Psychological Ethical Egoism

Psychological Ethical Egoism A Comparative Analysis of Psychological and Ethical Egoism This essay is a comparative analysis of ethical egoism and psychological egoism. In order to clearly set the direction of this paper, I would first render the meaning these two concepts. Afterwards, I would explicate the strengths and weaknesses of psychological egoism and discuss the two versions of ethical egoism. Upon doing so, this paper would present the contrasting points of both theories. Psychological Egoism generally states that people are naturally selfish and would pursue their self-interest at all times. It further claims that even altruistic acts are, at the root of it, grounded on ones pursuit of his/her own welfare (Shaver, 2002). This concept of egoism states the motivation of self-interest as a fact, as such, a person does not choose to be â€Å"egoistic,† or selfish, he/she as a human being simply is. Take for example a mans decision to become a doctor, or to help charity, or even to help an old lady cross the street. Most of the time, the justifications a person gives for choosing to do these acts have altruistic inclinations. However, psychological egoists would contend that the motives of these acts are aimed still, at the individual who desires to perform them. A man who wants to be a doctor may want to help other people, but this can be seen as grounded too on his happiness being fulfilled when he sees that he has helped others. Giving to charit y would allow an individual to experience satisfaction by being generous, it keeps him happy and feeling good about himself or the more trivial reason is he wants to be praised for his actions. On the other hand, ethical egoism does not say that man would inevitably be motivated by his own interests. Rather, this doctrine purports a normative stance that people ought to pursue their welfare. This is to say that when one chooses to act upon, he or she must take into utmost consideration his or her own self-interest. Scholars deem this ethical theory as a deviant to traditional moral theories which gives emphasis on impersonal moral choices and the greater good of the greater number. Psychological egoism founds itself on a scientific discipline that demands for empirical proof and consistency in order to be considered true. However, scholars have criticized psychological egotists for failing to take into proper account that would counter-proof their claim of inherent selfish motivation. Instead, evidence and day-to-day observations would show that that there are acts that can be considered altruistic which the psychological egotists attempt to evade by misconstruing the concept of selfishness juxtapose to self-interest. Further, counter-examples made be seen through that are committed that are contrary to the best self-interest, and actions done without much thought of ones welfare. The lack of verifiability makes the claim of psychological egoism dubitable within the scientific community it initially launches itself from. In line with this, as a supposed empirical viewpoint, it has consequently committed a logical fallacy generally referred to as hasty generaliz ation. It attempts to make a universal claim of individuals but fails to take into consideration the other factors that would negate its conjecture. It impulsively over-simplified the complexity of the human being, relations, and social reality (Davidson, 2006). It has been purported that ethical egoism has two versions, these two divisions are clearly described by Davidson (2006) who wrote: The strong version asserts that it is always moral to endorse your own good and it is never moral not to do so. The weak version says that even though it is always moral to endorse your own good the converse is not necessarily accurate. There could be situations where it may be more important to ignore your own welfare when making a moral judgment. (Davidson, 2006) The strong version as we could ply tends to make a strict and universal maxim out of the pursuit for self-interest and welfare. It creates an assumption that when one follows that which would benefit him or her the most then it would consequently produce moral worth. The weak version tends to make room for exceptional cases wherein the ones self-interest is in a most unique sense of lesser significance to that of which one is morally asked to do. From what I have already laid down, we could already see the divergence of psychological egoism and ethical egoism. The former, psychological egoism is a descriptive in nature. It asserts self-interest and selfishness even, as a fact, embedded in human nature. While Ethical egoism is normative, it prescribes the pursuit of self-interest as something human beings should do. One could also see the themes of determinism and free will in both concepts. This is in the sense that when psychological egoists assert their claim, they implicitly endorse that the behavior and acts of man is determined by self-interest. On the other side, ethical egoists endorses that the motivation of self-interest is a choice, the right and moral way to choose. Consequently, it is quite obvious that there is a difference in the motivations of both theories. Psychological egoism asserts self-interest as an inevitable motive of human nature, while ethical egoism is grounded on the motivation to do what is morally best, which is of course, ones welfare (Davidson, 2006). It is often the case that issues and criticisms that arise with regards to these theories of egoism are due to the ambiguity and equivocation of the concept of self-interest and selfishness. It is important to note that one could pursue self-interest without necessarily being viewed as selfish. Psychological egoism can be criticized for its tendency to interchange the two, although a lot of its contemporaries have gone to correct such error. Ethical egoism allows us the free will to choose whats best and grants our rationality the capacity to determine whether there is excess in our pursuit of our interests. Self-interest is something we follow, calculating our benefits in our actions in order to produce the most advantageous position for ourselves. Selfishness is when, as individuals, we lose consideration of others, to think of ourselves, and our desires alone†¦ for me, a manifestation of unchecked vanity. References Shaver, R. (2002). Egoism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egoism/ Davidson, B. (2006). Ethical and Psychological Egoism: An Explanation of theories. Associated Content. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/93503/ethical_and_psychological_egoism.html?page=2

Various methods of media that is being used in direct marketing :: Business and Management Studies

Various methods of media that is being used in direct marketing 1 Introduction This report is on the various methods of media that is being used in direct marketing. A list of these Medias was given in which two are researched on and comment on their min applications in direct marketing. Each media should contain its advantages and disadvantages as well as its application in direct marketing. Direct marketing can be defined as ‘†¦a promotion mechanism that allows focused messages to be received by a targeted audience. The main difference between direct marketing and other promotion is that you can closely qualify your audience to deliver a message and other promotion is that you can closely qualify your audience to deliver a message that appeal to their specific needs.’ 9th April, 2005> Direct marketing is basically selling the products directly to the consumers without having to go through any distribution channel. It is either to inform or to educate the consumers with the product that is being introduced, also to maintain the relationship with the consumers so as to obtain brand loyalty. To have a successful direct marketing, it must have the right media that gives information to the consumers about the product or service provided by the company. Among the list of media given, we have chosen television and telemarketing. The most obvious reason for choosing these Medias is because of its cost and availability. Both television and telemarketing are cheap and are easily accessible as almost everyone around the world owns at least one television set and a telephone. 2 Report Objectives The objective of carrying out this report is as follows:  · To comment on the two chosen media’s main application in direct marketing.  · To find out the advantages and disadvantages of television and telemarketing.  · To illustrate by using examples from a known campaign how the television and telemarketing might work together as part of a fully integrated marketing plan to achieve a specific marketing objectives. 3 Findings Information are founded through browsing on the internet, books and also articles to understand better about direct marketing as well as television and telemarketing. In this section of the report, there would be a discussion on what television and telemarketing is. Under each sub – section would have mention the advantages and disadvantages of both television and telemarketing. 3.1 Television Television or TV for short is one of direct marketing’s channels. It is commonly used by marketers because of its effectiveness and many advantages. Television can be defined as ‘†¦a telecommunication system for broadcasting and receiving moving pictures and sound over a

How to Succeed in College Essay

Hints on How to Succeed in College Classes The Key to Success: Study Time The single most important key to success in any college course is to spend enough time studying. A rule of thumb is that you should expect to study about 2 to 3 hours per week outside of class for each unit of credit. For example, a student taking 15 credit hours should expect to spend 30 to 45 hours each week studying outside of class. Combined with time in class, this works out to a total of 45 to 60 hours spent on academic work†not much more than the time a typical Job requires, and you get to hoose your own hours. Of course, if you are working while you attend school, you will need to budget your time carefully. As a rough guideline, your study time might be divided as shown in the table below. If you find that you are spending fewer hours than these guidelines suggest, you can probably improve your grade by studying longer. If you are spending more hours than these guidelines suggest, you may be studying inefficiently; in that case, you should talk to your instructor about how to study more effectively. If Your Course Is: Time for Reading the Assigned Text (per week) Time for Homework Assignments (per week) Time for Review and Test Preparation (average per week) Total Study Time (per 3 credits 2 to 4 hours 2 to 3 hours 2 hours 6 to 9 hours 4 credits 3 hours 8 to 12 hours 5 credits 3 to 5 hours 3 to 6 hours 4 hours 10 to 15 hours General Strategies for Studying 0 Budget your time effectively. Studying 1 or 2 hours each day is more effective, and far less painful, than studying all night before homework is due or before exams. 0 Engage your brain. Learning is an active process, not a passive experience. Whether you are reading, listening to a lecture, or working on assignments, always make sure hat your mind is actively engaged. If you find your mind drifting or falling asleep, make a conscious effort to revive yourself, or take a break if necessary. 0 Don’t miss class, and come prepared. Listening to lectures and participating in class activities and discussions is much more effective than reading someone else’s notes or watching a video later. Active participation will help you retain what you are learning. Also, be sure to complete any assigned reading before the class in which it will be discussed. This is crucial, since class sessions are designed to help reinforce key deas from the reading. 0 Use your textbook effectively. For a science book, for example: Begin by identifying the learning goals of an assigned chapter, and get an overview of key concepts by studying the illustrations and reading their captions. Next, read the chapter twice: On the first pass, read only the narrative, skipping any optional or boxed features; on the second pass, include the boxed features, and make notes on the pages to remind yourself of ideas you may want to review later. After you complete the reading, check your understanding by trying some of the end- f-chapter problems or any on-line quizzes or tutorials that may be available. 0 Start your homework early. The more time you allow yourself, the easier it is to get help if you need it. If a concept gives you trouble, first try additional reading or studying beyond what has been assigned. If you still having trouble, ask for help: You surely can find friends, peers, or teachers who will be glad to help you learn. 0 Working together with friends can be valuable in helping you understand difficult concepts. However, be sure that you learn with your friends and do not become dependent on 0 Don’t try to multitask. A large body of research shows that human beings simply are not good at multitasking: When we attempt it, we do more poorly at all of the individual tasks. And in case you think you are an exception, the same research found that those people who believed they were best at multitasking were actually the worst! So when it is time to study, turn off your electronic devices, find a quiet spot, and give your work a focused effort of concentration. 02013, Jeffrey Bennett (www. effreybennett. com). Permission granted to photocopy as a two-sided handout for college classes. How to Succeed in College Classes, Page 2 Preparing for Exams 0 Rework problems and other assignments; try additional questions to be sure you understand the concepts. Study your performance on assignments, quizzes, or exams from earlier in the term. 0 Study your notes from classes, and reread relevant section s in your textbook. Pay attention to what your instructor expects you to know for an exam. 0 Study individually before Joining a study group with friends. Study groups are effective only if every individual comes prepared to contribute. 0 Don’t stay up too late before an exam. Don’t eat a big meal within an hour of the xam (thinking is more difficult when blood is being diverted to the digestive system). 0 Try to relax before and during the exam. If you have studied effectively, you are capable of doing well. Staying relaxed will help you think clearly. Presenting Homework and Writing Assignments All work that you turn in should be of collegiate quality: neat and easy to read, well organized, and demonstrating mastery of the subject matter. Future employers and teachers will expect this quality of work. Moreover, although submitting homework of collegiate quality requires â€Å"extra† effort, it serves two important purposes directly related to learning: 1. . The effort you expend in clearly explaining your work solidifies your learning. In particular, research has shown that writing and speaking trigger different areas of your brain. By writing something down†even when you think you already understand it†your learning is reinforced by involving other areas of your brain. By making your work clear and self-contained (that is, making it a document that you can read without referring to the questions in the text), you will have a much more useful study guide when you review for a quiz or exam. The following guidelines will help ensure that your assignments meet the standards f collegiate quality: 0 Always use proper grammar, proper sentence and paragraph writing should be fully self-contained. A good test is to imagine that a friend is reading your work and to ask yourself whether the friend would understand exactly what you are trying to say.

Overview of Volatility Clustering

Overview of Volatility Clustering Volatility clustering is the tendency of  large changes in prices of financial assets to cluster together, which results in the persistence of these magnitudes of price changes. Another way to describe the phenomenon of volatility clustering is to quote famous scientist-mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, and define it as the observation that large changes tend to be followed by large changes...and small changes tend to be followed by small changes when it comes to markets. This phenomenon is observed when there are extended periods of high market volatility or the relative rate at which the price of a financial asset change,  followed by a period of calm or low volatility. The Behavior of Market Volatility Time series of financial asset returns often demonstrates volatility clustering.  In a time series of stock prices, for instance, it is observed that the variance of returns or log-prices is high for extended periods and then low for extended periods. As such, the variance of daily returns can be high one month (high volatility) and show low variance (low volatility) the next. This occurs to such a degree that it makes an iid model (independent and identically  distributed model) of log-prices or asset returns unconvincing. It is this very property of time series of prices that is called volatility clustering. What this means in practice and in the world of investing is that as markets respond to new information with large price movements (volatility), these high-volatility environments tend to endure for a while after that first shock. In other words, when a market suffers a volatile shock,  more volatility should be expected. This phenomenon has been referred to as the persistence of volatility shocks, which gives rise to the concept of volatility clustering.   Modeling Volatility Clustering The phenomenon of volatility clustering has been of great interest to researchers of many backgrounds and has influenced the development of stochastic models in finance. But volatility clustering is  usually approached by modeling the price process with an ARCH-type model.  Today, there are  several methods for quantifying and modeling this phenomenon, but the two most widely-used models are the autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) and the  generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models. While ARCH-type models and stochastic volatility models are used by researchers to offer some statistical systems that imitate volatility clustering, they still do not give any economic explanation for it.

Free Essays on The Great Gasby

AND THE BAND PLAYS ON. Time tells us that success often comes with a price. Often money will create more problems than it can solve. The richness of a person’s soul can be hidden in the folds of money. Such is the case of Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is constantly altering in the readers mind due to the various puzzling events that transpire in the novel creating a level of mystery. First off, Gatsby is a man who feels secure in his privacy and allows very few people into his personal life due to lack of trust. Jay often throws parties at his lavish house, only to shrink away from contact with his various guests that frolic in his privately funded bashes. He does not drink, mainly because he has a high level of composure that cannot be compromised by the effects of alcohol. When the narrator, Nick Carraway, is allowed to venture into Gatsby’s personal life Gatsby tells Nick only what he feels is necessary to keep him from being suspicious. The eerie thing about this is that w hile doing this he is so guarded that Nick often questions how concrete and truthful the information is. When discussing his past Gastby is choppy and uncomfortable telling Nick about his education and war experiences. Only when Gatsby produces a metal of valor earned in the war does Nick believe in his war service stories. Even then Nick has a hard time believing Gatsby’s educational background because of his uncomfortable declaration that he attended Oxford, a very prestigious English university. Trust is not a strong point of Gastby’s makeup and lifestyle. Therefore, when looking at Gatsby’s most impressive traits one thing that pops up is his energetic smile, vibrant personality, and loyalty to those who he respects or cares about. It is important to mention the fact that Gatsby always seemed to make every person feel important and at ease while conversing with him. It was his nature to express courtesy to any guest he came in contact with, no matter how ins ... Free Essays on The Great Gasby Free Essays on The Great Gasby AND THE BAND PLAYS ON. Time tells us that success often comes with a price. Often money will create more problems than it can solve. The richness of a person’s soul can be hidden in the folds of money. Such is the case of Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is constantly altering in the readers mind due to the various puzzling events that transpire in the novel creating a level of mystery. First off, Gatsby is a man who feels secure in his privacy and allows very few people into his personal life due to lack of trust. Jay often throws parties at his lavish house, only to shrink away from contact with his various guests that frolic in his privately funded bashes. He does not drink, mainly because he has a high level of composure that cannot be compromised by the effects of alcohol. When the narrator, Nick Carraway, is allowed to venture into Gatsby’s personal life Gatsby tells Nick only what he feels is necessary to keep him from being suspicious. The eerie thing about this is that w hile doing this he is so guarded that Nick often questions how concrete and truthful the information is. When discussing his past Gastby is choppy and uncomfortable telling Nick about his education and war experiences. Only when Gatsby produces a metal of valor earned in the war does Nick believe in his war service stories. Even then Nick has a hard time believing Gatsby’s educational background because of his uncomfortable declaration that he attended Oxford, a very prestigious English university. Trust is not a strong point of Gastby’s makeup and lifestyle. Therefore, when looking at Gatsby’s most impressive traits one thing that pops up is his energetic smile, vibrant personality, and loyalty to those who he respects or cares about. It is important to mention the fact that Gatsby always seemed to make every person feel important and at ease while conversing with him. It was his nature to express courtesy to any guest he came in contact with, no matter how ins ...

Parkinson's disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parkinson's disease - Essay Example to treat Parkinson’s Disease associated symptoms, but has also proven to be an inappropriate treatment choice in patients with a history of psychosis or seizures. Amantadine may also be used to treat outbreaks of influenza A in humans. The problems experienced with the use of Amantadine is that its side effects are almost as bothersome or adverse as the symptoms that it is meant to treat. It is also lethal if taken by patients with renal conditions or with renal failure. Amantadine essentially is flushed out of the body via urine. In cases of renal failure however, a patient’s body may not effectively excrete the amount of Amantidine expected to be expelled by the body per normal dosage. When researching this particular medication, it is quite difficult to ascertain all of the facts surrounding its potency and effectiveness. Medline Plus provides only an approximation of what a dosage might be in patients prescribed this medication, as well as a few possible side effects that may be experienced. Another site known as mental health.com, describes in more detail, the pharmacology of Amantadine which is also known as Symmetrel. This source explains that Amantadine works by allowing the brain to release dopamine from nerve endings. This allows for available dopamine excretion which then activates dopaminergic receptors. (Long M.D., 1995). Among the few sources discussed thus far, the depth to which the antiparkinson’s drug known as Amantadine was examined was somewhat vague and lacking in detail or argument as to why this drug supersedes the potency or effectiveness of other antiparkinson’s medications. A more thorough source which detailed a double blind study by Thomas et al effectively described the specifics of Amantadine’s use in patients with Parkinson’s Disease as well as how those patients benefit from this particular drug which possesses a still unknown mechanism of effectiveness (Thomas et al, 2004). The drug known as Levodopa is

Introducing a line of bottled water Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Introducing a line of bottled water - Essay Example In order to differentiate within the market, the supplements would be developed so that the water taste was not changed, and through marketing to the segment of the population that is starting to experience minor ailments and issues that can be directly addressed through supplements. The segment would be the aging population that is 40 and over. Marketing will also have to be directed to a broader demographic through onsite marketing that is less specific to age. As the bottled water market has increased steadily since 1997, the potential for success is high. Introduction Bottled water has become a staple in Western society, a trend that stems from a variety of areas of concern. One of the reasons that bottled water has become a prominent resource for hydration is that the fitness industry has determined that a significant amount of water, usually defined by about 2 litres, per day is necessary for good health (World Health Organisation 2004: 486). Another reason that bottled water h as become more marketable in the last few decades is that public water, as in tap water, has come under attack for the purity and safety that it contains. As a result, a natural marriage between the health industry and bottled water has emerged in which diversification into the bottled water market makes sense for corporations that have health related products already in their product line. One company that has yet to develop bottled water is GlaxoSmithKline. Through the exploration of their current line of products and brands, along with an exploration of the overall market, the addition of a line of water to the GlaxoSmithKline product line would enhance the current product line as well as open up a new market. The brand name of the proposed new line of water will be called PURE with a supplemental line of text used to define which type of water is being offered. The line of bottled water would not simply be the one line of basic water, but in order to appeal to the chosen demogra phic, a line of water with supplements within them would increase the potential success of the line. Taking the example of waters such as Dasani by the Coke product line and Aquafina by the Pepsi product line, creating flavoured waters or water with minerals and supplements has shown to have success. The twist on this line of water is that all of the water will taste like water, but will have supplements that target the differing needs of those who are aging. GlaxoSmithKline Company Overview Formed in 2001 through a merger between GlaxoWelcome and SmithKline Beecham, the company holds its headquarters in Great Britain with most of its business being conducted in the United States. As a pharmaceutical leader, the company is a leader in respiratory, central nervous system research, diabetes and vaccines, with 2003 seeing pre-tax sales of more than 21.4 billion. Profits were approximately 6.3 billion with an investment