The Transformation of Collective Security Essay Example

The Transformation of Collective Security Essay Example The Transformation of Collective Security Essay The Transformation of Collective Security Essay Security is primarily an issue of a nations relations with other states or a group of states. This relationship among states which feel threatened by each other is exposed to the security dilemma. 6 It is generally argued that the security of nations cannot be defined in general terms, nor can it be determined objectively. 7 Definitions depend on states perception about threats and safety. Therefore, on security no precise definition has ever been achieved and probably never will be. 8 There appears to be almost a studied vagueness about the precise definition of terms such as security. This complexity is also related to the problem of which areas of life are the subject of security. In this regard, theoretical debate occurs between two views of security approach to security, the traditionalists, it is argued that identifying security issues is easy as they equate security with military issues and the use of force. 10 Traditionalists also strongly oppose the widening of security stud ies, as by such logic, issues like pollution, disease, child abuse or economic 5 Till, pop. Cit. , in note 1, p. 96. The security dilemma refers to the notion that a states efforts to increase its security by threatening another state, which then responds with steps to increase its own security, paradoxically erodes the first states security. See C. A. Checkup, The Case for Collective Security, in Downs, G. W. (De), Collective Security beyond the Cold War, ( USA: University of Michigan Press, 1994), up. 41-69. 7 A. V. Sausage, The Security of Western Europe, (London: Sherwood Press, 1985), p. 2. 8 C. Then, Problems of Transition in J. Alfred et al, Europe in Western Alliance, (London: MacMillan Press, 1988), p. 7. 9 G. Edwards and B. Burrows, The Defense of Western Europe , (Norfolk: Butterscotch, 1982), p. 91. 10 B. Abuzz et al, Security , A New Framework for Analysis, , ( London: Lonely Runnier pub. 1998), p. 3. 6 3 recessions could be viewed as threats to security. Here we see that the traditionalist view regards only military and political subjects as the focus of studies in the security field. Yet, this approach has entered an impasse and led to increasing dissatisfaction in explaining the events taking place in the international arena later on. As pointed out by one of the proponents of the wider approach, this dissatisfaction was stimulated first by the rise of the economic and environmental agendas in international relations during the sass and the sass and later by the rise of concerns with identity issues and transnational crime during the sass. 11 Today it is obvious that this narrow definition does not fully cover the parameters of the new security environment in the aftermath of the end of the Cold War. With the end of the Cold War and the break-up of the Soviet Union, the political and intellectual climate has changed. Studies in this regard have articulated very different views about how to define the concept of security. The narrow definition of security tends to focus on material capabilities and the use of military force by states. This, however, contrasts with the distinctions among military, political, economic, social, and environmental security threats. 12 Thus, with this transforming understanding of what security means today, the advocates of the wider approach concentrate on discussing the dynamics of security in five sectors, that is, military, political, economic, environmental and societal. This methodological framework also seems to better serve distinguishing security issues as hard and soft. 14 Faced with such a unavoidable due to the different analytical perspectives on the issue. Yet, in view of the presence of security risks of different natures, it is, at least from the practical point of view, a fact that security at present should be regarded as not merely, or even mainly, a matter 11 Ibid. , p. 2. P. J. Austenite (De), The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in Word Politics , (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996), up. -9. 13 See the introduction in Suzan, pop. It. , up. 1-21. 14 Generally speaking, security issues requiring military options and relating to defense are considered hard ones whereas others that require non-military measures such as conflict prevention are regarded as soft. But this distinction today appears to be less relevant in view of events and experience in world affairs. See for details M. T. Clare and D. C. Thomas (De) , World Security, ( New York: SST. Martins Press, 1991). 12 of military policy, but of broader economic and political policies. For threats to security are not necessarily of a military nature, but they might derive from various there reasons. In view of the above, one can draw two main conclusions. Irrespective of which subjects are to be considered in dealing with the security concept, it seems evident that security is about preservation of the existence of states. And, in this preservation effort, the military component is always present even if as a last resort. Similarly, threat perception and the nature of such perceived threats are important in determining whether and how the perceived threat should be viewed as a matter of security. This brings us to the concept of collective security. Here, similar to the conceptual problem in defining security, a precise definition of collective security mains elusive. Not only do definitions differ,which is bound to happen in public debate and scholarly discourse, but also some directly contradict each other. 18 In simple terms, collective security is related to efforts by a group of states to act together in order to better preserve their own security. The term has been used to describe everything from loose alliance systems to any period of history in which wars do not take place. This wide Serialization, in the words of Suzan, means a process by which the issue in question is presented as an existential threat, requiring emergency measures and justifying actions outside the normal bonds of political procedure. See Suzan, pop. Cit. , up. 23-24. 16 Ibid. , p. 24. 17 J. C. Garnett, Introduction: Conflict and Security in the new world order, in M. J. Davis, (De), Security Issues in the Post-Cold War, (I-J: Edward Legal Pub. Ltd, 1996), p. 10. 18 G. W. Downs, Beyond the Debate on Collective Security, in Downs, G. W. De), Collective Security beyond the Cold War, ( USA: University of Michigan Press, 1994), up. 1-17. Spectrum is also due to the nature of security threats. States ally to increase their security against perceived threats. 19 In any particular balance of power system, there are usually groups of states that share to some extent an assessment of those threats. States face two kinds of threats in general. 20 The first is usually the reason for which stat es Join their forces in the first place, I. E. An external threat from a potential aggressor who is not part of the group. The second threat is of a more insidious but often Just as dangerous nature, namely, an internal threat from a member of the group itself that betrays its friends and uses force against them. The first form of collective security is best illustrated by the alliance system. An alliance functions as a collective body that defends its members from security threats directed from outside. Thus it includes the concept of collective defense as well. Moreover, although an alliance is focused on external threats, the security is collective for its members. On the other hand, the best illustration of security arrangements countering internal threats coming from members of a collective security body is the security community. 21 Collective security rests on the notion of one for all and all for one. Here, the question of why states come together for collective security can be argued is clear enough. It is because they share the same threat perceptions against which they think they will be better-off if they act together. Yet, the question of how they perceive the same threat is not that clear. This brings us to the issue of identity-building. Identification is considered a social concept. 22 The process of identity formation is of a kind that develops within a social unit. Any identification requires a distinction Just as any 19 See K. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, ( Reading: Addison Wesley, 1979) and also S. Walt, The Origins of Alliance , ( Ithaca: Cornel, 1987) 20 See for details S. Weber, Does NATO have a future 7, in Crawford, B. (De), The Future 21 This concept was first introduced by Van Wagner, and later in 1957 developed by Karl Deutsche with theoretical arguments . For the views of Dutch, see particularly E. Adler, Rupees New Security Order: A Pluralistic Security Community, and P. W. Schultz, Competing for European Security: The SEC, NATO and the European Community in a Changing International Environment, both in Crawford, B. (De), The Future of European Security, (Berkeley: University of California at Berkeley, 1992). 22 A. N. Hurdles, Bravura Kim ¤inn LOL#lam eve Tark Gimlet in Atilt Realer (De) Trisky eve Bravura, (Ankara: image Active, 1997) p. 18. 6 distinction necessitates some identification 23 . This brings us to the self/other dichotomy. The self is identified in relation to its position visa- ¤-visa the other 24 . In other words, all identities exist only with their otherness. Without the other, the self actually cannot know either itself or the world because meaning is created in discourse where consciousness meets. 25 Identification is of an exclusionary nature for the non-identified. In other words, in the identification of a group of people as a community, this unit is externalities of or disassociated from the values, myths, symbols, attitudes and mores of those (non-identified) with whom the unit does not identify itself. 6 It is also argued that the existence or the perception of threats from the other inevitably strengthens the identity of the self. 27 The formation of the self is inextricably intertwined with the formation of its others and a failure to regard the others in their own right must necessarily have repercussions for the formation of the self. 28 Identity is the key element of a cognitive regi on. Shared self-definitions create internalized norms that allow people from different countries to know each other better and thus respond more effectively to the common concerns. What constitutes the basis for collective security arrangements is therefore the mutual responsiveness developed out of answers to the questions of who I am and who the other is. In other words, it is the collective identity, which lays the ground for a sound collective security. The importance of identities can thus be summarized as follows: common identities help to establish a security whose existence, I. E. Elective security, proves that members share common identities. A. N. Hurdles, International Relations and the Philosophy of History: a Civilization Approach, ( London: MacMillan, forthcoming), p. 105. 24 K. Krause, Critical Theory and Security Studies, Cooperation and Conflict, Volvo (33)3, 1998, p. 312.. 25 Hurdles, pop. Cit. , in note 22, p. 107. 27 Hurdles, , pop. Cit. , in note 21, p. 21 . 28 Neumann, pop. Cit. , p. 35. 7 In view of the foregoing, one can easily understand that collective identities and shared values as well as shared understandings as regards threat perceptions are of significant importance for the creation of a workable collective security arrangement. The identity issue entered into International Relations full fledged with the critical theories, such as constructivism. However, mainstream approaches 29 also acknowledge identity. But, how it differs from the constructivist approach is that it presumes to know priori what the self-being is defined as. The state as a unit is assumed to have a single identity, across time and space whereas constructivism assumes that the selves, or identities, of states are variable, they likely depend on historical, cultural, political and social context 30 . Accordingly, as regards the object of security, the constructivist approach questions how the object of security is constructed according to threat perceptions. Here, the argument that discourses of threat are constitutive of the object to be secured relates to the question of how such threats are identified. In view of the foregoing, one can see that constructivism helps better explain collective security formations that are constitutive of collective identities. Thus, sound collective security arrangements are forms of collective identity that exclude each other on the basis of their distinctiveness. Here, it can be argued that those security regimes could not establish a collective identity against a common threat. In other words, the selves in hose organizations did not come together against a common other. In the Cold War era, the other was the East for the West and vice versa, although members of both Blocs remained in the same global security regime, the I-JNI. Therefore, their stay in the UN was not due to the creation of a common identity but due to a felt need. IMPACT OF THE POST-COLD WAR The post-Cold War has had a considerable impact on this state of affairs. The end of the Cold War, which for almost half a century had been the symbol of division in Europe, was marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall on October 3rd 1989. The fall of the Berlin wall meant also the collapse of the ideological walls which had divided Europe for so many years. The end of the Cold War even raised questions regarding the necessity of NATO as military alliances normally dissolve once their common enemy has been defeated. However, , 31 See for details, particularly A. Bennett, and J. Leopold, Reinventing Collective Security After the Cold War, Political Science Quarterly, Volume 18, Issue 2, 1993. 32 Ibid. With the rise of non-conventional and asymmetric security threats this was proven not to be the case 33 . What is new in this sense is the effect of globalization on these threats. Today, in a world where things have increasingly become more transnational and interdependent, owing to the effects of globalization, any incident in a country or in region, be it a terrorist act or an ethnic conflict, poses threats to other areas due to the domino effect. As a corollary to this, threats that transcend borders happen to affect security more rapidly, more severely in an ever-expanding magnitude with spill-over effects. These threats inevitably necessitate collective responses as they affect almost all states in one way or another. In such an environment, Europe in particular and the world in general have dinettes several hot conflicts and wars in Just one decade in the post-Cold War era, which amounts to more than occurred in the whole course of the Cold War years. The European continent, which had been free from wars since the end of World War II, once again became a continent of conflict and death with a wars that erupted in its very midst, like in the territories of the former Yugoslavia or in its vicinity, or like the Caucasus or elsewhere like in the Middle East, I. E. The Gulf war. In view of this, one can argue that the basic premises of mainstream scholarship, such as anarchical setting, power politics based on national interests, etc. , are still present in the world affairs. True, mainstream scholarship failed to anticipate the end of the Cold War. But, the world order, which has replaced the Cold War era, still proves the validity of mainstream scholarship. States act in pursuit of preservation of their interests and of protection of their 33 Asymmetric threat is defined as a threat that can cause harm in bigger magnitude than its size. Such threats vary from international terrorism, ethnic conflicts and religious fundamentalism through organized crime, drug trafficking, and proliferation f weapons of mass destruction to mass migrations, environmental disasters, poverty etc. See Irked, S. , 11 Elll 2001: Terrorizing Yen Milady, Strategic Animal, Sally 18, Skim 2001. Asymmetric threat is also defined as a threat that does not follow the rules of fair warfare including surprise attacks, as well as warfare with weapons used in an unconventional manner. See www. Rand. Org/news links/terrorism. .NET. 10 security in the face of both conventional and non-conventional security threats. However, the main question here is how they gather support from other states for such policies and how legitimacy is attained for them. In fact, the turnaround effects of such security threats help states gather the support of like-minded states and act collectively to protect their security against such threats. Collective security arrangements have been seriously proposed after every large- scale war, such as the Napoleonic Wars, World War l, and World War II. The end of the Cold War followed the same path both in academic and state circles. In this regard, naturally the I-IN, being the only global organization for collective security, has been called upon several times. In the post-Cold War era, the UN Security Council has adopted a series of resolutions availing itself of the right to humanitarian through a number of experiences as witnessed in various wars and fights such as that of the Gulf, Bosnia and Somalia. 4 Despite this gradual progress in fulfilling its task of collective security, the UN faced a deadlock during the Spooks crisis in 1999. Due to Russia and Chinas objection to a military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the UN could not reach a decision authorizing the formation of a military force with the Security Council mandate and this implicitly left it up to NATO to take the responsibility . In light of these one can see that even in the post-Cold War era the UN system has maintained the inertia it derives from its organizational set-up. This can be attributed to the following: In the post-Cold War era, although one of the Blocs disappeared, it was evident that at least the old leader of the East , I. E. Russia on the one hand and the USA together with the rest of the Western Bloc on the other, continued to regard each other as other. This was because they have not been able create a collective identity (self), as they could not define a common threat (other) either. See for details C. Gaucherie, International Law and the War in Spooks, Survival, , Volume 41, No: 2, Summer 1999. POST-SEPTEMBER 11 ERA The world that embarked on a new millennium with these important shifts in international affairs in general and in the collective security field in particular, was unable to avoid the tragedy of September 1 lath. The terrorist attacks of September 1 1 have changed many, if not all, parameters in world affairs, and has important repercussions for security in a variety of ways and the approach to collective security is no exception to this. In the wake of the terrorist attacks, NATO allies lined up Enid the US and in an unprecedented display of support and solidarity they invoked, on 12 September 2001, Article 5 of the Washington Treaty of the Alliance, the core clause of collective defense, for the first time in the history of the Alliance. 35 This decision seems to have constituted a dramatic shift in the conceptualization of what forms hard and soft security issues. First, it was bitterly confirmed that terrorism is one of the most dangerous non-conventional asymmetric security threats. Similarly, it was also confirmed that terrorists can easily access weapons of ass destruction. More importantly, with the invocation of Article 5 and the military operation directed against the al-Qaeda terrorist network and its sanctuary the Taliban regime, it has become clear that the fight against terrorism, which was always regarded as a matter of soft security, would also require hard security measures, including military ones, in the post-September 1 1 era. In this context, one can argue that the September 11 terrorist attacks have provided a conducive atmosphere for the creation of a new other, I. E. Common enemy. This was

Asthma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Asthma - Essay Example According to a 2011 report, about 235 million people are affected by the disease worldwide and approximately 250,000 die every year due to asthma. About 80% of the mortality has been found to occur in lower and middle income nations with the rates varying between the countries. the prevalence rate has been found to be between 1 to 18% (Asthma, Wikipedia). In the year 2011 about 5.8 million Hispanic people in the USA were diagnosed with asthma with 3.6 million people still coping with the disease and about 1.7 million people experiencing an attack during the past year. The lifespan, current disease state and prevalence rate of asthma attack was found to be lower in significance compared to the non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white populations. Reports from 18 studies have shown that among the Hispanic sub-groups Puerto Ricans were found to have an increased incidence of the disease compared to other subgroups and non-Hispanic white people (Asthma: A Presentation of Asthma Management and Prevention). Reports reveal that between 2002 to 2007, the annual economic expenditure in the US due to asthma was estimated at $56.0 billion. Of these the direct costs to the healthcare was $50.1 billion and the other indirect entities including loss in productivity and other losses was estimated at $5.9 billion (ALA) The lung function test provides an accurate diagnosis of the disease, together with a medical history and physical examination of the patient. While lung function tests can be ably performed in adults it is however difficult to perform the test in children lesser than 5 years of age and hence in these cases doctors generally take in to account the medical history, signs, symptoms and physical examination of the child in order to diagnose the condition (How is Asthma Diagnosed?) In the case of children the

The role of social networking in building strong luxury fashion brands Dissertation

The role of social networking in building strong luxury fashion brands among the young customers in the UK - Dissertation Example Further, many researchers carry out measurement of data. The research can gather data using several methodologies. The methodologies include letting selected U.K. research respondents answer a questionnaire. The questionnaire may include a yes or no question. The current research includes a yes or now research question. The questionnaire may include letting the U.K. research respondents rank several choices from the highest to the lowest rank. The current U.K. research includes this type of methodology in the research. Further, U.K. research respondents can be asks to pick one of several alternative choices. The current U.K. research included requiring the U.K. research respondents to pick their best choice from several alternative choices. The implementation of the different methodology types includes a compulsory implementation of a clear and explicit research methodology. To be convincing, the researcher must explain the different steps taken to accomplish the methodology goals, i ncluding time-constrained objectives (Roy, 2008). Statistics. The term can be defined as the collection of research data. In addition, statistics covers the presentation of research findings. Lastly, statistics incorporates the interpretation of the research findings. ... The definition is a very common sense discussion of trend analysis. A more complex definition includes the use of quantitative statistical tools to answer a scientifically formulated research question. The trend analysis includes the gathering of both independent and dependant variables. The variables will contribute to spotting the future direction of one product, service or any other activity. Normally, trend analysis focuses on the effect of the independent variables on the dependent variables. In the current research, the independent variable is the 160 U.K. research respondents. The dependent variables are many. The dependent variable includes choosing the best social networking sites. The dependent variables also include choosing the best luxury branded fashion apparel brand. Consequently, time series statistical tools can be used to present a more convincing trend analysis forecast (Chandler, 2011). SPSS. The term refers to the modern statistical software. Under the SPSS stati stical research approach, the researcher inputs the 160 U.K. research respondents’ answers into the SPSS software. The research clicks any statistical tool choices listed in the SPSS menu. After selecting the statistical tool, the SPSS generates the results of the chosen statistical tool. By clicking on the mean statistical tool, the research can immediately expect the SPSS statistical software to generate the results of the mean statistical tool. In the current research, the research chose the mean statistical tool of the SPSS software. Next, the research clicked the frequency statistical tool choice provided by the SPSS tool. The research inputs the different dependent variables into the SPSS calculation section. Consequently, the SPSS software

Normative ethics Essay Example for Free

Normative ethics Essay Metaethics talks about the nature of ethics and moral reasoning. Discussions about whether ethics is relative and whether we always act from self-interest are examples of meta-ethical discussions. In fact, drawing the conceptual distinction between Metaethics, Normative Ethics, and Applied Ethics is itself a metaethical analysis. Normative ethics is interested in determining the content of our moral behavior. Normative ethical theories seek to provide action-guides; procedures for answering the Practical Question (What ought I to do? ). The moral theories of Kant and Bentham are examples of normative theories that seek to provide guidelines for determining a specific course of moral action. Think of the Categorical Imperative in the case of the former and the Principle of Utility in the case of the latter. Applied Ethics attempts to deal with specific realms of human action and to craft criteria for discussing issues that might arise within those realms. The contemporary field of Applied Ethics arouse in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Today, it is a thriving part of the field of ethics. Numerous books and web-sites are devoted to topics such as Business Ethics, Computer Ethics, and Engineering Ethics. Ethical Relativism Distinctions within Relativism There is a distinction between morals and mores. The latter can be defined as harmless customs (e. g. , tea at 4); the former as treatment of others (e. g. , the practice of Apartheid). In discussing Relativism, we are concerned only with moral practices. The Problem of Relativism: What one society considers Right, another Society considers Wrong. Therefore, RIGHT AND WRONG are RELATIVE to a PARTICULAR SOCIETY. Here we need to be aware of two things: (1) Confusing harmless conventions (The British drive on the left side of the road) with harmful practices (Clitorectomy is customary among the Somali). (2) Even if moralities may differ from society to society, it need not follow that Morality Itself is relative for there is a further distinction between CULTURAL (descriptive) RELATIVISM and NORMATIVE (Ethical) RELATIVISM. Cultural (descriptive) Relativism: The descriptive relativist simply notes certain sociological FACTS: (a) Factual Claims: x is considered right in Society y at time t and x is considered wrong in Society z at time t. (b) Empirical Conclusion: Moralities are relative [Note that the claims of Cultural Relativism are either true or false. ] Normative (ethical) Relativism The normative relativist goes BEYOND any sociological facts. (a) Normative Claim: What is considered right in Society x at time t IS right for that Society. (b) Theoretical (metaethical) Claim: Morality Itself is Relative. Note that ethical relativism does not logically follow from any truths uncovered by descriptive relativism. Note also that the ethical relativist has a hard time explaining how radical moral change can occur within a certain society (as with slavery or womens suffrage in the United States). Ethical Egoism Psychological and Ethical Egoism. As a metaethical theory of motivation, psychological egoism asserts the descriptive claim that all of our actions can be reduced to self-interest: Whenever people do something, it is only because they think something desirable for themselves will result from it. The claim is descriptive and thus open to counterexamples, and it is broad, stating a reductionistic thesis regarding all of our actions. (Contrast psychological egoism with the psychological state of sympathy, where the weal and woe of the other becomes the motive for our action.) Ethical egoism is a normative theory that states that our actions ought to be done from the perspective of self-interest. One of the problems with this position is that it might not be in ones self-interest to have eveyone act from the perspective of self-interest. This state of nature would not be desirable (in Hobbes terms, life would be beastly, brutal, and short) and so it might ultimately be in ones self-interest to enter into a contract with others that would place restraints upon self-interested actions. Utilitarian Theories Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that places the locus of right and wrong solely on the outcomes (consequences) of choosing one action/policy over other actions/policies. As such, it moves beyond the scope of ones own interests and takes into account the interests of others. Bentham’s Utility Principle: (1) Recognizes the fundamental role of pain and pleasure in human life, (2) approves or disapproves of an action on the basis of the amount of pain or pleasure brought about i.e, consequences, (3) equates good with pleasure and evil with pain, and (4) asserts that pleasure and pain are capable of quantification (and hence measure). In measuring pleasure and pain, Bentham introduces the following criteria: INTENSITY, DURATION, CERTAINTY (or UNCERTAINTY), and its NEARNESS (or FARNESS). He also includes its fecundity (will more of the same follow? ) and its purity (its pleasure wont be followed by pain vice versa). In considering actions that affect numbers of people, we must also account for its EXTENT. John Stuart Mill adjusted the more hedonistic tendencies in Benthams philosophy by emphasizing (1) It is not the quantity of pleasure, but the quality of happiness that is central to utilitarianism, (2) the calculus is unreasonable qualities cannot be quantified (there is a distinction between higher and lower pleasures), and (3) utilitarianism refers to the Greatest Happiness Principle it seeks to promote the capability of achieving happiness (higher pleasures) for the most amount of people (this is its extent). Act and Rule Utilitarianism. We can apply the principle of utility to either PARTICULAR ACTIONS or GENERAL RULES. The former is called act-utilitarianism and the latter is called rule-utilitarianism. Act-utilitarianism The principle of utility is applied directly to each alternative act in a situation of choice. The right act is then defined as the one which brings about the best results (or the least amount of bad results). * Criticisms of this view point to the difficulty of attaining a full knowledge and certainly of the consequences of our actions. * It is possible to justify immoral acts using AU: Suppose you could end a regional war by torturing children whose fathers are enemy soliders, thus revealing the hide outs of the fathers. Rule-utilitarianism The principle of utility is used to determine the validity of rules of conduct (moral principles). A rule like promise-keeping is established by looking at the consequences of a world in which people broke promises at will and a world in which promises were binding. Right and wrong are then defined as following or breaking those rules. * Some criticisms of this position point out that if the Rules take into account more and more exceptions, RU collapses into AU. * More genearl criticisms of this view argue that it is possible to generate unjust rules according to the principle of utility. For example, slavery in Greece might be right if it led to an overall achievement of cultivated happiness at the expense of some mistreated individuals. Deontological Theories Acting from Duty Deontological normative ethical theories place the locus of right and wrong in autonomous adherence to moral laws or duties. Monistic deontology Kants Categorical Imperative (Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law) provides the source of right action. Its first formulation states Act as if the maxim of your action were to secure through your will a universal law of nature; its second formulation states Always act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or that of another, as an end in itself, never as a means only. Actions that conform to these imperatives (i. e., right actions) and are, furthermore, done from a sense of duty, are the epitome of morally praiseworthy actions. Critics of Kants approach claim that his Categorical Imperative does not contain within it a way to resolve conflicts of duties. Lying is wrong can be interpreted as Never lie and thus Universal Principles can harden into Absolute Principles. Pluralistic deontology For the 20th Century philosopher W. D. Ross, there are a number of duties that reflection reveals and these form a group of prima facie obligations. The phrase prima facie (all things being equal) refers to the fact that these duties do not bind us absolutely, but rather that they generally hold absent any further considerations. Two key duties are nonmaleficence (dont harm others) and beneficence (help others). Other prima facie duties include dont lie, dont kill, keep promises, etc. When conflicts occur between duties, our actual duty becomes that which intuitive judgment discerns as the right thing to do (e. g. , lying to save the life of an innocent person). Critics are cautious about referring to intuition as the criterion for determining our actual course of action. Stephen Toulmin suggested that we weigh up, as well as we can, the risks involved in ignoring either, and choose the lesser of two evils. Thus, while the principles may be deontic in nature, a resolution of conflicts of principles could appeal to probable consequences. Virtue Ethics Historical Perspective There is a long tradition in ethics that places great importance on the kind of person one is. We not only want those around us to tell the truth (for example, according to the Categorical Imperative), but also to be honest. Both Aristotle (arete) and Aquinas (virtu) emphasized this aspect of ethics by highlighting the role of what we would today call character in their discussions of ethics (and the classic virtues of courage, justice, and moderation). David Hume also gave virtue and personal merit a key role in his ethical theory. The recent revival of interest in virtue ethics can be traced back to Philippa Foot. She writes that a person’s virtue may be judged by his innermost desires as well as by his intentions; and this fits with our idea that a virtue such as generosity lies as much in someone’s attitudes as in his actions . The Moral Concept of Virtue We should distinguish the virtues found in a particular society or culture (e. g. , chastity) from those virtues that can be supported by moral reasoning (e. g. , honesty). A virtue is a trait of character that is socially valued, and a moral virtue is a trait that is morally valued†¦Moral reasons must support a claim†¦of moral virtue . By emphasizing the priority of character in discussions of ethics, virtue theorists can say: †¦rather than using rules and government regulations to protect subjects in research, some claim that the most reliable protection is the presence of an ‘informed, conscientious, compassionate, responsible researcher’. The underlying view here is that character is more important than conformity to rules and that virtues should be inculcated and cultivated over time through educational interactions, role models, etc. A practical consequence of this view is that the education of, for example medical doctors, should include the cultivation of virtues such as compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness as well as benevolence (desire to help) and nonmalevolence (desire to avoid harm). Critical Evaluation of Virtue Ethics Often times we encounter morality between strangers (as when one enters an Emergency Room after a car accident). At these times, it’s not the person’s character, but his/her need to follow rules and procedures that seem to come to the forefront (Virtue is not enough). Furthermore, persons of ‘good character’ can certainly formulate ‘bad policy’ or make a ‘poor choice’ and we need to evaluate those policies and choices according to moral principles. Constructive Evaluation of Virtue Ethics Yet †¦ethical theory is more complete if the virtues are included†¦motives deserve to be at center stage in a way that some leading traditional theories have inadequately appreciated †¦ To look at acts without also looking at the moral appropriateness and desirability of feelings, attitudes, forms of sympathy, and the like is to miss a large area of the moral picture (BC, 4th Ed., 69) Liberal Rights and Communitarian Theories Today we often find moral problems framed by perspectives derived from political philosophy. Issues like euthanasia, stem cell research and abortion as well as distributive justice concerns such as social security and medicare, are likely to be seen along the liberal/conservative divide. Traditional moral theories need to take these frameworks into consideration. Will Kymlicka’s Introduction to Political Philosophy provides analyses of the philosophical ideas behind the â€Å"ideological debates† that now envelop many topics in moral philosophy. Of particular value is his discussion of liberal equality, libertarianism, and communitarianism. Liberal equality is often associated with the work on John Rawls in his Theory of Justice. It argues that we should rationally affirm two fundamental principles of justice designed to protect our political liberties and social opportunities. It can be directly contrasted with the libertarian ideas found in Robert Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Nozick challenges Rawls’s approach to social inequalities and argues for a minimalist state. But both authors (and their followers) conceive of individuals as ‘Socratic’ in nature, capable of reasoning about their life plan and questioning, in principle, the world around them. In this sense, they are both ‘liberals’ in the tradition of John Stuart Mill’s essay, â€Å"On Liberty. † â€Å"For liberals, the question about the good life requires us to make a judgment about what sort of a person we wish to be†. Thus liberals will emphasize the role of choice and freedom from government interference in private matters. For communitarians, on the other hand, individuals are not atomistic, ‘unencumbered selves’ individuals are situated within a community, embedded in the received wisdom of our human culture. Communal values are ‘authoritative horizons’ wherein we take our orientation toward life . The self is not prior to, but rather constituted by, its ends we cannot distinguish ‘me’ from ‘my ends’ [and] our selves are at least partly constituted by ends that we do not choose, but rather discover by virtue of our being embedded in some shared social context . Since self-determination does not occur in a vacuum, the government needs to support a social environment that is conducive to the development of what is best in all of us. For those communitarians who are social conservatives, this will often take the form of a promotion family values that can, for example, discourage changes in the institution of marriage. Broadly speaking, these two positions account for the divide between ‘liberals’ and ‘social conservatives’ in dealing with matters such as abortion and euthanasia. In these situations, liberals tend to become pro-choice and social conservatives tend to become pro-life. ***** As is to be expected in a modern, pluralistic democracy, many of these issues are addressed in the political realm and through the political process (including the courts). But the kinds of cases that arise within these areas should also be addressed within the framework of applied ethics as a way to get clearer about the nature of the problem and its potential for resolution. Indeed, we often see analyses found in applied ethics, such as the concept of a person in the morally significant sense or the distinction between killing and allowing to die, embedded in the political debate itself. Ethics of Care In the 1970s and 80s feminist writers began to question the assumptions behind many of the traditional ethical theories. Carol Gilligan’s work in moral psychology challenged justice-based approaches to moral discussion: men tend to embrace an ethic of rights using quasi-legal terminology and impartial principles †¦ women tend to affirm an ethic of care that centers on responsiveness in an interconnected network of needs, care, and prevention of harm. Taking care of others is the core notion. Annette Baier’s philosophical account of an ethics of care does not recommend that we discard categories of obligation, but that we make room for an ethic of love and trust, including an account of human bonding and friendship. In both of these accounts, there is a specific criticism of Traditional Liberal Theory and its emphasis on impartiality and universality: The impartiality and the ‘standpoint of detached fairness’ advocated by liberal theories of justice, overlook, for example, the moral role of attachment to those close to us. Speaking from the perspective of medical ethics, The care perspective is especially meaningful for roles such as parent, friend, physician, and nurse, in which contextual response, attentiveness to subtle clues, and the deepening of special relationships are likely to be more momentous morally than impartial treatment In articulating the challenge to universal principles, Beauchamp and Childress write: We can produce rough generalizations about how caring physicians and nurses respond to patients, for example, but these generalizations will not be subtle enough to give helpful guidance for the next patient. Each situation calls for a set of responses outside any generalization†¦. Proponents of an Ethics of Care emphasize the roles of Mutual Interdependence and Emotional Response that play an important part in our moral lives: †¦many human relationships involve persons who are vulnerable, dependent, ill, and frail †¦ [and] the desirable moral response is attached attentiveness to needs, not detached respect for rights (BC, 373) and The person who acts from rule-governed obligations without appropriately aligned feelings such as worry when a friend suffers seems to have a moral deficiency. In addition†¦insight into the needs of others and considerate alertness to their circumstances often come from the emotions more than reason. Thus the emotions seem to have a ‘cognitive role,’ allowing us to grasp a situation that may not be immediately available to one arguing solely from a ‘justice perspective. ’ Critical Evaluation of the Care Ethic The example of a nurse who personally wants to help a patient die, but who will not do so as it violates professional duty, shows that †¦the ethics of care must confront situations in which bona fide requirements of impartiality conflict with acting partially from care. Some feminists actually interpret the ‘care ethic’ as culturally determined by the male hierarchy. For example, a terminally ill grand mother may request to be allowed to die because she doesn’t want to be ‘a bother’ to her family. Here someone like Susan Sherwin sees a need to examine the social context of care as well as to establish limits to the ethics of care. Both enterprises would involve appeals to justice†¦ Constructive Evaluation of the Care Ethic Sensitivity and emotional response to particular situations (like family discussions with physicians) provide important guides to morally acceptable actions. A care ethic also seems to favor adopting procedures from Conflict Resolution and Dispute Mediation as alternative ways to approach an apparent ethical conflict. Hedonism The term â€Å"hedonism,† from the Greek word (hedone) for pleasure, refers to several related theories about what is good for us, how we should behave, and what motivates us to behave in the way that we do. All hedonistic theories identify pleasure and pain as the only important elements of whatever phenomena they are designed to describe. If hedonistic theories identified pleasure and pain as merely two important elements, instead of the only important elements of what they are describing, then they would call it Hedonism uld not be nearly as unpopular as they all are. However, the claim that pleasure and pain are the only things of ultimate importance is what makes hedonism distinctive and philosophically interesting. Philosophical hedonists tend to focus on hedonistic theories of value, and especially of well-being (the good life for the one living it). As a theory of value, hedonism states that all and only pleasure is intrinsically valuable and all and only pain is intrinsically not valuable. Hedonists usually define pleasure and pain broadly, such that both physical and mental phenomena are included. Thus, a gentle massage and recalling a fond memory are both considered to cause pleasure and stubbing a toe and hearing about the death of a loved one are both considered to cause pain. With pleasure and pain so defined, hedonism as a theory about what is valuable for us is intuitively appealing. Indeed, its appeal is evidenced by the fact that nearly all historical and contemporary treatments of well-being allocate at least some space for discussion of hedonism. Unfortunately for hedonism, the discussions rarely endorse it and some even deplore its focus on pleasure. This article begins by clarifying the different types of hedonistic theories and the labels they are often given. Then, hedonism’s ancient origins and its subsequent development are reviewed. The majority of this article is concerned with describing the important theoretical divisions within Prudential Hedonism and discussing the major criticisms of these approaches. The Origins of Hedonism . a. Aristippus and the Cyrenaics The Cyrenaics, founded by Artistippus were also sceptics and Hedonistic Egoists. Although the paucity of original texts makes it difficult to confidently state all of the justifications for the Cyrenaics’ positions, their overall stance is clear enough. The Cyrenaics believed pleasure was the ultimate good and everyone should pursue all immediate pleasures for themselves. They considered bodily pleasures better than mental pleasures, presumably because they were more vivid or trustworthy. The Cyrenaics also recommended pursuing immediate pleasures and avoiding immediate pains with scant or no regard for future consequences. Their reasoning for this is even less clear, but is most plausibly linked to their sceptical views – perhaps that what we can be most sure of in this uncertain existence is our current bodily pleasures. b. Epicurus Epicurus founder of Epicureanism, developed a Normative Hedonism in stark contrast to that of Aristippus. The Epicureanism of Epicurus is also quite the opposite to the common usage of Epicureanism; while we might like to go on a luxurious â€Å"Epicurean† holiday packed with fine dining and moderately excessive wining, Epicurus would warn us that we are only setting ourselves up for future pain. For Epicurus, happiness was the complete absence of bodily and especially mental pains, including fear of the Gods and desires for anything other than the bare necessities of life. Even with only the limited excesses of ancient Greece on offer, Epicurus advised his followers to avoid towns, and especially marketplaces, in order to limit the resulting desires for unnecessary things. Once we experience unnecessary pleasures, such as those from sex and rich food, we will then suffer from painful and hard to satisfy desires for more and better of the same. No matter how wealthy we might be, Epicurus would argue, our desires will eventually outstrip our means and interfere with our ability to live tranquil, happy lives. Epicureanism is generally egoistic, in that it encourages everyone to pursue happiness for themselves. However, Epicureans would be unlikely to commit any of the selfish acts we might expect from other egoists because Epicureans train themselves to desire only the very basics, which gives them very little reason to do anything to interfere with the affairs of others. c. The Oyster Example With the exception of a brief period discussed below, Hedonism has been generally unpopular ever since its ancient beginnings. Although criticisms of the ancient forms of hedonism were many and varied, one in particular was heavily cited. In Philebus, Plato’s Socrates and one of his many foils, Protarchus in this instance, are discussing the role of pleasure in the good life. Socrates asks Protarchus to imagine a life without much pleasure but full of the higher cognitive processes, such as knowledge, forethought and consciousness and to compare it with a life that is the opposite. Socrates describes this opposite life as having perfect pleasure but the mental life of an oyster, pointing out that the subject of such a life would not be able to appreciate any of the pleasure within it. The harrowing thought of living the pleasurable but unthinking life of an oyster causes Protarchus to abandon his hedonistic argument. The oyster example is now easily avoided by clarifying that pleasure is best understood as being a conscious experience, so any sensation that we are not consciously aware of cannot be pleasure.

The Chrysalids Joseph Strorm Character Sketch Essay -- essays research

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Written by John Wyndham, The Chrysalids tells the reader about Joseph and his life, which revolves around religion. Joseph, as the reader learns, is an extremely religious, authoritive, and temper mental man. As the story progresses, Joseph’s character traits begin to show more and more. Joseph’s character traits become more prominent, and Joseph begins to choose his religion over his family. Towards the end of the novel we learn that Joseph is out to kill two of his children. Joseph is a man with many problems, which would get the best of him in the end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Living in Waknuk makes it extremely easy to be controlled by your religion. Joseph was a very religious man towards his family and the community. In the community of Waknuk Joseph was considered the â€Å"Head Priest† of his religious group. Each time a deviation was notified Joseph would quickly stop everything he was doing to pray for forgiveness. Stopping everything to pray for forgiveness is a big thing considering that the deviations were not his. This shows that he does not want God or his religion to look down on himself. Lastly, Joseph is always trying to do his best because he believes God is always testing them. He shows that he does not want to upset God in any way. All of these examples show how religious Joseph truly is. Joseph Strorm was a devoted and completely reliant man upon his religion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As being the leader in Waknuk, it ...

Future Trends in Health Care Essay

Clinical decisions reflect the electronic world we live in more than ever. The electronic health record (EHR) is quickly replacing the traditional paper chart. In the United States by the 2014, medical records will be converted to an EHR. Medical records were converted over a ten- year period in the United Kingdom from traditional charting to EHR. The electronic age is here and with it new terminology. Electronic Health (E-health) describes many topics from the EHR to several systems and new subspecialties. Telemedicine has grown to include many activities within the electronic realm. The Internet and external delivery sources are quickly gaining favor for follow up care and rural medicine visits. Patients’ no longer have to wait or drive far distances to see their physician they can simply go to an outpatient clinic and visit the physician via videoconference using SKPE like technology. Internet/Electronic Communication as an External Delivery Source The estimates state that about eight billion people can access some form of electronic communication network across the globe. The estimation of this global access is the ability to investigate and research any health condition by symptom or chief complaint. The user simply inputs his or her perceived diagnosis and several choices are displayed in most search engines such as GOOGLE or BING. The programming used today does not even require that the spelling is correct because of the built in spell check feature. The electronic/computer age has brought with it many advantages that ten years ago were impossible. The ability to research as many topics/symptoms once performed at the library can be done at home. The Internet/e-communication has revolutionized both personal and professional fact-finding missions. E-health is quickly replacing both the research and word of mouth referrals. Going online and asking a question provide all the  physicians in the area as well as what type of specialist to visit. Blogs have replaced word of mouth. The impact is clear e-health is here to stay. Nomenclature depends on the type of patient care activities described. EHR is a universal and global term. Programs that support clinical decision-making can include: * Computerized provider (or physician) entry (CPOE) systems used by clinicians to enter, modify, review and, communicate orders, and return results for laboratory tests, x-ray images and referrals. * E-prescribing – clinical information systems used to enter, modify, review, and output, or communicate medication prescriptions. * Computerized decision support systems – (CDSS) used in the context of eHealth technologies, clinical information systems that integrate clinical and demographic patient information to provide support for decision making by clinicians. * Picture Archiving Computer System – (PACS) used radiology to store data and x-ray images. â€Å"The widespread availability of medical information on the internet and its effects on health care has exponentially increased over the last decade† (Black, et. al, 2011, p. 9). The impact of e-health has changed the landscape of health care. The growth has ushered in a new way for providers to communicate and educate patients. Instead of handouts concerning particular disease processes the provider can give the technologically clever patient the information by directing him or her to the website. Safe and effective instructions are the responsibility of the provider so investigation and verification for accuracy is important. Impact of Distance Delivery on Health Care Distance to the clinic or hospital is a concern for patients in rural areas. The convenience of participating in an e-health visit is beneficial. â€Å"On-line, computer-assisted communication between patients and physicians promises to replace a substantial amount of care now delivered in person† (Kassirer, 1995, p. 52). The prediction of Dr. Kasssirer is true today telemedicine, is on the rise. Large scale acceptance of e-medicine is yet to be realized. The backbone of American healthcare the physician office visit is under construction with the advent of e-Health. The patient is more in control of their health care than any time in history â€Å"ideally, responsibility for decisions could be shared by the patient and the physician, with the patient playing a substantial part† (Kassirer, 1995, p.  52). Transformative power is evident in this fundamental shift in thinking throughout the health care community. Communication Issues and Health care today Medical and scientific data is available to both the physician and the patient through the use of the Internet. †The Internet is clearly the modern vehicle with the potential to improve information dissemination and perhaps change the way health care is delivered† (Podichetty, et. al, p. 274). Smart phone and device technology is accessed and often used throughout the course of the day by both the physician and patient. Electronic interactions have replaced many of the traditional forms of communication. The move toward electronic exchanges between health care providers is becoming a common occurrence. Web-based medical resources are accessed by the patient and the physician equally. â€Å"Over 90% of physicians use the internet to research clinical issues† (Podichetty, et, al, p. 274). Researching can occur at the bedside with direct collaboration with the patient. The ability to understand and explain multiple disease processes is achieved through the interactive technology advances of today. Impact of Communication Techniques in the Future The future of healthcare communication and current trends are evolving as rapidly as technology will allow. Technological advances are occurring so rapidly that the health care environment will continue to evolve and invent new forms of communication techniques over the next five years. â€Å"Information and communications technology will play a key role in delivering health care in the future† (Dumiak, 2011, p. 328). Standards are changing within the cultural landscape of e-health. As the environment changes so too will the standards and regulations of telemedicine. As the landscape continues to change â€Å"there is cultural and historical resistance to heavy centralization of record-keeping and privacy concerns about the potential intrusion of government or business into sensitive personal documents† (Dumiak, 2011, p. 328). Soon we will be able to provide our complete medical history and medications through the use of a master patient record that updates in real time. The cloud is already offering â€Å"a place to remotely store and access gigantic sets of experimental data† (Dumiak, 2011, p. 329). The logical  transition to electronic documents is on the horizon. In conclusion, the future of centralized electronic records is on the horizon. The landscape will continue to evolve and shape itself around the acceptance of new technologies and ways to communicate medical information. As the evolution continues the legal and ethical considerations will mirror that of technological advancement â€Å"work is still under way to establish standards and rules on how to send information to the central system† (Dumiak, 2011, p. 329). The future will determine a set of standards for e-Health technologies. The technology exists but can health care can keep up with the future needs of the patient. References Biscup, R.S., Booher, J., & Podichetty, V.K. (2006). Assessment of Internet Use and Effects among Health Care Professionals: A Cross Sectional Survey. Postgrad Medicine, 8(2), 274-279. Black, A.D., Car, J., & Pagliari, C., Anandan, C., Cresswell, K., Bokun, T., McKinstry, B., Procter, R., Majeed, A., Sheikh, A., (2011, January). The Impact of E-Health on the Quality and Safety of Health Care: A Systematic Overview. Plos Medicine, 8(1), 1-16. Dumiak, M. (2012, September). E-Health’s Future Frontiers. Bull World Health Organization, 328-329. Kassirer, J.P. (1995, January). The Next Transformation in the Delivery of Health Care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 332(1), 52-54.

Prayer in Public School Essay - 3032 Words

In the heart of every religion, there is a way to express ones deepest thoughts and feelings--prayer. Prayer is something that most people due naturally. Whether it is in the morning before you start your day, before a meal, before you go to sleep, or when you just feel the need to express your feelings, prayer is always there. Religious faiths believe that this is central to human life. Even those who are not religious pray. Prayer affects the material universe. Prayer can be defined as an earnest request; a humble entreaty addressed to God, to a god, etc (Websters). We are allowed to pray publicly anywhere, as long as we dont pray out loud. Yet we all live in a society that does not allow prayer inside public schools. Prayer is also†¦show more content†¦Students are also free to organize Bible study and other religious interest clubs if any other secular clubs are allowed. Religious clubs must be given the same access to the schools facilities. Group meetings also must be voluntary and student initiated. Students can also engage in a moment of silence during which they can pray, meditate, plan their day, or engage in any other silent mental activity (Religioustolerance). Religious freedom is one of the most important traditions and constitutional rights that we as Americans have. Throughout the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s public education across the United States continued to include considerable religious context. In colonial New England the earliest standard text was the New England Primer, which taught younger children to read and count using biblical references: The letter A was taught with the phrase In Adams Fall we sinned all, and P was illustrated with Peter denies His Lord and cries (Andryszewski 13-14). Beginning around 1913 and continuing through the first half of the twentieth century, state governments across the country decided to standardize and write into law the practice of Bible reading and prayer in their states public schools. By mid- century, nearly all of the states permitted some form of Bible reading or formal prayer in public schools. By the 1950s school prayer was commonly practicedShow MoreRelatedThe Prayer On Public Schools1240 Words   |  5 PagesFor much of the 20th Century and into the 21st, school prayer has been the focal point of an ongoing debate about the position of religion in American civilization. The question of the legality of prayer in public schools brings together a number of important notions in American government and legal philosophy. Opponents and proponents of school prayer set forth their arguments in such major constitutional issues as the separation of church and state, the right to free exercise of religion, and theRead MorePrayer in Public Schools656 Words   |  3 PagesThe United States was built on prayer. Prayer or religion is on our currency in the many halls of our justice and federal buildings so no matter where we go, we cannot escape prayer. Our founding fathers did not exclude the bible in building our nation and educating our future and there will be no expectation. No matter what there will be prayer no matter where you are. Some people just don’t believe in God that’s why some don’t want prayer in public school. 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Consequently