Kant s Good Will Theory - 1219 Words

Sofia Hughes 817212455 Philosophy 330 Philosophy 330: Major Exam #1 A. According to Kant’s Good Will theory, â€Å"good will† means to act out of an overarching sense of duty and rightness. In order for an action to be borne of good will, it must be done solely because it is the right thing to do, and not because of the results that the action will bring. The only thing, Kant says, that is good without qualification is good will itself. In order for something to be good without qualification, it must be good on every occasion that it is used. Kant supplies three categories of things that are good, but only with qualification: talents of the mind, qualities of temperament, and gifts of fortune or nature. These three categories can only be good when they are had in conjunction with good will. The will is only good through its motives and intentions. B. Kant’s categorical imperative, put simply, is something that must be done. It is a law in itself, and is necessary and unequivocal. It is to be treated as law by all people independent of the desires of the individual, and must be done. This is different from the hypothetical imperative in that the hypothetical imperative is an action done to bring about a specific outcome, and is specific only to the individual who desires that outcome. The categorical imperative applies to all people and must be done regardless of the outcome. For Kant, the moral imperative is the categorical imperative, because it can be applied to a person’sShow MoreRelatedKant s Good Will Theory1219 Words   |  5 Pages According to Kant’s Good Will theory, â€Å"good will† means to act out of an overarching sense of duty and rightness. In order for an action to be borne of good will, it must be done solely because it is the right thing to do, and not because of the results that the action will bring. The only thing, Kant says, that is good without qualification is good will itself. In order for something to be good without qualification, it must be good on every occasion that it is used. Kant supplies three categoriesRead More Ethical and Philosophical Questions about Value and Obligation977 Words   |  4 PagesEthical and Philosophical Questions about Value and Obligation I Recall the distinction between metaethics and normative ethics. Normative ethics deals with substantial ethical issues, such as, What is intrinsically good? What are our moral obligations? Metaethics deals with philosophical issues about ethics: What is value or moral obligation? Are there ethical facts? What sort of objectivity is possible in ethics? How can we have ethical knowledge? Recall, also, the fundamentalRead MoreKant s Theory Of Morality982 Words   |  4 PagesImmanuel Kant is said by many to be one of the most influential â€Å"thinkers† in the history of Western philosophy (McCormick, n.d.), this being said, most of his theories continue to be taught and are highly respected by society. Kant was a firm believer that the morality of any action can be assessed by the motivation behind it (McCormick, n.d.). In other words, if an action is good but the intention behind the action is not good, the action itself would be considered immoral. Those who follow theRead MoreKant s Theory Of Moral Theory1466 Words   |  6 Pagessince Kant s publication of his renowned ethical treatises, deontologists and utilitarians alike have argued over which moral theory is most coherent. Yet, in Mill s critique of Kant, Mill sidesteps this issue, not by directly critiquing Kant s moral theory, but rather by asserting that Kant s moral theory is actually just a for m of utilitarianism. Essentially, Kant s universal law test is nothing more than a veiled appeal to consequences, as Mill correctly claims in his critique of Kant. AfterRead MoreKantian Ethics1459 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals that have a major impact on one`s life. The teachings usually start from a young age through parents, caregivers and educators in society. Due to their influence on young children`s lives it is their responsibility to make certain that young children will learn to make logical decisions that would contribute in a positive way in society. An ethical theory that would best describe people that influence young children would be Kantian`s ethics. His ethical theory elucidates that morality is when weRead MoreKant And John Stuart Mill s Utility Based, Utilitarian Moral Theory1551 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most intriguing aspects of moral theory is not merely analyzing disagreements between renowned, intellectual giants, but examining the ways in which near polar ideologies can arise to similar conclusions based on vastly different rationales. Immanuel Kant s duty-based, deontological moral theory and John Stuart Mi ll s utility-based, utilitarian moral theory are prime examples of antithetical viewpoints that share similar outlooks to ethical subjects such as lying and helping those inRead MoreWhat Has Posterity Ever Done For Me By Robert Heilbroner1626 Words   |  7 Pagesregards to preserving the planet. In this paper, I will present Heilbroner s arguments for posterity, in relation to how we treat our environment. In addition, I will compare two ethical theories, Kant s Categorical Imperative to Mill s theory of Utilitarianism. I will then argue as to why Utilitarianism is more plausible in respect to Heilbroner s environmental view on posterity. Furthermore, I will point out why Kantian theory does not at all support the idea of environmental preservation for futureRead MoreThe Ethics Of Non Voluntary Active Euthanasia1050 Words   |  5 Pagesduty and obligation. A medical professional in such situations have an obligation to fulfill the patient s wishes. The nature of their obligation does not sway based on what they personally think. Patients with dementia have some moments of clarity, but because their brains are still deteriorating, non- voluntary active euthanasia should still be permissible under these conditions. In the theory of deontology, it is defined as â€Å"the focus on the duties and obligations one has in carrying out actionsRead MoreThe Moral Value Of Ethics1261 Words   |  6 PagesDeontology Of the many theories non-consequentialism produces, one is called Deontology. This theory states the only way to complete a moral action is by doing ones duty. In Deontology, the end result is irrelevant meaning bad consequences have no affect on the morality of the action. The thesis I will prove is when deciding on the best course of action the principles of Deontology ethics and their emphasis on considerations of doing ones duty, offer effective framework for the moral value ofRead MoreEssay on Immanuel Kant’s Non- consequentialist Ethical Theory 1369 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction According to Immanuel Kant the driving force behind our actions should be dictated by what is inherently good as sole consideration and not be based upon the effects of what such actions may produce such as the case in the consequentialist theory of cause. In this essay Kant’s ethical non-consequentialist theory will be briefly investigated and a comparison drawn between the two different theories in order to establish merit in employment thereof in practice. 2. Kantian Morality Central

Affirmative Action And Admissions Policies Essay - 2002 Words

Affirmative action has historically been utilized to ameliorate past injustices endured by minorities of color. In 1978 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled race may be considered when used amongst several factors, as part of university admissions policies (Regents of the University of California v Bakke, 1978). The Supreme Court opinion allowed postsecondary institutions to incorporate affirmative action policies into their admission process. Ever since the Bakke decision affirmative action has been challenged in court. However, the Supreme Court has constantly ruled affirmative action permissible when used in a holistic manner. In the meantime, several states have banned affirmative action policies via legislation or voter initiatives. These states include Texas, California, Florida, Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, and Oklahoma. In 2014, Hersch found â€Å". . . the probability of earning a graduate or professional degree from any institution is strongly influenc ed by the status of undergraduate institution† (2014, p.2). Hersch’s findings are important in context as much of the following research explores the link between affirmative action and admission to prestigious universities. Overall, this paper examines the effects of affirmative action bans on students of color and how their chances of enrolling in graduate school may be negatively impacted. Literature Review Alon and Tienda (2007) set out to explore two concepts. First, examine the post-secondaryShow MoreRelatedAffirmative Action: Prejudice in the College Admissions Process941 Words   |  4 Pagesthe college admissions process in the case of Fisher v. University of Texas. Since then, affirmative action has become a big issue in the media; however, many people still do not even know what affirmative action is. Affirmative action is a policy to prevent discrimination on the basis of â€Å"color, religion, sex, or national origin.† Overall, it favors minorities that are often discriminated. It might sound like an excellent policy; however, the use of this policy in the college admissions process isRead MoreThe Precedency: Supporting the Affrimative Action Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action is a government policy that gives opportunities to minorities, women, and any group who has been the victim of discrimination in the past. Affirmative action is the outcome of th e 1960’s Civil Rights movement, growing out of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or gender. It was the 1978 Supreme Court decision, The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which allowed for the use of race-based preferences as a means ofRead MoreAffirmative Action and Higher Education Admissions Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Known as one of the biggest obstacles in higher education to date would arguably be the use of affirmative action within the higher education admission process for both private and public institutions (Kaplin Lee, 2014; Wang Shulruf, 2012). The focus of current research is an attempt to either justify or deny the use of affirmative action within current practices through various higher education institutions, and though any one person could potentially be swayed to side withRead MoreCollege Admissions Vs. Affirmative Action1536 Words   |  7 PagesCollege Admissions Race â€Å"Congratulations! You have been granted admissions to one of the most prestigious universities in the world and have been chosen from among hundreds of thousands of applicants to attend our university.† These are the sentences that every high school senior dreams of seeing, however, it has become a more difficult task as the college admissions process has become increasingly competitive. Complicating the admissions situation is the fact that most elite universities give extraRead MoreAffirmative Action : An Unfair Tool For Disadvantaged Minority Students857 Words   |  4 PagesAffirmative Action admission policies have been highly criticized since their enactment in the 1960’s. Conservatives see affirmative action as an unfair tool for underachieving minority students rather than a policy to correct past racial inequalities and promote a diverse learning environment. This ideology of affirmative action is portrayed in Jim Huber’s political cartoon, number 1 on the list. Penned for a conservative audience, Huber’s political cartoon argues against affirmative action by suggestingRead MoreLegal Writing1315 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative Action College Admissions 2 Abstract Affirmative action has been a strong subject of discussion and debate for more than 30 years. Its use in college admissions has even been heard and ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court. Affirmative action is in essence, a policy or procedure developed by numerous institutions of higher learning to attempt to diversify their student bodies racially and by ethnicity. Looking closer at this procedure will display the advantages and disadvantages ofRead MoreAffirmative Action : Discrimination And Ethnicity Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesLucia Lopez Intro to Philosophy Professor Gill Affirmative Action In â€Å"Arguing Affirmative Action,† Harvard professor Michael J. Sandel discusses the arguments that have arisen from the entry of affirmative action into practice. Affirmative action refers to admission policies, in this case put into effect by universities, that provide equal access to education for groups that have been historically excluded or underrepresented, such as women and minorities. In his essay, Sandel asks whether itRead MoreAffirmative Action Is The Most Important Modern Anti Discrimination1578 Words   |  7 PagesColumbia in the United States of America once said that â€Å"affirmative action is the most important modern anti-discrimination technique ever instituted in the United States. It is the one tool that has had a demonstrable effect on discrimination. No one who knows anything about the subject would say it hasn t worked. It has certainly done something, or else it wouldn t have provoked so much opposition†. This means that affirmative action is a modern anti-discrimination technique that has beenRead MoreEssay on Affirmative Action in College Admissions1132 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative Action in College Admissions Affirmative Action has become one of the most controversial issues regarding college admissions. It is an issue that exposes profiling to its highest extent. Race, gender and income now become vital factors in education opportunities. Affirmative Action is the procedure that is used as a criteria in admissions that will increase the points a college applicant receives on their application evaluation based on the previous factors. Whether race should beRead MoreRace and The Affirmative Action Policies1244 Words   |  5 PagesThe utilization of race in affirmative action policies in higher education has been a topic of contention for several decades now. Since the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we have seen some of the most heated debates over the fairness of affirmative action and the impacts on society the utilization of race creates. With such pending questions on fairness and of the constitutionality of affirmative action policies two major Supreme Court cases have arisen, University of California Regents

Ge’s Two Decades Transformation Free Essays

Transformation: Jack Welch’s Leadership Answer 1 In April 1981 , when Jack Welch became the CEO of GE, US was in recession. There were high interest rates. Strong dollar resulted in country’s highest unemployment rates. We will write a custom essay sample on Ge’s Two Decades Transformation or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this rapid changing and uncertain environment it was extremely difficult task for him to handle a conglomerate as big as GE and ensure that general confidence among the investors is not lost. His predecessor, Reg Jones, had set the bar extremely high at the company leaving a legacy for Welch to compete with as the ew CEO. Also, acquiring new businesses and ensuring that each business unit under the GE umbrella was one of the best In its field was another challenge. Welch was extremely effective in taking over the GE reins. He challenged each to be â€Å"better than the best† and planned radical changes across the company. under his guidance, the company expanded dramatically from 1981 to 2001. * He Instilled In everyone a culture of innovation and learning, and incorporated measures related to new product development, technological leadership, and rates of improvement. * He set he standard for each of business to become #1 or #2 or get out of business. Welch categorized business In 3 circles as core, high technology and services and sold off 200 businesses which all together contributed for 25% of sales. * Even budgeting process got radically changed and evaluation started against external competition rather internally. * Managers that did not fit into or who failed to embrace his strategy were let go. Anything and anyone that didn’t bring value to GE was eliminated. The most Important change he brought in was by eliminating the sector evel and reducing the hierarchical levels from 9 to 4. * Through downsizing, de- staffing and delayering, Welch modestly Increased revenues from $27. bn to $29. 2bn. * Welch made a varsity team where he wanted managers who were ready to accept change, have a strong commitment towards values and willing to break with old culture and most of all ready to take lead and bring changes. Answer 2 Welch’s objectives: To modify the culture of the company to match the needs ot the changing environment and to make sure that each employee embraces the new culture with ease. He created an environment of openness, speed, simplicity and self-confidence. * To get the fundamentals right. * To create a culture of a small company a place all felt engaged and everyone had voice. A forum where employees could not only speak their minds about how their business might run more effectively but also get immediate response to their ideas and proposals. * To increase productivity beyond imagination. He made six sigma a part of the culture * He focused on locating and developing leadership at all levels of the company. GE employees were being developed, evaluated and compensated ased on a demanding evaluation process called â€Å"Session C * To incentivize stronger work ethics, GE revamped its compensation package by offering more stock options tied directly to individual performance for program initiatives. Welch wanted ‘Of3 employees to Teel valued Tor tnelr contrlDutlons, ana nlgnly-compensatea Tor tnelr efforts. Welch based his proposed and implemented changes on proven tactics used by other successful. For eg. Implementation of Six Sigma first stared by Motorola. He realized it was important to develop leaders and break from the conventional to chieve extremely high standards and be at the top, undefeated. So he revolutionized the way GE worked. Answer 3 GE defied critics by implementing not Just strategies to combat the challenges faced but by implementing a long term sustainable strategy that will be a masterpiece for years to come. Although GE had gone through a major reorganization that contributed to its successes, the changing business climate when Welch took over as CEO required more to be done. Welch realized that overcoming the magnitude of challenges would require unconventional leadership and bold strategies. In times of uncertainties and recession, the normal course of action for many businesses is to engage in cost cutting strategies, but he believed investments in the right places during hard economic times enables a company to perform better during and after a recession. Right investments at right time: He offloaded all the unprofitable or not so profitable businesses and acquired companies during the slowdown. This was a clever decision since companies can be bought really cheap during recession. GE had acquired firms that enabled it to expand globally and developed global operations hat resulted in the company almost doubling its international revenue to $42. 8billion * Adapting various strategies which included â€Å"Fix, Sell or Close†. This strategy is an indication that Welch did not adapt cost cutting strategies like many of the companies during that time. Welch ‘s goal of making GE lean and agile resulted in de-staffing and reduction of bureaucracy, eliminating layers of hierarchical that were bottlenecks to growth. * Critics saw the company’s strategy of developing leadership and employee capabilities enhancement as being risky especially in times of ncertainties. However, through the determination of Welch and his team, and the desire for change; the risk paid off contributing to the value of the company. Welch understood that strategy is not about doing things better, but it is about doing things differently through effective decision making and knowing where to compete and how to compete regardless of how radical and risky it may seem to critics. * Through the stretch target initiatives, all employees were asked to prove how good they can be by setting and reaching higher goals that were once deemed to be impossible to achieve. Another important value added to the company was the service business, which contributed to 2/3rd of the company’s revenues. With Welch’s leadership GE ventured into new sectors, and did away with ineffective ones, developed a massive global market that out performed its domestic markets, created a service industry and an E-business. * Last but not the least, his introduction of the Six Sigma quality initiatives led to 62% in turnaround time, return of $750million over the investment exceeding expectations along with a forecast of additional returns of $1. 5 billion in 1999. Thus created a large complex diversified conglomerate that continues to defy the critics and grow in performance and profitability. Answer 4 According to me Welch set the standard really high for the rest of the world. There was so much to learn from Welch’s leadership. He initiated a change in mindset and was successful in doing it, thanks to his commitment and rock solid attitude. Jack welcn’s mlsslon was to restructure tne company In order to Decome tne #1 or # the industry. He embraced change, expected his team to do the same, and challenged his team be â€Å"better than the best†. Furthermore team members had to have the willingness to take charge, to think outside of the box, and most of all to be team players. Welch fostered open communication and created a culture characterized by â€Å"speed, simplicity, and self -confidence. † Welch never rested on his last success; he continued to innovate and to look for ways to grow the business both internally and externally. He understood that GE’s assets were in fact their people and in turn had to be managed as a company resource. Welch’s unwavering involvement in every facet of the business was essential to all of these directives. Everything Welch did reflected his belief in his people and as he once stated. l own the people, you Just rent them. † Without a doubt, Jack Welch’s leadership has left a lasting impact on GE and the business world. Welch’s has left a legacy for his successor. The successor will need to establish him/herself and make a name for themselves. This person will need to clearly communicate their vision and how they will go about accomplishing those goals. He/she will need to continue to foster open communication in an effort to continue to encourage teamwork. Innovation will be crucial if the company is to thrive under the new leadership. How to cite Ge’s Two Decades Transformation, Papers

The Benefits of Tiberius Principate free essay sample

Assess the benefits that the Principate of Tiberius brought to Rome and the provinces in this period The Principate of Tiberius provided stability and prosperity to Rome and its provinces, consolidating the policies and practices established by Augustus. Tiberius worked cooperatively with the Senate and introduced reforms which benefited rule in the provinces and strengthened administration of the empire. While he provided careful oversight of the administration of the Roman Empire and the army, increasingly he sought to delegate his role.He distanced himself from the people with the introduction of the maiestas trials and from the central control of his government by retiring to Capri and relying on Sejanus for information. As princeps, Tiberius sought to restore the traditional rights of the Senate, consulting it on issues such as national revenue, troop movements, building, military commands and foreign policy. While he maintained control, Tiberius avoided intervening more than necessary and encouraged the senate to be an independent body, which was less dependent on the princeps. We will write a custom essay sample on The Benefits of Tiberius Principate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This allowed him to be seen less like a dictator and to gain the respect of the people with their interests in mind. Tacitus mentions, â€Å"the consuls and praetors maintained their prestige†¦ the laws duly enforced†. However, Tiberius and the senate grew further apart as the senate struggled to act on its own initiative, Tacitus commenting they were â€Å"men fit to be slaves†. The senate became increasingly subservient to Tiberius, seeing him as hesitant and reserved in comparison to Augusts, which unnerved them.The senators also feared Sejanus, who had influence over Tiberius, and as a result the relationship between Tiberius and the senate was undermined. As Scullard describes, â€Å"Though at first the senate showed some real independence, it soon realised the risk of encroaching too far†. Understanding he wasn’t popular, Tiberius decided to safeguard himself against treachery and re-instituted the law of maiestas for his own security. Under this law, treason became an offense against the princeps who was regarded to represent the state. By these trials, he hoped to control the senators by fear and prevent them from expressing any opposing views.Even though Tiberius lost much of his initial respect for the senate, maintaining a workable relationship with them benefited the stability of the empire. Tiberius continued the policies Augustus had put in place, as well as introducing several beneficial reforms. He transferred the election of magistrates from the Popular Assemblies to the Senate and paid special attention to his choice of governors and civil servants, ensuring there was more control over who was given power and that they were in the position for a longer term, so they would be able to carry out their position successfully.This also allowed him to have control from a distance when he was in Rome dealing with the provinces and later when he retired to Capri. He was concerned with maintaining public order in Rome and Italy, and according to Salmon, despite his retirement to Capri â€Å"he neglected neither Italy nor the Empire. Even Rome, a place for which he entertained obvious dislikes†. Garzetti describes him as â€Å"a shrewd administrator, generous, but also economical†. In keeping the provinces stable, Tiberius aimed not at expanding the territory b ut putting money back into the already existing empire. When cities in the Asian provinces were destroyed by earthquakes, Tiberius made the inhabitants exempt from paying tax for five years, and he lent the treasury money from his own wealth. The provinces saw Rome cared for its subjects, and consequently Tiberius became very popular in the provinces. Tiberius provided large subsidies to lower grain prices, interest free loans to alleviate a financial crisis and reduced sales taxes. As well as this, he protected provinces from extortion by reforming provincial governments. Tiberius controlled finances leaving a large surplus in the treasury when he died.Cassius Dio explains â€Å"While expending extremely little for himself, he laid out very large sums for the common good†. Tiberius’s administrative policies and reforms were very beneficial to the prosperity of Rome and the provinces. One of the great benefits of Tiberius’ principate was that the empire wasn’t expanded but was consolidated. Following Augustus’ advice not to extend the empire beyond its present frontiers, except when necessary for security had meant that less troops were needed to maintain the borders and money wasn’t spent on wars.As a result, Tiberius was able to retain more money in the treasury to spend on Romanising the provinces and tying them closer to Rome. Tiberius strengthened the eastern frontiers of the empire with diplomacy rather than aggression and limited the annexation of client-kingdoms once they were Romanised. The army maintained strong allegiance to Tiberius throughout his reign, and as Tiberius had had a long and successful military career before being princeps was able to keep strict discipline amongst the legions.Scullard comments, â€Å"He was popular with the army†. Tiberius recruited soldiers from the Romanised people in the provinces a s well as the descendants of veterans as he felt the Italians who were enlisting were lazy. He also delegated any military campaigns to able generals though he took away the title of ‘Imperator’ to victorious generals, reserving it for members of the imperial family. Tiberius understood the benefits to the principate of maintaining control of a strong, well-trained army.One reform Tiberius introduced, where a permanent Praetorian Guard camp was established inside the walls of Rome, ended up having a negative impact on the principate. Previously, the guard was stationed in smaller separate camps, and by uniting them, they were much more conscious of their numbers and the power they held. Commander of the united Praetorian Guard, Sejanus, saw how his own position could be strengthened and sought to gain more influence over the princeps and the senate.Tiberius, who had a close relationship with Sejanus, didn’t realise Sejanus’ intentions of succeeding him as princeps, Tacitus mentioning â€Å"to Sejanus alone the otherwise cryptic emperor spoke fre ely and unguardedly†. When Tiberius discovered Sejanus was deceiving him, he had him killed. The influence of Sejanus over the senate and Tiberius effectively undermined the power of the principate and damaged the relationship between the princeps and the senate. Coming to power as an older man, Tiberius sensibly focused on consolidating Augustus’ rule and set about maintaining a peaceful and prosperous Principate.Keeping a cooperative relationship with the senate was crucial in allowing him to establish strong administrative, political and social reforms that ultimately benefited the people of the principate. By not expanding the frontiers Tiberius was able to focus on improving the existing territory and using a smaller army to uphold it. Enhancing the power of the Praetorian Guard and the outcome of the maiestas trials showed the weaknesses in Tiberius’ rule. However, throughout Tiberius’ reign he maintained fairly conservative policies able to benefit the people of Rome and the provinces.