Is Doubt the Key to Knowledge Essay

As a student currently taking the International Baccalaureate, I constantly question the differences between the several areas of knowledge which I study. In a period where technology shows constant developments which trigger new discoveries and establish new facts, a critical outlook is essential in order to assess the validity and limitations of knowledge claims that arise within these fields. The twenty-first century has been called the age of information, where individuals have the ability to communicate freely and where knowledge becomes increasingly accessible. This seems to create an environment where knowledge prospers freely, and where doubt is gradually becoming extinct. However, many still argue that this new age of information bombardment creates a false sensation of certainty, and a series of unsupported convictions. Almost all areas of knowledge have a particular way of achieving values of truth, when that is possible whatsoever. This is directly linked to the ways of knowing in Theory of Knowledge, (emotion, perception, language and reason) as well as through the methods each field uses in its attempts to explain something, or to reach truth. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the several â€Å"paradigm shifts†, as in the term first coined by Thomas Kuhn[1], that change the perception and methods through which we acquire and interpret knowledge, as well as our definition of truth. Scientific certainty derives from countless experimentations and observations, and many debate whether scientific truth can ever be reached. History, on the other hand, is rigorously based on personal experience and interpretation of individual accounts, which allows for partiality and bias. This essay aims to evaluate and distinguish these two areas of knowledge, as well as determine the possible legitimacy and certainty that can be obtained from the knowledge claims produced in each field. Historical analysis is one the most controversial areas of knowledge, possibly due its extremely ambiguous and uncertain nature. Historians may disagree over the causes and consequences of nearly any historical event. It is important to remember that history is based on paradigms. As a result, it s almost impossible to find a particular period in history which has not been marked by disputes between historians, attempting to determine what actually happened. Thomas Carlyle, a 19th century historian and teacher at the University of Edinburgh, once stated that â€Å"The history of the world is but the biography of great men†, an allusion to The Great Man Theory, one of the many paradigms that have bent the shape of historical analysis. If we take the Second World War as an example, it seems as if the historical context of the war is seen through the actions of men such as Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini and Winston Churchill. Another paradigm that can be observed in historical thought is the â€Å"Rise and Fall† concept, which tends to evaluate the history of empires and historical powers in terms of two phases: the ascent and decline. Examples of this paradigm can be found in many titles of history books: â€Å"The Rise and Fall of the Holy Roman Empire[2]†, â€Å"The Growth and Decline of the French Monarchy[3]†, â€Å"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich[4]†, amongst others. Furthermore, as we analyze the history of the Second World War, we also find correlations with another historical paradigm, best exemplified by the famous proverb: â€Å"History is written by the victor†. The argument proposed is quite clear; those who triumph at War and reach power will inevitably influence and determine the course of history. In order to better illustrate this claim, two extracts follow, concerning the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941; the first, a broadcast by Winston Churchill to the British people, and finally a speech given by Adolph Hitler in Berlin, proclaiming the invasion of the USSR: â€Å"At 4 o’clock this morning Hitler attacked and invaded Russia. (†¦) A non-aggression treaty had been solemnly signed and was in force between the two countries. †¦) Then, suddenly, without declaration of war, German bombs rained down from the sky upon the Russian cities. (†¦) Hitler is a monster of wickedness†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [5] Winston Churchill, London, June 22 1941 â€Å"National Socialists! (†¦)The German people have never had hostile feelings toward the peoples of Russia (†¦ ) Germany has never attempted to spread its Natio nal Socialist worldview to Russia. Rather, the Jewish-Bolshevist rulers in Moscow have constantly attempted to subject us and the other European peoples to their rule. (†¦) which were particularly severe for Germans living in the affected nations. †¦) The purpose of this front is no longer the protection of the individual nations, but rather the safety of Europe, and therefore the salvation of everyone. May God help us in this battle. † Adolph Hitler, Berlin, June 25 1941[6] Analyzing both speeches, the difficulties of validating a historical account become quite evident, since there are always several perspectives concerning a specific historical event. As it relates to the ways of knowing, history is extremely dependent on perception and language, making it particularly hard for historians in hindsight to corroborate one account over the other and recognise its legitimacy. However, offering a personal perspective, I would most likely tend to support Churchill’s account of the 1941 Nazi occupation of the USSR. Yet, after exposing the uncertainties and ambiguity of historical knowledge, I begin to question whether or not my perception would differ, had Hitler and the Axis’ forces won the war. Unfortunately, it seems that would most likely be the case. Science is widely regarded as one of the most reliable fields of inquiry. When considering its potential for accurate and impartial conclusions, my initial response was to consider the scientific method the ideal, archetypal model of discovery. History seems simply too inseparable from human emotion and interpretation to produce a constantly indisputable account of facts, while science appears to be the most reliable and precise area of knowledge, solely based on rationality, empirical evidence and observable patterns. The scientific method, starting with a predicted hypothesis, followed by an experiment, collection and interpretation of data, which ultimately leads to a conclusion which could be repeated by any other scientist, gives the impression of being the perfect â€Å"truth formula†. On the other hand, when looking at the progress of science over time, it is important to realize that, together with the other areas of knowledge, real certainty can never be achieved in science. Even when scientific models survive repeated testing which fail to disprove them, they cannot be universally accepted as truths, but only provisional truths that are simply given functional certainty. The Caloric Theory[7], introduced by Lavoisier, was once a commonly accepted theory that was discredited in the 19th century by the mechanical theory of heat introduced by Carnot[8], which later on evolved into the science of thermodynamics. This supports the claim that scientific â€Å"truths† only exist on their specific â€Å"scope of applicability†[9]: â€Å"Science progresses through trial and error, mostly error. Every new theory or law must be skeptically and rigorously tested before acceptance. Most fail, and are swept under the rug, even before publication. Others, like the luminiferous ether[10], flourish for a while, then their inadequacies accumulate till they are intolerable, and they are quietly abandoned when something better comes along. Such mistakes will be found out. There’s always someone who will delight in exposing them.  Science progresses by making mistakes, correcting the mistakes, then moving on to other matters. If we stopped making mistakes, scientific progress would stop. † [11] In conclusion, it seems that uncertainty will always be an indissoluble part of every area of knowledge. We can also conclude that historical and scientific knowledge have an incredibly different way of explaining and interpreting things, mostly due to the ways of knowing, or according to which filter each area of knowledge attempts to express their ideas, and draw conclusions. While many may argue that the main purpose of these areas of knowledge is to explain and generate answers, some would say that their aim is inquiry, and their purpose is to generate questions. If we analyze these fields in hindsight, it is hard to dispute the claim that what we now consider hard facts are simply theories waiting to be discredited by the progress of our existence. Although at first I found myself to be disappointed with my findings, I stand corrected. The pursuit of knowledge, the quest for truth, is a never ending cycle of discoveries, and most importantly rediscoveries. Once we are certain of anything, we kill this cycle, we close the book, and the entire process loses significance and context. In the human drive for knowledge and higher awareness, as in the questions that generate the angst and sorrow of human consciousness, there can never be an unquestionable truth, an indisputable answer, for certainty is an illusion.

Old Age

| Old Age as a Time of New Opportunities| | | | | | The article â€Å"Old Age as a Time of New Opportunities (from the Foundation of Age)† by Betty Friedan opened my eyes to a perspective that I had never really thought about. It was about how old age is usually perceived as another step closer to death. In this article we are able to understand the perspective of an elder female. The female is 59 years old almost 60. She wants to go to Outward Bound which will give her the extreme outdoor experience.She goes with her friend Cecelia Herwich. They have to leave their city clothes and forget about who they were in the past and have to leave behind their professional role. When they arrive at the first campsite they are given their gear. They are given a backpack, poncho, sleeping bag, ground cloth, tin cup, spoon, water bottle, and iodine to purify it. They begin with a three mile jog up and down the road. She turned out to be the slowest because she had problems catching up wit h everyone else.That night they spoke about why they went. A woman named Ruth said she went because she wanted to do something exciting before she settled into a rocking chair. Another that was there was Earl. He said he was drawn in by the simple fact that it was dangerous because he would have to be there for ten days away from what he is used to and not knowing who else would be there along with him. After wards they mention that there are usually more men and that their expedition is the first to have more women involved.They stated that there are usually young men but not young women. Then they ask if women get more adventurous with age. I think that it is true that women get more adventurous the older they get. I think that this is true because they are afraid of retreating to nothing without feeling they did something that they have never tried before. They are afraid because they feel the vicious cycle of cleaning the house, taking care of the children, keeping up with husba nd and kids, etc.They are basically getting tired of the daily routine that they always have to put up with as regular house wives. Women feel they have been put down for too long so they want to do a change in their life. They want to feel that they did something different for once. I think that this would be an excellent topic to discuss in Sociology class. It is a good topic because it can be viewed in various ways. The different ways of viewing this article is interesting because everyone will most likely have a different way of perceiving it by the way their brain is functioning.

A Study on the Demographic Factors Influencing the Adoption of E-Banking in India Essay

E – Banking has become a rising concern for academics. It is the innovation of e- banking that has resulted in cost and time reduction for the employees and consumers for the completion of their banking transactions. Banks have now devised more internet based solutions. The research has a wide scope as it focuses on the factors that influence the acceptance of the software offered by banks. Overview In the recent years information technology has fundamentally changed the banking industry worldwide. The innovation of internet banking has changed the way banking is being done and has offered the banks with a lot of challenges and opportunities. Banking industry faces a critical challenge in the adoption of online banking as the knowledge is very limited in India and there is an essential need to study that. The slow adoption of e- banking in India can also be because of poor education, economies, infrastructure and trust also plays an important role. This research will help in understanding the factors that affect the adoption of internet banking such as social, demographic and customer attitudes and perception which will enable banks to find out solutions to attract the customers through the e- banking services and hence gain a high market share in the banking industry. The motivation for this research arose because there has been a rapid development of e- banking in India but the concern is that whether customers demand for these services based on their income, education, internet usage and levels of customer ownership and acceptance. There has been an increase in the number of internet users but a very small fraction of those do their banking transactions online because of lack of trust and several other factors. This study will explore e- banking facilities through the consumer’s eyes and seek to understand the attitude and behavior of consumers towards e-banking which will help the banks to formulate campaigns to encourage the adoption of e-banking. Research Question This research will examine the factors playing an important role in the adoption of e- banking by the people in India. This report will give a recommendation on the improvement of the banks future course of action for the increasing use of e- banking. The final report will benefit the bank in improving the accessibility of the service to improve the adoption of e- banking which will form the basis of the research. The research includes the following questions: 1. What are the drivers for the adoption of e- banking in India? 2. What is the influence and role of age on the adoption of e- banking? 3. What is the influence of education and its role on adoption of e- banking? 4. What is the influence of income and its role on adoption of e- banking? 5. What is influence of trust or social influence or social status in accepting internet banking? 6. What are the steps recommended that should be undertaken by banks to improve the adoption among customers? Aim The main aim of the research is to point out on the barriers and benefits of adopting e-banking services in India and enriching the understanding and knowledge of factors influencing the adoption of e- banking services. Objectives 1. To examine the role of income, age, education, social status and their impacts on adoption of e- banking in India. 2. To understand other factors responsible for the acceptance of e – banking. 3. To understand the importance of e- banking in the improvement of banking facilities provided to the customers. 4. To understand the risks faced from e – banking  5. To describe the demographic difference between the users of e-banking and the nonusers, this will help understand the behavioral strategies of the customers. 6. Develop recommendations for banks on improving the accessibility and security for the customers. 7. To analyze the factors that discourages the customers from using e- banking services. Literature Review The research is based on theory testing. A number of factors have been identified that are responsible for the hampering or proliferation of adoption of technology among general public (Kumbhar, 2011). Recently, internet has been found as the prime channel for devising banking solutions for general public (Kumbhar, 2011, Tan et al., 2009). This popularity of internet has made the global and local competition very fierce (Gan.C, Mike.C, Limsombunchai.V.et.al 2006). The behavior or intentions of people have been considered as the main determinant in successful adoption of internet and technology (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975). Researcher in the past have paid attention to the factors such as convenience, trialability, compatibility and relative advantage for the adoption of new technology, with almost less attention towards the demographic factors and their influence (Or et al., 2011, Rogers,1995). There are very few who have identified factors of age, income and education level and gender on the acceptance of the banking technologies (Al-Gahtani and King, 1999, Al-Somali et al., 2008). Moreover, age, accessibility of internet, education and the awareness of electronic banking and resistance of users were of paramount importance (Sohail and Shanmugham, 2004). Others have identified age, marital status, ethical background, qualification, income and residence area as the drivers (Gan et al., 2006). The disparities among the adoption of male and female users were deemed to be varying according to studies (Sharman and Kirsty, 2006). Many of the researchers have based their findings on the empirical evidence that acceptance of electronic banking is more in cases with higher level of education and higher level financial status in consumers or general public (Kolodinsky et al., 2000). Individual attitudes that consumers have and their beliefs are of more importance that factors of demographics for the adoption of new technology (Kolodinsky et al., 2000). Other factors such as privacy, security and convenience were found to be more prevalent among female users than males (Shergill and Li, 2005). Context The banking industry has revolutionized with the advances in information technology and the emergence of electronic banking. Increase in the competition and globalization has resulted in the change of the banking and the financial services. There is a rapid change in the demand of these financial services and the consumer’s behavior towards these services. It has become necessary to adopt new strategies with the change of traditional banking to electronic banking. Studies show that the awareness of new technologies and software in India is less which is the biggest obstacle. Though the e- banking system has reached globally there is huge gap in the adoption of these services between the developed countries and the developing countries. (licker and Motts, 2004). The problem in India is that the customers have not transferred their attitude towards using bank operations over the internet they believe in the old traditional way of banking. Some customers do not know how to use a computer others do not like the technology. There is lack of proper infrastructure and the internet connections are broken and slow in some places. Customers are not very confident using ATM machines. They are afraid of making purchases over the internet as they think that any small error will result in loosing money. Many people find the internet connections costs expensive. Despite of having such easy and better internet banking services the customers do not use it therefore the customer’s acceptance of e- banking need to be understood and the factors affecting the intention of their use of e – banking. The issue is critical as the answer to it will help in promoting a new form of e – banking system in future.

Is Homosexuality a learned behavior or biological Essay

Homosexuality is a controversial issue within any society in the world and has been debated upon in the public in recent years. The debate on homosexuality has typically concentrated on the social and legal issues surrounding the concept and little regard has been given to the cause of the problem. The controversy that has surrounded the homosexuality issue has spread to the determination of the cause of the phenomenon. This has been brought about by those arguing that homosexuality is caused by environmental factors whereas others argue that homosexuality is caused by biological factors. This paper is going to give an analysis of whether homosexuality is a learned behavior or a biological one. Homosexuality: Homosexuality is a concept that has been controversial in many societies. Though the behavior has been widely spoken about in the recent past, it was almost forbidden in the traditional societies and anyone involved was considered immoral. Homosexuality has been defined as a romantic attraction towards individuals of the same sex. Homosexuality is therefore part of the three notable sexual orientations exhibited in human species which also include bisexuality and heterosexuality. Homosexuality has elicited a strong debate not only on its acceptability within the society but also regarding its causes. The controversy has led to the legal and social implications of the issue dominating the media as well as the biological debate sparked by the research finding in the recent past. The central question in regard to the causes of homosexuality has been on whether homosexuality is caused by biological concepts or it is a learned behavior that has been entrenched in the cultural norms (Lawrence, para 1). Homosexuality is characterized by an individual having sexual preference with others of the same sex. In females, such preferences are referred to as lesbianism whereas in males it is called gay. This is in contravention to the conventional societal expectations of heterosexuality. Homosexuality has been met with social consequences especially for those with same sex sexual preferences. It has been estimated that between 2 and 5 percent of males are gays whereas between 1 and 2 percent of females practice lesbianism (Pease & Bull, para 5). In the United States, despite the eminence of the phenomenon, most of the states do not approve of same sex marriages. It has been previously thought that homosexuality is a choice and that individuals do learn the behavior. A survey conducted in 1970 indicated that over 40 percent of the public were of the opinion that the young gays had learned the habit from the older ones (Pease & Bull, para 5). Homosexuality as a biological behavior: In the development of the child, genetics that are inherited from the parents play a vital role in the determination of character and behavior. Genes are known to carry all the biological information and may be incorrectly placed during the cell division process through mutations. Homosexuality is considered as coming from gene mutation in human development. The biological explanation of the homosexual behavior was given impetus by Simon Levay who discovered that the hypothalamus of the brain in homosexuals was small compared to heterosexuals. He concluded that differences in the brain formation were responsible for homosexual behavior (Queer Foundation, para 4). There is also a hormonal imbalance amongst the homosexuals. Hormones are responsible for controlling and stimulating the body and therefore any imbalance in hormones will lead to disorientation in the erotic attraction (Queer Foundation, para 4). Research has continued to point towards a biological cause of homosexuality. There are certain observations that point to the biological causes of homosexuality as observed by Dan Eden. According to Eden, the heterosexuals and homosexuals exhibit observable differences that have a biological orientation. He observed that the index and the ring fingers are about the same in length for heterosexual women whereas in men, the index finger is usually shorter compared to the ring finger. On the contrary, lesbians’ finger length were more like men’s and this is also seen in other character traits including eye-blink patterns and other male traits (Eden, para 1). Research has also indicated the differences in the brain of the males and females. Studies that have been conducted indicate that there is sexual dimorphism in the hypothalamus of the two sexes. The males have shown greater differences in terms of cell numbers compared to the females in this part of the brain. Studies have indicated that between two and four of the Interstitial Nuclei of the Anterior Hypothalamus (INAH) in males are double the size found in females. Since the INAH is responsible for sexual dimorphism, scientists believe that differences in this region of the brain are responsible for the sexual orientation in individuals (Deem, para 3). Another study done by scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden reinforced the notion that homosexuality is an inborn phenomenon. In this study, both heterosexuals and homosexuals were exposed to sex hormones and their stimulation in the hypothalamus measured. There was a great difference in how the hypothalamus in the two categories of sexual orientation reacted to sexual hormones. Upon being exposed to the male hormones, the hypothalamus in heterosexual females and homosexual males was activated but heterosexual males did not respond to the same. Similar observations were observed when female hormones were introduced. In this case, the heterosexual males’ hypothalamus got activated as opposed to heterosexual females and homosexual males (McHugh, para 3). Studies by biologists Ward Odenwald and Shan-Ding Zhang on fruit flies tend to indicate that homosexuality is a genetic issue. In their experiment, the two scientists transplanted a single gene into the flies which was responsible for the homosexual behavior that was observed. They inferred their findings to human homosexuality claiming that since there is the presence of a related gene in humans, homosexuality was a genetic issue though no much has been done to prove this claim. The two scientists are however cautious on the issue and hopes that their revelation would be important in analyzing how the genetic make up in individuals could be responsible in influencing the sexual orientation (Thompson/Bethesda, para 2). Homosexual as a learned behavior: Socio-behaviorists are opposed to the biological notion in regard to the homosexual behavior in humans. Homosexuality is attributed to the environmental factors which hold that homosexuality is a learned behavior. Behaviorists regard childhood experiences as responsible for homosexuality behavior that is exhibited by individuals. As a learned behavior, homosexuality can be traced by analyzing the play patterns during childhood, peer relations and interaction, and parental influence. Psychoanalysts in particular had extensive studies on homosexuality in trying to explain the ‘abnormal’ behavior. Their explanations seem to point to an individual’s upbringing as the main cause of the homosexuality. In simple terms, they were of the view that homosexuality was caused by environmental factors (Newman, para 1). Homosexuality has been with us since the ancient times and it was accepted in some cultures. A Greek philosopher by the name Aristophanes believed that there is a longing between two souls to get together and that sexual desire on its own is not responsible for homosexuality thus culture has greater influence on the trend. In Greece, homosexuality was practiced in ancient times between young boys and adult males as part of initiation into adulthood. In New Guinea, there are instances where young males are inseminated by tribal warriors which is allowed y their culture. In Crete, the male adolescents had to engage in a homosexual relationship as initiation to adulthood (Johnson, para 17). The social and cultural environment is therefore core in determination of the sexual orientation of the individuals. Behaviorists hold that â€Å"some sexual and gender identification differences result from roles imposed by family and friends upon children, such as the masculine and the feminine stereotypes† (Johnson, para 18). Some studies have contradicted the genetic determinism in homosexuality. If genetics were fully responsible for homosexuality, then one would expect it will be permanent. Studies have however indicated that sexual preferences can change over time especially in females. In a five-year study conducted on female homosexuals, it was discovered that more than ? abandoned lesbianism with ? reclaiming heterosexuality. Other studies have continued to reinforce the notion that sexual orientation is not fixed and can change over time. A good example is given by Kerry Pacer who was a gay advocate when in High School but later changed to a heterosexual relationship. It is therefore imperative to note that in some individuals sexual orientation is something that they can choose and thus a learned behavior. Some engage in homosexuality after being influenced by their role models or peers (Deem, para 17). For those arguing that homosexuality is a learned behavior, it is argued that children from a tender age have to be taught the acceptable standards of behavior in the society and that they should also be exposed to the right role models. Peer influence, the media and the internet has been blamed for having influenced the youth in practicing bad behaviors like homosexuality. It is obvious that in the current times teenagers discover their sexual experiences at a tender age and that any harmful patterns of sexuality can have a lasting impact on these young people. Since sexual experience is pleasurable, it is usually reinforced by the experience irrespective of whether it is acceptable or not (Dolphin, para 21). Conclusion: The controversy surrounding homosexuality is far from over. Though increased research activity has surfaced to determine its cause, there is no universal agreement on the matter as the findings can not settle on a particular cause of the issue. It will not be comprehensive to argue that homosexuality is caused by biological factors neither can it conclusively be argued that homosexuality is a learned phenomenon. The complexity surrounding the issue has led to a divided opinion on the matter. Nevertheless, it would be more accommodative to bring the two positions together and recognize that each can contribute to the same problem in a way. Biological causes can not be dismissed neither can we dissociate the environmental causes. Homosexual behavior is best understood if biological and environmental factors are incorporated.

Jean Rouch and David MacDougall Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jean Rouch and David MacDougall - Assignment Example Despite Rouch and MacDougall being both proficient filmmakers, whose work is highly valued in the cinema industry, their styles in making the film are divergent and variant. Firstly, Rouch employee’s a filmmaking style known as, ethnic-fiction, in making his films. Rouch style of filmmaking was influenced by the unearthing of surrealism. In these films, there is a thin line between fiction and documentary. In comparison, MacDougall ethnographies were purely documentaries. Secondly, David often used handheld cameras to capture his films while Rouch used light handheld cameras in his direct cinemas. Rouch used Pilot-tone connected to a 16mm camera using a prototype of Nagra III to shoot, Chronicle of a summer, in 1960. This was used in place of the heavy sound recording machinery that was very unreliable. Before the pilot-tone, the documentary sound was recorded before, during interviews or much later on location. The sounds that were recorded were later synchronized during soun d editing hence providing the documentary with sound. In conclusion, it is clear that there different approaches in filmmaking considering Rouch and MacDougall main difference is in the style of making the film. Rouch focuses on fiction films while MacDougall shoot documentaries. It is also clear that the advances in the film industry have been greatly contributed by technology. For example, in this day and age it is possible to shoot videos and record quality sound at the same time. In, as much as, Rouch and MacDougall differ in the choice of cinematic styles, they uphold a number of common aspects. The first one is that both of their cinematic styles incorporated aesthetic art. Aestheticism is an art movement supporting art nature and beauty values more than social-political themes portrayed in a film.

Veteran Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Veteran Rights - Essay Example Investigations in concern with the civil rights provided to veterans and military service members can appear to be intricate for the reason that there are a number of considerable constraints to take in to account prior an efficient response. The most significant rights are granted to the veteran members who meet the valid statutory descriptions of a veteran. An eligible employee is the one who performs service in the uniformed services and has not been sued by a disrespectful or bad conduct demeanor release. Moreover, an eligible employee is separated under all conditions but the honorable, and is terminated by a sentence of a general court martial or by transition of sentence to confinement (Fact Sheet [3], 2003). The federal Legislation seeks for employees to endow reemployment rights to the employees who have served in the military dating back to the World War II. As a consequence, the security as well as coverage for veterans and reservists has branched out substantially. The veterans obtain their rights from several federal as well as New York State authorities which are inclusive of municipal civil service regulations (Report, 2008). Furthermore, a veteran can appear to be an eligible present or former work-person, and not all veterans or military service members are given the right to avail alike benefits. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 or USERRA is a federal law which intends to make sure that the members who have served in the Armed Forces, Resources, National Guard or other associated services are not drawn back in their civilian vocations because of their services. Moreover, the act also ensure that they are punctually reemployed in their civilian careers upon their resume from duty, and are not told apart against in the vocation which is based on past, present as well as future military service (Article, 2009). USERRA secures the job rights of civilians and advantages for veterans as well as members of Reserve constituents. It also generates key improvisations in the defense of the service member rights as well as advantages by means of elucidation of the law, perk up enforcement apparatus, and augments Federal Government personnel to those work-persons who are already entitled to take delivery of the Department of Labor assistance in dispens ation assertions (Fact Sheet [1], 2009). Moreover, USERRA develops the increasing length of the period which an individual may tend to be not present from the job for some military obligation and keep hold of the reemployment rights to five years (Fact Sheet [1], 2009). There are quite significant exemptions to the five-year constraint which is inclusive of the early-on recruitments

From Literacy to Electracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

From Literacy to Electracy - Essay Example This rote memorization is not uncommon in other religions besides Islam itself. Christians also emphasize the importance of hiding words in one's heart with regards to the Bible (both with the Old and the New Testaments, but especially the New Testament). Many cultures are orally-based cultures, which is to say, they have no need for writing. "The Brazilian Indians sporadically studiedbetween 1935 and 1939, as well as the American Indian and Polynesian and African tribes who have figured in other reports, exemplify societies which....did not require the support of a developed orality with a complex vocabulary."1 Julian Jaynes notes, from a scientist's perspective, that "In the last paragraph of The Origin of Species, [Darwin] implies that God created mind and body in the first primitive organisms and then both evolved in parallel together."2 If this is true, then the mind had as much importance as the body, and consequentially, what a human said. "But this sunk the problem in metaphysics, and it was soon realized that there should be some criterion of consciousness. It seemed obvious in the empiricist climate of the time that this was learning. So the question became: when did learning originate in evolution"3 The answer is, learning evolved with the word. This is because, before reading or writing of any stripe, the spoken word came first. This is the basis of all of our literacy and electracy, ultimately-the linguistic representation of some form of information. Ultimately, people became seemingly uber-sophisticated, and a new avenue of expression came into being. III. Literacy Tribes, as well as individuals, are having a difficult time with literacy. As Barton states, "There are common social practices associated with learning."4 Being able to read and write well (in print) is what truly makes humans superior to other animals. What truly distinguishes men from the beasts is the fact that humans can not only verbalize (which is orality), but they can read and write languages due to the advanced development of their brain structures. "'Civilized' peoples have long contrasted themselves with 'primitive' or 'savage' peoples[which] should be replaced by 'without writing.'"5 Interestingly enough, the phenomena has occurred that people are now less able to read books as a result of the fact that everyone is now living in a post-literate society-post-literate meaning that the use of visual images is more favorable than materials that people can actually see to read. "Bruce Freidmanhas described how the Internet has altered his mental habits. 'I now have almost totally lost the ability to read and absorb a longish article on the web or in print,' he wrote earlier this year'I can't read War and Peace anymore,' he admitted. 'I've lost the ability to do that. Even a blog post of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb. I skim it."6 This is the beginning of electracy. IV. Electracy "Part of electracy (which is to the Internet what literacy is to print) is to help citizens think with the image."7 Increasingly, visual images are becoming the new book for individuals as well as schools. In fact, no one has the time to read a book. Truthfully, why would someone read a book when he or she can