Thursday, October 31, 2019

Scientific Notation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Scientific Notation - Essay Example f writing 300,000,000 for the light’s speed in meters per second, by moving the decimal point from the rightmost zero eight places to the left until before 3, the value is reduced to 3 x 108 in scientific notation where 8 is a power of 10 that signifies the count of zeros responsible for the number’s lengthy structure. Basically, equations consist of variables that are normally combined with constants to form a specific relation between quantities that possess individual meanings such as cost (in dollars), number of years, population, number of items, or even revenue. Variables may be dependent or independent but by solving a system of equations, these unknown variables may be determined. In everyday life, when equations are solved, one is able to find out exact solutions of two functions whose intersection could mean a break-even point or a point where one relation bears equal advantage to the other. Obtaining real solutions in a process is essential in fields such as physics, chemistry, and other sciences that apply equations in

Monday, October 28, 2019

Education and School Uniform Essay Example for Free

Education and School Uniform Essay Pupils all around the world have worn school uniform for many years. Many schools in Japan, France, USA and Israel, oblige pupils to come to school with a uniform. Wearing school uniform has advantages and disadvantages which I will present in my composition. On the one hand, the school uniform is very important. It is imporatant because it shows that a student belongs to a certain school. When a student wears a shirt with the schools symbol, everyone knows where the student studies, a thing which may help to create a feeling of belonging and school pride. Moreover, the school uniform saves money. Students sometimes judge other students by their outward look. Therefore, many students spend much money on clothes in order to be more popular. When everyone wears the same uniform, the students dont need to spend much money to buy expensive brand names. In addition, school uniform saves time in the mornings because you dont have to think much about what to wear. In addition, schools claim that school uniform is important for good education because pupils need to obey a certain dress code, a thing that helps the students be prepared for the army and any other framework. On the other hand, some pupils claim that wearing a school uniform hurts their individuality and self-expression. They claim it deprives them of the right to wear whatever they want. After all, they are still children and at this age there should be more room for self expression. As far as saving money, some pupils claim that the school uniform doesnt save money because they need to buy additional clothes to what they already have. Therefore, they think it is not necessary and should be cancelled. To conclude, in the light of the above, school uniform has advantages and disadvantages. I strongly believe that the school uniform is necessary and has benefits. However, I think that each school should design its school uniform from time to time and let pupils and teachers decide on it.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Characteristics Of The Nation State And Transnational Entities

Characteristics Of The Nation State And Transnational Entities The nation is a culture group residing within the territory of the political state. A group of people are considered a nation if (1) they are permanent residents of a defined territory, (2) they exhibit some form of government, (3) they have a common culture, and (4) they declare themselves to be, and are considered by others to be, sovereign. When a group becomes a nation, older loyalties to family or tribe must be subordinated to the new political order, and a common literature, history, and a sense of a common future develop (Walter, 2004). States are independent political unit that claim exclusive jurisdiction over defined territories and over all of the people and activities within them. The governments are not always able to exercise this jurisdiction completely, but states can encourage or even force patterns of human activities to conform the political map. (Rubinstein, Service, Science, , 2002) The continuous growth in size and complexity of societies led people to seek political organization first in clans based on kinship, later in tribes that were collections of clans, and finally in city-states. Around the fifteenth century, city-states gradually began to emerge as nation-states. A nation-state is a specific form of state, which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation, and derives its legitimacy from that function. In the ideal model of the nation-state, the population consists of the nation and only of the nation: the state not only houses it, but protects it and its national identity. The nation-state did not always exist, and most of the present nation-states are located on territory that once belonged to another, non-national, state. They came into existence at least partly as a result of political campaigns by nationalists. The establishment of a nation-state can be considered the central demand of any nationalist movement. Japan is considered a nation as it has defined territories, government and the residents share a common culture. Moreover Japan traditionally seen as an example of a nation-state and also the largest of the nation states, with population in excess of 120 million. It should be noted that Japan has a small number of minorities such as RyÃ…Â «kyÃ…Â « peoples, Koreans, and Chinese, and on the northern island of HokkaidÃ…Â , the indigenous Ainu minority. However, they are either numerically insignificant (Ainu), their difference is not as pronounced (though Ryukyuan culture is closely related to Japanese culture). Japan is also seen as a state due to the limited authority powers of the Emperor he is seen as a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people. Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected members of the Diet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people (National Diet of Japan, 2007) The Emperor effectively acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions. Akihito is the current Emperor of Japan. Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, stands as next in line to the throne. Nation-state in Japan express a shared identity of its own population, it has national symbols, above all a national flag and a national anthem, often a wide range of national emblems. In fact it promotes the Japanese national identity in almost every area of human social and cultural life, from the national library to the national airline. Additionally it attempt to create and maintain national unity, and at least a minimal internal uniformity. Nation states have a cultural policy and a language policy for this purpose, and the educational system is often subordinated to this goal. The desire for uniformity had positive economic effects, because nation-states generally try to reduce internal disparities in income and regional GDP. Most have a regional policy for that purpose. How the United States fits the criteria of and functions as a modern nation-state The United States acts a modern nation-state as it is a sovereign territory as it includes a group of people who want to have their own government; furthermore Territories are geographical areas under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state, Sovereignty means authority to control, Territories are elements of states and we know that the united states of America have 50 states, the United states maintain borders and subdivide their territory for governmental purposes. The common values shared between Americans since the United States was founded in the 18th century, Americans have defined themselves not by their racial, religious, and ethnic identity but by their common values and belief in individual freedom (Friedman, 2008). Goals of American Foreign Policy The goals of U.S. foreign policy can be said to include the following: First, the central goal is to protect the nations physical security. This is a primary goal of every nations foreign policy, but the United States has been more successful in it than most. In fact, since the War of 1812, no foreign armies have occupied the continental United States. In contrast, the nations of continental Europe were overrun twice in the twentieth century and repeatedly in the nineteenth century. However the threat of terrorism may change the state of our security. A second goal is to protect the physical security of the principal allies of the United States. For instance, since World War II, the United States has committed itself to protect the nations of Western Europe through NATO), as well as to protect nations on other continents: Japan, South Korea, and Israel. European Union as a transnational entity: A. Discuss the major events which lead to the establishment of the European Union. From the ideas of establishing sovereign state characterized by a union federation and the association of sovereign member states confederation the main development in Europe was on supranational foundation which is the method of decision-making in multi-national political communities, wherein power is transferred or delegated to an authority by governments of member states, this was carried out to to make war unthinkable and materially impossible (Fontaine, Europejskie, 2003), the most important events which lead to the establishment of the European Union were the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952, which was included six nations acted like an international organization serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union. The ECSC was the first organization to be based on the principles of supranationalism, later The Treaties of Rome were signed on 25 March 1957, by The S ix countries, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany. The first Treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the second Treaty established the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). They were the first international organizations to be based on supranationalism, after the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) established a few years prior. Later two new communities were created separately from ECSC, The executives of the new communities were called Commissions, as opposed to the High Authority. The EEC would develop a customs union between members and Euratom would integrate sectors in nuclear energy. In 1973 the European Union started to witness expansion to include new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community (the EUs predecessor) in 1952. In 1992 Maastricht Treaty was signed on February 7th which established the European Union when it came into effect on 1 November 1993 became effective; since then, the EUs membership has grown to twenty-seven with the most recent expansion to Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. B. Major institutions and nations which forms the European Union. The European Union is composed of 27 sovereign Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. C. The contemporary function of the European Union. The function of the European Union (EU) is to enable closer relations between the member states. This is in order to make the most of the collective abilities of the member states, for example free trade, freedom of movement, freedom of job choice. It enables a lot of the beaucracy that used to be involved with those issues to be by passed. The EU was also formed as a counter balance to the position of the United States as the only global super power. The E.U does not belong to specific country, each member state has a say in the running of the EU. The EU was formed mainly out of need for stability in Europe after the Second World War, and was a product of firstly economic agreements, which still form the main basis of todays EU. E. Describe two examples of foreign policy objectives for the European Union. The first objective of the EU is to use a decisive diplomacy to be a key player in international issues ranging from global warming to the conflict in the Middle East. The basis for the EUs common foreign and security policy (CFSP) remains soft power: the use of diplomacy backed where necessary by trade, aid and peacekeepers to resolve conflicts and bring about international understanding. The second objective is to have governments in charge, foreign and security policy is one area where essential authority remains with EU governments, although the European Commission and, to a lesser extent the European Parliament, are associated with the process. Key decisions are taken by unanimous vote. Analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage in foreign policy to achieve their interests. Analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage in foreign policy to achieve their interests analyze the consequences of this interaction for international politics. Nation-states interests basically shapes the foreign policy of a nation, as the Nation-states needs; for instance when development is needed in the economical section the foreign policy of that nation changes to meet the needs for nation-state objectives therefore it starts to establishing or maintaining good relationship with other nations to enhance trade business. Taking the United States as an example; the United States signed the North American free trade agreement (NAFTA) on January 1st 1994. Linking the US, Canada and Mexico. Another example is when Americans felt the lack security after September 11th attacks; the foreign policy of Unites States lunched war on terror which involved in a war against extremists in Afghanistan and another war to disarm Iraq from the possessing alleged weapons of mass destruction, Similarity the EU nation-state which represent the interest of all EU countries by shaping the foreign policy to maintain the peace in Europe and the efforts to reduce global warming. In conclusion the development of national states has been of vital importance in the modern world. Principally, the loyalties and beliefs of nationalism have been motivating forces in the organization of complex, technological societies in the urban-industrial period. They have also been important forces in establishing and maintaining international antagonisms.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Grapes of Wrath :: essays papers

Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath There's an old saying, "Blood is thicker than water." Well, nothing proves truer than the families in The Grapes of Wrath. When faced with hardships, people leaned on their kin for support and love, and in the worst of times would even turn their backs on those they had known for years to protect and provide for their families: ...Can't think of that. Got to think of my own kids. Three dollars a day, and it comes every day. Times are changing, mister, don't you know? Can't make a living on the land unless you've got two, five, ten thousand acres and a tractor. Crop land isn't for little guys like us any more. You don't kick up a fowl because you can't make Fords, or because you're not the telephone company. Nothing to do about it. You try to get three dollars a day someplace. That's the only way. (50) The Joad family is no exception. Their trials, tribulations, and broken dreams while suffering through the harsh realities of a fallen America only bring them closer together and remind the reader of true family values. When the reader is first introduced to the Joads, as a full family, one can sense the love immediately. "[Ma] moved towards [Tom] lithely, soundlessly...And her joy was almost like sorrow (101)." Even though she hasn't seen him for quite some time, and that may be the initial reason for her wonderment, she truely loves Tom and Steinbeck does an excellent job of portraying the emotions involved. Even when Granma and Granpa come into the house, the same emotions are evident, although the actions are quite opposite. Granma repeatedly "pu-raise[s] Gawd," while Granpa "walk[s] up and slap[s] Tom, [with] his eyes grinn[ing] with affection and pride." The reader knows the Joads can hold love for a person no matter how long he's been gone, or where he's been (and in this case, prison). Former Reverend Jim Casy is even accepted as one of their own when he arrives with Tom at Uncle John's house. Ma makes sure there is room on the truck for him and Tom calls him over as if he were one of the men in the family. "[Casy] knew the government of families, and he knew he had been taken

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Short story “Everyday Use”

In her short story â€Å"Everyday Use,† Alice Walker takes up what is a recurrent theme in her work: the representation of the harmony as well as the conflicts and struggles within African-American culture. â€Å"Everyday Use† focuses on an encounter between members of the rural Johnson family. This encounter––which takes place when Dee (the only member of the family to receive a formal education) and her male companion return to visit Dee’s mother and younger sister Maggie––is essentially an encounter between two different interpretations of, or approaches to, African-American culture. Walker employs characterization and symbolism to highlight the difference between these interpretations and ultimately to uphold one of them, showing that culture and heritage are parts of daily life. The opening of the story is largely involved in characterizing Mrs. Johnson, Dee’s mother and the story’s narrator. More specifically, Mrs. Johnson’s language points to a certain relationship between herself and her physical surroundings: she waits for Dee â€Å"in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy† (88). The emphasis on the physical characteristics of the yard, the pleasure in it manifested by the word â€Å"so,† points to the attachment that she and Maggie have to their home and to the everyday practice of their lives. The yard, in fact, is â€Å"not just a yard. It is like an extended living room† (71), confirming that it exists for her not only as an object of property, but also as the place of her life, as a sort of expression of herself. Her description of herself likewise shows a familiarity and comfort with her surroundings and with herself: she is â€Å"a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands† (72)—in other words, she knows the reality of her body and accepts it, even finding comfort (both physical and psychological) in the way that her â€Å"fat keeps [her] hot in zero weather† (72). Mrs. Johnson is fundamentally at home with herself; she accepts who she is, and thus, Walker implies, where she stands in relation to her culture. Mrs. Johnson’s daughter Maggie is described as rather unattractive and shy: the scars she bears on her body have likewise scarred her soul, and, as a result, she is retiring, even frightened. Mrs. Johnson admits, in a loving manner, that â€Å"like good looks and money, quickness passed her by† (73). She â€Å"stumbles† as she reads, but clearly Mrs. Johnson thinks of her as a sweet person, a daughter with whom she can sing songs at church. Most importantly, however, Maggie is, like her mother, at home in er traditions, and she honors the memory of her ancestors; for example, she is the daughter in the family who has learned how to quilt from her grandmother. Dee, however, is virtually Maggie’s opposite. She is characterized by good looks, ambition, and education (Mrs. Johnson, we are told, collects money at her church so that Dee can attend school). Dee’s education has been extremely important in forging her character, but at the same time it has s plit her off from her family. Mamma says, â€Å"She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice† (73). Dee, in other words, has moved towards other traditions that go against the traditions and heritage of her own family: she is on a quest to link herself to her African roots and has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. In doing so, in attempting to recover her â€Å"ancient† roots, she has at the same time denied, or at least refused to accept, her more immediate heritage, the heritage that her mother and sister share. The actions Walker’s characters take, as well as their physical attributes, are symbolic of their relation to their culture. Dee’s male companion, for example, has taken a Muslim name and now refuses to eat pork and collard greens, thus refusing to take part in the traditional African-American culture. Mrs. Johnson, meanwhile, has â€Å"man-working hands† and can â€Å"kill a hog as mercilessly as a man† (72); clearly this detail is meant to indicate a rough life, with great exposure to work. Symbolic meaning can also be found in Maggie’s skin: her scars are literally the inscriptions upon her body of the ruthless journey of life. Most obviously—and most importantly—the quilts that Mrs. Johnson has promised to give Maggie when she marries are highly symbolic, representing the Johnsons’ traditions and cultural heritage. These quilts were â€Å"pieced by Grandma Dee and then Big Dee â€Å"(76), both figures in family history who, unlike the present Dee, took charge in teaching their culture and heritage to their offspring. The quilts themselves are made up of fragments of history, of scraps of dresses, shirts, and uniforms, each of which represents those people who forged the family’s culture, its heritage, and its values. Most importantly, however, these fragments of the past are not simply representations in the sense of art objects; they are not removed from daily life. What is most crucial about these quilts—and what Dee does not understand—is that they are made up of daily life, from materials that were lived in. This, in essence, is the central point of â€Å"Everyday Use†: that the cultivation and maintenance of its heritage are necessary to each social group’s self-identification, but that also this process, in order to succeed, to be real, must be part of people’s use every day. After all, what is culture but what is home to us, just as Mrs. Johnson’s yard is home to her.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

What Cheating Out and Other Theater Jargon Means

What Cheating Out and Other Theater Jargon Means Drama class and theater rehearsals are some of the only places where cheating is encouraged. No, not cheating on a test. When  actors  cheat  out, they position themselves towards the audience, they share their bodies and voices so that audiences can see and hear them better. To Cheat Out means that the performer readjusts his or her body with an audience in mind. This might mean that the actors stand in a way thats not quite natural - which is why this practice cheats reality just a bit. But at least the audience will be able to see and hear the performer! Very often, when young  actors are  rehearsing on stage, they might turn their backs to the audience, or offer only a limited view. The director then might say, Cheat out, please. Ad Lib During a performance of a play, if you forget your line and cover for yourself by saying something off-the-top of your head, you are ad-libbing, creating dialogue on the spot. The abbreviated term ad lib comes from the  latin phrase:  ad libitum  which means At ones pleasure.But sometimes resorting to an ad lib is anything but pleasurable. For an actor who forgets a line during the middle of a show, an ad lib might be the only way to keep the scene going. Have you ever ad-libbed your way out of a scene? Have you ever helped a fellow actor who forgot his or her lines with an ad lib? Actors have an obligation to learn and deliver the lines of a play precisely as the playwright wrote them, but its good to practice ad-libbing during rehearsals. Off Book When actors have completely memorized their lines, they are said to be off book. In other words, they will be rehearsing with no script (book) in their hands. Most rehearsal schedules will establish a deadline for actors to be off book. And many directors will not allow any scripts in hand - no matter how poorly prepared the actors may be - after the off book deadline. Chewing the Scenery This piece of theatrical jargon is not complimentary. If an actor is chewing the scenery, it means that he or she is over-acting. Speaking too loudly and theatrically, gesticulating largely and more than necessary, mugging for the audience - all of these are examples of chewing the scenery. Unless the character you play is supposed to be a scenery-chewer, its something to avoid. Stepping on Lines Although it is not always (or usually) intended, actors are guilty of stepping on lines when they deliver a line too early and thereby skip over another actors line or they start their line before another actor has finished speaking and thus speak on top of another actors lines. Actors are not fond of the practice of stepping on lines. Breaking Curtain When audiences attend a theatrical production, they are asked to suspend their disbelief - to agree to pretend that the action onstage is real and is happening for the first time. It is the responsibility of the productions cast and crew to help the audience do this. Thus, they must refrain from doing things like peeking out at the audience before or during a performance, waving from offstage to audience members they know, or appearing in costume off the stage during intermission or after the performance ends. All of these behaviors and others are considered breaking curtain. Paper the House When theaters give away a large amount of tickets (or offer the tickets at a very low rate) in order to gain a large audience, this practice is called papering the house. One of the strategies behind papering the house is to create positive word-of-mouth about a show that might otherwise suffer from low-attendance. Papering the house is also helpful to the performers because it is more satisfying and realistic to play to a  full or almost full house than to play for a sparsely populated set of seats. Sometimes papering the house is a rewarding way for theaters to offer seats to groups that might not otherwise be able to afford them.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Math Definition of a Sample Space in Statistics

Math Definition of a Sample Space in Statistics The collection of all possible outcomes of a probability experiment forms a set that is known as the sample space. Probability concerns itself with random phenomena or probability experiments. These experiments are all different in nature and can concern things as diverse as rolling dice or flipping coins. The common thread that runs throughout these probability experiments is that there are observable outcomes. The outcome occurs randomly and is unknown prior to conducting our experiment.   In this set theory formulation of probability, the sample space for a problem corresponds to an important set. Since the sample space contains every outcome that is possible, it forms a set of everything that we can consider. So the sample space becomes the universal set in use for a particular probability experiment. Common Sample Spaces Sample spaces abound and are infinite in number. But there are a few that are frequently used for examples in an introductory statistics or probability course. Below are the experiments and their corresponding sample spaces: For the experiment of flipping a coin, the sample space is {Heads, Tails}.  There are two elements in this sample space.For the experiment of flipping two coins, the sample space is {(Heads, Heads), (Heads, Tails), (Tails, Heads), (Tails, Tails) }.  This sample space has four elements.For the experiment of flipping three coins, the sample space is {(Heads, Heads, Heads), (Heads, Heads, Tails), (Heads, Tails, Heads), (Heads, Tails, Tails), (Tails, Heads, Heads), (Tails, Heads, Tails), (Tails, Tails, Heads), (Tails, Tails, Tails) }.  This sample space has eight elements.For the experiment of flipping n coins, where n is a positive whole number, the sample space consists of 2n elements. There are a total of C (n, k) ways to obtain k heads and n - k tails for each number k from 0 to n.For the experiment consisting of rolling a single six-sided die, the sample space is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}For the experiment of rolling two six-sided dice, the sample space consists of the set of the 36 possible pairings of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. For the experiment of rolling three six-sided dice, the sample space consists of the set of the 216 possible triples of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.For the experiment of rolling n six-sided dice, where n is a positive whole number, the sample space consists of 6n elements.For an experiment of drawing from a standard deck of cards, the sample space is the set that lists all 52 cards in a deck. For this example, the sample space could only consider certain features of the cards, such as rank or suit. Forming Other Sample Spaces The above list includes some of the most commonly used sample spaces. Others are out there for different experiments. It is also possible to combine several of the above experiments. When this is done, we end up with a sample space that is the Cartesian product of our individual sample spaces. We can also use a tree diagram to form these sample spaces. For example, we may want to analyze a probability experiment in which we first flip a coin and then roll a die.  Since there are two outcomes for flipping a coin and six outcomes for rolling a die, there are a total of 2 x 6 12 outcomes in the sample space we are considering.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Managed investment scheme Essays

Managed investment scheme Essays Managed investment scheme Essay Managed investment scheme Essay In Australia, investor can choose from a wide vvariety of investments which include managed investment schemes (MIS) and direct investment which consist of shares, debt and hybrid securities. Each investment scheme will a set of corporation act to protect its investor, as it is important to make iinvestors feel confident and secure. Iinvestors can choose the types of investments to invest in depending on their personal traits and ambition as the different investment contains different characteristic. We will dive in more on MIS, direct investment and hybrid investment together with each of their advantages and disadvantages next. Managed investment schemes Manage investment schemes, otherwise known as collective investment schemes, are schemes in which funds are gather from different investor to invest in a common investment, usually a high risk investment that deals with huge amount of money. Under s 9 of the corporation act 2001, a manage investment schemes consist of three elements. Investor contributes money or moneys worth, theres a generation or intended generation of a financial return or benefit and the investor do not have day- to-day control over the use of the money. Under s 601 EA(4) states that a registered MIS requires to have a responsible entity (RE) which would be responsible for any losses or damages from violating Ch 5c. The RE is also a trustee of the scheme. The RE also have to fulfil his duties, under the s 601 FC (1), he must act honestly, exercise a degree of care and diligence, act in the best interest of the members, treat all members equally and he cant make use of information gathered as RE to gain improper advantage or cause detriment to members. Under s 601 MB, Contracts is considered as voidable at the option of the investor if the MIS is found guilty of violating any of the act. The advantage of MIS is that the investment will be undertaking by a professional investment manager which could offer a better returns and risk management because of his experience and knowledge. Moreover, it can help reduce risk by diversification, it works by investing in different company, usually companies that has a negative co-relation, reducing losses if the price of one company drop. Another benefit is that it the cost is shared among the other investor. The disadvantages of MIS is the loss of owners rights, allocation and uses of funds will be determine by the fund manager. Although MIS is a very lucrative piece of investment, the amount of returns will be reduce because of the cost of the fund manager, normally they will expect a ppercentage of returns from the overall earnings. Debt financing Debt financing is a type of tool companies used to raise capital through borrowing. Creditors are entitled to fixed interest pay out and will be able to get back the invested amount at the maturity date. Debt financing are usually considered as a stable and low risk investment thus the return are lower than the others. Debt financing consist of bank finance, trade finance, debentures and private debt. Debentures is the rights to enforce a companys undertaking to repay the debt owe as stated in s 9 or the corporation act. Section 124 of the Corporations act 2001 allow companies to issue debentures and to borrow through the use of the debentures. Deoentures can De rea011y transTer ana can De llstea on tne Australlan stock exchange (ASX). The advantage of the form of investment is that the interest pay-out is fixed and the investor will be able to get back the amount invested at the predetermined maturity date. Lenders are place ahead of equity holder in the event of liquidation. The downside to this is that there wont be any growth on the principle of loan because it is fixed. Unlike equity holders, creditors cant get involve in the day to day operation of the company or vote. Equity Equity financing is one of the ways a company can use to raise money through the sales of shares. Shares consist of ordinary shares and preference shares. By buying the shares of a company, investor will also gain owinership of company, the size of the owinership will depend on the amount of shares one held. Under section 124 of the corporation act 2001, any of the company will be able to issue shares but only a ublic company will be able to offer its shares to the public. Disclosure document such as the prospectus, profile statement and offer information statement are required under chapter 6d of the corporation act. The prospectus offers protection to the investor who wish to purchase shares from a company by disclosing all information. The benefits of investing in shares is the ability to collect dividends, dividends will be decided by how much the company has made. Another major benefits is the ability to make capital gain by selling shares, because shares are known to be volatile, prices may move up and down at any time, capital gain can be ade if shares is sold when it is rising. The negative side of investing in shares is that it is risky. Shares prices might crash and investor would suffer losses. Furthermore, equity holders are ranked before bond holders when the company goes into liquidation, shares holder may or may not be able to get their money back. Hybrid securities Hybrid securities are a form of securities that combines debt and equity instruments. The most common form of hybrids is convertible bonds. Convertible bonds allows the owner to convert bonds into shares at todays price. The main advantages is that it as a fixed interest repayment like a bond, iinvestors can also choose to convert it to a shares if the company is doing well. Making a profit from the dividend or by capital gain. The downside is that it has a low interest pay out as compared toa bond and it is ranked after bonds holder in the event of liquidation. I would invest the $10 000 into government bonds. Government bonds are consider as one of the safest investment and it will be logical to invest in it as I wanted income first and growth second. Besides, I would be able to collect the interest pay out and the invested amount at the maturity date.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Plc Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plc - Assignment Example To be able to work, the PLC first monitors different conditions. Basing on these conditions, an outcome is determined. The next step of PLC operation is the creation of logical rules by use of programmable software which allows for adaptability. The final is decision-making depending on logical rules. Decisions are determined by logical rules that the PLC is taught by way of its programming software. 3. The PLC functions by observing the interaction of four internal areas. The four internal areas of the PLC are the Central Processing Unit, CPU, the memory, the communication ports, and the Input/Output devices (AutomationDirect.com, 2010). 4. The CPU is the place where decision-making in the PLC takes place. It also has a memory, where the CPU stores the user’s control programme, the Input/Output (I/O) status, and data. Communication ports make up the third internal area, and these allow for the user’s programme to be loaded into the memory from a personal computer (PC). It also facilitates the communication with other external memories including other PLCs in order to exchange data. The fourth internal area is made up of Input/Output devices 5. Why were PLC’s were invented/developed - PLCs were initially developed to meet specifications that were developed by General Motor’s Hydra-matic division to replace relay-based machine control due to their use of latter logic programming. PLCs would, therefore, help to allow for quick changes and reduction in wiring, and troubleshooting time. This was a huge development from the older rely-based control systems. 8.What makes a PLC very versatile is the ability to programme and re-programme it. Re-programming makes it possible to change the outcome when, and if, the future conditions change, so as to meet the changing

Friday, October 18, 2019

Performance system in Uni Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Performance system in Uni - Research Paper Example The functionality of the university’s performance is based on the institutional collaboration. All the parties bound to it are expected to play their role, and this aspect is evaluated from time to time in order to monitor progress and success over time. The different faculties in UTS observe common performance development procedures, making it easy for all the persons involved to contribute to an enhanced employee performance. The system acknowledges the role played by other parties that indirectly influence performance practices in the university. This extends to the entire university fraternity and encompasses students and other stakeholders that are not direct participants in the process of evaluating institutional performance but are critical to account for in order to enhance the final outcome of the underlying pursuits. Through this, the academic staff and all other stakeholders in the UTS cooperate thereby realizing an enhanced ground for performance. Rewarding and ack nowledgement of the staff efforts under the performance procedures are undertaken from time to time, and this is meant to motivate the staff (Aguinis, 2008, p. 283). In so doing, the staff morale is boosted by the system in place, and they are also encouraged to achieve even higher for more rewards and acknowledgements. Through the system in palace at UTS, talents are identified and put to use accordingly. The strengths and weaknesses of the university staff are evaluated and matched with the strategic plans of the institution under performance development. The idea is to tap and exploit as many talents as possible while making it possible for the university staff to realize opportunities from their weaknesses, as well as device ways in which those weaknesses can be transformed into beneficial aspects through correcting them. As a result, individual and institutional growth and development is encouraged at the university. While the institution has designed ways to improve the overal l performance of staff and the institution at large, the failure to cooperate and collaborate is a critical stumbling block to the process. In the UTS context, not all performance and development work plans produce the desired results, and the time to time reviews are not always positive (UTS, 2008, p.4). This implies that amid the vibrant programs and processes run by UTS to revolutionize performance in the institution; there are loopholes that are bypassed in the process. These loopholes are information-based where the primary players in the UTS performance system lack an enhanced mode of information and communication flow. The UTS performance cycle fails to identify these loopholes creating informational gaps that constitute a critical limitation to the outcome of the university’s performance. While a UTS’s monitoring program in this line has been implemented, this shortcoming is yet to be addressed. University of Sydney Different institutions formulate and implemen t different performance procedures depending on the specific performance needs to be accounted for. Just like any other institution, University of Sydney has developed performance procedures that are deeply rooted in its organizational goals and objectives. The institution acknowledges the roles and responsibilities of every single party factored in the organizational pursuits. In the context of University of Sydney, institutional performance is primarily rooted in Smart, Measurable, Achievable,

Evidence-based Practice in Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Evidence-based Practice in Healthcare - Essay Example It is now a nursing competence criterion to rely on and implement best evidence available from relevant research to devise the care plan. This is expected to base on critical review of research and synthesis of evidence which can be used to justify practice (Simko, 2005). Mantzoukas (2008) indicated that evidence based practice leads to effective decision making leading to enhanced clinical performance. A literature review with a critical approach is considered to be the best method of synthesizing evidence. This means a critique of scientific research based literature can reveal evidence which can be used in practice (Mantzoukas, 2008). To this end, a critique of literatures on the topic of nursing methods of postoperative pain management will be conducted, so an evidence base may be created that can inform practice. A critique of relevant literature can provide information on a clinical problem through the use of research knowledge. This can be done through location of relevant studies, review of the studies in the problem area, summarizing what is known, identifying what is unknown, and recognising the gaps in the knowledge. Thus the critique can support or refute practice or identify a new way of intervention (Scott & McSherry, 2009). Miaskowski (2005) indicated that effective postoperative management of pain is a significant clinical problem. Although there are established clinical practice guidelines, it is a fact that postoperative pain is often treated inadequately. Some studies have indicated that despite receiving analgesic management, about 75% of the patients have moderate to severe postoperative pain. In most of the cases, it has been demonstrated that the healthcare professionals often underestimate pain. In some cases, inadequate knowledge of the healthcare professionals about opioid use and side effects has been attributed to such gaps in postoperative pain management (Miaskowski, 2005). Moreover, there are certain very prominent ill effects of inadequate postoperative pain management, which can be detrimental to the wellbeing of the patient. Some of these substantiate the need for evidence based practice in this area. These are prolonged recovery, increased stay and cost, and decreased patient satisf action (Michel & Sanders, 2002). Physiologically, inadequate resolution of postoperative pain is also not desirable due to adverse physiological responses of the patient, which specially in postoperative phase may make the recovery problematic. Therefore, there is a need for evidence based practice, and critique of relevant research articles and synthesis of information could be the best way (Tracy, Dufault, Kogut, Martin, Rossi, & Willey-Temkin, 2006). Literature Search Strategy From the University database and library, a literature search was conducted based on the key words "postoperative pain", "postoperative pain management", "nursing", and "best methods" or "best practice." A combination of words were used to search the literature, and out of about 100 different studies located, only three of them were selected for this critical review in order to synthesize the evidence. Literature Review Shapiro et al. (2003) in their study compared the analgesic efficacy of three different methods in postoperative

Anth2 Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Anth2 Final Exam - Assignment Example Intimate relations of close family members or incest are usually regarded as a taboo which may be disastrous. 5. Family status influences gender role in that the conduct of single and married people is different. Ethnic culture is another factor that affects gender roles whereby certain ethnic backgrounds may be passive than others and vice versa. 7. Leadership in tribes is uncentralized due to lack or very little forms of stratification. In case stratification is present, the leadership in place determines its level. On the other hand, chiefdoms are centralized with highly regarded and exalted leaders. Therefore, the leader has more control over subjects in his domain more than at the tribe level. 8. Formal means of social regulation or control refers to the external undertakings by civil authority to deter development or establishment of anomie within the society. On the contrary, the informal means alludes to socialization which causes internalization of values that impart morally accepted behaviors within the society. 9. Both these rites have great importance attached to them because they usually bring the community closer when they are being undertaken. In this regards, they serve a means of improving relationships among people and creating harmony within a community. 10. One way in which religion and magic are similar is use of rituals. Rituals are actions or undertakings which are accompanied by vague chanting. Secondly, these two also have unique symbols that are both mystical and spiritual. These symbols are routinely used during the time of rituals. Besides, these two also believe in the contagion principle where there is continued connection and communication between two objects that had been in contact and are separated. 11. One of the functions of revitalization cults is to deliver the followers from deprivation which is political in nature. This is important for amelioration

Thursday, October 17, 2019

E-marketing plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E-marketing plan - Assignment Example The artists have acquired more power as they have even started selling their music without the recording company. (Porter’s Five Forces- Strategic Management) Building a successful profession requires network, money and resources. Money is required to invest into finance marketing and music videos. Network is also very essential in order to sell products, markets and advertisements. Contacts and networking are required at venues and concerts everywhere the artists perform. It is very difficult to be successful and receive sufficient market share especially for a new player. With the help of the internet, people have more contacts, networks and it has become easier to sell music online. (Porter’s Five Forces- Strategic Management) Until some years back, there threat of substitutes was very low as the music was available in only one common channel. But in the recent past, there have been numerous cases of piracy which is becoming a major threat to the music industry and the recording company. (Porter’s Five Forces- Strategic Management) The format by which music is made available, the channel and the source of the music are predetermined. There are no alternate sources available for the buyers to buy the music other than purchasing them at stores. But in the recent past, there have been several cases of music privacy which provides buyers to acquire the music through other channels paying very minimal amounts o nothing at all. Information regarding the artists, purchasing of song directly from iTunes can be made directly. The song video can also be viewed from YouTube. Online downloading of music has also been a major set back for the recording companies. Consumers now can download music for free with good quality instead of paying for the CD. This means that the recording companies need to reduce their prices and have different channels for promotion, advertising and sales. (Porter’s Five Forces- Strategic Management) The

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example The Labour party took power and halted the sales of the houses. This decision made Mr. Gibson sue the respondents claiming a breach of a binding contract. The county court and the court of appeal ruled in his favour but this was appealed to the House of Lords where the earlier decision was quashed. The dispute was a result of distinguishing between an offer and an invitation to treat. Notably, it should be comprehended that an offer is an expression of the desire to contract on various conditions upon acceptance while mere negotiations to enter into a given contract are not offers but invitations to treat. However, Geoffrey Lane LJ who was a court of appeal judge dissented and held there was no enforceable contract. The House of Lords unanimously allowed the appeal and made a final decision that there was no binding contract between the two parties. The principle behind the decision of the court of appeal was affirmed by Lord Denning. The honorable judge emphasized that the communication between the parties should be also established by their conduct. Their conduct had supposed a binding contract between them and this led to the parties coming into an agreement. The House of Lords had a unanimous approach in this case. The court affirmed that there was never an offer by the council available to be accepted or rejected. Therefore, if there was no offer in the first place then, a binding contract was not realized between the two parties. The council cannot be accused of breaching. Lord Diplock embraced the conventional approach which affirmed that there was never an offer which constituted to a legally enforceable contract. The conventional approach requires that the documents to be relied upon to be analyzed thoroughly and ascertained whether in their construction there can be found a contractual offer to sell the house and an acceptance of such an

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Anth2 Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Anth2 Final Exam - Assignment Example Intimate relations of close family members or incest are usually regarded as a taboo which may be disastrous. 5. Family status influences gender role in that the conduct of single and married people is different. Ethnic culture is another factor that affects gender roles whereby certain ethnic backgrounds may be passive than others and vice versa. 7. Leadership in tribes is uncentralized due to lack or very little forms of stratification. In case stratification is present, the leadership in place determines its level. On the other hand, chiefdoms are centralized with highly regarded and exalted leaders. Therefore, the leader has more control over subjects in his domain more than at the tribe level. 8. Formal means of social regulation or control refers to the external undertakings by civil authority to deter development or establishment of anomie within the society. On the contrary, the informal means alludes to socialization which causes internalization of values that impart morally accepted behaviors within the society. 9. Both these rites have great importance attached to them because they usually bring the community closer when they are being undertaken. In this regards, they serve a means of improving relationships among people and creating harmony within a community. 10. One way in which religion and magic are similar is use of rituals. Rituals are actions or undertakings which are accompanied by vague chanting. Secondly, these two also have unique symbols that are both mystical and spiritual. These symbols are routinely used during the time of rituals. Besides, these two also believe in the contagion principle where there is continued connection and communication between two objects that had been in contact and are separated. 11. One of the functions of revitalization cults is to deliver the followers from deprivation which is political in nature. This is important for amelioration

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SEMESTER 1501 COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example The Labour party took power and halted the sales of the houses. This decision made Mr. Gibson sue the respondents claiming a breach of a binding contract. The county court and the court of appeal ruled in his favour but this was appealed to the House of Lords where the earlier decision was quashed. The dispute was a result of distinguishing between an offer and an invitation to treat. Notably, it should be comprehended that an offer is an expression of the desire to contract on various conditions upon acceptance while mere negotiations to enter into a given contract are not offers but invitations to treat. However, Geoffrey Lane LJ who was a court of appeal judge dissented and held there was no enforceable contract. The House of Lords unanimously allowed the appeal and made a final decision that there was no binding contract between the two parties. The principle behind the decision of the court of appeal was affirmed by Lord Denning. The honorable judge emphasized that the communication between the parties should be also established by their conduct. Their conduct had supposed a binding contract between them and this led to the parties coming into an agreement. The House of Lords had a unanimous approach in this case. The court affirmed that there was never an offer by the council available to be accepted or rejected. Therefore, if there was no offer in the first place then, a binding contract was not realized between the two parties. The council cannot be accused of breaching. Lord Diplock embraced the conventional approach which affirmed that there was never an offer which constituted to a legally enforceable contract. The conventional approach requires that the documents to be relied upon to be analyzed thoroughly and ascertained whether in their construction there can be found a contractual offer to sell the house and an acceptance of such an

Investment Behaviour of Women Essay Example for Free

Investment Behaviour of Women Essay Abstract Through an analysis of recent reforms in three policy areas in Chile—pensions, childcare services, and maternity/parental leave—the paper seeks to explore how equity-oriented reforms deal with the triple legacy of maternalism, male-breadwinner bias, and market reform. Recent studies of â€Å"new† social policies in Latin America have underlined the persistent strength of maternalist assumptions. Feminist research on new cash transfer programs, in particular, has tended to see more continuity than change in the gendered underpinnings of social policy. This paper suggests that once we broaden our ï ¬ eld of vision to include other social programs and reforms, the ways in which contemporary social policy (re)deï ¬ nes women’s productive and reproductive roles, social rights, and obligations are more complex and contradictory. Indeed, while some policies take unpaid care by women for granted, others point to an increasing awareness of inequalities   Staab that shape women’s and men’s differential access to market income and public social beneï ¬ ts. Over the last decade, there has been a veritable explosion of scholarship on Latin American social policy. In part this reï ¬â€šects the fact that—after decades of neglect—Latin American states have rediscovered social policy and scaled up their efforts to address the social fallout of liberalization. Indeed, while â€Å"Washington Consensus† reforms were mainly driven by the desire to cut costs and reduce the scope of the state, the late 1990s and 2000s have seen more coordinated state interventions to reduce poverty, inequality, and social exclusion. While not returning to post-war social protection schemes, countries in the region are experimenting with policies that break with the neoliberal notion of minimal safety nets (Barrientos et al. 2008; Molyneux 2008; Cortes 2009).  ´ What does this â€Å"return of the state† mean for women’s social rights and welfare? It has been argued that in contrast to the gender blindness of neoliberal reforms, â€Å"new† social policies have been gender conscious (Bedford 2007). However, relatively little systematic research has been carried out on the gender dynamics of this new social agenda (Macdonald and Ruckert 2009). The existing literature seems to suggest that there is far more continuity than change in the gendered underpinnings of â€Å"new† social protection programs. Feminist research on conditional cash transfers (CCTs)—a key innovation associated with Post-Washington Consensus social policy in the region—has tended to stress the persistence of maternalism (e.g., Molyneux 2007; Bradshaw 2008; Tabbush 2009), a set of ideas and practices with a long and ambiguous history in the region. Yet there is more to Post-Washington Consensus social policy than CCTs. Several Latin American countries are experimenting with other care-related policies alongside cash transfer schemes— including the introduction of full-day schooling, the expansion of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, maternity/ parental leave reforms, and in recent pension reforms, the introduction of child-rearing credits. While some of these programs take the unpaid care by women for granted , others point to an increasing awareness of gender inequalities that shape women’s and men’s differential access to labor market income and public social beneï ¬ ts. That these initiatives have received little scholarly attention leaves the impression that Latin American social policy is stuck on a maternalist track, when national and regional trends are likely to be more varied and complex. Against this broader backdrop, the main aim of the paper  is to provide a better understanding of the complex and contradictory  ways in which women’s productive and reproductive roles, social rights, and obligations are constructed and (re)deï ¬ ned in the context of recent equity-oriented reforms. I argue for a two-tiered approach. First, I propose to move beyond single policy analysis towards a more systemic view that takes into account and compares developments across sectors. Second, I aim to assess these reforms according to the ways in which they have dealt with three key legacies: marketization, maternalism, and male-breadwinner bias. I apply this approach to the recent reforms in Chilean social policy, a particularly intriguing case. First, Chile is often cited as the Latin American country where neoliberal principles have been most comprehensively applied. Its 1980s social sector reforms–particularly in pensions and health–have long been promoted by international ï ¬ nancial institutions as a model for other countries to emulate (Taylor 2003; Orenstein 2005). Recent innovations in Chile’s social policy regime thus merit close attention. Second, Chile combines market liberalism with strong social conservatism, particularly with regards to gender roles. We would expect these two legacies to create mounting tensions and contradictions –for example over whether mothers should be at home (maternalism) or in the market (liberalism)–that social and employment policies have to navigate. I have chosen to focus on the recent reforms in pension, ECEC, and parental leave policies, issues which have been high up the public agenda in Chile and elsewhere. This is reï ¬â€šective of both broader global discourses spearheaded by international organizations such as the World Bank and the OECD, as well as a regional trend to revising social protection frameworks with an emphasis on increasing the coverage of hitherto excluded groups.1 The selection thus consciously combines two more traditional policy areas associated with social protection/consumption (pensions and maternity leave), with an emerging area geared towards social investment (ECEC). While the former were directly undermined by structural adjustment and deliberately restructured following the advice of international ï ¬ nancial institutions (Orenstein 2005; Brooks 2009), the latter have acquired prominence over the past decades as a means of reducing poverty by facilitating women’s labor force participation and as a cost-efï ¬ cient tool to promote human capital development by investing in early childhood development. These ideas form part of an emerging global paradigm (Jenson and Saint-Martin 2003; Jenson 2010; Mahon 2010) and seem to have ï ¬ ltered down to the national level with several Latin American countries experimenting with childcare-related reforms.2 The combinat ion of protection and promotion implicit in this selection is also highly relevant from a gender perspective. While childcare services and parental leaves can facilitate women’s engagement in paid employment, pension systems can be designed in ways that translate labor market inequalities into unequal entitlements in old age. They thus represent two sides of the same problem, namely the extent to which the gender division of labor affects women’s and men’s differential access to income and social security. The remainder of the paper is structured as follows. The next section brieï ¬â€šy illustrates the rationale for choosing marketization, maternalism, and male-breadwinner bias as key dimensions for assessing continuity and change. It takes a historical and  regional perspective to show how they became embedded in Latin American systems of social provision. The second half of the paper then provides a detailed analysis of recent reforms in Chilean pension, childcare, and maternity leave policies. The ï ¬ nal section draws out some comparative conclusions about the extent to which the recent reforms have dealt with the key legacies of marketization, maternalism, and male-breadwinner bias. Maternalism, Male-Breadwinner Bias, and Market Reform  Trajectories of welfare state formation and change in Latin America are in many ways different from those of advanced economies in Europe or North America that have formed the basis for theory building. The most important difference is probably the dynamism and radicalism with which development strategies have been recast over the last century (Sheahan 2002, 4). Thus, many countries moved from state-led import-substituting industrialization (ISI) in the post-war period to the rather radical application of neoliberal prescriptions following the recessions and debt crises of the late 1970s and early 1980s. These transitions left distinct legacies in systems of social provision. From the often incomplete formation of welfare institutions in the post-war era, governments in the region turned to retrenchment, deregulation, and privatization. Redistributive and universalist aspirations—however exclusionary or stratifying these had been in practice (Filgueira and Filgueira 2002)—were buried with the shift to market-led development and the region moved closer towards liberal-informal welfare regimes (Barrientos 2004). As the state was scaled back, reforms empowered business interests which became directly involved in education, health, and pension systems.3 Gender roles and norms as well as pervasive gender inequalities across states, markets, and households mediate women’s and men’s exposure to social risks as well as their speciï ¬ c need for social protection and services. Women face particular challenges due to  motherhood and other caring responsibilities that societies largely assign to them (Lewis 1992; O’Connor 1993; Orloff 1993). Yet, these risks and responsibilities have rarely been taken into account in the design of social policies. Thus, Bismarck-style social insurance systems, such as those founded across Latin American countries in the post-war period, had an inherent male-breadwinner bias.4 Women, in turn, tended to access social beneï ¬ ts as wives of a male breadwinner or as mothers whose maternal functions had to be safeguarded and protected (Gimenez 2005). Motherhood became the  ´ very basis on which women staked their claims to citizenship rights and states deployed their efforts to mobilize female constituencies. At the heart of this â€Å"civic maternalism† was the belief that women– and in particular their biological and social function as mothers– had to be recognized, valued, and protected (Molyneux 2000).5 This was, in Nancy Folbre’s words, the â€Å"patriarchal trunk† onto which market reform was grafted, but which â€Å"continues to inï ¬â€šuence the shape of the tree† (Interviewed by Razavi 2011). A large body of literature has documented how struc tural adjustment increased the overall burden on women. Thus, where privatization and trade liberalization triggered a rise in male unemployment, women were pushed into (largely informal) paid employment to make up for lost wages. Meanwhile, retrenchment and commercialization of social services shifted more responsibilities for social provision to the domestic sphere, where the prevailing gender division of labor meant that women spent more time on unpaid reproductive work (BenerÄ ±a and Feldman 1992; Sparr 1994; and Elson 1995). In  ´ social protection systems, the move from risk sharing to individualization exacerbated already existing gender inequalities. By tightening the relationship between contributory patterns and pension beneï ¬ ts, market reforms effectively deepened male-breadwinner bias (Dion 2008). In health, private insurance companies were given plenty of rope for deï ¬ ning premiums based on gender-speciï ¬ c â€Å"risks†, such as pregnancy (Gideon 2006). As a result, the costs of biological and social repr oduction were further individualized and passed on to women. Paradoxically, maternalism remained a strong theme in the neoliberal era, at least at the level of public discourse (Molyneux 2000). In short, market reforms layered new gender inequalities onto the already existing legacies of maternalism and male-breadwinner bias. As a result, conservative elements exist alongside (neo)liberal elements in the contemporary welfare architecture of many Latin American countries. How are these legacies challenged or compounded by the current wave of policy innovations and reform? If the state is indeed assuming greater responsibility for social  provision, does this trend provide a more favorable context for redressing gender inequalities? More particularly, does it reï ¬â€šect a greater recognition and redistribution of the responsibilities for and costs of care and social reproduction? The existing literature suggests that there is far more continuity than change in gendered assumptions even as new social programs are being rolled out: Recent studies have argued, for example, that new social programs have paid scant, if any, attention to the underlying structures of gender inequality in labor markets and households (Razavi 2007); that economic and social policies continue to place the burden of social reproduction on families (read: women); that the particular design of social programs tends to reinforce traditional gender roles without providing long-term strategies for women’s economic security through job training or childcare provision (Molyneux 2007; Tabbush 2009); and that new social policies increase social control and surveillance of mothers’ child-rearing behavior and performance (Luccisano and Wall 2009). Feminist research on CCTs, in particular, has tended to stress the persistence of maternalist orientations (e.g., Molyneux 2007; Bradshaw 2008; Tabbush 2009). This literature has been central for understanding the gendered nature of â€Å"new† social policies in the region and much remains to be learned about the actual diversity of  ´ these programs (MartÄ ±nez Franzoni and Voorend 2009) and their impact on women from different ethnic groups (Hernandez 2011;  ´ Rivera 2011). Analytically, however, the focus on a single scheme is insufï ¬ cient to assess the processes through which women’s productive and reproductive roles, social rights, and obligations are currently being (re)deï ¬ ned. Several Latin American countries are experimenting with other social policies alongside the much-cited CCTs, including the introduction of full-day schooling, the expansion of ECEC services, maternity/parental leave reforms, and the introduction of child-rearing credits in recent pension reforms. In each of these areas, equity-oriented reformers struggle with the legacies of maternalism and male-breadwinner bias, on the one hand, and the (ideological and de-facto) importance of markets, on the other hand. I argue that these struggles shape reform processes and outcomes in ways that are more complex and contradictory than the existing literature on CCTs suggests. The following analysis of Chilean social policy sets out to unravel some of these complexities by looking at the recent reforms in pensions, childcare, and leave regulations. Implicit in this approach is an understanding of the state as a concept that helps to contextualize present political conï ¬â€šicts and policy processes (Hay and Lister 2006). In other words, previously enacted policies, institutional choices, and strategic interactions constitute a â€Å"strategically selective terrain† (Jessop 1990, 203) that structures present political conï ¬â€šict, rendering it more conducive to some  demands than others. While not determining their behavior, the ensemble of institutions and policy frameworks that comprise the state offer opportunities to and impose constraints on, the political agency of those wishing to effect policy change. The three legacies outlined above form part of the institutional landscape of the state. As such, they are shown to play a signiï ¬ cant role in current attempts of reform and policy innovation. While these legacies constitute the main focus of this paper, they are by no means the only factor that shape change and continuity in Chilean social policy. In fact, sector-speciï ¬ c actors, partisan politics, and particular political contingencies come into play to differing degrees. Furthermore, the continuity and deepening of an economic model based on trade openness, macroeconomic stability, monetary, and ï ¬ scal discipline and ï ¬â€šexible employment, forms the backdrop against which more expansive social policies have emerged as a response to persistent inequality. However, the full meaning of recent reforms cannot be understood without taking into account the gender-speciï ¬ c legacies in each sector.  (En)gendering Change and Continuity: Recent reforms in Chile Chile is a particularly intriguing case for analyzing continuity and change in social policy. On the one hand, it is often portrayed as the country where neoliberal principles have most profoundly transformed economic, social, and political institutions (Kurtz 1999; Filgueira and Filgueira 2002). While radical market reforms were carried out under the aegis of a military dictatorship (1973–1989), many of the model’s features were maintained with the return to democracy. Consequently, the country’s policy framework is often represented as particularly resistant to equity-oriented change. On the other hand, Chile combines market liberalism with social conservatism—two features that conventional welfare regime analysis tends to locate in different clusters (the conservative and the liberal variant, respectively). Female labor force participation is among the lowest in the region (ECLAC 2008), the country’s welfare regime has been described as inherently â€Å"gender biased† (Pribble 2006, 86), and conservative social norms  regarding women’s role in the family loom large (Contreras and Plaza 2010).6 Despite this rather unfavorable context, recent reforms suggest that these frameworks are not carved in stone. Since the early 2000 s efforts to expand social protection, to improve access to and quality  of social services and to strengthen social rights have featured prominently on the country’s social agenda, leading some to argue that Chile may be approaching a â€Å"point of inï ¬â€šection† (Illanes and Riesco 2007, 406). The following sections shed light on the complex and contradictory ways in which the triple legacy of maternalism, male-breadwinner bias, and market reform is addressed by recent reforms in pensions (adopted in 2008), childcare services (signiï ¬ cantly expanded since 2006), and maternity leave (reformed in 2011). Before delving more deeply into the developments in each sector, it is necessary to brieï ¬â€šy describe the broader economic and political context since the country’s return to democracy in 1990. Context of Recent Reforms and Policy Innovations The return to democracy did not entail a drastic transformation of the institutional foundations of economic and social policy inherited from the military regime (Moulian 2002; Taylor 2003; Borzutzky 2010). In fact, in macroeconomic terms the center-left party coalition Concertacion that governed the country from 1990  ´ to 2010 validated and deepened the neoliberal model based on trade openness, macroeconomic stability, monetary and ï ¬ scal discipline and ï ¬â€šexible employment. To offset some of its worst effects, social spending increased steadily which, together with economic growth and employment creation, dramatically reduced absolute poverty from 38.6 percent in 1990 to 13.7 percent in 2006 (ECLAC 2008), although it did relatively little to improve income distribution or lessen social inequalities and fragmentation in education, health, and social protection (Solimano 2009). Explanations for this continuity are manifold, including the formidable constraints placed on  the autonomy of the ï ¬ rst Concertacion governments by authoritarian enclaves in the political  ´ system that granted right-wing political opposition important veto powers; the resistance of business interests whose power increased as a result of market reforms; the weakness of other civil society actors, particularly labor; a political culture eager to avoid the kind of political confrontation that preceded the military coup; and the adoption of market-oriented ideas by key decision makers within the centerleft coalition itself (e.g. Kurtz 2003; Castiglioni 2005; Borzutzky and Weeks 2010; Ewig and Kay 2011). The result of this complex and contradictory process has been described as a Chilean â€Å"Third Way† characterized by an â€Å"unwavering commitment to trade liberalization and privatization despite considerable public opposition† and a â€Å"predisposition to a policy process that discourages participation by civil society and rank-and-ï ¬ le party members, while affording business access to the  highest reaches of government† (Sandbrook et al. 2007, 164–65). This set-up makes some policy areas more amenable to equity-enhancing reforms and innovations than others. As the economic model rests upon a ï ¬â€šexible and restrictive labor regime (Frank 2004), social policy is largely conï ¬ ned to enhancing workers’ ability to compete on the market and to mitigating some of the worst risks that unregulated and precarious employment entails. This goes a long way to explain why the two socialist-led governments of Ricardo Lagos (2000–2006) and Michelle Bachelet (2006–2010) spearheaded health reform, pension reform and childcare service expansion in order to enhance equity, while shying away from reforms related to the country’s labor market where many of the fundamental social inequalities originate. While the  Bachelet administration’s employment policy and labor relations have been described as disappointing, (Lopez 2009;  ´ Sehnbruch 2009), it did turn social protection into a key priority. The concept ual pillars of her strategy included a life-course approach to social protection and the attempt to introduce a rights-based perspective (Hardy 2011). The latter materialized in a gradual lifting of budgetary restrictions on social assistance7 and the progressive relaxation of eligibility requirements for accessing a range of beneï ¬ ts. The life-course approach, in turn, is captured in repeatedly stated commitments to create equal opportunities and protect citizens â€Å"from the cradle to old age†. Tellingly, its translation into policy focused on the two extremes of the life course, namely the reform of the pension system and Chile Crece Contigo, an integrated early childhood protection system that included the massive expansion of childcare services. The working-age population remained caught in the middle with persistently low employment quality, including a high level of job instability and the limited reach of employment-based rights and beneï ¬ ts, a scenario that disproportionately affects women workers (Sehnbruch 2009). 8 Thus, the attempt to square greater equity and social inclusion with an open economy inï ¬â€šuenced the scope and locus of policy change during the Bachelet administration. While acquiring greater visibility, social protection remained subordinate to macroeconomic goals, including those related to employment, understood as not interfering with job creation through greater regulation and rights for workers. In this context, it is particularly surprising that a highly controversial employment-related reform was introduced under the new right-wing government of Sebastian Pinera (2010) which, in ËÅ"  ´ 2011, expanded (women) workers’ rights through a reform of maternity leave regulations.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Huckleberry Finn Moral Development Changes

Huckleberry Finn Moral Development Changes Introduction Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (2006a, pp.1-504), first published in 1884, starts out in a small fictional town of St. Petersburg in Missouri situated close to the Mississippi River, and is set a few decades before the outbreak of the American Civil War. The story is narrated by the protagonist, Huck, and follows his journey wherein he is faced with a number of moral choices, which subsequently lead him to question the morality and supposedly ‘civilised’ nature of society, outgrowing his own instincts of self-preservation and moral deviancy in the process. Using Kohlberg’s theory of moral development (1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76), this essay will analyse how and why Huck begins to take responsibility for his own moral choices, rejecting the prescribed morality of some of the authority figures in his life and accepting that of others, thus demonstrating how life experiences of kindness and cruelty can affect the development of an individual’s mortality. Huck’s Initial Absence of Morality At the opening of the novel, the reader finds Huck feeling restricted after being placed in the guardianship of Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson. This occurs after he has come into possession of a large sum of money as a result of his earlier adventures with friend, Tom Sawyer – who, of course, features alongside Huck in Twain’s earlier text, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2006b, pp.1-375) – and is placed under the widow’s guardianship by a judge who hopes she can â€Å"sivilize† him (Twain, 2006a, p.7) by teaching him the Christian faith. Huck is keen to demonstrate that her attempts have been unsuccessful, describing his desire to join up with Tom’s gang of thieves rather than being trapped in such a respectable household, feeling cramped and sweaty in the new clothes she makes him wear, and being frustrated at not being allowed to smoke, curse or slouch (Twain, 2006a, pp.7-9). He is dismissive of the morality contained within the religious teachings that the widow offers him, noting that he has no interest in the dead are they are â€Å"no good to anybody, being gone† (Twain, 2006a, p.9), and even goes so far as to tell the widow that he would prefer to go to Hell rather than Heaven, because he could â€Å"see no advantage in going where she was going† (Twain, 2006a, p.9). He is similarly pleased to hear that the widow believes Tom Sawyer will go to Hell (Twain, 2006a, p.10), as that means they will be together, showing his flippant approach to serious issues (Blair, 1973, p.138). He also demonstrates his tendency to lie (Twain, 2006a, p.53), steal (Twain, 2006a, p.32), and exhibit his prejudices, such as can be seen in his initial stereotyping of the black slave, Jim, who Huck repeatedly disregards as a simple â€Å"nigger† (Twain, 2006a, p.22). Huck’s morality at this point corresponds well with the ‘pre-conventional’ (otherwise known as the ‘pre-moral’) stage identified in Kohlberg’s theory of moral development (1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76), wherein the individual’s behaviour is dictated by self-interest and self-preservation. His avoidance of further arguments with the widow regarding Heaven and Hell, for instance, is not a mark of respect for the woman trying to raise him as her son, but rather a recognition that pursuing his point would â€Å"only make trouble† for himself (Twain, 2006a, p.9). His response is dictated by the possibility of punishment or gain, rather than by a moral sense of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76). This is also demonstrated by Huck’s adherence to superstitious behaviour and beliefs, such as his worry that burning a spider will bring him bad luck, his use of horseshoes to frighten bad spirits, and the binding of his hair to ward off witches (Twain, 2006a, p.10). However, it is important to note the distinct lack of authority figures in Huck’s life that would have provided him with moral guidance and ensured his beliefs did not become confused during his early childhood. Bloom (2005, n.p.) supports this by stating that â€Å"Huck is an impoverished and uneducated orphan who [has to] raise himself in a corrupt and bigoted world†. Little information is supplied about Huck’s mother, but Huck reveals that he was regularly beaten by his father (Twain, 2006a, p.23) and thus reacts to Pap Finn’s unannounced return with fear and suspicion (Twain, 2006a, p.25), concerned that his father is after his fortune. Although Widow Douglas treats him with kindness, he is initially resistant to the love and lessons of morality she offers him. Altschuler (1989, p.31) notes that Huck’s early experiences are the reason why he cannot accept Widow Douglas as a substitute mother figure at this stage. Altschuler (1989, p.31) observes that his moral development would likely have been stunted during early childhood, as â€Å"motherless children have great difficulty developing into moral human beings†. Viewed in regard to child attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988, cited in Waters et al, 2005, pp.80-84), Huck’s comments regarding the non-importance of moral lessons given by those who are â€Å"[long] gone† (Twain, 2006a, p.9) and his subsequent trust issues are particularly pertinent, as they suggest Huck’s ability to form paternal attachments has become disorientated (Ainsworth et al., 1978, p.282). Huck’s ‘Bad’ Morality, Personal Sympathy and Dilemma of Conscience After being placed in the custody of his father and moved to an isolated cabin, Huck fakes his own death in elaborate fashion (Twain, 2006a, pp.35-36) before escaping down-river to Jackson’s Island. He appears to feel no remorse for doing so. It is here that Huck re-encounters Jim, the black slave of Miss Watson, who Huck discovers has also run away (Twain, 2006a, p.43). It is at this point that the protagonist is faced with the first of the series of moral questions which serve to define his character as the novel progresses. Huck initially agrees to help Jim escape to freedom, although he recognises that by keeping his promise to not inform the authorities, he would be thought of by others as a â€Å"low-down Abolitionist and despise[d]† (Twain, 2006a, p.44) – an idea which he is clearly affected by later, as he decides to betray his friend and turn him over to the authorities. It is anticipation of their arrival in ‘free’ country that sparks Huck’s intended betrayal – he realises that he will be considered an accomplice of Jim’s because, although he did not actually help Jim with his initial escape, he has remained silent since (Twain, 2006a, pp.79-80). As can be seen in the passage outlined below, Huck’s conscience is very much orientated towards a white, middle-classed conception of morality wherein the concepts of ownership, law and order are valued much more highly than a slave’s right to freedom: ‘Conscience says to me: ‘What had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean?’’ (Twain, 2006a, p.80). Huck is even more horrified to learn that Jim intends to free his family one way or the other, and is prepared to ‘steal’ them away in order to ensure their safety. He is unable to view Jim’s family as anything other than another man’s property, and feels compelled to turn him in as soon as he is able: ‘Here was this nigger which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children—children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know; a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm My conscience got to stirring me up hotter than ever, until at last I says to it: ‘I’ll paddle ashore at first light, and tell.’’ (Twain, 2006a, p.81). In terms of moral development, this passage (and subsequent events) sees Huck entering into the second stage identified by Kohlberg (1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76), which is known as the ‘conventional’ stage of morality. Although Huck has begun to accept some form of morality (i.e. by trying to determine what is the ‘right’ thing to do), he judges his actions only in relation to societys views and expectations, rather than relying on his own personal judgment. In rural Missouri during the period leading up to the American Civil War, slave ownership was widely accepted as a legitimate form of possession and was not subjected to critical pressure – subsequently, Huck views turning Jim in to the authorities as being the ‘right’ thing to do, despite the fact that Jim has shown him only friendship, and Miss Watson (and the ‘civilised’ society she represents) has mainly offered him criticism, chastisement and cruelty. According to Bennett (1974, p.127), this is a typical example of ‘bad’ morality, meaning the principles upon which a moral code is based have become somewhat skewed and require re-examination. One of the ways this can occur is when emphasis is placed in an individual’s mind upon what is legally, rather than morally, right (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76). However, Huck experiences a change of heart when he paddles away from Jim intending to turn him in, and Jim calls out that Huck is â€Å"de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had, en de only fren’ ole Jim’s got now† (Twain, 2006a, p.81). Huck loses his nerve, and lies to the authorities when asked the skin colour of his companion (Twain, 2006a, p.82). It is important to note here that some critics would argue that this does not constitute a sufficient moral shift, as Huck’s change of heart is not initiated by a realisation of the inhumanity of slavery, but rather his reluctance to betray a friend in his time of need – thus, the black struggle is reduced to a motif no more powerful than Huck’s imprisonment at the hands of his father which, although awful, cannot compare to the horror that was enslavement (Lester, 1999, p.201). Huck does begin to show a level of remorse for his pranks and jests as well though, as can be seen when Jim reprimands him for making him think that he dreamt up the fog that separated them briefly and made Jim so anxious. Jim tells Huck that: ‘My heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’t k’yer no mo’ what become er me en de raf’. En when I wake up en fine you back agin’, all safe en soun’, de tears come en I could a got down on my knees en kiss’ yo’ foot I’s so thankful. En all you wuz thinkin ’bout wuz how you could make a fool uv ole Jim wid lie. Dat truck dah is trash; en trash is what people is dat puts dirt on de head er dey frens en makes em feel ashamed’ (Twain, 2006a, p.79). As Trilling (1960, p.195) notes, the sense of shame and humility that this sparks in Huck leads him to be compelled to apologise for his behaviour, stating that after â€Å"fifteen minutes [of] work[ing] [him]self up to go and humble [him]self to a black person [he] done it, and warn’t sorry for it afterward† (Twain, 2006a, p.79). Though, again, this passage has been criticised for portraying Jim as being something less than human (Lester, 1999, p.202), it does indicate that the distance between the two characters is closing in Huck’s mind. Huck’s Increased Morality in the Face of Hypocrisy, Cruelty and Deception Once separated from Jim in Kentucky, Huck is offered shelter with the aristocratic Grangerford family (Twain, 2006a, p.87) after confirming he has no connection with the Shepherdsons, a family who – despite attending the same church and subscribing to a religion that teaches â€Å"brotherly love† (Twain, 2006a, p.97) – have been locked into a blood feud with the Grangerfords for the last thirty years. The irony of a religious community that accepts feuding as part of everyday life and allows the carrying of guns in church is not lost on Huck who, despite his age, has begun to recognise the hypocrisies existing within the supposedly ‘civilised’ society (Tucker, 1990, p.17). After unwittingly helping Miss Sophia elope with a member of the Shepherdson family by passing a message hidden in a Bible, Huck witnesses the ambush and murder of various male members of the Grangerford family, including his young friend Buck (Twain, 2006a, pp.101-102), in an act of retaliation by the Shepherdsons. Huck is subsequently left questioning the validity of the community’s customs-based morality. According to Kohlberg (1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76), this signals that Huck has entered into the final stage of moral development, which is known as the ‘post-conventional’ level. Here, an individual is able to examine the laws, traditions and customs of a community and evaluate whether or not these promote its general welfare (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76). Where laws and customs are not found to promote the ‘greatest good’ for the greatest number of people, they can be abandoned accordingly (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76). Subsequently, Huck shows increased sympathy for ‘outcasts’ like himself and Jim – who, after the murders of Grangerfords, he is reunited with (Twain, 2006a, p.102) – and behaves in a more charitable manner. When he and Jim come across the â€Å"Duke† and the â€Å"King† fleeing an angry mob (Twain, 2006a, pp.106-108), Huck decides to help them without any real hesitation or wariness (Carrington, 1976, p.76), although he comes to regret this later. The two men commit a number of money-making scams which Huck finds amusing at first, such as the Royal Nonesuch show swindles, but later, when they become caught up in an inheritance fraud in which the two crooks try and imitate the Wilks’ brothers, Huck has a change of heart and informs the niece of the deceased that the Duke and the King are, in fact, common criminals (Twain, 2006a, p.162). Despite the fact that he made his fortune through theft and mischief, he sees the error in the two criminal’s actions and wants to see justice done – a clear indication of his shifting morality. Another notable moral development comes in the form of Huck’s decision to rescue Jim from the Phelps’ farm, after learning that the Duke and the King have resold Jim into slavery and he is to be returned to his original home with Miss Watson (Twain, 2006a, pp.179-180). Despite Huck’s initial intention to write to Tom Sawyer and let him know Jim’s location, to thus allow Miss Watson to retrieve her ‘property’, this decision conflicts with Huck’s increasing sense of individual morality and responsibility. Although some of the worries he expresses are selfish, such as the shame he would experience if anyone knew he â€Å"helped a nigger to get his freedom† (Twain, 2006a, p.180), he is equally distressed that Jim has been condemned to live as a slave amongst strangers for â€Å"dirty† money (Twain, 2006a, p.180). Consequently, he tears up the letter, stating he is willing to go to Hell for his actions: ‘I took [the letter] up, and held it in my hand. I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things.†¦ I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: â€Å"All right, then, I’ll go to hell† – and tore it up’ (Twain, 2006a, p.182) Although this statement mirrors his earlier sentiments regarding going to Hell, this time there is no flippancy to his comment. As his conscience and sense of morality has developed, Huck has abandoned superstitions in favour of prayer and adherence to religious morals, and so the decision to go against the moral norms of civilised society and selflessly embrace his punishment for helping his friend represent a significant shift in his principles. Trites (2012, n.p.) argues that Huck’s recognition of Jim’s right to freedom demonstrates his whole-hearted rejection of the conventional morality of Southern racism, but Lester (1999, p.201) disputes this, arguing that Huck is only able to justify his fondness of Jim by stating â€Å"he was white inside† (Twain, 2006a, p.232), thus demonstrating Huck’s inability to â€Å"relinquish whiteness as a badge of superiority† (Lester, 1999, p.201). Huck enlists Tom’s help to set Jim free when, by pure coincidence, it turns out that Tom is the nephew of the Phelps’ and is expected to visit. The two boys undertake an elaborate ploy involving secret messages, a hidden tunnel, a rope ladder sent in Jims food, and other elements from adventure books Tom has read, including an anonymous note to the Phelps warning them of the whole scheme (Twain, 2006a, pp.202-210). It is later revealed that Jim is actually already free – a fact which Tom Sawyer was already in possession of, but failed to mention – as his owner died and freed him in her will (Twain, 2006a, p.243). Tom’s thoughtless and reckless behaviour is demonstrative of the self-serving ‘pre-morality’ which also defined Huck in the opening stage of the novel (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76). Huck, though, has evolved to the ‘post-conventional’ stage of morality (Kohlberg, 1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76), wherein laws are valid only insofar as they are grounded in justice, and a commitment to justice carries with it an obligation to disobey unjust laws. He acted under the belief that he would be punished for his actions, with Jim’s best interests at heart, rather than his own. For many critics, the juxtaposition of these two characters’ attitudes serves as a â€Å"silent but eloquent comment† regarding the ability of a â€Å"sound heart† to correct a â€Å"deformed† conscience (Twain, 1985, cited in Hutchinson, 2001, p.xvii; Blair, 1973, p.343). Huck also demonstrates a sense of Christian compassion when, at last, the Duke and the King are captured by the wronged townsfolk and the two men are subsequently tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a rail (Twain, 2006a, p.447). Instead feeling a sense of pleasure in this revenge, Huck instead feels pity and reflects on how cruel human beings can be to one another: ‘They had the king and the duke astraddle of a rail Well, it made me sick to see it; and I was sorry for them poor pitiful rascals, it seemed like I couldnt ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world. It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings can be awful cruel to one another’ (Twain, 2006a, pp.447-448). Gone is the prankster who enjoyed the downfall of those who wronged him – Huck is, in contrast to his earlier character, compassionate and uninfluenced by the opinions of the other townsfolk. Kohlberg (1981, cited in Gibbs, 2003, pp.57-76) and other literary critics (Chadwick-Josua, 1998, p.116) would argue that Huck is no longer restricted by what society believes he ought to think, as he has completed all three stages of his moral development. Conclusion As has been demonstrated in the essay above, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain 2006a, p.1-504) is a tale about how society tends to corrupt true morality, freedom and justice, and how individuals like Huck must follow their own conscience and establish their own principles based on a ‘post-conventional’ concept of morality. Though Huck undoubtedly undergoes a moral transformation, there is considerable debate over whether racial prejudice still exists at the end of the novel. However, despite this, Twain’s novel remains a prominent and frequently referred-to example of how an individual’s morality can develop in response to life experiences, even when that individual is hindered by a pre-existing sense of a ‘bad’ morality. In the end, Twain believes that a sound heart will win out against a deformed conscience and, after reading this text, it is not difficult to share in that hope. Bibliography Ainsworth, M.D., Blehar, M., Waters, E., Wall, S. (1978) Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. Altschuler, M. (1989) ‘Motherless Child: Huck Finn and a Theory of Moral Development’, American Literary Realism 1870-1910, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 31-42 Bennett, J. (1974) ‘The Conscience of Huckleberry Finn’, Philosophy, Vol. 49, pp. 123–134. Blair, W. (1973) Mark Twain Huck Finn (Library Reprint Sales edition). Los Angeles: University of California Press. Bloom, H. (2005) Background to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Blooms Literary Reference Online. [Online] Available from: http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54SID=5iPin=BGTAOHF3SingleRecord=True. [Accessed 13/10/2014] Bowlby, J. (1988) A Secure Base: Clinical Applications of Attachment Theory. Routledge. London. Carrington, G.C. (1976) The Dramatic Unity of Huckleberry Finn (Ohio State edition). Columbus: Ohio State University Press. Gibbs, J.C. (2003) ‘Kohlberg’s Theory: A Critique and New View’, in Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman. London: Sage Publications, pp.57-76. Hutchinson, S. (2001) ‘Introduction’, in Twain, M. (wtr.) Hutchinson, S. (ed.) Tom Sawyer Huckleberry Finn. London: Wordsworth Editions, pp.vii-xix. Kohlberg, L. (1981) Essays on Moral Development, Vol. I: The Philosophy of Moral Development. 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