ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The debate on the existence of God has been the subject of discussion by philosophers, theologians, moral theorists and scientists for several millennia now. However, this debate continues to elicit more philosophical questions than answers due to a lack of universally acknowledged description of God or existence (Swinburne 2). There exist many positions that argue for and against the existence of God. It is the purpose of this essay to analyze William Paley and David Hume’s views about the existence of God. William Paley was a British philosopher and apologist who used the teleological argument of the watchmaker analogy to argue for the existence of a supernatural being. He was engaged in the pursuit of natural theology. The watchmaker analogy entails comparing some natural phenomena or experiences to a watch, with the premise that a design must have a designer (Paley, Eddy & Knight 9). As a teleological argument, the analogy presupposes that the complex inner mechanisms of a watch must require an intellectual designer. As with a watch, the intricacy or complexity of living organisms, natural universe, and other forms of life necessitates an intelligent designer. Paley argued that if an individual found a watch in an open field, its complex design would lead that individual to rightly make conclusions that the watch had a designer – the watchmaker. In equal measure, individuals should be obligated to conclude that there exists a great designer behind the natural universe and all living creatures that resides in it due to the complexity of its design (Paley, Eddy & Knight 11). For Paley, this intelligent designer is the supernatural creator – God. According to the philosopher, no living creature “…can have contrived its own limbs and senses; can have been the author to itself of the design with which they were constructed” (Hart para. 4). He was of the opinion that every indication of machination and design existing in the watch also exist in the natural universe, the only difference being the fact that the indication of contrivance and design in the natural universe is much greater and exceeds all computation. This reveals the existence of a designing intelligence in the form of a Deity. For the philosopher, the uniformity of plan that we observe in the natural universe coupled with the semblance of all huge worldly animals in their structures further points towards the existence of a great designer – God. David Hume, an empiricist Scottish philosopher, was critical of the design or teleological view about God’s existence. The philosopher was repeatedly thought of as an atheist, and was highly critical of the Roman Church, which he accused of engaging in superstition and idolatry (Hume & Bell 12). In his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion , Hume used three characters – Cleanthes, Demea, and Philo – to articulate his views about the existence of God. The character ‘Cleanthes’ argue
Introduction Internationalisation and going global have become the primary tendency in the development of economic relations. The end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first century are marked with the growing role and influence of Asia Pacific multinational enterprises in the global economy (Jones 2010). The foundation of gaining economic might is the decision to initiate active foreign direct investment policies made during the 1980s and becoming involved in foreign economic affairs deriving from the transition of manufacturing facilities overseas. The process was driven by the Japanese enterprises that have served as an example to other Asia Pacific countries such as Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and China (Sim & Rajendran Pandian 2003). However, it is imperative to consider cultural and socio-economic phenomena typical of these countries in order to understand the success of Asian multinationals. The major purpose of this paper is to identify the reasons for the growing role of Asia Pacific multinational enterprises in the global economy. The primary emphasis will be made on investment and business activities of companies originating from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. Moreover, the paper will focus on such determinants of business success as the ability to adapt to the changes in the global economic environment and governmental policies, control measures including domestic, regional, and global ones, variations of business strategies depending on the industry of operation, and competitive advantages of companies governed by the countries mentioned above. The foundation of the assessment is the comparison of enterprises from different countries located in the Asia Pacific region and the review of global and domestic conditions of business operation. Aims of Asia Pacific Multinationals Related to Business Strategies The aims of becoming involved in international economic relations and growing into multinational enterprises differ across countries. Even though there are some purposes common for all Asian states mentioned above, it is paramount to bear in mind some specific differences related to business strategies. For example, Taiwanese enterprises focus on gaining economic power by falling upon advantages guaranteed by the location of production capacities and cost-based competencies supplementing them with ethnic networks and governmental support. Furthermore, they prefer involvement in international affairs with the purpose of exchanging skills and growing highly competitive by accumulating knowledge (Sim & Rajendran Pandian 2003). China aims at becoming the most influential economy in the world by promoting governmental support of both foreign and host enterprises and active participation in international investment activities as well as making an emphasis on technological superiority, introducing innovations to manufacturing and other sectors of the domestic economy, and finding strategic assets (Deng 2007). Moreover, it focuses on cheap labour as the foundation of economic growth (Giuliani et al. 2014). The same ca
Many firms are turning to international trade in a move to not only increase the market for their products but to also take advantage of cheap labor in other countries. In this regard, agreements have been made between different countries to ensure that goods from each country receive relatively equal treatment. When the issues about the inequality of products prevailed, the concepts of free and fair trade were introduced into international business. Because countries sometimes lack hard cash, the idea of countertrade has also been introduced (Onkivist & Shaw, 2004). Countertrade refers to the process by which payment for some goods or services is done either in part or whole by other goods or services. It is, however, crucial to note that in some instances, a monetary value is attached to the goods and services for the sake of book keeping. Countertrade as a form of conducting business is fast gaining ground, especially in international business. Countertrade has prospered contrary to the belief of many that it is difficult to conduct due to the need for double coincidence of wants (Gitman & McDaniel, 2008). Initially, countertrade was practiced among a few neighboring countries. However, nowadays, countertrade accounts for more than 20% of world trade. It is important to note that countertrade usually takes place in the world daily, and it is part and parcel of the international business. Though some governments are skeptical about countertrade, many multinational companies are usually involved in the process. Countertrade has proved beneficial mitigating the problem of transactional costs, moral hazard-agency problems, and other market imperfections (Gitman & McDaniel, 2008). One of the most recent examples of countertrade is the agreement between Iraq and India. Iraq is known to be well endowed with oil while at the same time, India has a competitive advantage in the production of rice. However, citizens from the two countries do not have the economic power to pay for their transactions in cash. Consequently, the two countries agreed on a barter deal in the year 2000, known as the oil-for-food program. Under this program, India can get oil at a reduced price, while Iraq is assured of rice from India (Siddaiah, 2009). On the same note, citizens of the two countries who would not have the ability and the money to pay cash can get the products they need. Unfortunately, the program has not met its expectations since most Iraqis’ nutrition has not improved as was expected. Also, India is compelled to offer very large quantities of rice compared to the quantity of the oil that it receives from Iraq. Similarly, the two countries lose because their products are undervalued as compared to the price they could have received if the products were sold on cash terms (Onkivist & Shaw, 2004). The emergency of the internet has highly enhanced sharing of information between countries. In this regard, feedback from various ventures is easily available to people at any time. As a result, firms engaging in countertrade can
Croquet has been described as cool game where the etiquette of playing the game with grace and good manners took precedence over winning, sociable play, or an overridden and unprincipled competition. It was a game that was ideal for children, old people and mixed groupings. Unselfishness, honesty and grace were requisite for a player to be allowed in the game. The author’s main thesis is, “Yet was this, in fact, how the game was played on the croquet lawns of the nineteenth century?” Whereas authors of croquet manuals and magazines emphasize so much on the noncompetition and social aspect of the game, visual evidence proves beyond doubt that the spirit of competition existed in any croquet match. Women especially, were known to use dishonest moves to win the game. One of the evidence provided here is the fact that wagering on the outcome of a particular game became so often. This implied that the game that was initially meant for socialization became a gambler’s game and this intensified the spirit of competition. Women were domineered in the game; for instance, in a hearing in an international herald tribune, a woman testified that when playing the game because she had asked him whether his ball had gone through the hoop. Her husband became so annoyed that they never spoke to each other for a long time. A game where good manners and grace was observed turned out to be unethical. This is illustrated by the notion that women had in mind when playing the game. For a woman, the tight croquet stroke could be interpreted as an act of symbolic castrat
Introduction The federal government has done a lot in the way of making organizations that exist to help regulate and protect the health care consumer. These agencies are designed to manage the complicated tasks of ensuring quality products and services are provided to all health care consumers regardless of insurance coverage. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one such agency. The CDC covers many areas of health, prevention, and safety. More specifically, we will be looking more closely at the monitoring and evaluation services. Please review this outline so that you may see what the CDC is all about and its importance to the overall health and well-being of our country. The identity of the agency and the role of the governmental agency selected The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is an organization that aids and assists with local, state, and territorial agencies on health and disease awareness and prevention methods. According to (CDC 2013), the role of their organization is to be prepared, prevent, respond, and recovery any type of health outbreak related to diseases and other types of natural disasters. The following are the types of health issues and natural disasters the organization deals with and responds with. CDC’s role with public health emergencies Is providing information in the form of expert knowledge to aid and assist local and state authorities as well as a scientist to treat and form a plan of action with a health care crisis. This is done by funding the technical support, response and support, health preparedness and response, and organizational programs to educate (CDC 2013). CDC’s role with public health action Is to educate and isolate all locations of potential public health diseases. Such diseases are Salmonella, Influenza strains such as (H1N1), E-coli, Chicken Pox, Hepatitis (A, B, and C), Meals, Mumps, MRSA, and many other health diseases (CDC 2013). Once the disease is diagnoses and all locations are the disease is located, the CDC provides vaccinations and assists the media and all local and state agencies on how to prevent and get medical treatment of the exposed disease. CDC’s role with public health threats The organization’s role is to assist with all health organizations, with local and state authorities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and this is done by the office of the Public Health Preparedness and Response (CDC 2013).
The targeted idea is to design a website and an app that can support the needs of graduates from different parts of the world. The proposed website will be linked with the app to ensure the services are available to more people. The online-based platform with make it possible for students to select their respective careers. The process of enrolling and registering for courses in different universities will be simplified. This discussion gives a detailed overview of the unique attributes of the web and app development industry. Targeted Industry and Attractiveness The proposed project falls within the technology sector. This is an emerging division driven by modern technological changes and the use of the Internet. The project will compete directly in the website and app development industry. This sector is presenting an attractive market due to a number of factors. To begin with, more people are using the Internet than ever before. The number of smartphones produced and marketed annually is on the rise. This means that more individuals can access different websites and apps than much faster. Additionally, around 47 percent of smartphone owners search for information via mobile websites or apps. This market, therefore, presents a new opportunity for the project. Segment The outlined market is characterized by individuals who use the Internet and mobile devices to search for information. The specific segment of the overall market is composed of graduates and their respective parents. These individuals require timely information in order to make desirable career decisions and plans. Effective strategies will be needed to attract more people in this segment. Market Research The most appropriate market research for the above market is known as needs based segmentation. This kind of research usually focuses on the unique or changing needs of the customers. The gathered information is analyzed to develop superior products capable of supporting such demands. Appropriate marketing and promotional methods will then be implemented to increase the website’s popularity. Industry Sales and Projected Growth Past studies have indicated that young people aged between 18 and 27 are embracing the use of online-based applications and websites. Developers of websites and apps are focusing on the changing expectations of these individuals. Sales in 2016 amounted to over 58 billion US dollars. The sales volumes are projected to increase to over 80 billion US dollars by the 2018. Such revenues are calculated using the number of mobile downloads within a given period. In 2016, the sales generated from websites (also known as e-retail sales) amounted to over 1.8 trillion US dollars. These statistics indicate that the website and app development industry is becomin
America’s founding fathers advocated for the concept of freedom and liberty to be a major theme when the constitution was drafted. In most cases, the two words can be used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Freedom is the power to act, think, and speak as one wants. Liberty on the other hand is the state of being free from any oppressive restrictions that have been imposed by an authority (Patterson & Fosse, 2019). The interpretation of freedom and liberty in America is divided along party lines. Conservatives are of the view that freedom and liberty are about individuals being able to enjoy their private property and goods without interference from the government. Liberalists, on the other hand, seek the establishment of a constitutional order that respects individual freedoms and abolished the privileges of the elite. Although freedoms and liberty have grown steadily in America over the past decade, increased legislation and government control could threaten progress. The interpretation of freedom and liberty in America depends on the class of the individuals affected. Immigrants trying to cross the border from Mexico have been treated inhumanely by the authorities. The rights of emigrants have been trampled upon which undermines the message on America’s anthem that it is the land of the free. Liberalists, when discussing the idea of freedom aim to abolish cruelty to make people equal in respect to their liability to suffering (Patterson & Fosse, 2019). The treatment of immigrants shows another aspect of the authorities. The government’s control of security has enabled the continued suppression of the freedom of people who are deemed minorities in the country (Patterson & Fosse, 2019). The black community and the Latino community have encountered prejudice from law enforcement officers in many cases. The recent case led to the sentencing of the officer who was involved in the shooting. Therefore, the government is the biggest inhibitor of freedom and liberty for the American people. Scholars point to increased legislative measures as part of the reason why there are limited freedoms. Positive freedom, which is the right to take part in self-government and do what one wants to at any time, has been affected by laws. This is because, in as much as people are given their freedoms, the laws minimize the power of these liberties. For example, most citizens are allowed to vote f
Brand Type This discussion focuses on Vaseline as the preferred product to use in brand and packaging perspectives. Vaseline lies under personal care products and is owned by Unilever Global Company. Vaseline comes as a lotion as seen in figure 1 below, spray, and jelly and is used as a product for oiling the skin, ointment for wounds, and healing balm. The product is an international item that is sold and distributed in all parts of the world. Under Unilever, Vaseline is categorized as a consumer good that is sought by many especially youths. Figure 1: Vaseline healing jelly (Magnier & Schoormans, 2017). Product Familiarity Brand familiarity can be on various levels such as rejection, non-recognition, recognition, preference, and insistence. In 2017, Unilever presented statistics on the rate of sales for the product in 21 countries across Africa, Europe, America, and Asia and found that Vaseline had hit 470 million units of sales in that year (“Vaseline named the world’s No.1 hand and body care brand”, 2017). Thus, the product can be said to be familiar to the consumers and the current level of brand familiarity level is preference and insistence. The reason is that many people have tested the effectiveness of Vaseline in healing projects that brought along much-needed demand to communities in need to heal their skin. By 2020, more than 20 million people benefited from the product from that perspective (“Vaseline named the world’s No.1 hand and body care brand”, 2017). The brand accounts for a significant share of the personal product market. Brand Name As noted in the previous section, the brand name is Vaseline by Unilever. Vaseline has various taglines that are made to note its effectiveness which is a major focus of the product. Some of the slogans include ‘Take good care, ‘The Healing Power of Vaseline’, ‘Keeping Skin Amazing Since 1870’, and ‘Soothe and Relax with Vaseline Intensive Care. Vaseline as a brand has a role to play in the product’s success. The branding has been effective to define the specific target group that Unilever wants to reach. Having the slogans accompanying the brand’s products ensures that the critical element of luring and enticing buyers are well performed. Vaseline has been effective and thus, Unilever has been on the frontline to make other products have the same rate of purchase and loyalty to the brand. Figure 2: Vaseline’s logo (Magnier & Schoormans, 2017). Packaging During the manufacturing process, crude oil is converted to petroleum through the extraction of liquid hydrocarbons. There follows vacuum distillation and then the residue is filtered through bone char hence yielding petroleum jelly that serves as the primary ingredient of Vaseline. Unilever uses polypropylene containers that are re
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) plays a central role in the federal budgetary process, as forecasts of major economic variables issued by this institution influence future revenues and economic welfare of the country. From this perspective, inaccurate forecasts are likely to distort economic and budgetary picture due to the fact that they have a direct impact on macroeconomic conditions and stability. That is why it is essential to review the process and understand the specificities of budgetary forecasting. Therefore, this paper aims at investigating the peculiarities of the CBO forecasting procedures. Specific attention will be paid to such details as analyzing CBO projects for ten-year periods with a focus on the accuracy of forecasts as well as the existing relationship between budget baseline and budgetary forecasting. At the same time, one of the objectives of this paper is the estimation of critiques of the CBO work regarding budgetary forecasting issued by both outside analysts and the Congressional Budget Office’s officials. Ways to Analyze CBO Projects Before analyzing CBO projects issued for a ten-year period, it is essential to review forecasted and actual figures of a projected and actual deficit or surplus. The latest available data for the mentioned period is that retrieved from 1998-2008 forecasts. According to this project, a surplus was forecasted throughout the period. Nevertheless, reviewing annual reports put out by the Congressional Budget Office reveals the following findings: a surplus during the first four years of the mentioned period and deficit during the other six years. In most cases, the difference between projected and actual figures is drastic, thus raising questions regarding the accuracy of budgetary forecasts put out by the CBO. It is essential to note that CBO projects should be analyzed from the perspective of the primary elements of the forecasts. The major constituents, which should be mentioned, are unified budget, off-budget, and on-budget. All of them can be connected to both deficits and surpluses. These elements refer to budgetary activities and accounts. That said, the unified budget is a term used for describing differences or similarities between on-budget and off-budget, i.e. combined totals of outlays related to the two (Office of Management and Budget, 2014). As for the off-budget, it consists of all budgetary activities, which are performed by Social Security trust funds. Some of them include disability and age insurances. Moreover, Postal Services transactions are as well considered to be off-budget activities. The rest of the operations and accounts are known as on-budget activities (Office of Management and Budget, 2014). Still, when estimating the accuracy of the CBO budgetary forecasting, it is critical to assume that there is a great variety of difficulties