Thursday, December 26, 2019

Caribbean Studies Internal Assesment - 4844 Words

Table of Contents Page 1. Cover Page Page 2. Table of Contents Page 3. Introduction Page 7. Literature Reviews Page 11. Data Collection Sources Page 13. Presentation of Findings Page 23. Explanation of Findings Page 25. Interpretation of Findings Page 29. Discussions of Findings Page 31. Conclusion, Limitations Recommendations Page 35. Bibliography Page 36. Appendix. Introduction Problem Statement Does the participation in extra-curricular activities impact the mentality( what do you mean by meantality) and academic performance of the students within Trinity College? Relevance of Topic to Caribbean Studies. I choose this topic in relevance to Caribbean†¦show more content†¦Where are your references (who or where did you git this information) During the whole entire or most of the century, this idea became more and more attractive. Now college students cannot imagine their lives without some extracurricular activities like sport clubs, fashion societies, lab-groups, etc. The impact of these activities becomes more considerable: more people are eager to comprehend how and why these extracurricular activities affect human lives. The results of numerous investigations prove that: 1. Emotional state of students is improved considerably; 2. Communication between new students develops faster; 3. Writing skills and critical thinking are properly developed; 4. Students have a desire to attend classes; 5. Students have special places to visit and communicate instead of hanging out constantly; 6. Career planning and improvement of personal leadership skills become crucial for students; 7. An idea to follow news makes students aware of the current state of affairs; 8. Students are ready to help each other and explain everything; 9. Communications between students and tutors may be improved; 10. Students participate in different governmental processes and try to influence the conditions of their education. If all in point form, why semicolons after each line As you can see, the idea of extracurricular activities is winning indeed. Students are always eager toShow MoreRelatedCaribbean Studies Syllabus5959 Words   |  24 PagesMODULE 1: CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE OVERVIEW Module 1 introduces students to the role played by geography in shaping the society and culture of the Caribbean region as well as the historical evolution of Caribbean society, the cultural characteristics of the Caribbean people, and the ways in which Caribbean society and culture influence and are influenced by societies and cultures outside the region. GENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: 1. Understand the factors which

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

How Technology Changed The World Interacts With Mobile...

Communication has evolved immensely over the span of the past couple of years. This evolution has been sustained by manufacturing companies establishing a competitive market for their products. From the smart phone to the iPhone, phone communication has really taken up an ‘all-things-digital’ approach that has transformed how the world interacts with mobile devices. The current focus on quick evolving methods to upgrade these communications devices poses a threat to Apple’s Iphone. Apple Inc. and Steve Jobs are household names throughout the globe. According to Kolah(2013) Steve Jobs was not only influencing, but also had great selling skills. Inspired by a multi-touch display in early 2000, Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone (Ritchie, 2015b). This phone introduced irresistible competition to the likes of BlackBerry that appeared point-blank primitive. Apple’s iPhone had an outstanding industrial design integrating mostly aluminum and scratch resistant glass. Furthermore, Apple’s iPhone introduced the innovative touch screen terminating the reign of styluses or trackballs, and introducing to users techniques such swiping, pinching, and scrolling using their fingers (Ritchie, 2015a; Price, 2015). Though, these advancements have carried Apple’s Iphone, they have been adopted and enhanced by other competitors. The slow advancement of the Apple Iphone have carried weight in the market, however, the rapid advancement of other companies have been detrimental to ApplesShow MoreRelatedHow Cell Phones Changed Us Socially1503 Words   |  7 PagesHow Cell Phones Changed Us Socially Having a cell phone is very convenient and helpful most of the time. They are great for emergencies, but not everyone knows of the potential negative impacts these phones have on our lives. In the past several years there have been numerous studies looking into the problems, which cell phone cause. This paper will show how the cell phone has had a dynamic impact on social interactions in today’s society. First it will show the point of having a cellular phoneRead MoreSteve Jobs Role For Shaping The Modern Technology1219 Words   |  5 Pages2016 Topic: Steve Jobs role to shape the modern technology General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: I want my audience to know the role of co-founder and ex - Leader of the Apple Company, Steve Jobs for shaping the modern technology Thesis Statement: The three aspects of technology in which the Steve Jobs contributed hugely with breathtaking innovation and idea are: Music, Personal Computing and Smart Phone. Introduction I. [Attention getter] How many of you in this class has owned any Apple CompanyRead MoreThe Development of Technology Negatively Affect Relationship between People700 Words   |  3 Pages The Development of Technology Negatively Affect Relationship between People â€Æ' The Development of Technology Negatively Affect Relationship between People The development of technology grows rapidly, there are various high tech products that are coming out constantly. Technology plays an essential and indispensable role in our daily lives, and it is the way of interaction with others also. Technology seems to be really convenient to our lives. We can get tons of information from it, we canRead MoreSociety ´s Interaction with Technology in Burning Chrome by William Gibson1158 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen based on the growing relationship of technology and human beings. Today, technology is continuously changing and evolving along with the way people adapt to these technological advances. 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According to â€Å"Daily News† 84 percent of people worldwide say they couldn’t go a single day without their mobile device in theirRead MoreThe Future of Customer Experience and Customer Service by Blackberry1553 Words   |  7 Pagescom/watch?v=6TQtrXyeIhYamp;feature=share I have chosen a video released by BlackBerry recently, as my case study for this assignment. This case study makes us aware of the potential future of customer experience management with the advances in technology. Customer experience (CX)  is the sum of all experiences a customer has with a supplier of goods or services, over the duration of their relationship with that supplier. From awareness, discovery, attraction, interaction, purchase, use, cultivationRead MoreFinal Project Milestone1746 Words   |  7 PagesIs Technology Affecting the Developmental Progress of Children? Patrcia Odani Mukuka Southern New Hampshire University Increasingly, there is a large dependence on technology today as opposed to ten or twenty years ago. Technology has changed a lot of how life is lived today. It affects shopping, job seeking employment opportunities, entertainment and academics. There is no doubt that technology has set its foundation and is here to stay. One area in which the effects of technology can be clearlyRead MoreTelecommunications of Tomorrow1300 Words   |  5 Pages‘All-Connected’ world: Over the past few decades technology has vastly improved where a new era has dawned for mankind, the ‘Information age’. This is an age where technology has become the very foundation of our daily lives, where humanity can literally span and communicate the vast world with just a touch of a button. Today, technology never ceases to evolve, and as such has continued to change how we live, and how we connect with one another. The Future is happening now: Technology is everywhereRead MoreModern Technology Has Changed Our Lives Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pages The Mobile Revolution Nowadays our society is affected by modern technology from day to day; especially the communication technology has changed the people lives in many ways. Mobile phone is a part of this technology that people can contact each other all over the world through wireless. The invention of this technology has created an unforgettable even in human history, and also the most important for our lives because of its advantages to people in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mobile phone hasRead MoreNew Trends In E-Business: E-Government And M-Commerce Essay1382 Words   |  6 Pagesprofessional jobs. This has profoundly changed the economics, markets and industry structure, products and services and their flow. The consumer segmentation, values and behavior has been shifting constantly due to new technological advances in electronic commerce and mobile commerce. E-commerce has given consumers cheaper products and services, instant delivery, no sales tax and information availability. The changes in the Internet and World Wide Web technologies and services lead to new developments

Monday, December 9, 2019

Remoteness and Consolidation of Supermarket †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Remoteness and Consolidation of Supermarket. Answer: Introduction: The retail sector, in particular, the supermarket grocery stores industry in Australia is highly competitive. The competition has kept on changing with times and had largely known as the duopoly of Woolworths and Coles. The wide variety of product line and competitive prices has kept on establishing stories of success. However, a rapid growth of Aldi in recent times has not only altered the trend but, also become the reason for declining profit for the industry (Ibisworld.com.au, 2018). One of the reasons for Aldis growth has been the discounted price for private-label products. Customers had also responded to it which is the reason that forced Woolworths and Coles to switch over to the same strategy. They also had to consider an expansion of their private-label product ranges. Smaller supermarket chains like Foodworks have also struggled to respond to a changing market trend (Ibisworld.com.au, 2018). Industry revenue is expected to grow up by 3% on an annual basis (Ibisworld.com.au , 2018). To understand why Aldi is so successful despite the market giants Woolworths and Coles, it is first necessary to understand the driving factors in the industry. An average person looks for three factors such as Product Quality, Convenience of Shopping Value when they feel like shopping (Singh-Peterson et al., 2016). When looked at the business model that Aldi uses, it looks bit complicated and also hard to understand what it communicates. However, the core strategy of the business model is centered on the three highlighted factors. It means Aldi is fulfilling the needs and wants of its target customers. The three factors have been standardized in Aldi model of business and are continuously executed also (Singh-Peterson et al., 2016). The purpose of this study is to communicate the knowledge related to strategic planning. The purpose is being served in various ways including the external environment analysis and also the industry analysis. Background of the chosen organization: Aldi is a German based multinational company and had entered Australia in 2001. The company had its first store in Sydney and since then has kept on growing with its effective business strategies. However, the excellent performance was noticed in just the last five years. The company has redefined the market competition with its cost-effective business model. It has constantly executed the three essential elements of customer needs such as quality, value and convenience (Knox, 2015). The execution could be possible due to its cost-effective strategies. Cost-effectiveness was a result of constant strategic planning that also includes maintaining a lesser number of SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit). The benefits of the strategy include lower cost of handling and also higher purchasing power. Exclusive brands of Aldi are accountable for approximately 90% of their shelf space. Hence, Aldi is able to cut down on the supply prices. These are few of the reasons how the company has managed to keep t he cost of production lower (Arup, Beaton-Wells Paul-Taylor, 2017). Limited range of products was being maintained to focus more on a quality product. The efficient handling of the production cost was actually reinvested in offering lower prices to customers. The choice is actually not a very high concern to many customers. There are customers that prefer getting the reduced range of quality products at competitive price range over a wide range of expensive and low-quality products. Convenience was maintained with the help of opening numbers of branches in the different parts of Australia. The expansion rate is appreciable indeed (Corones, 2015). The store layout is another reason why Aldi is able to cut down on the cost of production. Stores are not open for 24 hours. It helps to save on staffing costs and utility expenses. The number of employees has also been kept low. Employees are trained on multi-skills to support their strategy of keeping a low number of employees. Products are all packaged and hence, it helps to reduce the shelf stocking time of products (Corones, 2015). The checkout process is also very competitive. Customers are encouraged to bring their carrier bags to avoid unnecessary expenses being made on it. The check-out lines are supported with long belts. Hence, accommodating a large number of products which is also necessary to cut down the queues gathered around the place. Packaged products have a barcode in more than one place supporting an efficient check-out process. Customers are encouraged also to package their goods. It helps to cut down the time and also the expenses which could have been required for keeping staffs particularly for packaging (Medlin Ellegaard, 2015). External Environment Analysis: The Australian retail grocery sectors have been a point of attraction for the public body and the critique experts. The competitions have been redefined with the effective strategies of Aldi which is always good for customers; however, not so for the country's economy. In course to offer the competitive prices, the supermarket stores have considered being low with their net profit. Such trend has affected the annual growth of the grocery and the supermarket industry in Australia. As reported by the IBISWorld, the industry is expected to grow at 3% annually (Ibisworld.com.au, 2018). Initially, the duopoly of Coles and Woolworths was the reason for criticism and had also produced calls for a reform in the competition laws. It was being felt to analyze any misuse of the market power (Corones, 2016). Improvements have been felt for regulation of planning, liquor licensing and trading hours. Aldis success just suggests a low barrier to entry in the industry and also attaining a progressiv e growth (Corones, 2016). The technological disruption being brought up by new entrants in the Australian retail sector and also the changing dimension of shopping such as the online shopping are al affecting the brands and also the countrys economy. Firms are now being shifted to many innovative moves to solve their incompetency. However, in many ways, such strategies make those problems poorer (Methner, Hamann Nilsson, 2015). Aldi has redefined the competition and has created the urgency for others to bring much innovation in their business strategies, so that, those firms stay afloat in the industry. Moreover, there is a price war competition in the Australian retail industry which is always good for customers provided that, three factors such as value, convenience, and product quality are met. The fact is not so good for the countrys economy. The competition has affected the annual growth of the grocery and the supermarket industry. The industry is expected to grow at 3% on an annual basis (Ibisworld.com .au, 2018). The profit margin is declining for the industry which is an indirect loss the national economy (de Waal, van Nierop Sloot, 2017). Customers are the drivers of industries, in particular, the grocery retail industry in Australia. The extent to which they desire for a service it gets reflected in the decision making of the industry leaders. Woolworths and Coles have long had the duopoly status in the Australian retail sector. However, the fact has been strongly derailed by the German based Aldi. Consumer behavior and the entrants of new retail business have both forced industrys leaders to consider changing their business model. The attempt to offer a competitive price range to customers has affected the annual growth of the Australian retail industry (Calvo-Porral, Faa Medn Montes-Solla, 2016). Consumer behavior for shopping has given place to innovative strategies which have so far been proved productive to Aldi. However, the cost-effective strategy may not be producing the same effect due to the ever-changing consumer behavior for shopping. Customers, in particular, the Millennials are now being attracted much towards the online shopping platforms. Shopping convenience, availability of a range of products, price comparison option, incrementing usage of Internet in Millennials and delivery at the doorstep are some of the reasons for a booming online shopping platform (Borraz et al., 2014). On top of all, the changed lifestyle of young generations has largely supported the online shopping platform. The young generations, in particular, do not anymore like visiting physical stores. It does not mean they have stopped going to stores. It rather means they prefer an online shopping platform where they are not required to visit the physical stores. They can browse their desire category of products and find a list of products from different brands. They can also compare for product features and the pricing. Once they decide their choice of products they are simply required to book it for purchase. Their selected product or the list of products will then be delivered to their doorstep (Hosken, Olson Smith, 2018). Additionally, they do not have reasons to feel like visiting stores. For instance, Aldi that offers the cheapest products is still expanding and yet to reach to a wider customer base in the country. The store is still inaccessible to many. It does not make the sense traveling miles to reach to the store for products which could be conveniently purchased on the various online platforms (Price, 2016). Physical stores at present have no answer to the revelation created by the online shopping zones. There is a need for technological innovation that could support a huge change in regards to the physical layout of the stores. Millennials are prone to the technological interface. Hence, suggestions would be for technological and strategic innovation in physical shopping stores (Price, 2016). Technological innovation has evidently kept on driving the consumer behavior in the Australian retail market. Initially, the market was dominated by the duopoly of Woolworths and Coles which later on being affected by Aldi. Aldi has driven the shopping behavior with its cost-effective business models focussed to provide value, quality product, and shopping convenience. However, the biggest disruption was being laid from the entrance of online shopping platforms (Luck Benkenstein, 2015). It has actually steered the market with customers in specific the Millennials thronging to the concept. It has offered the services which have no answers from the physical stores. The ever-growing use of internet has made such things possible. Customers who love technological gadgets have responded to a changed interface (Luck Benkenstein, 2015). The innovation has disrupted the industry and produced a necessity to adopt the change pattern of shopping behavior. They must consider introducing the innovative strategies, so that, they are able to pull and retain their customers at their physical stores. There is a need for reducing the wait time of customers. Technological gadgets need to be implemented in the feasible zones to attract the young customers. The shelf layout must be changed to make customers feel the online kind of experience. The number of stores is needed to be increased, so that, accessibility rate could increase (Pantano, 2014). There are environmental concerns which are drawing the attention of the national government. Greenhouse gas emission and waste production are the matter of worries for supermarket giants. The supply chain operation which also includes the logistics operation is a resource to greenhouse gas emission. Supermarket brands are under a strict scrutiny of the national government due to its contribution to the greenhouse gas emission. There is a need for effective strategies to effectively reduce the level of greenhouse gas emission (Hosken, Olson Smith, 2018). They are in a way involved in the production of wastages. Packaging which is an important part of operation contributes to environmental pollution. It effectively contributes to the greenhouse gas emission. Recycling of older products is also a concern (de Waal, van Nierop Sloot, 2017). The Australian grocery and retail industry needs to follow certain legal policies or else they may be in danger or scrutinized for violating any of such policies. They are scrutinized under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 which protect any unfair practice in regards to competition and trade. The purpose is to enhance the welfare of Australians (Corones, 2016). As earlier being stated that the duopoly of Woolworths and Coles have already attracted scrutinized move of the public body. Hence, Aldi will need to ensure that do not come across such obligations. TheGreenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act 2012 governs a national framework guiding the product energy efficiency in Australia (Corones, 2016). Giant supermarket brands like Aldi may be required to continually deploy thoughts to remain safe from any such obligation. This is also necessary to prove their image as a socially responsible firm. The Australian supermarket and grocery industry has witnessed a wide variety of stores like convenience stores, specialty grocery stores, and farmer's markets. However, the market is now reaching the saturation stage (Medlin Ellegaard, 2015). Additionally, the technological disruption does already exist in the form of online shopping platforms. The existing supermarket giants like Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi can only consider improving the shopping interface through incepting a few of technological innovations. Brands can improve the shopping experience of their customers but, only through feasible technological interventions (Arup, Beaton-Wells Paul-Taylor, 2017). Hence, it appears as if there are no more scopes for a substitute business. The sheer competition from online shopping giants has produced the necessity for few modifications in the existing store format. Modifications need to be in regards to such as improving the shopping interface, reducing the wait time for customers and increasing the number of stores. Hence, firms with the effective business model may be a possibility. Lidl, for example, has made a knocking entry in the Australian retail industry (Methner, Hamann Nilsson, 2015). Despite the fact that the market is close to the saturation stage, it has still space available for innovative firms. There are scopes in regards to technological disruption in the store layout to make it appealing to customers in specific to Millennials (Pantano, 2014). The Australian grocery and retail industry is highly competitive. The competition was redefined by a duopoly dominance of Woolworths and Coles. It was further stormed with an entrance of Aldi in 2001. The cost-effective business model of Aldi has helped the company to establish its own image. At the current moment, Aldi is giving a strong fight to Woolworths and Coles. Actually, Woolworths and Coles are feeling the heat of Aldi (Calvo-Porral, Faa Medn Montes-Solla, 2016). The competition reached a different level with the technological disruption of online shopping platforms. It has influenced the shopping behavior of Millennials significantly. It has also attracted the Baby Boomers. The incrementing internet usage has encouraged customers to online shopping. They found this rather user-friendly due to the convenience of shopping, availability of large stocks, comparative study of different brands in terms of product features prices and the home delivery (Arup, Beaton-Wells Paul-T aylor, 2017). Consumers drive the Australian grocery and retail industry which is also evident through the successive dominion of Woolworths Coles, cost-effective dominion of Aldi and online shopping platform. Consumers have always been the drivers. Consumers drive it through their behaviors not necessarily confined only to shopping behaviors (Methner, Hamann Nilsson, 2015). Customers had needed cheapest yet the quality product. Such behavior of customers had given space to discounted stores. When retailers have felt the necessity to provide a convenient shopping experience they had come up with the convenient stores. Aldi had identified the need to offer all those three elements such as value, quality product and shopping convenience under one roof. Online shopping platforms can be regarded as an outcome of incrementing internet usage (Calvo-Porral, Faa Medn Montes-Solla, 2016). The Australian supermarket brands have been able to manage an effective relationship with suppliers. Hence, they had been able to manage it according to their needs. Till the time, when duopoly of Woolworths and Coles had existed they had been dominating their relationship with suppliers. They were the biggest buyers and hence, they had the advantage (Hosken, Olson Smith, 2018). Aldi, on the other hand, moved along a different line to manage an effective relationship with suppliers. The first move was to reduce the number of stock keeping units (SKUs). They had also offered a very limited range of products than Woolworths and Coles do. In this way, Aldi was able to reduce the bargaining power of suppliers (de Waal, van Nierop Sloot, 2017). Few of the exclusive private-label brands were accountable for a 90% shelf space payment (de Waal, van Nierop Sloot, 2017). In this way, Aldi was able to reduce the cost of production and also the bargaining power of suppliers. Factors driving the industry towards a change: Few factors are worth mentioning due to its impact on the Australian retail industry. The Australian customer landscapes especially the Ethnic Australians and Millennials are shifting towards a new direction. They want fresh, healthy and quality products from a resource other than the online shopping platforms. They are well educated on the impact of business on the global society. This is why they now wish to pay more to brands that they trust as a potential choice for environmental betterment. Brands with a positive impact on society are an emerging demand of customers. A sustainable business with a strong preference for local production is an emerging trend (Methner, Hamann Nilsson, 2015). Technological disruption is the other driving force, especially for physical stores. Physical stores have faced tough challenges from the online shopping platforms. Millennials who will be the future customers have a high addiction to online shopping. On the other hand, physical stores in any format are not that much capable to pull back Millennials to the concept. They are also not accessible at every location (Luck Benkenstein, 2015). These are the few factors to concentrate in future. Until and unless physical stores do not come up with technological interventions they will not be able to establish a strong fight to online platforms. Aldi has been quite successful in the last five years and also able to give tough competition to Australian supermarket duopoly of Woolworths and Coles. However, it needs to implement some technological interventions in order to redefine the shopping experience and also attracting back the Millennials who are at present significantly disconnected. The company is still expanding its number of stores in Australia. There is a need to open up more such stores to make it accessible in most locations (Hosken, Olson Smith, 2018). Additionally, customers can be provided with technological gadgets like a computerized interface in stores. This will provide tracking of required areas in stores and also the other useful stuff. The products can be designed on a shelf in a way which is very much similar to the online shopping platforms. An app specially dedicated to stores can also be introduced using which customers will be able to book their desired products which will be delivered to them with in the given time period of delivery (Medlin Ellegaard, 2015). Effect of the change in the industry: The first change which was for a socially responsible business may bring significant changes to the shopping behaviors of customers. Customers especially those who are well-informed of the societal values will look for going to the changed option. It means customer loyalty will increase. This is actually necessary for a sustained business (de Waal, van Nierop Sloot, 2017). Technological interventions that have been suggested to compete against the online platforms may also produce necessary outcomes. Millennials may feel like visiting physical stores if it is available to their desired location. The smart technology at stores like computer interface can be a guiding experience for customers. The recommended app may also prove to be an engaging experience. Customers, in particular, the Millennials will roam around the store with the help of guidelines available on the computer interface. It is also time-effective as instant information will be generated. Customers will not require roaming around the stores and searching for their desired products. They will be to their desired location with just a slight work on the interface (Borraz et al., 2014). Millennials may be delighted also with this new experience and feel like using the service again. The use of app may also give them an experience similar to the online shopping where they can book their orders and get it delivered at their doorstep. It means that they are physically viewing their products. Hence, they will have no doubts on whether the chosen product is exactly the same as it looked like. This is quite possible in online shopping where it is very challenging to judge a few things like color textures, designs, and a real look. However, if supermarket stores like Aldi come up with the concept, customers will actually be able to judge products based on their parameters of needs (Arup, Beaton-Wells Paul-Taylor, 2017). The product layout arrangement in the line of the online shopping platforms may give the Millennials a feel for online shopping. They will find the products arranged exactly the way it used to be on the online shopping platforms. Hence, habits of browsing the products on the online platforms can also be relived in such physical stores (Arup, Beaton-Wells Paul-Taylor, 2017). Conclusion: Therefore, the retail and grocery industry in Australia has a declining trend at present. This is largely due to price wars between the supermarket giants. The war has benefitted the customers; however, reduced the profit margin for firms. The annual growth of the grocery and supermarket industry is also being hampered by it. The indirect impact of the circumstances is expected to affect the countrys economy. Aldi has been very successful in the last five years. A strategically aligned business practice is the reason behind its success. The business model that it uses has supplied the three essential needs or wants to customers like value, quality of product and the shopping convenience. Woolworths and Coles have struggled to be in the price wars due to their incapability to reduce the total production cost. Aldi, on the other hand, has intelligently managed to keep it low. The strategy to keep the numbers of stock keeping unit (SKUs) low is one of the intelligent moves of Aldi which has benefitted the firm immensely. However, the online shopping platforms is a serious threat to physical stores and to counter which it needs to consider a few technological interventions as suggested in this assignment. Aldi and other supermarket giants will also be needed to prove their stand in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR). References: Arup, C., Beaton-Wells, C., Paul-Taylor, J. (2017). Regulating supermarkets: The competition for space.UNSWLJ,40, 1035-1039. Borraz, F., Dubra, J., Ferrs, D., Zipitra, L. (2014). Supermarket entry and the survival of small stores.Review of Industrial Organization,44(1), 73-93. Calvo-Porral, C., Faa Medn, J. A., Montes-Solla, P. (2016). Relational, Functional benefits and customer value in large retailing: A cross-format comparative analysis.Journal of International Food Agribusiness Marketing,28(2), 132-148. Corones, S. (2015). Regulating unilateral supermarket misconduct as customer/acquirer of goods and services.Australian Business Law Review,43(5), 400-419. Corones, S. G. (2016). Applying an Effects Test under s 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act. de Waal, A., van Nierop, E., Sloot, L. (2017). Analysing supermarket performance with the high-performance organisation framework.International Journal of Retail Distribution Management,45(1), 57-70. Hosken, D. S., Olson, L. M., Smith, L. K. (2018). Do retail mergers affect competition? Evidence from grocery retailing.Journal of Economics Management Strategy,27(1), 3-22. Ibisworld.com.au. (2018).Supermarkets and Grocery Stores Australia Industry Report | IBISWorld. [online] Available at: https://www.ibisworld.com.au/industry-trends/market-research-reports/retail-trade/food-retailing/supermarkets-grocery-stores.html [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018]. Knox, M. (2015).Supermarket monsters: The price of Coles and Woolworths' dominance(Vol. 6). Black Inc.. Luck, M., Benkenstein, M. (2015). Consumers between supermarket shelves: The influence of inter-personal distance on consumer behavior.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,26, 104-114. Medlin, C. J., Ellegaard, C. (2015). Conceptualizing competition and rivalry in a networking business market.Industrial Marketing Management,51, 131-140. Methner, N., Hamann, R., Nilsson, W. (2015). The Evolution of a Sustainability Leader: The Development of Strategic and Boundary Spanning Organizational Innovation Capabilities in Woolworths. InThe Business of Social and Environmental Innovation(pp. 87-104). Springer, Cham. Pantano, E. (2014). Innovation drivers in retail industry.International Journal of Information Management,34(3), 344-350. Price, R. (2016). Controlling routine front line service workers: an Australian retail supermarket case.Work, employment and society,30(6), 915-931. Singh-Peterson, L., Lieske, S., Underhill, S. J., Keys, N. (2016). Food security, remoteness and consolidation of supermarket distribution centres: Factors contributing to food pricing inequalities across Queensland, Australia.Australian Geographer,47(1), 89-102.

Monday, December 2, 2019

There is no room for individual identity in South African literature Essay Example

There is no room for individual identity in South African literature Essay Literature has often been used as tool to capture a sense of the self in society. The issue has clearly had pertinence in South Africa since the introduction of apartheid policies. Apartheid was the system of legal racial segregation imposed by the National Party government of South Africa between 1948 and 19931. Under apartheid whites were given a political-racial identity which was synonymous with superiority. The coloured characters in Athol Fugards play Boesman and Lena were left helpless by the racism, as Lenas song illustrates when she sings about how Boesman is not merely a name, it is also a label and an identification of ones culture. The sense of individuality appears to have been superseded by the need to conform in a malicious, segregated society. The thought of being exposed to such a hostile land is discussed in poems such as Landscape of Violence, where Currey uses a simile to liken the politics of South Africa at the time to hailstorms, showing just how crippling the results of prejudice can be. We will write a custom essay sample on There is no room for individual identity in South African literature specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on There is no room for individual identity in South African literature specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on There is no room for individual identity in South African literature specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Indeed, those caught outside the comfortable life of the elite are depicted as having only a horse to shelter them from the hail. Racial prejudices are by far the most obvious restriction on personal identity; the characters I have studied are defined first and foremost by the colour of their skin. Though Afrikanerdom saw itself as culturally distinct from the English-speaking South Africans, both groups exercised apartheid policies to persecute black or coloured Africans, forcing them into subservience. The fact that Fugards Boesman and Lena begins with A coloured man uggests that everything from that moment forward has been as result of his skin colour. Fugard goes further to show that Lena is highly disadvantaged as a result of being coloured; her dreams of reinventing herself are met by Boesmans What do you think you are? A white madam? highlighting that there are distinct limits to her possibilities. Outa is ever only referred to by Boesman as a kaffir, disregarding any personality the character might have and basing his prejudice purely on his social status. In Landscapes of Violence, Currey endorses Fugards view that apartheid catalyses the loss of identity when he writes that racial attitudes, [are] like snakes And every brown and white child wakes/Beside a sloughed-off love one day, the simile here suggests danger; racial attitudes will creep up, and just like the bite of a snake infiltrates your blood bit by bit, they will infiltrate ideology. The metaphor of the shed snake skin suggests the racial hatred in South Africa is a manufactured phenomenon which has stolen innocence from the previously integrated society. The dehumanising and depersonalising effects of apartheid are shown yet even more clearly in Unto Dust, where Oom Schalk Lourens likens black people to animals. He states his horror that white people may be laid to rest just anyhow, along with a dead wild cat, maybe, or a Bushman. Even the seemingly accepting Lena, in a fit of frustration tells Outa to stop that baboon language, implying that she sees him as a being incapable of human speech, and therefore perhaps incapable of feeling human emotion. However, writers such as (Mbuyiseni Mtshali) in An Abandoned Bundle have chosen not to explicitly describe people in terms of their race, and it could be argued this is due to the lack of need; the reader will be able to assume race from the conditions described. Yet, providing a more likely alternative, explanation also is found in the Suppression of Communism Act (1950) which is was in effect the legal gagging of opposition to the apartheid government2. Others such as Herman Bosman, who, in the words of Christopher Heywood possesses a light touch even when dealing with heavy issues3, address the injustices of racial attitudes in a more subtle way. In Makapans Caves Lourens appears to have genocidal racism4 when collating black people with a cattle-destroying plague (I could never understand why [the Almighty] made the kaffir and the rinderpest). It should perhaps be noted here that the use of the word kaffir, although totally unacceptable in todays society, would not necessarily have raised even the most liberal eyebrows in 1930. Nevertheless, Lourens is considered racist because despite defying expectation placed on him by caring for Hendrik, Nongaas is fatally wounded because Lourens automatically assumes him to be the enemy due to his race. Though these images of racism have made Bosmans stories unpopular to a modern readership, I feel that to take this view is to fundamentally misunderstand the narrative distance between Bosman and Lourens. In the vast majority of Bosmans stories, explicit authorial intervention is limited exclusively to the Oom Schalk Lourens said which punctuates each storys prefatory statement. This authorial marker is a vital tool because it immediately establishes a separation between author and storyteller. Apartheid has caused divisions further than a simple black/white divide though, seeping into groups of similar ethnicity. Marico Scandal presents a white man chased from his home by the villagers scandalous story. The sibilance of the narration emphasises the malicious nature of the remarks made by the Marico farmers. The drastic action taken by Koos Deventer to stop Gawie getting involved with Francina causes Gawie to leave Drogevlei and the Groot Marico for ever. This shows the gravity of the accusation of being mixed race and the social stigma attached to such a label. Tragically, his paramour Francina is left alone and pregnant something considered shocking due to the highly Christian outlook in South Africa explaining Francinas stern, purposefully monosyllabic assertions that Gawie is white He is as white as I am. Similarly, in Fugards play, despite Lenas compassionate attempts to sympathise with Outa, Boesman reinforces the distinction between the coloured status and the old mans inferior social standing; hes not brown people, hes black people. To Boesman Outa is worthless and should have been a burden to his own class, Go die in your own world! It is often forgotten, however, that the Whitemans identity is also predefined, and he too is unable to change it. Whilst Fugard was watching a black woman walk like a somnambulist beside the Swartkops river just north of the city one bitterly cold July in 1968, he realised that to her, he and his companions were merely white men5. Fugard, who was a poor white man himself, manages to get his own identity across by writing in a uniquely South African idiom, which reflects both the uncertainty and the potential of his culture by mingling English, Afrikaans and sometimes African speech. An ear for dialect is one of Fugards strengths, and we are reminded of class markers in his own speech that locate him in the underprivileged communities6. While whites do not appear to suffer to the extent of coloured and black people in Fugards depiction, with the exception of baas Robbie, they are prohibited the luxury of identity. This may reflect the lack of interaction whites had with Boesman or Lena (who as coloured people were not even allowed to possess land in a white area), however I feel it is more likely to be intentional irony, twisting the employment of stereotypes used by whites onto them. The absence of names was a feature of the literature which struck me as poignant. The poem To a Small Boy who Died at Diepkloof Reformatory describes a small child, with the alliteration oh lost and lonely one emphasising the childs helplessness and isolation. Yet despite the poem being written as a direct elegy to him, the boy is never given a name. This appears to be a reflection by Alan Paton on the distant, cold-hearted nature of the South African justice system. The description of judges, magistrates lice, and sociologists, / Kept moving and alive by your delinquency suggests self-serving, corrupt officials fail the mistreated young boy. Undoubtedly the use of the indefinite a in the title was intended, and could imply that this tragedy is by no means isolated (likewise with the title of the poem An Abandoned Bundle). The identical here is the preceding both the document of birth and certificate of Death demonstrate the brevity and insignificance of the boys life in the eyes of the impersonal clerks. Paton appears to lament the lack of emotion conveyed in the document of birth while for the needs of society the simple where and when may suffice, the poet realises that these facts ignore the unique aspects of the childs life and identity, viewing it as more important whether he felt joy or sorrow. Gender is another issue which has weight with regards to identity. All racial and ethnic groups in South Africa have long-standing beliefs concerning gender roles, and most are based on the premise that women are less important and subordinate men. As Albert Wetheim remarks, Lena is doubly marginalised for she is as a coloured, victimized by whites as a woman, victimized by a male and the assault of his fists7 furthermore Lena has been unable to fulfil her role as a woman, that of the child bearer. A life of hardship and dissipation has arguably stripped Lena of genuinely positive emotion and when later talking to Outa she laments once youve put your life on your head and walked you never get light again. There are a number of parallels between Lena and the mother depicted in the final stanza of An Abandoned Bundle. Both are forced to continue living in a world which does not recognise the terrible tragedies of their past; the image of the abandoned bundles mother melting into the rays of the rising sun seemed to be presented through the eyes of the child, who would have been looking up at its mothers face as she drew away. However, melt may also suggest her fading away again into a crowd, an innocent face concealing her terrible secret. Comparably, Lena is not allowed to remember her lost child properly, due to Boesmans inability to discuss it with her on a personal level. Parallels may also be drawn against Sally (from Casey Motsisis The Efficacy of Prayer) who, like Lena, dreams of breaking free from the restrictions placed on her by society. Her dream to be just like Dan the Drunk comes true with the irony that the best Sally could become was something Dan the Drunk already was and whilst he was underachieving for a white man, this was the best a black girl may hope for. Athol Fugard is quoted as saying of Boesman and Lena, Its an examination of a relationship between a man and a woman in which the man is a bully. . . . I think my wife has been on the receiving end of a lot of that sort of greed and selfishness. 8 Yet despite the guilt the author carries abuse is almost commonplace in South Africa. One in every three women in South Africa is in an abusive relationship, a woman is killed by her partner every six days and there is a rape every 35 seconds9. Lenas arrival on stage immediately sets up their relationship and their identities. As she follows Boesman onto the stage and asks Here? both the action and the question are a deferral of power to him. In questioning Boesman she gives him the authority to decide her history and identity, and he is happy to occupy the seat of power in this relationship because he does not have to reflect on his oppressed life. Instead, he has become the oppressor, white man reincarnated. Lena is both bitter and ironic when she says He walks in front. It used to be side by side. Yet, although she is conscious of Boesmans faults, Lena remains inextricably tied to him, for she believes he holds the key to her past, and so her identity, for if she can be hit and bruised, then she exists. Lena in particular evokes sympathy in a modern western audience as Boesmans cruelty becomes clear this is despite Fugards intention to avoid the basic issue that it is not as simple as Lena being the victim and Boesman the oppressor10. Roy Campbells The Zulu Girl describes a place when in the sun the hot red acres smoulder, / Down where the sweating gang its labour plies. These depictions of a life ruled by labour are common, and Campbell hints that many women simply accept the sullen dignity of their defeat; although this certainly could not be said of Lena (I want my life. Wheres it? ). In an interview in 1992, Fugard acknowledged that his life has been sustained by women, the first of whom was his mother, a woman of such moral probity11. Fugards respect for women is reflected in Lenas strong character and desire that her life be witnessed, to go beyond resignation and despair in the secular world to which they are condemned. Her escape through memory contrasts Boesmans deep-rooted shame the power in their relationship begins to shift as Boesman discredits himself through violence and cruelty towards Lena and Outa. Though Bosmans stories rarely feature a central female character, possibly because whilst his stories tended to centre around the representation of society, women were considered to have little to no say on the African culture and were considerably marginalised. However, when he does cast a lead female role they tend to be tough, assertive girls. For instance, Minnie from Ox-Wagons on Trek manages to dream beyond her role as a farmers daughter and gained enough authority to refuse to marry Frans du Toit. The satisfaction Minnie gains from such liberation is shown through the use of light-hearted language such as romped and splashed. South Africas turbulent past has seen many a war, particularly between competing colonial powers trying to control it. Bosmans Mafeking Road is set during this the Second Boer War (1899-1902), concerning a son killed for wanting to defect from the Boer to the British army. Though Bosmans likely intention is to suggest the value of life is worth more than the shame Floris van Barnevelt would have felt, you cannot deny the sense of pride from being a Boer which comes through. Similarly, in his The Affair at Ysterpruit (also set during this time, without a narrator) he says he does not care whether a Boer commander is cunning or competent, for it was enough for [him] that [they] had fought. Stellenbosh by Rudyard Kipling indicates this is true for British colonies too the emphasis and repetition of the word might signifies the disappointment felt by the soldier that his General would not allow them to answer Brother Boers attack. Kiplings own son died in battle during the First World War after being continually encouraged by his father to fight for his country. South Africa has been home to various tribes since its birth, and the idea that you can take a sense of identity from your ethnic background is one which runs through all three texts. Despite being ashamed of who and what he is, even Fugards Boesman can attribute some of his identity to his ethnic background his use of sun to identify his bearings is something his forefathers would have done for centuries. However more imperative, as Stanley Kauffman astutely observed of the 1970 New York production of Boesman and Lena, is that this is a play in which the ground is important, On this mud, out of which we all come, Boesman and Lena make their camp12. All they have ever known is to use the earth, and whilst this is certainly more significant in Fugards plays, Bosman also gives credit to the African soil. Bosman unapologetically uses terms like krantz, withaak and the like without translation. We may speculate that it is this attempt to render the veld as foreign as possible, in contrast to the tameness of English country meadows which filled popular literature at the time, yet there also appears to be a certain love for the land ingrained the in African soul. Bosman wanted something more primitive to write about than the too civilised Marico, with its tractors and roads. Similarly, Mrs. A. C. Dube seeks to demonstrate patriotism at its utmost in her poem Africa: My Native Land by denying it will ever cause despair. Africa is, to her, the dearest Land ever known, and worth fighting for Till every drop of blood within my veins / Shall dry upon my troubled bones. The lack of rhyme scheme gives the poem a sense of roughness, imitating the land it is describing. This physical description demonstrates how embedded Dubes patriotism is, and this level of devotion to ones country becomes even more moving in the context of struggle. Lenas struggle always brings her back to the land, Boesman and Lena with the sky for a roof again, as in her first monologue, delivered with urgent passion, she seeks to bring meaning to her life through location. Her hard mother is something shared with every character, story or poem referring to South Africa; a binding point, a basis for a collective South African identity. Athol Fugard was labelled a political playwright against his will, stifling his own sense of identity. It is thus interesting that his text provides the least hope for those whom society stereotypes. Whilst it could be considered that the use of coloured people an artistically exacting touch as people of mixed blood Boesman and Lena are of indeterminate race, neither black nor white enabling the characters to represent all races Lena does not manage to break from the oppression and impoverishment, suggesting a cyclic existence. Nevertheless, the 2000 film version of Boesman and Lena contains flashback scenes where the couple are happy, and in one transcendent moment Lena starts singing, shuffling out a few dance steps at the same time before she laughs triumphantly. However, Elegiac poem For Richard Turner is to me the clearest example of the power of the individual, proving it is possible to make your voice heard within South Africa. Whilst its style is extremely personal, the presence of a name gives an extra poignancy. The way Turner is banned; neither to be published/ nor quoted in any form and forbidden to teach, represents a persistent attempt by the state to prevent his influence on others. While the line a gunman called you to the door shows the juxtaposition of politics and a domestic setting, the state imposing its views on the lives of others, even in the face of death, Turner is the more powerful figure. Even if, in reality, Turner did not choose the circumstances of his death, he did choose to resist oppression, in spite of knowing the risks. Similarly Dhlomos belligerent harangue Because Im Black aggressively explains that diversity means not disunion, and speaks out against those who harbour childish [delusions]. As individuals we find ourselves caught up in greater events, and must choose whether to look on passively, and thrust (our cold hands) into/ our ultimately private pockets, or to stand up for what we believe in. As a country it is important to rely upon each other, rather than the state, for validation. Yet in a country with as rich and polarised a political history as South Africa, its literature find will it difficult to survive without ever really avoid focussing on the social contexts which have played such an integral part in the shaping of the country it is today.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

I am here, even though you dont see me

I am here, even though you dont see me This essay is about people putting a label on another individual and the effects it has on the person. The essay particulary focusus on a character from the movie, The Breakfast Club. It focuses on the nerd in the movie, Brian. It also tries to make the reader think about his/her role in the "labeling" game. i.e.-are you the mocker, or the mockee?I am Here, Even Though You Don't See MeHave you ever been ridiculed for your beliefs, ways or convictions? Have you been given an undue label unfairly because of being who you are? Or rather, are you the person who unreasonably hands out the labels, or the one that cheers on and aides the ones that actually do the disreputable work? Correct me if I'm wrong, but do we not bleed the same blood and breathe the same air? Evidently, the answer is yes. Then why I ask, why to we feel the need to place labels and declare someone is better than someone else because they are unique individuals and not like what the labeler wants them to be? Nothing in life is fair, but nothing hurts the way it does to be mocked, labeled, and pressured your whole life.The Breakfast ClubI say this cause I know. If only all people could see it that way too. Just because you're different and unique in your own way, doesn't make you any less of person then the next guy. Being different and unique is what makes the world go round; we shouldn't be persecuted for our individualities. In the well-known movie The Breakfast Club, you can see first-hand what the effects are of being labeled and mocked your whole life. Specifically, I am going to focus on the one who was callously labeled The Nerd...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

5 Glaring Signs Your Coworkers Are Untrustworthy

5 Glaring Signs Your Coworkers Are Untrustworthy You don’t have to be best friends with your coworkers. We know some of you want to keep the personal and the professional separate, and that’s totally fine. But at the very least, you should be able to trust your coworkers. You certainly wouldn’t want to find out that someone else in the office has been taking credit for your hard work or passing along things you say in confidence to the wrong people. So it is wise to take note of when a colleague may be less than honest. Here are 5 signs that will help you weed out the untrustworthy.1. You’re the subject of gossip.Have you ever suspected that a coworker was whispering behind your back? And do you suspect that the coworker is whispering about you? Are things you said to that coworker in private getting around the office? These are all warning signs that someone is gossiping about you. And you can never trust a gossip.2. You’ve been robbed.Did you ever have a great idea that you mentioned to a cowork er who then went ahead and passed off that idea as his or her own? That’s not so much a warning sign as a great big flashing red light alerting you that he or she is not honest. It would be ideal to work in an environment in which having your ideas or work stolen is not a concern, but sometimes it’s best to keep your best ideas close to your chest.If this does happen to you, don’t be shy about having a private meeting with your manager to talk about the issue and how you should handle it in the future.3. You’re being left out.Ever find yourself left out of important meetings or email threads? Maybe these are just a harmless oversights, but finding yourself chronically left out might indicate that a coworker is jealous of your abilities and does not want you to shine by participating in crucial office confabs. If you find that it’s always the same coworker who is â€Å"accidentally† leaving you out of those meetings of minds, that coworker mi ght have an axe to grind against you. Again, please don’t feel out of line by reporting this type of behavior should be reported to management.4. You’re the scapegoat.Do you sometimes get blamed for mistakes you didn’t make? Do you feel fingers pointing at you behind your back? Then someone might be trying to turn you into the office scapegoat. This may be random harassment, or someone might be trying to cover up her or his own blunders by making them yours. If you regularly find yourself taking the heat for someone else’s screw-ups, that someone might be the culprit behind your scapegoat status.Always stand up for yourself and  get everything in writing. Even if you have to shoot off a quick â€Å"just confirming what we discussed at my desk this afternoon† email, do it. You can never be too safe.5. You’re the victim of sabotage.Did a project you worked hard on end up getting lost or a well-organized presentation end up mysteriously turni ng into a mess? Then someone might be deliberately sabotaging your work. Yes, it seems juvenile, but these things do happen in the adult work world. Just be sure that there is strong evidence that a particular coworker is sabotaging your work before making any accusations. You don’t want to falsely accuse anyone or mistakenly blame a coworker for your own errors. Then your coworkers might start thinking that you’re the one who isn’t completely trustworthy.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Remembering Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Remembering Event - Essay Example During this time, I decided to go for a trip that could connect me to Qatar, Italy, and finally bring me back to the United States. To do this, I chose to leave the country for South Africa, where my family planned to visit that year. After successful planning, the trip was one of the best I have had in years. After some good vacation time with family, it was time to head back home. Personally, I decided not to accompany my family and take a different route that would fulfill my desire to set foot in Qatar and Italy. To achieve my interest at the time, my family had no choice other than leaving me alone to take my preferred route home. When my family took their flight and left, I went back to the drawing board in a bid to determine how to make my flight back home longer, through some places that I wanted to see. I contacted a travel agent and asked for any available flights that would go through Qatar and Italy before heading to the United States. I was not surprised to learn that these flights were available, but each stop would require me to connect to a different airline after waiting for at least eight hours. This to me was thrilling. After an hour-long phone call, I finally had my itinerary. I would leave South Africa for Qatar, the n leave Qatar for Italy before heading back home. Even though this sounded interesting, there was a surprise to the story. I can get impatient at times, and the long wait between flights was not going to be easy for me. However, I convinced myself that this was the right thing to do because I wanted to do it in the first place. Bidding South Africa goodbye and looking forward to a great long way home was all my mind clicked. Eight hours after takeoff, we landed at Qatar’s Doha Airport. The airport was beautiful and well maintained. It was easy to navigate around because airports are more or less the same. They have signs, directions, and persons who are ready to assist you at

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

What Does It Mean to Be a Member of Your Generation Essay

What Does It Mean to Be a Member of Your Generation - Essay Example According to Nouwen (26- 28), this generation lacks warmth and trust. Also, this generation will be known for its inwardness, fatherlessness, and convulsiveness by its successors. Too many social triggers stirring instability, religions, dominating figures from media, politics, religion, and society, have made this generation face emotional uncertainty. This confusion makes us, the millennials, withdraw from our social bonds and relations and look out for self-sufficiency. This is precisely the reason why single parents and individuals not looking for serious and legitimate relationships are more common as compared to an earlier generation. It can be seen that this self-centered attitude has made this generation more materialistic that focuses on meeting imminent personal needs only. Also, this need to have self-sufficient support has given rise to a generation that is demanding of its employers the way our predecessors used to be of their caregivers. They only attempt to stay in emp loyment where they are valued and praised by their employers and lack of this amicable relationship makes them look for alternative employment more rapidly as compared to earlier generations. This attitude is also another indication of social restlessness. Another major trait of this generation will be a rejection of the legitimate authority of social key figures as well as institutions. Being a member of this generation makes one more cynical towards social phenomenon and susceptible towards peer pressure. This generation faces anxiety in the pursuit of meeting social standards set by superficial criteria like compliance to current fashion trends and technological advancements. This pre-occupancy with temporary and always changing social criteria has made this generation more susceptible to seeking refuge in the virtual world and shunning regular social contact.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Poverty and Deprivation Essay Example for Free

Poverty and Deprivation Essay The area a child grows up in has an effect, for example if a child is brought up on a council estate in poor housing they are more likely to have health problems. If parents are not working or have low income jobs they are likely to buy cheaper food and usually this means lower quality which can lead to health problems. Children and their families may have lower expectations. They might settle for the life that id mapped out. If a child lives in high rise flats or appartments they have less oppportunities to play. In poor quality housing there may not be a garden or safe playing area. This is reducing the childs opportunities to develop their physical gross motor skills. This of course is not always the case and there are many ways that we can tackle these issues and help to improve the chances and opportunities children have who live in poverty. However, if a lack of nourishing food is a problem due to severe poverty, this can severly damage a childs physical and mental well being. This can have a knock on effect in the sense that they become listless and withdrawn from having no energy, meaning they find it hard to take part in learning activities and wont have the benefit of developing their learning further. If there is a strained parental relationship due to money worries a child will undoubtedly be affect by this also. Poverty can affect children adversley in many ways and its important that they get what they are missing at home when they go to pre-school/nursery. History of abuse and neglect – Family environment and background – Behaviour of mother during pregnancy – †¢ During pregnancy, if a mother smokes, takes drugs, becomes ill or suffers from stress or anxiety this can result in premature birth and health problems for the baby such as -: low birth weight, undeveloped organs, problems with sight and hearing. These are all problems that could delay their development. Some children are born with conditions that could affect  their development such as a blood disorder. Personal choices – †¢If a child or young person as decided for what ever reason they do not want to be educated or leave school before they finish their education, this is their choice and we cannot always show them alternative choices for staying at school. Looked after/care status – †¢This again could have a huge influence as a lot of looked after children are moved around regularly. This will effect their education enormously. Separation and attachment issues are quite often the cause of many reasons not to want to be in school. This is constantly worked on by schools to find the best way to include these children in school and to be able to give them a good standard of education. Education – †¢If for example a child has not attended a nursery or play group in their early years this can often set them back from what development stage they should be at when attending school. This could be the lack of nursery places, not good enough teachers to the child having a learning disability that has not been identified yet. 2.3 Explain how theories of development and frameworks to support development influence current practice. Albert Bandura imitating/copying other.  Burrhus Skinner learning is affected by awars and punishments. Jean Piaget children actively involved in their learning. Shabhna Jerome active in own learning, develop different ways of thinking at different stages. Lev Vygotsky- Zone of Proximal Development/scaffolding, children actively learning through social interaction. How current theorist views influence practice today. Skinner reward charts and other positive reinforcement techniques.  Vygotsky developed a concept called proximal development which centres on the idea that adults help children to learn and that children help each other . Guiding children to look for answers by imitating what they see in others, listening to instructions and working as part of a group all provide opportunities for them to expand their current base of knowledge. Bruner- developed spiral curriculum which makes us believe that children learn through discovery with direct assistance by adults to encourage them to return to activities time and time again which would develop and extend their learning. His theory is used today as children have plenty of opportunity for free play and child initiated activities which form the majority of the day under the Foundation Phase Curriculum. Bandura developed the social learning theory which is basically learning through watching others. By setting a good example and modelling g ood behaviour children will learn how to behave appropriately.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Sidhe, the Tuatha de Danaan, and the Fairies in Yeatss Early Works

The fin de siecle, or late 1800's, was an era not unlike our own: now we see many seeking "New Age" enlightenment; likewise, Yeats and many of his contemporaries looked for meaning in various areas of the supernatural. Ripe as the late 1800's were for spawning occult study, those were also times of political turmoil for the Irish, and Yeats became involved with Irish nationalism as well. His desire to express this nationalism was given voice through a Celtic literature that he hoped would inform and inspire his countrymen. Falling in love with a beautiful firebrand Irish patriot (who also had a taste for the occult) only served to further ignite the Celtic flames of imagination in Yeats. References to supernatural Celtic beings and the Irish spirit world abound in Yeats's early poetry. To make these passages seem less arcane, a look at the Tuatha de Danaan, the Sidhe, and the fairies is helpful. The Tuatha de Danaan literally means "people of the goddess Danu," Danu being a Celtic land or mother goddess, perhaps derived from the Sanskrit river goddess, Danu. Other associated names for her were the Welsh "Don," Irish "Anu" or "Ana," "Mor-Rioghain," and "Brighid." The Tuatha de Dannan were considered supernatural, angelic-like beings who came to Ireland and encountered two groups that they successfully overcame. Epic battles were waged to defeat both the Firbolgs and the Fomorians. The Firbolgs, early Irish settlers, were a short, dark race of men who derived their name from carrying clay in bags, or boilg, hence the name "fir bolg" meaning "bag men." Believed to be of early Greek origin, the mortal Firbolgs were overthrown by the god-like Tuatha de Danaan. The other army that lost in combat with the Danaan fighte... ...Richard. Yeats: The Man and the Masks. New York: Norton, 1979. Gregory, Lady. Gods and Fighting Men. New York: Oxford UP, 1970. Jeffares, A. Norman. A Commentary on the Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1968. Jeffares, A. Norman. W.B. Yeats: Man and Poet. New York: Barnes, 1966. Malins, Edward. A Preface to Yeats. New York: Scribner's, 1974. O hOgain, Daithi. Myth, Legend and Romance: An Encyclopedia of the Irish Folk Tradition. New York: Prentice, 1991. O' Suilleabhain, Sean. Irish Folk Customs and Belief. Dublin: Folklore, 1967. Skelton, Robin, and Ann Saddlemyer, eds. The World of W.B. Yeats, revised ed. Seattle, WA: U of Washington P, 1967. Yeats, W.B. The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats, 2nd revised ed. Ed. Richard J. Finneran. New York: Scribner, 1996. Yeats, W.B. Mythologies. New York: Collier, 1959. The Sidhe, the Tuatha de Danaan, and the Fairies in Yeats's Early Works The fin de siecle, or late 1800's, was an era not unlike our own: now we see many seeking "New Age" enlightenment; likewise, Yeats and many of his contemporaries looked for meaning in various areas of the supernatural. Ripe as the late 1800's were for spawning occult study, those were also times of political turmoil for the Irish, and Yeats became involved with Irish nationalism as well. His desire to express this nationalism was given voice through a Celtic literature that he hoped would inform and inspire his countrymen. Falling in love with a beautiful firebrand Irish patriot (who also had a taste for the occult) only served to further ignite the Celtic flames of imagination in Yeats. References to supernatural Celtic beings and the Irish spirit world abound in Yeats's early poetry. To make these passages seem less arcane, a look at the Tuatha de Danaan, the Sidhe, and the fairies is helpful. The Tuatha de Danaan literally means "people of the goddess Danu," Danu being a Celtic land or mother goddess, perhaps derived from the Sanskrit river goddess, Danu. Other associated names for her were the Welsh "Don," Irish "Anu" or "Ana," "Mor-Rioghain," and "Brighid." The Tuatha de Dannan were considered supernatural, angelic-like beings who came to Ireland and encountered two groups that they successfully overcame. Epic battles were waged to defeat both the Firbolgs and the Fomorians. The Firbolgs, early Irish settlers, were a short, dark race of men who derived their name from carrying clay in bags, or boilg, hence the name "fir bolg" meaning "bag men." Believed to be of early Greek origin, the mortal Firbolgs were overthrown by the god-like Tuatha de Danaan. The other army that lost in combat with the Danaan fighte... ...Richard. Yeats: The Man and the Masks. New York: Norton, 1979. Gregory, Lady. Gods and Fighting Men. New York: Oxford UP, 1970. Jeffares, A. Norman. A Commentary on the Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1968. Jeffares, A. Norman. W.B. Yeats: Man and Poet. New York: Barnes, 1966. Malins, Edward. A Preface to Yeats. New York: Scribner's, 1974. O hOgain, Daithi. Myth, Legend and Romance: An Encyclopedia of the Irish Folk Tradition. New York: Prentice, 1991. O' Suilleabhain, Sean. Irish Folk Customs and Belief. Dublin: Folklore, 1967. Skelton, Robin, and Ann Saddlemyer, eds. The World of W.B. Yeats, revised ed. Seattle, WA: U of Washington P, 1967. Yeats, W.B. The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats, 2nd revised ed. Ed. Richard J. Finneran. New York: Scribner, 1996. Yeats, W.B. Mythologies. New York: Collier, 1959.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Radicalization French Revolution

Reasons radicalization of French Revolution By the end of September 1791, the National Assembly announced that its work was done. In many ways, the Constitution of 1791 seemed to fulfil the promises of reform which had been first uttered by the men of 1789. All Frenchmen could now be proud that the following rights had been secured: equality before the law, careers open to talent, a written constitution, and parliamentary government. Hence, there was a sizeable faction within the National Assembly who were satisfied and claimed the Revolution to be at an end as its primary aims had been achieved.However, by 1792 the revolution moved in a more radical and violent direction. Why the revolution became radical is often debated, and there are essentially two main reasons as to why it did so. First, a counter-revolution, loyal to Church and King, was led by the noble and the clergy and supported by staunch Catholic peasants. This threatened the changes of the revolutionaries; therefore the y turned to drastic measures. Second, the economic, social, and political discontent of the urban working classes also propelled the Revolution in the direction of radicalism.These were the small shop-keepers, artisans and wage earners, referred to as ‘sans-culottes’. Popular discontent and Jacobin agitation was evident in August as the city council was overthrown and the Commune of Paris was established. Despite the revolutionaries drafting a constitution, they now had no monarch as the royal family was under house arrest. By September the capital was in a state of chaos as more than 1,200 people were killed. This took place in order to maintain revolution and keep it moving forward.Although the constitution was already enshrined and the citizens had their freedom and liberties, there was still plenty of public dissent and disapproval as to whether or not these laws would help create a new government and prevent the country from breaking apart. The people had come this far and were not prepared to watch their efforts lead to failure or the restoration of an absolute monarchy. As a result of this radical forces were able to get citizens on side by claiming the constitution of 1791 did not meet the demands of all the people.Radicals led the Commune, discarded the old constitution and called for a National Convention to revise a new one. In January 1793, Louis XVI was executed and the Jacobins condemned their actions by claiming that the monarchy had to be abolished in order to eliminate as many of the royalist and monarchists that remained. France was declared a republic and it could be suggested that his death signified the emergence of nationalism as people remained loyal to the radicals. In addition to this, it highlighted the point where radicalism would dominate the revolution.The revolution faced strain as it coped with the weight of foreign war and civil war which caused the revolutionary leadership to grow more radical. Moderate reformers à ¢â‚¬â€œ the Girondins, had previously dominated the National Convention, but this was to change. Division within the convention began to emerge within the Convention as the Jacobins and Girondins desired different aims. Factional disputes resulted in the replacement of the Girondins with the Jacobins – the far more radical of the two.The Jacobins claimed it was their duty to save the revolution and their strengths helped gain them the support of the sans-culottes. It was the premise of the Jacobins that they should eradicate the â€Å"enemies† and secure the destiny of the revolution through the destruction of counter-revolutionary forces. The Jacobins managed to grip firm control of the Convention and the French Nation. Essentially, they were now the government. However, with the strain of civil war, economic distress and threats of foreign invasion, they realised strong leadership was required in order to save the revolution.The CPS assumed tight leadership in April 1793, and it has been argued that the reign of terror followed from this. The Committee ordered arrests and trials of counter-revolutionaries and imposed government authority. However, there was no turning back from the radical phase that the people had voluntarily entered. By summer, the reign of terror had spread over France, spearheaded by the infallibility of Robespierre, began persecuting even the innocent. It can be seen it was far too radical as even the moderate Girondins were accused of counter-revolutionary actions and expelled from the Convention.What was once a legislative, two-sided body had now become an authoritarian oligarchy led by radicals. It has been argued that this was a step backwards in the revolution as it imitated an absolute monarchy, without the safeguards of constitution. Around 17,000 people died as a result of the terror, and this was to be a stage in the revolution that could not be undone. In the summer of 1794 there seemed to be less need for terror and the republic seemed a reality. With the 9th Thermidor, the machinery of the Jacobin republic was dismantled.Leadership passed to the property owning bourgeoisie. The government then changed hands to the five-man directory and radicalism had been effectively thwarted. However, France was still at war with the rest of Europe and leadership began to pass into the hands of generals, which ultimately saw the emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte. France was not prepared for such social and political upheaval, and the resulting shift towards a republic would change the country forever.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Kant, irrationalism and religion Essay

Abstract Kant is a philosopher, which dealt with human recognition. He has been considered as an irrationalist. Many philosophers think that he used the irrationalism to justify the trust in religion and to protect the religion from the science. In this paper I shall take a view to the philosophy of Kant on recongition and to the question if Kant is an irrationalist or not. Did he use the irrationalism to protect the religion from science? This paper shall show that Kant wasn’t an irrationalist, but he simply tried to determine the limitations of the recognition and to distinguish between what we recongize and what we simply believe. His philosophy of recognition didn’t aim at protecting the religion from the science. He tells us in some pasages of the book â€Å"The critique of pure reason† that when his theory would be accepted, the men wouldn’t concluded of what they couldn’t know really, and maybe the religion would have some benefits from it. But I think that he meant the trials to prove either the existence of God or the non-existence of God. Kanti, Irrationalism and Religion Kant was firstly influenced in his philosophy by Leibnitz and later by British empiricism. By Locke and Hume he came to the conclusion that recognition stems from the senses and he also received from Leibniz’s belief that although the mind does not have any idea born, she has the innate abilities that give shape to the experience brought to it by the senses. Fundamental problem that Kant raised was on how to reconcile the absolute security that gives us mathematics and physics with the fact that our knowledge comes from the senses? Kant’s goal was to build the foundations of a new rationality that would be incontestable. In efforts to achieve security he assumed that the mind has three skills: 1. Reflection 2. Will 3. Feelings and he devoted a critique to each of them. Kant’s critique created for both rationalists and empiricists a method of transcendent or critical method, by which he meant a study of its reason, an â€Å"investigation of pure reason† to see if its judgments have universality beyond human experience and again, are necessary and related to the human experience. The logic involved in these trials may be absolutely safe and can also be applied to the world of things. Kant believed that the thought, feeling and the will are forms of reason and he decided the transcendental principles of the reason in the realm of thought, the transcendental moral principles to the will and the transcendental principles of beauty in the realm of feeling. In this paper we will try to treat if Kant is an irrational that used irrationalism to justify the religion. To clarify this we must first demonstrate his theory of knowledge and whether Kant was indeed irrational and then if he used this irrationalism to make room for faith in religion. Kant says that his goal of writing the â€Å"Critique of Pure Reason† was to put Metaphysics on the basis of sound and to transform it into a science. In the first entry of â€Å"Critique of Pure Reason† he writes: Our age is the age of criticism, to which everything must be subjected. The sacredness of religion, and the authority of legislation, are by many regarded as grounds of exemption from the examination of this tribunal. But, if they on they are exempted, they become the subjects of just suspicion, and cannot lay claim to sincere respect, which reason accords only to that which has stood the test of a free and public examination. † (Kant,2002 pg. 7,) Kant sought for the metaphysics to achieve the security of mathematics and logic. He was not a skeptic who saw the world as mere sensory appearance, but quite the contrary he was prompted to write this book as a response to the skepticism of David Hume. Kant aims to determine whether it can reach a metaphysical knowledge, and if so whether it can be arranged in a science and what its limits are. The main aim of th Pure Critique is to demonstrate how the answers to these questions can be achieved, provided that the subject is reviewed under a new angle. Kant’s own words regarding this are: â€Å"â€Å"This attempt to alter the procedure which has hitherto prevailed in metaphysics by completely revolutionizing it . . . forms indeed the main purpose of this critique. . . . It marks out the whole plan of the science, both as regards its limits and as regards its entire internal structure† (Kant,2002). â€Å"The critique of pure reason . . . will decide as to the possibility or impossibility of metaphysics in general, and determine its sources, its extent, and its limits—all in accordance with principles. . . . I venture to assert that there is not a single metaphysical problem which has not been solved, or for the solution of which the key at least has not been supplied† (Kant, 1998). Kant divided metaphysics into two parts: the first part deals with problems that are knowable by experience such as causality, while the second part deals with the whole in general and as such we do not refer to an object that we are able to perceive, because we cannot perceive the universe as a single thing. According to Kant we can have confidence only in the first part of metaphysics (general metaphysics) and it may have scientific certainty because its facilities are given in experience and is subject to verification. On contrary, the metaphysics of the second part (special metaphysics), which is so abstract that it overcomes any kind, cannot achieve scientific safety because its concepts are ‘blank’. In the first part, metaphysics deals with everything within the universe and that it is accessible to the senses, while the metaphysics in the second half deals with the universe as a whole and undetected by the senses. Of the first questions can get a correct answer while the latter not, even though these questions is well to be made. Kant was primarily interested in clarifying whether metaphysics is possible as a science or not. He was convinced that mathematics and natural sciences were true science. But is metaphysics a science? What Kant must do to achieve a scientific metaphysics was to identify the criteria for a science and then to produce metaphysical conclusions that met these criteria. Kant believed that the first criteria of a true science were that its conclusions were both necessary and universal, as much as judgments in mathematics, and geometry are. To have such universal judgments, it’s necessary to find out how they are produced, and to do this we need to see how mathematicians and scientists achieve this. When Kant asks how metaphysics is possible, he is asking how a science of everything that exists can reach the safety of pure mathematics and natural sciences. To understand this we must understand what the concept of science is and what its elements to Kant are. We must understand the use of this concept as the standard for determining whether metaphysics in both its parts is a real science. Kant conceives the science as a system of real judgments in a specific field of research. All judgments Kant divides into two types, empirical and a priori. An empirical judgment is the judgment coming from experience and can be verified by the observation itself. Kant calls all not empirical judgments as a priori. Example of an a priori judgment is: ‘All triangles have three angles â€Å". We verify this by observing not all triangles, but by analyzing what the subject to the judgment ‘triangle’ means. We find that the real concept of the ‘triangle’ is already incorporated to the concept of triangle, which is predication of our judgment. It would be contradictory to deny that the triangle has three angles. A trial verified in this way is called by Kant analytical; predicate simply explains the concept of the subject without adding anything new to him. All analytic judgments are a priori known without recourse to any particular type of experience. If all a priori judgments are analytic is another matter entirely. On the other hand we get judgment â€Å"the apple is red†. Analysis of the concept ‘apple’ is not leading us to the concept ‘red†. We need to see the apple to understand the subject. This is an empirical judgment and all empirical judgments Kant called synthetic, because they connect the subject with the predicate of the ways that are not analytical, the predicate adds a new recognition of the concept of the subject. All empirical judgments are synthetic; the survey supports the connection between subject and predicate. If all synthetic judgments are empirical-in other words if the observation is always the one that provides the link for the synthesis- is from Kant’s view of a very different matter. If metaphysics is a science consisting of judgments, these judgments are empirical or a priori? First they need to contain any existence as such, so they must be universal and necessary. For example, let’s look at a judgment of metaphysics in the first part: â€Å"everything has a cause†. We cannot allow any exception to this judgment. The opposite of it would be contradictory. Let’s see a judgment that belongs to the metaphysics of the second part: â€Å"the universe is eternal†. Even this judgment does not allow exceptions. This means that any empirical judgment is not metaphysical. They are a priori, but are they analytical? Let’s see once more the judgment â€Å"every event has a cause. † Predicate here is not included in the concept of the subject. Let’s see another judgment: ‘the universe is eternal. ‘ Even here the predicate is not included in the subject. So the typical judgments of metaphysics are synthetic and a priori. Even though they are necessary and universal, their predicates are not related to the subjects either by empirical observation or by logical connections. What makes them universal and necessary? What relationship may exist between subjects and predicate that comes neither from the experience nor is conceptual? How are synthetic judgments possible a priori? To explain the a priori synthetic judgments Kant introduces the notion of pure intuition and differentiates it from the thought. He declares that there are two basic skills of human consciousness, intuition, which is directly aware of a specific individual unit, and the thought which is indirectly aware of things through their abstract types. Each of these skills is to recognize conditions that are a priori limitations on what you can know and what cannot know from their use. A priori conditions of intuition are time and space. A priori conditions of thought are, first, a priori conditions of valid conclusions, and secondly, the conditions a priori to think about objects, forms of judgment and categories. Kant claimed that he had managed to put metaphysics of the first part in the way of science. As for Kant metaphysics is the study of everything in general, it is the study of everything that can be recognized. In this way, its findings will be a priori synthetic judgments applicable to anything that can be recognized. Kant called these researches for these a priori synthetic judgments â€Å"transcendental investigation ‘, while he is in search of conditions for recognition of all. To discover these terms means to discover to what extent is metaphysics possible as science. In the first part of metaphysics we seek transcendental conditions, universal and necessary knowledge of all things, and we are committed to stay within the limits of possible experience. The knowledge in this area consists of a final judgment S is P. We are dealing with things or objects and therefore judgments cannot be simply concepts and hence must be synthetic, adding to our knowledge. Our goal in the first part of metaphysics is to bring these items under the categories. But the categories are in themselves as empty files. They can be filled only if we look them by experience. How can one give to an abstract concept an experiencing filling? It is easy to illustrate with a first empirical content. Kant states: â€Å"The possibility of experience is . . . what gives objective reality to all our a priori cognitions. Experience, however, rests on the synthetic unity of appearances, that is, on a synthesis according to concepts of an object of appearances in general. Apart from such synthesis it would not be knowledge, but a rhapsody of perceptions which would not fit into context according to rules of a completely interconnected possible consciousness. . . . Experience, therefore, depends upon a priori principles of its form, that is, upon universal rules of unity in the synthesis of appearances. (Kant 1998). Have we arrived at the essence of metaphysics of the first part? Since the categories are a priori concepts that apply to each item, the corresponding rules for their application should be a priori rules with sensory content, unlike empirical content, a rule whose application is a retrospective sensory content. Kant is fulfilling his promise by providing us metaphysical principles which are synthetic a priori. Since all our perceptions are temporarily connected to each other, rules of application of the categories will be expressed in terms of different temporary connections that we know are a priori possible. Each of these predications, Kant calls the schema. The Schema of the category of reality is ‘being in a specified time. ‘ The Schema of substance category is ‘consistency of real in time. ‘ The result is vindication of metaphysics in its first part and the production of current metaphysical conclusions in this discipline. Kant believed that he had found the conditions that make possible empirical knowledge of things in general, and furthermore to show that metaphysics is possible as a science in the first part. But, what about the constituency for metaphysics in the second- in other words the study of all things considered collectively? This includes rational cosmology, the study of the universe as a whole, rational psychology, the study of the soul as something which refers to any possible knowledge, and rational theology study of the Creator and manager of everything. Kant argues that the attempt to demonstrate each of these issues is pointless. The major difficulty is that we cannot have an intuition of the universe as a whole, of the soul or God as a whole. Consequently, there is no possibility to connect the subject with the predicate in a synthetic judgment about these things, no way to verify or refute them. His conclusion is that although we may have certain knowledge in the first part of metaphysics we are excluded from the recognition in the second part of it. He reached this conclusion from a general argument, but he gives particular argument against the possibility of recognition in the second part of metaphysics. All of the alleged evidence for or against the thesis of the so-called science lead to logical absurdities. The whole universe, God, soul, his own free will and immortality can be thought of, but cannot be recognized, and the same can be said about things in themselves. All these things are noumena or simply understandable. Kant made the distinction between phenomenal and the noumenal reality. There is a difference between things we perceive and those that really do exist. The things we perceive he calls a phenomenon, while those that actually exist he calls noumena. Not only a phenomenon can be addressed to two different noumena (when two different things look the same) but also two different phenomena can be addressed to a single phenomenon (when the same thing looks different in different perspectives). Noumenon is a physical object and the phenomenon is how it looks. We cannot have any idea, what noumena are. We cannot know what is behind appearance, behind the information we receive from our senses. We cannot talk about what exists, if we don’t refer to phenomenal reality. We cannot know neither where nor noumena are, if they exist. We do not know for sure, if there is any different reality outside the reality we perceive. We cannot ever have real knowledge about noumenon in Kant’s opinion. Kant uses the word â€Å"knowledge† to refer more to what we know about the phenomenon than what we know about noumenon. This may seem like a contradiction: should not recognition be for real things, rather than simply for their appearance? But, the recognition for real things is impossible according to Kant, because we have no transcendental insight. We can think about real things, we can form beliefs about it, but we cannot have any knowledge about it because our knowledge of the world has only one source: the sensory data. (There are also other types of recognition but they do not apply to the world but only on the concepts and abstractions as mathematics. ). Since all our knowledge about the world is created by the sensory information and the sensory data are all phenomenal, then all our knowledge about the world is knowledge about the phenomena and not about noumena. I think Kant meant that although the phenomenon may be reason to talk about how something really is, only phenomena are not sufficient to show that something exists because the existence is the only feature noumena. To tell the truth one cannot have certain knowledge to show that something exists, we can only have faith that it exists. This means rocks and trees, as well as means God and the soul, but the difference is that for the trees and rocks it is not important if noumena actually exist. Even if a stone is nothing but a phenomenon, it kills again if someone hits with it, so I have to bow to avoid. Ultimately even my own head is also a phenomenon. No matter what is beyond what we know, because everything we have in the physical world are only phenomena, and this is what really counts. What can we know about things in themselves and other noumena as: God and soul? It is possible to know something about things in them, that they may not be space-time or be recognized by the application over to the categories. But this does not tell us how they are. Kant thought that we have a secure knowledge of things in themselves, that they exist, that they affect the way they affect the senses and contribute (help) content as opposed to the empirical form of recognition. We know that they exist by the fact that it would be absurd to talk about appearance if would not be out of something. We don’t know anything else about noumena. We do not know whether God exists or if everything is fixed or if we have free will, etc.. This does not mean that these concepts do not have a function. The concept of the universe as a whole, the concept of a legislator to the concept of rule and power over the universe, even though unverifiable, can serve as ideas of reasoning – as Kant calls them, that are regulatory to unify all knowledge into a system. Let us assume that we cannot know anything about noumena: is there any justification for believing that they exist or have this or that feature? By doing this question Kant did the distinction between belief and verification of a justification to accept it. The verification provides a full justification for accepting a belief and a refutation provides a justification to reject it. As long as we can prove or retort, the theoretical knowledge prevails and we are justified in accepting its results. But Kant thought he had shown that there are some things that cannot ever be prove or rejected. Then a question is arisen: is there any justification for believing than knowing? Kant said that once to the theoretical reason is given to what is up, the priority of practice asserts its interests. Where theoretical reason is concerned with what is, practical reason is concerned about what should be. The theoretical reason could not give us knowledge about subjects that go beyond the experience, therefore we should deny all its claims in this area and give these practical reason issues to the people. Kant says, â€Å"I must, therefore, abolish knowledge, to make room for belief† (Kant, 1998). Deny the knowledge and no reason, for practical reason is part of the reason, and because it limits the confidence in the minimum of required arguments, in Kant’s view, it is done to protect the morale -existence of God, freedom and immortality. Kant condemns the faith based on religious feelings. If we understand Kant upon his words, it will be said that he was defending the Enlightenment, the reason and the warning of disaster to come, if these will be abandoned in the name of â€Å"feeling†. Kant doesn’t deny the recognition, it is not a irrationalist. Kant raises a theory of knowledge, which wants to create a scientific metaphysic, rather than makes room to believe in God (religion); he tells us what we can know and what is beyond the scope of human knowledge. Kant had understood that his method would help religion. He writes that once one accept his theory, people will not disclose to unjustified conclusions on things that they cannot recognize and that religion would benefit from this, but I think he meant this as attempts to validate the idea that God exists or to prove that God does not exist. What Kant tells us is: we cannot ever know for sure that God and soul exist because we cannot have accurate knowledge of the noumenal existence. This is not an expression of irrationality, but quite the contrary, is an attempt to use rational thinking in order to distinguish it from what we know and what we simply believe. References Kant, I. (2002). Kritika e mendjes se kulluar. ( Ekrem Murtezai, Trans. ) Prishtine. (Original work published 1787) Kant, I. (1998). Critique of pure reason. (J. M. D Meiklejohn, Trans). Electronic texts collection. (Original work published 1787) Kant, I. (2002). Kritika e gjykimit. ( Dritan Thomollari, trans. ). Plejad. Bonardel, F. (2007). L’irrazionale. (Lucias della Pieta, Trans. ) Mimesis edizioni. Sgarbi, M. (2010). La logica dell’irrazionale. Studio sul significato e sui problemi della Kritik der Urteilskraft. Mimesis Edizioni(Milano-Udine)