Aristotle Versus Plato

THE CONCEPT OF IMITATION IN PLATO AND ARISTOTLE Abstract Plato and Aristotle argue that artist (Demiurge) and poet imitate nature, thus, a work of art is a reflection of nature. However, they have different views on the functions of imitation in art and literature. Plato believes in the existence of the ideal world, where exists a real form of every object found in nature. A work of art –which reflects nature is twice far from the reality it represents. Aristotle, on the other hand, does not deal with the ideal world, instead he analyses nature. He argues that a work of art does not imitate nature as it is, but as it should be.In this sense, an artist does not violate the truth but reflects the reality. Key Words: Imitation, art, literature, mimesis, etymology, ethic. Introduction Plato and Aristotle attribute different meanings to the term ‘mimesis’; Plato considers ‘mimesis’ in ethical and political context, Aristotle uses ‘mimesis’ as an aesthetic phenomenon. They both agree that poetry is mimetic but they have different idea about poetry and ‘mimesis’. The present paper aims first to define ‘mimesis’ and explain the historical and linguistic background of the term, then to analyze the concept of ‘mimesis’ in Plato and Aristotle.In literature the word ‘mimesis’ has two diverse applications; it is used â€Å"to define the nature of literature and other arts and to indicate the relation of one literary work, which serves as a model. † Plato and Aristotle take ‘mimesis’ to define the nature of art, yet they ascribe different meanings and value to it. Plato and Aristotle consider the historical and etymological background of the term, therefore, it is necessary to know about the linguistic and historical background of the term ‘mimesis’ to understand what kinds of meaning and value they attribute to the concept.Linguistically, the ro ot word is ‘mimos’; mimesthia, mimesis, mimetes, mimetikos, and mimema are derived from ‘mimos’. Mimesthia denotes imitation, representation or portrayal; mimos and mimetes designate the person who imitates or represents, whereby ‘mimos’ originally refers to the recitation or dramatic performance in the context of dramatic action. The mime, which is a kind of banquets given by wealthy man, is most probably derived from mimos The noun ‘mimesis’ as well as corresponding verb mimeisthai refer to the re-enactment and dance through itual and myth. In Athenian drama the re-enactment is equivalent to acting out the role of a mythical figure and ‘mimesis’ in such a context connotes the imitation of the earlier re-enactment of the myth and rituals. Historically, the word ‘mimesis’ as re-enactment first appears in such rituals, and the historical origin of the term, as located in Dionysian cult drama, coincides this meaning in that ‘mimesis’ in both cases refers to imitation, representation and expression.It is argued that myth, and divine symbols of the rituals are transformed to artistic-dramatic representation through which it became possible to represent the divinity and gods in drama. Tragedy, for instance is the transformation of the myth and rituals. In a different context ‘mimesis’ may refer to identification. People identify themselves by means of their mimetic ability when they see themselves in the other and perceive a state of mutual equality. In this sense, ‘mimesis’ is distinct from mimicry, which implies only a physical, and no mental relation.That is, a person regards the ‘Other’ as equal and assumes the ‘Other’ to be doing the same in reverse. Associated with the physical aspect of ‘mimesis’ is its performative aspect, as an actualization, a presentation of what has been mimetically indicated. Thus, the term ‘mimesis’ is combined with an action-oriented speaking. The term ‘mimesis’ may also refer the simile, similarity and representation; it may refer to the symbolization of the world when we take it as a transformation of myth. Mimesis’ has also been cited since classical times in the exploration of relationships between art and reality. The meanings and applications of the term changes according to the context it is used. Therefore, Plato and Aristotle ascribes different meanings and value to ‘mimesis’ with respect to the contexts they use it. The Concept of Imitation in Plato takes the term ‘mimesis’ with several meanings and connotations in the dialogues and alters the meaning of the term according to the context in which he uses it.He uses ‘mimesis’ in the context of the education of the youth; he discusses the function of ‘mimesis’ as likening oneself to another in speech and bodily behav iour and as addressing the lower part of man’s soul; he also refers to the epistemology and metaphysics of the concept. He takes the word ‘mimesis’ with pedagogic attributes and uses it in educational and ethical context when he says ‘guardians of an ideal state should be educated to imitate only what is appropriate’.In the third book of the Republic, for instance, Plato provides further definitions of ‘mimesis’, centering on the relation between ‘mimesis’ and poetry, ‘mimesis’ and education and also poetry and education. ‘Since young people learn essentially through imitation, it is significant to select the models’. ‘Mimesis suggests unfavourable effect on the part of the young people’ and ‘poetry is one important source of the youth’s experience with examples and models’; therefore, if the world of models and examples ought to be controlled in the interest of educ ation, poetry must be likewise subject to control.Plato argues the case in the Republic as follow: The youth cannot distinguish what is allegorical from what is not, and the belief they acquire at the age are hard to expunge and usually remain unchanged. That is important that the first stories they hear should be well told and dispose them to virtue. The contents, forms, and representational modes of poetry play an important ethical role in the education of guardians and should, because of the effects they exercise through mimetic process, be based on ethical principles.Young people should only imitate brave, sober, pious and noble men, which will increase their strength and will not infect them with weakness. In this sense, it is argued in the Republic that tragedy and comedy, as mimetic poetry, represent injustice among the gods in the assertion that gods are responsible for unhappiness among people. In the Platonic conception, gods cannot be evil; heroes cannot be weak. The poet ’s representation violates the truth and by representing the deficiencies of gods and heroes, has negative effect on the community and the education of youth.Mimetic poetry not only misrepresents gods and heroes and leads young people to immoral behaviours but also appeals to and strengthens the lower, desiring part of the soul. According to Plato, poetry encourages short-term indulgence in our emotions when reason would forbid their gratification because it is useless or harmful for the citizen who considers life as a whole. ‘Reason is a capacity that enables moral quality and authorities.Poetry is intuitive and stirs up a part of a citizen that ought to be kept quiet and fosters the lower part of the soul against the rule of higher part, reason’ Poetry becomes a dangerous rival to morality, which ‘is able to corrupt even good man and is a very dangerous thing encouraging all the lower desires and making them hard to cope with suffering in the theatre, and taking pleasure in laughing at comedies tends to affect our attitudes in real life and make us cynical and unserious.Sex, anger, and all desires, pleasure and pains are fostered by poetic imitation, thus, Homer and tragic poets are not true example for a citizen’. Poetry, then, taking its theme as human emotion and human frailty, threatens to disturb the balance and rational disposition of the individual for the individual, by way of his mimetic abilities, is infected through poetry. Philosophy provides wisdom and truth in the education but poetry has a potential capacity to demoralize mind.For example, Homer’s poetry was drawn on for educational purposes as a collection of knowledge and wisdom and enter in to competition with philosophy, it should therefore, be censored. It is obvious that poetry endangers the ideal citizens who can control and manage their feelings and remain reasonable, thus should be censored. While being an aspect of misrepresentation and somethi ng used in a dangerous way for the education of young people, ‘mimesis' may also come to mean re-enactment in Plato’s dialogue when it refers to the imitation of a man in action in drama.In the Republic, Plato uses the term to refer to the behaviour of the philosopher: â€Å"As he looks upon and contemplates things that are ordered and ever the same, that do no wrong, are not wronged by, each other, being all in rational order. He imitates them and tries to become like them as he can† A similar process occurs in tragedy, which is the artistic and dramatic re-enactment of ritual and myth and transformation of religion. Through tragedy it becomes possible for a man to represent the divinity and gods.For instance, the re-enactment, in Athenian drama, is equivalent to acting out the role of a mythical figure. ‘Mimesis’, in such a context, designates the imitation of earlier re-enactment, the instances of which is taken from myth and rituals. The nature o f ritual is spiritual and pleasing and such primitive rituals serve communal interests, in that each member of community gets rid of self. A tragic play may lead to self alienation; and may lead to identification with the fallen character and with the hero. The process of re-enactment, then, leads one to enter into another’s feelings and suffering.Plato insists that no one of truly noble character could suffer as a tragic hero does, since one whose soul is in a state of harmony is not to be influenced and hurt. Therefore, he objects to the re-enactment of ritual. Mimetic behaviour should be avoided because it may lead to identification with fallen characters and with the hero. Plato in the Republic argues that ‘or have you not observed that imitations, if conditioned, settle down youth’s life, and turn into habits and become second nature in the body, the speech and the thought .Apart from this, people identify themselves by means of their mimetic ability when th ey see themselves in the other and perceive a state of mutual equality. In this sense ‘mimesis’ is distinct from mimicry, which implies only a physical and no mental, relation: a person regards the ‘Other’ as equal and assumes the ‘Other ‘ to be doing the same in reverse. In this respect, a person who imitates is doomed to self-sacrifice and lack of self-identity.Moreover, the process of mimetic identification becomes a source of pleasure in the form of tragedy, which correspondingly frames the myth or re-enacts to substitute the myth in the form of dramatic representation. In the seventh book of the Republic, which is about law, he states ‘we are ourselves authors of tragedy, and that the finest and the best we know how to make’. In fact, our whole polity has been constructed as a dramatization (mimetic) of noble and perfect life; that is what we hold to be truth in the most of real tragedies’. However, in art, ‘mimesi s’ has a different function.Aesthetically, ‘mimesis’ refers to misrepresentation. Reality and truth can only be understood through reason. The artist works with inspiration and imagination: the two faculties don’t give us the true image of reality, and the end of tragedy is a partial loss of moral identity. On the one hand, there is ‘mimesis’ as a re-enactment of Dionysian rituals in the form of tragedy which leads to self-sacrifice and wrong identity and which addresses the lower part of the soul and corrupts the ethical development of the youth. On the other hand, there is ‘mimesis’ as an imitative, imperfect image of reality.In a sense, Plato’s resistance to ‘mimesis’ is not only due to the fact that tragedy (mimetic art) may lead the audiences back to the ritual and irrational mode of primitive society but also due to the fact that mimetic art is an imitation of objects (eidon), which are imitations themsel ves. He objects to ‘mimesis’ for the fact there is no relationship between what is imitated and what is real. ‘Mimesis’ designates the ability to create expression and representation on the part of poet, painter and actor, both in a general and specific sense.For example, the painter produces a relationship between an image he created and the object. If the relationship consists in the production of similarity, then, there arises a question of where the similarity between image and object lies. If the images he creates don’t make a reference to reality and real object, and if the relationship between object and image is on the level of similarity created by the poet through art, then, there appears a lack of link between true and false. But in Plato’s philosophy the relationship between objects and reality does not consist of likeness or similarity.According to Plato, Demiurge creates the idea and by beholding the idea Demiurge produces the ob ject; his ability is exalted in the imitation of the Idea. The poet, on the other hand, creates the images neither by seeing the idea nor from more substantive knowledge of the object since he produces nothing but phenomena by holding up a mirror. In this sense, the artist produces appearance and his work cannot provide us with true insight. Then, when a poet writes about the bed, for instance, it is not a bed manufactured by the craftsman from the idea nor does it have any relation to the real bed; it is only simulation and phenomena.There is also a difference between the knowledge of the poet and the knowledge of the craftsman. Man makes things and makes images. The craftsman makes the things following the original copy or model; the poet follows the image of the model or copy; therefore he gives only a proportion of reality. The proportion of knowledge and opinion, truth and falsity plays a contrasting role in distinguishing imitation as proportion of being to appearance. Plato a rgues that to understand the image, one needs to know the reality and the path to reality is in philosophy and reason, not in poetry and emotion.Although Plato admits that every object in nature is a reflection of the Idea, he doesn’t object to the reflection of object in nature. Plato uses mirror and water as constant metaphors to clarify the relationship between reality and the reflection of eidon. Plato argues that the poet holds up mirror to nature and in his work we see the reflection of nature not reality. He objects to the reflection of objects in the mirror, since things are divided into two parts: visible and intelligible. The first of the visible things is the class of copies, which includes shadows and reflections in the mirror.The second class of visible things is that of which the previous is a likeliness or copy. Plato objects to the reflection of object in the mirror, since mirror (poet) imprisons and limits the image. And he also objects to the imitation, sinc e the poet imitates without knowledge. Therefore, it is not its imitative character but its lack of truth and knowledge, which brings poetry to its low estate. Homer and all the poetic tribe are imitators of images of virtue and other things but they do not rely on truth. Poetry, after all, is a madness that seizes the soul when it contemplates in true knowledge of goods.Plato’s objection to ‘mimesis’ may also interpreted as a reaction to the sophistic thinking that aims to produce images that the listener will regard as real, all of which take place in the world of phenomena. Image, thought, and opinion combine into a world of appearance characterized by nonbeing, a phenomenal nature and similarity. And as long as illusion and reality are not distinguished, science, ignorance, and appearance merge together. Within the concept of ‘mimesis’, then, Plato creates an independent sphere of the aesthetic consisting of appearance, image and illusion and exc ludes it from the domain of philosophy.He insists that there are no phenomena without being, no images without reality, no ‘mimesis’ without a model. Yet reality and idea cannot be represented without knowledge and images are not part of reality. Plato, in the Republic, in Ion, and in Symposium uses the concept of ‘mimesis’ with several meanings. He refers to the education of the young in Book X of the Republic; in Ion he develops a metaphysical discourse on the concept of imitation, and in Book III of the Republic he objects to imitation because ‘mimesis’addresses and strengthens the lower part of the spirit.Plato refers to ethical aspects of ‘mimesis’ whenever he refers to the concept of imitation. That is, ‘mimesis’ is an ethical matter in Plato’s dialogues. He is not interested in the aesthetic aspect of ‘mimesis’; therefore, he does not pay attention to the form and matter of ‘mimesisâ₠¬â„¢and art. Plato deals with the value of ‘mimesis’. Aristotle is the first to deal with ‘mimesis’ as a theory of art. He dwells on the concept of ‘mimesis’ as an aesthetic theory of art and ‘considers imitation in terms of the form in which it is embodied’.By imitation, ‘he means something like representation’ through which ‘mimesis’ becomes the equivalent of artistic and aesthetic enterprise’. Unlike Plato, Aristotle also argues that ‘mimesis’ is not morally destructive since reason controls art. II. The Concept of Imitation in Aristotle Aristotle states that all human actions are mimetic and that men learn through imitation. In particular, ‘mimesis’ is the distinguishing quality of an artist. He argues that ‘public classifies all those who write in meter as poets and completely misses the point that the capacity to produce an imitation is the essential quality of the poet’.The poet is distinguished from the rest of mankind with the ‘essential ability to produce imitation’. A poet may imitate in one of three styles in poetry; he may use pure narrative, in which he speaks in his own person without imitation, as in the dithyrambs, or he may use mimetic narrative and speaks in the person of his characters, as in comedy and tragedy. A poet may use mixed narrative, in which he speaks now in his own person and now in the person of his character, as in epic poetry. Mimetic poetry may also differ according to the object of imitation.In this respect, tragedy differs from comedy in that it makes its characters better rather than worse. ‘Mimesis’, particularly, becomes a central term when Aristotle discusses the nature and function of art. In the Poetics, he defines tragedy as: ‘as an imitation of human action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with every kind of artistic ornament, the various kinds being found in different parts of the play; it represents man in action rather than using narrative, through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotion’.Aristotle is interested in the form of imitation and goes on to consider plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and song as constituting elements of a typical tragedy. The action of plot must be complete in itself with a proper beginning, middle and an end. All parts of action must be equally essential to the whole. Each part of the tragedy is imitation itself. Character in tragedy imitates the action of noble man who has to be a man of some social standing and personal reputation, but he has to be presented us in terms of his weaknesses because it is his weakness that will make his fall believable.Aristotle thinks that all types of art are mimetic but each may differ in the manner, means, and object of imitation. Music imitates in sound and rhythm, painting in color and po etry in action and word. Aristotle’s ‘mimesis’ does not refer to the imitation of Idea and appearances, like that of Plato. He argues that each area of knowledge is imitation in the sense that as a human being we all learn through imitation. However, he carefully makes a distinction between different kinds of knowledge.For instance, he claims that art and philosophy deal with different kind of truth; philosophy deals with concrete and absolute truth, whereas art deals with aesthetic and universal truth. The difference, for instance, between mimetic poetry and history is stated as ‘one writes about what has actually happened, while the other deals with what might happen’. Art, unlike science, doesn’t abstract universal form but imitates the form of individual things and unites the separate parts presenting what is universal and particular.Therefore, the function of poetry is not to portray what has happened but to portray what may have happened in accord with the principle of probability and necessity. Since poetry deals with universal truth, history considers only particular facts; poetry is more philosophical and deserves more serious attention. In addition, aesthetic representation of reality is not technical, factual, philosophical, and historical. Aristotle compares aesthetic process (mimesis) with the process that takes place in nature.While nature moves through internal principles, art moves through organic principles like plot, action, characters, diction, and there is a unity among them. In a sense, art imitates nature and the deficiencies of nature are supplemented in the process of imitation, and art follows the same method, as nature would have employed. Thus, ‘if a house were natural product, it would pass through the same stages that in fact it passes through when it is produced by art, they would move along the same lines the natural process actually takes’. Poets, like nature, are capable of c reating matter and form.The origin of nature is nature itself and the origin of art is the artist and the defining characteristic of the artist is the ability to create, through imitation, as nature does. The artist constructs the plot as an organizing principle, character constitutes the relation and carries on the action and style gives pleasure. For instance, the plot of tragedy and Dionysian rituals display similar organization. The rituals begin with the spring, which is a striking and beautiful time of the year, and they represent the strength of gods and nature upon primitive society.Tragedy, like the image of spring, has a striking and fascinating beginning and, like ritual, a tragic play pervades and shapes the feelings of the audiences. Dionysian ritual is a sacrifice of human being for gods and nature in the hope for a better and peaceful beginning. Similarly, the tragic hero is symbolically sacrificed after which there appears a peace. Then, the poet takes tragedy, as a mimetic representation of myth, from the natural course of an event that takes place in nature and reorganizes it.In this sense, ‘mimesis’ designates the imitation and the manner in which, as in nature, creation takes place. Mimesis, as Aristotle takes it, is an active aesthetic process. He argues that ‘imitation is given us by nature and men are endowed with these gifts, gradually develop them and finally create the art of poetry’. The poet does not imitate reality but brings reality into existence through ‘mimesis’. The poet recreates and reorganizes already known facts and presents them in a fresh and attractive way; therefore, though audiences know the story of Sophocles’ Oedipus, they go and watch it.The reality as presented to us through ‘mimesis’ is superior and universal not only because we are pleased to learn through imitation but also because such reality is better. Homer, for instance, depicts Achilles not only a s a bad character but also depicts his goodness. Mimesis is thus copying and changing. The poet creates something that previously did not exist and for which there are no available models. Even in dealing with historical materials, the poet needs to fashion it in accord with his art rising to a higher level than is found in reality.Art is fictitious but the mimetic and aesthetic nature of art pervades the fictitious deviation and a work of art forces the thing to appear as something more beautiful and better than that nature and human being posses in common, ‘for it is always writer’s duty to make world better’. It can be argued that Aristotle defines and argues about art with respect to ‘mimesis’, and the concept of imitation in Aristotle is an aesthetic matter. Mimesis is not only ‘origin of art but also a distinguishing quality of man, since imitation is natural to mankind from childhood on’; in addition ‘all men find pleasure i n imitation’.He claims that there are ‘things that distress us when we see them in reality, but the most accurate representation of these same things we view with pleasure. In this sense, catharsis is not a moral and psychological matter but a natural end of the aesthetic act as Salkaver discusses below: Fear and pity are dangerous emotions: painful and troubled feelings arise from the imagination of an imminent evil and cause destruction and pain. Pity, in particular, is a kind of pain upon seeing deadly or painful evil happening to one who does not deserve.However, in the representation of such feelings one feels empathy and gets rid of them. So, a work of art gives a man an opportunity to get rid of painful and troubled feelings arising from the imagination of an imminent evil that may cause destruction and pain on the part of the citizen. Aristotle develops a consistent theory of art upon the concept of imitation. He begins saying that all human actions are imitatio n, then, he focuses on poetry and other areas of studies like history and philosophy. Lastly, he dwells on the poet and the concept of imitation as taken and practiced by playwrights.All his arguments upon ‘mimesis’ are, both in general and in specific sense, have aesthetics quality, since he does not take imitation as social, moral or political phenomena but as an activity of the artist. CONCLUSION Plato’s main concern is with the public recitation of dramatic and epic poetry and in Plato there is emulation between philosophy and poetry. The poet influences the character of the young in every way and has corruptive impact upon the education of the young mind. In addition, poets don’t have a true knowledge of the things.Plato suggests that the emotional appeal is a threat to reason, that mimetic art is remote from reality, that the poet is not serious and knows nothing about poetry and cannot give satisfactory information about his art. It is obvious that he resists the concept of imitation in the case of poetic composition. Tragedy, in particular, and poetry, in general are concerned with pleasure rather than instruction and since it is not possible to imitate a wise and quiet person in the play, since such a person does not fit the content of tragedy, ‘mimesis’ is ethically distracting.Therefore, the function of various discussions of mimetic art in the Republic is ethical: wherever he mentions art he discusses it in relation to education and ethics. Although Aristotle agrees with Plato that poetry has the power to stimulate emotions, he does not pay much attention to the ethical and epistemological aspects of ‘mimesis’. Yet he dwells on the pleasure that men take in learning and argues that tragedy discharges the feelings and spectators leave the play in a state of calm, free of passions.He does not restrict art and poetry and the concept of ‘mimesis’. Aristotle’s ‘mimesisâ€℠¢ is defined by mythos and praxis’, which brings the concept close to areas of time and action- in contrast to Platonic ‘mimesis’, which is closer to image, imagination and imitation. He argues that tragedy is the imitation (mimesis) of a man in action. Aristotle’s ‘mimesis’ is active and creative; and he gives a dynamic character to ‘mimesis’ by introducing mythos and praxis, thus, defines art as ‘mimesis’ and the artist as character.Plato worries about the moral effect of poetry, while Aristotle strikes to psychology and returns repeatedly to shuddering terror (phobos) and pity (eleos) that the tragedy is creating in the spectator, who therefore repeats or imitates what has already taken place on stage. Plato argues that there is a duality between art (mimesis and narrative art) and ethics. The more poetic the poems are the less suited are they to the ears of men. Artistically, the better the comedy is, the worst it is, since the more attractive and perfect the comedy is the more disastrous its effects are.For instance, Homer, in the â€Å"Iliad† tells us or narrates the story of cypresses, as he was himself a cypress. He tells the story as far as it makes the audience feel that not Homer is the speaker, but the priest, an old man. This manner of representation (impersonation), according to Plato, leads to the loss-of-self or transformation of identity and becomes a matter of moral destruction. Aristotle takes the same activity of impersonation in a different way.He praises Homer for not telling excessively in his own voice since, after a few words he immediately brings on stage a man or woman or some other characters that represent the action with larger perspective. As a conclusion, ‘mimesis’ has since the antiquity been discussed to refer to the relation between reality and representation. The nature of discussion upon the concept of ‘mimesis’ as a theory of art changes according to the person who discusses the term and the way he deals with the term.Auerbach, for instance, distinguishes the reality and ‘mimesis’ in literature with respect to the narrative techniques and argues that Homeric epic is not mimetic but realistic since; narration of the tales comprehends every detail and leaves no space for interpretation. Plato, on the other hand, agrees that reality cannot be represented; therefore, ‘mimesis’ is misrepresentation of truth. Aristotle becomes the defender of ‘mimesis’ against Plato and develops a theory of art with reference to ‘mimesis' and claims that art (mimetic art) is superior to philosophy and histpry.

Automobile Brake-by-Wire Essay

This paper was prepared for Braking Systems, taught by Professor Kelley Automobiles have changed considerably since Henry Ford first produced economical vehicles rapidly. He was the one to start the Ford Motor Company. Ford vehicles, as many other vehicle companies have allowed people to think in a different way as to how we travel from point A to point B in a resourceful manner. Today’s vehicle owners feel having new features and advanced technology in our vehicles are considered a luxury. When a driver is behind the wheel, they feel in control of where they are going and when they want to stop. But when it comes to having new equipment in our vehicles, we want to know how it all works. We know when we want to stop either for stop signs or preventing an accident with a person or an object. The driver is always thinking of when they may need to brake and how to react when the braking happens. America’s popular cars are continuously evolving. Many engineers who are currently working on producing and designing vehicle models are bringing new features that will appear sooner than later. Since the person at the wheel will not have the authority to brake when they feel necessary, placement of these new digital technologies is a dramatic change for drivers. Drivers will need to understand functions of the new digital technologies that are being installed in their vehicles. They also must be aware of the changes that will affect them. Engineers who are working in the auto industry have liked the new brake-by-wire technology idea and some vehicles such as Ford, GMAC, and BMW have introduced this digital feature in their most recent models. A vehicle defined by wire is referred to when one or more of the primary vehicle systems operate with electronic controls instead of a traditional mechanical linkage. Companies are experimenting with this feature and studying the benefits from changing our current brake system to digital brakes for our future vehicles. As this is being done I really hope these engineers and companies are researching this new technology so that accidents can be prevented and eliminated. I personally am excited about the digital technology that vehicles are equipped with. The pressure of driving will be taken off the driver tremendously. This new system will allow the driver to be more engaged in the entertainment process with the passengers. Looking at the scenery or messing with the radio are luxuries that the driver really doesn’t have. With this new technology the driver will not have to worry about when to brake or how to stop the vehicle. I assume that the tiny digital chip that is installed to operate this system will do its job accurate and correctly. I assume that the driver will only have the responsibility to maneuver and adjust the speed of the vehicle. On the other hand, this theory is very concerning to me, we as drivers feel comfortable when we have control over when and how we stop. Too many questions rise in my mind, when technology is responsible for doing the work. Again, when I press on the brakes I do not like the idea of a chip having all the control of stopping my vehicle. Although we are not fully aware of this new system yet, I feel that in the long run this new system will only create problems. I imagine that there will be more accidents occurring due to the idea of a chip stopping the vehicle will wear out or possibly just simply fail. I also feel that with this new technology, society will have a different outlook on driving. My question is, will more accidents occur due to the possible wear and failure of the chip responsible for stopping. Not only will this system create problems for our future but I’m sure it will only get more expensive. I as well as many other drivers can barely afford to buy a simple vehicle, let alone an expensive high tech vehicle. Any technological advancement that appears in our lives will change our way of living and thinking. This will have a big impact on consumers. The by wire systems will benefit drivers to have the brake by wire installed in our vehicles in the next 10 years. It may not be far off from now when vehicles will have the brake by wire, but in the meantime we will depend on the development and accuracy for the brake by wire to work effectively. Of course we must save money for these high tech vehicles because I’m sure future vehicles involving these elaborate systems will only continue to be more costly. References Fantanelle, Anthony. â€Å"Brake-By-Wire Promises to be the Brake System of the Future. † ArticleBase. http://www. articlesbase. com/automotive-articles/brakebywire-promises-to-be-the-brake-system-of-the-future-113122. html. , March 06, 2007. August 29, 2013.

Colonial Case

CBC Colonial Broadcasting Case Run regression he Regression Model For a detailed description of the variables and the defined statistical terms used in this report, see    [ Annex 1 ]. Based on the sample data provided and the statistical analysis, the following regression equation has been derived: Ratings = 13. 729 – 1. 540*BBS + 1. 281*Winter + 1. 164*Sunday +1. 593*Monday + 1. 854*Fact + 0. 910*(SQRT)Stars + 8. 413*Log (Previous Rating) – 10. 206 *Log (Competition) This equation accounts for 44. 3% of the observed variation in ratings, with a standard error of 1. 97 (see    [ Annex 3 ] for full details). Assumptions for this model can also be found on the same Annex. Methodology Set up the model, choose the data The sample size of 88 observations is greater than 30 and therefore sufficient to be considered representative of the entire population. Ratings was chosen as the most appropriate dependent variable since the success of a network relies on how many peopl e watch their particular program/movie. An initial multiple regression was then run with all the remaining non-transformed variables against ratings.This resulted in an adjusted R2 value of 36%, meaning the regression equation accounts for 36% of the observed variation in ratings. The standard error was 2. 04, and the t-stats showed that every explanatory variable was statistically relevant except ABN, Month and Day (see    [ Annex 7 ]). Intuitively, some data points possibly could have a non-linear relationship and different tests were performed to see what kind of relationships existed. It was concluded that several did exist an

Organizational behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Organizational behavior - Essay Example On the other hand, these programs focus on the dimension of leadership and culture of the organization since these two perspectives are instrumental in the overall achievement of high performance results in an organization. Importantly, change management and leadership are the most important aspects that any program that seeks to achieve high performance should focus on in order to ensure effective results that guided the success of an organization. Based on the foregoing, this expose is an evaluation of how Hewlett-Packard handled the process of change within its organization structure. Hewlett-Packard introduced an ambitious worldwide program that intended to ‘reinvent HP’ into the technology company, it was before its slow growth. Under the leadership of Carly Fiorina as CEO, HP implemented a program dubbed â€Å"Dynamic Leadership’ that was responsible for managing change in the organization. Importantly, the role played by the CEO in leading the process of c hange management was instrumental since the company achieved its objectives and managed a 15:1 ROI after implementing the program (Carter, Ulrich, & Goldsmith, 2005). In order to carry out a successful evaluation, this investigation will rely on secondary research and individual knowledge regarding the areas of leadership, organizational change, and change management. First, there will be a discussion about the idea behind creating the vision for the change process in Hewlett-Packard. In this case, the article will evaluate the process of constructing the future envisioned by the company. Secondly, there will be an evaluation of the motivation for creating change. In line with this, the factors contributing to the creation of readiness for change and overcoming resistance to change will undergo intense scrutiny. The third step involves an investigation of influencing stakeholders and an assessment of the agents for the change process. In order to achieve effective change management, it is important to manage the transition effectively. In effect, this expose will evaluate the process of transition that Hewlett-Packard followed while implementing the change process. Finally, the expose will evaluate the structures that the company implemented in order to sustain the momentum created by the change process. Creating a Vision An organization will engage in an activity that aims at ensuring that the long-term vision of the organization remained achievable. Hence, any process of change includes creating a vision that directs the organization towards achieving its objectives. For HP, its vision aimed at changing into a program that ensured that the company’s management of change was in line with its objectives and overall aims. Describing the Core Ideology In 1999, HP started experiencing lapses in its response rate and slowing down of their progress, which was worrying for a company that was leading in the technology industry. In effect, this contributed to s lowed growth with the company’s top management devising ways that would ensure that the company controlled the slow down and was back to its continued growth while maintaining the leadership position in the technology field (Carter, Ulrich, & Goldsmith, 2005). In order to achieve this objective, the top management designed a program that focused on ensuring that the management of the company remained focused to the key goals of the organization, which effectively meant that there were no overloads on the

An argument paper on global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

An argument paper on global warming - Essay Example ".Skeptics consider global warming a myth, a fantasy or a Western agenda, but they might have no answer for the present Tsunami in Japan and floods in Australia, or the frequent droughts in any other part of the world. The global warming started since Industrial revolution. Industrial growth, automated transportation, mechanized agriculture since industrial revolution has lead to the production of poisonous gases like chloro fluoro carbons, which have formed a thick layer on the upper atmosphere of earth leading to the rise in temperature. Industrial wastes, deforestation, burning of coal and petroleum products, green house gases emission have aggravated the effects. GREEN HOUSE GASES: Greenhouse gases have the ability to absorb and hold the heat of the atmosphere, this phenomenon is called green house effect. Green house Writer 2 gases form a sort of warm air blanket that actually helps in sustaining the present ecosystem. Major Green house gases are Carbon dioxide, (CO2), Methane ( CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2o) and fluorinated gases. Carbon dioxide is produced by burning of fossil fuels, solid waste and wood products whereas methane is emitted during coal, natural gas and oil production, methane emissions are also produced from livestock and other agricultural practices, and nitrous oxide is the product of agricultural and industrial activities whereas fluorinated carbons contribute in depletion of ozone layer. As the earth’s climate is variable it is not exactly possible to determine the cause of damage – Is it the human activities or the rising concentration of green house gases- however. A National Research Council study dated May 2001, stated, â€Å"Greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and sub-surface ocean temperatures to rise. Temperatures are, in fact, rising. The changes observed over the last several decades are likely mostly due to human activities, but we cannot rule out that some significant part of these changes is also a reflection of natural variability.† THE CARBONDIOXIDE EMISSON: Carbon dioxide is the main constituent in the carbon cycle known as photosynthesis- Plants, algae, cynobacteria absorb CO2, sunlight, and water to produce carbohydrate energy for their survival in which oxygen is generated as a waste product. Living beings emit CO2 in their respiratory process. It is also produced as by-product of combustion, by volcanoes, hot springs and natural geysers. The content of CO2 in the atmosphere is 388ppm by volume that varies with the changing season; human activities have definitely increased the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Charles D Keeling was a pioneer in the monitoring of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. He explains, â€Å"Atmospheric mixing ratios for carbon dioxide are now higher than at any time in Writer 3 The last 800,000 years, standing at 380 parts per million (ppm) c ompared to a pre-industrial high of 280ppm. The current rate of increase is around 2ppm per year† (Keeling Curve) INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT: Man has tremendous potential for construction and –Destruction as well. He has tried to become a God by trying to bring changes in the natural processes of nature. These

Behavioral Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Behavioral Finance - Essay Example Evaluate the comments made by this particular director. Make sure your responses are well organized and documented, using references/examples from any of the assigned readings on the topic for this class. Be well organized in your writing. The extract herein depicts a conversation. The conversation seems to be anchored around organizational management. A keen look at the extract avails the exact relationship between the communicator and the context. Here, the communicator seems to be a successful management guru who gets to be interviewed by a journalist. The first statement justifies the success that the communicator has had in management. In the sentence, the communicator is quoted as saying how he has never been in need to work for any organization at the corporate level. At this point, the reader is made to understand that the speaker has been working at the corporate level of organizations courtesy of the success he/she has enjoyed. Further, the speaker seems to have vast knowledge on the different aspects of management. This experience might have been the platform through which he/she has won attraction from many organizations. The basic aspect of the organization that the speaker seems to have met success is mo tivation of employees. In more than one occasion in the extract, the speaker is seen as mentioning the word â€Å"compensation.† The repetition at one point may mean emphasis; basically showing which aspect of the organization is more important to the speaker. The repetition may also stand to mean the point of interest. The speaker sounds to be very interested on the wellbeing of the employees, not only when such employees are with the organization, but even after such employees leave the organization. Apparently, the many times the speaker has been forced to boards of directors, he/she has always noticed that managerial production is very much anchored on how best organizations

Trading Simulation Instruction Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Trading Simulation Instruction - Term Paper Example This comparison enables me to compare a stock’s per-share price. It has become a major problem to control unnecessary volatility of trade market as seen in portfolio. This has triggered the corporate government to rule out and put in place a process of bringing the patterns to a uniform level. Globally, the economic environment has started taking a paradigm shift with the featured securities. Like for instance, the ‘dot com bubble burst’ and the soaring oil prices. It is very challenging when U.S economy is put into an account (Hamid Faruqee, 2008, p. 265). U.S economy has slowed down making the interest rate appear tightened, and the equation made more complex. To determine the right shares of my portfolio, I needed to have a conservative alternative. Microsoft appeared to have outstanding price Earnings Ratio in its book value. From portfolio performance, the shares I traded are not that bad. Their PE ratios reflect the book value they had. The expected daily returns from shares have a weighted portfolio exhibit significant to non-linear dependence. Shares from Facebook and Microsoft are mostly consistent with previous market research. This research shows complete evidence of non-linear dependence in returns expected from the stock market indexes. The indexes are based on the individual stock in the United States. My justification is based on trading Facebook shares. Facebook has been engaged in global trading of market securities. This has built social products in order to create utility for both its users and developers. Facebook shares have appreciated in the recent years. It is true to say the stock is currently upward trading to approximately high rates. Summary and analysis of the Facebook share price shows the price trend is strong. Price trend can be made strong by use of simple moving averages. Key moving averages are seen in the daily chart shown in the portfolio. Facebook trading is not a bad move

Argue a position Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argue a position - Essay Example Even though many people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the engagement of the United States in the war against terrorism, American was right to enter the war because the benefits far much outweighs the costs of being in the war. In this terrorism age, it was prudent for America to enter in the war against terrorism in order to be in the upfront of protecting humanity as the world superpower. After the September 11 terrorist attack on the United State, there was panic all over the world and the only way to dispel the fear that terrorist under the leadership of Osama Bin Laden had planted in the heart of Americans and the entire globe, it was necessary for America to invade the boundaries of Afghanistan in search of the dangerous group (Heymann 19). The United States initiated the war against Afghanistan with the support of allies. America together with its allies in the war never aimed at retaliation following the September 11 terrorist attack on innocent civilians, but the main focus was to destroy a safe and supportive operation ground for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The main focus was to oust the Taliban out of power so as to dismantle and disable the al-Qaeda group that had been a nightmare in the region an d to the United States and the rest of the world. The al-Qaeda treated women and children in a brutal way aiming to subject them to a lifetime misery and abject poverty. Also, the Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime used civilians as shields while perpetuating their atrocities, which highly contravene humanity. Taliban commanders seized humanitarian aid offered to innocent civilians in the war torn region and cared little about human life (Oshunrinade 160). The al-Qaeda committed wanting humanitarian crimes and propagated drug trade to finance their acts of terrorism around the world. Was these not enough reason for a country that believes in human rights and freedom to intervene? The

Saudi Arabia Country Profile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Saudi Arabia Country Profile - Research Paper Example The Saudi Arabian political spectrum is led by an absolute monarchy which is founded upon the principles of Islam. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the king is both the head of the government as well as the head of the state. It is relevant to public relations professionals to note that crucial decisions relating to the country, to a large extent, are formed only after consulting with religious leaders and senior princes of the royal family. Quran, the holy book of Islam, is considered to be the constitution of the country and the KSA is governed by the Islamic law Sharia. It is a key point to note that Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy even though the king is also required to abide by Sharia and the Quran according to the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia accepted by the royal decree in 1992. Quran and the Sunnah (the traditions of Muhammad) are central to KSA’s constitution and both remain subject to interpretation left to the powers of ulema, the country’s religious establishment. Neither political parties nor national elections are permitted in the country and the royal family dominates the government. According to the Democracy Index prepared by The Economist, Saudi Arabian government was rated as the seventh most authoritarian government among the 167 countries chosenii. Currently the Saudi government is led by the monarch King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Saudi Riyal is the currency of KSA. Saudi Arabia’s economy is greatly dependent on its oil sector, and hence the country’s economy is often referred to as an oil-based economy. The Saudi government exercises strict control over its key economic activities. To justify its status as an oil-based economy, Saudi Arabia possesses nearly 18 percent of the world’s discovered petroleum reserves and the country has a dominant role in OPECiii. Currently Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest

Business Letters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Letters - Essay Example We believe at offering the best services to our clients and thus we oftenly conduct an evaluation for the cleaners with the help of the clients they serve. We highly uphold integrity and so we encourage our clients to communicate directly to us in case of any misconduct from the employees. Further, we encourage our clients to communicate to our office before making any kind of payment. We also do not accept cash payments and thus encourage our clients to make cheque deposits to our bank account that is indicated in the brochure. Kindly inform me of availability of a vacant room in your newly constructed mall. Our business has been in operation for over ten years, with branches in many parts of the country. This has enabled us to serve customers from different parts. We have therefore been considering opening a new branch and we are hopeful that opening an office in your building will enable us serve the customers in the area that have not been able to access our services. It is our belief that our banking services will benefit even the newly opened businesses within the mall. We are willing to pay the set amount of rent and adhere to the set standards of payment. We considered security purposes also and arrived at a conclusion that the mall will be an ideal place for our new office. It will also be ideal due to the short distance from the mall to our headquarters thus reporting to the headquarters will be easier. We will also be in a position to advertise our services to a big number of people. Kindly contact us therefore for an availability of a vacant office and inform us of the appropriate time for us to come and check get more information about the terms of payment of rent. Thank you in advance. I would like to express our company’s interest of supplying pure drinking water to your office. Our company has been delivering water to the nearby offices for the past

Individual Global Market Research Case Study Analysis Essay

Individual Global Market Research Case Study Analysis - Essay Example When Brooks shares these ideas with the rest of the management team, he receives a very strong resistance from them apart from Drew Spenser who further challenges the firm to take its operations to markets that have previously been considered unproductive (Aaker & Aaker, 2010). In business, the only pointer to growth and development is expansion. Expansion may be reflected in the increased operations of the company or by the firm devolving its operations to newer markets. By engaging in either of the two, the company has its presence felt in a wider area. This it ensures by having its good and services being sold in newer markets at least every day. However, the expansion must be effectively planned and properly researched. Failure to carry out a market research may result in lack of effective understanding of the market which may further result in severe losses and failures in whichever undertaking that a business may later engage in (Thomas & Michael, 2001). In the case study, the architectural firm faces a number of challenges right from within its management. Drew Sperry, before starting this firm, had at one time served in a secondary firm. While there, he built his own customer network; it is this network that he resorts to serve later when he sets up his own company. Within the first months of business, the company is supported by a contract it wins to construct park facilities in Prince Edwards’s province for the department of tourism. Its later operations are also small scaled and the business is literally surviving. But just as is normally the case with businesses, the firm later gains reputation and increases its operation and clientele base. With time, the firm increases from the three employees that Derry Sperry had at inception to the current over fifty architectures that the firm boasts of. The brief story of the firm points to the essence of growth. From a four staffed firm, the company has grown to having over forty graduate architects. It thus beats logic that the employees of the company may find it hard to accept the plans for expanding the operations of the company. The difficulty in the acceptance of the expansion may be brought about by a number of reasons key among which may be the fear off that which is unknown. Managers may find it hard to invest the company’s capital in a foreign market where it may not perform effectively and give back the returns as expected. In case a company incurs losses, those to be blamed are its management who will be accused of inefficiency and not putting in place the best strategy for effective market response. In the architectural industry, matters are made even more complicated. The construction industry is forever viable; each day there is a building either being put up or being brought down on safety issues. Just as is common knowledge, a building is consumed by its target market through living in it. In the even of a dissatisfaction or poor workmanship, there normal ly results the loss of lives which is a case that no government can allow. This is a feature of the industry that has resulted in very close supervision and monitoring from state departments. This excessive gross supervision and standards set for the company by the government results in slow rate of investment and slow expansion into newer markets. Maybe a business does not meet the specifications set in a foreign country; this will

Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” Essay Example for Free

Zora Neale Hurston’s â€Å"Sweat† Essay Zora Neale Hurston’s story â€Å"Sweat† is filled with symbolism that includes depictions that are easily explained and some which require more thought. Hurston’s most recognizable symbol throughout the short story is the title, â€Å"Sweat.† She depicts Delia as having a strong work ethic and the hardship she experienced with making her relationship work. Another recognizable symbol would be the consistency of the rattlesnake. The rattlesnake is the focal point of the story since it ties the story together. Throughout â€Å"Sweat,† Hurston depicts Delia as a hardworking woman who is the provider for Sykes and herself. â€Å"Hot or col’, rain or shine, jes’ez reg’lar ez de weeks roll roun’ Delia carries ‘em an’ fetches ‘em on Sat’day.† (Hurston 532) Sweat is the result of Delia’s hard work and dedication in her life. Regardless of the situation, Delia showed pride in her work as a washwoman as her work ethic demonstrated. Delia’s laundry work also incorporates a symbol. â€Å"He stepped roughly upon the whitest pile of things, kick them helter-skelter as he crossed the room.† (Hurston 531) She looks after and protects the laundry like it is her own. Since the laundry is the white folks and not hers, it shows Delia as an African American in a difficult time in history. It also refers â€Å"whitest pile of things† as Delia’s innocence and righteousness whereas Syke is malicious on making it dirty. The rattlesnake is considered the most recognized symbol in the story. â€Å"looks just like a snake, an’ you knows how skeered Ah is of snakes.† (Hurston 530) From the beginning of the story to the end of the story the rattlesnake is considered to be evil like Syke. Syke had no remorse for the fear it caused for Delia and threatened her with violence. The snake symbolizes the evil that is associated with Syke’s behavior and demeanor. Throughout the story â€Å"Sweat,† Hurston used examples of symbolism as her main focal point. The climax is when Syke falls victim to his own wrongdoing. The rattlesnake that was intended for Delia, killed Syke instead. She would not be a victim Syke’s violent behavior anymore. It symbolizes a woman’s strengths and experiences due to her gender and color. Work Cited Hurston, Zora Neale. â€Å"Sweat.† Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. XJ. Kennedey and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. Longman, 01 January 2012. Print. Scott, Cynthia C. Zora Neale Hurstons Sweat: Character and Metaphor in the Short Story. Yahoo! Voices. Yahoo Contributor Network, 10 July 2007. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. Print. Burke, Marion C. Zora Neale Hurstons Sweat and the Black Female Voice: The Perspective of the African-American Woman. Student Pulse. Student Pulse, LLC, 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2012. Print.

Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment of the Elderly

Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment of the Elderly CHAPTER V DISCUSSION, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, IMPLICATIONS LIMITATIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS This chapter deals with discussion, summary and conclusion drawn. It also clarifies the limitation of the study, the implications and recommendations given for different areas such as nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and research. Memory loss is unusual forgetfulness. May not able to remember the new incidents, recall more memories of the past or both .Memory loss can be distressing for the person affected as well as for their family. Mild cognitive impairment is a syndrome defined as cognitive decline greater than expected for an individual’s age and education levels but that does not interfere notably with activities of daily life. Age related changes in cognitive function vary considerably across individuals. Some cognitive functions appearing more susceptible than others to the effect of aging. DISCUSSION: The present study was designed to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment for the elder peoples. The investigator adopted descriptive research design. The data collected for the study were analyzed statistically and discussed below based on objectives. i) Demographic Description: Demographic variables included Age , Sex , Education , Monthly income before coming to the old age home , Marital status , Occupation before coming to the old age home , Duration of stay in the old age home , Family history of mental illness , Source of income . Out of 60 elderly majority of the people 26 ( 43.33%) were between the age group of 76 – 80 yrs , regarding the sex 36 ( 60%) people are males ,regarding the educational status 50 ( 83.33 %) people had primary education , regarding the monthly income 46( 76.66%) people are getting RS ,3000-5000, 39 ( 65%) people married , 24 ( 40%) people are in private job , 30 ( 50%) people are staying 1-2 years in the old age home , 55( 91.66% ) people are not having family history of mental illness , 20 ( 33.33%) people are having source of income from the children. 1) The first objective of the study was to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elder people. Among 60 samples 1 (1.66%) of them scored between 61-80 (Mild memory loss), 19 (31.66%) of them scored between 41- 60 (Moderate memory loss), 40 (66.66%) of them scored between 21- 40 (Severe memory loss), and there is no people in very severe memory loss among elderly. This study was supported by Chips .J Pillai., et al (2009), conducted a early assessment of memory impairment in people over 65 years old . Tests used for the early diagnosis with memory loss are Wechsler memory scale. They recorded 74.5 % of memory complaints for old age people. Memory consultations were assessed at clinical settings and improve the access to early medical and behavioral support. Among 60 samples 3(5%) of them scored between 21-25 (Mild cognitive impairment), 56 (93.33%) of them scored between 11- 20 (Moderate cognitive impairment), 1 (1.66%) of them scored between 0-10 (Severe cognitive impairment) among elderly. This study was supported by Cynthia Thomas et al ( 2005 ) , conducted the study on cognitive assessment for elderly ; A brief screening test for mild cognitive impairment. Mini mental status examination administered to all the participants. 94 Participants meeting mild cognitive impairment clinical criteria. The study concluded that 55%people detect mild cognitive impairment. 2) The second objective of the study was association between the memory loss with demographic variables: The chi square value for the association of age and memory loss among elderly is significant 0.001 levels. Hence, a significant association between age and memory loss. There is no significant association between memory loss with sex , education , occupation before coming to the old age home , marital status , income before coming to the old age home , duration of stay in the old age home , family history of mental illness , source of income among elderly. This study was supported by Gary .J Kennedy (2008), assessed the age associated memory impairment. 160 participants were selected with the age group of 70 -80 years. Used 4 computerized 3 non computerized memory tests. The participants score was low on two memory test. The data suggest that 80 % subjects had memory impairment. 3) The third objective was to associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables. There is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables such as age , sex , education , occupation before coming to the old age home , marital status , income before coming to the old age home , duration of stay in the old age home , family history of mental illness , and source of income among elderly. This study was supported by John .M Starr et al (1999) conducted a study on age associated cognitive decline in healthy older people. Results were the study fails to support the hypothesis that cognitive decline can be attributed to age alone in healthy older people. They detected 57% older people had moderate cognitive impairment. 4) The fourth objective was to assess the correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment. Mean value for memory loss is 38.3 and standard deviation value is 5.60, and mean value for cognitive impairment is 15.5 and standard deviation value is 2.89. Correlation of memory loss and cognitive impairment score is 0.407. It is evident that there is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. This study was supported by Noboru Habu., et al (2010). Conducted a cross sectional study on relationship between mild memory impairment and cognitive impairment. Results were the study there is a correlation of coefficient of memory loss and cognitive impairment(r = 0.391). There is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. SUMMARY The present study aimed to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly at ST. JOSEPH old age home in Coimbatore. The objectives were to: 1) Assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. 2) Associate the memory loss with demographic variables among elderly 3) Associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables among elderly. 4) Correlate the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. Review of literature facilitated the investigator to collect the relevant information to support the study. The researcher adopted descriptive research design for conducting this study. The conceptual frame work was based on Modified bio psychosocial model 1999. The researcher to identify the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. 60 elderly were selected by convenient sampling technique .The tool used for data collection consists of Wechsler memory scale, mini mental status examination. The data was collected for a period of 6 weeks in ST. JOSEPH OLD AGE HOME Coimbatore. Based on the objectives, data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: According to statistical analysis, 1(1.66%) elderly had mild memory loss. 19(31.66%) elderly had moderate memory loss. 40(66.66%) elderly had severe memory loss. 3(5%) elderly had mild cognitive impairment. 56(93.33%) elderly had moderate cognitive impairment. 1(1.66%) elderly had severe cognitive impairment. Chi square value for the association of age with memory loss is significant at 0.001 levels. So these findings indicated that as age progress the memory will get decreased. Chi square value for the association of cognitive impairment with demographic variables is not significant. Mean value for memory loss is 38.3 and standard deviation is 5.60. Mean value for cognitive impairment is 15.5 and standard deviation is 2.89. The findings indicated that the Correlation value of memory loss and cognitive impairment is 0.407. It was evident that there is positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment. It can be assumed when memory loss get increased the cognitive impairment also will increase. CONCLUSION: That it is concluded that elderly are suffers from memory loss and cognitive impairment, there is a significant association between age and memory loss. As the age progress the memory will get decreased. And there is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables. There is a positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. IMPLICATIONS: The present study findings have several implications in nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research. Nurse can assess the problems of elderly and prevent further complication. Nursing practice: Increased attention towards family members regarding care of elderly. Nurses can provide memory training for the elderly. Nurses can advice the elderly to maintain the diary for remembering important matters. Nurses can provide counselling for psychological problems of the elderly. Nursing Education: Nursing educator plays an important role for preparing the nurses for caring the elderly and meets the psychological and physical needs of the elderly. Nursing educator Involve the students in memory training program. Nursing educator ways to improve and maintain cognitive health. Nursing Administration: Nursing administrator can plan and organizing community based classes to the community people regarding improving memory and cognitive impairment among elderly. Nursing administrator can encourage students to participate in health education and counselling programme for the family members. Nursing administrator can conduct in-service education, workshop, continuing nursing education to the nursing students and update their knowledge about needs (physical psychological) for the elderly. Nursing Research: This study can be baseline for future studies to build on. Nursing research provides evidence based clinical practice. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited to single setting. This study was limited to the sample size of 60 elderly. This study was limited to only assessment of memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. RECOMMENDATIONS: A study can be conducted to find out the needs of the elderly A study can be conducted in various settings. A study can be conducted to psychological and physical problems of elderly. A study can be conducted to compare the memory loss and cognitive impairment of elderly staying in old age home and staying in home. A study can be conducted in community settings. A study can be conducted memory loss and cognitive impairment can affect the activities of daily living and occupational functions of the elderly. ABSTRACT The present study entitled, study to ASSESS THE MEMORY LOSS AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG ELDERLY AT ST. JOSEPH OLD AGE HOME COIMBATORE. The objectives of the study were to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly, associate the memory loss with demographic variables among elderly, associate the cognitive impairment with demographic variables among elderly, and correlate the memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. This study was conducted in ST.JOSEPH old age home, Coimbatore. The sample size was 60 elderly. The Conceptual frame work adopted for this study was Modified bio psychosocial model (1999). The study was conducted for a period of six weeks. The tools used to assess the memory loss and cognitive impairment is Wechsler memory scale and Mini mental status examination. The results of the study were Among 60 samples, 1.66% elderly had mild memory loss, 31.66% elderly had moderate memory loss , and 66.66% elderly had severe memory loss. In cognitive impairment 5% elderly had mild cognitive impairment, 93.33% elderly had moderate cognitive impairment, and 1.66% elderly had severe cognitive impairment. There is a significant association between age and memory loss .There is no significant association between cognitive impairment with demographic variables. Positive correlation between memory loss and cognitive impairment among elderly. The study concluded that as the age progress the memory will get decreased.

Overview Of Solar Cars Engineering Essay

Overview Of Solar Cars Engineering Essay Renewable energy is vital in the world today as in the near future non-renewable sources of energy will become scarce. The solar powered car is a step in saving these non-renewable sources of energy. The basic principle of the solar car is to use energy that is stored in a battery during and after charging it from a solar panel. The charged batteries are used to drive the motor which serves as an engine and moves the vehicle in a reverse or forward direction. Overview of Solar Cars Advantages: No longer needed to purchase gas or any other type of fuel Solar cars have no regular expense besides maintenance and repairs Doesnt produce any greenhouse gas emissions so it is environmentally friendly The use of solar cars as a combustion engine replacement will significantly reduce greenhouse emissions and improve air quality around the world Solar cars produce no noise Disadvantages: Solar cars dont have the same speed or power as a regular car that runs on gas While sunlight is free, the creation of PV cells to capture that sunlight is expensive. Costs for solar panels are steadily declining (22% cost reduction per doubling of production volume). The weather can directly affect the performance of the car, especially if it is dark outside Possible system layouts Fig.ure 1 : Basic block diagram representation of a solar vehicle Source: Wamborikar, 2010. Solar cars are powered by the suns energy. The main component of a solar powered car is its solar array or panel, which collects the energy from the sun and converts it into usable electrical energy. The solar cells collect a portion of the suns energy and store it into the batteries of the solar car. Before that happens, a peak power tracker (maximum power point tracker) converts the energy collected from the solar array to the proper system voltage, so that the batteries and the motor can use it. Once the energy is stored in the batteries, it is available to be used by the DC motor and motor controller to drive the car. The motor controller adjusts the amount of energy that flows to the motor to correspond to the throttle. The motor uses that energy to drive the wheels. The primary energy source for a solar powered car is the battery. The battery has a number of individual batteries connected inside which are in series or parallel. Each battery is typically 6V or 12V, and multiple batteries are connected in series or parallel to acquire the optimum system voltage. A single battery is made from multiple cells contained within the battery housing. The overall battery voltage is chosen depending on the motors EMF constant and the desired nominal driving speed. In order to get the most efficient operation of the drive system, the battery voltage is chosen so that the motor controller can operate with minimal pulse width modulation at the maximum speed of the car. Nevertheless, the battery voltage, especially for lead-acid batteries, fluctuates considerably around the nominal battery voltage, from full charge to maximum discharge. This is why, the nominal battery voltage is chosen so that the lowest possible battery voltage is able to sustain a reasonable speed. An alternative solution to this problem is to put in a boost or buck converter in the motor controller so that a desirable speed can be obtained for any battery voltage. Fundamentals and Application of Photovoltaics in Solar Vehicles The bond model uses the covalent bonds joining the silicon atoms to describe semiconductor behaviour. In the figure below, it illustrates the bonding and the movement of electrons in a silicon crystal lattice. Figure 2: Representation of covalent bonds in a silicon crystal lattice Source: Wenham, 2007At low temperatures, the bonds are intact and the silicon behaves as an insulator. At high temperatures, some bonds are broken and conduction can occur by two processes: electrons from broken bonds are free to move and electrons from neighbouring bonds can also move into the hole created in the broken bond, allowing the broken bond or hole to propagate as if it had a positive charge. It is also possible to shift the balance of electrons and holes in a semi conductor (silicon crystal lattice by doping it with other atoms. Atoms with one more valence electron than the semiconductor are used to produce n-type material. Meanwhile, atoms with one less valence electron results in p-type material (Wenham, 2007). This can be seen in figure 3. Figure 3: Source: Wenham, 2007 Figure 4: Diagram of a P-N Junction Source: Nave, 2005. A p-n  junction is formed by joining  n-type and  p-type semiconductor materials. Since the  n-type region has a high electron concentration and the  p-type a high hole concentration, electrons diffuse from the  n-type side to the  p-type side. Similarly, holes flow by diffusion from the  p-type side to then-type side. If the electrons and holes werent charged, this diffusion process would continue until the concentration of electrons and holes on the two sides were the same. However, in a  p-n  junction, when the electrons and holes move to the other side of the junction, they leave behind exposed charges on  dopant  atom sites, which are fixed in the crystal lattice and are unable to move. An electric field forms between the positive ion cores in the  n-type material and negative ion cores in the  p-type material. This region is called the depletion region since the electric field pushes the free carriers out, hence the region is depl eted of free carriers. A built in potential (Vbi)  is formed due to the electrified created at the junction. Figure 5 Source: Wenham, 2007When sunlight falls onto the semiconductor material, photons with energy (Eph) lower than the band gap energy (Eg) interact insubstantially with the semiconductor, passing through it as if it were transparent. But, photons with energy greater than the band gap energy (Eph > Eg) interact with electrons in covalent bonds, using up their energy to break bonds and to create electron-hole pairs which can then move about independently. Also, higher energy photons (red light) are absorbed closer to the surface of the semiconductor than lower energy photons (blue light). The open circuit voltage (VOC) of a solar cell is the voltage measured when there is no current passing through the cell. The top side of the solar cell is of negative voltage and the bottom is positive. The open circuit voltage is independent of the size of the solar cell, and is determined by the materials the cell is made of (refer to Appendix 2). The short circuit current (ISC) of a solar cell corresponds to the current measured when the solar cell is short circuited (Fig. 2.11), the voltage equals 0. The electric current  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ows from the bottom (+) of the cell to the top of the cell (-) when the solar cell is under illumination (refer to Appendix 2). In advanced solar cars, they include a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) which maximizes the amount of current going into the battery from the solar array by lowering the panels output voltage which increases the charging amps to the battery. The maximum power output of a solar cell is at the maximum power point (MPP), wher e the product of voltage and current is a maximum (refer to Appendix 2). When solar cells are connected in parallel, the output current is the sum of the currents from the individual cells, and output voltage remains the same to that of a single cell (proven by data, refer to Appendix 1). When solar cells are connected in series, the output voltage is the sum of the voltage from each cell, where the output current stays the same (proven by data, refer to Appendix 1). Therefore, the optimum alignment for solar cells on a solar car would be in series. This is because the MPPT needs more voltage as it extracts the solar cells output voltage in order to maximize the amount of current going into the battery. Source: Blimpy, 2010. How a solar cell works Figure 6: A diagram of a solar cell. Source: Lollini, 2010. The photovoltaic effect used in solar cells allows direct conversion of light energy from the sun into electricity, by the generation and transport inside a semiconductor material, of positive and negative electric charges, through the action of light. This material features two regions, one exhibiting an excess of electrons, the other an electron deficit, resistively referred to as n-type doped and p-type doped. When the two are brought into contact with the silicon, excess electrons from the n-material diffuse into the p-material. The initially n-doped region becomes positively charged and the initially p-doped region is negatively charged. An electric field is thus made between them, tending to force electrons back into the n-region and holes back into the p-region. Then a p-n junction is setup and by placing metallic contacts on the n and p regions, a diode is acquired. When the p-n junction makes contact with light, the photons having energy equal to or hi gher than the width of the forbidden band or band gap yield their energy to the atoms, where each photon causes an electron to move from the valence band to the conduction band, leaving behind a hole, also able to move around the material thus, giving rise to an electron-hole pair. If a load is to be positioned at the cells terminals, electrons from the n-region will migrate back to the holes in the p-region, by way of the outside connection, giving rise to a potential difference- an electric current passes. Importance of Correct System Design and Sizing / Non-shading The main point that should be kept in mind while making a solar vehicle is the mounting of the solar panel. The panel should be mounted in such a way that it receives maximum sun rays so that it gives maximum efficiency. Since the sun is at a different angle to the ground all the, so the solar panels need to be directed according to this positioning.  The ideal situation is when the suns rays are colliding with the panels at a perpendicular angle of 90 °(proven by data, refer to Appendix 4). This  maximizes  the amount of energy hitting the panels and being produced. The two factors that affect the angle as such are controlled by the orientations (north, south, east, and west) and the angle of the panels from the ground. The main feature of any solar is its array of solar cells. An ideal solar cell would be made of expensive gallium arsenide which are nearly 30% efficient. However a cheaper alternative can be used such as ultra pure monocrystalline silicon which can reach efficiencies of over 20%. Selecting the solar cell with higher efficiency means the less surface area needed so the solar vehicle is able to carry less weight and travel at a faster speed. Therefore, itd be recommended to use a small solar panel with a high efficiency rate so then sizing is not important. For maximum power efficiency in a solar powered car, the solar panels should be in full contact with the suns rays. If a single cell is somewhat shaded by even a small object, it can create a power drop as much as 50%. This is because the cells in a panel are connected in a series string, so if one cell is shaded, then the rest dont work properly (proven by data, refer to Appendix 5). To reduce the effects of shading, the strings are usually kept short and paralleled as much as possible. Having lots of parallel strings is good, because whatever currents are generated can be added together, while the voltage of each string remains relatively similar with or without light. Voltages of parallel strings are taken as the average voltage of each string. An example of how a module might be wired is shown below. Source: Sanghster, 2006. Safety Issues Since the solar powered car is run by a DC motor, there are safety issues with direct current. If a person is electrocuted, electric currents can produce severe burns in the body, particularly at the points of contact to the circuit, as the electrical power dissipates across the bodys resistance. Electric shock can only occur when contact is made between two points of a circuit, and when a voltage is applied across a victims body. Since direct current moves in one direction through a conductor, it has the tendency to incite muscular tetanus, even at low voltages. Victims are often unable to let go of a DC conductor because of the continuous motion and stable voltage. Also, DC electricity tends to make the heart stand still. Conclusion It is essential that the design of solar cars are efficient, safe and takes into account the specific requirements and limitations. For example, in order for the solar car to run on solar power it needs a lot of power and an optimum angle needs to be decided to maximise this power output. It is best to use a MPPT to maximize the current going into the battery and to choose an efficient solar array or panel. This being said, the solar car can have a significant impact on the reduction of unhealthy greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent global warming. We need to make use of solar powered cars so that we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Sir Gawain Green Knight Essay

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells the tale of one of King Arthur’s bravest and noblest knights, Sir Gawain. The author spins this magical tale of heroism and adventure over the course of one year. During this year, the hero Sir Gawain undergoes a serious alteration of character. When Bertilak enters King Arthur’s court as the mysterious green knight, he sets Sir Gawain’s destiny in motion. Change, especially spiritual transformation, is a common thread running through the poem. The poet depicts Bertilak as somewhat Godlike, and Bertilak plays a significant role in Sir Gawain’s spiritual transformation, through which he becomes more like Christ. Bertilak first introduces himself by making an astonishing entrance into King Arthur’s court. The poet describes the appearance of the Green Knight thus: â€Å"†¦There hurtles in at the hall-door an unknown rider, / One the greatest on ground in growth of his frame: / †¦Half a giant on earth I hold him to be† (l. 136-140). His forcefulness and size are the aspects of him that the poet first describes; however, the fact that the huge knight is entirely green from head to toe amazes the court more. The author notes that, â€Å"Great wonder grew in hall / At his hue most strange to see, / For man and gear and all / Were green as green could be† (l. 147-150). The color green here may symbolize spiritual growth, although green sometimes suggests evil in literature. The Green Knight was especially fascinating because his physical appearance, as well as his apparent immortality demonstrated that he had supernatural qualities, and therefore was not entirely of this world. Throughout Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the poet port... ... depicted Bertilak, sometimes the Green Knight, with Godlike characteristics and supernatural qualities. At different times in the poem, Bertilak represents the wise, just, godly master of the castle, and is sometimes transformed into the mystical Green Knight. Both characters are essential for Sir Gawain’s transformation, which Bertilak manipulates freely. In a Christ-like sacrifice, Sir Gawain learns of his weaknesses, and experiences the process of spiritual absolution. In this poem, Bertilak, whom the author has granted supernatural characteristics, facilitates Sir Gawain’s spiritual journey for truth and complete transformation. Works Cited â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.† The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. Ed. Alfred David, James Simpson. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.: 2006. 3 vols. 162-213.

Putting A Price On Life Essays -- essays research papers

Putting A Price On Life (The Health Care Crises) Putting A Price On Life Lately, there has been quite a debate over health care and who should pay for it. Some say that the general public should pay for it. Others say it should be shared between employer & employee. And still others say it should be socialized. Of these three, socialized medicine seems to be the most controversial if not the most misunderstood. Let's look at the dictionary definition of socialized medicine. According to Funk & Wagnall; socialized medicine is "A system proposing to supply the public with medical care at nominal cost, by regulating services and fees, by government subsidies to physicians, etc". The common misperception is that health care will become substandard. If that is true; then mans humanity to man is determined by the almighty dollar. Doctors have taken the Hippocratic Oath to treat their patients equally and ethically. Most people fear that they will be forced into long lines or on waiting lists for medical attention. But that cannot be proven. Besides; most people now have to make appointments to see a doctor, and are accepted on a priority basis in hospitals. There is also the fear that doctors in the U.S. will leave to practice medicine in other countries. If so; they will have a difficult time as most of the industrialized nations have systems of socialized medicine including Canada. And let's be honest; how many of us are go... Putting A Price On Life Essays -- essays research papers Putting A Price On Life (The Health Care Crises) Putting A Price On Life Lately, there has been quite a debate over health care and who should pay for it. Some say that the general public should pay for it. Others say it should be shared between employer & employee. And still others say it should be socialized. Of these three, socialized medicine seems to be the most controversial if not the most misunderstood. Let's look at the dictionary definition of socialized medicine. According to Funk & Wagnall; socialized medicine is "A system proposing to supply the public with medical care at nominal cost, by regulating services and fees, by government subsidies to physicians, etc". The common misperception is that health care will become substandard. If that is true; then mans humanity to man is determined by the almighty dollar. Doctors have taken the Hippocratic Oath to treat their patients equally and ethically. Most people fear that they will be forced into long lines or on waiting lists for medical attention. But that cannot be proven. Besides; most people now have to make appointments to see a doctor, and are accepted on a priority basis in hospitals. There is also the fear that doctors in the U.S. will leave to practice medicine in other countries. If so; they will have a difficult time as most of the industrialized nations have systems of socialized medicine including Canada. And let's be honest; how many of us are go...

Development and Aging Essay -- essays research papers

Below, I will describe many factors that are related to development and aging. First, I will talk about how getting older is not a time to sit out, and think life is over. Second, I will define primary and secondary aging. Third, I will talk about how a good healthy diet can help with many diseases in relation to development and old age. Lastly, I will talk about how technology will help many individuals to live a long and health life. Many times when people think of getting older and the aging process they tend to think of turning gray and sitting in a rocking chair watching their life pass them by. This stereotype is slowly being changed thanks to the developments that are being found in research showing that by staying physically and mentally active can help delay some of the onsets of the aging process and help up to live more fulfilled and healthy lives. We all know that aging is inevitable and a natural aspect of life, defined as the gradual loss of the body's ability to respond the environment. Although there are no ways of preventing the aging process from occurring, or finding the so-called "fountain of youth", there are ways to slow down the process and prevent someone from becoming old. As stated in this chapter, despite good health and the absence of disease, primary aging refers to the normal and intrinsic process of biological aging that are generally programmed and that takes place with the passage of time (Lemme 346). As many already know, and as s...

Balancing modern and traditional living

It's difficult to hoose because they â€Å"wanna be a part of one world cause it's all shiny and fast but afraid to let go of the other world that's slower and more familiar. â€Å"(pg. 4). This new world, it's fast paced, technologically advanced and overwhelming and it's exceptionally diverse from the peace and calm of life on the reserve. Garnet wants to assimilate to modern society because â€Å"[he] was embarrassed about being an Indian†¦ † (pg. 19) and at various times he was Hawaiian, Polynesian, Mexican orChinese; basically anything other than the â€Å"scary lookin', dirty, drunk, fghtin' in the streets or passed out in the alley'(pg. 22) Indians that his foster father has shown him a while back. The speed of the world is getting faster and faster with the Whitemans inventions and it's hard to differentiate between worlds, the lure of the unknown is great and this modern time is unfamiliar to the ‘born to the land' Indians. Media is, by far, an important source of a lot of our self-education nowadays and we rely on this ermanent source of information to help us learn more about other cultures, beliefs and topics.But it can also be a problematic device as rumours and stereotypical opinions can be spread with a click of the mouse. Back then, books were the major source of information, and when the only books written are by white-men who only are one viewpoint of many in the world, things can get pretty one-sided and it's hard to know what's actually an accurate source of truthful information. Manda Van Os Balancing modern and traditional living By mandavanos ï » ¿Balancing Modern and Traditional Living Balance is an important factor in every life. It’s essential to maintain the control and calm while also experiencing the highs and lows. In Keeper ‘N Me by Richard Wagamese, the protagonist, Garnet Raven, is struggling to figure out his identity knowing that his skin is brown but not understanding how to be â€Å"Indyunn† as he was brought up â€Å"†¦in all-white homes, going to all-white schools [and] playing with all-white kids†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Technology and material items of this new, fast paced life along with media that promotes Indians negatively and the pressure of making your existence count by working so much you have no time to actually enjoy life and all of its values are some of the reasons that balance is even more essential now than ever. The attraction of modern and ‘shiny’ things, as Keeper says, that pull people away from traditional practices and values are indeed, extremely persuasive.It’s difficult to choose because they â€Å"wanna be a part of one world cause it’s all shiny and fast but afraid to let go of the other world that’s slower and more familiar.†. This new world, it’s fast paced, technologically advanced and overwhelming and it’s exceptionally diverse from the peace and calm of life on the reserve. Garnet wants to assimilate to modern society because â€Å"[he] was embarrassed about being an Indian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and at various times he was Hawaiian, Polynesian, Mexican or Chinese; basically anything other than the â€Å"scary lookin’, dirty, drunk, fightin’ in the streets or passed out in the alley†Indians that his foster father has shown him a while back. The speed of the world is getting faster and faster with the Whitemans inventions and it’s hard to differentiate between worlds, the lure of the unknown is great and this modern time is unfamiliar to the ‘born to the land’ Indians. Media is, by far, an importa nt source of a lot of our self-education nowadays and we rely on this permanent source of information to help us learn more about other cultures, beliefs and topics.But it can also be a problematic device as rumours and stereotypical opinions can be spread with a click of the mouse. Back then, books were the major source of information, and when the only books written are by white-men who only are one viewpoint of many in the world, things can get pretty one-sided and it’s hard to know what’s actually an accurate source of truthful information.

Democratization of Uruguay

Giancarlo Orichio Dr. A. Arraras CPO 3055 20 November 2008 Democratic handing all over and Consolidation Uruguay A study of democratization presumes that the meaning of democratization is self-evident outlined simply as a re advancedal of a semi governmental trunk from non- common riches towards responsible and representative brass practices. (Grugel 3) A image that is valid in Uruguayan government activity nevertheless, has an element of potential risk that forget be the topic of further analysis. sound judgement of the latter go forth enable us to determine why Uruguay is the l whizsome(prenominal) wiz of the four-spot former bureaucratic- dominating governings in southwestern America that includes Chile, Brazil, and Argentina to attain this debatably semi policy- qualification status quo. Guillermo ODonnell come acrossd this eccentric person of governance as an intro that uses peremptory measures to respond to what they view as threats to capitalism, whereas , the only means of opposing this repressive government is by an unconditional commitment to body politic. (ODonnell xiii) The hierarchically lead bureaucratic- tyrannous authorities as a political actor poses a realistic advantage to democratization insofar that the armed services machine-as-institution whitethorn consider that their interests are vanquish served by extrication from the war machine-as-government. However, seizing power to a new governing body without majestic strong constraints is improbable and has occurred predictably in Uruguayan elective transition. Understanding the rampart faced by the newly little(a) participatory government in managing the army machine and eliminating its reserved do principal(prenominal)s brings us to the task at hand.First, I al embarrassed for analyze the political history in Uruguay that lead up to the no doubt controversial business line that it has attained popular consolidation. Secondly, I will analyze the factors tha t either contri howevered or hindered its tour to representative state ultimately, arriving to the conclusion that Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan describe as a risk-pr iodin consolidate democracy. On 25 August 1825, Juan Antonio Lavalleja, at the school principal of a group of patriots called the treinta y tres orientales, issued a decla balancen of independence. After a threesome-year fight, a peace treaty signed on 28 August 1828 guaranteed Uruguays independence.During this period of political turmoil and civil war, the dickens political parties around which Uruguayan history has traditionally revolved, the conscientious objectors and the Blancos, were founded. Even by West Europen standards, Uruguay had a tradition of high political party appellation and a clear sense of a left- decently index. (Linz 152) Uruguays head start president, Gen. Jose Fructuoso Rivera, an ally of Artigas, founded the Colorados. The second president, Brig. Gen. Manuel Oribe, a friend of Lava lleja, founded the Blancos. The 19th century was generally a struggle between the two factions.However, it was non until the election of Jose Batlle y Or doz as president in 1903 that Uruguay matured as a nation. The Batlle government activitys (19037, 191115) marked the period of sterling(prenominal) frugal performance. A distinguished statesman, Batlle initiated the fond welfare system codified in the Uruguayan constitution. From then on, Uruguays amicable programs, funded mainly by bread of beef and woollen in foreign marts, gave Uruguay the revered surname Switzerland of southward America. After World fight II, the Colorados ruled, turf out for an eight-year period from 195866.It was during the administration of prexy Jorge Pacheco Areco (196772) that Uruguay entered a political and fond crisis. As wool declined in world markets, exportation earnings no longer kept pace with the convey for greater social expenditures. Political instability provideed, most dram atically in the emergence of Uruguays National sacque Movement, popularly kn proclaim as the Tupamaros. This well up-organized urban guerrilla movement adopted red and nationalist ideals while on the separate hand, most nationally important actors were un-Ameri tin or at best semi-loyal to the already established republican regime.Their revolutionary activities, couple with the worsening frugal situation, exacerbated Uruguays political uncertainty. Gradually, the military-as institution assumed a greater place in government and by 1973 was in complete control of the political system. By the end of 1973, the Tupamaros had been successfully controlled and suppressed by the military-as-institution. In terms of systematic repression, as Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan say, Uruguay was the most deeply repressive of the four south-central American bureaucratic-authoritarian regimes. (Linz 152) Amnesty internationalistic denounced Uruguay for human rights colzas in 1979, they e stimated the number of political prisoners jailed at a ratio of 1 per 600, Chile and Argentina were respectively 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 1,200. (Linz 152) By 1977 the military announced that they would mull over a new constitution with the intentions to fort democracy. The new constitution would be submitted to a plebiscite in 1980, and if ratified elections with a adept presidential candidate put forward by both the Colorados and the Blancos and approved by the military would be held the following year.The post-authoritarian transition to democracy began in Uruguay when the democratic foe win the plebiscite. By the 1980s the military did non suck in an offensive plan to subvert Uruguay from its uninterrupted crappy stinting performance, the Tupamaros had in fact been defeated by 1973, so a defense project against urban guerrilla was unnecessary. The military had no civil or political support, and with there way out in the plebiscite, whose results they said they would resp ect, tarnished the militarys political leverage significantly.Thus, the democratic opposition in the form of the two study catch all political parties that give up governed de jure since the 19 century presented a non sound alternative despite their disloyal doings before the authoritarian coup detat . As previously touched on, the opportunities presented by a hierarchical military favoring democratic transition is the possibility that the leading policemans of the military-as-institution will come to the conclusion that the cost of non democratic rule is greater than the cost of extrication.With the main interest resting in a enduring state that will in charm allow the military to become a functioning sector of the state apparatus. However, this does not preclude the possibility of non democratic prerogatives in the transfer. The party-military negotiation called the Naval union conformity disqualified Wilson Ferreira of the Blanco party to be nominated as president, pushed for guarantees concerning their own autonomy, and the most negative to democracy was the curtailment of human right trails for military officials.Elections were held in 1985 were Julio Maria Sanguinetti from the Colorado party became the firstborn democratically elected candidate in the 1977 constitution. Because of strong unrestricted discontent with Military Amnesty disposed(p) during the transition, the curtailment was sent to a referendum in 1989, were it approved the amnesty and gained democratic genuineness by 57%. It has to be stated that the major(ip)ity of Uruguayan opposed the amnesty, however the fragile democratic government confronted a troubling decision. They could have breached the Naval Club Pact and tried military officer for heir human right offenses and risked military refusal and therefore a crisis in their own authority. Or they could have hastily grant them amnesty at the cost of displace prestige in the new democracy. It is risk-free to assume that the electorate selectd to let the amnesty right stand not because it was just still more so to avoid a crisis. By 1992 the left-wing Frente Amplio was integrated into Uruguayan politics without each opposite major party leaders deeming them out of the question arriving to the quarrelsome argument that Uruguay became a consolidated democracy.Uruguays scotch development can be dual-lane into two starkly contrasting periods. During the first period, when it earned its valued sobriquet Switzerland of South America, from the late 1800s until the 1950s, Uruguay achieved remarkable growth and a high standard of living. Expanding livestock exports generally beef and wool accounted for its sparing development. The advanced social welfare programs, which redistributed wealth from the livestock sector to the rest of the economy, brocaded the standard of living for the majority of the people and contributed to the development of new industries.When export earnings faltered in the 195 0s, however, the fabric of Uruguays economy had begun to unravel. The country entered a decades-long period of economic stagnation. It was during the administration of President Jorge Pacheco Areco (196772) that Uruguay entered a political and social crisis. As wool and beef demands declined in world markets, export earnings no longer kept pace with the need for greater social expenditures causing bad economic performance that lead to the bureaucratic-authoritarian recall over of government.Although the old democratic regime was not able to lift economic prosperity neither was the military-as-government. Bad economic performance still plagued the nation passim authoritarian rule. By 1980 the military had no agenda in combating the bad economic performance that helped unveil the inadequacies of the non democratic regime. In fact, economic performance has been in a decline since 1950s until today. Although the legitimacy that the democratic system posses in Uruguay is strong, the capacity, or as Stepan and Linz say, the efficacy of the democratic system in resolving the stagnant economy is low.Thus, making Uruguays democracy risk-prone due to an unsolved economic performance. Since the economy has been the number one issue affecting Uruguayans since the end of their well-situated era in the early 19 century. A public opinion cap was asked to fastness class respondents weather a political alternative from the authoritarian regime at the time would speed sort of than slow economic recuperation. By a margin of 2 to 1 they believed it would, more surprisingly was a 7 to 1 response to the question if a new democratic regime would bring more tranquility and public order.In 1985, of the cardinal institutions evaluated in terms of trust, political parties class-conscious highest with a net polish off of 57 and the armed forces with a net score of negative 73. Only 5% viewed the military sympathetically while 78% viewed the military with antipathy. (Linz 153) In my studies concerning democratization never did democracy start with much(prenominal) rejection of the political affair of the military from all class coalitions a same.During the first half on the 19th century the norm was a two party system similar to that of the get together States in that there was low fragmentation and low polarization. (Linz 163) However, wayward to the American vetting demonstrate the Uruguayan had a peculiar electoral system known as the double synchronous select that allows all parties to run bigeminal candidate for the presidency. This did not present a problem until after the 1960s when presidents routinely were elected with less than 25% of the vote because of the amount of candidates running.This creates party fragmentation that can hinder democracy. The fact that the old regime political structure remains untasted means that the opportunity for constitutional metamorphose was missed and this presents a potential democratic upheaval. Beha viorally, by 1968-73 political elites were at best semi-loyal to the democratic system that soon caused the authoritarian regime to take over government, and one thing that can be done from previous failures in democratic attempts is to defraud from their missteps.Stepan and Linz clearly state that for the consolidation of democracy loyalty to the system as well as the perception that all other parties are loyal to the democratic process plays a crucial role. (Linz 156) By 1985 not one of the twelve major factions of the three leading parties perceived the other parties to be acting disloyal. As well as the mere fact that the once un removeable left-wing party, Frente Amplio, held the mayoral position of capital of Uruguay by 1989 and then the presidency by 2004 demonstrates the positive elite choices that contributed to democracy.Since Uruguays difficult and long fought battle for independence in August 25, 1828 Uruguay did not encounter any intermestic stateness problems. As far as chapiter relations to Latin America and in particular Uruguay, the United States continues to pursue hegemony over the domain. The neo-liberal clear ups in place in the region are bound by the restraints of the orbicular market and for a country like Uruguay it is very difficult to compete with such superpowers.These reforms have often left the note classes impoverish and desperate while the upper classes and Washington feed their gluttonous appetites. The civilian government in Uruguay has found it progressively difficult to enforce these foreign economic influences that can potentially result in authoritarian means of accomplishment. As a member of MERCOSUR, Mercado Comun del Sur, Uruguay faced foreign political influences to liberalize its economy during the 1990s, as economic giants, and MERCOSUR partners Brazil and Argentina had done.This can be potentially devastating to democracy except that Uruguay in the 1980s had a crying(a) national product (GNP) per capita inc ome of 2,820, higher than any of its MERCOSUR counterparts. However, we must remember that Uruguay has been experiencing a downwardly economic performance since the mid 1900s and is a potential risk that call for to be addressed to preserve democracy. United States foreign policy in Uruguay and in the rest of Latin America has boost for the liberalization of markets. The side effect of neo-liberal reform is the zero-sum element that produces excessive amounts of losers.Essentially the contrary to what it is intended to produce. These superpower polices implemented creates a couple of(prenominal) winners most of which are elites with government connecter that have been the primary beneficiaries of the sweeping economic transformation. (Kingstone 196) This transcends business when the only means of preserving this market economy is through potential authoritarian means. The contentious claim that Uruguay is a consolidated democracy since 1992 is threefold, first, because of the reluctance to fix the already proven failed double simultaneous vote electoral system.Secondly, because of civil-military relations concerning human rights violation during authoritarian rule, although was legitimized by democratic referendum, but more importantly budgetary cuts that have been implemented as a result of bad economic performance. Finally, and most importantly, Uruguayans accept democracy as the most legalise political game, but also deal its incapacity to fix the troubling economy, producing this efficacy-legitimacy fissure that can be potentially damaging for democracy.These three factors give Uruguay the title of a risk-prone democracy. Works Cited Kingstone, Peter R. , ed. Readings in Latin American Politics. New York Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. Linz, Juan, and Alfred Stepan. Problems of Democratic variety and Consolidation. Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. ODonnell, Guillermo. Modernization and Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism Studies in Sout h American Politics. Berkley Institute of International Studies, University of California, 1973.