Book Review of Jody Azzounis Tracking Reason Essay -- Azzouni

Jody Azzouni, Tracking Reason In many ways, Tracking Reason resembles Jody Azzouni’s previous book, Deflating Existential Consequence. The subject matter of each lies at the interface of metaphysics, logic, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophy of language. The style is both entertaining and clear. The positions argued for are so controversial as to sound almost insane. And yet the arguments provided are illuminating, and manage to make the positions seem almost like common sense. Both books are worth reading both for specialists and those interested in a clarifying (if idiosyncratic) take on these issues. In the previous book, Azzouni argued for a type of fictionalism about mathematics. But rather than following Hartry Field in denying the indispensability of mathematics, he simply argues that the indispensability of a form of discourse (and even the truth of existentially quantified sentences!) is not a sign of ontological commitment. This position helps motivate some of the positions in the current book, but I think it isn’t necessary. Tracking Reason advances several separate, but related positions in its three parts. However, for some reason the subtitle has them in the wrong order - Part I argues for a special deflationary account of truth (and deals at length with the semantics and regimentation of natural language); Part II argues that the role of mathematical proof is to â€Å"indicate† a derivation in some mechanical deduction system; and Part III argues that these two positions are (despite appearances) compatible with a non-syntactic view of consequence as a type of truth-preservation. Parts I and II are relatively independent, and I think can profitably be read on their own. Part III depends mo... ...f semantics (topological and Kripke) that are sound and complete for S4 modal logic. The fact that we only know of one semantics for propositional logic has misled us into thinking that its models are more significant than they really are. As I mentioned earlier, this book is modular enough that it may be worth reading parts of this book independently of the whole thing. Although Azzouni says that much of the material of the nine chapters of this book derives from ten 3 papers (cited in the introduction to each of the three parts), they seem to have been edited and unified enough that a reader interested in just one topic may prefer to read the relevant Part (I or II) of this book rather than the separate papers that it is based on. But for anyone interested in the relationships between truth, proof, and consequence, I recommend reading the entire thing.

Infant Feeding and Weaning in Three Countries Essay -- Infant Feeding

Evolution has insured that most women are biologically equipped to give birth and then nourish their offspring for a period of time by producing milk. At some point, young humans stop receiving food from their mothers’ bodies and learn to consume plants and/or animals found in their environments in order to meet their nutritional needs. Within most other species of mammals, this transition happens at roughly the same age and to roughly the same range of foodstuffs for all individuals (Dettwyler 1999). Humans, however, as a uniquely global species with the powerful overlay of culture, exhibit a wide range of behaviors in this arena, with a wide variety of expressed reasons for their choices (Dettwyler & Fishman 1992, Dutta et al. 2006, Notzon 1984, Synott et al. 2007, Van Esterik 2002). Although there are certainly biological constraints on what can be fed successfully to a human infant, and a substantial body of scientific research showing that some choices promote better heal th outcomes than others (Allen et al. 1992, American Academy of Pediatrics 2009, Greer et al. 2008, Ip et al. 2007, Marlin et al. 1980, Ãâ€"hlund 2008, Olsson et al. 2008), there is still a great deal of latitude in the exact content, timing, and introduction sequence of non-milk baby foods. Into this gap, each human culture pours a raft of beliefs, values, norms, and social practices. This paper attempts to summarize, compare, and contrast the dominant infant feeding practices in three modern cultures: the United States of America, Mexico, and Sweden. These three countries and the cultures they house were selected for a variety of reasons. The United States was chosen because the author is a U. S. American with direct experience of its infant feeding an... ... Organization. Complementary Feeding: Report of the Global Consultation, and Summary of Guiding Principles for Complementary Feeding of the Breastfed Child. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2002. World Health Organization. Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2003. World Health Organization. Guiding Principles for Feeding Non-breastfed Children 6-24 Months of Age. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press, 2005. World Health Organization. International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1981. Wutich, Amber and C. McCarty. â€Å"Social Networks and Infant Feeding in Oaxaca, Mexico.† Maternal and Child Nutrition 4.2 (2008): 121-35. Yaron, Ruth. Super Baby Food. 2nd ed. Peckville, PA: F. J. Roberts Publishing, 1998.

Hanson Industry HPL

Abstract Hansson Private Label (HPL) is a manufacturer of personal care products. The company was purchased by Mr Hanson in 1992. The investment represented significant risk for Hanson because a significant portion of his wealth was tied up is a single investment. Over the past sixteen years Hanson has grown the company at a conservative but persistent fashion. He is now faced with an investment opportunity that promises swift growth but also accompanies significant amount of risk. The sales of the private labels are dependent on few larger customers and customer retention is very important to a company like HPL. Recently HPL’s largest customer has approach the company for a large order. The company will need to invest in expanding its facilities in order to meet the order requirements. This is an excellent opportunity for HPL but the downside is that the customer would only commit to a three year contract and the company can bear significant losses if the customer refuses to buy the product after the contract expires. Therefore Hansson needs to accurately calculate the cash flows related to the investment and account for the risk inherent in the investment before he can make decision on the expansion project. Excel Sheet Projections for Expansion Project Investment Appraisal for Expansion Project 2009-2018 Free Cash Flows, NPV, IRR, MIRR Calculation of Cost of Capital Riskfree Rate, Market Risk Premium, EquityBeta, Cost of Equity, Cost of Debt, WACC Sensitivity Analysis of Key Projections Decrease of 10% Current Increase of 10% Capacity Utlilization, Selling Price, WACC, Production Cost Page 1 HPL. tx. txt Questions Covered 1. There are two main parts to any valuation analysis: Projection of cash-flows and discounting them by the appropriate discount rate. Your main objective is to analyze the appropriateness of both these parts. Are the cash-flow projections reasonable? Does the discount rate make sense? 2. Estimate appropriate incremental after-tax cash-flows. Make sure that you explain the appropriateness of your cash-flow projections. 3. What should the discount rate depend on? Discuss. 4. Finally, offer your conclusions including an analysis of strategic implications of the proposal. You are not expected to know as much as the insiders of the firm. They will certainly know more. But, do the best you can.

Racism in “To kill a mockingbird” Essay

â€Å"If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?† (Lee, 259) Harper Lee uses her novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to accentuate the catastrophic nature of racism. Some troubling individuals or groups of people have felt powerful by exercising their dominance over another group claiming they are worthier, stronger, and smarter. The problem of racism has often been associated with the history of the United States of America. Slavery has been abandoned long ago, but for years black people were considered to be of lower class, their capabilities were denied, and their dignity was completely diminished. It took American people hundreds of years to achieve the level of true democracy, when they can grasp the notion of equality between people, including acceptance of differences in gender, nationality, religion, culture, and what most matters in the book we read – race. Discrimination can be shown through the Maycomb community, the Tom Robinson trial, and Boo Radley. As Scout’s cousin told her, â€Å"He’s nothing but a n*****-lover!† (Lee, 94). Segregation could be noticed not only in the Maycomb County, but in the whole Alabama state, and the rest of Southern USA. Black people could not ‘mingle’ with the whites and their children attended separate schools. Adults socialized at places where they wouldn’t be noticed or bother the whites (ex. the black church in Maycomb). They each had their own territories, and assumed it was immoral for them to fuse together. They would go out of their way, saying things such as â€Å"You ain’t got no business bringin’ with chillum here – they got their church, we got our’n† (Lee, 136). The whites and blacks knew very little of each other, and that fear of not knowing became worse by imagining how bad the other side must be. This was also one of the problems that prevented racism to disappear. ‘The Great Depression’ during the 1930s made people (whites) stay focused on their own poverty, made them angry, and stopped them from seeing poverty and hardships on the other side. All these factors made polarization stronger, and created grounds for racism  to grow. The problem of racism and segregation was presented through subtle descriptions of the suburban life of very young and innocent children. Their view of events and relationships in the book was a strong contrast to the negative characters of white racists who wanted to take justice in their hands and execute Tom Robinson. In a child’s perspective, displayed through narration by the author (Scout), portrayed an innocent assumption that all people are the same, and poverty and racism are deeply unfair and brutal things. Seeing events through the eyes of a child (ex. Scout) helps us understand that feeling of hatred and discrimination is not something we are born with, but is often taught by adults. In Maycomb, most people are influenced and taught by their parents and peers that there are certain people in society that do not fit in with other people. Jem and Scout deeply argued the cruel idea. â€Å"I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.† (Lee, 258). Black people are an obvious example, but it’s also people based on their wealth and lifestyle. Scout is restricted from playing with her fellow school-mate Walter Cunningham, her Aunt Alexandra replies; â€Å"Because – he – is – trash, that’s why you can’t play with him† (Lee 257). Her aunt is one of those people in Maycomb who is always injustice. Chapters that describe situation before and after the court trial against Tom Robinson are full of examples of how racism was demonstrated ‘routinely’. Atticus Finch faced huge pressure only because he agreed to defend a black man, which proved that someone could lose their reputation for getting too close with the blacks. Scout got into fights trying to defend her father’s pride, when the kids at her school called him a ‘n***** lover’. â€Å"He had announced in the school-yard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended n*****s.†(Lee, 85). She strongly disagreed with the kids’ terrible judgement on black people, and loathed the sight of it. She would get out of her way to stop the unhuman behaviour, and to defend her innocent and brave father. Love relationships between whites and blacks was strictly forbidden, which was clearly shown in Mayella’s example, who had such a powerful guilt for becoming fond of Tom, that she did not hesitate to lie and attempt to destroy Tom’s dignity and whole life. Tom Robinson recalled while testifying; â€Å"She reached up an’ kissed me ‘side of th’ face. she says she never kissed a grown man before an’ she might as well kiss a n*****† (Lee, 219). Atticus’s speech during the trial was so powerful and would normally touch everyone’s heart and make people start thinking otherwise, but did little to change the outcome. The example of Tom Robinson’s case in the book proves how blacks had no chance to win any case. The whites had all rights to bring accusations against the blacks, and bring them to the court. Mayella’s defender even assumed that he had the right to disrespect Tom by calling him â€Å"boy† (Lee, 223). The trial itself would not do them any favour as the decisions were often made despite clear evidence. Who could expect a different outcome, especially when the jury was made of whites, who were often open racists. One more detail from the book that also spoke about discrimination is when, towards the end, in a mysterious way Jem was attacked, lost consciousness and was brought home by Boo Radley. The Sheriff felt obliged to come up with a cover-up story, so poor Boo would not become the centre of attention. He made up a story that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife and died, and there was no connection to poor Boo Radley. â€Å"I may not be much, Mr. Finch, but I’m still sheriff of Maycomb County and Bob Ewell fell on his knife.† (Lee, 317). The fact that problem was resolved this way also tells us about double standards used for the blacks and whites. If there had been a black man suspected of murder, there would have been no way for him to escape the trial. However, the dignity of a white man had to be protected at any cost. In a way, it is a fair deal, especially after what we have learned about strong prejudice towards mentally and physically challenged people like Boo Radley, which caused him enough misery and suffering. Two main characters in the book carried a hope for the generation that is to come, that things will change. â€Å"Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don’t pretend to understand† (Lee, 100). Both of them (Scout and Jem) were inspired by their  father Atticus, who believed that racism is a disease from which his kids should be saved. Education is one of the key factors that enlightens people, gives exposure to different views, and teaches the wide American population that they have so much in common. Wasting time segregating people of all kinds prevents countries and nations from making huge advancements. â€Å"Why don’t they like the Jews, you reckon, Miss Gates?† (Lee, 281). That is one of the messages Harper Lee wanted to pass on in an indirect way. Fortunately, societies changed for better; more and more people got educated, they learned about tolerance and equality. Atticus’ thoughts truly stand out in this novel. â€Å"You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them† (Lee, 321). The people of Maycomb had horrendous and evil assumptions about black people, and how they do not belong with society. Although they specially thought about them through an outside perspective, they rarely thought about them through an inside perspective. They never knew that they were just innocent people trying to have a good life in America. Through apprehensible context, the novel truly brings out the ugly nature of people, and their gruesome delight of disrespecting and discriminating people of disparity – especially black people. â€Å"I knowed who it was, all right, lived down yonder in that n*****-nest, passed the house every day. Jedge, I’ve asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they’re dangerous to live around ‘side devaluin’ my property-† (Lee, 199). Ignorance can cost people their lives, ruin their families, and bring separations to those who should be united. Harper Lee’s book described all these problems in such a powerful and touching way that many generations of readers will remember its messages.

A Close Analysis for a Single Scene in the Film Farewell My Concubine Movie Review

A Close Analysis for a Single Scene in the Film Farewell My Concubine - Movie Review Example 10. Camera shifts back to Douzi in a close-up shot. He pauses as he realizes his error. This is a one second shot. 11. The next is a medium shot that is taken from behind Douzi as it shows his back. The camera focuses a medium shot at Mister Na as he gets up from his bench. The scene shows Mister Na deliberately walking past Douzi and progressing forward. 12. A close-up shot of Xiaolou standing with other performers with a very annoyed expression on his face. 1 second. 13. The camera shows medium shot in natural light as Mister Na progresses towards the veranda followed by Guan and performers. It also shows Douzi moving towards him as well. Mister Na progresses out of the frame. Xiaolou snatches a tobacco pipe from Master Lian’s hand. The camera now focuses on Xiaolou who spots Douzi and grabs him by the collar and shakes him. 14. The music becomes loud as Xiaolou keeps on shaking Douzi and drags him forward. 15. A 1 second shot of Mister Na, Guan and other elders stopping and looking at what is causing the commotion. 16. Another close-up shot of Douzi being shoved into a chair. 1 second 17. A sharp close-up shot of Xiaolou‘s face very angry and covered in tears. 2 seconds 18. A close-up of Douzi being shaken. Loud music with Xiaolou screaming at Douzi and asking him to open his mouth. Xiaolou shoves the hooked tip of the tobacco pipe towards it. 19. A medium 1 second shot of Mister Na and others staring horrified at the camera. 20. Next is a close-up of Douzi as he opens his mouth. A single frame shot of Xiaolou with his teeth clenched. The tobacco pipe is rammed into Douzi’s mouth and shoved back and forth like a toothbrush on the tongue. Douzi closes his eyes and tilts his head backward. 6 seconds 21. 1 second shot of Xiaolou struggling with the tobacco...Another character Mister Na is introduced in this scene who has been appointed to evaluate the performers of the opera for Zhag’s birthday celebration.The acting done by the boys at this age is very impressive and natural. Especially young Douzi’s role involved a lot of gestures and face expressions, which were delivered to perfection. The character Douzi appears to be central in this scene. However, character movement in this scene involves three central figures Mister Na, Douzi and Xiaolou. Mister Na’s character requires for him to move very rapidly in the scene with little attention to his surroundings, he appears to be a busy man who does not want to spare the time of the day for boys in Peking Opera. Xialou appears to be the bossy and ruthless character in this scene, his movement is purposeful and almost cruel as he attempts to protect the reputation of the Peking Opera. Douzi’s character shows a range of emotions. While delivering his lines as dan, he acts with the poise and gentleness that the role demands. Yet when Xiaolou punishes him for his error, Douzi shows extreme strength and tolerance and accepts the punishments as his f ate.

Bartleby, the scrivener Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bartleby, the scrivener - Essay Example He says that when people smile we think there is no misery in this world. The narrator is feeling closeness to Bartleby because of the strange look the person have on his face. May be the narrator is feeling empathy for Bartleby and wants to share the person’s sadness. He could relate to his problem and feels that being a human he can connect to Bartleby. The narrator feels that there is some mystery behind the person eccentric behavior and weird ways of mannerism. The narrator is thinking deep about the strange situation of Bartleby. The narrator was getting more thoughtful of Bartleby because he is becoming more humane and thinking about the problems faced by Bartleby. The author is getting attracted to Bartley may be because of his unexplained behavior and attitude to work and life. In the climax of the story, the narrator explains that the Bartleby refuses to leave the job. However, the employer had to move his business to another building but still Bartleby refused to leave the office. Here we can see that the narrator is trying to show that Bartleby had a strange connection with this office space. So there is something behind the solitude and sorrow of Bartleby and the office space. In the end new business started in the office but Bartleby remained in the office which shows the connection he has with the place. In the end he was arrested and he remained in the prison doing nothing and starving him to do death which denotes the mystery surrounding his job and his death. The author later discovers that Bartley previously worked in the Dead letter where undelivered mails were got ridden.The author believed that handling such mails of dead people might have affected Bartleby’ sanity. The narrator is stating that the past of Bartleby had a profound effect on the way he was behaving later in his life. He was handling dead letters which was of no use like

Mandatory Overtime for Registered Nurses Research Paper

Mandatory Overtime for Registered Nurses - Research Paper Example opular profession, such as during the early years of the second World War, there was a surplus of nurses and trained professionals were being turned down for jobs. National and statewide assessments of hospital nurse staffing frequently utilize a measure that averages counts of â€Å"the number of nurses or hours of nursing care given the number of patients or patient days of care per hospital (Aiken, Sochalski, and Anderson 1996; Anderson and Kohn 1996; Spetz 1998; Buerhaus and Staiger 1999; Kovner, Jones, and Gergen 2000; Unruh 2002). These calculations provide a rough measure of nursing staff resources given patient volume, but they do not consider the intensity of nursing care† (Unruh and Fottler, 2006). Assessment has various parameters in delivery. The basic assumption of the current research is that mandatory overtime may compromise the quality of the care the client receives from the healthcare professional, because if someone has been made to work 12-hour shifts, they may be more likely to make mistakes with clients. Therefore, the basic issues are of safety in the healthcare delivery environment, in terms of the quality of car e that is received at the bottom line of the client. of personal problems. . Nonetheless, studies like Day’s feature advocacy of the 12-hour shifts of the flex time schedule in terms of support of both patients and nurses. â€Å"12-hour shifts would have positive effects for patients and staff in a ward environment. The results showed that the new shift pattern offered benefits for patients through improved communication, increased continuity of care and more content staff. The study illustrated the potential a new nursing shift pattern involving 12-hour shifts has for patient care, we well as for staff job satisfaction (sic)† (Day, 2004). In terms of advocacy, Day points out that flex time schedules may be a positive devleopment. But the contrary view is also included in Day’s article as a counter-point. â€Å"The report