what Does it Mean to be a Good Person?

what Does it Mean to be a Good Person? Everyday across the world we are being told to be a good person, but what does that really mean? Is a good person in America the same as a good person in communist North Korea? I say yes; a good person is unlike the good citizen whose virtue is relevant to the regime in which they live; the good person is a good person no matter the regime while the good citizen is only representative of that which the state deems best. The good man can be good anywhere because he follows virtue, and finds happiness in that virtue. To illustrate this point I will first define the good man then the bad regime, and finally how a good man fits into the bad regime. The Good Man Socrates, while under trial, explained his definition of a good person in refutation of the charge that he was ashamed of pursuing a dangerous occupation that had the possibility of death. He responded You are wrong, sir, if you think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death; he should look to this only in his actions, whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or a bad man  [1]  Here we have a very cut and dry explanation of the good man, he who does not concern himself with petty personal wants but only whether his actions are good and just. Aristotle sets out a clear boundary between what he considers a good man and a good citizen. For Aristotle the good man is the man that acts and lives virtuously and derives happiness from that virtue. And the good citizen acts to the best virtue of the state and each of these things are quite separate, The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man  [2]  The separation is clearly evident, the fact that what makes a good citizen does not qualify someone to be a good person. So being a good person does not mean you have to by association be a good citizen they are two distinctly different states, it is only in the best of regimes that the good person is also the good citizen. The nature of political rule is that rule of those similar in stock and free  [3]  As Aristotle argues if the virtue of a citizen is the capacity to rule and be ruled in turn, then the virtue of the good man is also to have this capacity in the best of regimes. The good in any animal or plant is the same as it is for humans: that to be and act in harmony with the virtue of that species. In a way this is a human participating in that which is most human, to act in harmony with rationality and virtue. The good in acting with the virtue of a human is the perfection of that which can only be described rationally such things as love and justice. To act unto these things is to act with virtue but there also stands limits to everything. To act with too great or too little emphasis in any act is to disrupt balance and pulls the good man from his path of virtue, too much love is obsession, too little disdain either extreme is undesirable to the good man. The good man lives by the Golden Mean that which is not too in excess in either direction. To bring together the definition of a good man, Socrates says he is a man who always considers his actions and acts in a good and just manner. Aristotle says a good man acts unto virtue and derives his happiness and pleasure from that virtue. So we have a man who is prudent, virtuous, and just. This man must now fit into a corrupt regime, a regime that does not follow all those things which make him a good man. The Bad Regime There were six different categories in which all regimes were placed as defined by both Socrates and Aristotle, those of tyranny, monarchy, oligarchy, aristocracy, democracy and polity. Of these regimes tyranny, oligarchy and democracy were all negative and corrupt regimes because the governing body whether it be a single person, small group or the many respectively only were ruling in their own interests and not to the benefit of all. In the good regimes it is those same forms of governing bodies yet they govern in the interest of the state as a whole. Of the bad regimes Aristotle had declared that tyranny was the most undesirable state as the citizens were reduced to nothing more than slaves. In a tyrannical government the governed are not looked after but only used to further the goals of the leader. The next two are defined in a similar manner men ruling by reason of their wealth, whether they be few or many,  [4]  for an oligarchy and defining a democracy as where the poor rule.  [5]  To Aristotle an oligarchy was a twisted degradation of the good regime aristocracy, in the oligarchy it is not that few men govern it is that it is the wealthy class that rules creating a state in which all power resides in the upper class. .

Comparing Shakespeares Caliban to the African-American Essay -- Compa

Comparing Shakespeare's Caliban to the African-American Caliban, immediately introduced as "poisonous slave," "savage," "hag-seed," is a character often likened to the African- American slave. The ease and matter-of-factness with which Prospero and Miranda dismiss him is painfully obvious even before he enters the scene (Act 1, Scene 3). Through no fault of his own, Caliban is dehumanized by the authority of his day and dismissed by the important members of his society. He looks much different from the others on the island, so he is not seen as a true human being; in fact, his only redemption lies in the fact that he is able to learn the language in order to serve the master. The predicament in which the black American found himself undoubtedly resounded in painful familiarity to Shakespeare's Caliban, so it is quite understandable that writers would paint a picture of Caliban as the oppressed African- American slave. There are many similarities that African- Americans share with Caliban. One issue that bears remarkable similarities is the issue of identity. For the African- American, "Alienated from the world to which he is born and from the country of which he is a citizen, yet surrounded by the successful values of that world, and country, how can the Negro define himself?" (Penn, p.17) Caliban, while he was not taken from his homeland, his homeland was taken from him and ruled by people very different from him socially and physically. As a result, he was told that his appearance and way of life were unacceptable. Instead, he was forced to conform to a culture of which he could never truly be a part. One would imagine that Caliban's sense of ide ntity was severely jeopardized. Out of this idea falls anothe... ...e for the African- American. Now is the time for the black American to rise above victim status and excuses (valid though they may be) and take their place as productive, intelligent, respected members of society. Unlike Caliban, the African- American need not waste his time bemoaning his state. Yes, there were unimaginable injustices visited upon African- Americans in this country, but the past cannot be altered. Our young black men and women cannot be taught that past-- or even present injustice is an excuse for mediocrity. The world does not owe anyone anything, and therefore the black American must work hard-- maybe sometimes twice as hard-- to succeed; and in the end justice and equality will prevail. In this way, the African- American is nothing like Caliban. Injustice and oppression were his ruin; but for the African- American, it will become strength.

Fi515

Final Exam Page 1 1. (TCO A) Which of the following does NOT always increase a company's market value? (Points : 5) Increasing the expected growth rate of sales Increasing the expected operating profitability (NOPAT/Sales) Decreasing the capital requirements (Capital/Sales) Decreasing the weighted average cost of capital Increasing the expected rate of return on invested capital| 2. (TCO F) Which of the following statements is correct? (Points : 5) For a project with normal cash flows, any change in the WACC will change both the NPV and the IRR.To find the MIRR, we first compound cash flows at the regular IRR to find the TV, and then we discount the TV at the WACC to find the PV. The NPV and IRR methods both assume that cash flows can be reinvested at the WACC. However, the MIRR method assumes reinvestment at the MIRR itself. If two projects have the same cost, and if their NPV profiles cross in the upper right quadrant, then the project with the higher IRR probably has more of its c ash flows coming in the later years.If two projects have the same cost, and if their NPV profiles cross in the upper right quadrant, then the project with the lower IRR probably has more of its cash flows coming in the later years. | 3. (TCO D) The Ramirez Company's last dividend was $1. 75. Its dividend growth rate is expected to be constant at 25% for 2 years, after which dividends are expected to grow at a rate of 6% forever. Its required return (rs) is 12%. What is the best estimate of the current stock price? a. $41. 58 b. $42. 64 c. $43. 71 d. $44. 80 e. $45. 92(Points : 20) | 4. TCO G) The ABC Corporation's budgeted monthly sales are $4,000. In the first month, 40% of its customers pay and take the 3% discount. The remaining 60% pay in the month following the sale and don't receive a discount. ABC's bad debts are very small and are excluded from this analysis. Purchases for next month's sales are constant each month at $2,000. Other payments for wages, rent, and taxes are con stant at $500 per month. Construct a single month's cash budget with the information given. What is the average cash gain or (loss) during a typical month for the ABC Corporation? (Points : 20) | 5. TCO G) Clayton Industries is planning its operations for next year, and Ronnie Clayton, the CEO, wants you to forecast the firm's additional funds needed (AFN). The firm is operating at full capacity. Data for use in your forecast are shown below. Based on the AFN equation, what is the AFN for the coming year? Dollars are in millions. Last year's sales = S0| $350| | Last year's accounts payable| $40| Sales growth rate = g| 30%| | Last year's notes payable| $50| Last year's total assets = A0*| $500| | Last year's accruals| $30| Last year's profit margin = PM| 5%| | Target payout ratio| 60%| a. $102. b. $108. 2 c. $113. 9 d. $119. 9 e. $125. 9 (Points : 30) | | Final Exam Page 2 1. (TCO H) Desai Inc. has the following data, in thousands. Assuming a 365-day year, what is the firm's cash con version cycle? Annual sales = Annual cost of goods sold = Inventory = Accounts receivable = Accounts payable =| $45,000 $30,000 $4,500 $1,800 $2,500| a. 28 days b. 32 days c. 35 days d. 39 days e. 43 days (Points : 30) | 2. (TCO C) A firm buys on terms of 2/8, net 45 days, it does not take discounts, and it actually pays after 58 days. What is the effective annual percentage cost of its nonfree trade credit? Use a 365-day year. ) a. 14. 34% b. 15. 10% c. 15. 89% d. 16. 69% e. 17. 52%(Points : 30) | 3. (TCO E) Daves Inc. recently hired you as a consultant to estimate the company's WACC. You have obtained the following information. (1) The firm's noncallable bonds mature in 20 years, have an 8. 00% annual coupon, a par value of $1,000, and a market price of $1,050. 00. (2) The company's tax rate is 40%. (3) The risk-free rate is 4. 50%, the market risk premium is 5. 50%, and the stock's beta is 1. 20. (4) The target capital structure consists of 35% debt and the balance is common equi ty.The firm uses the CAPM to estimate the cost of common stock, and it does not expect to issue any new shares. What is its WACC? a. 7. 16% b. 7. 54% c. 7. 93% d. 8. 35% e. 8. 79%(Points : 30) | 4. (TCO B) Leak Inc. forecasts the free cash flows (in millions) shown below. If the weighted average cost of capital is 11% and FCF is expected to grow at a rate of 5% after Year 2, what is the Year 0 value of operations, in millions? Assume that the ROIC is expected to remain constant in Year 2 and beyond (and do not make any half-year adjustments). Year: 1 2 Free cash flow: -$50 $100 a. $1,456 b. 1,529 c. $1,606 d. $1,686 e. $1,770(Points : 35) | 5. (TCO G) Based on the corporate valuation model, Hunsader's value of operations is $300 million. The balance sheet shows $20 million of short-term investments that are unrelated to operations, $50 million of accounts payable, $90 million of notes payable, $30 million of long-term debt, $40 million of preferred stock, and $100 million of common equity. The company has 10 million shares of stock outstanding. What is the best estimate of the stock's price per share? a. $13. 72 b. $14. 44 c. $15. 20 d. $16. 00 e. $16. 80(Points : 35) | |

Civil War Leaders essays

Civil War Leaders essays There were many sectional differences in ideas, leadership, and future plans for the United States. Leaders from both sides had conflicting objectives and intentions. Many issues were argued amidst the states and their leaders. Abraham Lincoln noticed the strong division growing between the northern and southern states and wanted to unit them. Lincoln wanted all states to be either slave or free just so long as they agreed. Confederate leaders however, did not want the uniting of states. They believed one government should not control all states; instead, they wanted individual states to be governed by themselves. A main divergence was the topic of labor. More specifically, what was the better system of production? What was the most civilized way of working? Factory workers and slaves were the main source of labor. Northerners were disgusted with the South for owning slaves. They felt slavery was immoral and decadent. Southerners, however, deliberated that the North were hypocrites because of their poor working conditions. The North relied on industries for income, and the South relied on cash crops. Mutually they believed their working arrangements were much better than that of the opposing side. Industries provided mass production of widgets and various parts for assorted machinery. Unfortunately, the majority of employment used for industrial labor was provided through the services of extremely young children (sweat shops). Because of the extraneous activities, the life expectancy became shorter. For the South, labor came from slaves. The slaves would mainly work on fields picking cotton, plowing and many other farming duties on plantations. Although living and working situations were at times considered better than those in the North, it wasnt justified. It was very difficult and demeaning. With the animosity growing, war was destined to occur. One interpretation for the cause of the Civil War w...

Critique the film A Prophet directed by Jacques Audiard

Critique the film A Prophet directed by Jacques Audiard The film A Prophet directed by Jacques Audiard explores the life of a French Algerian who is confronted with cruel prison life that often deprives a person of his humanity. In particular, the authors of this movie attempt to show how an individual can be forced into the conflict between ethnic or religious groups.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Critique the film A Prophet directed by Jacques Audiard specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More More importantly, it explores the interactions between individuals in an environment where hostility and hatred shape people’s behavior, decisions and attitudes toward others. Moreover, one can say that this movie is related to such a process as globalization that mergers the boundaries between states or nationalities. Nevertheless, this process does not eliminate the segregation between different groups. Overall, A Prophet is a film that examines the influence of inequality or pow er struggles within the modern globalized society. By looking at this film from this perspective, one can better understand the characters, their behavior and relations with others. The main character Malik can be regarded as an individual who does not have an opportunity to become a full-fledged member of the community. He is one of those people who suffer from economic inequality. One of the most striking details that attract attention is that Malik is an illiterate person at the age of nineteen, and he can hardly expect to find employment. To a great extent, this example indicates that Malik occupies an extremely low status within the community. Moreover, his lack of education deprives him of any opportunity to achieve any progress. Such an individual is more likely to commit a crime and eventually become imprisoned. It is possible to say that A Prophet describes the experiences of many young people in France, especially if they are the descendants of immigrants. This is one of t he main points that should be kept in mind by the viewers of this film. Additionally, the movie reflects some of the ideas expressed by Arjun Appadurai who introduces the concept of different scapes (Appadurai, 1990). For example, one can speak about such a term as ethnoscape that includes refugees, guest workers, tourists, immigrants, and so forth (Appadurai, 1990, p. 52).Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This notion can be used to describe the movement of people across national borders in the globalized world. It is very difficult to say what kind of place Malik occupies in this ethnospace because he is not fully integrated into the French society. This situation can be partly explained by his origins. Apart from that, this film shows how ethnic differences affect the distribution of power within the prison. In particular, Malik understand that he has to choose between two opposing factions, namely Corsicans and Muslims. The main issue is that he does not want to be involved in this struggle, but he has to do so in order to save his life. In facts, such dilemmas are encountered by many people who live in the modern globalized society, which becomes very segregated. Therefore, A Prophet reflects the complexities of the modern societies in which cultural or national boundaries are often erased. Moreover, one can speak about the existence of the financescapes which is also one of the notions discussed by Arjun Appadurai (1990). This notion can be interpreted as the disposition and flow of capital in the world in which the country (Apparurai, 1990). In particular, the film demonstrates that this disposition of capital is unequal; more importantly, this inequality can be partly explained by the ethnic, racial, or religious differences among people. Although the authors of A Prophet do not emphasize this issue in their film, this movie indicates that p eople representing ethnic minorities such as African immigrants and Corsicans do not have many economic opportunities in the society. Therefore, this movie demonstrates that different scapes can be closely interwoven with one another. One of the problems that are often discussed by scholars is the idea of Orientalism or the study of Eastern cultures which was developed in the nineteenth century (Said, 1979, p. 47). In many cases, it deliberately misrepresents the customs, values, and traditions of the Asia, Middle East as well as Africa.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Critique the film A Prophet directed by Jacques Audiard specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This construction of Eastern cultures led to the creation of many stereotypes about Arab people or other immigrants from Africa (Said, 1979). Apart from that, these stereotypes affect the decisions of policy-makers, legislators, or governmental officials who can a ffect the lives of many people. This is one of the reasons why many African-immigrants can be discriminated. The film A Prophet focuses on the problem of discrimination in contemporary France. For example, Malik decides to change his name to Jean-Philippe because a person with a French-sounding name has more opportunities when seeking employment. So, Malik has to abandon a part of his identity in order to climb the social ladder and attain success. This is one of the details that viewers should consider when analyzing this film. Certainly, A Prophet cannot be regarded as a film that is only aimed at exploring various aspects of globalization, economic inequalities, or racial discrimination. The film-makers wanted to focus on the experiences of Malik, his response to prison life, and his efforts to retain his humanity. Nevertheless, this movie can give viewers deep insights into the modern life in France or any other country with large immigrant population. It is often argued that gl obalization can make the world more interconnected and homogeneous (Ferguson, 2006). Nevertheless, contemporary societies still remain very heterogeneous. For example, this film shows how difficult it is for a person to remain above ethnic or religious conflicts. Malik, who follows the order of a Corsican gangster, is perceived as a traitor by other Muslim prisoners. The challenges faced by this character demonstrate that religious or ethnic affiliations still play an important even in the globalized world. This is why it is not permissible to say that globalization has made modern communities conflict-free. More likely, it has given rise to various hostilities among people. This is one of the main problems that affect the life of a modern community.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overall, A Prophet enables the viewers to understand the complexities of the globalized world which has become extremely interconnected. In particular, it shows that people, living in globalized communities can be alienated from others because of their ethnic or religious differences. More importantly, these differences can explain different forms of inequality in contemporary societies. Malik, who is the main character of this movie, is an individual who has to save one’s life and integrate into the community where the worth of an individual is assessed according to his/her race, nationality, religion or ethnicity. This is one of the main issues that this movie explores. Reference List Appadurai, A. (1990) Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy. London: Theory, Culture and Society. Ferguson, J. (2006). Global Shadows: Africa in the Neoliberal World Order. Durham: Duke University Press. Said. E. (1979). Orientalism. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Grou p.

Congressional Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Congressional Speech - Essay Example For too long we have witnessed the erosion of the power of the people. We, the people, are America. It is time we stand again and make our voices heard. Public education and its financing is paramount to our future and to our place in the world. I believe it is our role on the world's stage to play the lead in innovation and change for the good of mankind. America is falling behind in science and the arts. We lag behind in those areas in which we once dominated. We have been witness to the slow erosion of student scores as well as to the funding of our educational system. House Speaker Tip O'Neill once observed that 'all politics is local'. We all understand that education, too, is a local issue. We understand that our state, our cities and our neighborhoods have the ultimate responsibility for funding and the making of decisions. We would not have it any other way. But the federal government has a significant role in the process as well. The federal government funds local schooling in the neighborhood of ten percent of its budget (ed.gov 2006). While it is not the role of our government to wag the dog of public education, we have the right to expect the issuance of standardized guidelines within which we can all operate our school districts, refining as we see fit, taking into account that which is best for our children. We have a right to expect the very highest sta

Death and Resurrection in Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Death and Resurrection in Art - Essay Example The essay will also describe the Édouard Manet’s, The Dead Christ with Angels, and howit was installed in the Metropolitan Museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art located in New York is agiant, three-dimension archive,and the largest art museum in the United States, whichwas founded on April 13, 1870 for the purpose to collect, preserve, exhibit, study and stimulate appreciation for, to develop and encourage the study of fine arts, and advance the knowledge of works of art that represent generally the broadest spectrum of human achievements. On the other hand,the Frick museum was founded by Henry Clay Flick which is a small museum, and often referred to as Frick collection since the activity of accumulating and the totality of the objects and assembled. The museum’s Collections of the art turn out to rely on the contributions of passionate individual collectors. Both the museums were founded for the purpose of encouraging and developing the study of fine arts and are open for the public, and situated in the United States.(Walter 3) Viewing art in Frick Museum is fascinating since it serves as a monument to an individual founder and memorizes the founder’s personal taste of art.The collection displays the beliefs, choices and values of an era.They sort to retain control over their creations. The museum allows an exceptional visual understanding of a crucial aspect of the history of art. (Walter 3)The disadvantage in viewing art from Metropolitan museum is that the art, themuseum can get overly.