Difference Between Intrinsic and Instrumental Value

Difference Between Intrinsic and Instrumental Value The distinction between intrinsic and instrumental value is one of the most fundamental and important in moral theory. Fortunately, it is not difficult to grasp. You value many things, such as beauty, sunshine, music, money, truth, and justice. To value something is to have a positive attitude toward it and to prefer its existence or occurrence over its nonexistence or nonoccurence. You can value it as an end, as a means to some end, or both. Instrumental Value You value most things instrumentally, that is, as a means to some end. Usually, this is obvious. For instance, you value a washing machine that works- purely for its useful function, or instrumental value. If there were a very cheap cleaning service next door that picked up and dropped off your laundry, you might use it and sell your washing machine because it no longer has any instrumental value to you. One thing nearly everyone values to some extent is money. But it is usually valued purely as a means to an end. It has instrumental value: It provides security, and you can use it to purchase things you want. Detached from its purchasing power, money is just a pile of printed paper or scrap metal. Intrinsic Value There are two notions of intrinsic value. It can be: Valuable in itself  Valued by someone for its own sake If something has intrinsic value in the first sense, this means that the universe is somehow a better place for that thing existing or occurring. Utilitarian philosophers like John Stuart Mill claim that pleasure and happiness are valuable in and of themselves. A universe in which a single sentient being is experiencing pleasure is better than one in which there are no sentient beings. It is a more valuable place. Immanuel Kant holds that genuinely moral actions are intrinsically valuable. He would say that a universe in which rational beings perform good actions from a sense of duty is an inherently better place than a universe in which this doesn’t happen. The Cambridge philosopher G.E. Moore says that a world containing natural beauty is more valuable than a world without beauty, even if there is no one there to experience it. To these philosophers, these things are all valuable in and of themselves. This first notion of intrinsic value is controversial. Many philosophers would say that it makes no sense to talk about things being valuable in themselves unless they are actually valued by someone. Even pleasure or happiness are only intrinsically valuable because they are experienced by someone. Value for Its Own Sake Focusing on the second sense of intrinsic value, the question arises: What do people value for its own sake? The most obvious candidates are pleasure and happiness. People value many things- wealth, health, beauty, friends, education, employment, houses, cars, and washing machines- because they think those things will give them pleasure or make them happy. It may seemingly make sense to ask why people want them. But both Aristotle and Mill pointed out that it doesn’t make sense to ask why a person wants to be happy. Most people value not only their own happiness, they also value the happiness of other people. They are sometimes willing to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of someone else’s. People also sacrifice themselves or their happiness for other things, such as religion, their country, justice, knowledge, truth, or art. Those are all things that convey the second characteristic of intrinsic value: They are valued by someone for their own sake.

Comparisson of Film and aa Case of Racism Research Paper

Comparisson of Film and aa Case of Racism - Research Paper Example First, the plot of the film is discussed, which is necessary to develop a basic understanding of the backdrop of time and place of the story. This is followed by a discussion on the historical context of the film. Next, an analysis section has been incorporated to assess the effects of the film. Finally, the thesis concludes by justifying the opinion that the historical context of â€Å"The Color Purple† is related to settler racism. The Plot The film â€Å"The Color Purple† has been directed by Steven Spielberg. It is a film under the category of period drama. It is based on the famous novel having the same name written by Alice Walker. The background of the film is set in Georgia (Southern United States). The events of the story take place from 1880s to mid 1930s. The story is mainly centered on a black woman, Celie, who faces incest by her father in her own family. In an environment of isolation and poverty, she is deprived of education and does not know about her le gal rights. She constantly receives rude behavior and is beaten by her father. The same story continues even after she gets married to a widower, named Albert. For a short time, her sister Nettie comes to live with her and her husband. Nettie and Celie spend some good time together, but Nettie had to leave because of Albert’s sexual interest in her. Following several ups and downs, other black women like Shug and Sofia are also introduced in Celie’s life. These women give Celie confidence and help her to face the tortures of her husband. However, Celie develops homosexual relationships with Shug. Sofia, on the other hand, was victimized by circumstances and exploitation. She is beaten up, jailed, and tortured. The story advances through many other events, which exhibit the socio-economic situation of black people together with the plight of Celie. However, the film ends at the reunion of Celie and Nettie, and their children. Albert also changes from a harsh, abusive ma n to a kind and understanding person at the end of the film. Historical Context Prior to the Civil War of America, the black population in the country was subjected to direct slavery and they lived in sub-human conditions. In the middle of nineteenth century, Abraham Lincoln changed the situation significantly. However, political and constitutional changes took time to become socially effective in real sense and this was discernable in the 1880s too. The timeline covered in the film starts at this crucial point. Discrimination towards the black people, economic deprivation, and continued frustration might explain the intolerant and cruel attitude of the black males towards the women in the community at this stage. Socio-economic discrimination and deprivation might adversely affect the socio-sexual behavior of the black males, leading to incest, rape, and sexism. The fight for civil liberties had not begun at that time, and nobody like Martin Luther King had appeared in the scene. T he domestic violence faced by Celie, a black woman, is actually an internal manifestation of the settler racism faced by the black community itself. Notably, when black women faced torture and incest, their white neighbors did not come to rescue them. They did not arrange for economic parity and education †¦ neither for the black men nor the black women. The treatment

Explain what the current situation is, what problems are in evidence Essay

Explain what the current situation is, what problems are in evidence and how those problems should be addressed - Essay Example There are different inventory models and policies for single supplier and multiple suppliers and allied benefits as well as drawbacks for each of them which would be evaluated in the report. Certain recommendations related to purchasing and inventory functions would also be rendered so that the existing difficulties can be alleviated by a considerable extent. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction Inventory is defined as the stock of materials or any other item that is being used by an organisation. It is further defined as the idle resource of any kind that has a considerable economic value. It has been observed that inventories are supervised in order to meet the future demands of the process of production. The term ‘inventory management’ is regarded as the process of maintaining the finished goods, and the semi-finished raw materials of companies or any other business. It has been learnt that efficiently managed i nventory would result in an increase in the revenue by cutting down the cost of the company. The process of inventory management commences as soon as the company starts its production and orders the required raw materials for the same. In case of a retailer, the process commences as soon as it places an order to the wholesaler. ... faces certain difficulties in purchasing and managing inventories for the parts and materials of diverse brands for providing services to the customers. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company is concerned about the future requirements of vehicles parts and materials to meet the ever-increasing needs and demands of the customers. Based on the understanding of the case study, the report intends to illustrate the differences in inventory policies when there are multiple suppliers involved. The report would further discuss about the weaknesses in the current inventory management practices of Lancaster Motor Group and recommend appropriate measures to tackle the difficulties particularly related to purchasing and inventory function. Q.1. How Might Purchasing And Inventory Management Policies And Procedures Differ Because The Dealerships Purchase Different Types Of Service Parts And Materials (E.G. Lubricants Versus Genuine Parts) From Different Types Of Suppliers? Galena Markovi c was quite concerned about the future prospect of the company. She did not want the company to face the problem that other companies are facing with regard to managing the purchase of varied parts of automobiles in future. As it has been noticed that the company had a good reputation in terms of the deliverance of services, she became more concerned about its operations. For these reasons, she began thinking regarding supply chain and inventory management to resolve a bit of her concerns and pressures. However, as she is selling the product of four companies, she would have to buy the parts from various suppliers (i.e. multiple suppliers). In this regard, she would need to follow inventory policies different from that of the usual inventory management policy of single supplier. When a

Assessment of the War on Terror Essay Example for Free

Assessment of the War on Terror Essay The necessity and the non-necessity of wars in the course of human history and societal change may be seen from two diametrically opposing views. On the one hand, it is considered necessary in the sense similar to Adolf Hitler’s stance on war and its critical function in the evolution of man and society. In his work entitled Mein Kampf, he writes, â€Å"Mankind has grown strong in eternal struggles and it will only perish through eternal peace† (1943, p. 45). On the other hand, pacifist thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi do not assent to the idea that wars are necessary. On the contrary, his notion of civil disobedience is founded on the principle of â€Å"ahimsa†, that is, total non-violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Gulf Wars, a term currently used to refer to the series of wars which occurred in the past two decades with its culmination in what is popularly known as the United States of America’s Invasion of Iraq in 2003.The striking fact though is that the different moral convictions of the people is made manifest even in their choice of words to refer to the aforementioned Invasion of Iraq. Invasion is a derogatory word. The concept of invasion assumes the existence of a hostile party who will cause turmoil and havoc within another territory. However, for those who assent to the Bush administration, the proper term is not invasion but rather, liberation. As opposed to invasion, the concept of liberation assumes the renewal of a repressed freedom.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These insights point out that human social reality is held fast by systems of power and power relations, most especially in the context of international politics and a globalized, capital-driven economy. Globalization is indeed, the current paradigm. This paper’s task involves an evaluation of the political motivations that can justify the necessity of war. One may perceive the current United States War on terror in two ways. First, one may perceive it as an appeal to the Messianic aspect of man in terms of which man enables the liberation of his neighbor from conditions that restrict his freedom. Second, one may view it as a country’s plight for continuous economic growth thereby sacrificing the life of the few and the interests of other nations for the procurement of its own interests. It is important to note that Bush Administration’s War on Terrorism can be summed as a country’s plight for economic power at the expense of the blood of the â€Å"few†.    If such is the case, the aforementioned war does not thereby adhere to the main propositions of what may considered, as a just war, which states that the use of force by one nation against the other, is always wrong unless the latter has forfeited its basic rights (Lackey 222). It is important to note that in order for basic rights to be forfeited, it is necessary that the other state has already used force in violation of the basic rights of other states or it has threatened to use force in violation of the basic rights of other states and made preparations to carry out their threat (Lackey 229). Another instance wherein a state has forfeited its basic rights is apparent during instances wherein its ability to govern is disrupted by a secessionist movement which is representative in character or when the state in question has engaged in massive violations of basic personal rights (Lackey 229). These conditions, however, were not initially met by Iran before the aforementioned War on Terror. References Hitler, Adolf (1943).   Mien Kampf.   Trans. Ralf Manheim.   London: Houghton Mifflin. Lackey, Douglas.   â€Å"The Ethics of War and Peace.†

Presidencial Election Essay -- American Government, Politics

Every four years, the presidential election cycle sparks a renewed interest into American politics. While the candidates debate on what seems like a weekly occurrence, the public itself is in a struggle to find out who best suits their interests. Rhetoric resembling that of Kennedy and Reagan reappears and talk of â€Å"Change† invokes a sense of optimism. However, many fear that the nominees are simply attempting to win over the electorate, and what began as a promise on the campaign trail will evolve into the status quo in Washington. Examining the past can provide insight into the future and provide direction for a political party. I am choosing to compare the positions of four distinct groups: Colorado Democrats, Libertarians, as well as the ’28,’68, and 2008 platforms of the Democratic Party. State Party vs 2008 National Party (Health Care Reform) One of the most intriguing core values of the Colorado Democratic Party is its stance on Healthcare. They believe that the health of its citizens is of the utmost priority. The State party has indicated that the healthcare system â€Å"should be focused proactively on wellness, preventive medicine, public health, and disease prevention, as well as primary care† (CO Democratic Party, 2010). Additionally, the party supports President Obama’s healthcare reform legislation â€Å"as a first step toward a quality universal single-payer health care system, independent of employment† (CO Democratic Party, 2010). On the national level, the Democratic Party platform for 2008 bares a strong resemblance to that of Colorado. President Obama campaigned on the promise of increasing coverage while reducing the cost and social burden. Affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans was a cornerstone of... ...rtion can be defined as a wedge issue: â€Å"policy concerns that may divide the voter bloc of the opposing party† (Liscio et. al. 256). Typically, a pro-choice stance is one that is supported by Democrats, however Libertarians tend to vote Republican and are fiscally conservative. In the past, minority parties have pursued wedge issues to regain control (Liscio et. al 256). During the 1950’s and 1960’s, the Republicans were pushed to the fringe. In 1968, Richard Nixon campaigned on restoring â€Å"law and order†, attracting conservative white Democrats who were unhappy with their party’s position on race (Liscio et. al. 257). In essence, Libertarians are a faction of the Republican party. Every party has a group that branches off and is contradictory, however, they â€Å"have been fairly successful at submerging their differences in order to win office and govern† (Reiter 43).

The Marble Champ

As I began reading the story The Marble Champ by Gary Soto, I realized that the main character, Lupe Medrano, often compares herself to others. As a result, she feels badly about her athletic abilities. She seems to think that she's only good at something in which she can win. Right at the start of the story, Lupe's accomplishments are impressive. But all Lupe seems to notice is that she cannot run as fast as the other girls in school. Another example of Lupe comparing herself to others is when she describes her trouble with team sports. The text clearly says that Lupe was â€Å"no good at sports. † Lupe seems embarrassed that she isn't the star player of the team. Lupe also feels badly that she only recently learned to ride a bike, could only walk in a swimming pool, and rollerblade if her dad held her hand. This shows that Lupe is frustrated that she isn't the best at everything. As Lupe began to think about these things, she had the idea of learning to play marbles. She made the decision to teach herself to play and began feeling hopeful about being good at something which she can compete against others. This reminds me of myself when I am feeling out of practice in something. I compare myself to other people and feel insecure. But when I focus on my positive qualities, I find that I can do a good job. I hope Lupe keeps up her good attitude and feels proud of herself soon.

Differences Between Leo Tolstoy And Fyodor Dostoevsky

Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky are two of the greatest writers in Russian literature and amongst the greats of the world. They both bring up different political and social issues that arose throughout their era in Russia. Tolstoy and Dostoevsky attempt to tackle life’s big questions, the questions that cannot be answered. They have both created forms of social uproar throughout Russian society when controversial novels such as Crime and Punishment and Anna Karenina were published and have continued to have an impact throughout modern literature. Although they are very much the same, they do have outstanding differences in their lifestyle and the way that they communicate with the readers. In general, Tolstoy tends to tell a story of an†¦show more content†¦He focuses on everyday life but also tries to address the deep philosophical and spiritual questions that arise during those everyday events. By addressing the complicated nature of dying within The Death of Ivan Ilych and criticizing Russia’s violence and war prone attitude in War and Peace, Tolstoy was a writer to speak out against the hypocrisy within Russian society and speak upon the things that everyone else was too afraid to say. Tolstoy is a very simplistic writer but that does not make his works any less enjoyable. There are not large words to make things more complicated than they need to be like one may find in other older works of literature. He uses simple language that could be a way for him to try and attract those of the lower class that could read at the time. Tolstoy thoroughly enjoyed the peasant life in Russia and viewed them as ordinary people unlike other high profile members of the upper class Russian society would. Fyodor Dostoevsky was a typical writer of his century in Russia. He was a son of a middle class doctor who wanted to improve the world around him with his literary works. He was very progressive in his writing and had a conservative mindset with lot s of religious references. Dostoevsky’s works are irrational, provocative, controversial,Show MoreRelatedEnglish Literature- an Episode in the Life of an Author5918 Words   |  24 PagesDemythologize-â€Å"The New Testament† -Celebrated the strength of human mind. -Capable of confronting the ultimate meaninglessness of existence. Extentialism in literature.in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Fydor Dostoyevsky Herman Melville Leo Tolstoy Fydor Dostoyevsky’s â€Å"Notes from underground† is a passionate monologue by an embittered angry, selfdestructive figure definably asserting his freedom in the society increasingly controlled by technology. Melville ‘Bartleby the scrivener’-recounts