Theodicy and the Free Will Defense Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theodicy and the Free Will Defense - Essay Example This paper deems to tackle the concepts revolving around theodicy and free will; this also aims to know whether the free will defense meet all the three criteria for an effective theodicy. Free Will Human free will and freely chosen good actions are of high value, even though free will opens up the possibility of evil (Pinnock 5). Furthermore, as guided by the definition of freedom, free will or free act is an act that is not determined casually in any way by one’s genetic makeup, by one’s environment or even by God (Pinnock 5). Likewise, every free person is possibly sinful and free to choose evil; thus, given the independence of human freedom from divine control, it is obviously impossible for God to guarantee that individuals will always freely choose to do what is morally noble (Pinnock 5). In simple terms, Pinnock implied that free will is considered as a key justification to evil (4). Individuals deem that they have free will if they view themselves as agents capa ble of influencing the world in a variety of ways (Kane 5). Moreover, persons feel that it is up to them what they will choose and how they will act and this means they could have chosen and acted otherwise (Kane 5). Furthermore, Kane suggests that the basis of the actions of individuals exercising free will lie in themselves and not outside them which is something that could be beyond their control (5). The Biopic Teleological Argument Edwards inquired about how a powerful transcendent Creator can be a Benevolent Super-intellect when evil is evident in the world (299). Edwards then emphasized that no single, magic bullet neatly solves the problem of theodicy for if there is an available solution, it usually results from cumulative weight of many considerations; hence, the success or failure of theodicy is a matter of fallible and variable judgment (299). Massive evil in the world is indeed the greatest obstacle of all to have faith and believe that a good God created the universe f or benevolent purposes (Edwards 299). Without theodicy, individuals would deprive God of devotion instead contempt might linger in their mind and hearts (Edwards 299). The Free Will Defense amidst the Criteria of Theodicy The Free Will Defense by Alvin Plantinga denotes that much of the evil most notably the moral evil that exist in the world is a consequence of God’s endowing humans with significant moral freedom (Nash 199). In lieu of the first criteria of effective theodicy, the premise handled only human-caused suffering satisfactorily in the sense that it rationalizes why one experiences such. Such outcome is based on the fact that a free and responsible choice originates with the intelligent moral agent who makes it (Edwards 299). Thus, being responsible for a choice and its consequences such as suffering means picking that option or choice knowingly (Edwards 299). As what Edwards (299) highlighted that moral agents are responsible only for the decisions they made that originated from them, other than that, they may not be held accountable (Edwards 299). The second criteria of an effective theodicy was tackled by the Free Will Defense, in such a way that this approach stressed that God allows moral evil in order to bring about the greater good of allowing his creation to encompass significantly free moral agents, without whom there could be no moral good (Nash 199). Though pain and suffering may be experience due to the

Apple's International Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple's International Strategies - Essay Example The business sells in Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Australia. Apple has considerable brand loyalty established in China, The United Kingdom, and Australia. This loyalty occurs as part of a broad international marketing communications strategy that includes social media, press releases, transparent market research targeting consumers (i.e., attitude surveys), and the strong emphasis on customer relationship management. In all international locations, the majority of target customers that maintain strong loyalty are professional businesspersons, those in arts and entertainment, and are generally between the ages of 18 and 34 (Rubicon Consulting, 2008). Apple conducts considerable volumes of marketing research to determine attitudes, preferences, and lifestyles of consumers to ensure it is producing relevant products internationally and creating effective advertising that meets with these lifestyles and demands. In China, Apple entered this market with a licensing stra tegy, due to the high volume of technology competition with pre-established brands (Ramadugu & Samad, 2009). Apple desired to link its brand name with China Unicom, one of the largest telecommunications companies that had considerable growth in consumer satisfaction in China. This licensing agreement was also the chosen strategy for entering this market as there is an unpredictable distribution of mobile technology in China and by having China Unicom control distribution, it would improve the costs associated with setting up an Apple-specific distribution system in this new market. In Nigeria, as another example, Apple chose a turnkey market strategy, which is when technical processes and technology is exported to the market. Once a turnkey contractor is identified, the contractor establishes the operational model, construction, and implementation of Apple production and sales strategies in the new market (Evans, 2005). This is a country with limited competition and where the costs of new market entry are high to competitors. By establishing an operational foothold in Nigeria, this would potentially open new opportunities for local distribution from the newly constructed manufacturing facility. Apple maintains a different market entry strategy based on consumer characteristics, the level of competition in these markets, and identified brand recognition and loyalty for Apple premium products. In the UK, the target market consists of 18-34-year-olds in which branding occurs related to their lifestyle and the linkage between their perceptions of Apple products. Robinson (2010, p. 2) identifies that gaining market attention in the UK includes focusing on emotions, hopes, aspirations and lifestyle passions in a market saturated with competition and where there are high brand recognition and preference. Market entry in this country included licensing agreements and exporting since there was already a well-developed mobile and consumer technology distribution system established in this country. The level of price sensitivity in customers, the distribution networks available in the country, the level of competition, and the ability to provide relevant promotion to meet consumer lifestyles determine the market entry strategies selected by Apple.

Turkish Maritime Cabotage Rights Research Proposal

Turkish Maritime Cabotage Rights - Research Proposal Example The Republic of Turkey is strategically placed in an area between the Asian, African and European continents and the three sides of the country are encompassed by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Black Sea to the north and the Aegean Sea to the west. The Turkish Straits is the only water route between Black Sea and Mediterranean and have unique physical, hydrological and navigational conditions (Unescap, Turkey Report 2000/2009). It has been recently contended that the volume of traffic flow in the Straits have exceeded limits of safe navigation as there has been an increase in the number of vessels and quantities of dangerous cargo. Any accident could cause irreversible damage to the environment. In order to maintain safety of navigation, life and property in the region, the Turkish Government has adopted a set of regulations for maritime traffic in 1994. Turkey's approach to maritime transport is consistent with international regulations and principles of fostering free mari time competition, safety and environmental concerns. Turkey's maritime transport facilities are rather extensive. ... Turkey has merchant fleet with capacity more than 9.5 million DWT and about 899 ships and is in the 20th rank in the world fleet. Total capacity consists of 5 per cent public and 95 per cent private sectors. The majority of ships comprising total merchant shipping fleet are bulk carries (48 per cent), dry cargo ships (19 per cent), oil tankers (10 per cent). The other types of ships constitute 23 per cent of the fleet. (Information available from Unescap Report on Turkey, 2000/2009) Cabotage Laws and Rights: The maritime sector in Turkey is also subject to certain legal arrangements and Law 815 on Cabotage Auxiliary services rendered in Turkish ports and waters are subject to the Law on Cabotage. In accordance with the Cabotage Act, all commercial shipping and related activities between the ports and all trading in the coastal lines is reserved for Turkish-flag vessels and supply of services are given to Turkish companies only although all auxiliary services at the ports are available to all nationalities. Transportation that violates Cabotage rights is not accepted and negotiations on Cabotage transportation services in turkey have been very rigid. Turkish Code of Commerce is related to maritime transport and is harmonized in accordance with the arrangements of EU. The application and implementation of Cabotage rights is a very important milestone in Turkish Maritime Industry and this thesis will delve deeper into the maritime industry, the regulations in Turkish shipping industry and the role of Cabotage rights in helping Turkey to integrate its shipping industry with EU and international shipping standards. Turkish fleet

Democracy and Commodification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Democracy and Commodification - Essay Example In the context of commodification, services that would be normally under the control of the state came under the control of the private sector, a fact that leads to the increase of cost involved (Giddens and Griffiths 367). Thus, the access to these services becomes more difficult and even, impossible, for a high majority of the population. From this point of view, commodification leads to the limitation of democracy, a political system that is based on equality and fairness in terms of law (Giddens and Griffiths 367). The potential limitation of democracy through commodification can be made understood by referring primarily to the cases of welfare regimes that are based on commodification and those that are not commodified. These cases would show how modern political systems could be related to commodification. Then examples could be provided for showing the relationship between democracy and commodification in practice. Giddens and Griffiths (2006) explain how political systems can be related to commodification: a) the social democratic regime promotes the provision of welfare services for all citizens with no exception, at a universal level (Giddens and Griffiths 367). Scandinavian states, that have this type of regime, are examples of states supporting the non-commodified political system; b) in ‘conservative/ corporatist states, such as France and Germany’ (Giddens and Griffiths 367), welfare services are non-commodified but they are not fully independent from the capital. Indeed, in the above states, the potential of each citizen to access the welfare services is differentiated according to his social status (Giddens and Griffiths 367); c) there is also the case of the liberal states, like United States, where ‘welfare services are fully commodified’ (Giddens and Griffith 367). It should be noted that the use of specific practices, in regard to the management of an economy, does not, necessarily, indicate the commodification of t he local political system (Williams 157). In democracy also, a similar issue would exist. At this point the potential influence of commodification on democracy should be explained using relevant examples. In all states where democratic regimes exist media is commonly used for the promotion of specific political messages. Reference can be made, as an example, to the use of media for supporting a particular legislative text or for persuading the public that a specific political decision, for example the establishment of an area of entertainment, is fully justified in terms of public interest. In regard to this issue, emphasis should be given to the following fact: in most states, media is used for influencing public opinion

An overview of YouTube Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

An overview of YouTube - Essay Example An overview of YouTube â€Å"YouTube was founded by three former PayPal employees, who, witnessing the boom of online grassroots video, realized the need for a decent service that made the process of uploading, watching and sharing videos hassle-free† (Yadav). It was on February 15, 2005 that they registered the domain YouTube. In the initial periods YouTube came out with many contests in order to publicize the domain. The major target of YouTube was teenagers and college students. They offered attractive gifts for the winners of the contest. This created more traffic in the website. A person can watch the videos in YouTube even without registering. But if he intends to upload a video into YouTube, he should at first create an account with it. Both signing up process and uploading video are made simpler than what was during the initial stages. YouTube uses Adobe flash technology for enabling the videos to be watched on the internet. YouTube and Web 2.0: Web 2.0 is referred to as the network of websites that are used regularly by ordinary users. The ordinary users of the web are referred to the students, hobbyists, diarists etc. The ordinary users express themselves through their avatar in various social networking sites and blogs. â€Å"You can visualize Web 2.0 as a set of principles and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites that demonstrate some or all of those principles, at a varying distance from that core† (Tim). Thus they look for an opportunity to express them through internet.

U.S. Totalization Agreement With Mexico Essay Example for Free

U.S. Totalization Agreement With Mexico Essay The focal point of this paper is to analyze the Totalization Agreement between the US and Mexico. It should be noted that the aspects of this analysis is not fundamentally policy analysis but it intended towards presenting arguments from the point of view of analytical framework. In this paper there would not be any bias or opinion presented rather a comparison would be presented in terms of arguments for and against the issue. It should be stated that in the context of globalization the Totalization Agreement is a very important aspect for the US. Totalization Agreement has the tendency of investment funds and businesses to move beyond domestic and national markets to other markets around the globe, thereby increasing the interconnectedness of different markets. Globalization better said is the shift in the direction of a more incorporated and interdependent World economy. Globalization has had the effect of markedly increasing not only international trade, but also cultural exchange. some intellectual define globalization as convergence of prototypes of manufacture and expenditure and a consequential homogenization of customs, while others strain that globalization has the prospective to take countless miscellaneous appearances. In economics, a wide description is that globalization is the union of prices, wages, products, profits and rates of interest in synchronization with developed nation norms. Globalization of the financial system depends on the position of international business, human migration, incorporation of pecuniary markets, and mobility of capital. The International Monetary Fund observes the increasing financial interdependence of countries all over the world through rising quantity and multiplicity of cross-border dealings, gratis international capital flow, and comparatively faster and extensive dissemination of technology. In contemporary economic scenario the prevailing trend is expansion in the global market. Global market expansion is nothing but a concept of serving customers beyond the limits of domestic market and in economic scenario considered a key growth strategy. Global market expansion is a business reality that every company encounters at some point in its evolution. Under such circumstances every business venture must balance risk with rewards, the risks when expanding internationally can be less predictable and in the same way the rewards can be more elusive. The companies, which are looking for sustainable ways to grow and diversify their revenue streams, consider global expansion as a strategic option. There are several factors behind the trend toward expansion in the global market. Companies require a global presence. For both offensive and defensive causes, companies cannot overlook opportunities outside their home markets. A company’s requirement for a global presence arises from two factors, their capability of leveraging domestic relationships outside their country and a requirement from domestic customers to support the company’s products internationally. A global expansion allows companies to replicate successful domestic strategies in international markets, potentially in markets with lower competitive intensity. Additionally Global market expansion provide the companies large untapped markets, advantages of low labor costs, savings of shipping costs, speed and efficiency of delivery system, etc. These factors make the Totalization Agreement between the US and Mexico more important. (Fletcher, 2006) The Totalization Agreement between the US and Mexico could be better understood in the light of the history behind it. For more than thirty years US has been establishing agreements relating to social agreement internationally keeping in mind that these agreements should coordinate with the program by the Social Security of the US. These agreements based on the aspects of programs related to Social Security of the US are cumulatively pronounced as totalization agreements. Under these agreements there are certain advantages. However, from the point of view of the US these advantages can broadly be divided into two parts. The first objective is to eradicate double taxation for workers employed in foreign nations. Without the agreement an individual would have to pay two times as tax on the earnings. The current report suggests that the benefit of Totalization Agreement between the US and other countries has help US workers working abroad at lot. The cumulative savings are estimated at $800 million per year. The second objective of Totalization Agreement between the US and other countries is to provide an individual who is part timer as a worker in either in the US or the foreign country the proportional tax benefit that is so important for the worker. In this context the agreement between US and Mexico becomes very important in the context of financial benefits. It has been estimated that once the agreement of Totalization is signed between the US and Mexico the workers from the United States in Mexico would be able to save about an estimated $140 million. These savings would be made in the parameters of Mexican taxes relating to health insurance and social security measures. However, it should be mentioned that this estimation is calculated on the basis of a 5 year term of computation. Again, in the perspective of humane benefit it would immensely help the workers who have been working in Mexico for a shorter period of time in both US and Mexico as because this agreement would help them to receive the benefits. (King, 2006) It could well be stated that Mexico is a prominent partner of the US in terms of trading. In fact it is the second largest after Canada. This way it becomes important for the US to indulge in Totalization Agreement with Mexico. As it is Mexico is already under the Totalization Agreement with Canada making it mutually beneficial for both countries. The advantages and disadvantages of Totalization Agreement with Mexico have been heavily scrutinized and debated in recent years. Proponents of Totalization Agreement with Mexico say that it helps developing economies catch up to highly developed industrialized economies much faster through increased employment and technological advances. Critics of Totalization Agreement argue that it weakens national sovereignty and allows rich nations to ship domestic jobs overseas where labor is much cheaper. The main advantages of Totalization Agreement are as such, increased free trade between the two nations, increased liquidity of capital allowing investors in developed nations to invest in developing nations, conglomerates are having greater flexibility to operate across borders, global mass media binding the world together, increased flow of communications allowing vital information to be shared between individuals and conglomerates through out the globe, greater facility and speed of transportation for goods and people, reduction of cultural barriers increases the global village effect, spread of democratic ideals to developed nations, greater interdependence of nation-states, reduction of likelihood of war between developed nations , increases in environmental protection in developed nations. Along with the advantages there are also several disadvantages of Totalization Agreement, such as increased flow of skilled and non-skilled jobs from developed to developing nations as companies look for the cheapest labor, increased probability of economic disturbances in one nation effecting all nations, business influence of nation-states far exceeds that of civil society organizations and average individuals, apprehension that control of world media by a handful of conglomerates will limit cultural expression, greater possibility of reactions for globalization being violent in an attempt to conserve cultural heritage, greater danger of diseases being transported inadvertently between nations, spread of a materialistic lifestyle and outlooks that sees consumption as the path to affluence, international bodies like the World Trade Organization interfere with national and individual sovereignty, increase in the probabilities of civil war within developing countries and open war betw een developing countries as they compete for resources, decrease in environmental integrity as polluting corporations take advantage of weak regulatory rules in developing countries like Mexico. It could well be stated that in this competition organizations are gradually loosing their ethnic values and morals. Today competence of an individual or a corporate is judged by his or her ability to cope up with constant fundamental changes in the organizational structure. All over the world, organizations aligning new products engineering teams around ‘pit crew’ model. Cross functional teams to design, manufacturing sales and service engineer’s work along with the workers, who at some point of time have stake in the product. This ensures manufacturing and sales people having their say all through the design process and building up the manufacturing capability early on that is currant engineering. The goals are simple, such as speed, equality and competitive price. Commodities have become international for most industries and the impact of engineering is significant. In many organizations, the learning curve in engineering has become an unaffordable luxury. Competitive pressures mandate finding ways to reduce the total time required to introduce new products in the market. Competition along with more complex production and distribution environments requires identifying and reducing necessary costs, such as costs associated with development, manufacturing, distribution and service. However, it can be stated that totalization agreement would have a distinct effect on the Trust Funds but it would be a long termed and virtually negligible effect. It has been estimated that the social security of US bears a cost of about $100 million yearly. This has been the trend for the last 5 years. Thus the totalization agreement would enable the workers of both the US and Mexico to enjoy the advantage of cost benefit as the dual taxation would be eradicated. It should be mentioned in this perspective that the cost benefit of US during the year 2002 was around $198 million with Canada alone under the parameters of the totalization agreement. (Lamb, 2004) Thus in the conclusion it could be stated that there are both advantages and disadvantages in coming into a condition of totalization agreement with Mexico. However, when an international agreement is signed there are multiple aspects to be looked after and these are done keeping in mind the mutual benefits of the nations. References: Fletcher, R; (2006); Beliefs and Knowledge: Believing and Knowing; Howard Price King, H; (2006); Social Security Today; HBT Brooks Ltd Lamb, Davis; (2004); Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata; National Book Trust.

Theories of Black Holes

Theories of Black Holes Zhiting Liu The Black Hole The first impression of a black hole may be heard like a dark and a very horrible hole. It was a big planet that you cannot ignore. It is the object that have a very strong gravitational, even the light cannot escape. When the Schwarzschild radius of the star is tiny, even the light vertical emitting to the surface also cannot escape (Schwarzschild). Then the star becomes a black hole. We said, Black, the fact is that it is like a bottomless pit of the universe, when the matter has been absorbing by black hole, it looks like cannot escape. Due to the light cannot escape a black hole, we cannot directly observe the black hole. Only by measuring the impact on the surrounding objects to speculate indirectly to its existence. In other words, although the black hole is black, but it is essentially still a star. As we classify the stars, the black hole also has many categories. It can be composed into dark energy black holes and physics black hole. If divided by physical properties, it can be: not rotating and uncharged black hole; not rotating charged black hole; uncharged rotating black hole; general black hole and the binary black hole (Wikipedia). So the black hole is composed by what? For this problem, contemporary scholars have different views. First of all, the most common and most easy to accept that a black hole is a tiny hole. It was the remains of the star, when the star was collapse. That is to say; the composition of the black hole is as same as the general stars. In recent years, however, the people who have hold different views they put forward the new ideas. They believe that the black hole is actually a large celestial bodies are composed in a particular state of the substance in the collapse process, it gradually condense to form a black hole, the same process is like the w ater into ice. This explanation provides a new idea for the study of quantum gravity theory, and the quantum theory of gravity is possible to make the Einsteins general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics in together (David). So how this amazing celestial black hole formed. In fact, the process of produces a black hole is as similar as produces the neutron star; the core of the star shrink rapidly under its weight, the in a violent blast. When all the substances in the core have become neutrons, the process of contraction would stops immediately then it be compressed into a dense planet (Wikipedia). However, in the case of a black hole, the core of a massive star is too big, it make the process of contraction on endlessly, neutron was crushed into a powder by its own gravitational attraction squeeze, and the remaining is a high-density material . The black hole like a vacuum, all of the objects will be sucked into it when close to it. Moreover, so, after the contraction it formation a new black hole. It also can be understood, the general stellar initially only hydrogen elements, hydrogen atoms inside stars collide moment, fission, and fusion. Because of the large stellar mass, fission and fusion energy contend with stellar gravity, in order to maintain the structure stability of the star. Because fission and fusion, hydrogen atoms eventually change the internal structure of the rupture and form a new element the element helium. Then, the helium atom is also involved in fission and fusion, change the structure, generate to lithium element. By the same method, from order of the periodic table, it will be generated by a beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen and other elements (Hawking). Until generated to iron element, the star will collapse. Because iron is fairly stable it cannot participate fission or fusion, however the iron is present in the interior of stellar, it will resulting the interior energy of stellar cannot contend with the stellar gravity of large stellar mass, it cau sing the star collapses, and forming a black hole (Hawking). In fact, black hole is as same as white dwarfs and neutron stars, it may also evolve by a star that are 30 times bigger than the sun. It works like, when the star is aging; its thermonuclear reaction has run out of the center fuel (hydrogen), the energy generated by the center is running out too. Thus, it does not have enough strength to bear the weight of a huge shell. Therefore, under the weight of the shell, the core began to collapse. Finally, it becomes a small and high-density stars which can re-balance the pressure (Hawking). Some of the small mass stars evolve into white dwarfs, and more massive stars are likely to form a neutron star. According to the scientists calculations, the total mass of the neutron star cannot be three times greater than the suns mass. If this value is exceeded, then there are no force can compete with its gravity, and thus lead to another Big Crunch. According to scientists suspect that in this kind of collapse, the material will march inexorably toward the center, until it becomes a small size, but have a great density. And when it once the radius of the contraction to a certain degree (must be less than the Schwarzschild radius), in such a high density, the great gravity makes even the light cannot be emitted outward, it cutting off all contact with the outside of the star and black hole was born. As scientists calculated, an object has the speed as 7.9 kilometers per second; it cannot pull by the Earths gravity, it will move like a circle. At this rate, called the first cosmic speed. If it will not go to other planets, at least have the speed of 11.2km/s, and this rate called the second cosmic velocity. This result is calculate by the size of the Earths mass and radius. It means if an object wants escape from the ground, at least to have the enough speed. However, for the other celestial body, the escape speed is not necessarily needed as big as in the earth. Quality objects that are big and have small radius, it will be more difficult to get rid of gravity, and the speed of escape need be more quickly (Khatri, Poudel, Gautam). According to this reasoning, we can think maybe there is a celestial body, it have a great quality and tiny radius, the escape speed of that celestial body areas bigger as the speed of light. In other words, the light also pull by its gravitational, cannot run out the surface. Since the light cannot run out, we cannot see and then talk about it, so it is a black. As we know the fastest speed in the universe is light, since light cannot come out from these objects, any other substance will never expect to run out. Everything like falling into a bottomless pit, such a celestial body, and people call it a black hole. In conclusion, that’s all I search and know about the black hole, when I find these information, it show me a new area that I never touched. It’s really different and mystery. I believe people will find the rule of the black in the future, and it will give us the new technology and knowledge. Reference page The New New Math of String Theory Phys.org.David Pescovitz. Web. 1 Dec. 2014 http://phys.org/news70021180.html>. â€Å"Black Hole† Wikipedia. Web. Physical Properties Part â€Å"ÃÅ"ber das Gravitationsfeld eines Massenpunktes nach der Einstein’schen Theorie.† Reimer, Berlin 1916, S. 189 ff. (Sitzungsberichte der Kà ¶niglich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften; 1916) â€Å"A Brief History of Time† Hawking, Stephen (1988). Bantam Books â€Å"Principles of Physics† Khatri, Poudel, Gautam, M.K., P.R., A.K. Kathmandu: Ayam Publication. 2010: 170, 171 â€Å"Neutron star† Wikipedia. Web. Introduction of Neutron star.