Professional report about an issue pertaining Essay

Professional report about an issue pertaining - Essay Example However, business firms have often been witnessed to overlook the aspect of ethical being or their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) while executing their organisational operations. For instance, marketers often make illusionary comments to persuade the customers, manufacturers often release harmful chemicals and elements in the open environment which affects the social and the eco-system of earth. The intention behind performing such unethical doings by organisations is mostly related to the realisation of huge profit in a short span of time. This not only harms the society at large but also has a strong effect on the company’s reputation and goodwill (Sharma, 2010). Subsequently, ethical performance is quite imperative in the case of an apparel company, especially when it is operating on multinational dais. It is because customer loyalty and their interest signify stimulated growth for the companies dealing with products similar to apparel. With this point of view, the paper shall intend to analyse the situation and identify the consequences most probable to occur in the near future. Conclusively, the paper shall also suggest certain preliminary measures to overcome the identified challenges. A Situational Analysis In managerial terms ‘Business Ethics’ is often referred to as an oxymoron, i.e. it brings two or more conflicting issues together in order to obtain an in-depth understanding to what is right and wrong for the business and the society as well. However, in the realistic practices the organisational leaders have over and over again been observed to rant the issue of business ethics as a mere management concept rather than one of the most significant and uncompromising issues (Crane & Matten, 2007). With this concern, few ethical issues related to the apparel company can be identified in their supply-chain arrangements. For instance, one of the major suppliers of the company has been recorded to continue performing unethical practices in its South African branch. The allegations recorded against the company were emitting harmful toxic effluents into river, dumping needles, razors, caustic soda and other detrimental ingredients in the local municipality dumps. As a result, child rag-pickers of the neighbourhood have complained about breathing troubles, visionary problems and skin diseases. With an overall perspective, it is seemed that the consequences of the ethical practices performed by the supplier cannot affect the organisational operations. But with an in-depth analysis, it is quite identifiable that the impact can directly influence the growth of the company. Moreover, it can also affect the entire apparel industry as it is associated with several other large companies. Hence, it is quite essential to adapt certain precautionary measures in order to eradicate the consequences. It is in this context, that organisations should pay equal attention to both the aspects of business practices and the cul tural expectations. To be mentioned, there are various initiatives undertaken by business firms in multiple regions. For example, 34 different nations have been recorded to join their hands in order to enforce the Foreign Corrupt

Edward Hallet Carrs Arguments In What Is History?

Edward Hallet Carrs Arguments In What Is History? Introduction This essay attempts to review Edward Hallet Carrs (1892-1982) arguments in his book What is History? According to Carr, history is a continual process of interaction; a dialogue between the historian in the present and the facts of the past and the relative weight of individuals and social elements on both sides of the equation. Advocating the adoption of a suitable philosophy to the approach of writing history, in terms of selecting, distinguishing and interpreting historical fact, Carr elucidates that great history is written when the historians view of the past is illuminated by insights into the conditions of the present. In addition to continually asking why, the historian also needs to project into the future. This essay attempts to understand Carrs views on objectivity, truth and narrative in the arguments put forth in his book What is History? and the assessment of his arguments by other historians. H.E. Carrs Arguments on What is History In his arguments on What is History? Carr sets out the following premise. History is a continual dialogue between the past and the present; an interaction between the historian and his facts. Establishing the criteria for selecting historical fact, Carr argues that fact itself is insufficient and must be correctly and truthfully interpreted. To arrive at a correct interpretation and factual account of history, a historian must continually question why and whither, as history in essence is change. Carr also underlines the fact that historians, as individuals, cannot be divested from the society they live in. A proper philosophy to the approach of history is thus essential for the historian. Each era or century has its own interpretation of what history is. As a social process, history is an interaction between the past and the present and between the society of today and yesterday. History according to Carr contains a corpus of ascertained facts and these are available to the historian in documents. He however asserts that fact without accurate interpretation is ineffectual. To understand this, one has to first distinguish historical fact from other facts in the past. Carr discusses historical fact in light of the Empirical or Common Sense View of History. There are certain basic facts that are the same for all historians and which form the backbone of history. These facts, however, form the raw material for the historian, rather than history itself. The necessity to verify the truth of these basic facts rests on a priori decision by the historian. Whilst accuracy of such facts is a necessary, a historian must also rely on the auxiliary sciences of history archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, chronology amongst others. A historian like any other scientist must continually ask the question why. The question whither also assumes importance, since the line of demarcation between pre-historic and historical times is eclipsed when people cease to live only in the present and become consciously interested in their past and future. However, Carr also reveals that as a social being the historian is naturally and inclined to be selective of the facts he chooses. Our picture of the past has been preselected and predetermined for us by people who consciously or unconsciously imbued a particular view and saw those facts as worthy of preserving. Carr likens history to an enormous jigsaw puzzle with many missing parts. A lacunae in the historical facts of 5th century Greece B.C has arisen due to one sided view of Greece from the Athenian citizen. Hardly any information is available on how it looked to other citizens like the Spartan, Corinthian, Theban or even a slave. The 19th century fetishism of facts was complemented by an equal fetishism for documents. However, none of this means anything unless the author has actually deciphered and processed the facts found in these documents before making use of them. Carr defines the method the historian makes use of facts as the processing process. The Stresemanns Vermà ¤ch tnis volume is one such illustration of the selectiveness of historians. Sometimes mere fact about the past is transformed into history. For example while the Battle of Hastings 1066 is an important historical event, it is the historian who decides the whether the inclusion of Caesars crossing of the Rubicon is a relevant historical fact. Or the mention of the murder of a ginger bread vendor at Stalybridge Wakes in 1850 is equally relevant. Their status as historical facts will depend on their interpretation. Correct and truthful interpretation of historical fact is equally important stresses Carr. Facts are like fish swimming about in a vast and sometimes inaccessible ocean. What the historian catches will depend largely on which part of the ocean he is fishing and what fish he intends to catch. The ancient or mediaeval historian may be grateful for the large winnowing process which has over the years put a manageable corpus of facts at their disposal. The modern historian on the other hand has the dual task of discovering a few significant facts and discarding the insignificant ones as unhistorical. Each historian belongs to his own age and is bound to it by the conditions of human existence. An understanding of the past can be achieved by an insight into present conditions. The choice of words for example democracy, empire or war, are connotations linked to the historians specific time in history. Similarly, over the years, a change in the balance of power, world wars and other movements have also influenced historical writing. French history in the latter twentieth century was deeply affected by the Russian Revolution of 1917. Carr advises historians that equal importance should be given to the date and publication of writing as the name of the author when commencing on a study. Carr states it is imperative that the author should neither dwell solely on the past nor disassociate totally from it, but master and understands it, as the key to understanding the present. The reconstitution of the past in the historians mind is dependent on empirical evidence, but is not in itself an empirical process as facts do not speak for themselves. The process of reconstitution governs the selection and interpretation of facts. This indeed is what makes them historical facts. The facts of history are never handed down to us in a pure form clarifies Carr. They are always refracted through the mind of the recorder. When a historian takes up a work of history, the authors first concern should not be with the facts, but rather an understanding of the historians who wrote it and their back ground. To appreciate the work of the English Liberal Historian, Trevelyan England under Queen Anne, one must interpret it against the background of his traditional Whig historian lineage. To appreciate the thoughts behind peoples action, Carr exhorts historian to cultivate an imaginative understanding of the minds of people they are dealing with for a correct interpretation of historical fact. Historians must necessarily cultivate an objective approach to history asserts Carr. The duty of the historian to respect fact cannot be overshadowed by the obligation to see that the facts are accurate. The historian must seek to bring into the picture all known or knowable facts, relevant in one sense or the other to the theme and the interpretation proposed. History is meaningless in a static world affirms Carr. History in its essence is change reveals Carr. It is meaningless in a static world. A society which loses its belief in its capacity to move into the future will quickly cease to concern itself with its progress in the past. History can be accurately written by those who find and accept a sense of direction in history itself. Whilst writing history, two processes must go hand in hand input and output, states Carr. Working historians must stop and reflect what they are doing. The historian can thus effectively mould facts to his interpretation. Speaking from his own experience, Carr reveals that the process of reading and writing are simultaneous exercises for him. The writing is added to and subtracted from as he goes along. He found that his reading was more guided and directed by the writing as he went along. Assessment of Carrs Arguments Since its publication in 1961 E.H. Carrs What is History? the book established itself as a classic reference on the subject.  [1]  Yet despite its widespread recognition, many inner flaws and contradictions have surfaced, sparking several debates on Carr supposition of What is History? Whilst rejecting the crude and rigid re-constructionist stance of the empiricist, Carr as a political constructionist historian has failed to visualise the post modern challenge to the distinction between fact and fiction in historical narrative and the influence of root metaphors.  [2]  His epistemological position is revealed through his scepticism about the nature and status of historical knowledge and sociology of knowledge. (Alan Munslow). Over the years there have been disagreements about Carrs contribution to the analytical philosophy of history, shadowing the distinction between re-constructionism and constructionism.  [3]   Authors Anders Stephanson and Rendall Germain in their appraisal conclude that Carrs answers to the questions he has set about history are in themselves unsatisfactory. Another writer, Keith Jenkins underlines the futility of Carrs empirical-analytical concept particularly in light of the post modern challenges.  [4]  Carr devalues his currency of re-constructionist theory, by his ultimate acceptance of the epistemological model of historical explanation as the best method to create and evaluate historical thought.  [5]   Exploring Carrs epistemological claim to radicalism and his insistence that a historian cannot divorce himself from the outlook and interests of his age, Historian Alan Munslow, highlights the fact that today with greater awareness of the weakness of representation, reference and inductive inference, a larger part of historical writing is based on the supposition that we cannot know any absolute truths about the past. Whilst acknowledging Carrs attention to the discursive nature of historical facts, Historian Alex Callinicos refutes Carrs opinion that the importance of empirical evidence diminishes since the facts of history are refracted through the mind of the historian.  [6]  Rather this premise gives rise to the question of the historians subjective bearing on the facts. Carr drops his objectivist anchor when he argues that Historian Collingwoods logic of sceptical position leads to the idea that there is no certainty in historical meaning and that the discourses of historians, or what Carr termed as total scepticism, like something spun out a human brain, suggests that there could be no objective truth in historical writing.  [7]  Supporting his own belief in the power of empiricism, Carrexplicitly rejected Nietzches notion that historical truth is defined by fitness of purpose. This misguiding percept excludes the possibility that one interpretation is as good as another.  [8]   While confirming the necessity of a continual interaction between the historian and his facts, Carr was unwilling to acknowledge that the written historical fact could possibly be a work of fiction.  [9]  He overlooks the reality that new evidence and new theory can offer new interpretations. Carrs epistemological theory of knowledge argues that the past is known from its evidence and remains so whilst being introduced in the historical narrative.  [10]   For example, Carrs argument that facts are a priori decision of the historian, and that the historians influence on and the arrangement of these facts is what constitutes historical meaning. However, this gives rise to the risk of subjectivity and the outcome may not be an accurate representation of the evidence.  [11]   Carr pulls back from relativism which his own logic has thrust him into. Aware that he is running a post empiricist wind, he rejects Collingwoods demand for the emphatic and constructive approach and cites another historian who accepts the model of dialogue between past and present, while keeping an objective point of view. This profile of a historian is affirmed by the American Commentators Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt and Margaret Jacob who repacked Carrs position as practical realism.  [12]   Carr uses his objectivist angle to underplay the problems of historical form.  [13]  He does this by arguing that the standard for objectivity in history is the historians sense of the direction in history, which means the historian selects facts not on personal bias, but on the ability to choose the right facts, or, in other words, that he applies the right standard of significance.  [14]   Carrs objective historian is one who has the ability to see beyond the inadequate vision of his own position in society and history and at the same time has the ability to visualise the future to give him a more in depth and enduring understanding of the past.  [15]   The objective historian is also one who penetrates most deeply into the mutual method of fact and value, who recognises that facts and values are not necessarily in opposition to differences in standards emerging from disparity of historical fact, and vice versa. An objective historian also understands the boundaries of historical theory. Carrs insists that the objective historian should develop the habit of reading and interpreting the evidence at the same time. However, appropriate social theory precludes presumption or series of connected presumptions, of how people in the past acted intentionally and related to their social contexts.  [16]   Conclusion In his book What is History? H E Carr lays out the premises for conducting a correct approach and philosophy to writing history. History according to Carr is a continuous dialogue between the past and present and a continual interaction between the historian and the facts, for a correct interpretation and accurate recording of facts. It is constantly changing. It is important therefore for the historian to develop a proper philosophy of history before undertaking a study, where historical fact, the criteria for selection of, and their factual interpretation are of vital importance. Carrs arguments about objectivity and his epistemological theory of knowledge have been widely criticised by empiricist as well as the social theory historians. His failure to visualise post modern challenge to the distinction between fact and fiction in historical narrative and his inclination towards post-empiricism despite his claims to radicalism have reduced the currency of his re-constructionist theory.

Affirmative Action needs to be Changed not Ended Essay -- Affirmative

Affirmative action: Should it be mended or ended? Affirmative action is an attempt to correct unequal distribution of benefits (status, income and wealth, power and authority), and burdens associated with ethnic and gender differences. Affirmative action has been promoted by the Federal government since the mid 1960's, when president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal contractors to adopt affirmative action plans. (Congress and the Nation, 748). This paper will focus on the relevance of affirmative action in the American society. It is important to acknowledge the truth of affirmative action's main claim: historically, African Americans and women have been victims of discrimination. Theoretically speaking, African Americans enjoy the same citizenship rights and protections as white Americans. While ground has been gained, the reality is that discrimination and racism are still very much a part of American culture and institutional practice. For instance, during the 19th century, women were barred from many professions like doctor, lawyer, etc. Predominantly, these positions were for white males. Women were in a crucial position because upon marriage, they often lost title to whatever pittance they were allowed to earn! (McElroy, 1 of 2). We must remember that affirmative action was established to address the continuing, real problems of discrimination. Minorities and women remain economically disadvantaged. The black unemployment rate for instance remains more than twice the white unemployment rate (Do Racial preferences count, 1 of 2). In the United states, affirmative action has been a hot debate for quite a while. There have been both positive and negative thoughts concerning affirmative action in the American society.... ...nthropoloty Newsletter. Sept. 1998: 3. * Anderson, N. Charles. "Do Racial Preferences Help?: Affirmative Action Rights wrongs, Aids Economy." Detroit News. 25 Jan. 1998: 4-5B. * O'Connor, Preimesberger, & Tarr (eds.). Congress and the Nation: A Review of Government and Politics. Vol. IX, 1993-1996. Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. * De Han, Martin. Negative Aspects of Affirmative Action. October 1999. http://www.sru.edu/depts/cisba/comm/awalters/smgr/marteen/maxhpneg.htm. * Singer, Peter. Practical Ethics 2nd edition. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1993. * The Civil Rights Project. Harvard University. October 1999. http://www.law.harvard.edu/groups/civilrights/publications/index.html. * McElroy, Wendy. What Does Affirmative Action Affirm? October 1999. http://www.zetetics.com/mac/affirm.htm. Affirmative Action needs to be Changed not Ended Essay -- Affirmative Affirmative action: Should it be mended or ended? Affirmative action is an attempt to correct unequal distribution of benefits (status, income and wealth, power and authority), and burdens associated with ethnic and gender differences. Affirmative action has been promoted by the Federal government since the mid 1960's, when president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal contractors to adopt affirmative action plans. (Congress and the Nation, 748). This paper will focus on the relevance of affirmative action in the American society. It is important to acknowledge the truth of affirmative action's main claim: historically, African Americans and women have been victims of discrimination. Theoretically speaking, African Americans enjoy the same citizenship rights and protections as white Americans. While ground has been gained, the reality is that discrimination and racism are still very much a part of American culture and institutional practice. For instance, during the 19th century, women were barred from many professions like doctor, lawyer, etc. Predominantly, these positions were for white males. Women were in a crucial position because upon marriage, they often lost title to whatever pittance they were allowed to earn! (McElroy, 1 of 2). We must remember that affirmative action was established to address the continuing, real problems of discrimination. Minorities and women remain economically disadvantaged. The black unemployment rate for instance remains more than twice the white unemployment rate (Do Racial preferences count, 1 of 2). In the United states, affirmative action has been a hot debate for quite a while. There have been both positive and negative thoughts concerning affirmative action in the American society.... ...nthropoloty Newsletter. Sept. 1998: 3. * Anderson, N. Charles. "Do Racial Preferences Help?: Affirmative Action Rights wrongs, Aids Economy." Detroit News. 25 Jan. 1998: 4-5B. * O'Connor, Preimesberger, & Tarr (eds.). Congress and the Nation: A Review of Government and Politics. Vol. IX, 1993-1996. Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. * De Han, Martin. Negative Aspects of Affirmative Action. October 1999. http://www.sru.edu/depts/cisba/comm/awalters/smgr/marteen/maxhpneg.htm. * Singer, Peter. Practical Ethics 2nd edition. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1993. * The Civil Rights Project. Harvard University. October 1999. http://www.law.harvard.edu/groups/civilrights/publications/index.html. * McElroy, Wendy. What Does Affirmative Action Affirm? October 1999. http://www.zetetics.com/mac/affirm.htm.

Ones Socialization

There are many factors that play a major role in our socialization; from military to media. Determining and regulating how much influence they have un us is something we have little control over. My group and I had the opportunity to further expand our knowledge on three patterns; Time Orientation pattern, Social Relations Orientation pattern and Bond†s Moral Discipline. Through this essay I intend to explain how the Social Relations and Time Orientation pattern among other related factors have greatly influenced who I am. The Social Relations Orientation describes how the people in a culture organize themselves and relate to each other. The book asks â€Å"to what extent are some people in the culture considered better or superior to others?† (Lustig& Koester 90). Easy to say that Mexican American†¦ celebrate status differences†( Lustig & Koester 91) based mostly one economic status. It is so unfortunate that a society could stereotype a group of people without considering an important factor such as opportunity. In Mexico most people fall under two categories: â€Å"fresas† & â€Å"nacos†. â€Å"Fresas† can be translated into preppie, and the closest translation I could find for naco would be all those who lack education and class. Growing up I attended mostly private schools, which were made up of all sorts of people, but mostly â€Å"fresas† because they were the ones who could afford it. I remember having a friend called Leyra, she had to be the most stuck up person I had ever met. She was the kind of girl who would always judge the book by its cover, she was the kind of girl who as soon as you walked in the room would check the tags of your clothes to see if they were designer made. Fortunately I had the opportunity to be with her all through highschool, and realize that that was one person I did not want to be like. I learned many things from Leyra, the most important being never to judge a book by its cover rather its content. Education has next to my family been the most important factor in socialization, which was enforced by my family. My family and I strongly believe that as long as you live under their roof they have a say so in what you do or don†t do. My family up until a few years back was responsible for the direction my life was headed. When I lived with my aunt I felt deprived of my freedom, she chose what school I went to and classes I took I am not saying that they were not beneficial, but they were not classes that I chose. I enjoy relating to people as my equals, and address them based on the occasion not their economic status. I see myself as a member of many groups not just one. I have always had a problem belonging to just one group, I believe in having the best of all worlds. I also believe in being nurtured from the past, living in the present and looking forward to the future. Learning to let go is vital to move on, and this is something my culture is bad at. It seems as though there is not enough time in ones day carry out all activities and enjoy life at the same time. One should value time in the past, present and future. In Mexican American cultures â€Å"The day of the dead† which is considered a national holiday is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. We take this time to remember all of the loved ones who cannot be with us. It lets us think about the things we do have in order to not take them for granted. There is such a thing called â€Å"Mexican time†. Mexican time refers to arriving an hour later to what ever event you are going. We usually think well they say to be there at 7:00, but by the time everything is ready it will be 8:00, so if I arrive at 8:00 I†ll e right on time, and I wont loose any time waiting. This has cause me problems. I am always late thinking it is ok. I have been late to important meetings at work, to important classes and to everything else I do. It is embarrassing and something very hard to change. There are always certain things in a culture such as being late that one could do without. I was taught by my family that in life we do not always get our way or do what we want. I was also taught that education will provide one with the most powerful tool in life: Knowledge.

Belonging Essay Body, Feliks Skrzynecki

Feliks Skrzynecki Belonging presupposes inclusion and an acceptance of self, satisfying a yearning to be something larger than ourselves. The subjective nature of belonging, however, suggest it is often far more ambiguous and complex. Belonging as a potentially positive force is recognised in the poet’s representation of his father’s connection to his Polis past.The metaphor ‘where his father kept pace only with the Joneses of his minds making’, coupled with the simile, ‘loved his garden like an only child’, captures his father’s immersion in Polish culture and his indifference OR more likely his fathers pretermit to the world around, suggestive of a deep emotive attachment to his garden, which serves as a nexus of his agrarian heritage and ataration or stoic indifference to new cultures.This sense of contentment finds resolution in the tranquillity that shapes his fathers connection to his past, evident in the gentle meandering and lyri cal emotive enjambment where the poet describes his father as he ‘sits out the evening with his dog†¦ happy as I have never been’, suggesting that a profound sense of belonging contributes to a positive sense personal identity. Paradoxically, however, Felik’s immersion into his Polish heritage inhibits his capacity to assimilate and contributes to an emotional and psychological rift between father and son. Did your father ever attempt to learn English? ’, this separation is reinforced through the use of direct, rhetorical question that is seemingly a personal attack, combined with the metaphor ‘dancing-bear grunts’ describing the man who opened the personal onslaught on feliks, indicative of a lack of empathy, as well as, hostility between Feliks and his immediate culture, suggesting that belonging contributes to a negative sense of personal identity. Pegging my tents further and further south of Hadrian’s wall’, this infuse d combination of metaphor and historical allusion, evokes a sense that his inability to comprehend, as well as, his reluctance to assimilate, recognising the inevitable and inexorable process of separation that invariably accompanies belonging in the vacant space between two cultures.