...I’m going to talk about the idea of progress. First of all I would like to give a definition of this notion : the idea of progress is the theory that the different advances in technology, science, and social organization can produce an improvement in the human condition. That is, people can become happier in terms of quality of life (social progress) through economic development (modernization) and the application of science and technology (scientific progress). Progress implies change and evolution and throughout history most advances have been positive. However the rythm of progress seems to have accelerated over the last few decades and the technological breakthrough and scientific developments are causing some people to question this progress. Should we fear progress ? To answer this question I will present three documents. The first document I have choosen is an excerpt from “O brave new world” by Aldous Huxley. O brave new world is a dystopian novel which anticipates developments in reproductive technology, sleeplearning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that combine profoundly to change society. The extract is about reproductive technology. The D.H.C (Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning) is talking about the Bokanovsky’s Progress to a group of students. Humans grow in incubators. Before this progress, they only grew one by one in incubator but with a bokanovskyfied egg it’s possible to make 96 humans grow. Later in the excerpt he ...
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...John Stuart Mill and Benito Mussolini: On the Nature of Social and Economic Progress of a Nation. Eric Joo April 27, 2015 SS 102 Professor Marr Word Count: 1659 -Mill: As for the matter of liberty, it’s clear that individual liberties must be upheld as of utmost importance. Its diminution comes at the price of social, economic, and political progress. -Mussolini: What about the state interests? Is that not of utmost importance to you? Social and economic progress can only come when the individual serves the interests of the state. All other alternatives simply a hinderance to the notion of progress. -Mill: It is actually USEFUL for society if its individuals have maximum diversity and variety of opinion. Even if those opinions are dissenting or outright “wrong.” All opinions have value in that they all lead to social progress....
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...ITSMW Potter Most revolutionary progresses are social based When you think of national progress, what would you think of? Economical, Political, or Societal? Actually, although people believe that most reforms or progress is for the benevolence of all three of these elements equally, revolutions such as the Industrial Revolution are more driven towards the success of the economics. The industrial revolution itself caused a massive uprising of ideas based on engineering for the sole purpose of convenience, and made a huge gap between the rich, the middle, and the poor, and classified the middle and the poor as the working classes and most of the topics went to the working class. However, this is more unlikely to be a political progress since the convenience and affordable factor all went to boost England’s economy and have the society afford them for cheaper. The progress of the Industrial Revolution was based on socioeconomic reasons because, due to the Industrial revolution, England’s economy increased, rate of employment for unemployed workers increased because of the ability to mass produce products using the newly invented machines to create a better economy for corporations, and a lot of products could be produced in cheap prices because mass production was possible and this increased the standard of living to modernization. Another example of socioeconomic progress is the French Revolution. The French revolutionists and poor social class strived to change the...
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...more about this equipment to make a sound decision about options and costs. The member feels this assignment will stretch his already-full schedule. You would... A Tell the member when you want the proposal and explain what you want in the proposal. Outline the steps the member should take to become knowledgeable about the new equipment. Set daily meetings with the member to track progress. B Ask the member to produce the proposal and discuss its importance. Ask the member to set a deadline for completion. Give the member the resources he needs. Ask the member to provide periodic progress reports. C Tell the member when you want the proposal and discuss its importance. Explain what you want in the report. Outline steps the member should take to learn more about the equipment. Listen to the member’s concerns and use his ideas when possible. Set weekly meetings to track his progress. D Ask the member to produce the proposal and discuss its importance. Explore the barriers he foresees and strategies for removing them. Ask him to set a deadline for completion and periodically check with him to track progress. 2) Your project team has been working hard to complete its project plan. A new member has joined the team. He must present cost figures in a report format at the end of next week but he knows nothing about the report requirements and format. He is eager to learn more about his role in the group. You would... A Tell him exactly what is needed. Specify...
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...Disobedience can be a valuable trait for promoting progress, though only when there is a clear objective. Disobedience in the face of authority, whether cultural, political or both, has been used throughout history to circumvent impediments to progress. This progress comes in many forms, which all tend to be linked. Social progress through the pursuit of equality and the improvement of living conditions leads to technological advancement to help achieve these societal goals. Disobedience to authority is a widespread occurrence throughout history. Disobedience disrupts the status quo, empowering individuals that would otherwise have been unknown. This allows people with new ideas to influence the world, at times leading to progress. The...
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...Extra Credit: John Gasts painted American Progress in 1872 portraying the idea of manifest destiny. In American progress it’s kind of like the opposite, the light is coming from where they are leaving, but there is an angel that is leading them in the right direction. When there is an angel around and especially when the angel is leading you in a direction it is meant to be like destiny what you're supposed to do. By using the light and an angel as symbols in the paintings it shows that Americans were meant to go West, it was their destiny. they reflect Manifest Destiny as a godly movement. By showing an angel Gast really makes his thoughts clear. Angel’s obviously symbolize when something is heavenly or godly.Angel symbolizes a viewers point.Likewise, Gast shows an angel, a symbol of pureness and heaven, guiding the frontiersmen in “American Progress” because he is illustrating pretty openly his viewpoint that expansion is literally “ordained by God In the painting American Progress By Gast, the Angel lights up the darkened continent. But if you notice in the dark that the Native Americans and the buffalos are running into the darkness, as if they are afraid of the easterners. So Gast might not fully agree with the western movement, but in his painting there are more symbols supporting westernization then bad. The angel in the picture supports the idea that god wants people to travel west. And also in the angels hand is a book, which is aslo another symbol that might...
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...Reaction Paper “Sketch of the Progress of the Human Mind” Marquis de Condorcet (1743-1794), mathematician, philosopher and revolutionist was said to be the most famous prophet of progress in the Enlightenment period. Condorcet was born in Ribemont, France, and was taught at the Jesuit College in Reims and at the College of Navarre in Paris. He was skilled in various different areas, and when the Enlightenment came, he was enthralled by the idea of democracy. In Condorcet’s article “Sketch of the Progress of the Human Mind”, he demonstrates his strong opinions on the idea of progress and change for society. Excerpts from “The Ninth Epoch” and “The Ten Epoch”, also written by Condorcet, help to portray these ideas. In the introduction to the article, Condorcet explains general thoughts about the history and ideology of society. He says that generally people did not want to go against tradition, but they did believe that religion and government could change. By change they did not necessarily mean moving forward with new ideas, but resorting back to features of previous “golden ages”. People believed that history repeated itself, and the way of life would always be the same. It was not until the 18th and 19th centuries in the West that people began to believe in beneficial changes, they began to believe in progress. This belief in progress dates back to the 18th century Enlightenment; people thought they could better humanity by eliminating cruelties, superstitions...
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...some form of heresy, but if he changes pace to promoting his ideas as solely hypothesis and in Latin, then I strongly stress that he should only be convicted of the lowest form of heresy. The foundation for this assertion is within the decrees of the Council of Trent and how they clarify that ideas are not heretical when posed as hypotheses like Copernicus’. Therefore, Galileo should be allowed freedom of inquisition for as long as he poses his findings as hypotheses. Lastly,...
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...to conflicts and tensions. Even when authority seems absolute, there are always counter-powers which question it, aim at limiting its excesses and resist it. Examples can be: - the power of the media (reality tv, internet v written press) - Financial power (the power of money) - Inequalities between blacks and whites - the fight against oppression and segregation (South Africa, USA) - The American Dream - The Civil Rights movement and political recognition : Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X (can also be linked to the notion of Myths and Heroes) Idea of Progress The idea of progress can be defined as an improvement, a development or a change - a technical, scientific or social advance which contributes to making the world a better place. Examples can be: - Scientific Progress - Medical advances, cures for illnesses, cloning, performance enhancing drugs, genetically modified organisms. - Technological Progress- technologies to slow down climate...
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...producers creating the idea of American exceptionalism; or in other world the idea that America is the best. Because text books deliver this idea to students and disallow them to question this material they grow up wanting to continue this ideology. One can only be socially best either by developing something, having massive power, or by owning massive amounts of money. This is where politics and economy come into play. As a nation we want to progress to the point where we are the best at everything. “Politically, we can hope other nations will put in place our forms of democracy and respect for civil liberties. Economically, we can only hope other nations will never achieve our standard of living, for if they did, the earth would become a desert…Since the planet is finite, as we expand our economy we make it less likely that less developed nations can expand theirs.” (pg 288) When put into simpler terms this makes sense. Since the United States wants to progress to the point where they are the best they would be ecstatic if there democratic system is put to use by other nations, as it will prove...
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...painted as the great other, the opposite side of the coin. The United States prides itself on being a society build on the ingenuity and progress of modern man and for generations the country has seen communism, and in turn Marxism, as its sworn enemy. In actuality Marxism and Capitalism were both born out the the same need, the same ideals. Though they require the participant to go about things in different ways, both are a call to duty working to create a better society. One came out of the movement away from the traditional Feudal System that had been prevalent for hundreds of years. The other came from the divides that Capitalism created between the working classes and the leaders of industry. Both ideals...
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...0060516402 Chapter ONE On the basis of substantial research, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras observe the distinctive habits of companies of enduring greatness. In the words of the authors, “Visionary companies are premier institutions – the crown jewels – in their industries, widely admired by their peers, and having a long track record of making a significant impact on the world around them.” Visionary leaders and breakthrough ideas come and go, but visionary companies survive the transitions. The “successful habits” of the visionary companies were observed in comparison to “silver medalist” companies in the same industry. Both the visionary and comparison companies outperformed the market, but the visionary companies demonstrated extraordinary long-term results. The tandems most frequently referenced in the book are GE/Westinghouse, HP/Texas Instruments, Motorola/Zenith, P&G/Colgate, Merck/Pfizer, and Wal-Mart/Ames. These comparisons dispelled commonly held myths regarding the nature of exceptional companies. Myth Reality 1 It takes a great idea to start a great company Visionary companies did not demonstrate early success 2 Visionary companies require great and charismatic visionary leaders Leaders of visionary companies were focused on building great institutions as opposed to building their individual reputations 3 The most successful companies exist first and foremost to maximize profits Visionary companies are characterized by the pursuit of multiple...
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...terms must be defined. “New ways of thinking” is thinking from a point of view that has not been considered previously, or an unproven idea. For the purpose of this essay, “facts” and “data” will be defined as: a series of empirical evidence, or a proven idea. I think that new ways of thinking and the discovery of new data and facts are equally important. If no one ever thought differently than the currently accepted way of thinking, than nothing new would ever be discovered. They are each no more and no less important than one other because, one cannot exist without the other. If one cannot exist without the other than their symbiotic relationship makes both equally important. It could be argued that discovering new ways of thinking is more important than the discovery of new data and facts. Someone arguing this point may make the point that many useful inventions that we (humans) have today come from an inventor who dared to step outside the norm, and look at a problem differently. One example of an invention is the nuclear reactor. Nuclear power would not exist today if no one had considered fission as a source of energy. Someone who disagrees with the quote in the title of this essay might suggest that without data and facts, new inventions would be impossible. The discovery of new data is what allows scientific and technical progress in all fields. A new set of facts that is in use today, that would be impossible without data or facts, is the fundamental theorem of calculus...
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...‘Germany experienced a period of political calm, economic development and social progress in the mid-1920s? How far do you agree with this judgement? (30 marks) It is argued by many historians that Germany experience a period of political calm, economic development and social progress in the mid 1920s for a variety of reasons. There is evidence to support the claim that the economy developed in the mid 1920s, due to the fact that there was significant monetary stability and a growth in available capital. Furthermore, one can argue that social progression was achieved, as a result of the improvement in housing and public health and the development of a Weimar culture. Moreover, it can be argued that political stability was maintained in this period due to the outcome of the 1924 May elections, the Dawes plan and the election of Hindenburg as President. However, while this is true, it is important to remember that there is also sufficient evidence to support the view that Germany did not experience a period of political calm, economic development and social progress as economic instability contributed to the deterioration in social development, as the economic discord between employers and labourers resulted in polarisation. Moreover, the extent of social development in terms of the role of women, youths and the development of the constitution is highly debatable. Additionally, it can be argued that political stability was weakened due to the Young Plan, the 1928 May election...
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...PROJECT IN QUALITY Nikolas Bellosillo TC303 INTRODUCTION This book review is for our QUALITY subject with our professor Mr. R. Romero. The book is entitled Built to Last: Successful habits of Visionary companies By Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, published by HarperCollins Publishers. Built to Last is a blueprint for building organizations that will endure long into the twenty-first century. "This is not a book about charismatic visionary leaders. It is not about visionary product concepts or visionary products or visionary market insights. Nor is it about just having a corporate vision. This is a book about something far more important, enduring, and substantial. This is a book about visionary companies." So write Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in this groundbreaking book that shatters myths, provides new insights, and gives practical guidance to those who would like to build landmark companies that stand the test of time. Drawing upon a six-year research project at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Collins and Porras took eighteen truly exceptional and long-lasting companies -- they have an average age of nearly one hundred years and have outperformed the general stock market by a factor of fifteen since 1926 -- and studied each company in direct comparison to one of its top competitors. They examined the companies from their very beginnings to the present day -- as start-ups, as midsize companies, and as large corporations...
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