Emerging technologies- Nanotechnology Research Paper

Emerging technologies- Nanotechnology - Research Paper Example At the same time, technology was coming up with the ability to create simple structures at a molecular level. As the concept of nanotechnology became more acceptable, the word’s meaning shifted to include the much simpler nano-meter scale kinds of technology. Richard Feynman envisioned the theoretical capability of nanotechnology in the 1950s, when he talked about building billions of tiny factories that manufactured simultaneously by maneuvering objects atom by atom. Based on this vision, advanced nanotechnology aims to use mechanochemistry via guidance using molecular systems of machines. Shortly after molecular machinery as envisioned comes into play, it is expected that a manufacturing revolution will ensue. What need does nanotechnology address? The quality of all man-made products is dependent on the atomic arrangement of the product’s components. The cost of these products is also dependent on the process used to produce them, and ease of getting molecules and at oms to link up as we want them (Wilson, 2010). The energy used to create products, and the pollution it emits is also dependent upon the methods used to place, as well as connects the molecules to give out the desired product. Nanotechnology’s goal is to improve the amount of control, over the building process of products, to ensure they are of high quality and do not cause destructive environmental impact. Nanotechnology is one of the world’s hope for the solution to dirty and crude technologies that harm the earth’s biosphere. This technology has been identified as vital in addressing renewable and clean energy, global clean water supply and health improvement, preserving and healing the environment, availing information to all, and enabling the development of space. How does it improve upon existing designs? Nanotechnology can be used to improve on existing designs by allowing for the increased control over matter’s structure, which has been a primary project for mankind since early man. Nanotechnology, in today’s world, is helping to improve many industrial and technological sectors such as transportation, food safety, security, medicine, environmental science, energy and information technology. Most of its benefits are dependent on the ability to tailor essential material structures at the nano-scale in order to achieve particular properties (Einsiedel, 2009). This extends material science’s well-used tools and techniques, via which nanotechnology can be used to make materials better. This could be making materials better conductors of electricity, more sieve-like, more reactive, more durable, lighter or stronger. Already in existence are over eight hundred everyday products sold commercially that are reliant on nanotechnology and its integrated processes. Nano-scale polymer additives can simultaneously make them resilient, durable, stiff and lightweight such as in baseball bats. Nano-scale additives in or on fabr ics can make them wrinkle, stain, and bacterial growth resistant, as well as providing ballistic energy deflections on body armor (Einsiedel, 2009). What technologies does it build upon and/or rely on? Nanotechnology is built upon quantum science and its technology. The quantum size effect describes electron property physics in solids undergoing a great reduction in the size of its particles. This effect comes into play when the nanometer range of size is reached affecting the magnetic, electrical and optical behavior of these materials

Urban Education Movie Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Urban Education Movie Analysis - Essay Example As the report stresses the film shows discrimination of the Hispanic learners in a number of ways. The schools in Los Angeles degraded and portrayed inhuman treatment Hispanic learners by not allowing them to use bathroom facilities at lunch time, deprivation of standard academic services for non-white learners, lack of quality academic learning material absence of a bilingual program and a ban on speaking Spanish in school. The education systems treat the white students as they are from a superior race compared to the Hispanics. This kind of unequal treatment, when compared to white learners, made it unfair for the Hispanics to compete on level terms with their fellow students. From the essay it is clear that the students’ initiative to walk out is a brave and necessary move despite the risks involved. The social movement was inevitable as it raised the issue and triggered others to come out and express their dissatisfaction with â€Å"the system†. The students exhibit heroic traits by rising against the injustices. Failure to do so would have led to continuous non-recognition of their skills, ideas and talents. An ideal education system serves to promote academic excellence as well as contribute towards the realization of their talents. It also inspires students to express their ideas in a platform where there is equality. From the film, it is evident that the oppressed have the obligation to cause alarm so that their plight can be addressed.

Analysing Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill Philosophy Essay

Analysing Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill Philosophy Essay John Stuart Mill opens his essay, Utilitarianism, by mentioning that theres little progress being made toward a standard system that judges peoples actions as morally right or wrong. For over 2000 years, philosophers have tried to lay the foundation of morality, but have yet to come closer to an agreement of what the notions of right or wrong are based on. Mill argues that unlike science where particular truth precedes general theory, ethics needs general laws in order for morality to have legitimacy or significance. (944) In ethics and law, all actions exist to promote a particular end; thus an action can be deemed right or wrong depending on what ends are being pursued. If the ends are good, the action is therefore a good one; if the ends are bad, the action is therefore a bad one. Therefore, it is necessary to know by what standard human actions should be judged. It is important to note that Mill defines moralitys purpose as that of bringing about a particular state of the world. Mill continues and states that utilitarianism, or the greatest happiness principle as Bentham called it, is the cause in forming moral doctrines and keeping them stable and solid over the years. He explains that his essay will be an attempt to prove utilitarianism in ethics and demonstrate why this moral foundation is so central to our existence as human beings. In Chapter 2, Mill tries to present and respond to criticisms against utilitarianism. He notes that many people misunderstand the true definition of the principle. They define it in a restricted and colloquial sense in which utility is the opposition to pleasure. (946) When in reality, it has everything to do with pleasure and absence of pain. Utility or greatest happiness principle hold that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure. (946) He continues and says that pleasure of freedom of pain are the only things desirable as ends. Thus, things are desirable only if they bring about pleasure and prevention of pain; actions are good when they lead to general happiness and bad when they fail to do so. Mill targets the critics that claim that he and other Epicureans reduce and degrade the meaning of life to pleasures like those of swine, and replies that human pleasures are superior to those of beasts. Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetite. (947) Once we are aware of these higher faculties, we will never be happy until these faculties are gratified. When making moral judgment, utilitarianism takes account not just the quantity but also the quality of the pleasures resulting from it. Mill differentiates between high and lower pleasures. A pleasure is of higher quality if one chooses it above any other pleasure, even if its accompanied with discomfort. It is also something that wont be traded for any quantity of the other pleasures. Furthermore, according to Mill its an unquestionable fact that when given many pleasures one would choose that in which appeals to their higher faculties. Even if it means hell suffer more in life, he would never choose a lowe r existence, preferring instead to maintain his dignity. Few human creatures would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals, for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beasts pleasure; no intelligent human being would consent to be a fool, no instructed person would be an ignoramusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (947) Mill continues and responds to those who say that happiness, in any form, cant be a rational purpose of human life and action because its unattainable. In addition, critics claim that people can exist without happiness; that all noble men have become virtuous by renouncing happiness. First, Mill replies its an exaggeration to state that people cannot be happy. If happiness is defined by a perpetual feeling of pleasure, then Mill admits that its impossible to obtain it. The state of pleasure is not long lasting; its temporary and intermittent. He contends that happiness are moments of rapture occurring in a life troubled by few pains and when defined as such is indeed possible to attain. It would be possible to all people, if level of education and social arrangement would allow it. Moreover, those who cant find happiness generally care for nobody but themselves and have failed to open their minds and exercise its faculties; they are selfish and have a lack of mental cultivation. Thus , if people are educated to learn and develop appropriate values, they have the capabilities to be happy. Next, Mill addresses the argument that state that people can do without happiness. He admits that its true that people have existed without happiness, but they were martyrs, doing so voluntarily. This is usually done to achieve an end greater than happiness, which is virtue. The sacrifice of giving up their happiness is done so, so others dont have to make a similar sacrifice. They increase the amount of happiness in the world. They would not commit such an action if it would produce no fruit for any of [their] fellow creatures. (951) However, Mill does say that these martyrs are proof of what men can do, but not an example of what they should do. Nevertheless, the willingness to sacrifice your happiness for that of others is the highest of virtue. Mill specifies that utilitarians only see sacrifices as good insofar it promotes and increases the state of happiness. If it fails t o do so, its considered a waste. He emphasizes that utilitarians judge an act as right if it affects the happiness of all people and not of the individual. The morality of an action depends on the goodness of its results only, and not the motives behind the actions. It is all about consequences. Mill, however, states that since many dont affect large numbers of people on a daily basis, they only need to consider his or her own actions in relation to every individual involved in the action. Its only those who have an impact on the public that should think about public utility on a regular basis. Another criticism against utilitarianism is that it underestimates human nature to find exception to rules. For example, someone will justify breaking the rules by simple stating that a given action increases utility. Mill argues that this is not only the case with utilitarianism; this happens in every moral system. There is no ethical creed which doesnt temper the rigidity of its laws. (956) He further says that having the application of the standard of utility is better than having none at all. A philosophy cannot be binding if it does not contain inherent consequences for those who break the rules. In chapter 3, Mill discusses what motivates us to act in ways approved of by the principle of utility. He explores all the possible sanctions utilitarianism might impose, upon those who do not abide by it. He writes that theres no reason utilitarianism cant have or wont impose all the sanctions that belong to other moral systems. These sanctions can be either external or internal. External sanctions include outer impacts on an individual, such as peer pressure or the fear of gods wrath. Internal sanctions come from within, from ones conscious. It is a feeling in our mindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦attendant on violation of duty. (957) Internal sanctions are more powerful than any external sanction, given that internal sanctions have more potential to influence ones actions. Thus, if internal sanctions provide the strongest influence over peoples actions, utilitarianism must appeal to peoples inner feelings in order to have a binding force on them. Mill believes that moral feelings are acquired and notes that they are no less natural because of it. Moral feelings may not be part of human nature, but they are a natural outgrowth from it. They are capable to spring up spontaneously, but at the same time, they can be cultivated and educated. However, bad moral principles can also be likely to come about due to external sanctions. Because these moral feelings are imposed and not naturally developed, theyre called artificial moral feelings. Mill notes that it is very easy to distinguish between the two. Artificial moral feelings eventually fade and crumble under scrutiny analysis, while naturally developed feelings do not. Since the principle of utility doesnt break down under analysis, we can assess theres a natural basis of sentiment for utilitarian morality. (959) In chapter 4, Mill discusses what is required of utilitarianism for it to be believed as valid, even if its impossible to prove the first principle by logic. If a person can actually see an object that means, that said object is visible. If a person hears something, that means there is sound. With that in mind, Mills argues that the proof of something being desirable is that people desire it. Hence, happiness is desirable since each person desires his own happiness. We can also say that each persons happiness is a good to that person and general happiness a good to all people. If something desirable is an end to an action and happiness is desirable, then its clear that happiness is one of the ends and one criterion of morality. However, in order to show that happiness is the only criterion for morality, its essential to show that people never desire anything but happiness. Mill claims that you could say that people desire things like virtue or the absence of vice which is generally s eparate from happiness. Then again, he argues that happiness is a whole idea with component parts. People desire virtue because its part of happiness and promotes the general happiness. Mill notes that theres a difference in desiring something as a means to happiness and desiring something because its part of happiness. Whether or not its true, can only be answered through self-reaction and observation of others. Mill says that throughout history one of the biggest obstacles to the acceptance of the principle of utility has been that fact that it doesnt allow for a theory of justice. In chapter 5, Mill defines justice and makes the connection between justice and utility. Mill takes on the meaning of justice. He lists things that are commonly associated with being just and unjust. First, it is considered unjust to deprive any one of his personal liberty, his property, or any other thing which belongs to him by law. (965) However, this concept has exceptions. For example, a person may have legal rights he should not have due to a bad law. While people vary whether bad laws can be justly disobeyed, all people agree that laws can be unjust. Therefore, law cannot be the ultimate standard of justice. Second, it is considered to be unjust when someone withholds from any person something he has a moral right to possess. Third, it is considered just when a person receives what he deserves (whether goo d or evil) and unjust when he receives a good or undergoes an evil in which he doesnt deserve. Mill explains that this, is the clearest and most emphatic form in which the idea of justice is conceived by the general mind. (966) People are thought to deserve good things if they have done right and evil things if they have done wrong. Fifth, its considered unjust to show favoritism and preference to one person over another, in inappropriate circumstances. This can be the case in a courtroom, when a judge sways the verdict based on his own fondness and not based on facts. But, when regarding the issue of friends and family one doesnt have to be impartial. Lastly, the idea of equality is seen by many to be part of justice. Mill further investigates the meaning of justice by looking at its etymology. In most languages, the words origin comes from either positive law or authoritative custom. Therefore, the most primitive element of justice is the idea of conformity to the law. Ultimately, Mill argues that the ideas of justice are united by the concepts of rights. In cases of justice, the person who has been wronged has had his or her moral right imposed upon and has the moral right to seek repayment. Mill then turns to argue that the sentiment of justice can be linked to the principle of utility. He says that there are two components to justice. The first is the desire to punish. The second is the knowledge that there is an individual whos a victim of wrongdoing. The desire to punish comes from the impulse of self-defense and the feeling of sympathy. Like all animals, humans have instincts of self-defense. Unlike animals, humans are capable of sympathizing not only with loved ones, but also with strangers, people they have no connection with at all. Justice then, reflects the natural feeling of retaliation and vengeance, expanded by the feelings of sympathy and intellect to apply to things that harm society. These feelings are not moral feelings but we can see the justices moral component can be seen in the way people are outraged by the injustices they see, not just on themselves, but also on everyone else. This demonstrated a moral concern. Mill also claims that the idea of a right is not a concept separate from justice. When we call anything a persons right we mean, he has the valid claim on society to protect him in the possession of it, either by the force of law, or by that of education and opinion. (970) The reason for this is utility. Mills then argues that if justice is indeed independent from utility than why is questions related to justice are often debatable. We are continually informed that Utility is an uncertain standard, which every different person interprets differently. (971) Hence, justice is grounded on utility and is the most important part of all morality; it concerns many of the most basic essentials of a humans well-being. Furthermore, the preservation of justice keeps the peace among the people. Therefore, there is a strong utility interest in preserving and enforcing what justice commands. Most of the applications of justice discussed earlier are ways to maintain the notion of moral rights. The Greatest happiness principle doesnt have meaning unless each persons happiness is valued exactly the same as somebody elses, which is basically the idea of impartiality and equality. In addition, people are seen to have an equal entitlement to happiness, and an equal entitlement to the means of happiness.

Essay --

Isabel Archer: Her Quest For Freedom And Downfall The Portrait of a Lady is the most stunning achievement of Henry James's early period--in the 1860s and '70s when he was transforming himself from a talented young American into a resident of Europe, a citizen of the world, and one of the greatest novelists of modern times. Quest of freedom â€Å"The Portrait of a Lady† is a story about protagonist Isabel Archer, a penniless orphan. Many rich suitors come to her with a proposal of marriage but she declines, as she wanted to make an art of her life that is to follow her dreams, as she was a spirited and intelligent young woman. She was strong minded and stubbornly independent with an intensely sensual nature and a powerful desire to explore and engage with the world on her own and sees marriage as a prison that would limit her ability to experience her life. Isabel unexpectedly inherits a fortune, freeing her particularly from the need to marry. Now she could do whatever she wanted. She wanted to confidently pursue her dream and didn’t want anyone hold her back. Her cool independence is not a very "feminine" ideal, she seems to show no need but to fly. During her childhood she spends her time reading romantic philosophy, cultivating an idealistic view of the world of art, philosophy and learning, that of Europe but couldn’t have a practical taste of things. So when she inherits a fortune whole world spreads out in front of her giving her the opportunity to fulfil her dreams and to make an art of her life. She wanted to enjoy and break free. Now she could see and feel things in real terms. She didn’t want to get married and put an end to her freedom. She was a proud woman and was not shy to express what she felt. When someone asks her ... ...is that she has not been educated. None of her friends or relatives contributes to her education. Her father had assumed that the free, unfettered life with no real guidance was sufficient. Her Aunt thought that a visit to Gardencourt, to Paris to purchase clothes, and to Florence was sufficient. Ralph thought that providing Isabel with a fortune would be sufficient. They were all wrong. An education requires other more important components. An education requires others who care for and contribute to one's development. Isabel Archer did not have any of these others. It was no wonder that her education misfired. References Arnold Kettle, â€Å"Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady,† in The Portrait of a Lady, ed. Robert D. Bamberg (New York: W.W. Norton), 679. http://artsweb.bham.ac.uk/maf/Project1-02/Portrait.htm http://www.online-literature.com/henry_james/

Leadership Skills: Qualities of a Great Leader

As mentioned by the musician, the essential task of leadership is â€Å"changing the way work works, so you can improve the work.† In other words, leaders lead their group or team by influencing them to clear their minds about something they are not sure about and persuade the group to move towards the right path by sharing collective knowledge. The good leaders have that vision to see the future to avoid the fear of unknown or unknowable. Gary Yukl defines leadership as â€Å"the process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives.† (Rowe & Guerrero, 2011) Moreover, the management tries to perfect the current processes or procedures to fulfill the overall objective of the organization. However, leadership is based on sharing the collective knowledge and influencing a group of people to look at different alternatives to solve a problem. Moreover, the musician describes the five L â€Å"qualities† of good leaders. Following are the five L â€Å"qualities†: Leaders do lead: The first quality is that leaders are accountable for leading their group or team and they lead from front or behind. In other words, leading from the front means that the leaders actually tell their group or team members what to do and they explain them how to accomplish different goals. However, some leaders believe in leading from behind which means they empower their group or team to think what they need to accomplish and how they should accomplish those tasks. Depending on the situation, these leaders decide whether to lead from the front or behind. Leaders listen: The second quality is that leaders must have good listening skills. Without listening to their followers, leaders cannot understand their point of view and it makes it hard for them to lead effectively. After all, the job of a leader is to share the knowledge among all group or team members and without communication effectively, it is impossible to lead. So, leaders must have good listening skills, so they can give proper feedback to their followers. Good leaders not only listen with their ears but they also use their eyes to listen to their followers. Sometime words that are unsaid say a lot and good leaders are aware of this fact. Leaders learn continuously: The third quality is that a good leader understands that the learning never stops and he/she tries to learn from people around. Leaders learn by observing how people behave or how they react to different issues. Leadership is all about making a difference, so if a leader is unable to make a positive change to the group or team he/she is leaders, he or she is not a good leader. So, good leaders always look over the shoulders of their followers to continue learning and it helps them to test their own skills. They need to look ahead, for example, if things are going their way in the present, they don’t rely on that, but they are always keen to improve themselves. Leaders love: The fourth quality is that good leaders always admire the good work of their followers. Leaders make their followers believe that nothing is impossible if the followers are determined enough to achieve their goals. A good leader knows how to take that extra step to make a difference and this skills distinguish a good leader from a great leader. Leaders know how to create that atmosphere in which the followers believe that they are following a good leader. Without believing the principles of their leaders, it is hard for the followers to walk in the same direction and good leaders know how to make their followers believe them. Leaders lose with grace: The fifth quality is that leaders know how to lose with grace. When a team experience failure, a good leaders knows how to step up and take responsibility for that failure. For instance, when Canucks failed to advance to the second round of the Stanley cup playoffs, the captain of Vancouver Canucks took full responsibility by saying, â€Å"we choked.† This is a sign of a good leader who knows how to lose with grace. Good leaders do not believe in pin pointing fingers at different individuals after the team fails to accomplish their objectives. A good leader makes his/her team believes that if they win, they win as a team and if they lose, they lose as a team. I strongly agree that these qualities are individual attributes but this does not mean that an individual who was not born with these qualities cannot adapt them. Any individual who is determined to lead a team can use these qualities to influence his/her followers. For example, I always feel that I can lead our cricket team but I panic when we lose continuously. However, it does not mean that I can’t adapt the quality of losing with grace. I believe that if i work hard enough, I can adapt that quality. Even though I don’t know much about the music industry, but I think we have good leaders in all sectors. In the music industry, people influence lives of many followers without any direct connection with them. For example, Michael Jackson was indirectly leading so many youngsters to follow their dreams. He was an inspiration for many teenagers, but he might not have had all these qualities. He shared love with his followers and he motivated them to take that extra step to achieve success. However, it is tough to say that people from the music industry have all these qualities because more than anything else, it depends on your individual character. In my field of study which is accounting, these five L qualities can play a major role for leaders to lead. For example, the accounting manager of the company I work for use most of these qualities to lead our accounting group. He is a very good listener which helps us to tell him our side of the story because his perspective is different from ours. At Kwantlen, Barbara who was my accounting teacher uses these qualities to influence her students to achieve success. She is always keen to help students by making them think about different accounting issues and she also focuses on learning from the students by listening them carefully. In order to learn these five qualities, it is better to focus on each quality step by step. The first step would be to become a good listener. This can be done by becoming more patient to calm yourself down. Once an individual becomes a good listener, the next step would be to learn how to appreciate good work of your co-workers, friends, followers and even family members. This would help an individual to gain confidence of people around him/her. After that, focus on sharing knowledge because this would allow an individual to believe in continuous learning. Once the individual has all these qualities, the next step would be to lead people or group by using techniques such as leading from front or leading from behind. It all depends on the situation or issues that individual is dealing with. The last step would be to learn to share the success and failure among all group members by sticking together as a group.

Modern Relevance of “The Birthmark”

Modern Relevance of â€Å"The Birthmark† â€Å"The Birthmark† is a fable created by Hawthorne that conveys his viewpoint towards the use of science to contradict the laws of nature. The fable also includes commentary on the depiction of men and women in society, along with their presumed roles. Both of these themes in my opinion are even more relevant today than when the story was written. Hawthorne disapproves of science used as a tool to tamper with living beings, for they are not meant to be perfect.This is illustrated in Georgiana’s death after Aylmer attempts to experiment on her: â€Å"As the last crimson tint of the birthmark–that sole token of human imperfection–faded from her cheek, the parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The implied moral is that attempting to contradict what is originally intended is unethical and will lead to disastrous results. Hawthorne uses the character Aylmer to exempli fy the people who abuse science as a means to control nature.In modern sciences, â€Å"controlling nature† has become the essence of the medical field, progressing to the extreme of cheating death. Hawthorne’s opinion is echoed in the controversies today regarding methods such as stem cell research or cloning, as common arguments point to its immorality and the eventual disaster. The story is an exaggeration that was intended to be almost humorous, although I believe Hawthorne must have had the notion that his fear would someday become commonly practiced and even encouraged. The Birthmark† at a glance might appear to be supporting the stereotypical gender roles of the era. Hawthorne portrays Aylmer as the pragmatic husband and leader, while Georgiana is his complement as the obedient wife. However I believe Hawthorne is using satire to imply just the opposite. Georgiana is deemed to be Aylmer’s intellectual equal; as she was able to read through his experi ments and understand his successes and failures.She also understands Aylmer’s greatest flaw, which he himself can never comprehend, and that is his doomed strive for perfection: â€Å"With her whole spirit she prayed that, for a single moment, she might satisfy his highest and deepest conception. Longer than one moment she well knew it could not be; for his spirit was ever on the march, ever ascending†¦ requiring something that was beyond the scope of the instant before. † Georgiana’s death in the end is the result of her choice to obey Aylmer, even though she knew of his insane obsession and faulty judgement.I believe Hawthorne is making a statement on the folly of intelligent women bending to the ridiculous whims of their husbands, while they’re perfectly capapble of making decisions themselves. This theme translates easily for many modern readers who continue to resist the residual expectation of women being subordinate to men. The rigid role of a woman that Georgiana fits into is still recognizable to us, but it is the intelligence and the small streak of independence she possesses that we can relate to. In the end we lament that she did not take a greater stand for herself, as many would have done today.