Abstract This paper offers an evaluation of Titus Carus Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura," comparing the poem to earlier works done. The paper also gives a brief background of Lucretius and other writers in the field, and outlines the thoughts of modern scholars on the matter. The paper explains that Lucretius was one of the most influential poets of late Republican Rome, and was heavily influenced by the teachings of a previous philosopher, Epicurus, the creator of Epicurean philosophy, who wrote on the subject of atomic theory in the third century B.C. The paper notes that when Lucretius wrote on atoms he developed several conclusions that were ahead of his time, and that one of his main reasons for writing was to cure men of the fear of death, a subject he believed to be of the utmost importance. The paper opines that whether viewed as a poem that compounds Epicurean philosophy, or a poem of truly original thought, "De Rerum Natura" is one of the boldest and most powerful books of all time. The paper concludes that "De Rerum Natura" has changed the face of literature since its publication, influencing authors such as Vergil, to Henri Bergson, and continues to remain one of the most fascinating pieces of literature that has ever been written.
From the Paper "Epicurus, a philosopher who lived approximately 200 years before Lucretius, wrote on the subject of atomic theory. His teachings, which would later be called Epicureanism, were heavily influential upon the works of Lucretius taught that the laws of nature, not the gods, ruled the world. Epicurus wrote "Supernatural intervention is not needed to explain the phenomena of the world." Epicurus taught that although there were gods, they were ignorant of mankind, and thus not to be feared. He believed that because we are able to see only the material world, we cannot conclude that anything else exists. Although Epicurus was hardly a spiritualist he valued art, and other pleasures of the mind above more mundane pleasures. He taught that pleasure was good and pain was bad and that both pleasure and pain could not coexist, and that anxiety was one of the greatest causes of pain. Death being one of the major causes of anxiety in one's life, it also must be, according to Epicurus, the greatest hindrance for pleasure. And because he believed that only the material world exists, there is no life after death, and thus nothing to fear. In 306 B.C. he founded a school in Athens that survived long after his demise and would greatly influence the mind of young Lucretius."
Abstract This paper discusses customer feedback, focusing on methods used by the coffee shop chain, Starbucks. The paper describes two of the methods used and the reason for choosing them as well as explains why Starbucks should pay more attention to training employees.
From the Paper ''Another feedback loop is direct customer feedback. Remember that one of the key outputs for Starbucks is staff behavior. The Starbucks business is driven in part by staff interaction with the customers. This helps to reinforce the Starbucks differentiation strategy. It also helps to develop a feedback loop. The direct feedback received from customers is tabulated by store level managers and transmitted upstream. This helps senior management make decisions regarding the Starbucks experience. Many companies receive such feedback from their customers, but Starbucks makes a point to turn this into a feedback loop. For example, they found that their baristas were constantly being asked about their music. The customers enjoyed that part of the Starbucks experience. This led to music sales at Starbucks stores. This continuous loop of feedback helps Starbucks formulate and tweak the Starbucks experience, and is an essential component in foreign country launches where consumer tastes can be dramatically different than in the US.
''The reason I chose these two loops was because they represent two of the most significant feedback loops in driving the Starbucks experience.''
An analysis of Jan Nareveson's argument that subjectivism and moral relativism only apply to individuals in isolation, and becomes meaningless when people begin to interact with each other.
Abstract This paper examines Jan Narveson's position on moral relativism and comes to the conclusion that it is a confused one. The paper reproduces his argument against both subjectivism and moral relativism, taking particular note of how he tacitly posits the existence of a transcendental moral absolute in order to reach his conclusions. The paper suggests that Narveson's analysis is sound, but his position regarding moral absolutism remains obscure.
From the Paper " Narveson believes that subjectivism and moral relativism only apply to individuals in isolation, and becomes meaningless when people begin to interact with each other. He analyses how human interaction and the necessity for corporation introduces the possibility of a common morality. Narveson's analysis is sound, but his position regarding moral absolutism remains obscure. He seems to suggest that there is a moral absolute, because the problems of human society are always potentially solvable, and the solution necessarily refers to the moral absolute, i.e. the transcendent good. But he also makes it clear that he does not believe in a transcendent good, and that he is only concerned with practical issues, and this makes his philosophy a confused one.
Subjectivism in moral matters holds that moral statements express only subjective attitudes or moods. The implication is that they are not properly reasoned towards, and neither are they subject to logical analysis. According to this stance morality is of little consequence, and it cannot be distinguished from taste. Moral relativism, on the other hand, does not dismiss morality as lightly.
Tags: Subjectivism, moral, absolute, justice, logic, transcendental, good
Abstract This paper examines Immanuel Kant's claim to have solved the problem of "Humean supervenience". The paper argues that Kant misunderstands Hume and that the problem does not exist to begin with. The paper goes on to elaborate on Kant's epistemology, presenting the subtleties that he introduces over and above Hume. It continues to argue that, even though Hume does not achieve the clarity and sophistication of Kant, the two epistemologies are essentially the same.
From the Paper ''Through his critique of pure reason Kant claims to fulfill the mission of Hume to outline the principles of human understanding. He calls it the ''complete solution of the Humean problem'' (Kant & Hatfield 64). There is no doubt that Kant clarifies the solution provided by Hume, so that the ''Humean problem'' should be called a lack of clarity rather than a problem. The mistake stems from the issue of Humean supervenience. Hume is supposed to have derived all understanding from experience, and Kant wants to show that there is a metaphysical makeup of experience that precedes it. This essay demonstrates that Kant misunderstands Hume in this respect. Hume also posits a metaphysical make up of experience, although he does not reach the thorough going analysis of Kant.
''Hume's stress was on the fact that all understanding begins from experience, and for Kant this is problematic. He intercedes with the claim that not all understanding derives from experience, but that the mind possesses a priori faculties of understanding which also contribute. But it is a mistake to suppose that Hume denies such faculties.''
Tags: empirical a priori, a posteriori, cause and effect
Abstract This paper provides a discussion of balancing privacy rights in the age of technology. The paper also explores various challenges in the administration of justice, including tasers, cell phones, GPS, mass communications, public safety, and sex offenders. The paper notes that administering justice while ensuring individual rights is a difficult balance to maintain. The paper explains that achieving this balance has become increasingly difficult as society continues to evolve, technology continues to advance, and criminals become more innovative. The paper points out that the development of technology has increased opportunities for crimes, as well as given law enforcement officers additional weapons to fight crime. The paper concludes that technological advancements, while beneficial to society, have presented special challenges to law enforcement officials and the justice system in maintaining law and order as well as individual rights.
Outline:
Introduction
Development of Technology and Mass Communications
Law Enforcement and GPS
Tasers
Issues Facing the Legal Environment of Justice
Individuals Rights vs. Needs of the Justice System
Public Safety vs. Sex Offenders
Cell Phones and Law Enforcement
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Unfortunately despite the recommendations of Amnesty International, there has been several court cases documenting the use of tasers in situations mentioned above. For example, a 72 year old female was tasered after daring the constable to do it. In Texas, the woman became belligerent during a traffic stop. The 72 year old female who is only 4' 11", was seen verbally challenging the constable when he attempted to issue the citation. As the video camera from the constable's cruiser shows, the elderly woman did not appear to present an immediate physical threat to the officer or the public. The woman eventually admitted that her behavior was wrong and despite being unruly, felt that her rights were violated as a result of being tased. According to an article by the Associated Press (2009) the woman was awarded $40,000 in a settlement despite the prosecution declaring the constable did nothing wrong."
Abstract This paper discusses the Fourth Amendment as it relates to the privacy rights of public school students, focusing on a case in which a student was subjected to a strip search while on school grounds. The paper explains that the Constitution of the United States does not have specific language stating that citizens have an absolute right to privacy. However, the paper clarifies, the Fourth Amendment within the Bill of Rights points to an indication of privacy rights for citizens against unreasonable intrusions by the government; public school systems fall under the Fourth Amendment because they are considered representatives of the government. The paper also discusses the debate around the issue of the public safety of students versus the right to privacy. The paper concludes by noting that Courts throughout the country have ruled that the concern of public safety for students outweighs the privacy of students; in fact, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in two separate cases that the level of suspicion and evidence must match the level of intrusion in terms of the scope of the search.
Outline:
Introduction
The Fourth Amendment
Public Schools and the Right to Search and Seize
Public Safety vs. Student Rights to Privacy
Safford Unified School Dist. vs. Redding
United States Supreme Court Decision
Social Policy Implications
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "The concern of the safety of children on public school campuses rose to national attention with the Columbine School massacre in 1999. The warnings signs of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris that were planning such an attack were largely ignored. School districts across the country since that time have taken great measures to improve the safety of their campuses as a result. School officials have become more vigilant for certain behaviors and take swift action when complaints of gang activity, bullying and drug activity surface. However being that school officials are considered representatives of the government, the Fourth Amendment is still applicable in terms that probable cause and reasonable suspicion must still be present in order to conduct a search of a student. The search and seizure must fall within reasonable standards that such a search will produce evidence of the suspected infraction as established in New Jersey vs. T.L.O."
Abstract This paper presents a business plan and the steps needed to be taken to rejuvenate, ''The Broadway Cafe''. The paper concentrates on the five key areas of competitive analysis, e-business strategies and systems recommendations, analysis of how the cafe can use networks and telecommunications more effectively and the role of customer relationship management (CRM) in the ongoing operations of the cafe. The systems development and outsourcing decisions of creating and maintaining applications internally versus purchasing them from software companies is also discussed. In addition, recommendations are made for how The Broadway Cafe will be able to be more competitive and therefore more financially viable in the long-term. The paper includes diagrams and an appendix.
Outline:
Introduction
Competitive Advantage
E-Business Strategy
Use of Networks and Telecommunication Technologies
Customer Relationship Management
Systems Development and Outsourcing
From the Paper ''As the underlying processes that The Broadway Cafy relies on have for the most part been unchanged since 1952, they lack scalability, accountability and the necessary workflow improvements to keep the cafy competitive over 50 years later. In re-designing the five strategic areas this analysis concentrates on, significant changes will be required in the core business model of The Broadway Cafy. Throughout this report recommendations are made for how The Broadway Cafy will be able to be more competitive and therefore more financially viable in the long-term. There is also the issue of re-defining the menu and making significant changes to the specialized coffees, teas and full-service bakery items the cafy has relied on for the last half century. The homemade sandwiches, soups and salads also need to all be re-evaluated in the context of the market position and unique value proposition that emerges from the redefining of processes, automated through the use of techniques and technologies mentioned in this analysis. Ultimately the unique value proposition of any business needs to be agile enough to reflect the rapidly evolving preferences and unmet needs of the customers the business serves (Johnson, Christensen, Kagermann, 2008).''
Abstract This paper provides a succinct review of Hobbes' Leviathan. It first explains the fundamental importance of the book in the context of Western civilization. Hobbes was accused of being a materialist and atheist, and the essay sets out to show why both accusations are not entirely correct. Discussing the revolutionary empiricism presented in the first part of the book, the paper shows Hobbes departing from the Baconian ideal, describing truth as residing in words and the social significance assigned to them. The paper then shows how Hobbes' epistemology culminates in his anti-republican stance and also discusses his radical Christianity as expressed in the later chapters.
From the Paper "Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan is one of the most influential philosophical tracks in the western tradition. Written during the civil strife in England in the 17th century, and very much pertaining to the strife, the book is sometimes classed as political philosophy. But Hobbes' scope is far more expansive. It begins by proposing a revolutionary epistemology, before it ventures into the nature of political man. It ends up proposing an alternative vision of Christianity, and thereby delivering a scathing attack on the ecclesiastical institutions prevalent at the time.
"At a superficial level, Hobbes is expressing his support for the royalist cause in the Civil War. He sees the rising tide of republicanism is a fundamental threat to civil order, and as the prelude to anarchy. He felt that the republicans were destroying civilization and converting society to a ''state of mere nature'', a state in which the law of the jungle prevails (Hobbes 138). The starting point of Hobbes argument concerns the very nature of human knowledge, which is premised in an entirely materialistic view of the world."
Abstract This paper relates that Albert Camus' work, "The Plague", is an intense look into the humanity of man. The paper specifically discusses the book's message about the condition of man and how we deal with difficult circumstances. The use of the plague as a symbol that represents all things with which humanity must fight in order to achieve a greater good is discussed and analyzed as well.
From the Paper "Metaphorically, the pestilence represents death, which is now confronting the living. Certainly, we must all face death but when we must do so when we least expect it, something in us changes. Mortality becomes unavoidable as the inhabitants of Oran realize that they are meeting death unsuspectingly. With such an unexpected entrance, death claims the attention of all while everything else falls by the wayside. Death spoils life in this instance; however, the citizens are incapable of coping with what has happened and this is a basic human reaction to any disaster. The plague is anything that steals our joy and causes suffering. When we see various human reactions through Camus' characters, we understand the nature of man in its most vulnerable of states. When death is surrounding you and there is no way to escape it, you learn to come to terms with it whether you want to or not. "
Abstract This paper charts the rise of nominalism in the high middle ages. Its object is to show how nominalism served as the crucial link between Aristotelianism and inductive logic. In other words, how it paved the way for the rise of the scientific method. The paper first explains Aristotelianism as a critique of Platonism. The early nominalism of Roscelin and Abelard is explained to be a particular clarification of medieval Aristotelianism. The paper then describes the development through Buridan to the "terminist logic" of Ockham. The latter is explained in further detail in order to show how it serves as the precursor to inductive logic and the scientific method.
From the Paper "It is generally thought that the philosophies of classical antiquity were responsible for the stagnation of learning in the Middle Ages. It will be more accurate to say that, not the philosophies themselves, rather the inordinate respect paid to the likes of Plato and Aristotle, was responsible. In a sense, nominalism represents a clarification of Aristotle's opposition to Plato's theory of universal forms. In this latter theory Plato insists that true reality is contained in universal forms that exist over and above the particular forms. The particular forms are only instances of the universal forms, and therefore are only partially real. Plato's theory is now known under the rubric of realism. Aristotle's opposition to it begins by pointing out that if the universal forms are indeed real they must be existing in some place. They cannot be existing in space and time, for this will reduce them to the level of particulars."
