Saturday, October 5, 2019
267 MKT. Principles of Marketing. 'Scents of Time.' Essay
267 MKT. Principles of Marketing. 'Scents of Time.' - Essay Example planning to develop and launch a range of 15 perfumes over the next few years, targeting the UK market, where according to DP, the level of knowledge about perfumes is at the same level as the knowledge of wine in the nineteen seventies. Through Scents of Time, DP seeks to help consumers learn more about the perfumes they are buying. DPââ¬â¢s fragrances will be fully described and linked into one of the twelve fragrance families developed by Michael Edwards as the growing industry standard (Case Resource). This paper conducts an analysis of the environment influencing the launch of Scents of Time, as well as an analysis of how the UK market is to be segmented, with recommendations on targeting and positioning strategies that may be utilized. It goes on to recommend a pricing strategy and the unit price for the fragrances in relation to factors influencing the market during 2009; as well as the recommended media to support the launch, including whether or not a celebrity endorser/s will be appropriate. The macro-environment consists of the broad patterns and trends in the country and the rest of the world, external to the business concern. These patterns and trends influence customers and how they would likely respond to a businessââ¬â¢ offerings. They also influence the business options open to the company (Gallagher 2007). PEST analysis is an analysis of the macro-environment affecting the business. PEST stands for political, economic social, and technological factors present in the external environment (NetMBA 2007). Political ââ¬â The primary political factor affecting the business of Scents of Time is government regulation regarding the use of chemicals which are a major component in perfumes. The RIFM and IFRA, the regulatory authorities for the perfume industry implement strict regulations for materials used in perfumes (RIFM 2009; IFRA 2009). DP is well aware of these regulations and has created Scents of Time using safe materials which comply with
Friday, October 4, 2019
Is the U.S. government doing enough to make the american worker Essay
Is the U.S. government doing enough to make the american worker competitive - Essay Example The question is if America is doing enough to make its workers competitive? This literature will explore the capability of the human capital of the United States and to ascertain if governments have provided measures to make its labor capital competitive with the global market. It will also delve if itââ¬â¢s necessary to impose more tariffs to goods that cannot be competitively made in America. US Economy President Barack Obama assumed his political seat vowing economic reform and redistribution of wealth. Officials and constituents rigorously discussed the imperative of budget cuts, refocused on social services and in raising capital for investment to generate employment opportunities and for economic bilateral relations with emerging markets. This strategy was essential as home needed to be cared by administrators too after suffering debilitating economic setbacks due to offshore conflict situations and anti-terror drive (Nixon, 2011). True enough, taxation was levied for those within the affluent class of American society, e.g. luxury tax for jet and boat owners and financial analysts restudied how income taxes could add more for national revenue. Obama thereafter made a pronouncement to unleash American business ingenuity and improve its productivity to maximize the American economic dynamism by extolling 70 trade agreements sealed for 12 US states. ... The trade deal hopes to provide manufacturing job opportunities to 235,000 American citizens for agriculture development, gasification, railway construction and production of hybrid buses. Obama also opened business deals in South Korea that will help auger 70,000 American jobs and of the removal of 95% tariffs between this nations, albeit opposition of AFL-CIO, a labor federation, arguing that free trade and removal of tariffs is unprotective of US workers. This measure to improve US macro-economic relations was a positive response after an economic recession that has affected major industries of the country which cost the loss of $13 trillion in 2007 and loss of 208,000 jobs in the trucking industry (US Department of Labor, 2010). Both small and big firms were hit with similar net job losses (US Department of Labor, 2010). In another development, last February 2011, the US government closed doors for H-1B work visas, a 3-year employer sponsored visa for highly skilled foreign worke r, following Immigration Services announcement that statutory cap of 85,000. While the agency protects the interest of the country from being burdened of increasing populace of immigrants, this was however criticized by some economist as a policy which discouraged entry of foreign investors e.g. Microsoft opted to avail European market because it can allow to hiring of highly skilled employees from foreign countries (Nowrasteh, 2011). Nowrasteh (2011) proposed government to review and reconsider this opportunity since companies like Intel, Sanmina-SCI, Sun Microsystems, eBay, Yahoo and Google with high-skilled foreign workers made America a leader in
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Soviet Participation Essay Example for Free
Soviet Participation Essay When the games were reinstated in 1920 and again in 1948, [9]the Soviets initially declined to take part. The primary goal of ââ¬Å"Socialist sportsâ⬠was to benefit the masses, not the elite athletes. Marxist-Leninist ideology intended all citizens to participate to enhance their own strength as well as the strength of the state. They believed that recreation and the training of the body allowed workers to remain strong and healthy as well as productive. Health and productivity would also lead to building moral character and social responsibility. Since sports were intended for the masses, rather than for an athletic elite, the Soviet rulers saw no use for participation in the Olympic games. Soon after the 1917 revolution ended, Bolshevik leaders established a state-run sports system, which consisted of hundreds of sports clubs as well as two large sports societies run by the secret police and the Army (Rosellini n.pag.). Unfortunately, as quickly as these well- intended clubs were formed, their original purpose began to disintegrate. As early as 1926, the sports clubs were accused of ignoring ââ¬Å"the vast mass of young peopleâ⬠and focusing on the athletic elite, because the sports facilities were straying from their initial goal of supporting the masses and focusing on the athletically gifted (Rosselini n.pag.). Between the World Wars the Soviets remained separate from the games. But away from the rest of the world, they were devising a plan to make their athletes rank among the best in the world. Finally, in 1948, the Soviets and their Satellites decided to challenge the West in the 1952 Olympics. The ruling Soviet party demanded that government officials ââ¬Å"raise the level of skill, so that Soviet sportsmen might win the world supremacy in the major sports in the immediate futureâ⬠(Rosellini n.pag.). To do this children were evaluated and if found suitable, were taken to live in ââ¬Å"sports factories.â⬠There, children were trained many hours a day and were secretly dosed with steroids. Child athletes were usually between the ages of six and eighteen in these training facilities and could have been taken from their parents as early as the age of three. Each athlete had his or her own trainer, doctor, masseuse, physiologist, and sports conceptualizer to plan an individual program. The outside world remained unaware of the Soviet design for sports dominance. Not until members of the Soviet Union entered Olympic competition did steroid use affect athletic achievement. The Soviet factories greatly threatened the ideals of the International Olympic Committee. Competitive fair play and international cooperation were jeopardized by the Sovietââ¬â¢s desire for political superiority. The factories were a symptom of one of the greatest threats to the Olympic ideals: countries seeking political influence and international recognition. The Soviets used these ââ¬Å"factoriesâ⬠as a way to improve the international standing of their country. If they came out on top in sports they believed they would appear to validate the communist political system to the rest of the world. But, Soviet athletes physically looked different. When swimmer Raik Hannemann was seventeen, his trainer approached him and said, Were going to try something secret, keep it to yourself. It will add two percent to your time and bring you to that extra level of excellence (Rosselini n.pag). Hannemann knew the blue tablets had to do something with steroids, but he didnââ¬â¢t know what the side effects were and trusted his trainer. He was even told to keep the tablets a secret from his parents. Once he took the performance-enhancing drugs his speed immediately increased by six seconds (Rosselini n.pag). Athletes competing in a variety of sports were treated with performance-enhancing drugs, but the swimmers especially boasted abnormal musculature. The judges and spectators demanded explanations, of how these athletes grew so grotesquely strong. Although no medical tests for sports enhancing drugs existed yet, in 1976, performance-enhancing drugs were placed on the International Olympic Committeeââ¬â¢s banned substances list in response to the unproven Sovietââ¬â¢s steroid use in the recent Olympic games (Chidlovski n.pag.).[10] A decade later the Olympic committee introduced newly designed doping tests to detect if athletes used the drugs in their training period rather than during competition. Some Olympic events, such as the Hungarian defeat of the Soviet water polo team in 1956 took a large symbolism significance (Sterngass pg. 37).à Drug Use by Other Countriesà Of course, the U.S.S.R. was not the only country to seek international recognition through Olympic success. Many other countries have defied the Olympic code by using performance-enhancing drugs as well. ââ¬Å"Sports became a propaganda tool and athletic success was closely tied to nationalism and patriotismâ⬠(Sterngass pg.37). [11] As medal counts became more important, the use of performance-enhancing drugs also became more prevalent. Steroids first threatened the Olympic ideals by countries seeking political superiority. Suspicion of steroid use began as early as 1968, but the drugs did not become common until the 1972 Olympic games (ââ¬Å"Steroid Abuse in Sports-Steroid Abuse.comâ⬠n.pag.)[12] The East Germanââ¬â¢s joined in the use of performance-enhancing drugs early on as well. ââ¬Å"In 1968 East Germanyââ¬â¢s chief medical officer submitted a report to the government recommending the total and collective administration of steroids to all East German athletesâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Steroid Abuse in Sports- Steroid Abuse.comâ⬠n.pag.). In the twenty years preceding this recommendation, Eastern Germany dominated nearly every international sporting competition. The East German drug use was yet another effort to prove their own superiority over the West, just as the Soviets had done just a few years earlier. Many East-German athletes were told that they were taking vitamins, rather than steroids. So, not only was the East German government practicing the use of unfair drugs, but they were also lying to their own athletes and jeopardizing the long-term health of the individuals. Since then, as more drugs have been developed, drug tests and methods for testing have also expanded (Benagh n.pag.).[13] In recent years, many American athletes have been accused and have tested positively for drug use. This kind of cheating is highly unethical and defies the Olympic code of fair play and good sportsmanship. Performance-enhancing drugs add a more political aspect to the games, causing less focus on the actual competitive athletics. As more and more athletes defy the Olympic ideals, rules must be regulated even more closely. These changes in rules also affect the spirit of the Olympics, which fosters an international feeling of community and competition. As more athletes break the rules, more stringent oversight ensues. This strict regulation takes much of the integrity out of the games, diminishing the Olympic spirit. In the 2008 Beijing games alone, 4,500 athletes were tested; only eight of those tested positive and were banned from competing (ââ¬Å"OLYMPIC GAMESà ¢â¬ n.pag.).[14] But, many more athletes also may have been guilty, perhaps they were not caught because the tests were not rigorous enough. Canadian sprinter, Ben Johnson, was just one athlete who was found guilty after winning an Olympic medal. In 1988, Johnson won the gold medal in the one hundred meter final in the Seoul games, setting a world record and was considered the best one hundred meter runner of his time. However, just three days after winning Olympic gold, Johnsonââ¬â¢s urine sample tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and his medal and records were stripped. Johnson was suspended from competition until 1991, but re-entered the indoor track scene and qualified for the 1992 games, where he placed last. Just one year later, Johnson came close to a fifty-meter record, but again failed a drug test (Whooley n.pag). [15]Marion Jones, a former track star who won five medals in the 2000 Sydney games, was convicted of steroid usage and all of her medals were stripped. Years later, evidence and testimony supported a conviction, sentencing Jones to six months in prison (Mulero n. pag.).[16]
Foreign Policy Challenges for Donald Trump
Foreign Policy Challenges for Donald Trump Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America has been handed down numerous formidable foreign policy challenges ranging from areas in the Middle East throughout East Asia. Trump had even tweeted that ââ¬Å"THE WORK BEGINS!â⬠on January 23, despite any of his top foreign policy positions, at the time, yet to be filled (Trump). According to the White House website, Trump will implement an ââ¬Å"American first foreign policy focused on American interests and American national securityâ⬠(Spicer). The White House strategy will focus on ââ¬Å"peace through strength,â⬠made possible in part by chasing ââ¬Å"the highest level of military readinessâ⬠(Spicer). Potential Challenges: Russia One potential challenge posed to U.S. interest by the emerging foreign policy of the Trump administration is the issue of Russia. The U.S.-Russian relationship is at its lowest point since the Cold War (Fishel). President Trump has stated a closer association with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be an advantage to the United States (Fishel). But the majority of his administration has ââ¬Å"maintained that Russia needs to be confronted for its aggression, including for its annexation of Crimea and military incursions into Eastern Ukraine, hacking during the 2016 presidential election, backing Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, and Russias brutal aerial bombing campaign to assist his effortsâ⬠(Fishel). Unparalleled Russian hacking into the Democratic National Committee also enhances the colossal ââ¬Å"security threat posed to critical components of the U.S. government, infrastructure, defense technology, and many other government operations that rely heavily on cyber technologyâ⬠(Fishel). On the White House Website, it was publicized that it ââ¬Å"will make it a priority to develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities at our U.S. Cyber Command, and recruit the best and brightest Americans to serve in this crucial areaâ⬠(Fishel). Russias military intervention in Syria has efficiently set up a proxy war with the U.S. and the rebel forces it backs. The U.S. has held Russia responsible for its ââ¬Å"subsequent breakdown of cease-fire negotiations and the devastating siege ofà Aleppo, Syriaâ⬠(Fishel). Finally, ââ¬Å"Putins war in Ukraine and illegal annexation ofà Crimea has sparked fears that hes seeking to reclaim Soviet-era borders and eventually could bait theà NATOà alliance into a military conflictâ⬠(Fishel). Trumps latest remarks on Russia have so far confronted the conventional wisdom of either party and has drawn criticism from both sides. Trump hasnââ¬â¢t convicted the Russian hacks into the U.S. election process and has said he would be looking at the possibility of lifting sanctions against Russia tied to its illegal military annexation of Crimea, which the U.S. government has refused to acceptâ⬠(Fishel). He openly questioned the intelligence communitys calculation that Russia hacked the DNC, compared them to Nazis and held them responsible for releasing false information about his ties to Russia (Fishel). Rather than stand against a potential restoration of Soviet expansionism, critics say Trump seems to be accepting it. He has labeled the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), considered the first line of defense against Russian expansionism, as obsolete, while also suggesting he may not honor the organizations most sacred covenant of mutual defenseâ⬠(Fishel). In addition to saying the U.S. would profit from a friendlier association with Putin, Trump has also admired him on Twitter, calling him very smart for deciding not to react when President Obama kicked out Russian intelligence offers in retort to the election hack (Trump). North Korea During this past September, North Korea administered its biggest ever nuclear test, discharging a bomb that has been perceived to be able to ââ¬Å"yield to the equivalent of 10 kilotons of TNTâ⬠(Fishel). Making this the countryââ¬â¢s second nuclear test this year and their fifth since 2006. Now more than ever the United States in extremely alarmed, that North Korea is more near to their goal of ââ¬Å"miniaturizing a nuclear weapon that can be placed on long-range missiles a move that could destabilize the region and the worldâ⬠(Fishel). Differing from Iran, the U.S has been unable to negotiate an agreement regarding nuclear issues (Fishel). Taking into account, that 3 of the five nuclear tests in North Korea have taken place under Kim Jong-unââ¬â¢s rule, it is clear that the dictator is fearless of the overpowering economic sanctions imposed by foreign nations (Fishel). Even though Chinaââ¬â¢s foreign Ministry has reprimanded the North Korean Tests and urged ââ¬Å"international dialogue, recent tensions between the United States and China over the South China Sea could congeal Chinese support for taking a more aggressive approach to the North Korean regimeâ⬠(Fishel). This past January, after North Korea stated that they were close to firing off nuclear weapons that could reach the United States, Donald Trump tweeted that ââ¬Å"it wonââ¬â¢t happen,â⬠which could be interpreted as a possible ââ¬Å"redlineâ⬠for the Trump administration (Fishel). In May of 2017 Trump stated that we could potentially be open to the idea of allowing North Koreaââ¬â¢s neighbors, including United States allies South Korea and Japan, to obtain their own nuclear resources. This is a move that would successfully ââ¬Å"nuclearize the entire region and negate the cost as justification for stationing United States troops in the regionâ⬠(Fishel). Trump at the same time has stated that ââ¬Å"We cannot afford to be the military and the police for the worldâ⬠(Trump). What Trumpââ¬â¢s administration means for US Interests The Trump Administration will test the durability of some of Americaââ¬â¢s longstanding alliances but may create opportunities for new cooperation with others. Trump has expressed that he wanted to improve the United States relationship with Russia, more specifically he wants a closer relationship with Putin (Tucker). Improvement in the U.S.-Russia relationship could alleviate the risk of an escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States. Russia is hopeful for the Trump administration will be friendlier toward them and will ââ¬Å"weaken or even diminish sanctions that were previously imposed on them after the annexation of Crimea in 2014â⬠(Tucker). These sanctions being lifted would allow for President Putin to pronounce himself a winner in the stand-off with the Western powers before the presidential election in 2018 (Tucker). Authorities in Ukraine fear that more cordial relationship between the U.S.-Russia will ââ¬Å"undermine U.S. support for their reform processâ⬠(Tucker). Since the Maidan revolution in 2014, the U.S has been a ââ¬Å"committed ally helping finance the new government guaranteeing its international bonds and supporting the IMF program in Ukraineâ⬠(Tucker). North Koreaà prohibited the U.N. Security Councilââ¬â¢s declaration on its latest ââ¬Å"ballistic missile launch and claimed its tests are in self-defenseâ⬠(News). These tests made by North Korea have been unanimously condemned by the Security Council. They stated that these launches are a ââ¬Å"grave violation of international lawâ⬠(News). China, one of North Koreas only allies, and main lifeline, also signed onto that statement (News). This enhances another level of ambiguity to the region that is still trying to get a read on the new unpredictable U.S. president. These new missiles are more stable and allow for a less advanced warning (News). ââ¬Å"This achievement on part of North Korea is a dangerous advancement toward the pursuit of a nuclear weapon and is a big first test for President Trumpâ⬠(News). ââ¬Å"Obviously, North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very stronglyâ⬠Trump tweeted (Trump). à ââ¬Å"China and the United States have fundamentally different approaches to dealing with North Korea,â⬠said Tong Zhao, a fellow at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing (News). ââ¬Å"China believes we have to gradually encourage North Korea to liberalize its economy to open up to the international communityâ⬠(News). Ninety percent of North Koreaââ¬â¢s trade is with China, leading Western officials indict Beijing of upholding the neighboring dictatorship (News). But China said, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s doing its part by signing on to stringentà U.N. sanctionsâ⬠(News). In March the United States and South Korea held their ââ¬Å"annual large-scale military drills, which was largely seen by North Korea as a direct threat to their securityâ⬠(News). North Korea has stated that this could seriously undermine peace and security in the region (News). These drills could also potentially close the door on any ââ¬Å"potential direct engagement with the United States and push North Korea to test an even larger more powerful missileâ⬠(News). But to reassure us all Trump tweets ââ¬Å"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S with its allies will! U.S.A.â⬠(Trump). Since Donald Trump has taken office, things have been less then dull, especially regarding his foreign policy. Sure his order to suspend visas for citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries was explosive, however, it is not a central issue in U.S. foreign policy (Friedman). Deepening questions have been brought up in regards to Trumpââ¬â¢s foreign policy. And the real question is if he actually has intentions of downgrading NATO, shift relations with Russia, confront China, and take a significant stand against Iran. A foreign policy is not made by hostile phones calls nor threatening tweets. Works Cited Fishel, Justin. 7 Major Foreign Policy Challenges Facing President Donald Trump.ABC News. ABC News Network, 23 Jan. 2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017. . Friedman, George. Trumps Conventional Foreign Policy.à RealClearWorld. Geopolitical Features, 9 Feb. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. . News, CBS. What North Korea Missile Launch Means for U.S.-China Relations.à CBS News. CBS Interactive, 14 Feb. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. . Schneider, Ondrej. The Trump Effect: Global Implications of the Next U.S. President.The Trump Effect: Global Implications of the Next U.S. President | The Institute of International Finance. Institute of International Finance, 8 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. . Spicer, Sean. Remarks by President Trump in Strategy and Policy Forum.à The White House. The United States Government, 03 Feb. 2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017. . Trump, Donald J. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump).à Twitter. Twitter, 09 Apr. 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. . Tucker, Joshua. Hereââ¬â¢s How Trumpââ¬â¢s Election Will Affect U.S.-Russian Relations.The Washington Post. WP Company, 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2017. .
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
A Story About Seeing Nofx :: essays research papers
On November 26th I went to the Stone Pony in New York to see another of my favorite bands, NOFX. NOFX is a punk-ska band. Punk meaning fast paced drumbeats and quick singing and ska meaning a song played with trumpets. The band members are Fat Mike (vocals, bass), El Hefe (guitar, trumpet, vocals), Eric Melvin (guitar, vocals), and Erik Sandin (drums). The one thing I found out there was that El Hefe sings a lot. I thought he only sings in a few songs but when I heard them play, I noticed that he sang about half of the songs. NOFX music has considerable groove for a punk band and is sparked by the two lead guitarists, Eric Melvin and El Hefe. Tight play between the band's four members, and short, fast, punchy songs, with a laid back approach would even have non-punk fans entertained.Their songs talk about racism, politics, social problems, sex, drugs, lesbians, bums, alcohol, animal freedom... and many other strange subjects. In their music you will find punk, of course, but also rock, hardcore, ska, even reggae and jazz. If you ask me they are a just a punk-ska band. Their songs are interesting and different from one another. Each song has it's own characteristics. The lyrics are very interesting, sometimes strange, and sometimes incomprehensible. You basically just have to understand them in your own way.The club was packed, or more accurately, stuffed. After much anticipation the punk gods, NOFX hit the stage and the crowd surged with excitement even before they opened the set with one of my favorite songs, "Reagan Sucks." The next song they played was "Bob". They played songs from the album "Flossing a Dead Horse" - which is one massive trumpet solo presented by El Hefe. The next song they played was "Eat the Meek" with trumpet and lead vocals by El Hefe. The mosh pit was monstrous and seemed to gain in size as it rotated in circles and swallowed innocent bystanders into the craziness. People were being knocked over everywhere and smashed by the surging waves of dancers. People were body surfing and there seemed to be chaos going on everywhere. After that, the seventh song they played was "Hobophobic" (Scared of bums not just because they stink bad. Not just because they're crackers. From drinking too much lysol. Let them be.) Then they played "Six Pack Girls".
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
The Life of Albert Simms :: essays research papers
ââ¬Å"Come ova here and do yo work boy!â⬠ââ¬Å"Did you address me with a sir boy?â⬠This is something a racist white man or female might say to a young black boy in the South. How would one feel if they were treated differently just because of their race? Would it have immediate and long term effects on oneââ¬â¢s life? The two statements above are examples of how people talk to their labeled inferiors. In this case, this pertains to the autobiographical book Black Boy, written by Richard Wright. This relates to racism in the deep South, and how it changes and affects a young African-American living through this tough time. Racism towards Richard had several long term effects. It caused him to think differently of people, to have a different view on life, and learn never to give up. The first lasting and long term effect racism towards Richard had on him was that it caused him to think differently of people. Racism caused Richard to think differently of people because he did not understand how, or why the white people that he lived with hated him, and his race with such a great passion. He never comprehended how people could have so much hatred inside of them to act, and treat another race so poorly. Richard reads in an advertisement from the newspaper he was selling, ââ¬Å"The only dream of a is to be President and to sleep with white womenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Wright 131). This quote is depicting an African-American. The advertisement was degrading to Richard, because this was one of the first times that he realized that people from all over the country hated his race, not just from his small town. He did not know what to do, what to feel, or how to react to such a statement. It was instances like these that caused him to think differently of people. After he overc ame, and passed instances like these, he began to have a different view on life. The second long term effect that racism towards Richard had on him was that it caused him to have a different view on life. Richard experienced many occasions where racist acts were committed and directed towards him. These acts could have been directed towards him for several reasons, but they all had one major effect on him: it caused him to have a different view on life.
Empiricism & human knowledge Essay
Empiricism is a notion that is derived from epistemology studies in philosophy that is centered on nature and limitation of our human knowledge (Kenny 36). The proponents in empiricism school of thought assert that the main source of human knowledge is through our sensational experience. In other words, what a man may claim to know is purely from experience with environment (Kenny 218). However, approaching this argument holistically need to consider some fundamental questions that prove worth informing the argument: What is the nature of propositional knowledge? How can we gain knowledge? And what are the limits of our knowledge? These question though less informative and may not give the full parameters and modality of the argument, it help to move further and creates a well investigative argument. In this regard, the paper central thesis shall be: Does all our knowledge come from experience? If not, where does it come from? And how can we prove that as necessary truth? The question of human knowledge derivation in field of epistemology has been a controversial issue with both rationalists and empiricists pulling toward each others side. However, as the paper shall be concluding it shall be quite evident that no side can stand alone in the proving ground for human knowledge. Since upon exploring each side of the competing explanations, it comes out clearly that human experience is necessary component in attaining knowledge yet at the same time its insufficient condition that can facilitate knowledge gaining. Therefore, this validates the essence that empiricism can not be self explanatory subject content without input and insight from rationalism school of thought (Kenny 41). In regard to Philosophical argument of empiricism, two juxtaposing positions do assist to answer this question. I find it difficult to neither accept nor deny the fact that empiricists assert that our knowledge comes from our experience because we are born as a ââ¬Ëtabula rasaââ¬â¢. This is the light that some phenomenon experience can not be affirmed by sense experience alone. For instance, when a blue candle is placed on the table and observes with eyes and affirmed that it is a candle since the sense tells and confirm its solid and hard; then when the same candle is placed close to the flame and melts down; using the same sight observation it is difficult to affirm that the liquefied wax is the same blue candle. Basing on this example, it becomes challenging to entrust the experience as a source of understanding that strange phenomenon that challenges our senses to derive knowledge (Bonjour 273). Therefore, in such case rationalist gain a score in the sense that is only through reason that the individual observing the instance can affirm that the liquid was is the same candle in liquid form. Contrary at the same time the knowledge of changing states of wax shall be gained through sight and not reason, though reason facilitate construction and conceptualization of such concept. Evidently the two competing positions have a problem. According to Auneââ¬â¢s (1970) presentation of Platoââ¬â¢s dialogue ââ¬Å"menoâ⬠give me an interesting position in his attempt to support rationalism that instead gives insight to validity of empiricism. Plato gave an example aimed at asserting that he met a slave boy who had mathematical knowledge (basic arithmetic); this should be innate. This is because according to him, knowledge from reason is eternal and do not change while that fro experience does. Using that example it is not true that lack of mathematical knowledge to that slave boy validates lack of mathematical experience. This is in the sense that even abstract mathematical concepts are centered on real figures or objects that does exist. For instance, the relationship given by Pythagorasââ¬â¢ theorem is a proposition that expresses a relation between the sides of a right angled triangle. Thus, the knowledge of these kinds of propositions can be discovered purely by thinking but an individual must in his or her earlier stages of learning been exposed or seen the figure of a right angled triangle, which is something that actually exists in the universe. On the contrary, the propositional knowledge about relation of sides of height, base and hypotenuse can be discovered purely by thinking, without the need to attend to anything that actually exists in the universe. This implies that empiricism is the basis on which reason can advance the knowledge gained primary to other higher understanding forms in such arenas as the sciences of geometry, algebra, and arithmetic. On the other hand, matters of fact as a second category object of human reason cannot be established like matters of relations as individuals lack strong grounding to think them as true. Instead, the opposite of every matter of fact is possible since it does not imply a contradiction and is easily conceived by our minds. For example, saying ââ¬Å"the sun will rise tomorrowâ⬠is logical and has no more contradictions to saying ââ¬Å"the sun will not rise tomorrowâ⬠. Basically, saying that the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less logical a proposition and implies no more contradiction, than the assertion that it will rise. As a result, it will be futile to try and prove its falsehood. If it can be proven false, it would imply a contradiction, and could never be clearly conceived by the mind. Thus, empiricism scores in knowledge that regards maters of fact as opposed to the knowledge of the relational of ideas. Human knowledge acquisition does not need prior reasoning to acquire, but comes from our experience of finding, connecting and inferring that particular objects are constantly associated with one other. For example, if a man is presented with an object that is new to him, no amount of reasoning about its perceptible qualities will enable him to discover it rather than observing, touching and smelling it so that he can conform to already formed knowledge base, or accommodate it as a new object discovered (Hume 173). If next time the same person comes into contact with this object again, thinking can help to connect the object to the past event and claim to know the object. This can be demonstrated by a stranger to fire and moving water; from the light and warmth of fire, one cannot assume that they can be burnt or cannot infer that the fluidity and transparency of water can drown him or her respectively. Thus, such knowledge can only be established if there are incidences that an individual was burnt by fire or drawn fast moving water, which forms the basis of knowledge which is taught. Based on this example, it follows that the qualities of an object that appear to the senses cannot reveal the causes or effect nor can reason, unaided by experience, ever draw any conclusion about real existence which constructs our knowledge. Consequently, it can be seen that experience enables us to know the cause-effect relation which enables us construct the knowledge base. For example, when burnt by fire, one will know its effect and when seeing someone light a fire, one will understand the cause. The reasoning faculty should be seen as the tool that aids in connecting past and present events and facilitate the making of inferences to already existing knowledge derived from experience. From the arguments it is however increased my difficult to neither assert nor deny the thoughts that emanate from empiricism school of thought. Thus, it is evident that experience is necessary to our knowledge acquisition but insufficient mechanism in knowledge gaining and application to different situation. It is in this line of thought that I assert that experience is truly a source of our knowledge for instance language acquisition which a basic foundation of other knowledge acquisition. In conclusion, from various argument discussed and exemplary illustrations the proposition that knowledge discoverable not by reason but by experience is true. Firstly, there are past examples of objects that were once unknown to us and from experience, we now know what would arise from those objects. This is totally in contrast to the objects we have never been in contact with. Secondly, events that are not much like the common course of nature are also known only by experience. For example, without prior knowledge, nobody could guess that magnets attract or gunpowder explodes. Thirdly, when an effect is believed to depend on a secret structure of parts, we tend to attribute all our knowledge of it to experience.Yet, we highly depend on the reason for the connecting, construction, affirming and making inferences. Work cited Aune, B. , Rationalism, Empiricism and Pragmatism: An Introduction, New York: Random House, 1970. Bonjour, L. , In Defense of Pure Reason, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Hume, D. , An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding: Indianapolis, Bobbs- Merrill, 1955 Kenny, A. , Rationalism, Empiricism and Idealism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.
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