Which is Basic in Ethics Happiness or Obligation

In life, people do things for different reasons; however, all these reasons boil down to two broad issues viz. happiness and obligation. A person will either do something to achieve happiness or as a duty. Nevertheless, regardless of the motives behind one’s actions, the actions will be a means to an end or the end itself. Therefore, in this context, happiness and obligation might be the means to a desired end or the end itself.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Which is Basic in Ethics: Happiness or Obligation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Logically, the basic element in any pursuit is the end itself; consequently, the task here is to determine the element that stands out as the end as opposed to means to something else. The means to an end is necessary for the end is unrealizable in absence of the means. The debate on the basic elements in ethics still rages. Proponents and critics alike have their side of story, with critics claiming that obligation is the basic element in ethics while proponents hold that obligations are a means to an end and not the end itself. The superiority of one element over the other determines its viability as the basic element in ethics; consequently, the element that surpasses the other becomes the basic element. At this point, one might confuse the means for the end and vice versa; however, as aforementioned, there can only be one end. Happiness is the basic element in ethics; not honor. As aforementioned, the end is superior to the means to the end; consequently, happiness is superior to honor. One would wonder why he/she would seek happiness and not honor. Well, happiness is the end because â€Å"†¦we always desire happiness for its own sake and never as a means to something else†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mulvaney, 2008, p. 128). Therefore, if people desire and pursue happiness as the end, then happiness surpasses honor. However, happiness is not autonomous; consequently, there has to be other elements that work in concert towards the realization of the same. Honor lie in the category of the ‘other elements’ because people do not pursue honor basically for what would come out of it but â€Å"†¦as being means to happiness, because†¦they will prove the instruments of happiness† (Mulvaney, 2008, p. 128). In the light of these observations, happiness outscores honor validating the reason why people should pursue happiness and not honor. In its entirety, happiness does not seek to accomplish honor because in happiness, honor exists. However, this argument is relative depending on what is important to humans. There cannot be a one-fit-all answer to this question; however, the initial argument that people pursue the end and not the means answers this question. Happiness being the end stands out as the most important element amongst humans. If honor were the most important element, then it would sur pass happiness and having achieved honor, people would not pursue anything else. Unfortunately, this is not the case as even those in honorable positions seek happiness. Aristotle argues that, goodness of a man comes from executing good deeds carried out in proper excellence. For excellence to exist, virtue must be present, and in the presence of the two, one’s goodness becomes an activity of the soul as Aristotle insinuates.Advertising Looking for critical writing on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To understand the superiority of happiness to honor, it is worth considering Aristotle’s argument that, the â€Å"good of a man is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue† (Mulvaney, 2008, p. 128). In other words, the motive behind any one’s activity determines the good of that person. Virtue in this context surfaces with practice and knowledge; that is, one has to practice virtuous dee ds and be aware of their implications. If one executes a virtue without knowing it is a virtue, then the activity is not good anymore and one’s goodness becomes obsolete. Virtue minus knowledge turns out to be mere duty and duty cannot define one’s goodness. Moreover, for virtues to function optimally, they should relate to some morals and this leads to moral virtues. According to Aristotle, moral virtue is the consequence of a habit. Habit sprouts from actions that one continually do. The role of habit in achievement of moral habit is paramount here. Just the same, way artists have to practice art after learning it; people have to practice virtues to qualify as having characteristics that associate with the virtue. For instance, by practicing kindness towards others one can be termed as kind. Likewise, by showing love to others one passes for a loving person. Without action that leads to habit, then a virtue does not qualify as a virtue. Aristotle likens habit of exer cising virtues to that of exercising any other learned aspect of life. For instance, he observes that not until someone plays a harpist, he/she does not qualify as a harpist. Similarly, virtue that is not exercised is no virtue. However, as aforementioned, Aristotle cautions against use of virtues void of knowledge, and he puts across some conditions that a virtue has to undergo to qualify its excellence. One should â€Å"†¦know what he is doing†¦deliberately choose to do it and to do it for its own sake†¦ do it as an instance of a settled and immutable moral state† (Mulvaney, 2008, p. 129). If these conditions are unmet, then the virtue holds no moral support thus negating its worth. Critics would fault this argument and question the modality of distinguishing what is moral from what is not. At this point, Aristotle introduces the ‘mean’ as a way of balancing the extremes of any moral issue.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Which is Basic in Ethics: Happiness or Obligation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Aristotle seeks to explore mean value not from mathematical perspective where one obtains absolute mean, but from a philosophical point of view where mean is relative depending on an individual. Taken in this context therefore, ‘mean’ means that which is not excess and not deficient, depending on an individual. Critics would again raise the question of how to balance the relativity of this mean given the fact that no one is a replica of the other. As aforementioned, virtue void of knowledge is no virtue and knowledge comes with emotions. Emotions coupled with actions executed at the right time underscores the mean state of any virtue. â€Å"To experience these emotions at the right times and on the right occasions and towards the right persons and for the right causes and in the right manner is the mean or the supreme good, which is characteristic of virtue† (Mulvaney, 2008, p. 130-31). Therefore, time, occasion, subject, cause and manner are functions of ‘mean’ state in any virtue. Given the relativity of determining ‘mean’ state of a virtue, prudence and reason are the key factors that weigh one’s mean state. There are different forms of mean states as even in some cases; mean is either an extreme or a deficiency. Nevertheless, these inherent differences do not nullify the superiority of happiness to honor or obligations. As previously mentioned, some mean states represent extremes where there are no excesses or deficiencies. For instance, there is no excess or deficiency of wickedness; therefore, the mean state here is an extreme; wickedness. Murder, rape, adultery and theft among others are inherently wicked states. There cannot be a good or bad murderer. Nevertheless, some cases have clear-cut extremes and deficiencies thus mean stands out conspicuously. For insta nce, in giving and receiving of material things, the extreme is profligacy while the deficiency is illiberality; liberality is the mean. Whichever, way one perceives and determines his/her mean, the best way to hit the mean is by pushing one’s position towards the mean. That is, to â€Å"choose the lesser of two evils†¦by steering clear of the evil which is further from the mean†¦drag ourselves in the direction opposite to them; for it is by removing ourselves as far as possible from what is wrong that we shall arrive at the mean†¦(Mulvaney, 2008, p. 134). In other words, doing things for the common good of all people underlines the principle behind the best way of hitting the mean. In conclusion, people do things for different reasons; some do what they do for fame, honor, money, or leisure among other things while others do what they do to get happiness. To determine the basic principle in ethics calls for extensive exploration to distinguish the end and the means to the end. The end is superior to the means to the end and as analyzed above, happiness is the end while honor is means to the end. Therefore, happiness is the basic principle in ethics.Advertising Looking for critical writing on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More That which brings happiness to all people underscores what is ‘good’ for humans. The goodness of a person lies in the virtue surrounding any action performed. Virtues become virtues only when a person exercises them with full knowledge of their implication and chooses to exercise them deliberately. However, virtue has to be practiced continually giving birth to habit, which works towards realization of moral habits. Regrettably, virtues exist in extremes and if not balanced in a state of mean, they become vices. Mean is that state in which there are no excesses or deficiencies, a state of balance. There exist different types of mean given the diversity of those who practice is it. Overall, the best way of hitting the mean is to choose not the excess or the deficiency of a virtue. By doing so, everyone will achieve happiness with honor being one of the means to this felicity. Reference Mulvaney, R. (2008). Classical Philosophical Questions (13th Ed.). New York: Prentice Hall This critical writing on Which is Basic in Ethics: Happiness or Obligation was written and submitted by user Kasen Holt to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery

Perhaps Sarah Debro best explained many people’s views on slavery when she said, â€Å"My folks don’t want me to talk about slavery. They’s shame niggers ever was slaves.† Many people today would rather overlook this period in the history of the United States. Most see it as the past, and feel since they aren’t the ones to blame for the enslavement of these people during that time, its bears no importance to them. However it bears a great deal of importance to every single American. This period in history, along with every other period, helped form the United States into the country it is today. For one to truly understand this period in history, one must not only look to secondary sources of information that are usually provided to students in school, such as textbooks and lectures. One must also look to primary sources of information, such as direct accounts, historical documents, and personal records. Secondary sources can give basic facts and a general idea of what happened. Primary sources can give specific facts, ideas, and even the feelings of those who lived during the period. Through reading people’s actual accounts of what happened at a certain time in history, rather than an account from a person that wasn’t there, it helps to enhance one’s understanding of events. Primary sources can introduce a point of view that perhaps the reader never thought of. They add to the basic information historians provide through secondary sources. A secondary source gives basic facts and general ideas. It can give the reader a basic idea of slavery and the conditions, but cannot give the reader a clear idea of the experience of slavery. It can introduce facts, statistics and important dates. Secondary sources can also give the reader important information that a primary source might not supply. For example, in Out of Many, Faragher states the slave population was estimated at 700,000 in 1790, and grew to 4 ... Free Essays on My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery Free Essays on My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery Perhaps Sarah Debro best explained many people’s views on slavery when she said, â€Å"My folks don’t want me to talk about slavery. They’s shame niggers ever was slaves.† Many people today would rather overlook this period in the history of the United States. Most see it as the past, and feel since they aren’t the ones to blame for the enslavement of these people during that time, its bears no importance to them. However it bears a great deal of importance to every single American. This period in history, along with every other period, helped form the United States into the country it is today. For one to truly understand this period in history, one must not only look to secondary sources of information that are usually provided to students in school, such as textbooks and lectures. One must also look to primary sources of information, such as direct accounts, historical documents, and personal records. Secondary sources can give basic facts and a general idea of what happened. Primary sources can give specific facts, ideas, and even the feelings of those who lived during the period. Through reading people’s actual accounts of what happened at a certain time in history, rather than an account from a person that wasn’t there, it helps to enhance one’s understanding of events. Primary sources can introduce a point of view that perhaps the reader never thought of. They add to the basic information historians provide through secondary sources. A secondary source gives basic facts and general ideas. It can give the reader a basic idea of slavery and the conditions, but cannot give the reader a clear idea of the experience of slavery. It can introduce facts, statistics and important dates. Secondary sources can also give the reader important information that a primary source might not supply. For example, in Out of Many, Faragher states the slave population was estimated at 700,000 in 1790, and grew to 4 ...

McCarthyism and The Crucible What to Know

McCarthyism and The Crucible What to Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In studying The Crucible, you will inevitably be faced with questions about the play's connections to the "Red Scare" of the 1950s and the phenomenon known as McCarthyism. These connections are important because they demonstrate that The Crucible is not merely a (highly adapted) retelling of historical events but also an allegorical reference to the timelessness of certain central human flaws. In this article, I'll provide historical background on McCarthyism, tell you about Arthur Miller's personal involvement with the investigations of alleged communists in the 1950s, and explain how and why interpretations of The Crucible are so closely tied to the political attitudes and events of that decade. Background on McCarthyism Let’s start off with some background on who Joseph McCarthy was and what role he played in American politics. McCarthy was a Republican from Wisconsin who rose through the political ranks in the 1940s and was elected to the Senate in 1946. When it looked like he might not be reelected in 1950 after a few unremarkable years of service, he decided to try a new political strategy: targeting communist subversives. To see why this was even an option, you have to understand the political climate at the time. The 1950s marked the beginning of the Cold War, an era of great tension between the US and the communist USSR. Conservatives in the US feared that anyone who had any affiliation with the Communist Party was a potential threat to national security because they couldn’t be trusted to remain loyal to the US. McCarthy was able to use this fear to his advantage. On February 9, 1950, he claimed to possess a list of the names of 205 people in the US State Department who were members of the American Communist Party. The public, in the throes of a communist hysteria, demanded an investigation of these supposed agitators within the government. Though many of the people on McCarthy’s list were not, in fact, communists, he still managed to become the chairman of an organization called the Government Committee on Operations of the Senate, which proceeded to investigate "dissenters." These investigations went on for two years, during which the questioning spread to numerous government departments, and there was a continued proliferation of communist panic. This persecution of alleged subversives became known colloquially as "McCarthyism." McCarthy finally lost power in 1954 soon after proposing an investigation of the military to root out communists. President Eisenhower, who never liked McCarthy and had great respect for the military as a former commander, decided things had finally gone too far. He worked behind the scenes to discredit McCarthy. The Army sent inside information about McCarthy’s abuses of power to his critics, and a storm of bad PR finally led to the loss of his position as chairman of the investigatory committee. He died soon after in 1957, four years after the opening of The Crucible. Though the modern-day witch hunt philosophy carries his namesake, Joseph McCarthy was far from the only driving force behind the investigation of suspected communists during the Cold War. Another congressional group called the House UnAmerican Activities Committee played a similar and, some would argue, even more dramatic role at the same time. HUAC was a congressional committee originally established in 1938 with the primary goal of investigating communist and fascist organizations that had become active during the Great Depression. After World War II, as Cold War tensions mounted, HUAC became even more intent on investigating communist activities. HUAC gained significant power in tandem with McCarthy; in fact, HUAC provided inspiration for many of McCarthy’s tactics. Members of the committee were convinced that disloyal communists had managed to infiltrate the US government, educational system, and entertainment industry. Anyone deemed suspicious was issued a subpoena by the committee and subsequently questioned about their political activities and the activities of other potential subversives. People who refused to answer these questions or name any names were arrested for contempt of Congress and even sent to jail. Many were subsequently denied employment opportunities in their industries because they were universally "blacklisted" or shut out by employers who feared that hiring them would be a public relations nightmare. How did McCarthy come up with his catalog of commies? He asked everyone in Congress if he could borrow a pen. The ones who said yes were on the list. YOU WON'T TRICK ME WITH YOUR SHARING WAYS! I BUY MY OWN PENS BECAUSE I'M AN AMERICAN! Arthur Miller’s Connections to McCarthyism Arthur Miller had great distaste for McCarthy’s investigations in the early 1950s, and he claims to have written The Crucible in 1953 largely as a reaction to this tense political climate. He had become fascinated with the environment of paranoia and how it affected society as a whole. When he stumbled upon the story of the Salem witch trials, he finally came up with a way to express those themes on stage.The Crucible was also a reaction his personal disappointment at the decision of his friend, director Elia Kazan, to name some former colleagues as communists in 1952 in front of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. Many believe The Crucible's high profile as a criticism of McCarthyism partially led to Miller’s own investigation by HUAC. In 1956, Miller was subpoenaed by HUAC after attempting to renew his passport before traveling to Belgium for the opening of The Crucible. He was suspected (not incorrectly) of possessing close ties to the American Communist Party. Miller did in fact write communist theater criticism and was a greater private supporter of communism than he portrayed himself to be at the time, but he never actually joined the party. When he appeared before HUAC, Miller refused to name anyone else who was involved in "subversive" political activities. To be fair, Miller had less at stake than many others who were called before HUAC to testify. Because he worked mainly in theater, he didn't have to worry as much about the effects Hollywood's unforgiving blacklist policy would have on his career. Miller was found in contempt of Congress for refusing to betray his peers, but the ruling was overturned two years later as HUAC lost power and relevance. Many professionals in the entertainment industry found themselves jobless in Hollywood after falling out of HUAC's good graces. The government's influence on movies at this time was much greater than it is today. The Crucible as an Allegory for McCarthyism It’s not difficult to see the parallels between McCarthyism and The Crucible's plot. The abandonment of reason in the face of hysteria is a clear common theme. Arthur Miller wrote an essay in 1996 entitled "Why I Wrote The Crucible: An Author’s Answer to Politics" that provides insight into his view of the play’s connections to the communist panic. Early in the essay, he relates the US State Department’s fear of China after the communist takeover to the fear of black magic in The Crucible. Miller writes, "There was magic all around; the politics of alien conspiracy soon dominated political discourse and bid fair to wipe out any other issue." Miller saw these sorts of irrational thought processes (weeding out officials associated with China in the US government with the goal of diminishing China’s power overall) as corollaries to the supernatural beliefs of his characters. As communist hysteria built, Miller was even more convinced that he wanted to write a play based on this form of collective insanity. He was especially fascinated by people who disagreed with the communist "witch hunt" but chose to keep their heads down and go along with it to avoid their own persecution. He writes, "But by 1950, when I began to think of writing about the hunt for Reds in America, I was motivated in some great part by the paralysis that had set in among many liberals who, despite their discomfort with the inquisitors' violations of civil rights, were fearful, and with good reason, of being identified as covert Communists if they should protest too strongly." This sort of behavior is one of the biggest contributors to the panic that grows throughout The Crucible. For example, John Proctor hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he fears repercussions from the court, and Parris is eager to turn on others to preserve his reputation. In another relevant quote, Miller writes, "The Soviet plot was the hub of a great wheel of causation; the plot justified the crushing of all nuance, all the shadings that a realistic judgment of reality requires." In The Crucible, Miller translates this concept into the Satanic plot that the officials believe is at work in Salem. Danforth claims that there is "a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!" (pg. 91). Danforth also insists that "a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between" (pg. 87). Nuance cannot be tolerated because the people in charge feel that the stakes are too high. Communist infiltration of the US government and the Devil’s infiltration of Salem are both disastrous scenarios that must be prevented at all costs, even if it means throwing innocent people under the bus. Some people (including his former friend Elia Kazan) predictably complained that Miller’s analogy between the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism was bogus. After all, communists are real, and witches aren’t. Miller, however, says he viewed the analogy as perfectly sound. He argues that, in the 17th century, "the existence of witches was never questioned by the loftiest minds in Europe and America" because the Bible spoke of their existence. Witches were just as real to people in the 1690s as communists were to people in the 1950s. He adds, "The more I read into the Salem panic, the more it touched off corresponding ages of common experiences in the fifties: the old friend of a blacklisted person crossing the street to avoid being seen talking to him; the overnight conversions of former leftists into born-again patriots; and so on. Apparently, certain processes are universal." Miller was fascinated by what happened in Salem because of the parallels he could draw to the events of his life amidst the Red Scare. The Crucible has resonated across time because it expresses central truths about human nature. People will go to great lengths to avoid being ostracized by society, including, in many cases, betraying their true beliefs and selling out their friends. If patriotism is taken too far, it can transform itself into a hatred of "outsiders" rather than a love of political freedoms. This type of harmful attitude remains an issue in the US to this day. Why Does the Relationship Between McCarthyism and The Crucible Matter? Miller closes his essay by saying, "I am not sure what The Crucible is telling people now, but I know that its paranoid center is still pumping out the same darkly attractive warning that it did in the fifties." Though we like to think of ourselves more enlightened than the people who conducted the Salem witch trials, virtually the same course of events has occurred many times in more recent history. The fear of witches only seems archaic because most of society no longer holds serious beliefs in the supernatural. Today, scenarios like this can be even more insidious because "witch hunts" are conducted for types of people that really do exist. There were, of course, communists in the US in the 1950s, but the vast majority of them had no designs on overthrowing the US government or becoming Soviet spies. The danger lies in assuming that purely because someone holds a political or religious belief, he or she must pose a threat. People who are viewed as "other" continue to be persecuted out of fear and ignorance. The Crucible and McCarthyism can be compared to other modern forms of rumor, persecution, suspicion, and hysteria such as: The AIDS scare in the 80’s and 90’s Fear of terrorism in the past 15 or 20 years and how that’s affected US views and policies The Obama "birther" movement The many rumors perpetuated by gullible people on social media Afterword: Discussion Questions Now that you've read the article, you can try your hand at answering some of these discussion questions. I've included a few different types of questions on this topic that you might encounter in your English class: Discuss how Miller’s point of view influences the reading of the play. How did his own experiences shape his writing? Where does "fear" come from? Why, as a nation, do we fear others? Why, as individuals, do we fear others? Describe the political climate of the 1950s. Why did Senator McCarthy become a powerful figure? How did he influence politics in the fifties? As a socially conscious writer, Miller intended this play as a comment on McCarthyism. What are the parallels between the incidents Miller dramatizes and the acts of Senator McCarthy in the 1950s? Compare the events of the play to other historical or current events where innocent people are used as scapegoats. Is this a timeless cautionary tale? What's Next? Check out our full book summary of The Crucible so you can see for yourself how the play fits into its historical context. Need some quotes to fill out your essay for English class? Read this article for a list of all the most important quotes in the play, categorized by theme. To fully understand the messages of The Crucible, you need to get to know the main characters. We've written detailed character analyses for Abigail Williams, Rebecca Nurse, Mary Warren, John Proctor, and Giles Corey. Interested in what witchcraft and magic in America looked like in the years leading up to the publication of The Crucible? Learn who Aleister Crowley was and what influence he had on counter-culture with this article. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Description of Keurig Green Mountain Coffee Assignment

Description of Keurig Green Mountain Coffee - Assignment Example In the year 1993, with expansion of the company due to increased demand for coffee, the company went Public and was listed under the stock market as GMCR as its symbol within the stock market. By 2006, the company purchased Keurig and incorporated a coffee manufacturing system that basically facilitated the production of single coffee brewing machines. On the 14th of September 2010, the Company, under the name Green Mountain Coffee purchased the Quebec Coffee services company then known as Van Houtte at a cost of approximately 915 million dollars. In August 2011, the company sold the Filterfresh United States’ Coffee part of the Van Houtte to the Aramark at a cost of 145 million dollars. During the same year in the month of March, the Company made an announcement regarding a deal it had signed with the Starbucks in that would sell its single-serve pods to Keurig Green Mountain Coffee Company. A similar deal was also signed between the Keurig Green Mountain Coffee Company and the Durkin Donuts. Currently the company’s shareholders have signed an agreement that would entail changing its name completely to Keurig Green Mountain. This is based on the desire to reflect the company’s current activities of selling Keurig Coffee Products. The company’s stock has continued rising over time from the year 2010; during the same year, the company the company made an announcement that it had been requested by the Securities Exchange Commission to submit its financial statements in order to determine how the company managed its revenue. The US financial regulators during the same year also made an inquiry into the company’s accounting practices and made a conclusion that it was undertaken in a sound and effective manner. By the end of the financial year 2013, the company had closed with a gross income of approximately 1.6 billion dollars for a period of five years. With the current high rate of populace increase with increase

Engineering MAterials.. Chemistry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Engineering MAterials.. Chemistry - Essay Example Q2. Yield strength corresponds to the load at which plastic deformation starts in a material while Ultimate tensile strength corresponds to the maximum possible loading below fracture. This means a component will not deform as long as the loading is below the yield strength of the material. Because plastic deformation of component is not permitted therefore design is based on yield strength. It should be noted that yield strength is always lower than ultimate tensile strength. Q3. Elastic modulus of a material depends on the nature of inter-atomic bonding in the material. If chemical composition changes, so does the nature of the inter-atomic bonding in the material. Let us take an example of low carbon steel or mild steel. In this case the inter-atomic bonding is predominantly Fe-Fe bond so it has elastic modulus that depends on the nature of Fe-Fe bond. Now let us take an example of SS316L. In this case the composition has changed considerably. Its composition is Fe-18Cr-12Ni-0.03C. Now this material has different kinds of bonds like Fe-Cr, Fe-Ni and Ni-Cr besides the Fe-Fe bonds and therefore, elastic modulus of this material is different from that of low carbon steel. Q4. This is because it is much easier to carry out hardness testing than carrying out tensile testing. One needs to prepare sample for tensile testing which is much more tedious than preparing a sample for hardness testing. At the same time one gets fairly good idea about strength of the material from hardness testing. As hardness is a measure of material’s resistance against deformation, therefore higher hardness implies higher strength. Q6. Fracture toughness is defined as K = ; where, ï  ³ is yield stress of the material and a is the critical flaw size. These two quantities are measurable. Besides, Kc = is a material property. The as long as K < Kc; the component is safe for use the moment K approaches Kc, the component becomes prone to catastrophic fracture and must be taken

Types of Computers: An Overview

Types of Computers: An Overview A computer is a programmable machine. It accepts information in the form of digitalized data and manipulates it for some result based on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data is to be processed. It consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Computer History: The first use of the word computer was recorded in 1613 in a book called The young mans gleanings by English writer Richard Braithwaite I have read the truest computer of Times, and the best Arithmetician that ever breathed, and he reduced thy days into a short number. It referred to a person who carried out calculations, or computations, and the word continued with the same meaning until the middle of the 20th century. From the end of the 19th century the word began to take on its more familiar meaning, a machine that carries out computations. Computer Types: Computers are also categorized on the basis of physical structures and the purpose of their use. Based on Capacity, speed and reliability they can be divided into four categories of computers: Microcomputer: A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. Minicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of supporting up to hundreds of users simultaneously. Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. Supercomputer: An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second. 2. MICROCOMPUTER A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit (CPU). It includes a microprocessor, memory, and input/output (I/O) facilities. Microcomputers became popular in the 1970s and 80s with the advent of increasingly powerful microprocessors. Microcomputer or personal computer can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. Businesses use microcomputers for word processing, accounting, desktop publishing, and for running spread sheet and database management applications. At home, the most popular use for microcomputers is for playing games and recently for surfing the Internet. The characteristics of a microcomputer are Monitors, keyboards and other devices for input and output may be integrated or separate. Computer memory in the form of RAM, and at least one other less volatile, memory storage device are usually combined with the CPU on a system bus in one unit. Other devices that make up a complete microcomputer system include batteries, a power supply unit, a keyboard and various input/output devices used to convey information to and from a human operator (printers, monitors, human interface devices). Microcomputers are designed to serve only one user at a time, although they can often be modified with software or hardware to concurrently serve more than one user. Microcomputers fit well on or under desks or tables, so that they are within easy access of users. Bigger computers like minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers take up large cabinets or even dedicated rooms. Actual microcomputer can be generally classified by size and chassis / case. The chassis or case is the metal frame that serves as the structural support for electronic components. Every computer system requires at least one chassis to house the circuit boards and wiring. The chassis also contains slots for expansion boards. If you want to insert more boards than there are slots, you will need an expansion chassis, which provides additional slots. There are two basic flavours of chassis designs-desktop models and tower models-but there are many variations on these two basic types. Then come the portable computers that are computers small enough to carry. Portable computers include notebook and subnotebook computers, hand-held computers, palmtops, and PDAs. Tower model The term refers to a computer in which the power supply, motherboard, and mass storage devices are stacked on top of each other in a cabinet. This is in contrast to desktop models, in which these components are housed in a more compact box. The main advantage of tower models is that there are fewer space constraints, which makes installation of additional storage devices easier. Desktop model A computer designed to fit comfortably on top of a desk, typically with the monitor sitting on top of the computer. Desktop model computers are broad and low, whereas tower model computers are narrow and tall. Because of their shape, desktop model computers are generally limited to three internal mass storage devices. Desktop models designed to be very small are sometimes referred to as slim line models. Notebook computer Notebook is extremely lightweight personal computer. Notebook computers typically weigh less than 6 pounds and are small enough to fit easily in a briefcase. Aside from size, the principal difference between a notebook computer and a personal computer is the display screen. Notebook computers use a variety of techniques, known as flat-panel technologies, to produce a lightweight and non-bulky display screen. The quality of notebook display screens varies considerably. In terms of computing power, modern notebook computers are nearly equivalent to personal computers. They have the same CPUs, memory capacity, and disk drives. However, all this power in a small package is expensive. Notebook computers cost about twice as much as equivalent regular-sized computers. Notebook computers come with battery packs that enable you to run them without plugging them in. However, the batteries need to be recharged every few hours. Laptop computer A small, portable computer small enough that it can sit on your lap. Nowadays, laptop computers are more frequently called notebook computers. Subnotebook computer A portable computer that is slightly lighter and smaller than a full-sized notebook computer. Typically, subnotebook computers have a smaller keyboard and screen, but are otherwise equivalent to notebook computers. Hand-held computer A portable computer that is small enough to be held in ones hand. Although extremely convenient to carry, handheld computers have not replaced notebook computers because of their small keyboards and screens. The most popular hand-held computers are those that are specifically designed to provide PIM (personal information manager) functions, such as a calendar and address book. Some manufacturers are trying to solve the small keyboard problem by replacing the keyboard with an electronic pen. However, these pen-based devices rely on handwriting recognition technologies, which are still in their infancy. Hand-held computers are also called PDAs, palmtops and pocket computers. Palmtop Palmtop is small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-size computers, palmtops are severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions such as phone books and calendars. Palmtops that use a pen rather than a keyboard for input are often called hand-held computers or PDAs. Because of their small size, most palmtop computers do not include disk drives. However, many contain PCMCIA slots in which you can insert disk drives, modems, memory, and other devices. Palmtops are also called PDAs, hand-held computers and pocket computers. PDA PDA is short for personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs are pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that they also incorporate handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. The field of PDA was pioneered by Apple Computer, which introduced the Newton Message Pad in 1993. Shortly thereafter, several other manufacturers offered similar products. To date, PDAs have had only modest success in the marketplace, due to their high price tags and limited applications. However, many experts believe that PDAs will eventually become common gadgets. PDAs are also called palmtops, hand-held computers and pocket computers. 3. MINICOMPUTER Another type of computer is Micro Computer which is design to support more than one user at a time but it can be used by one person at a time. It is a computer of a size intermediate between a microcomputer and a mainframe computer and includes a microprocessor, memory, input and output facility and it comes equipped with at least one type of data storage, usually RAM. Typically, mini computers have been stand-alone computers sold to small and mid-size businesses for general business applications and to large enterprises for department-level operations. . Mini computers were designed for control, instrumentation, human interaction, and communication switching as distinct from calculation and record keeping. They have great storage capacity and work at a high speed rate. It is often use in place where several people have to work at the same time, so it let many users use data at the same time without any inconvenient. Mini computers are not only used in organization for work but many of mini computers are also used as personal computer. It has a large cheap array of silicon logic gate which allows utility programs and self-booting kernel to be stored within microcomputers. These stored programs let the minicomputer to automatically load further more complex software from external storage device without the user intervention. The Minicomputers were first built in in 1960s and they immediately became a huge success as 40,000 of the minicomputer systems were immediately sold of making the computers hugely available to the general public. With such a successful market possibility many companies stepped in to venture in the minicomputer market. The most successful among these two hundred companies was DEC that launched the minicomputer models PDP-11 and VAX 11/780. Some significant characteristics and historical facts about the mini computer system have been summarized as follows: They are much smaller in size than the mainframe computer systems. As such they do not occupy an entire room but usually occupy space similar in size to that of a standard refrigerator. They are much less expensive than the mainframes. Their invention was possible because of the invention of core memory technologies and transistors. Minicomputers can give parallel access to up to 100 users. Hence they were used in places such as business organizations for maintaining billings and finances. Some of the very first companies to manufacture the minicomputer systems were Hewlett Packard, DEC and Data General. A few models of minicomputers which have been a marked success over the years are: DEC VAX series and PDP series Hewlett Packard HP3000 series SDS,SDS-92 Prime Computers, Prime 50 Series Norsk Data, Nord-1, Nord-10, Nord-100 IBM Midrange Computers Control Data Corporations CDC 160A, CDC-1700 Data General Nova Honeywell-Bull Level 6/DPS Level6/DPS 6000 series Minicomputers have eventually evolved in to microcomputers. With the launch of microcomputers, the public have Had a greater access to the advantage of incorporating computers in the daily stride of their lives. 4. MAINFRAME COMPUTER In another hand we have the Mainframe Computer which is quite expensive than the Mini computer. In comparison the mainframe computer perform better than the mini computer, it can process data at a very high speed rate, for example, millions of instruction per second and Compared to a typical PC, mainframes commonly have hundreds to thousands of times as much data storage online, and can access it much faster. They contain a large number of self-maintenance features, including built-in security features and high data handling capacity. Because of mainframes ability to handle high level data transactions they are used by the biggest firms in almost all the industry such as banks, government agencies and organizations which need to store great volume of complex and important data at a high security level, which means that this is the most secure than other type of computer. Mainframes are designed to handle very high volume input and output and emphasize throughput computing. This type of computer can work for long period without being interrupted, they are reliable. It can run multiple different instance of different operating system and can handle the work of many users at the same time. The term RAS (reliability, availability and serviceability) is a defining characteristic of the mainframe computer. Test, development, training, and production workload for applications and databases can run on a single machine, except for extremely large demands where the capacity of one machine might be limiting. They are usually protected by multiple levels of security and power backup, both internal and external. Among the self-protection measures commonly found in mainframes are an enhanced heat-protection mechanism. Because these computers run all day along with 24x7x365 ability, a large amount of heat generated must be expelled. The fans in mainframe computers are among the most efficient helping in keeping the data centers cool. Features They are huge computers installed in space centers, nuclear power stations etc. They are used for performing complex mathematical calculations. Only scientists and mathematicians can operate them. They are having huge memories tremendous processing speed. They are used for weather forecasting, animation graphics Mainframes run multiple sessions, and with high reliability. Companies can run their IT operations for years without problems or interruptions with minimum down time. Administration is very easy due to the fact that all applications layers are monitored in one Server. A central computer alone can replace dozens or hundreds of smaller PCs, reducing management and administrative costs while providing a much better scalability and reliability. Mainframes can run more than one operating system at once, which allows companies to run multiple sessions with a super-fast speed, high reliability, and high secure. 5. SUPERCOMPUTER Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest computers currently available. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require immense amounts of mathematical calculations (number crunching). For example, weather forecasting requires a supercomputer. Other uses of supercomputers scientific simulations, (animated) graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design, and analysis of geological data (e.g. in petrochemical prospecting). Perhaps the best known supercomputer manufacturer is Cray Research. Approaches to supercomputer architecture have taken dramatic turns since the earliest systems were introduced in the 1960s. Early supercomputer architectures pioneered by Seymour Cray relied on compact innovative designs and local parallelism to achieve superior computational peak performance. However, in time the demand for increased computational power ushered in the age of massively parallel systems. Here are some examples of supercomputer: IBM Roadrunner Cray Jaguar Tianhe-IA Fujitsu K computer IBM Sequoia Cray Titan Advantages of supercomputer The primary advantage that supercomputers offer is decreased processing time. Computer speed is commonly measured in floating point operations, or FLOPS. Average home computers can perform up to a hundred billion of these operations per second, or 100 gigaflops. Supercomputers, however, are tens of thousands of times faster, meaning that calculations that would take your home computer hours or days can be solved by a supercomputer in a matter of seconds. Supercomputers are usually used to tackle large, real-world problems that would be too time consuming on regular computers. For example, weather forecasters use supercomputers to create models of the weather and to forecast the weather. Obviously, forecasts have to be made in a timely manner to make them useful so the more powerful the computer the better. Only supercomputers have the ability to perform these calculations in a timely fashion. One of the sayings of computing is that the higher the technology, the more trivial the application and the most powerful computers in the world are used by digital effects/computer animation companies. The sheer processing power of supercomputers means that they can be used to do things that ordinary computers simply couldnt handle. Supercomputers have also permitted great strides in filmmaking and special effects. Disadvantages of supercomputer There have no great difference between mainframe computers because like the mainframe it takes up a large space and cost very high. It requires trained staff to can handle and use the supercomputer and it may only be good for specific application. It is high power consumption, it use a lot of electricity, for instance, about millions Rupees in a year. Other disadvantage is that supercomputers require massive external storage drives whose bandwidth is fast enough to accommodate the data being analyzed and produced. If storage and bandwidth cant keep up with the data flow, the supercomputer will not be able to work at its full capacity. Unlike ordinary desktop computers that may finish calculating a problem in a few minutes or overnight, supercomputers work on tasks that require intensive calculations which can take extremely long periods to complete. For example, a supercomputer could spend months performing calculations to support research on climate change or to help cure a disease, presenting a disadvantage to people who are in a hurry for quick results. 6. CONCLUSION After all we can say that computer has made his way since 19xx. It has begun with the microcomputer which consisted of simple technology. Then we have the minicomputer which becomes more and more personal and sophisticated for users. It makes great progress when the mainframe computer comes in 19xx (put the date). It comes with more performance and more memory with high security level. Their process increased more than 100 times and finally when the famous supercomputer comes which is 1000 times more powerful than the predecessor. And nowadays with the great evolution we have four type of computer.

Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization Essay

Ethical Dilemma Introduction                   Decisions are bound to be made on a daily basis whether on an individual or corporate level. The actions taken after the decision may lead to positive or negative outcomes. Ethics, therefore, is an important aspect that guides decision making both at a personal level and as a company. Ethics is described as the accepted moral values within a society or a given organization(Hoffman, Frederick, & Shwartz, 2013). It gives organizations and individual the outline of accepted practices and guides the decision making process to yield the preferable results without causing harm to others. Decisions define the success of any given organization because they are made on daily a basis, ranging from the top level management decisions to the support staff routine decision making. Ethical standards are important as they ensure all the stakeholders act sensibly. It is because of this reason that ethical standards play a crucial role in the success of an organization.                   One of the common ethical issues at an organizational level are the issues concerning the management of human resources. I have witnessed a human resource practitioner faced with an ethical dilemma concerning matters of recruitment, selection, fair working conditions, and remuneration(Seglin, 2011). The manager in charge of hiring and managing the human resources of any given organization face tough decision while performing their duties. Under the situation, I experienced, thehuman resource manager was put under pressure by the finance department to reduce the cost of labor for the company to realize sustainable profits. To achieve the set profit target of the company, the human resource manager had the alternative of hiring individual with low qualifications, or fire some of the employees to reduce the wage bill, or significantly reduce the salaries and benefits the employees are getting from the firm.                   From the above situation, the personnel manager is under an ethical dilemma situation. This is because both decisions and actions that he would take will have both positive and negative outcomes. First of all, it is ethical for the human resource manager to respect the directives from the senior management and serve the interest of the company to increase profits(Crane & Matten, 2012). However, by complying with these instructions will cause some employees to lose their jobs without sufficient or convincing reasons. This infringes the rights of the employees by terminating them without good reasons. If he employees with fewer skilled workers, the company will have a low wage bill, but the quality of work will be compromised and hence put the company at stake. Secondly, it is ethical for the human resource manager to protect the employees from termination without valid explanations(Seglin, 2011). Therefore, the manager is faced with two choices that both seem morally correct, but the outcomes have ethical considerations too. However, the manager was left with no choice and decided to terminate some employees, reduce salaries and employee benefits for the remaining workers.                   The stakeholders affected by the decision of the human resource manager include the management, the employees, both the fired and those still working, and the clients of the organization. The management is affected because the company is understaffed and the available resources underutilized. This means most of the resources go to waste and hence increasing losses made by the firm in the long run. By hiring low skilled personnel translates to low wages as directed by the management(Hoffman, Frederick, & Shwartz, 2013). However, the employees will give poor work quality due to lack of required expertise and hence the management may lose business to their close market rivals.                   The employees who are fired are adversely affected due to the loss of their source of lively hood. It is also against their right, to terminate their employment with no valid reason. Such individuals’ lives are changed and it affects their families too, if they were the main providers(Crane & Matten, 2012). The workers who remain on the job are also affected adversely due to the reduction in their number. They have to perform extra work and take extra time to finish what the terminated personnel used to do. With time such employees lose job morale due to low pay and long hours of work.                   Clients of the firm will also be affected by this decision because of the poor quality of work. Termination of some employees will make the organization to be understaffed and hence unable to meet the growing demand for their products. This affects the final consumers due to the forces of demand and supply. Hiring low skilled employees has a direct impact on the quality of work output(Seglin, 2011). The consumers will, therefore, receive substandard products. This reduces the utility clients derive from consuming the services and products of the firm.                   What would be considered the right outcome of the human resource manager’s decision, is the reduction of labor cost. Some of the things that constitute to high labor cost are high cost of wages and salaries, high number of employees, good working conditions, and employee benefits. By terminating the employment of some employees, the wage bill of the company reduces(Hoffman, Frederick, & Shwartz, 2013). The management will also offer lower salaries to less skilled employs and the reduction in the remuneration of the existing employees also reduce the labor cost. Therefore, the management would consider this outcome to be ‘right’ according to their expectations.                   However, it would also be considered wrong for the human resource boss to terminate employment agreements, reduce salaries and benefits, and hire less skilled. It is unethical for any employer to terminate the employment agreements of his/her workers without valid reasons. The process of selecting who is to be fired is also faced with ethical considerations and bias may prevail the process(Hoffman, Frederick, & Shwartz, 2013). Employees are supposed to be remunerated in accordance with their contribution to the company. Underpaying the employee for the benefit of the company is considered unethical and wrong. By reducing the number of employees in an organization makes the remaining workers work overtime. This is unethical as it denies them the crucial time to balance work and family. It is going against the rights of the workers by adding them more tasks without changing their terms of payment.                   The human resource manager made his decision based on the ethical principles of the firm. His decision to implement the directive of the management concerning cutting on labor cost, was influenced by the ethical principal that requires all the employees to respect the management and serve the interest of the company and not their own interest(Crane & Matten, 2012). If he would not implement the plan, then the human resource manager will be considered to have behaved in contempt of his seniors.The management of the firm spearhead the interest of the company and communicate it down to the least of ranks among the employees. In this case the firm’s interest is to reduce the cost incurred on manpower and hence increase the profit margins. As much as this decision when put to action affects livelihood of employees and the success of the firm, the human resource manager has to follow the code of ethics that requires him to respect decisions from persons at a higher rank than him.                   Biases also played a major role in influencing the decision and action taken by the personnel manager. He took the decision in favor of the management since he has a lower rank to them. By favoring them, he reduces the risk of him being questioned or even fired. If he does not be biased in his decision then he would not have served any of the parties due to the natter at hand being an ethical dilemma(Hoffman, Frederick, & Shwartz, 2013). This means that both the alternatives he had seemed morally right. It is ethical for him to protect employees from termination and remuneration reduction, because the company may incur high losses in the long run if that action is taken. However, it is also his moral responsibility to execute the plans and instructions of his colleagues in senior positions than him. Therefore, his action is justifiable as ethical. It is because of this dilemma that the manager had to apply bias for him to find a way out. This bias is mai nly as a result of seniority of management over the personnel manager.                   To address the ethical dilemma at hand, it would be wise for the human resource manager and the management to discuss the issue at hand. Then they organize a forum with both the management and the employees over the cost of labor. During the talks, the personnel manager will have a chance to explain to the management why the human resources are the most important resources for the success of the firm(Seglin, 2011). He would advise the top managers on other methods of costs reduction other than termination and pay cut. Measures such as doing massive advertising and publicity would increase the sales margin of the company. This is directly proportional to profits and it can be adopted instead of firing employees. The company may also invest more in the employees to increase their efficiency and skills. By doing productivity will go high and they will produce quality products and services that would more potential customers and increase sales turnouts. Conclusion                   Human beings and organizations are faced with situations that require decision making on a daily basis. Ethics is those values that are used to distinguish between right and wrong in an organization or a society. The decision made always have consequences and the consequences are judged based on the set moral values. Human resource practitioners are faced with ethical dilemmas in their daily responsibilities, that is; recruitment, selection, training, and termination. During this decisions and actions several stakeholders are affected. The management, the employees, and the clients are all affected by the decisions of the human resource manager. At times it is difficult to consider what is right and what is wrong due to both outcomes seeming morally correct. This situation is called an ethical dilemma. To overcome such situations all stakeholders of a given organization should frequently have meetings and talks to update the code of ethics and discuss so lutions to difficult ethical situations. References Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2012). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. New York C: Oxford University Press. Hoffman, M., Frederick, R., & Shwartz, M. (2013). Business Ethics: Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. Seglin, J. (2011). The Good, the Bad, and Your Business: Choosing Right When Ethical Dilemmas Pull You Apart . Boston: Wiley Publishers. Source document