What Is The Problem Of Freewill - 1495 Words

What is the problem of freewill? Outline and defend your favoured solution to the problem. The problem of freewill concerns whether it is possible to retain agency in a world where events are necessitated. For the sake of clarity, my definition of freewill is â€Å"the power of acting or not acting without constraint†. Universal causation or hard determinism (both terms I shall use interchangeably) is the belief that â€Å"events in the future are fixed, as a matter of natural law, by the past†. Indeterministic theories such as libertarianism preserve freewill by maintaining that not all events are determined by preceding causes. Both indeterminism and determinism are incompatibilist theories as they imply that universal causation erodes the prospect of freewill. Compatibilist theories, like agent-causalism assert that causation doesn’t necessarily mean we do not have free will. There are compelling experiential and anthropological arguments that strongly support universal causation. Using these arguments, I will defend it as the most plausible solution to the problem of freewill, while considering the alternatives such as compatibilist and libertarian theories and pointing out their core weaknesses. The implications of universal causation are wide-ranging. Its truth means we don’t have freewill nor moral responsibility, rendering our entire justice system and conception of ethics inherently flawed. However, as this essay progresses, it will become apparent that this is aShow MoreRelatedEssay on One Way of Arguing Determinism is False1334 Words   |  6 Pagesthesis of freewill is the view that as human beings, regardless of a cause, we could have acted or willed to act differently than we did. Determinism therefore, states that the future is something that is fixed and events can only occur in one way, while freewill leaves the future open. Obviousl y a huge problem arises between these two theses. They cannot both be true as they contradict one another. In this essay I hope to find a solution to this problem. One way I could solve the problem is by denyingRead MoreWould an All-good, All-powerful, All-knowing God Allow Evil to Exist?864 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: This essay features the discussion of the problem of evil in relation to the existence of god. Specifically outlining two sections where the problem of evil is discussed from atheist and theistic viewpoint. Statement: The problem of evil features an argument questioning the existence of god in relation to evil, attributing both atheistic and theistic replies. First reply to problem of evil: (atheist). If god was all good, all powerful and all knowing, he would not allow theRead MoreEssay on Staces Views on Freewill732 Words   |  3 Pages Freewill Through the Eyes of Stace I can most relate with Stace’s views on freewill. I feel that the freewill argument is more about definition and the word’s true meaning. I also agree with his statement of, â€Å"if there is no free will there can be no morality.† Stace believes that is doing what we want to do and not being constrained from doing so. Morality is a good argument of why we do what we do. Then there is the idea that we have choices and choices are made by the individual and not by outsideRead MoreEssay on Ayer, A.J. Freedom and Necessity.972 Words   |  4 Pagessolution so far. According to A.J. Ayer, the problem of free will is the result from the conflict of two different assumptions, which are men acting freely while being morally responsible for their actions, and that human behavior comes from causal laws. Ayer begins by attacking the determinist for the most part. Determinism is the view that there is no freewill, and all events and actions are determined by causal laws. Causal laws cast doubt on freewill because a person may not act freely if theirRead MoreThe View Of Human Nature1476 Words   |  6 Pagesevents, they have freewill to do whatever it is they want to do as a result of that experience. Individual’s Freewill The ultimate choice is yours. People have freewill to do what they want, whether good or bad. The definition of freewill is â€Å" the ability to choose how to act, the ability to make choices that are not controlled by fate or God† (Freewill, n.d.). This definition stands out for many reasons. First, the addition to God in the definition, even God gives us freewill. The many scripturesRead MoreRelationships, Fate, And Freewill Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pages Sophomore Honors English Summer Assignment Period 3 Relationships, Fate, and Freewill Relationships aren’t just a romantic pairing between two people. A platonic friendship can be a form of a relationship. Student and teacher, boss and employee, business owner and customer are all examples of relationships. I feel that this thematic unit will represent relationships between different types of people, and also different type of relationships such as physical and emotional. For me, relationshipsRead MoreFree Will v. Determinism Essay850 Words   |  4 Pages Do we really have Freewill? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The topic of freewill vs. determinism has always been something that has interested me. I follow the Christian faith very strongly but my views on the subject vary almost daily. The concept of freewill and determinism is something that, as a Christian, I often struggle with. By no means do I think that I have all the answers or that I am right. I believe that in order to find the truth or what is right you have to be willing to accept thatRead MoreEssay on Utilitarianism1264 Words   |  6 Pageswhich rule-utilitarianism tries to overcome them. As well one must look at the obstacles that rule-utilitarianism has on its own as a theory. The problems of both act and rule utilitarianism consist of being too permissive and being able to justify any crime, not being able to predict the outcomes of ones actions, non-universality and the lose of freewill. Act-utilitarianism is a theory suggesting that actions are right if their utility or product is at least as great as anything else that couldRead MoreThe Beliefs of Philosophers and The Belief in God1594 Words   |  7 PagesThe beliefs I have, and what has given me strength is combined with what I have been taught and what I have researched. Throughout this paper, there are five questions that has me describe life, but also describes the person I have become. The three philosophers I chose were all different, and all have something in common. What they all have in common is that they all stand by what they believe in. The three I have chosen are Aristotle, because I enjoy happiness and he believes it is the key toRead MoreFree Will and Moral Responsibility1037 Words   |  4 Pagesbeginnings, the problem of free will has been connected with the question of moral responsibility. Most of the ancient philosophers on the problem were trying to show that humans have sufficient control over their decisions, that all actions depend on them, and that they are not pre-determined by logical necessity, arbitrary gods, fate, or even by natural determinism. The problem of free will is often described as a question of reconciling free will with determinism. The problems of free will are

Inside Job Free Essays

Inside Job Summary Inside Job is a documentary by Charles Ferguson, about the causes of the global financial crisis and revealed what was going on inside the U. S. financial industry during the first decade of the 21st century. We will write a custom essay sample on Inside Job or any similar topic only for you Order Now The movie highlights the effects of a series of causes beginning in the Regan Administration. These causes most prominently include deregulation that allowed excessive and reckless actions in finance, fraud, and conflicts of interest. Deregulation allowed the financial sector more freedom and less discipline, which provided more opportunity for profit and risk. Reflecting the profit growth resulting from deregulation, investment banks went from small, private firms to public companies. The movie illustrates the growth of the financial sector beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the early 2000s, considering that from 1978-2008 the average salary in the United States in every profession other than investment banking rose by 25% and the average salary in investment banking rose by 150%. In early 2000 another method mortgage lending was developed that allowed for excessive risk and allowed for incentives to bet against the system for personal gain. The system was called the Securitization food chain and loans were mixed with other types of debt, such as car loans and credit card debt, given a rating, and investors would include these mixes in their funds depending to their rating. Since each party was removed from risk by selling the debt, lenders could extend absurd loans that were highly unlikely to be repaid, rating agencies could grade the absurd debts highly without consequence and the result was the opportunity for virtually anyone in the US to receive a home loan and purchase a home. Which sent home prices incredibly high and since the financial sector was profiting from this procedure through the Securitization Food Chain no one cared about who was holding the bag. The rest is history. The financial industry knew that the meltdown was going to occur. Records show that internally they were betting AGAINST their own offerings. The bubble bursts resulting in people losing their illusory homes and their previously tangible jobs. The financial sector lost their businesses. An incredible, sweeping wildfire of foreclosures and bankruptcies. The US government claimed that if these major financial institutions that caused the crisis were allowed to fail, the effect on the global financial system would be catastrophic. The US government said these firms were ‘too big to fail’ and paid out several hundred billions of taxpayer money to save these firms. The unemployment and inflation from these rescues is still accumulating today. How to cite Inside Job, Papers Inside Job Free Essays Where would we be today if the â€Å"decision makers† would have made more acceptable decisions that affected the economy prior to the market crashing? Millions of middle-class Americans have been left jobless, and even homeless, as a result of the major corporations getting bailed out, while certain individuals were benefiting millions of dollars in bonuses. Following the Great Depression, the United States did not have a single financial crisis. However, according to Charles Ferguson, who is the director of Inside Job, the progressive deregulation of the financial sector since the 1980s gave rise to an increasingly criminal industry. We will write a custom essay sample on Inside Job or any similar topic only for you Order Now In fact, many executives and leaders that were involved in this meltdown refused to answer questions, and some refused to interview for the documentary all together. The financial crisis of 2008 left many of us with many unanswered questions wondering how the most powerful nation in the world ended up with a destructed economy. The documentary Inside Job hunts down the culprits of the major financial institutions that had the biggest effect on the nation’s economy. The film attempts to provide a comprehensive understanding of the most important subject we have yet to face as a country; which is the worst financial crisis since the Depression, as well as holding those accountable who destroyed our financial system. Inside Job exposes the shocking truth behind the economic crisis. Throughout the film, you feel yourself cringing more and more by each interview. This documentary not once uses the word ‘capitalism’, although it is implied throughout the entire duration. The underlying message about capitalism in the movie is that it mainly benefits the elite, and that it is a corrupt world of finance. The big banks and financial institutions molded the government policies in their favor. As the economy came crashing down, the owners and leaders of financial institutions walked away from the crisis with their personal accounts untouched, and in superb condition for what the entire global economy was going to face next. Joe Boustead, of Socialist. et, states â€Å"The truth is that in a capitalist mode of production anarchy rules, this in turn led to a massive crisis of overproduction, there were simply too many commodities being produced to be consumed as the individuals could either not afford them or simply had no need for them. † One by one, the big banks came crashing down, and more debt was being added to what would become the worst economic crisis in history. Out of the various philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche would be inclined to agree with the behavior of the Wall Street moguls and the politicians who were responsible for the â€Å"Great Recession. Nietzsche is the philosopher of the will to power, seen as vital creation and fulfillment. He believed that humans and animals seek to live only to exert power and that each person should establish their own moral codes. As Nietzsche believed, â€Å"A living thing seeks above all to discharge its strength—life itself is will to power; self-preservation is only one of the indirect and most frequent. † As evidenced in the documentary, the government and executives sought to discharge their strength by partaking in self-preserving behaviors. While Inside Job exposed the criminal culture of Wall Street, a culture of lies, trickery, and corruption for power, it also exposed the widespread abuse of cocaine and prostitutes. Jonathan Alpert, a psychological counselor for Wall Street executives and professionals in the film, tells us that these practices â€Å"go right to the very top. † Nietzsche valued individualism above all else. He spoke negatively of anarchists, but he believed that only certain individuals should attempt to break away from the â€Å"herd. † That is the main reason I believe he would agree with the behaviors shown in this film. He would be inclined to believe that only certain individuals would be intelligent enough to take advantage of certain laws implemented by government, and somehow twist them into their own benefit, which is exactly what these Wall Street moguls did. If I were to propose legislation to address the problems and issues presented in the documentary, I would use John Stuart Mill’s philosophical view as a basis for the legislation. Mills believed in utilitarianism, which claimed that â€Å"one should assess persons, actions, and institutions by how well they promote human happiness. James Mill claimed: The desire, therefore, of that power which is necessary to render the persons and properties of human beings subservient to our pleasures, is the grand governing law of human nature [Essay IV; cf. Essay V]. I would use utilitarianism as a standard of conduct. Mills believed in the common good for the greatest number. This legislation would not have allowed the senseless, selfish acts that were committed which resulted in a recession that the entire nation had to deal with. Utilitarianism would have avoided the issues that were addressed in the documentary. It would maximize happiness and reduce the suffering of millions of people. I would also implement Sartre’s â€Å"bad faith†, or better known as his existentialism philosophy. Existentialism is a concept where a human would be under pressure from society and acts authentically. These CEOs and leaders knew what they were getting not only their institutions in, but also the economy. Instead of acting authentically and making decisions that would later on benefit the greater amount of people in the world, they chose to act unconsciously. It is a fact that the recession could have been avoided. The wrong decisions were purposely implemented in order to cover certain individuals and maintain power, and of course wealth. Jean-Paul Sartre believed that one should be held responsible for his own actions, and that all individuals should act authentically. From Sartre’s view, we are all â€Å"conscious† when we make decisions. He focused on three modes of being: being-for-itself, being-in-itself, and being-for-others. The â€Å"being-for-itself† would be better described as the being of consciousness. All of these problems that we are facing today, would not be occurring if the decision makers would have acted with consciousness, rather than cruelty, and greed. The people who purposely made calls to somehow sabotage the economy for their own interest should be held accountable, and prosecuted, just as any criminal. Inside Job does an amazing job of informing the audience of what happened behind closed doors to end up where our economy is today. It goes back in history far enough to explain where this economic downfall started, and who there is to blame. The economic crisis could have been avoided if the correct course of action were taken, but instead the middle-class ended up in a situation that was never thought of. Due to greed, this country has to work harder to clean up the mess of the power and money-hungry executives that allowed the economy to get to this state. Inside Job is an informing documentary that leaves us disgusted, but yet informed of the unethical moves people are willing to make in order to stay in power and wealthy. At the end of this documentary, we are left wondering, where would we be today if greed didn’t partake in people’s every move? What is next to come to America, what was once the most powerful country in the world? These moguls are roaming free enjoying their millions of dollars, rather than behind bars for leaving the nation in the worst state we have ever been in as a nation. While the less-powerful, and innocent, are figuring out where the next meal is coming from, or finding a way to get their children to college, the rich are feeding off of every dollar that was benefited and controlled. The truth always comes to light, and in this case, regardless of how hard these folks tried to hide it, the research was conducted to find out what exactly happened. How to cite Inside Job, Papers

Management Accounting Manufacture of the Goods

Question: Discuss about theManagement Accountingfor Manufacture of the Goods. Answer: Main use of the Product Costing System Product costing system can be described as the system utilized by the management of various organizations to have a hold on the cost of product of the manufactured goods or done with an aim for resale purpose. The cost of goods done before the sale is known as product costs. When it comes to the manufacture of the goods, it is the expense done during the process of manufacture. Moreover, there might be a case when the goods are purchased then the product cost can be said to be the expenses done to purchase the inventory and other expenses incurred such as a carriage, freight, etc for the inventory purchase (Drury, 2013). Once the assessment of the manufactured products is done, the further costs needed to seal the products are added to the manufactured cost of products and the product cost in total ascertain the cost of sales. The overall process is defined as the product costing system (Lacoma, 2016). The main aim of the product costing system is to evaluate the above-discussed cost s in a chronological manner so that it becomes easy to compute the total cost of sales and final profit can be computed with ease. Further benefits that are derived from the product costing system is that it enables smooth computation of the manufactured cost of goods manufactured per product, ascertainment of the cost that pertains to various level of production, differentiation of the cost incurred on the product with the budgeted cost and the deviation can be traced with ease (Horngren, 2011). Moreover, it supports the management in policies formulation, selling price fixation, shedding light on the profitability in a product wise manner. The under and over application of overhead is properly traced with the help of this system. Product costing system is the need of the hour because the costs are left unchanged to the service or product as per the scenario. Such a scenario can be witnessed in the case of job costing or service sector costing (Lister, 2016). When the product costing system is deficient in an organization then there might be an issue of unrecorded expenses or income that are overstated that projects a bad impression for the financial condition of the company as it will influence the profit either an understatement or overstatement will happen. Further, under pricing of the product might happen or inflation of the profits (Lacoma, 2016). The product can be either under or over priced that will affect the companys goodwill. Product pricing is mainly concerned with the manufacturing business, however, the application can be witnessed in non-manufacturing industries. When it comes to merchandising companies, it contains buying, as well as transportation of merchandise in the product cost (Vanderbeck, 2013). For example, the producers of inventorial goods, agricultural products, and mining products consider the cost of producing the goods. The product cost role in such companies is same as that of the manufacturing firms. When the process of product costing happens, the management considers the overhead that needs to be incurred. During the process of manufacture, there might a difference in terms of the actual cost being incurred with that of the estimated costs. These estimated costs are applicable to various processes of manufacturing by utilizing an overhead rate that is pre-determined. The differences are spotted by the accounts team when the production process ends (Horngren, 2011). The differences lead to under or over application of overheads. Over application of the overhead is a scenario when the applied overheads surpass the overhead that is actual. On the other hand, when the actual overhead exceeds then it is said it be a case of under application of overheads. It needs to be noted that the concept of over or under application creates a variation in the profitability that the organization estimates at the start of the season and is followed by the maximum of organization (Lanen et. al, 2008). To minimize the difference, the management requires time, as well as efforts so that the rate of overhead can be ascertained with an enhanced level of accuracy as the pre-determined rate is the chief ingredient in the application of overhead. If over or under application happens then the organization have to deal with certain scenarios. The difference is written to Profit and loss account When this method is put into implementation then the over or under application is moved to the profit and loss account so that the treatment is done in the same accounting year. The major loophole of this method is that the inventory figures gets inflated or understated because the under or over application needs to be distributed between finished goods work in progress and cost of sales (Lanen et. al, 2008). Treatment in Reserve accounts When this method is used, the over or under applied costs are tuned to the reserve account and projected in the balance sheet. However, this method should not be used as the adjustment for over or under applied overhead must be done in the same accounting year and not be carried forward (Needles, 2011). Inventories adjustment Work in progress, as well as finished goods and cost of sales is done so that the accounts is brought into connection with the actual cost. The overheads that are applied in excess or low must be distributed to the supplementary rate in work in progress, the cost of sales and the finished goods. Adjustment of over or under application in the cost of sales The cost of sales is determined by the accumulation of all the expenses that pertains to selling and distribution and then the addition is done to the cost of goods sold. In the case of an under application or over application, the same gets shifted to the cost of sales account. It can be done in a monthly manner or annually. ABC even known as activity-based costing is a mechanism that is used to assign products, tasks, or acquisition that is based on activities that flow into them and resources consumed by such activities. ABC can be contrasted with the traditional mechanism of costing that sometimes assigns cost by utilization of the hypothetical allocation percentage for overhead that is termed as indirect costs. Therefore, ABC estimates the cost of goods sold and gross margin in a different manner for different products. ABC should be introduced into the organization (Charles, 2012). The cost accountants have a clear understanding that the traditional system of cost conceals information when it comes to an individual product and services. Hence, a shift to ABC will lead to understating the real cost of the products, as well as services in an accurate manner. The implementation of ABC is done by the companies by identification of the products on an individual basis that is not profitable, ascertainment of the true costs so that pricing policy can be supported and revealing costs that are unnecessary so that it can be eliminated with ease. Firms that use ABC attain the objectives in an effective manner (Shim Siegel, 2009). The main benefit of ABC lies in the fact that the same accounts are influenced however different perspective is used. ABC helps in bringing enhancement in the margin hat is reported and even the profitability. Such an outcome is possible when ABC projects where to adjust the models of pricing. The areas where ABC can show vast improvements and benefits are cost accounting, budgeting, financial accounting, etc (Venanci, 2012). ABC scores over traditional method but needs to be noted that ABC is not free from deficiencies. References Charles, T.S 2012, Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, Pearson Education Drury, C. M 2013, Management and cost accounting, Springer. Horngren, C 2011, Cost accounting, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Australia. Lanen, W. N, Anderson, S Maher, M. W 2008, Fundamentals of cost accounting, NY: Hang Loose press Lacoma, T 2016, The Advantages Product Costing Offers in Financial Accounting, viewed 20 May 2017 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-product-costing-offers-financial-accounting-24883.html Lister, J 2016, Product Costing vs. Cost Accounting, viewed 20 May 2017 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/product-costing-vs-cost-accounting-37642.html Needles, S. C 2011, Managerial Accounting, Nason , USA: South-Western Cengage Shim, J. K Siegel, J G 2009, Modern Cost Management and Analysis, Barron's Education Series Vanderbeck, E J 2013, Principles of Cost Accounting, Oxford university press Venanci, D 2012, Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation , State of art . New York: Springer.

The High School Education Reform an Example by

The Need for American Public High School Education Reform Stakeholders in the United States education system continue to be concerned with the perceived low quality of public high school education and the inability of schools to produce students who are well-prepared to meet the demands of higher employment standards and a more competitive, continually changing, global labor market. Hanson observes how the United States trails behind Japan and Germany in terms of educating the average student, the person who will be the backbone of the future workforce (27). Indeed, tremendous changes in the global economy, and the changing nature of skill, work, and jobs, wrought largely by the impact of technology and by high performance work organizations, (Lewis 13) have called attention to the deficiences and weaknesses of the United States public high school education system in supplying the countrys increasing need for a more competitive workforce that is crucial in maintaining or even furthering the United States economic advantage and global compet itive edge. (Hanson 26) Need essay sample on "The Need for American Public High School Education Reform" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed In response, the United States government has sought to institute changes in the education sector through policy reforms such as the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 which emphasized standards-based K-12 education and mandated the annual assessment of childrens progress in learning. (Gaddy, Dean, & Kendall 1) Accordingly, States were encouraged to develop their own benchmarks and the means to measure school achievement of grade-level expectations. Likewise, the No Child Left Behind Act also encouraged efforts to implement technology integration in curriculums and in the classrooms in the aim of developing higher order thinking skills among students. (Gaddy, Dean, & Kendall 6) Despite such efforts at improving student learning outcomes, a lot of work clearly needs to be done to transform both the primary and secondary education systems. Weller argues, for instance, that the rapidly changing face of the global economy and the rapid development of technology necessitates schools that emphasize critical and high quality thinking skills, the use of and instruction in the latest technology, the use of teams and cooperative learning strategies to solve problems and make decisions, and the ability to adapt and work in fluid, changing environments. (251) In high school education, this entails aligning curriculums and learning expectations with the changing demands of the labor market in order to provide students with meaningful knowledge and skills appropriate for actual employment. Consequently, the most important change that the government must institute in public high school education is curriculum restructuring particularly in career and technical education courses to adequately prepare students for employment after graduation. Lynch observes that while the government has initiated a partial reform in vocational course teaching and approach in public high school education, there remains a need to redefine the concept of career and technical education in American high schools to address competing expectations from the public and private sectors. (4) In particular, the reform of career and technical education must satisfy the students need for relevant, contemporary career information, knowledge, and skills. (7) To this end, Lynch suggests the implementation of a career and technical education program that enables students to engage in career planning, supports intellectual as well as technical training and preparation, and emphasizes contextual and work-based instruction and learning strategies. (8-10) Clearly, there is a need for educational reforms that would improve the capability of American high schools in producing graduates that would be an asset to the countrys workforce and economy. In this aspect, changes in the quality of the career and technical education courses being offered in public high schools is crucial in education reform. Such changes have address societal expectations in increasing workforce competencies while at the same time responsive to the learning and training needs and expectations of students. Work Cited: Gaddy, Barbara D., Dean, Ceri B., and Kendall, John S. Keeping the Focus on Learning. Aurora, CO: McREL, 2002. Hanson, Lee. K-12 Education for Empowerment: Beyond the Mental/Manual Divide to a U.S. Technician Class? Empowerment in Organizations 3.4(1995): 26-35. Lewis, T. Toward the 21st Century: Retrospect, Prospect for American Vocationalism (Information Series No. 373). Columbus: The Ohio State University, ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1998. Lynch, Richard L. High School Career and Technical Education for the First Decade of the 21st Century. The Journal of Vocational Education Research 25.2 (2000) Weller, L. David. Unlocking the Culture for Quality Schools: Reengineering. International Journal of Educational Management 12.6(1998):250-259.