Essays on Means To An End

The fundamental reason people join trade unions is to get the opportunity to fight against the greed of Capitalism. Left to entrepreneurs and members of the elite, everything will be turned into a tool for their personal enrichment to the detriment of the greater good in society – like welfare, workers and other stakeholders. In line with this, trade unions play a significant role in limiting Capitalist greed. In spite of this, trade unionism is declining and fewer young people are willing to join these unions in all major countries around the globe. The purpose of this letter is to ...

Ethical Issues

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem. For all practical purposes, this activity is nothing but a form of modern slavery. Every year, about 21 million people are caught up in human trafficking from about 130 countries around the world. Without a doubt, this is a serious issue given that it violates human rights that the United Nations takes very seriously - and should. While this pertains mostly to women who are sold into prostitution while also involving children and young boys as well who are coerced into forced labour as well. Given the atrocities around the world, the purpose ...

Realism defines the international system in terms of anarchy, which is the absence of a central authority. An overview of the belief of realists is that all states are sovereign and autonomous, making them bound only by their own consent. They believe that the power of the State is key and central to this system and is the only variable of interest. Thus, States must use their power to defend themselves an survive. They think of power in terms of military, economy, and diplomacy, but emphasize the determinant of international politics to be the distribution of coercive material capacity. ...

Introduction

Leadership is defined as the art and science of moving people from one point to another. This means that leadership refers to a situation where a person prepares the minds of his or her followers in order to work to attain a certain set of goals as a team or group. Leading brings people together for the attainment of results and the conduct of active work. Leadership might be construed as a process “by which one individual consistently exerts more impact than others on the nature and direction of group activity”. Leading in the context of businesses and companies ...

The most fundamental aim of moral philosophy is the seeking out of the foundational principles that guide the metaphysics of morals. Among the three propositions that were argued by Kant were inclusive in gaining better knowledge of morality and principles behind it. Theoretical thought of morality had several requirements that were central to understanding. Fundamentally the three include the use of common sense that is the first through observation. Common sense is a distinguishing factor that determines several parameters like when an individual acts against duty, wen actions are based on the fulfillment of duty but lack motivation and ...

Education is deemed an important and powerful tool that will lead to a person accessing opportunities that will lead them to have a successful life. In other words, it can be termed as a means to an end because it will transform a person and help them lead a better life than they could have if they were not educated. It is from that perspective that it will be argued that education is more valuable instrumentally than intrinsically. When something is intrinsically valuable, it is said to be good for it, and there is nothing one will achieve or ...

Little progress has been made so far in demystifying the controversy of judging the criterion of what is right or wrong. Since the dawn of philosophy, the question of the “summum bonum” or the greatest good concerning morality. The question has resulted in division into sects and schools warning against each other and is recognized as the core problem when thinking speculatively.

According to the Kantian theory, the basis of defining good or bad is based on the will or the intention behind the action. There is nothing impossible to think of in the world or outside it ...

While both Kant and Hobbes offer their theories on morality, interestingly, the two theories are quite opposed and contrasting. The disparity can perhaps be explained by differences in their theses. Kant’s theory is based on the rationalistic model, while Hobbes prefers an empirical approach. Nevertheless, a common theme in their approaches is that both of them adopt a subjective point of view. In other words, they prefer a person centered or subjective approach on the issue of morality. The following discussion will compare the approaches of two thinkers on the issue of morality and will also highlight the differences between them. ...

The French Revolution is typically the main historical dividing line between the ancient European regimes and the modern world. It marked the transition from the traditional social order to a democratic system. Nevertheless, the transition process was long and violent which eventually led to Napoleon Bonaparte rising to power in 1799 through a military coup d’état. Even though much of its impact was confined to France, it spread to other parts of Europe and the rest of the world. It marked the beginning of the revolutionary wars in the world over. The French Revolution marked the first occasion whereby a democratic ...

J.S. Mill versus Immanuel Kant dilemma There has been little notable progress so far in determining the controversy of judging the criterion of wrong and right. Among the facts presented about the present state of human knowledge, the controversy’s state is most indicative significant of the outdated state in which making theories of the relevant subject still lingers. So far, it proves how much little progress exists. Since the dawn of philosophy, the question of the “summum bonum", (the greatest good) concerning morality has caused its division into schools and sects warning against each other, and is ...

Kant’s moral absolutism is an ethical view that actions are either right or wrong based on categorical imperative. In this case, the moral or lack of it is on the act itself other than the consequences. Kant views are opposed to consequentialism and teleological approaches in ethics. Kant uses the ability of humans to act rationally to develop his arguments. A rational human being is able to control one’s desires or impulses and hence, is able to act out of the principle and moral duties. The question arises whether there is such absolutism. Are there actions that ...

Philosophy

A neighbor’s decision to let his teen daughter abort her unborn fetus In the opinion of the teen’s father, the notion that individual or human life begins at conception is rather, more based to religious belief and not logically ascertainable or provable biological facts. Therefore, the need to negate the fact that abortion is murder. He further asserts, the fact that women’s’ position as moral agents of society cannot be questioned underlines there their capability, to assume somewhat soulful, as well as morally inspired decisions about their own bodies. He, therefore, contends that should a ...

Philosophy

1. According to Kant what is the difference between hypothetical and categorical imperatives? Why must moral imperatives always be categorical? How would Kant use this distinction to criticize ethical egoism and utilitarianism. According to Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the difference between hypothetical imperative and categorical imperative is that the former refers to precepts and actions that only have conditional worth required to attain a desired objective; whereas, the latter refers to a universal moral principle of human conduct that is not limited by any condition in the determination of one’s duty. For Kant, the only one categorical imperative is: “Act ...

Application Assignment #1

It is surprising that even though expanded polystyrene is so abundant, it is not recycled as much as the other plastics. Expanded polystyrene makes the containers that hold our foods, used as packaging material, used to provide insulation in our homes. Yet, expanded polystyrene is not recycled more. In my opinion, this has to do with the structure of polystyrene. Part of why polystyrene is not recycled more is because it is so light in weight. It makes up only 0.01% of total municipal solid wastes in terms of weight. However, the biggest impediment to recycling expanded polystyrene ...

Theology, Ethics Terrorism

Introduction Terrorism has been a global contemporary issue as the number of terrorist acts has been on the rise in the recent past as more radical and fundamentalist groups have embraced it as a means to an end. Scholars have differed on a standard definition for terrorism due to varying perceptions on what it entails and its intended outcomes (Fisher & Wicker, 2010). Terrorism can be described as the methodical application of intimidation through threats and violence with an aim of actualizing political, religious or ideological ends. It is a premeditated form of conflict that seeks to influence the actions and decisions of ...

Question one

A maxim that, in order to maximize my pleasure, I will take recreational drugs whenever I feel like is self-defeating. It cannot be applied as a universal law to all humans as rational beings. It will be a failure to cultivate talents in exchange for a life full of pleasure and leisure. This is also a compromise of human capacity for self insight, self development and personal growth. This is because it is just a quick fix to challenge individuals are facing in their lives. Additionally, Kant provided arguments against taking of recreational drugs because he termed them as exclusive substitutes for self ...

Immanuel Kant, in his second formulation of the categorical imperative advocates for the treatment of human beings as an end in themselves, as opposed to as means to an end. According to Kant, individuals must always consider other human beings, including themselves, as rational moral agents who also have projects, goals and pursuits (Bruce 217). The second formulation advocates for human beings to be viewed as entities capable of freely knowing how they would like to be treated. In Kant’s view, humans must never be treated as inanimate objects, in that their treatment must always take into ...

How many of us here alone speak more than one language? In my paper I will discuss some of the benefits a bilingual education may provide. It will also include the programs available and the debate over their effectiveness or ineffectiveness over time. I will discuss the three readings I chose from class (Lu, Tan, and Rodriguez) and provide information on their experiences. However, the way educators approach bilingual education is still an ongoing subject of debate, up to and including the terms used to describe students. As noted by Fránquiz, “The two labels, LEP [Limited English Proficient] ...

Objectification according to the word web dictionary definition refers to a concrete representation of an abstract or an idea or principle. Immigrants are people who move to foreign countries and live there permanently and people of color are the non white skin, like blacks and Indians. Objectification has diverse meanings. Some schools of thought, Luke Muehlhauser for instance, maintain that objectification refers to the act of treating others as a means to an end, without being keen on their goals feelings and preferences. With objectification, not only is vivid the fact that the overall change of culture will not solely ...

Look up and list two or more definitions of the word art from different reliable sources on the Internet. Be sure to properly quote and cite these definitions. Art can be seen in many different ways but is obviously principally an expression of a form or a portrayal of an idea. There are various forms in which one can express artistic passions or ideas be it a painting, a sculpture or another medium (Heidigger, 2001). However art can also be seen as different in the sense that it exhibits man’s passions for a particular subject such as in erotic art where the ...

Introduction

There has been a wave of affirmative action policies that have swept over the country in the recent years. Affirmative action involves fighting for the representation of the women and minorities in the workplaces. It started in the 1960’s with the implementation of the Civil Rights Act implemented in the 1960’s. It states that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of colour, race, ethnicity, gender and religion. The movement started in the 1960’s to address racism in the market place. Later, women also spoke up against being employed in low-paying, subordinate positions while the ...