Sunday, December 29, 2019

Dualism - 1476 Words

Question: In dualism about the mind and body a more plausible view than the view that we are purely physical beings? Give reason for your answer. Dualism is the view that you consist of a body plus a soul, physicalism is the view that your mental life consists of physical processes in your brain. I hold the position that Physicalism is more plausible than dualism, my argument will be to look at Nagels opinions of both the philosophies and then draw my own conclusion about which is more plausible and finally consider the possibility about whether or not there is an option that a combination of the two could stand with a valid argument. In considering the view that dualism is a more plausible view than the view that we are†¦show more content†¦Dualism states that the connection between the mind and the brain takes form one of what might be called a soul. The mind is a separate entity which cannot be shared or experienced, and one persons experiences are their own. The brain is a separate entity which is connected to the body; it reacts in certain ways which caused certain effects which can be seen as electrical impul ses. Therefore the brain and the mind are separate entities, Therefore there is nothing that can be seen which could lead us to believe that the mind and brain are connected. Therefore we can only speculate what might be there. Dualism provides a rational explanation in the form of a soul. However some people my doubt this and prefer to rationalise thinking more, the idea as Nagel explains is that if life has evolved thus far by coincidence then it is entirely possible for the mental link between mind and brain to have also developed by itself. This is the basis of physicalism. The mind is part of the brain and thinking and feeling is a physical response of the brain. Nagel uses the example that, ‘diamonds are composed of carbon, the same material as coal; the atoms are just differently arranged. And water, as we all known, is composed of Hydrogen and oxygen, even though the two elements are nothing like water when taken by themselves. Another point which he goes on to make is, that scientists have toShow MoreRelatedDualism And Dualism970 Words   |  4 Pagesbe making my own argument for a dualist and supply the physicalist response to the argument and its validity. Understanding the difference between dualism and physicalism is beneficial to the mind and body problem. Descartes was a substance dualist. He believed that there were two kinds of substance: matter and mind. The broad definition of dualism is a view in which the body and mind are completely separate entities constructed with different kinds of things. The mind is made of an immaterial substanceRead MoreArgument of Dualism1036 Words   |  5 PagesArguments of Dualism Dualism is the theory that mind and matter are two distinct things. The main argument for dualism is that facts about the objective external world of particles and fields of force, as revealed by modern physical science, are not facts about how things appear from any particular point of view, whereas facts about subjective experience are precisely about how things are from the point of view of individual conscious subjects. They have to be described in the first person asRead MoreDualism Essay844 Words   |  4 PagesDescartes argues in favor of dualism, the mind is completely independent of the body and vice versa. We have a sense this kind of dualism exists when we say, â€Å"I am a mind with a body.† Descartes argues that the self exists in consciousness and that the body is simply a machine the mind controls. Further, dualists support their argument by comparing essences of both the mind and body; the mind is indivisible and free and the body is infinitely divisible and i s determined by the laws of the physicalRead MoreDescartes Teachings On Dualism977 Words   |  4 Pages To understand how the dualist commits a category mistake, one must first understand Descartes’ teachings on dualism from the Meditations on First Philosophy. Firstly, Descartes sees the mind as an immaterial, non-physical soul. He believes that his thoughts can be altered but he can never be tricked into the thinking that he is thinking when he is not. While he has complete faith in the existence of his mind, he doubts the existence of his body and the existence of other people s minds. The reasonRead MoreThe Strengths and Weaknesses of Dualism4580 Words   |  19 PagesDualism is the belief that reality consists of two different, separate substances: that of the mental and that of the physical. In philosophy of mind, the belief that the mental and physical are deeply different in kind: thus the mental is at least not identical with the physical. It directly opposes mat erialism, as dualism dictates that the mind is unidentifiable to the body, as opposed to stating that the mind and body exist as one. The concept of dualism is not only fundamental in philosophyRead MoreRealism : Reality And Dualism1340 Words   |  6 PagesTeena Lin PHI 1500 Fall 2017 Final Paper Reality is Dualism There are currently four major theories about the nature of reality and substance— materialism/physicalism, idealism, transcendental idealism, and dualism. Materialism is the theory that there is only the physical and material world. Idealism takes the position that reality is made up of ideas and immaterial. Transcendental idealism holds the idea that our experience of things are shaped by how they appear to us and not by what they areRead MoreThe Concept of Dualism Essay1013 Words   |  5 Pagesmachinequot; form of substance dualism best solves the mind body problem. My views in this area have been influenced by my twelve years of Catholic education. The soul, or mind, depending on your level of belief, was a complete and separate entity and was the center of a human being. The body was an ambulatory device that the soul directed. The idea that the mind is a separate entity and that it is independent of the physical body is the central point of substance dualism. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Read MoreThe Argument of Dualism Essay960 Words   |  4 Pages In my mind, dualism is a more attractive view to take when considering the mind-brain issue. The idea that the mind is a separate entity and that it is independent of the physical body is the central point of dualism. One reason it appeals to me is because of my religion, my Catholic upbringing. Introspection is another good reason why dualism is a little more logical to me than materialism.. It logically explains why the mind and brain are separate. Also, the divisibility argument raisesRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagessuggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contras t, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by dualism, and that the mind is most accuratelyRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagessuggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by dualism, and that the mind is most accurately

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The English 101 Course - 1185 Words

The English 101 course has been instrumental in the improvement of various aspects of my writing. The course has been of significant aid in the comprehension of the English language. The learning of the different methods of writing has provided one with an opportunity to better understand the dynamics of different pieces of writing. The concepts that have been learnt in the course are important in the overall improvement of ones’ mastery of the English language. The ability to come up with accurate and precise pieces of writing provides one with a chance to gain creative and analytical skills that are necessary for effective learning and communication. Critical understanding of the use of the English language in writing is essential in the development of self-confidence thus boosting ones’ employability skills. The course has facilitated the comprehension of various Student Learning Outcomes majorly Student Learning Outcome A, B, C, D and F. Student Learning Outcome A: The Student Learning Outcome A focuses on the practice of analyzing, composing and reflecting on pieces of writings and applying them to suite rhetorical situations. Through studying the course, I have gained these crucial skills that have led to significant improvement in the quality of writing created. One of the things that I have been able to particularly improve on was on accurate identification of the target audience. Accurate target identification has been enhanced and facilitated by the variousShow MoreRelatedAn Exciting English 101 Course759 Words   |  4 PagesWelcome to an exciting English 101 course! In this composition course, you are expected to help each other develop a unique writing style that is appropriate for college. This development will be done through a series of in-class writings, revisions, peer editing, and grammar, writing, and reading exercises. In order to write effectively, we will write on a regular basis and read and discuss engaging topics revolv ing around the theme of the individual and social response to dystopian conditionsRead MoreAs my freshman year of college comes to a close, I reflect on my two English courses this year. I600 Words   |  3 Pagesreflect on my two English courses this year. I have learned a lot these last two semester in my english 101 and 102 classes. English 101 focused a lot on different types of papers, while English 102 focused mainly on taking what we learned from a reading and analysing and interpreting of stories and poems we read. Looking back at my high school English days, I believe I had made major improvements in my writing abilities between these two semesters. Personally, I favorited my English 101 class. The mainRead MoreMy English Class Is A College Student, And As A Person1334 Words   |  6 PagesThere were a plethora of course materials I have learned in the Fall Quarter of English 101, such as: punctuation, critical thinking, how to carry out a proper seminar discussion, how to properly use journals to better retain course materials, and writing tools such as outlines. All of which I believe will help me excel as a college student, and as a person. This English 101 class was very rigorous. Dr. Faucette told the class, from the very beginning, that it wouldn’t be easy. Dr. Faucette gaveRead MoreWriting Is A Major Part Of College Courses Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesWriting is a major part of college courses. Most courses will require you to write a paper to pass the course. Writing has not always been something that I have excelled in. I was never a good writer from the start. This paper is to show where I have struggled in the past, currently and where I improved in my writing. It will explain where I got help in years previous to Neumann University along with my first semester at Neumann University. This will include grammar, word choice, using resourcesRead MoreAn Annotated Bibliography Of Writing881 Words   |  4 PagesThis semester in English 102, I can definitely say my time was well spent. Each assignment that I completed benefited me as a student so that I could become a better reader and writer. With the s kills I learned in this class, I will use them to my advantage in future English courses and other educational endeavors. Being able to read, write, research, and think are important skills to have in order to be successful in any area of study. Nevertheless, I believe that by taking this class I was ableRead MoreAnalysis Of The Fox s Hollow 1138 Words   |  5 Pagescleverness and their ability to overcome obstacles in creative ways. Quick, agile, and focused, outsmarting others comes easily to them. The similarities between these intelligent creatures and Mrs. Amy Fox goes far deeper than their name. Amy Fox is an English instructor, her class is not one to scoff at and anyone looking for and easy A, should look the other directions. For, any grammatical error, any inconsistencies in an argument, Fox will weed them out. With sharp eyes and numerous college degreesRead MoreThe Difficult Transition Of Fox s English Class Essay1586 Words   |  7 PagesHawkins Ms. Fox English 101-Writing 1 Tuesday and Thursday 12 30 August, 2016 The Difficult Transition to Fox s English Class When a student enters college, it can cause a change in outlook on their school work due to the differences from what they have become accustomed to in earlier schooling. Some student may view the work as easier, while others may realize that the further one educated themselves, the more difficult the classes and the work involved becomes. Amy Fox s English class is difficultRead MoreReflection Of English : My Favorite Language In The English Language968 Words   |  4 Pagesclass is, 80% of the time the answer would be English. From what Ive noticed, not a lot of students enjoy English classes. It may be the long drastic readings or the constant workload of writing that just throws them off. Although, I personally do not fall into that statistic. English has always been my favorite subject due to the fact that I actually enjoy reading (novels primarily) and writing. Therefore, entering college and taking on the course ENGL-101 didnt worry or frighten me one bit. I managedRead More My Strengths And Weaknesses Of My Writing977 Words   |  4 PagesHave you ever cleaned out your closet and found many items you never knew you owned? That is the way English 101 felt to me. I learned important skills and techniques that I will maintain even though the course is over. I will be constantly improving what I have learned—meaning I will work to carry about my strengths and eliminate my remaining weaknesses. English 101 has helped me grow as a reader, a writer, and most importantly a person. My writing has progressed during the term by becoming moreRead MoreDifferences in a Traditional Class and an Online Course.768 Words   |  4 PagesMelissa Booker Mrs. Duncan English 101 June 24, 2013 Differences in a traditional class and an online course Although the concept of learning a subject in a traditional class and an online course are the same, they differ in many ways. Both have a goal for students to learn from the information given to them, but their techniques for teaching that information are not at all alike

Friday, December 13, 2019

Compare and Contrast Muslim Empires Free Essays

Between 1450 and 1750, three great Muslim empires arose—the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals. The Ottomans arose after the Seljuk Turkic kingdom of Rum in Eastern Anatolia collapsed, which occurred because of a Mongol invasion in 1243. The area fell into a chaotic period after that because the Mongols did not directly rule it. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast: Muslim Empires or any similar topic only for you Order Now In search of riches, Turkic peoples, including the Ottomans who dominated the rest, flooded into the area. By the 1350s, the Ottomans were advancing from their Asia Minor strongholds. Under Mehmed I, they conquered a large part of the Balkans, and, in 1453, they captured Constantinople of the Byzantine Empire under Mehmed II, â€Å"The Conqueror,† thus establishing an empire from the Balkans that included most of the Arab world. Like the Ottomans, the Safavids arose from struggles of rival Turkish tribes. In the fourteenth century, there were decades of fierce struggles, until, finally, after three successive Safavid leaders died, a Sufi commander named Isma’il survived. He and his followers conquered the city of Tabriz in 1501, as well as most of Persia in the next decade. They then drove the Ozbegs, neighboring nomadic Turks, back to Central Asia and advanced to Iraq. Lastly, the Mughal Dynasty was founded by Babur, who descended from Turkic warriors. He first led an invasion of India in 1526 and conquered the Indus and Ganges plains. After Babur died of an illness, his son, Humayan, succeeded him and was attacked from enemies of all sides because of Babur’s death. He was expelled from India in 1540, but eventually restored Mughal rule by 1556. Humayan’s son, Akbar, would later succeed him and become the greatest ruler in Mughal history. The Ottomans, Safavids and Mughals constructed significant empires, but each adopted different ways of treating their conquered people and developed diverse methods for managing social, political, and economic systems. In order to promote the expansion of their empire, the Ottomans adopted many practices to include non-Muslims in the military. At first, the Ottomans’ first concern was to collect tribute from their conquered people. This first happened in 1243 when the kingdom of Rum was conquered. However, in the fifteenth century, the Ottoman Empire’s imperial armies became increasingly dominated by infantry divisions made up of troops called Janissaries. Most of these Janissaries had been forcibly recruited as adolescent boys in conquered areas, such as the Balkans, where most of the population was made up of Christians. Sometimes the boys’ parents willingly turned their sons over to the Ottoman recruiters because of the opportunities for advancement that came with service to the Ottoman sultans. And although they were legally slaves, they were well-educated and converted to Islam. Some of them even went on to serve in the palace or bureaucracy, but most became Janissaries. These Janissaries, however, later gained political influence. Commerce within the empire was in the hands of Christian and Jewish merchants, who as dhimmis, or â€Å"people of the book,† were under the protection of the Ottoman rulers. The Safavids espoused the Shi’a variant of Islam unlike the Ottomans, who espoused the Sunni variant of Islam. These two variants despised each other, and their hatred showed during the battle of Chaldiran on August 1514 in northwest Persia. However, the Safavids were easily killed because of the Ottomans’ advanced warfare technology. Under Abbas the Great, the Safavid Empire thrived with toleration for captured and conquered people. For example, captured Russian youths were educated and converted, and they formed the backbone of the Safavid’s military forces. They monopolized firearms that had become increasingly prominent in Safavid armies. Also, some Russians were granted provincial governorships and high offices at court. Although the Safavids tolerated the Russians, they were not as kind to the other inhabitants of present-day Iran. For example, Sunni Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and followers of Sufi preachers, were all pressured into converting to Shi’ism. One of the greatest rulers in all of history was the son and successor of Humayan, Akbar the Great. The Mughals, under Akbar, developed the most enlightened social, political, and economic methods for treating their conquered people. He not only extended the Mughal Empire with conquests throughout north and central India, but also made the Mughal Dynasty sustainable because of his social and administrative policies. He pursued a policy of reconciliation and cooperation with the Hindu princes and overall population of his realm. For example, he encouraged intermarriage between the Mughal aristocracy and families of the Hindu Rajput rulers. In addition, Akbar abolished jizya, which was a head tax on Hindus. He also allowed Hindus to be promoted to high ranks in the government. Further, Akbar ended the longstanding ban on the construction of new Hindu temples, and he ordered Muslims to respect cows because the Hindus viewed them as sacred. He even invented a new faith called Din-i-Ilahi, which blended elements of the many religions with which he was familiar. He believed that this would unite his Hindu and Muslim subjects, but it failed. Similar to the Ottomans’ collection of tribute, Akbar did leave some areas of his empire alone so long as they swore allegiance to Mughal rulers and paid their taxes on time. However, these areas were only left alone because of a shortage of administrators. The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Dynasties each treated their conquered people and non-Muslims differently through political, economic and social procedures. Akbar the Great and the Mughals had the most enlightened approach on how to treat these people, such as encouraging intermarriage, abolishing the jizya, and ending the ban on the building of new Hindu temples. This approach ultimately led to greater success for the empire as a whole. In contrast, the practices utilized by the Ottomans and Safavids resulted in more discontent for the conquered people and non-Muslims. Overall, these three empires over a three hundred year span conquered thousands of people and had to develop administrative practices and policies. These methods greatly impacted their success. How to cite Compare and Contrast: Muslim Empires, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Valuation of Equity at the End of the Financial Year 2010-11

Question: Do Valuation of Equity at the End of the Financial Year 2010- 11 for the Selected Company. Answer: Introduction The following study aims to present the valuation of equity at the end of the financial year 2010- 11 for the selected company Webjet Limited by considering the real earnings and dividend forecasts over the next five years. The valuation has been conducted by using the approach of discounted free cash flow as well as the residual earnings together with the explanation on possible discrepancies. The study further highlights the analysis and valuation of active investing by evaluating the related strength, weakness and potential risks based on the companys financial statement. Background of the company Webjet Limited, a public company based on the travel industry was formed in 1998 in Australia, which is engaged in the business of travel booking for flights booking, hotels, holiday package and other services (Webjet.com.au 2017). The organization has been largest business entity in the travel industry, which expanded its business in the region of United Kingdom in the year 2005. In the recent years, the company earned revenue around $152 million while the profit amounted to $22 million. The company has total assets valued to $377 million while the value of net assets amounted to $151 million (Webjet.com.au 2017). Valuation of equity Value of equity using discounted free cash flow Present year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Real Earnings ($ millions) 13.61 6.49 19.13 17.5 22.22 Less: Dividend ($ millions) 5.16 5.56 5.76 5.88 7.78 Free Cash flow ($ millions) 8.45 0.93 13.37 11.62 14.44 Industry average cost of equity 8.00% 1.08 1.166 1.26 1.36 1.469 Discounted value of free cash flow ($ millions) 7.82 0.80 10.61 8.54 9.83 Total discounted cash flow ($ millions) 37.61 Value of equity using residual earnings Equity Capital ($ millions) 40.22 32.9 60.81 69.28 82.45 151.56 Cost of equity % 8.00 8.01 8.10 8.00 8.22 9.00 Equity charge ($ millions) 3.22 2.64 4.93 5.54 6.78 13.64 Less: Net Income ($ millions) 11.00 13.61 6.49 19.13 17.5 22.22 Residual charge ($ millions) -7.78 -10.97 -1.56 -13.59 -10.72 -8.58 Table 1: Valuation of equity (Source: Created by author) Considering the financial position statement of the company Webjet Limited for the financial year 2011, it has been observed that the actual value of equity amounted to $40.03 million. However, as per the fair value of equity determined by using discounted free cash flow method amounted to $37.61 which is lower than the actual value (Webjet.com.au 2017). The difference in the equity valuation is due to incorporation of discount rate based on the average cost of industry that provides fair value as per time value of money. Fair valuation of equity has been done by using discounted free cash flow as well as residual earnings for the financial year 2011. As per the discounted free cash flow, equity value is lower than the actual value that indicates the overvaluation of stock price. Besides, residual earnings indicate the efficiency of the company in generating income after considering the value of equity charge. In case of Webject Limited, it has been analyzed that the residual earning s in each forecast year is negative reflecting the inefficiency to generate income after considering the equity charge. Active Investing In order to evaluate the efficiency of the company for investment, active investing can be considered as a process to manage investment portfolio in accordance to the companys benchmark index. The investment strategy can be managed by considering asset allocation or companys performance (Xiao et al. 2014). In case of Webjet Limited, it has been noticed that the value of non- current assets amounted to $11.62 million during 2011 while net profit amounted to $10.86 million reflecting earnings per share $14.41 (Webjet.com.au 2017). Accordingly, it can be said that investment in Webjet Limited would provide positive return in the short- term period as the residual earnings for long- term reflects negative value. Financial statement analysis In order to determine the efficiency of company for investment purpose, companys performance and financial position can be evaluated by considering financial statement analysis (Easton 2016). Considering the income statement of Webjet Limited for the period 2010- 11, it has been noted that the company generated revenue at an increasing trend along with the generation of profit amount. It has been observed that the earnings per share of the company has been positive and reflects increasing trend that is $14.41 in the year 2011 while $ 18.81 in the year 2012 (Webjet.com.au 2017). FY 2011 Activity ratio Accounts receivable turnover Total sales/ Accounts receivable 18.69 Average collection period 365/ Accounts receivable turnover 19.53 Profitability ratio Net profit % Net Profit/ Total Revenue 0.25 Gross profit % (Total Sales- Cost of Goods Sold)/ Total Sales 0.79 Return on assets Net Income/ Total Assets 0.20 Liquidity ratio Working capital ratio Current Assets/ Current Liabilities 3.91 Liquidity ratio (Current Assets- Inventory- Prepaid expenses)/ Current Liabilities 3.91 Solvency ratio Equity ratio Total equity/ total assets 0.73 Table 2: Financial ratio analysis (Source: Created by author) As the activity ratio of the company that is average collection period for accounts receivable represents 19.53 days, it can be said that the company is efficient in collecting the cash from credit sales. In addition, profitability ratio for the financial year 2011 reflects positive margin in net profit, gross profit and return on assets. Therefore, the company is said to be efficient in generating income from assets and operating costs. Current ratio of the company reflects higher than one that is 3.91 indicating that Webjet has been efficient in meeting current obligations from the source of current assets (Webjet.com.au 2017). Similarly, company is efficient in generating return on equity from the value of asset resources. On the contrary, financial statement analysis incorporates certain weaknesses with respect to the performance measure together with its competitors. Financial statement has been prepared by using accounting policies and methods, which may not reflect the fair value. For instance, the valuation of equity reflected higher value than the fair value since that was determined by using present value factor. Hence, the major risk involve in financial statement analysis is determination of true value of assets and liabilities as well as the value of non- financial factors that affects the companys growth. In case of Webjet Limited, fair value of investments in associates and financial assets might not reflect the true and fair value hence the risk of investment return becomes high. Conclusion As the fair value of equity of Webjet Limited reflected lower value than the actual value of equity using the method of discounted free cash flow which indicates the companys shares has been overvalued hence investment is not recommended. Further, residual earnings of the company reflected negative balance, which means the company is not efficient in deriving investment return. On the contrary, financial statement analysis of Webject reflects positive values in profit margin, liquidity and solvency value therefore, it can be said that the investors can invest in the companys share for short- term period and not for long- term period. References Easton, P., 2016. Estimating the Cost of Capital Using Stock Prices and Near?term Earnings Forecasts.Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,28(3), pp.87-94. Ellis, C.D., 2014. The Rise and Fall of Performance Investing.Financial Analysts Journal,70(4), pp.14-23. Hofmann, E. and Lampe, K., 2013. Financial statement analysis of logistics service providers: ways of enhancing performance.International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management,43(4), pp.321-342. Malkiel, B.G., 2013. Asset management fees and the growth of finance.The Journal of Economic Perspectives,27(2), pp.97-108. Webjet.com.au. 2017. Flights, Cheap Hotels, Car Hire, Insurance Packages - Webjet. [online] Available at: https://www.webjet.com.au [Accessed 14 Mar. 2017]. Xiao, W., Zhang, W., Zhang, X. and Chen, X., 2014. The valuation of equity warrants under the fractional Vasicek process of the short-term interest rate.Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications,394, pp.320-337.