and/or top-grosser. One can call both of them – the philosophic inquiry into things and the less rigorous ad herence to some principles about life – as philosophies in their own respects.Studying religion from a philosophical standpoint entails an inquiry figuring in two levels as well. Religion must be seen both as a subject that can be assessed, and a way of life that has to be lived. As an object of philosophic inquiry, religion must be evaluated according to the tenets it holds or the doctrines it teaches. As a way of life, religion must be seen in the context of ritual or ethical practices stemming from a belief system. Thus, in studying religion, one is able to gather philosophical analyses from certain practices and beliefs.In a way, it is the result of combining the two basic understandings of philosophy into a single framework. Rationale and Methodology The aim of this paper is to present Buddhism from the standpoint of philosophy. This means that some of the basic questions that philosophy asks shall be answered in the light of what Buddhism teaches. What could those basic questions be? First, there is a question about ontology. Under this specific inquiry, one looks at how Buddhism perceives all things that exist.Next, there is cosmology; an inquiry which enables one to ask: how does Buddhism understand the world? Other concerns include anthropology (read: how do they understand man? ) and ethics (read: how do they assess what could be morally acceptable or not). But ultimately, since Buddhism is acknowledged as one of the major religions of the world right now, a philosophic inquiry should include exploring their basic notions about God; and thus, theology. After all, religion is essentially about a â€Å"belief in Spiritual Beings† (McCutcheon, 2007, p.22) translated most frequently into a belief in a kind of God. Buddhism: History and Core Doctrines Buddhism is a religious movement which started approximately 500 years before Christ (Griffiths, 1997, p. 15). It first spread across most of the Indian peninsula, only to be dispersed outside the region later on. At present, its influence is embraced not just by Indians but also by those coming from countries which comprise the South and South East Asia region, a few areas in Japan and some provinces of China.It needs to be mentioned that Buddhism is a religious phenomenon characterized by diversity in forms and practices. Buddhism, says one author, is a â€Å"very differentiated† religion (Griffiths, 1997, p. 5). One may not find the same strain of Buddhism found, say, in South East Asia, and another one coming from, say, a southern province of India. Right now, there are a myriad of groups claiming to adhere to a unique practice of Buddhism on their own. In effect, it makes Buddhism a kind of religion that seems neither to teach nor require uniformity of doctrines from all its adherents.Buddhism is a religion that draws heavily from the inspiration lent by its recognized founder, Gautama Sakayamuni (later on to become Gautama Buddha) – a person who exempl ified for them a life of total freedom and perpetual meditation in order to arrive at an utterly blissful state called Nirvana. By and large, it is about an adherence to a lifestyle that seeks authentic enlightenment; and not about a longing for the Transcendent which most religions of the world are concerned with. For this reason, some thinkers are entertaining the idea that Buddhism is, after all, â€Å"not a religion but a way of life† (Humphreys, 1997, p.13). Buddhism, as many authors have noted, is a movement associated not so much with a set of doctrinal teachings as a â€Å"body of teachings with spiritual benefits† (Williams, 1989, p. 2). In fact, many Buddhism-inclined literatures encompass teachings not really about religious worship, but about way of living, ritual practices, devotional meditation (Mitchell, 2002, p. 1), among others. Owing much from the teachings which Gautama Buddha has left, Buddhism teaches that life is in a state of perpetual quest for enlightenment marked by a feeling of constant dissatisfaction (Williams, 1989, p.34). Buddha himself was a testament to this. After leaving home at an early age, Gautama ventured on a life-journey to seek for enlightenment; a precious state he could not seem to find in the world as he got to know it. As he tried to quell the gripping loneliness and instinctive drive to satisfy pleasures, Gautama sought answer and solace through meditation. His meditation led him to see that impermanence, dissatisfaction and a fluid sense of self constitute the basic truths of reality (Williams, 1989, pp.34-36). He further taught that a human person is really nothing, but only takes form as someone constituted by five different â€Å"aggregates† namely, â€Å"form (material constitution), sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness† (Williams, 1989, p. 37). One should now that one of the chief elements that defines the uniqueness of Buddhism lies in how they consider all things to be illusory, since they subscribe to the idea that â€Å"things are not what they seem† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 20).Some of their other teachings about life include the following: value for the principle of moderation, belief in Karma and perpetual recurrence of everything that exists, belief in life’s four noble truths (life is suffering, the cause of suffering is cravings for pleasure, freedom from suffering is temperance from pleasures, and a way to stop suffering is by following the eight-fold path), and the practice of the noble eight-fold paths (right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right living, right conduct, right mindfulness and right concentration) in one’s life (Mitchell, 2002, pp. 45-47). A Philosophical AnalysisJudging from the ideas raised in the Introduction of this work, it is clear that one must consider Buddhism a type of philosophy – that is, as a way of life. Many authors have already proceeded to claim that this particular religious phenomenon is chiefly characterized by the numerous practical precepts which serve as guides towards an enlightened living. It is good to note that Buddhism, pretty much like philosophy, is concerned with the pursuit of enlightenment or truth. An enlightened self – immortalized perhaps in Western Philosophy by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – is surely the goal why one enters into philosophical discourses.In so far as Buddhism offers its own distinct ways to attain enlightenment as well, it is therefore with good reasons that one should classify this religion as philosophical in many ways. Buddhism however does not stop at stipulating suggestions for right living alone. As a system of belief, it also offers perspectives about the whole of reality. Like philosophical discourses, Buddhism is a belief system that speaks of its perspective about the ultimate realities like human existence, cosmology, human knowledge, ontology and theology.Sur ely, there is a need to look into these briefly Buddhism’s take on reality encourages an attitude of detachment on account of a belief that â€Å"everything is impermanent† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 16), and therefore in a state of constant flux. Much of Buddhism’s view about reality rests on the belief that the world is full of ‘diversity’, and the more is able to ‘reveal’ or appreciate it, the closer is one to the truth about the ever passing universe (Williams, 1989, p. 3).This idea is interestingly shared by an ancient Western philosopher that went by the name Heraclitus, who taught that â€Å"fire†- an element in a perpetual state of movement – is the basic element that constitutes reality. Buddhism, one need to remember, is not so much concerned with the rigorous definition of reality. But in so far it embraces an attitude of non-attachment in relating to all things, Buddhism has to anchor this belief system on a formidab le reason – that one’s attachment over things is futile given the fact that all things pass away.In fact, most of what Buddhism teaches is drawn from this ontological belief; and this doctrine of impermanence must be seen as a recurrent theme in its whole system of perspective. As far as Epistemology is concerned, the doctrine of impermanence is also maintained. Buddhism teaches that nothing can be known with exact certitude because all things are ephemeral and thus, as mentioned a while ago, â€Å"they are not what they seem† (Griffiths, 1997, p. 19). Everything is subject to change and passes away.Thus, one may not arrive at a definitive knowledge about things at all. Which is why, Buddha maintained that â€Å"dissatisfaction† is a constant theme that defines the feelings of all who search for knowledge or truth (Mitchell, 2002, p. 33). No one is able to know what reality is; and its appearance is often misleading. One may notice that this epistemology is actually consistent with Buddhism’s anthropology, or, its understanding of human nature. If one checks the teachings of Buddha about man, one can clearly see the doctrine of impermanence as patent in it too.Buddha believes that human nature is nothing but a constitution of events called materiality, sensation, conceptualization, volition and consciousness (Griffiths, 1997, p. 20). This type of anthropology views man not as an existing individual substance (which most of Western Philosophy have understood what human nature is), but an â€Å"impermanent self† constituted by personal events (Griffith, 1997, p. 20). Cosmology for Buddhism follows the same line of logic. Constant flux is patent in its belief that the world follows a rhythm of birth and rebirth, of cycle and current, of existence and passage.The bulk of Buddhism’s teachings therefore solemnly enjoin its adherents to develop an attitude of detachment. Anchored on a belief that nothing in this world ever remains the same over a period of time, Buddhism points that the path towards Nirvana – or ultimate sense of bliss – lies in a state of total freedom from what this world actually offers. Lastly, it is quite interesting to point out that Buddhism rarely engages in a question about the ultimate reality or God. Broadly speaking, the whole philosophy of impermanence is at odds with a concept of deity.The general theory about God stipulates that ‘It† is a Supreme Being defined by eternality, omniscience, omnipotence and changelessness. In a belief system where the central truth about reality rests on the ephemeral nature of all things, the concept of God is really something hard to conceive (Griffiths, 1997, p. 22). How can there be such a Being when the general characteristic of all things – supposedly including God – is change and flux? More importantly, one can ask: how can one consider Buddhism a religion at all if one is not willing to r econcile its theology with its ontology?Griffith believes that the metaphysics of impermanence makes Buddhism deny the existence of God all together (Griffith, 1997, p. 23). But the image of Buddha as the exemplification of their quest for a transcendent end, translated in Nirvana, is perhaps the only figure of deity Buddhism actually posses. Conclusion Buddhism is both a philosophy and a religious movement. As a philosophy, it offers its adherents a way of life observed in a tradition marked by meditation, introspection, constant purgation of desire and an unending quest for enlightenment.As a religious movement, it is concerned with the pursuit of â€Å"transcendent ends† (Slater, 1978, p. 6) they call Nirvana. Buddhism offers its own understanding of reality too. Its doctrines are highly influenced by the teachings of its founder Gautama Buddha. In this paper, it has been noted that their belief system can also be evaluated under the categories which Western philosophy use s – metaphysics, epistemology, cosmology, anthropology and theology.These aspects are given meaning by a pervading concept of impermanence and dissatisfaction. Buddhism draws largely from a belief that everything in the world is impermanent, and that all people are enjoined to meet it with an attitude of detachment and self-control. The path towards true enlightenment happens only when one is able to see beyond what reality offers, and seek the true meaning of existence that lies only within. References Humphreys, C. (1997). A Popular Dictionary of Buddhism.Chicago: NTC. Griffiths, P. Buddhism. In Quinn, P. & Taliaferro, C. (Eds. ), A Companion to Philosophy of Religion. Massachusetts: Blackwell. McCutcheon, R. (2007). Studying Religion. An Introduction. London: Equinox. Mitchell, D. (2002). Introducing the Buddhist Experience. New York: Oxford University Slater, P. (1978). The Dynamics of Religion. Meaning and Change in Religious Traditions. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Wi lliams, P. (1989). Mahayana Buddhism. Doctrinal Foundations. New York: Routledge.

Preserve Knowledge Essay

Dear Sir, Have you ever noticed how people live all their lives in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom? As a society, we put so much emphasis upon enriching our lives through education and it never seems to dawn upon us that upon our demise, all of this knowledge we thirsted to have in life becomes a forgotten part of our existence. It bothers me when I hear about people committing suicide or killing an innocent person because all of the knowledge they gained in life goes with them to the grave and is then lost forever. This is why I have decided that the time has come for me to write a book that will help people come to terms with their personalities and perhaps learn to appreciate their reason for being in this world in the process. If I can touch a life and prevent even one homicide of suicide case in the world, then my book † Preserve Knowledge: The Healing of the Nation† will have accomplished its objective to save lives and preserve knowledge. Nobody really understands why people commit crimes against lives and how it affects the perpetrator spiritually. I would like to help in understanding their situation by helping them in their healing process and introducing them to other spiritual leaders who were once lost and without direction in their lives and have now become leaders of society. Only by understanding these people and their situations will it be possible for us to communicate with our inner self and soul and eventually understand how wisdom of the mind and soul becomes a reality. Through my book, I wish to help people come to the realization that when a person dies or is killed, everything he has learned in life becomes useless. There was no transference of knowledge to the living that are capable of propagating the knowledge shared with them by the deceased. By helping people to survive, we preserve knowledge and in the end the shared knowledge helps in empowering a nation. An intellectual nation is a rich nation. My book will concentrate on developing the 2 most important areas of development in a human being. These are the mind and soul. It is imperative that the mind of a person be developed because the mind can be likened to an absorbent sponge that will absorb all information that comes its way. It is like a blank slate waiting to be written upon using permanent ink. Although the mind filters information, it also helps the soul develop through logical connections and thinking. The soul on the other hand helps that knowledge we collect to become part of a person’s personality and memory database. During the times when the soul feels so tired that if seems to make more sense to end your life, a person feels hopeless. But this is not the way God intended for us to live our lives. God created man to be the highest and most intelligent form of animals because only man was tasked with the duty of taking care of our planet and recording its history. This is the main reason why all knowledge and information that each man has in his mind and soul must be shared with others. Sharing information with the right people always helps to enrich lives. When a person feels good about himself and he has the right kind of support to help him overcome his shortcomings, the nation benefits. That person will always turn out to be a valuable asset to society and whose contribution would be solely missed if he were to take his knowledge to the grave with him. This is why it is imperative that my book â€Å"Preserve Knowledge: The Healing of the Nation† must be published. So many lives are lost these days to suicide or homicide. Imagine all the knowledge that is snatched away from us. We should not allow the draining of this knowledge to proceed any further. Needless to say, only my book can show us how to do this. This is why I am imploring your help in order to see my book published. If you believe in the same causes that I do, this book will be a valuable asset to your personal library.

Free Essays on Why Latinos Should Oppose Bilingual Education

â€Å"Nationwide, about 3.5 million public school students don’t know English well enough to succeed in a regular classroom. Some school districts must accommodate children from 60 or more language groupsmany who are five or six years old and entering school for the first time, others who are older and may or may not have attended school in their homeland.† Most of these children in years past would have been expected to learn the English on their own, â€Å"sinking or swimming.† Many children did not learn this way. Bilingual programs did not devote enough time to English, so most students spent years in the programs, never really progressing. However, Christian Dominguez, a seven year old boy went from not speaking a word of English to being able to read whole books in English. In 1998, Californians voted against bilingual education and adopted â€Å"English immersion† programs. Most bilingual educators were opposed to the program at first, but tw o years later test scores had risen from the 19 percentile to the 40 percentile for limited-English-proficient students. And not just in one district, it occurred in the districts that had implemented the English immersion program in place of the bilingual education. In districts that refused to implement the program, scores did not change. Opposer of the change, Kenji Hakuta told reporters that â€Å"the scores were meaningless because the tests themselves were designed for native English speakers†. That makes the argument point even stronger for English immersion. Eventually, people started to catch on that the best way to teach any language is to teach in that language. Washington has not been so ready to pick up on California’s experience, and is still increasing funding to programs that do not work. However, â€Å"thousands of California students like Dominquez will be making steady progress toward realizing their American Dream thanks to their newfound com mand of English.ï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Why Latinos Should Oppose Bilingual Education Free Essays on Why Latinos Should Oppose Bilingual Education â€Å"Nationwide, about 3.5 million public school students don’t know English well enough to succeed in a regular classroom. Some school districts must accommodate children from 60 or more language groupsmany who are five or six years old and entering school for the first time, others who are older and may or may not have attended school in their homeland.† Most of these children in years past would have been expected to learn the English on their own, â€Å"sinking or swimming.† Many children did not learn this way. Bilingual programs did not devote enough time to English, so most students spent years in the programs, never really progressing. However, Christian Dominguez, a seven year old boy went from not speaking a word of English to being able to read whole books in English. In 1998, Californians voted against bilingual education and adopted â€Å"English immersion† programs. Most bilingual educators were opposed to the program at first, but tw o years later test scores had risen from the 19 percentile to the 40 percentile for limited-English-proficient students. And not just in one district, it occurred in the districts that had implemented the English immersion program in place of the bilingual education. In districts that refused to implement the program, scores did not change. Opposer of the change, Kenji Hakuta told reporters that â€Å"the scores were meaningless because the tests themselves were designed for native English speakers†. That makes the argument point even stronger for English immersion. Eventually, people started to catch on that the best way to teach any language is to teach in that language. Washington has not been so ready to pick up on California’s experience, and is still increasing funding to programs that do not work. However, â€Å"thousands of California students like Dominquez will be making steady progress toward realizing their American Dream thanks to their newfound com mand of English.ï ¿ ½...

Meteorologists Are Scientists Who Study the Weather

Meteorologists Are Scientists Who Study the Weather While most people know a meteorologist is a person who is trained in the atmospheric or weather sciences, many may not be aware that there is more to a meteorologists job than simply forecasting the weather. A meteorologist is a person who has received a specialized education to use scientific principles to explain, understand, observe, and forecast the earths atmospheric phenomena and how this affects the earth and life on the planet. Weathercasters, on the other hand, do not have specialized educational backgrounds and merely disseminate weather information and forecasts prepared by others. Although not many people do it, its rather easy to  become a meteorologist- all you need to do is earn a bachelors, masters, or even doctorate in meteorology or in atmospheric sciences. After completing a degree in the field, meteorologists can apply to work for science research centers, news stations, and a variety of other government jobs related to climatology. Jobs in the Field of Meteorology While meteorologists are well-known for issuing your forecasts, this is only one example of the jobs that they do- they also report on the weather, prepare weather warnings, study long-term weather patterns, and even teach others about meteorology as professors. Broadcast meteorologists  report the weather for television, which is a popular career choice as it is entry-level, which means you only need a Bachelors degree to do it (or sometimes, no degree at all); on the other hand, forecasters are responsible for preparing and issuing weather forecasts as well as watches and warnings, to the public. Climatologists  look at long-term weather patterns and data to help assess past climate and to predict future climate trends while research meteorologists include storm chasers and hurricane hunters and require a Masters degree or a Ph.D. Research meteorologists generally work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the  National Weather Service  (NWS), or another government agency. Some meteorologists, like  forensic  or  consulting meteorologists, are hired for their expertise in the field to help other professionals. Forensic meteorologists investigate claims for insurance companies on past weather or research past weather conditions pertaining to court cases in a court of law while consulting meteorologists are hired on by retailers, film crews, large corporations, and other non-weather companies to provide weather guidance on a variety of projects. Still, other meteorologists are more specialized.  Incident Meteorologists work with firefighters and emergency management personnel by providing  onsite weather support during wildfires and other natural disasters while  tropical  meteorologists focus on tropical storms and hurricanes. Finally, those with a passion for meteorology and education can help to create future generations of meteorologists by becoming a meteorology teacher or professor. Salaries and Compensation Meteorologist salaries vary depending on position (entry level or experienced) and the employer (federal or private) but typically range from $31,000 to over $150,000 per year; most meteorologists working in the United States can expect to make $51,000 on average. Meteorologists in the United States are most often employed by either the National Weather Service, which offers between 31 to 65 thousand dollars per year; Rockwell Collins, which offers 64 to 129 thousand dollars per year; or the U.S. Air Force (USAF), which offers salaries of 43 to 68 thousand annually. There are  many reasons to become a meteorologist, but ultimately, decided to become a scientist who studies climate and the weather should come down to your passion for the field- if you love weather data, meteorology might be the ideal career choice for you.