Thomas Mun Essay Example for Free

Thomas Mun Essay Thomas Mun is the best known member of a group of seventeenth-century British merchant-economists called the mercantilists. (Magnusson, 12) This group proposed that England run trade surpluses in order to prosper economically. As set forth by Mun ([1664] 1954, p. 125), The ordinary means†¦to increase our wealth and treasure is by Forraign Trade, wherein wee must ever observe this rule; to sell more to strangers yearly than wee consume of theirs in value. †¦[T]hat part of our stock which is not returned to us in wares must necessarily be brought home in treasure. Little is known about the life of Mun. His grandfather worked for the Royal Mint; his father was a textile trader. Mun himself became a merchant early in life, lived in Italy for many years and quickly accumulated a great deal of wealth. His early experience as a merchant was acquired in Italy and in the Levant. (Johnson, 73) He later became involved with the East India Company, a large British joint-stock company that traded, primarily, in the Far East. In 1615 Mun was elected to be a Director of the East India Company, and he remained a Director of the firm for the rest of his life. After Mun achieved wealth and social status he was appointed to several British committees and commissions. Most of these commissions issued reports containing Muns name as part of a long list of committee members; but Mun himself wrote only two economic tracts. In 1628 the highly criticized India Company invoked the protection of the House of Commons, and Mun, as supposes Johnson, was responsible for The Petition and Remonstrance of the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East-Indies. At any rate, he claims that â€Å"much of the argument used in this petition reappeared in Mun famous book, Englands Treasure by Forraign Trade†, which was published posthumously by his son, Sir John Mun, in 1664. (Johnson, 73-74). It was this book rather than his first essay that made Thomas Mun famous as an economic writer; in comparison with it, Mun earlier Discourse of Trade From England unto the East-Indies was a â€Å"crude, shallow, and awkward attempt to exonerate the India Company†. (Johnson, 74) His first work (Mun, 1621) defended the East India Company against critics who claimed that the firm was exporting gold and silver to the Orient (in exchange for spices) and that this loss of precious metals was hurting the British economy. A Discourse of Trade was rather unmercantilist in its orientation. Rather than advocating a trade surplus and the accumulation of gold, Mun advanced any and all arguments he could think up to support the East India Company. He claimed that nations become wealthy for the same reasons that families become wealthy-by frugality and by making more than they spend. Likewise, nations and families become poor by spending too much money. (Mun, ([1621] 1930, p. 1-2). Thus, Mun reasoned, as long as the East Indian Company made money it could not make Britain poorer. Mun also pointed out that food, clothing, and munitions were necessities, so importing these goods as also all goods which sustain health or encourage the arts, improved the welfare of England. (Mun, ([1621] 1930, p. 3) On the other hand, importing luxury goods was harmful to the nation. Mun then went on to argue that the East India Company was importing only items necessary for consumption. Taking yet another line of defense, Mun argued that trade with India provided a market for English exports. In addition, trade with India was good for Britain because it eliminated trade with Turkey; had the same goods been imported from Turkey, Mun pointed out, the cost to Britain would have been much greater. (Mun, ([1621] 1930, p. 9, 12, 43) Finally, Mun argued that not all luxury imports were harmful; some imports were improved by British firms and re-exported, thus leading to a net influx of precious metals into England. The goods imported by the East India Company, Mun claimed, were generally goods needed by British exporters. There were still a few charges levied against the India Company that its defender sought to refute. To the charge that timber was wasted in building India Company ships, Mun ingenuously replied that trees were not mere objects to look at, but raw materials which ought to be used; moreover, shipbuilding gave employment to shipwrights. But, said the critics, the India Company ships were never in English waters and hence not useful for naval strength. The India Company had large stocks of timber and naval stores in its yards, Mun replied, and those things were available in case of emergency. ([1621] 1930, p. 30-32) And so, one by one, every objection to the India trade was answered, sometimes with skill, sometimes with naà ¯vetà ©. With a few explanations for the economic condition of the nation, Mun concludes his first writing. He attributes the loss of specie to overvaluation of money abroad, ([1621] 1930, p. 51) to the abuse of the exchanges (53) whereby exchange operations have â€Å"become rather a Trade for some great monyed men, then a furtherance and accomodation of reall Trade to Merchants as it ought to be.† Because of imperfect minting, heavy coins have been exported or melted into plate, while, meantime, unskillful merchants have overthrown trade. All these factors have combined to produce an excess of imports. While the Discourse made Mun an apologist for the East Indian Company, his second book, published posthumously (1664), established Mun as an important early economic thinker. What is most noteworthy about Englands Treasure by Forraign Trade is its much broader perspective. No longer does Mun try to defend the East India Company; rather he adopts the viewpoint of the nation as a whole. He looks at trade in general, rather than trade by the East India Company, and he makes the case that foreign trade enriches a nation whenever it leads to a trade surplus. Mun also examines the factors that cause a country to run trade surpluses. Finally, Mun advances a set of proposals that British leaders could implement if they wished to improve the national trade position. Englands Treasure was profound analytical work, and in it many concepts, as Johnson notes, were developed with care and often with real insight. Many his contemporaries like Hales, Malynes, or Misselden as well as successors were concerned with it and Adam Smith even unconsciously used Mun’s work as a pattern model for his book, Wealth of Nations. (Johnson, 77) The first seven chapters of Englands Treasure may, for purposes of analysis, be considered as a separate segment because they set forth the principles underlying Muns theory of national opulence. From the doctrine of the balance of trade, Mun concludes that foreign trade is the â€Å"ordinary means† whereby a nation increases its wealth and treasure. The trade balance is merely the difference between what a nation exports and what it imports. When a nation runs a trade surplus, its exports exceed its imports. Sales abroad, over and above what is bought from foreign countries, must be paid for by foreigners. In the seventeenth century these payments were made with precious metals-gold and silver. Trade surpluses thus enabled a nation to accumulate wealth and enrich a country. In contrast, domestic trade could not make England wealthier because the gain in precious metals by one citizen would equal the loss of another citizen. To generate trade surpluses, Mun noted, England must become more self-sufficient and reduce its need for foreign-made goods. Britain must also become more frugal so that more goods were available for export. Mun especially looked down on and discouraged the consumption of luxury goods. With the domestic money supply rising as a result of these trade surpluses, a danger lurks that people might try to purchase more goods. This would cause domestic prices to increase and would eventually lead to the loss of exports, since domestically produced goods would become too expensive to sell abroad. But these consequences, Mun noted, could easily be avoided. To make sure that the inflow of money from abroad actually goes to benefit a nation, all new money must be re-invested. Reinvestment would also create more goods to be exported in the future. Here Mun recognized the importance of capital investment, and he viewed a positive trade balance as a way to accumulate productive capital. Besides explaining the benefits of trade surpluses, Mun also explained what could be done to encourage such surpluses. First, there was price policy. Mun wanted exports sold at the â€Å"best price†; that is, the price that brings in the most revenue and wealth. Where England had a monopoly in world trade, or something close to a monopoly, her goods should be sold at high prices. But when foreign competition was great, British goods should be priced as low as possible. This would result in more sales for Britain and help drive out foreign competitors. When foreign competitors disappeared, Mun recommended that prices be raised, but not to the point that competitors are enticed to come back into the market. On the concept of the balance of trade and on the concept of financial capital, Mun builds his economic theory and justifies his economic policy. By the proper employment of capital (provided there is adequate domestic industry and frugality) a favorable balance can be obtained which in turn will provide more capital. Second, Mun explained that higher quality goods would be in greater demand throughout the world and would also lead to greater exports for Britain. He then explained how the British government could help improve product quality. Mun wanted the government to regulate manufacturers and to establish a council of trade (similar to the functions now performed by the US Department of Commerce) which would advise the government in matters pertaining to the regulation of trade and industrial activity. These regulations on British manufacturers should be quite strict in order to ensure that Britain produced high quality goods. Finally, Mun explained how national tax policy could help generate trade surpluses. He recognized that (in opposition to the national interest) some firms might want to import luxury goods. In such a case, government policies must bring private and national interests into harmony. Mun looked to taxation to achieve this end. Export duties were to be discouraged because they would cost Britain sales in foreign countries. Import duties should be low on goods that are subsequently exported and high on goods that tend to be consumed by British citizens. Excise or sales taxes, Mun argued, did little harm. Although they raised the price of food and clothing, Mun believed that these taxes would lead to higher wages and thus be shifted to employers. When higher prices for necessities lead to higher wages, the standard of living for British workers remains the same and the excise tax is paid by the wealthy. In order to avoid paying this tax the rich had only two options-they could work longer and harder or they could reduce luxury consumption. In either case, Mun argued, the nation would benefit. Mun, however, did not want the state to collect tax revenues and then engage in lavish or wasteful spending. Tax collections had to be saved so that they were available for national emergencies, such as wars. At the same time, the state should not accumulate so much tax revenue that the national supply of capital falls. As a compromise, Mun proposed that each year the state accumulates a surplus of taxes over spending that was equal to the annual trade surplus. The moral of Muns general theory of opulence was therefore that wise nations should maximize their exporting power by fostering the growth of both natural and artificial wealth but particularly the latter; meantime imports should be held to a minimum by curtailing excessive consumption. (Mun, ([1664] 1954, p. 9) Perhaps the greatest shortcoming of Muns monetary theory, as specified by Angell, lies in the failure to connect his price theory with his explanation of the forces which distribute the world stock of specie among nations. (Angell, 15) The later chapters of Muns book fail to maintain the analytical merits of the preceding part. Lapsing into his earlier style, Mun asserts more often than he proves. There are, however, a few theoretical elements which deserve attention. Mun points out that since the standard money of a nation measures not only the value of domestic goods but also that of foreign goods, any alterations in weight, fineness, or value of coins perforce create â€Å"confusion.† He points out that although the king may benefit temporarily from debasement, this gain is cancelled out when the kings revenues are received in debased coin. At just this point, Mun adds one item to the older analysis of debasement: he tries to show that the kingdom loses more in the first stages of debasement than the king gains, and that, for this reason, there is a net national loss. Muns explanation is not wholly successful because he fails to distinguish clearly between debtors and creditors. Although he is correct in pointing out that losses from debasement will fall heavily on landlords and debtors, and although he properly observes that the king would gain only on the new coined money, Mun fails to take into consideration the gains of the debtors, and this omission necessarily qualifies his theory of national loss. Mun and mercantilism came in for sharp criticism from other economists during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Adam Smith in the fourth book of the Wealth of Nations refuted the theory which Mun and other balance-of-trade exponents had developed. Adam Smith sharply criticized the mercantilists, and argued that less government restrictions on businesses would spur domestic production. All these anti-mercantilist views were quickly taken to heart by most economists. Mercantilist thinking, however, experienced a revival of sorts in the twentieth century. John Maynard Keynes praised the mercantilists for recognizing that the demand generated by trade surpluses would increase economic growth. Chapter 23 of The General Theory entitled Notes on Mercantilism, credits the mercantilists with understanding that countries could create jobs and incomes for its own citizens by generating a trade surplus, while the influx of money would increase business investment. (Keynes 1936, 344) Although Mun is not highly regarded by economists today, and although Mun did not make any path-breaking discoveries, he did leave his mark on the history of economics. The idea that government economic policy should be used to generate a trade surplus, and the idea that the way to achieve economic growth is through the growth of exports, constitute his two lasting contributions. References:    Angell, James. W. The Theory of International Prices: History, Criticism and Restatement. Cambridge, Harvard Univ. Press, 1926. Harvard Economic Studies, Vol. 28 Buck, Philip W., The Politics of Mercantilism, New York, Octagon Books, 1964 Johnson, E.A.J., Predecessors of Adam Smith: The Growth of British Economic Thought, New York: Prentice Hall, 1937 Keynes, John Maynard The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1936 Magnusson, Lars. Mercantilism: The Shaping of an Economic Language. New York: Routledge, 1994 Mun, Thomas. A Discourse of Trade from England unto the East-Indies, London, 1621, reprinted (Facsimile Test Society), New York, 1930.    Mun, Thomas. Englands Treasure by Forraign Trade (1664) in Early English Tracts on Commerce, ed. John R. McCulloch, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1954 Smith, Adam. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), New York: Modern Library, 1937

Should Napoleon Bonaparte Be Considered A Hero? :: European Europe History

Should Napoleon Bonaparte Be Considered A Hero? What is a hero? A hero can be defined as a common man who rises to greatness on the basis of sheer talent. Should Napoleon Bonaparte be considered as a hero? Many would argue that Napoleon is a hero as his heroic nature provided France with the institutions and sense of national identity they needed. Others would argue Napoleon is not a hero, as his use of propaganda made the French public believe he was their savior. I believe Napoleon Bonaparte was a hero, as his many accomplishments modified the French society and ultimately the civilized world. Not only did he better France through his domestic policy, he also expanded the territory of France with many battles won through strategic warfare. He as well gave the citizens of France the sense of national identity and pride they needed. Napoleon's domestic policy, "was his greatest legacy to France" (Mitchner, pg 57). His domestic policies had such an immense impact on the way of life in France that they are used today in the civilized world. Through his domestic policy, Napoleon created the Bank of France. By creating the Bank of France Napoleon stabilized the French economy where the previous leaders of France had failed and made the franc the highest currency in all of Europe. Napoleon claimed "Equality must be the first element in education" (Mitchner, pg 59). This was the basis of the educating system Napoleon strived for. The Education reforms which Napoleon introduced in 1802 called lycees allowed this equality to occur and enhanced the way of learning for all of the citizens. Finally the serious rift with the Roman Catholic Church (which was created during the French revolution) was healed when The Concordat was introduced by Napoleon. Mending the rift between the Church and State allowed freedom of religion and rejuvenated the beliefs within the people of France. This contribution to France ended in French domestic tranquility. Napoleon was not only a great leader, he also was a military genius. As a military genius, Napoleon won many battles to expand France and was always welcomed back to France as a hero. His use of strategic warfare throughout many battles allowed him to be seen as a hero not only in France but all of Europe. Although his army was outnumbered by the Russians and Austrians in December 2, 1805, Napoleon' brilliant strategies resulted in a defeat of the opposing armies in the Battle of Austerlitz.

John Locke”S Social Contract Theory Essay

This paper analyzes the social contract theory of John Locke and how his values are consistent with the criminal justice system and private security settings of today. It will further discuss whether or not Locke’s’ values and principles apply to both criminal justice and private security venues. I will also summarize the major differences of the social contract theories; identify the key principles associated with Locke’s social contract theory; identify how these principles are inculcated in the U. S. Bill of Rights; identify how these principles play out in the criminal justice system and security settings of today and finally describe freedom in relationship to personal rights and ethical standards and obligations. To begin with, Locke’s theory is one in which he felt that man should have individual freedom and rights, which for all intense purposes equates to what democracy is in modern times. He believed in the concept of individual freedoms and government, also known as liberalism. He had a great respect for man’s moral judgment and thought that men were all â€Å"pleasant chaps†. Locke’s’ ideals were that of a capitalist mentality, and exercised perfect freedom in relation to fulfilling financial interests. He believed in an orderly society in which we should leave the state of affairs in every man’s hands within that orderly society. And last but certainly not least, he believed in separation of powers and in the system of checks and balances. How is liberalism in the criminal justice system today? We are very fortunate to live in a time where we can exercise our own individual thoughts. As I Iook at the criminal justice system of today, I believe that our right to have freedom of speech goes a long way in helping to make decisions based on who we should follow and what we feel is right and wrong. In order to see the major differences of the social contract theories, we must take a look at the major theories as a whole. Well to begin with, Hobbes believed in the absolute power of kings. He also believed in the â€Å"state of nature† which said that all individuals were naturally equal. He thought that they should do whatever they needed to do to survive. As a result, everyone suffered from continued fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man was solidary; poor; nasty; poor; brutish, and short. He believed that the government was a leviathan that would swallow up the people. His government was headed by the king and that king was better than a group. He warned against the church meddling in the king’s affairs and felt that the king was more powerful than God. He felt that the people should obey the king or choose to die. The other schools of thought came from what are called the enlightenment group which is comprised of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu. They wanted to improve human conditions on earth. They generally valued natural rights as well as reason, religious tolerance, and science. We’ll begin with Locke. Locke agreed with Hobbs about the state of brutality and the natural law, but disagreed with other points. First, he felt that man by nature was a social animal. He believed that the natural right of an individual could never be taken away or even voluntarily given away. In the state of nature, men mostly kept their promises and honored their obligations, and though insecure, they were mostly peaceful, good, and pleasant. According to Locke, the natural rights of individuals limited the power of the king thus he did not have absolute power as Hobbes said, but acted only to enforce and protect the natural rights of the people. Although Locke spoke out for freedom of thought, speech and religion, he believed property to be the most important natural right. Rousseau felt that man was essentially good – â€Å"a noble savage† in the state of nature. This goes back to when there were mainly animals roaming around and the condition of man was uncivilized. Once societal standards came along, he felt that man became unhappy because society was artificial and corrupt. He felt that furthering society would be the cause of more unhappiness. He believed that the advancement of the arts and sciences did not benefit mankind. On the other hand, progress of knowledge made government more powerful and crushed individual liberty. He felt that the material progress had actually undermined the possibility of sincere friendship, replacing it with jealousy, fear and suspicion. He felt that we could secure freedom regardless of the will of the majority. In some respects he agreed with Locke, but he also felt that the community should be in charge. He was an idealistic thinker who derived the â€Å"We the People† in the constitution. He felt that religion divided and weakened the state. Montesquieu believed that all things were made up of rules and laws that never changed. He believed that there were three types of government: monarchy, ruled by a king, a republic, ruled by an elected leader and a despotism, ruled by a dictator. Of these, he believed that a government elected by the people was the best form of government. Along this line, he believed that the success of a democracy (a government in which the people have the power) depended upon maintaining the right balance of power. He further believed that all people were not equal and he approved of slavery. He felt that women were the weaker sex and should obey their husbands but also felt that women had the ability to function in government feeling that they had a calm gentleness that were helpful qualities in the decision making processes in government. Thomas Hobbes (1651), John Locke (1689), and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762) are the most famous social contract thinkers. Each drew quite different conclusions about the nature of political authority. Hobbes advocated absolute monarchy, Locke advocated natural rights, and Rousseau advocated collective sovereignty in the name of the general will. The Lockean concept of the social contract was invoked in the United States Declaration of Independence, which clearly states, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Governed†¦. â€Å",. The key principles associated with Locke’s theory are that in their natural state humans are drawn to doing good over evil; that they naturally know right from wrong, and that naturally humans prefer peace over chaos. His views are justly stated as (1) that all men are created equal; (2) that our rights are given divinely by our creator; (3) that government exists to secure and protect those rights, and (4) government exists by the consent of the governed, namely you and I. These principles play out with relation to the criminal justice system and private security setting of today by attempting to maintain peace and justice over chaos, and by helping society to live in its natural state. It is also within our realm to be fair and just with our response to crimes. One such specification is that we should be swift, balanced and just in our reaction to crimes and criminal behavior. Along these lines, it is essentially important that, for example, we decide on an appropriate punishment for the exercise of a capital punishment such as murder and rape. Locke set forth the view that the state exists to preserve the natural rights of its citizens. When governments fail in that task, citizens have the right and sometimes the duty to withdraw their support and even to rebel. Locke’s social contract theory inculcated in The U. S. Bill of Rights by his argument that governments, by virtue of the ‘social contract,’ are responsible for protecting the natural rights (life, liberty, and ownership of property) of citizens and he was in favor of participation of the people in government affairs, and their input is clearly embedded in the Declaration of Independence of 1776. We know that the Bill of Rights stipulated freedom of speech and prohibited cruel and unusual punishment. And finally freedom in relationship to personal rights and ethical standards and obligations has to do with our long list of personal freedoms and the ability to carry them out. We have the right to speak, to go where and when we want; we can go to work; go to church, we have the right to worship a God of our choosing; and we have the right to pursue happiness as stated in the U. S. Constitution. References Wikipedia: Thomas Hobbs Wikipedia: John Locke Wikipedia: Charles Montesquieu Wikipedia: Jean-Jacques Rousseau www. billofrightsinstitute. org www. lampstandfoundation,org/criminaljusticeprinciples www. rjgeib. com/thoughts/montesqui.

Wicked And Messy Environmentals Problems Environmental Sciences Essay

Human activities over the decennaries have doubtless affected the environment.The coming of industrialisation and technological advancement is one such activity that has been argued as the cause of great harm to the natural environment. Coupled to the increasing demand to supply for the turning populations around the universe, this has led to a myriad of environmental jobs some of which have been described as â€Å" mussy † or â€Å" wicked † . Amidst the huge technological promotions, these wicked jobs still remain unraveled and elusive. They challenge our administration constructions, our accomplishments base and our organisational capacity. It is of import, as a first measure, that wicked jobs be recognized as such. Successfully undertaking wicked jobs requires a wide acknowledgment and apprehension, including from authoritiess and Curates, that there are no speedy holes and simple solutions They are the antonym of â€Å" tame † jobs which have straightforward distinct solutions. Rittel and Webber ( 1973 ) describe wicked environmental jobs as withstanding categorization and devoid of clear cut solutions. They have besides been associated with â€Å" extremist uncertainness † and â€Å" plurality of legitimate positions † ( Funtowicz and Ravetz, 1991 ) .What does this mean for natural resource direction? This suggests that natural resource direction has been plunged into an epoch of turbulency with decreasing effects of the traditional/conventional attack to job resolution. This brings to bear the challenges conservationists and policy shapers have to postulate with in the direction of wicked environmental jobs rather commonplace in modern times. This essay attempts to propose ways by which natural resource direction can be effectual in covering with these wicked jobs. It begins by discoursing four challenges that wicked jobs present: alteration, struggle, complexness and uncertainness. It does that by utilizing the Sierra Nevada Forest and the European cap- and trade plan for C dioxide emanations in the European Union as instance surveies. Finally, proposes that for effectual direction of environmental jobs through policy and pattern, a combination of the precautional, adaptative and participatory attacks must be considered to cut down the uncertainness and complexness associated with wicked environmental jobs. The first challenge associated with wicked jobs is complexness ; a trait Gunderson ( 1999 ) suggests is built-in in natural resource jobs. Complexity implies a trouble in set uping cause and consequence forms due to the presence of mutualities and multiple variables. Complexity is determined by the grade of uncertainness and societal dissension on a peculiar issue ( Patton, 2011 ; Stacy, 1996 ; Zimmerman, 2001 ) .For illustration, the status and tendency exhibited by wildlife populations are as a consequence of the interactions between factors such as anterior population, conditions, marauders, home ground, disease, off-site factors and opportunity events. If there is species decline in a population, which of these factors can be blamed for this result? The reply is non every bit simple as a work outing to a mathematical job since the job may be caused by one of the factors or many moving in concert. The proficient and societal facets of complexness have besides been identified. The former is linked to restrictions in quality of information and a lack in cognition systems which makes the diagnosing of a job really feverish and introduces high degrees of uncertainness. A quotation mark by Lawrence J. Peter alludes that † some jobs are so complex that you have to be extremely intelligent and good informed merely to be undecided about them † . The societal facet on the other manus, emanates from troubles in the coordination of information, activities and stakeholders across several subjects. The differences in positions, values, perceptual experience and beliefs of assorted stakeholders introduces struggle: another challenge in deciding wicked environmental jobs. Adding to complexness is the diverseness and scope of stakeholder values, a formula for conflict.Values have been observed to be a cardinal component in the actions of people ( Rescher, 1969 ) .There is frequently small consensus on what the job is, allow entirely a general solution ( Ritchey, 2005 ; Rittel and Webber, 1973 ) .Whether the issue is about air quality, H2O usage, constructing a dike or protecting forest species, the differing values of stakeholders is non in doubt.Parties normally involved in environmental policy preparation normally span the full length and comprehensiveness of administration, from the politician to the peasant husbandman. Given the trouble of integrating the divergent positions all the parties may lawfully set frontward, struggles have left most environmental problem-solving efforts stranded and engulfed in judicial proceeding. For illustration, a H2O resource contention in Colorado started over a proposed dike ( Bingham, 1986 ) .Some parties declined to take part in the treatment until the inquiry of whether or non a dike was needed was answered. Others thought, a dike was the lone manner to work out the H2O deficit job. However, inquiring the inquiry † how much H2O do we necessitate? † is indispensable to understanding the job which brings into crisp focus problem-framing ; a critical but quite debatable measure in environmental policy preparation. The procedure of problem- bordering involves inquiring inquiries that explore different facets of the job. It ‘s amazing how frequently people fail to inquire what or why a job is happening instead than presuming the solution is apparent ( Watzlawick et al, 1974 ) .This premise of cognizing the solution before researching the job farther has chiefly been associated with experts who may see new jobs every bit precisely as old 1s ( Kaplan and Kaplan, 1982 ) .The presence of conflicting values, hazard and uncertainness does non intend a definite determination can non be taken.It merely stresses the director ‘s demand to believe beyond the traditional attack to job framing and job resolution. neglecting to see that most wicked jobs alone and associated with alteration, another challenge of wicked jobs. As discussed earlier, the assorted mutualities and multiple variables in wicked environmental job makes alteration inevitable phenomenon. Horst Rittel in his paper â€Å" Dilemmas in General Theory of Planning † explains that when covering with wicked jobs one must acknowledge that every wicked job is a symptom of another problem.Considering the fact that ecosystems, societal, econonmic, cognition, engineerings and public attitudes are so dynamic it is sensible for direction schemes and patterns to be dynamic as well.Policies must be continually be adapted to alter every bit good as constructed for local application.Wildavsky et Al, ( 1995 ) suggest that the lone manner to guarantee consistent advancement in dynamic and unsure state of affairss is to take incremental stairss that are bold plenty to go forth room for possible mistakes that enhance acquisition. Uncertainty is another challenge associated with wicked jobs due to the changeless alteration and reappraisal of scientific discipline and development. Therefore, it is rather rare for scientists to hold nem con on something as complex on an environmental or ecosystem level.In a complex unfastened system like the environment, cognition has bounds and certainty is far-fetched. What is the narrative today with the attack to work outing wicked environmental jobs? Is it working? It can be argued that uncertainness truly has played a function in the many statements that have characterized environmental direction treatments and a subscriber to the overplus of entreaties and judicial proceeding. The responses form authorities bureaus have been to bring forth more complex policy paperss warranting their actions and recommending for more research to do up for the cognition spreads that exists with the premise that differences are centrally about scientific discipline. On the contrary, grounds shows that difference in stakeholder places have more to make with conflicting values than with scientific uncertainness. This side of the statement is barely explored ensuing in the formulating of more paperss which have small to make with the underlying jobs. Owing to the fact that environmental direction makes determinations that affect both hereafter and present coevalss. There is a demand for better regulations and moralss to steer environmental directors. Bearing in head the challenges of changing ecological and societal conditions across big and spacial graduated tables, multiple stakeholder groups with really divergent values, high degrees of perceived hazard and scientific uncertainness, many research workers and environmental directors have espoused several theories and patterns which they deem are most appropriate for covering with wicked jobs. In the following subdivisions of this essay, three attacks ; adaptative direction, participatory procedures and the precautional rule will be introduced as the most appropriate for covering with modern-day environmental jobs. Adaptive direction has been argued as a direction scheme that will cover with scientific uncertainness and existent universe illustrations of its pertinence is apparent as reviewed in Stewart et al. ( 2004 ) . It has been associated with changing grades of success across a gamut of instances, each with results that enhance larning. The adaptative attack has been described as a acquisition attack that continually improves policy and pattern in the face of uncertainness and a tool to border philosophical, methodological and practical challenges that come with natural resource direction ( Holling 1978 ; Walters 1986 ; Lee 1993 ; Gunderson et Al. 1995 ) . † Learning by making † is the basic construct of adaptative direction. This attack has been recognized by international interdisciplinary attempts such as the sustainability scientific discipline plan ( Clark and Dixon, 2003 ) , the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment ( 2005 ) and the Equator Initiative of the United Nations Dev elopment Programme ( UNDP, 2005 ) as holding the possible to cover with the complexness of socio – ecological procedures and enhance acquisition. A instance survey of the on-going success of the adaptative direction attack is shown by Canada ‘s Model Forest. To cut down the uncertainness, complexness while advancing the development of advanced thoughts and sustainability the Federal authorities initiated Canada ‘s theoretical account Forest Program in 1992.The Program consists of 11 theoretical account woods across Canada selected to reflect the diverseness of ecosystems and societal systems present in Canada ‘s Forest environment. Each theoretical account Forest is designed to work as a life research lab where novel integrated forest direction techniques are researched, developed, applied and monitored in a transparent forum that engages and spouses with stakeholders from environmental administrations, industry, native groups, educational and research establishments, community – based associations, recreationists and landholders every bit good as all degrees of authorities. The success from this adaptative attack have been many and includes the development of voluntary wetland preservation plans for private lands ; establishemenrt of protocols for describing on socio economic indexs based on Statistics Canada nose count informations ; developing an ecosystem -integrated resource direction program for the Province of Saskatchewan, production of a codification of forestry pattern to assist landholders understand and use the rules of sustainable forest direction ; constitution of the Grand River Reserve to protect three eco-regions and home ground for the endangered Newfoundland pine marten. Research workers have identified two signifiers ; the passive and active types of adaptative direction ( Wilhere, 2000 ) . The passive is strongly science centred and formulates policy based on theoretical accounts and revises the theoretical accounts as monitoring informations becomes available. The active signifier nevertheless conducts direction action as deliberate experiments. Though the passive is rather simple and cheap the active signifier consequences in better apprehension of the responses of natural systems to direction and can assist develop better policy. However, no individual attack has the complete armory for contending wicked jobs and though adaptative direction has had many successes it has its restrictions. Short term undertaking frames, stiff marks and a focal point of success prompt directors to go on with conventional and controlled direction attacks, even when encouraged by authorities rhetoric to use adaptative attacks ( Allen and Curtis, 2005 ) This restriction is due to the fact that wicked jobs do non merely have scientific uncertainness but besides is engulfed in a overplus of stakeholder struggles. Therefore adaptative direction demands to integrate a societal side as good including institutional barriers. For illustration, institutional stableness, organisational civilization hinged on acquisition and equal political and administrative committedness of resources ( Lee,1993 ) .To be effectual, adaptative direction will necessitate to include cognition from multiple beginnings, system theoretical accounts and support cooperation among stakeholders ( McLain and Lee, 1996 ) .This demand has led to adaptive co-management an attack that combines adaptative and collaborative direction in which rights and duties are jointly shared to better battle the challenges that wicked jobs may convey. Thus, coaction brings into crisp focal point the demand for carefully designed public engagement. Public engagement has become an entrenched construct in the preparation, execution and direction of environmental issues owing to its suitableness for turn toing the involvements of multiple stakeholders and cut downing struggle. It is rather common to see National and subnational authoritiess require the input of the populace in managing and development of environmental policy. An illustration being the US National Environmental policy Act and the US Federal Advisory Committee Act. Thus engagement in decision-making is progressively regarded as a democratic right ( Reed, 2008 ) .Increasing calls for public engagement remainders on many factors including turning misgiving of public establishments and functionaries, inareaing legislative demands for public engagement, the complexness and uncertainness of modern-day jobs, different hazard perceptual experiences and a turning acknowledgment that determinations are non wholly scientific but societal values and political relations are bui lt-in in all administrative determinations. Politicss has non been extricated from how the environment is managed, degree of public engagement and at what point in the policy doing procedure it is incorporated. Participatory procedures besides have a challenge of placing groups of stakeholders and conveying these involvements together in an environment conducive for larning ( Gray,1989 ) .It has besides been associated with intensive resource committednesss ( money, clip and human capital ) , drawn-out determination devising, reduced determination quality, increased struggle and diminished likeliness of a successful result ( Sample, 1993 ; Steelman 2001 ) . The Precautionary attack is one possible response to wicked jobs in the face of uncertainness and hazard. Some bookmans assert that it is a powerful tool for protecting human wellness and the environment under unsure conditions ( Cameron and Boucher, 1991 ) whiles other believe it is ill- defined, unscientific and of small value to policymaking ( Manson 2002 ) . Still many states have some signifier of precautional rule in topographic point when confronted with unsure wellness hazards though they may non explicitly refer to it ( Zander, 2010 ) .While the chief importance of this rule is embedded in proverbs like † better safe than sorry † it cardinal thought is that engineerings or patterns that have the possible to jeopardize the environment should be banned or strongly regulated until proved safe. Under the precautional rule, the absence or deficiency of grounds refering the harmful nature of a substance or pattern can non function as a justification for detaining action to modulate them ( Raffensperger and Tickner, 1999 ) . For illustration, the issue of planetary warming normally includes statements that either favour business- as -usual or the precautional rule. Oppositions against the rule base their statements on scientific uncertainness sing how worlds have contributed to climate alteration and the badness of effects that may happen. They by and large advocate for farther research to cut down the uncertainnesss before dearly-won emission-reduction policies are implemented. Advocates of the precautional attack on the other manus argue that the likely inauspicious effects of the accretion of nursery gases in the ambiance are serious plenty to warrant potentially dearly-won ordinance despite staying uncertainnesss. Its part to long term, multigenerational effects of policy determinations has been emphasized nevertheless it can non individual -handedly provide a practical usher to covering with wicked jobs.

Essay English Midterm

Essay English Midterm Essay English Midterm Synthesis In this day and age, technology can be viewed in multiple ways. We are in a century of rapid growth as compared to the previous generations. Some claim that technology has educational benefits. However, others believe that it is just a product and that it creates more problems than it diminishes. Although technology allows children to connect with other people easily, it’s negatives still outweigh it’s positive in the domain of school. Before adapting completely to this new world of technology, schools must consider its negative effects. It creates lack of skill and imagination due to the fast pace of life, which makes the child completely brainwashed by the widespread availability of technology. Although technology is the modern way of learning, a deficiency of valuable life skills are formed due to the ignorance made by technological advancements. As a result of technology, many students have actually grown less cultured and intelligent. According to David Gelenter, à ¢â‚¬Å"our skill-free children are overwhelmed by information even without the Internet† (Source E). The rise of technology has not necessarily improved education or schools in general. Children who spend all their time simply sitting around and playing video games, (which is very unproductive according to Dyson in Source 3), develop a lack of skills and lose the ability to do stuff which children used to do easily in our earlier generations. Just because the kids have the opportunity to use the technology in numerous ways, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial for them always. Gelenter picks at the irony of President Clinton’s argument that technology can give children unlimited access to the world; this would be information overload. Children of our generation are lacking behind due to the decrease in presence of mind because of the technology. Honestly, textbooks develop reading skills and basic focusing abilities. In addition, schools must ignore abundance of t echnology because new electronic devices have been known to distract children immensely causing a lack of imagination and short attention spans. Esther Dyson, in his article, states that the rise of technology in school curriculums is not necessarily a good thing, but is rather a significant, â€Å"Social problem†. He argues that â€Å"environment that often seems to stifle a child’s imagination rather than stimulate it† (Source C). The overfeeding of information usually makes children lose focus and diminish their attention spans. The reckless velocity of life and wide availability of information has stopped children from focusing on things and taken away the little bit of patience that they used to have. On the same hand, Gelenter also claims that, â€Å"Web is a propaganda machine for short attention spans† (Source E). If schools were to adapt these new standard of learning, they would merely contradict their purposes. Education is about overcoming sh ort attention spans and developing discipline on the path of knowledge. In addition due to

10 Interesting Facts About DNA

10 Interesting Facts About DNA DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid codes for your genetic make-up. There are lots of facts about DNA, but here are 10 that are particularly interesting, important, or fun. Key Takeaways: DNA Facts DNA is the acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid.DNA and RNA are the two types of nucleic acids the code for genetic information.DNA is a double-helix molecule built from four nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Even though it codes for all the information that makes up an organism, DNA is built using only four building blocks, the nucleotides adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine.Every human being shares 99% of their DNA with every other human.If you put all the DNA molecules in your body end to end, the DNA would reach from the Earth to the Sun and back over 600 times (100 trillion times six feet divided by 92 million miles).A parent and child share 99.5% of the same DNA.You have 98% of your DNA in common with a chimpanzee.If you could type 60 words per minute, eight hours a day, it would take approximately 50 years to type the human genome.DNA is a fragile molecule. About a thousand times a day, something happens to it to cause errors. This could include errors during transcription, damage from ultraviolet light, or any of a host of other activities. There are many repair mechanisms, but some damage isnt repaired. This means you carry mutations! Some of the mutations cause no harm, a fe w are helpful, while others can cause diseases, such as cancer. A new technology called CRISPR could allow us to edit genomes, which might lead us to the cure of such mutations as cancer,  Alzheimers  and, theoretically, any disease with a genetic component. Scientists at Cambridge University believe humans have DNA in common with the mud worm and that it is the closest invertebrate genetic relative to us. In other words, you have more in common, genetically speaking, with a mud worm than you do with a spider or octopus or cockroach.Humans and cabbage share about 40-50% common DNA.Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1869, although scientists did not understand DNA was the genetic material in cells until 1943. Prior to that time, it was widely believed that proteins stored genetic information.

American History after 1865 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

American History after 1865 - Coursework Example History indicates that Roosevelt used antitrust threats with the aim of keeping various businesses within bounds (Divine et al., 667). 2.  How did Roosevelt and Wilson differ on regulating big business? Wilson did not trust in the opinions given by Roosevelt about business growth (Divine et al., 675). On his side, Roosevelt managed to lay out various reform programs that favored the growth of big businesses. Some of these reform programs included railroad regulations, and greater control over various corporations. Other reform programs included laws regulating child labor and factory inspections (Divine et al., 668). Another significant issue concerning Roosevelt in the business sector is that he always said that there was a need to enhance various regulations and legislation in a way of prohibiting big business from conducting evil. For example, Roosevelt ordered the army to prepare to seize the mines that were not corresponding with various regulations (Divine et al., 667). Wilso n had various views that differed with those of Roosevelt. He viewed that most of the monopolistic big businesses were enacting various operations that subjected the economy of America. He viewed that most of the operations that big businesses were carrying only oppressed the poor. In favor big businesses, Wilson refused to support the bill that would enhance provision of minimum wages for women workers (Divine et al., 667). He also sidetracked the child labor bill that was proposed by Roosevelt stating that the bill was unconstitutional (Divine et al., 667). 3.  What were the major features of  Wilson’s progressive reform program? One of the major features is that Wilson led the Congress in enacting major pieces of legislation into law. One of these pieces of legislation was the Underwood Tariff Act in 1913 (Divine et al., 675). The significance of the Act was that it lowered the tariff rates to about 15%. Moreover, the act also assisted in removing duties from sugar, wo ol and several other consumer goods (Divine et al., 675). The other piece of legislation that Wilson managed to pass was the Federal Reserve Act. The act was of significant importance to the American government in the sense that it provided a sound and flexible currency. The act also assisted in establishing the first efficient banking system in the country (Divine et al., 675). The other piece of legislation was the Clayton Antitrust Act that he managed to pass in 1914 (Divine et al., 676). The Act was of significance importance because it prohibited unfair trade practices. 4.  How did the Progressive movement manifest itself at the level of city government? The progressives managed to help most of the poor citizens uplift themselves. However, they viewed that there were two groups of poor people. There were those who were worthy of an uplift and there were those who posed as a threat to economic health and growth in the country. The progressives managed to advocate for labor in order the poor can managed to uplift their living conditions. Moreover, the progressives managed to advocate for various women rights. They also advocated a vision for better economic and family life. According to the progressives, this would enable most of the women come out from the labor force and meet their family obligations. The progressives also advocated for