Essay on The Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God

The Cosmological Argument attempts to prove that God exists by showing that there cannot be an infinite number of regressions of causes to things that exist. It states that there must be a final uncaused-cause of all things. This uncaused-cause is asserted to be God. Arguments like this are thought up to recognize why we and the universe exist. The Cosmological Argument takes several forms but is basically represented below. Cosmological Argument Things exist It is possible for those things not to exist Whatever has the possibility of non-existence, yet exists, has been caused to exist. Something cannot bring itself into existence because it would have had to exist to do†¦show more content†¦Weaknesses of the argument One of the weaknesses of the argument is that if all things need a cause to exist, then God Himself must also, by definition, need a cause to exist. But this only pushes causation back and implies that there must be an infinite number of causes, which cannot be. This is contradictory. Also, by definition, God is uncaused. There are two forms of the cosmological argument. One is the Kalam argument: Like all cosmological arguments, the kalam cosmological argument is an argument from the existence of the world or universe to the existence of God. The existence of the universe, such arguments claim, stands in need of explanation. The only adequate explanation, the arguments suggest, is that God created it. What distinguishes the kalam cosmological argument from other forms of cosmological argument is that it rests on the idea that the universe has a beginning in time. Modal forms of the cosmological argument are consistent with the universe having an infinite past. With the kalam cosmological argument, however, it is precisely because the universe is thought to have a beginning in time that the existence of the universe is thought to stand in need of explanation. The argument has the following structure: (1) Everything that has a beginning of its existence has a causeShow MoreRelatedThe Cosmological Argument For The Existence Of God Essay1556 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerning the existence of God. If God exists, we probably have to make him accountable. The universe would probably have a meaning and a purpose. Also, our very existence may not be cease after physical death. But if God does not exist, we are probably here by chance and we have no accountability to any transcendent. This life is probably all we have, so we should live as we please. The question arises - Does God exist? At first glance, it seems contradictory to prove the existence of somethingRead MoreThe Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1416 Words   |  6 PagesThe cosmological argument for the existence of god According to St. John 8:31-32 said, â€Å"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free†. This sentence is come from the bible, but I am not a christian, so I do not really understand what this means. I guess it was talking about if people believe in god, and trust his words, and in the end the will get the freedom. For many of christians, they believes in god, but many ofRead MoreThe Cosmological Argument On The Existence Of God1444 Words   |  6 Pagesexplain the existence of God; the Cosmological Argument is one such theory. The Cosmological Argument has been changed and reviewed for years; however, the focus has always stayed the same. The universe is a prime example that there is a God. A simple Cosmological argument states that: Everything that exists has a cause of its existence. The universe exists. Therefore, The universe has a cause of its existence. If the universe has a cause of its existence, then that cause is God. Therefore, God existsRead MoreThe Cosmological Argument For The Existence Of God1957 Words   |  8 Pagesinsist there is no evidence for the existence of God while maintaining religious faith is fundamentally irrational. This paper will examine the KalÄ m Cosmological Argument (KCA), demonstrating that it offers strong evidence for the existence of God, thereby providing a rational foundation for the Christian faith. Background The cosmological argument is, â€Å"a family of arguments that seek to demonstrate the existence of a Sufficient Reason or First Cause of the existence of the cosmos.† Historians traceRead MoreCosmological Arguments On The Existence Of A God2212 Words   |  9 Pageswhether or not God exists. Now there are various conceptions of God within philosophy, but the most simple and widely accepted definition would likely be a â€Å"metaphysically necessary being.† That will be the definition of God for this paper. Numerous arguments have been put forth for and against the existence of a God, and some can be grouped together according to their type. Examples of these arguments range from teleological arguments to axiological arguments to cosmological arguments (to name a few)Read More The History of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1341 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Cosmological Argument were developed by the world renowned philosophers Plato and Aristotle be tween the years 400 and 200 BC (Boeree). Medieval philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas expanded upon their ideas in the late 13th Century when he wrote, â€Å"The Five Ways.† Since then the Cosmological Argument has become one of the most widely accepted and criticized arguments for the existence of God. My objective in this paper is to explain why the Cosmological Argument is a reasonable argument for theRead MoreClarke s Cosmological Argument On The Existence Of God1648 Words   |  7 Pages Clarke’s Cosmological argument has been around for multiple centuries—the purpose of this argument being to try to prove the existence of God. Although this argument sounds valid—meaning that â€Å"IF premises 1 and 2 are true, then the conclusion must be true† — while many people have accepted this argument, it has also caused a lot of questioning and skepticism, mainly because of what the Cosmological Argument uses to support its argument—the Principle of Sufficient reason. Before determining whetherRead More The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God804 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God The cosmological argument seeks to prove the existence of God by looking at the universe. It is an A posteriori proof based on experience and the observation of the world not logic so the outcome is probable or possible not definite. The argument is in three forms; motion, causation and being. These are also the first three ways in the five ways presented by Aquinas through which he believed the existence of God couldRead MoreThe Various Forms of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1561 Words   |  7 PagesThe Various Forms of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God The cosmological argument is a well established argument for the existence of God and it is also known as the first cause argument. The cosmological argument is based upon the belief that there is a first cause behind the existence of universe and this was God. It has taken many forms and in the past has been presented in many ways. So many philosophers have put their points across, philosophers like; Read MoreThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Key Ideas of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God A) The cosmological argument is to prove the existence of god. In this type of argument we are looking at cause and not design. This type of argument is an aposteriori argument because it is based upon experience. Thomas Aquinas puts the key ideas into 3 ways. First way is, motion/change. Nothing can move by itself or change itself. The first thing to have moved must have been moved by something else and

The Prince and The Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli

In the late 15th to the 16th centuries, Florence gets into a tumultuous era with the rise of some political issues and weaknesses of the state as a republic, such as the lack of seriousness with its pretensions, the vulnerability of the Italian city-state given the fragility of international alliances and the dangers of placing security in the hands of another power; being involved in a prolonged war with one of its territories, Pisa, puts Florence in an even worse situation. As a person working at the office of the second chancellery of Florence with great interest in politics, Machiavelli tries to come up with some possible solutions that could get Florence into a better situation. Through his political career as a diplomat and secretary under the regime of Piero Soderini, Machiavelli realizes how important the role of the populace is in order for the Florentine government to get close to what he thinks of as the ideal model of republican governance. Although his two books, The Pr ince and The Discourses are mainly about the expected behavior of rulers and the story of expansion of Rome, Machiavelli also contributes a big portion of his books to discuss about the types of roles that the populace should be entrusted with in a republican government. This paper will argue that being supportive of their rulers, bringing liberty to the state and contributing to the establishment of Florence as a solid republican country are the three main contributions that Florentine populaceShow MoreRelatedThe Last Days Of Socrates And Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince And The Discourses1651 Words   |  7 Pagesand framework for political philosophy, are Plato’s The Last Days of Socrates, and Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince and The Discourses. Both pieces take place during political uncertainty with surrounding societal turmoil. Each take a different approach to how these issues must be dealt with. They each have their own construct of an ideal political regime which, at times overlap, but at others do not. Machiavelli seeks to gain power and wealth while Socrates seeks to gain knowledge and justice. ItRead MoreMachiavelli’s Political Ideas and Influence1477 Words   |  6 Pagesembodied political realism was Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a Florentine born in 1469 and lived during the crux of the Renaissance. Before his career as an author Machiavelli was a Florentine ambassador in France and The Holy Roman Empire. Machiavelli studied Renaissance humanism and political realism. As a reaction to what he saw in the north, In 1513 Machiavelli wrote The Prince, which explained his ideas and experiences from his time as an ambassador. The Prince was a how-to book on how toRead MoreBiography of and Principles Taught By Niccolo Machiavelli Essay1047 Words   |  5 PagesMachiavelli Essay: Question 1 Born in the 15th century, Niccolà ² Machiavelli was an Italian historian, politician, philosopher, diplomat and humanist. Following his career as an official in the Florentine Republic, Machiavelli was a founder of modern political science and political ethics. In the political treatise The Prince, written in 1532, Machiavelli outlines several key traits of a successful princedom such as; how to incorporate newly acquired provinces, the most successful way to conquer territoriesRead MoreMachiavelli s On Human Nature1531 Words   |  7 PagesMachiavelli on Human Nature Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes were two modern political theorists who presented new ideas about political organization in the 16th and 17th century. While Machiavelli focused his written works on ideas related to effective governance, Hobbes attempts to explain the necessity of establishing a ruler to maintain peace and stability. Although Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes focused on different aspects of political theory, both thinkers addressed the conceptRead MoreEssay on Machiavelli1580 Words   |  7 Pages The Italian Renaissance is known for its birth of many notable philosophers, including the famous Niccolo Machiavelli. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest political thinkers to have ever existed, and his ideas and beliefs have been an inspiration and motivation for many famous leaders. Although he has known to have been a positive influence on mankind, Machiavelli has also distinguished a bad reputation that has been unfairly given to him because of a misunderstanding in his views on politicsRead MoreAnalysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli s The Prince 1625 Words   |  7 PagesOne well-known Renaissance thinker, Niccolo Machiavelli, was one of those philosophers whose political views caused an uproar during earlier centuries. His view on effective leadership was rather harsh and not exactly adopted in the Italian society. As a Renaissance citizen, Machiavelli proved his writing skills through a number of works such as short stories, plays, and histories. His more popular works inc luded those call the Discourses on Livy and The Prince-which will be described further moreRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli s The Prince1719 Words   |  7 PagesMachiavelli’s, The Prince, a book written by Niccolà ² Machiavelli, is a read that most people wouldn’t prefer to read as a first option but in defense to Niccolo, it brings out many themes such as Goodwill and Hatred, Free will, and Human Nature. â€Å"It is known from his personal correspondence that The Prince was written during 1513, the year after the Medici took control of Florence, and a few months after Machiavelli s arrest, torture, and banishment by the Medici regime† (Bio.com). The novel wasRead More Ethics in Machiavellis The Prince Essay example1498 Words   |  6 PagesEthics in Machiavellis The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian statesman and political philosopher. He was employed on diplomatic missions as defence secretary of the Florentine republic, and was tortured when the Medici returned to power in 1512. When he retired from public life he wrote his most famous work, The Prince (1532), which describes the means by which a leader may gain and maintain power. The Prince has had a long and chequered history and the number of controversiesRead More Separating Political Conduct and Personal Morality in Niccolà ² Machiavellis, The Prince2131 Words   |  9 PagesSeparating Political Conduct and Personal Morality in Niccolà ² Machiavellis, The Prince Niccolà ² Machiavelli wrote, in his novel The Prince, that strong central political leadership was more important than anything else, including religion and moral behavior. Machiavelli, writing during a period of dramatic change known as the Italian Renaissance, displayed attitudes towards many issues, mostly political, which supported his belief that strong government was the most important element in societyRead MoreMachiavelli s The Prince And The Discourse Essay1328 Words   |  6 PagesNiccolà ² Machiavelli wrote a book which called The Prince. It is about the political ideology of Machiavelli s political realism, which means the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. In this book, he talks about the importance of the concept of virtà º. He claimed that rulers have to suppress their personal virtues while sometimes committing improper acts in order to maintain powers and protect their principalities. In Discourses, Machiavelli becomes to extol s the

Fallacy Summary and Application Essay - 838 Words

Abstract An argument is fallacious when it contains one or more logical fallacies. A logical fallacy is an argument that contains a mistake in reasoning (2002). When using critical thinking to make decisions, an individual or group needs to be aware of logical fallacies and how they relate to decision-making. Logical fallacies can be used to manipulate a situation and if a person or group does not recognize logical fallacies, the person or group can be manipulated during the decision-making process. This paper will discuss three common logical fallacies and how they can be used in the decision-making process between management and subordinates in a business setting. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;†¦show more content†¦The Nizkor Project describes a hasty generalization as a fallacy that is committed when a person draws a conclusion about a population based on a sample that is not large enough (www.nizkor.org). The managers that were involved in the discussion group stated that the entire staff should have their Internet access removed because they were all misusing at time, or would at some point in the future. Because only a few individuals have actually misused the company resource, it was hasty generalization by the managers to state that all of the employees have or would misuse the company’s Internet access. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The subordinates responded to the managers’ use of the hasty generalization fallacy, with a fallacy of their own. The subordinates stated that if the company removed a tool such as Internet access that is used to complete company business, what would the managers remove next. The phones, office supplies, or possibly their computers? The subordinates stated that if their Internet access were removed, they would eventually be unable to do their jobs. The subordinates to form their argument for not removing Internet access from the staff used the slippery slope fallacy. The logical fallacy known as the slippery slope occurs when we claim, without sufficient evidence, that a seemingly harmless action, if taken, will lead to a disastrous outcome (2002). The managers having listenedShow MoreRelatedFallacy Summary and Application Essay1066 Words   |  5 PagesFallacy Summary and Application Abstract Throughout this paper, we will discuss the relative meanings of fallacies and the importance they have in regards to critical thinking and the decision-making processes. Within the process of critical thinking, fallacies tend to play a very large part of this process. By definition, a fallacy is a statement or an argument based on a false or invalid reference (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language). As you will read on further into thisRead More Logical Fallacies Summary and Application Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesLogical Fallacies Summary and Application What do you see when you look at Begging the Question, Hasty Generalization, and Appealing to Emotion? When you initially look at these three categories they may not seem to have too much in common. However, when you look deeper you will see that in fact, they are all different types of logical fallacies. Logical fallacies are errors of reasoning, errors that may be recognized and corrected by prudent thinkers (Downes, 1995). The following quote helpsRead More Teaching an Applied Critical Thinking Course: How Applied Can We Get?3266 Words   |  14 Pagesthis function. The software in question is an interactive, artificial intelligence program that checks beliefs for faulty thinking (fallacies), including inductive and deductive errors. The system scans student essays for possible fallacies; asks questions at relevant junctions; provides individualized feedback on fallacies committed; provides summaries of fallacies found; diagnoses thinking problems; issues recommendations; and pro vides other pertinent information. The current movement in appliedRead MoreUsing Mobile Technology For Farming And Economic Reasons1343 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology to solicit prospective crops sales around the various remote agricultural communities. The authors, Sampangi, Viswanath and Ashish Ray stated that the Indian government was really on to something â€Å"new† with the Indian culture. Does this application not â€Å"go beyond† what the theory claims? This writer contends that –â€Å"If You Build It They Will Come† (Kinsella, 1982). What are the issues involved in translating theory into practice In further substantiating the previous thought concerning theRead MoreWhat is wrong with adultery Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pagesessay, Steinbock argues that adultery is different from a criminal offense position such as murder where people use moral rules against them. Hence, adultery is not banned universally because adultery is a private matter. Here, Steinbock commits the fallacy of equivocation which means a word shifts from its meaning from one premise to another. The word adultery shifts its meaning from a criminal offense to a private matter in the same argument. Such a change of meaning always makes an argument invalidRead MoreA Scientific Discussion About Diet And Exercise For Health And Weight Loss881 Words   |  4 Pagestranscribed the presentation into the format that I hope to submit for publication through you and your agency. The general scope of the book focuses on a summary of what we know about obesity and how exercise and diet assists with improving health issues that people who are obese face while attempting to lose weight. Following the summary are a series of responses to questions generated by either those in attendance for the lecture I gave, or close colleagues that I have worked with in the pastRead MoreThe Roman Road And The Romans Road1590 Words   |  7 PagesThe Roman Road Summary of Method -The intellectual method of evangelism the Romans Road uses a systematic way to explain salvation through Bible verses from the book of Romans (What Is Romans Road). The Romans Road method of evangelism is used by many evangelists and missionaries to share the good news of salvation. The Romans Road approach makes it easy to map out the road to salvation. Although there are different versions of the Romans Road the message of salvation remains the same. The RomansRead MoreHow Testing Can Improve Quality Of The Software1395 Words   |  6 Pagescan see how many bugs are in which module. â€Å"This can give a good indication that when a defect is found in one area of the application, chances are there are more defects in that particular area, so it is worth investing more time to test that particular area of the application to find as many defects as possible. However, testers should not ignore to test the rest of application as well as there may be other defects sc attered around.† (Amir Ghahrai, 2008)The fifth principle is the pesticide paradoxRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment : An Elusive Dream Of Perfection1244 Words   |  5 Pagesparadise beyond compare. Many, through their works tried to give their readers, if even through an abstract glance, what the perfection would be. Many writers thoughout time have seemed to understand society and through their works have shown the fallacy of this vision. Through their words, they revealed that in order for perfection or a Utopian to be established on reason, as demonstrated in Voltaire’s Candide, we as humans would have to give up what it means to be human. To quote Jesus Christ,Read MoreSummary and Response Essay1905 Words   |  8 Pages Outstanding Student Paul Brown (MW or TR) Summary and Response due date This is a Sample Summary and Response In his article Making the Grade, Kurt Wiesenfeld presents a problem regarding the ethical value of grades in modern society. A physics professor, Wiesenfeld opens the article by making the rookie error of being in his office the day after final grades were posted. (paragraph 1) Several students then attempt to influence him to change their grades for the class. What concerns Wiesenfeld

Separation Of Church And State - 1446 Words

Is the separation of church and state still necessary in the overall legal and social aspects of a modern society such as the United States? Research and history show that maintaining the church separate from the government is important for the ongoing success of a free and well functioning society. Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine which states that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from one another. Ideally, the church should not influence the decisions made by rule of law and how a government functions. This idea refers to the secular state, which is understood as the combination of two principles, secularity of government and freedom of religious practice. Beliefs on the proper relationship between religion and government cover a wide spectrum. One ranging between complete secularization of government, and the other being a theocracy, in which government and church are unified under one central leadership. Along this line, a number of distinctions and issues are raised. The most primary is the division between the two distinct ideas of government secularization and church independence. In the United States, the Separation of Church and State is generally discussed as a political and legal principle derived from the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .Show MoreRelatedSeparation Of Church And State Essay1513 Words   |  7 PagesSeparation of church and state is a defined as, the understanding of the intent, and function of the Establishment Clause, and Free Exercise Clause. The Combination of church and state has been a topic that, many generations have struggled with for centuries. The first amendment of the constitution states that â€Å"Congress shall make no law about our religious beliefs, or prohibiting our free exercise of religion† If we put our faith in the constitution to define the founding father’s standpoint ofRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State902 Words   |  4 PagesA Closer look at the Separation of Church and State in the United States Although â€Å"God† is mentioned in the Constitution, this country was built upon the principle of separation of church and state. Despite this ideal, those elected into office: propose, pass, and deny laws based on their religious beliefs, completely disregarding the previously mentioned principle. The problem with that is that the country is so ethnically and culturally diverse that one religion representing an entire nation ofRead MoreThe separation of church and state1200 Words   |  5 PagesThe separation of church and state has been a long debated topic in the history of America. Although founded upon Christian ideals, the framers of the Constitution explicitly outlined the government to function secularly, in what is commonly referred to as the â€Å"Establishment Clause†. When interpreting the Constitution in regards to religion, there are two primary philosophies. The first philosophy this paper will explore will be referred to as Positive Toleration. In gen eral, the idea of positiveRead MoreSeparation of Church and State701 Words   |  3 PagesSeparation of Church and State To understand Locke’s argument for the separation of church and state you first need to understand what the purpose of the government is. Locke stated that the government is supposed to support civil interest. These civil interests include property, life, and security. Therefore the government’s job is to protect the civil interests of the people using force lawfully. Once Locke institutes the power of the government he develops three important assumptions vitalRead MoreSeparation Of Church And State1095 Words   |  5 PagesThe separation of church and state has been encountered and challenged several times in the Supreme Court, which was first mentioned by Thomas Jefferson. However it is not solidly stated in the Constitution on what is right or wrong and good or bad. This theory was modified from various elements from the Constitution essentially the first and fourteenth amendments. In the first amendment it is written Congress shall make no law respecting an esta blishment of religion or prohibiting the free exerciseRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State1632 Words   |  7 Pages We are currently living in a time where freedom of religion is guaranteed in the United States. It has been since the first amendment of the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1791. The first amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting the establishment of religion or impeding the free exercise of religion ( (Rotunda, 2004). This amendment established the separation of church and government that our country was founded on and still practices today. We as Americans are freeRead MoreSeparation Of Church And State1825 Words   |  8 PagesSeparation of church and state refers to the division of the relationship between religion and government. Various laws apply to different countries around the world about the separation of church and state. Some involve religion so much into their daily lives; it controls how their country is run. In other places, where it is not mandated as much, it becomes a problem in disputing what is and what is not right. The United States of America faces this issue as they struggle deciding what the meaningRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State1594 Words   |  7 Pagesdirection and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, and inhabitants of communities, societies, and states. While documents have been written to help the leaders of our country, there is constant debate over what changes need to be made. Some believe that the country is falling apart while others think minor adjustments need to be made. The separation of church and state is also a topic of debate. The question of what needs to be changed and where religion falls in all of this are alwaysRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesThe separation between church and state is a debate that continues to grow with tension as the culture of America rapidly polarizes. A long-standing claim that America was founded on Christian doctrine is a common argument in favor of the church and state to remain tog ether, yet the most commonly used metaphor explaining what the â€Å"Separation of Church and State† contextually means in today’s terms is simply that government and religion should not coincide with one another in any capacity. EvidenceRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State2095 Words   |  9 Pagesnation. It was clear that individuals should be allowed to make up their own minds about how they choose to worship, if they worship at all. For years the constitutionality of the separation of church and state has been debated, many people have analyzed and reanalyzed Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying â€Å"A Wall of Separation† in his letter to the Danbury Baptist. Many religious people believe that the government is slowly taking our right to freedom of religion, the reason our country was founded, away

Mark Bittman Man v. Meat Free Essays

As the spokesperson In the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat, Blatant expresses his once about negative ecological and health impacts of our current food regimen. He describes our modern diet as, â€Å"overwhelmingly meat-centered and hooked on fast food† (TED). Meat’s role In our society is massive, and knowing more about it is crucial. We will write a custom essay sample on Mark Bittman: Man v. Meat or any similar topic only for you Order Now When Batman delivers the â€Å"stinging condemnation† of the way we eat now, and many worldwide were listening. Mark Batman’s argument, on how eating as much meat and Junk food as we do is negatively affecting the health of our planet and ourselves, is accurate and credible, because of his extensive background in the food Industry and the valid evidence that ties his claim altogether. What Is It about Mark Bellman’s great background In the food Industry that makes his argument even more so probable? Well, throughout his career, he has won several awards from the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals for his writing and his television series, Batman Takes on America’s Chefs. The Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working In North America. † (lames Beard Foundation) Mark Batman was recognized, for being a culinary professional who had shown excellence and achievement in his field. The CAP Cookbook Awards honor the authors, publishers, and other contributors behind the best of cookbooks pub lished each year† (CAP). Due to this acknowledgement, Blatant now holds â€Å"a coveted mark of distinction† (CAP). According to, the highly awarded journalist and author, Michael Pollen, Mark Batman is one of â€Å"The World’s 7 Most Powerful Bodies,† an honor that Batman shared with First Lady Michelle Obama (EGG). In order for Batman to get where he Is currently, he had to work hard and lobby for his position. In 201 2, he was the only regularly-appearing opinion penman in a leading newspaper in the united States, writing rather much exclusively about food, for the most prime paper in the country and one of the most major papers in the world (ICE, 2012). Evidently, due to the outstanding highlights of Mark Batman’s food career, he Is a credible source. 1 OF 7 it is now time to take a look at the research that completely ties the claims that he makes together. Other than in the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What is wrong with what we eat, in an interview with the Institute of Culinary Education, the â€Å"food columnist† continually argues that eating meat is a big problem for the food system. Batman lams that, â€Å"If we had stricter laws on the treatment of animals, and better controls on the use of antibiotics in animals, better waste disposal systems, better environmental controls, it would make meat much more expensive, and if we made meat much more expensive, then sustainable meat and meat raised non-industrially would be more competitively priced† (ICE, 2012). As a result, of higher meat prices, meat consumption rates would decrease. By consuming less meat, the generation of the world’s greenhouse gases would also decrease, (Batman, 2008) because eating meat is what is â€Å"destroying our environment† (PETA). Although PETA is a bias source, this statement can easily be proven as correct. Validated through research, what we eat contributes â€Å"more greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO), methane, nitrous oxide, and the like to spew into the atmosphere than either transportation or industry’ (Filial, 2009). Many underestimate the importance of eating less meat, over half of the carbon footprint of the average American diet comes from animal products (Take Extinction off of Your Plate). While watching the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat, I was shocked how big of an impact eating eat has on the Earth and the people who inhabit it. When Batman mentioned that meat was more of a concern than transportation, I started to think back to the time when many CEO-friendly people would bike or walk places instead of spreading around â€Å"car pollution. † They, like my past self, had no idea that eating less meat does more than not driving a car. Mark Batman’s claim within his concern is accurate, because of the various studies of the negative impacts of meat consumption on our environment. Logically, if eating meat affects something as big as the Earth, it would have a bigger effect on our overall being as well. To back up Mark Batman’s claim about how we should have â€Å"better controls on the use of antibiotics in animals†, science-writing intern Cassandra Brooks states that, â€Å"the administration of antibiotics causes health problems, so much so that it can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten the usefulness of medicines that treat people. † That must be one of the key reasons why meat eaters experience more health problems. â€Å"Harvard studies showed that daily meat eaters have approximately three times the colon cancer risk, compared to those who rarely eat meat. † Eating meat encourages the growth of cancer, (The Physicians Committee) while plant-based diets promotes a healthy lifestyle that reduces such negative health impacts (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Diets that are rich in fiber, such as a Vegetarian diet, speeds the passage of food through the colon, effectively removing carcinogens, changing the type of bacteria that is present in the intestine, so that there is a reduced production of carcinogenic secondary bile acids. Anti-cancer compounds. Those reasons explain why, vegetarians are at the lowest risk for cancer and have a significantly reduced risk compared to meat-eaters (The Physicians Committee). According to new research in Austrian vegetarians, â€Å"Many people who go vegetarian do so because they are experiencing health problems† (Messing, 2014). Eating meat as we do is killing us, and according to Dry. Frank Huh, co-author of a new Harvard study on the topic, what is new â€Å"is the magnitude of risk associated with very moderate red meat consumption. † The magnitude for processed meat is even greater than that. The Harvard study concluded that one serving of red meat a day increases the risk of early death by 13 percent. The same single daily serving of processed meat (like bacon or hot dog) increases that risk by 20 percent. And â€Å"one serving† means that little deck-of-cards sized lump that doesn’t satisfy anyone over the age of 10. Huh acknowledged that â€Å"it’s not really surprising because red meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. What is surprising is the magnitude of risk associated with very moderate red meat consumption† (Hoffman, 2014). There are both pros and cons when it comes to eating or not eating meat, but the cons of not eating meat are easier to fix than the health related problems that come with eating meat. Eating less or no meat requires change, real change that involves having a clear understanding of meat’s critical role in our lives. Just knowing how negative the impacts of eating meat are to the overall health of each person and the evidence that proves it, Mark Batman’s claim stands true. Real change in the right direction something that Mark Batman predicts will eventually occur and he believes that his solution to tax Junk food will enable that. The money that comes from taxing Junk food, would be used to subsidize public health measures like making fruits and vegetables less expensive and more widely accessible. Batman compares this change in food to, great strides for minorities, the establishment of Medicare, and tremendous strides for women. By regulating Cafes Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and taxing Junk, Batman presumes that change is going to happen, and assumes that we are Just too impatient. He believes that the change that we want to see is not coming as quickly as we would like it to, and the thing that we need to realize is that real change is a slow process (Ottawa). It took over 20 years, in order to revise nutrition labels. That revision had a â€Å"dramatic effect on what people choose to eat and drink and what products sell in permeates† (Museum Chaw and Thompson). With this improvement, people felt less defeated, now that they had a clearer understanding of the labels and could differentiate between items such as sugars, natural and added. We need to educate the lost by, discouraging the consumption of bad food and encouraging the consumption of good food (Batman, 2012). Previously, before label and other food changes, consumers would Just eat items without knowing what they Just ate. Due to their lack of understanding and the companies’ lack of clarification, people would eat more than they needed, resulting in an unhealthy body weight. As someone who likes labels, especially when I am trying to stick to a healthy diet. To avoid the defeat, I would have to do the majority of my cooking at home, homemade. Due to the validated knowledge that has been brought to my attention, I believe that Mark Batman’s argument is solid. In Mark Batman’s Ted Talk he helps the viewers understand the importance of home cooking and how straying away from it might seem easy, but not at all as healthy as actually knowing what they are eating. Batman states that, â€Å"It is really important to be a home cook,† and informs us that throughout history we have lost that concept. Between the years of 1950-2000, many were sucked into the idea of convenience and the quality of home cooked meals â€Å"was down the tubes† (Batman, 2012) Fewer meals consisted of home cooked breads, desserts and soups, because it all could be purchased at any store. In the ass, women began to enter the workforce, and due to a lack of time and patience, they brought home store bought meals for their families. Home cooking was in a bad state, due to the appealing contents in convenient foods (Batman, 2007). In order for healthy home cooked meals to recycle back up the food chain, â€Å"We need to start acting. We need to start eating and cooking with less meat. Instead of going for meat, go for healthier proteins, such as nuts. â€Å"The time has come to stop raising them industrially and stop eating them thoughtlessly’ (Batman. 2007). We need to start considering the piece of ham on our breakfast plates, and where it came from before it lands on our grocery store shelves (Brooks). Knowing that eating meat is hazardous, makes me not regret my choice of becoming a vegetarian. This knowledge is not something that should be kept to myself. I feel safe, and feel as if it is my moral obligation to inform meat eaters of the deadly consequences that they redundantly face, like Mark Batman does. I would gladly recommend meat eaters, especially those who do it excessively and thoughtlessly, to watch the Ted Talk, Mark Batman: What’s wrong with what we eat. His talk is based off of research that has been done by credible sources such as Batman himself, and I am in agreement with his valid claim. How to cite Mark Bittman: Man v. Meat, Papers

Management Financial Information Management

Questions: Assignment Task: 1) Assume you have invested half of your savings in a risk-free asset and half in a risky portfolio P. Is it theoretically possible to lower your portfolio risk if you move your risk-free assetholdings into another risky portfolio Q? In other words, can you ever reduce your risk more by buying a risky security than by buying a risk-free asset? 2) Is it possible that the holdings of an open-end fund are worthmuch more or less than what the shares of the fund are trading for? Explain with clear examples supported and referenced with relevant data. This question is designed to test your familiarity with sources of financial information which you will need collate market for valuation purposes. You will therefore be marked on solid demonstration of this capability? 3) If a firm repurchases 1% of its shares, does this change the capitalisation of the stock marketon which it is listed? If a firm distributes 1% of its value throughdividends, does this change the capitalisation of the stock market on which it is listed? You are required to explain your reasons including: i) Impact of share repurchase on market capitalisationii) Impact dividend payment on market capitalisation Answers: 1. In the stock market, investors may face high volatility in the investors portfolio. And sometimes the investor may have low volatility in the investors portfolio. The market condition of the stock market does not stay in the good mood for long time period. Sometimes the stock market may have good time and sometimes the stock market may have bad times. It totally depends on the market condition and the economic condition and also political condition of a country. If the investor invest half of the investors savings in a risk free asset in portfolio P and also invest half of the investors savings in a risky portfolio, then the investor should keep three things in mind: a) The investor should keep different types of bonds, equity, mutual funds in the risky portfolio. So that if the market condition of one asset is in bad mood another asset can balance the portfolio. b) The investors should not keep only blue chip stocks in the portfolio. As the price of the blue chip stock is very high, and if the stock price falls then the investor rate of return will also fall very badly (Agrawal, 2009). So, if the investor picks different types of assets whose rate of return is also different then the investor may ensure large gain from the investors risky portfolio. c) The investor should keep in mind to minimize the unsystematic risk to the companies or group who are small in size and are from different industries. The investor can reduce the volatility of the portfolio by using few steps: Beta: The volatility of a stock can be measured by beta. The beta of a stock one means that the price of the stock will be in tandem. If the value of beta of a stock is equal to less than one that means the volatility of the stock as compared to the overall market condition is less. And if the value of the beta is above one that means the volatility of the stock as compared to the overall market condition is more and the equity can respond more strictly. The investor can reduce the volatility by selling the high beta shares and substitute them with low beta shares. Hedging: Hedging strategy means when the traders gets into the long position or in the short position in the capital market the trader can use the hedging strategy. When the traders make the portfolio, the traders should keep in mind that from all the securities or the shares, the trader cannot earn a profit (Crouhy, Galai and Mark, 2000). May be the trader may run in loss while investing in the market. To minimize the loss the traders should hedge their portfolio with different shares or securities so that the loss from one share gets minimize by making a profit from other securities. Bonds: When the investors have a high risk factor in the portfolio of the investor, there is a chance for the investor to face less return from the investors investment (Holmes, 2002). That time the investor wants to find a safe place to keep his investment after facing the loss from the investment. The investor can reduce the risk from the investment by investing the investment into the bond. It also helps the investor to bring good amount of income. Cash: The investor should keep some amount of cash with the investor so that if the share price or the portfolio goes down then the investor can buy shares at the time of inflation which will make the portfolio less risky (Hopkin, n.d.). This is because when the share price will go high the investor can sell out the share and can earn a large margin of profit from the share which can minimize the loss occurred by the other shares of the portfolio. 2. Open end fund means the collection of stocks which can be redeem and issue at any time. Open end fund is offered mostly in the countries which are already developed. The investor can buy the share directly from the fund. An open ended fund can also be known as big pool of money. The open end fund contains plenty of money which belongs to the investors. The fund of the open end fund is alienated into units. In open end fund, the investor can buy or sell the units at any time. When the investor invests in the open end fund, the fund gets bigger in size. The price of the unit is calculated in daily basis. It is measured by the values of the bonds, equity and other assets and divides the price of the assets by the total number of assets. Open ended funds invested in: An open ended fund generally invests in both the bonds and equities. They also keep cash in hand for future purpose and an open ended fund also invest in the market of derivative. The cash which are kept to manage the portfolios are saved for the future purpose (JordaÃÅ'Æ’o and Sousa, 2010). The main reasons for investing money in an open ended fund by the investors: When the investor wants to invest the money in the open end fund, the fund manager of the open end fund will guide the investor about what type of assets can be purchased by the investors. The main aim of the fund manager of the open end fund is to give maximum return to the investor with respect to the investment made by the investor. The main reason of investing the money in the open end fund by the investor is to get the maximum return and after getting the profit from the investment, the investor will again invest in the open end fund (Krause, 2006). This situation will make the fund of the open end fund much bigger. The two main kinds of open ended funds are: Unit trusts: The unit trusts are dual price. When the investor buying the unit trust, some amount of money is charged by the fund manager (Bell and Jenkinson, 2001). The variation between the buying price and the selling price is the profit for the investor. Open ended investment companies: It contains single unit price. Most of the unit trust is now converted into the open ended investment Forward Pricing: The forward pricing is one of the most valuable characters in open end fund. The main function of the forward pricing is when the investor wants to buy or sell the units from the fund, the investor will not know the exact price of the unit until and unless the deal gets done (Cohen, 2012). For example: In the afternoon time at 12 o clock, the fund gets its tag. If the investor wants to buy or sell a unit in the morning. And placed an order for the unit from the fund. The investor will not have any idea about the buying price or the selling price of the unit. The main aim of the forward pricing is to dispirit the trading which is short term in open ended fund. 3. i) Impact of share repurchase on market capitalisation: In share repurchasing, the company ignores the taxation part of the company. But it will make an effect on the cash dividend of the shareholder. The company is distributing the cash to its shareholders. This shows that the company is really thinking about the shareholders wealth. Some share holders do not want sell the shares of the company, because they think the market price of the share will increase (Kari, Karikallio and PirttilaÃÅ'ˆ, 2009). Sometimes they repurchase the shares of the same company. The share holders think that the company will give high dividend value to the share holders. This situation will make the share holders to increase the ownership of the company in a greater fraction (Xu, Yasinzai and Lev, 2013). Theoretically, repurchasing the share of the same company will not change the market price of that particular share in the market. The problem faced by the share holders are the market price of the shares gets reduced by the amount value given as the cash dividend to the share holders. The main reason of this prospectus is the company concentrates on the rights of the company but simultaneously, the value of the company gets reduced by the equal amount of cash spent in shares buy back (Idowu et al., 2013). According to taxation rule, the buy back shares of the company treats the profit of the company as the capital gains. When the share holders get the dividend from the company, the share holders need to pay tax to the government. This is because the amount of dividend earned by the shareholders is treated as the capital gain for the shareholders which are fully taxable. When the company earns profit, company thinks about the share holders wealth and gives dividend to the share holders of the company. Sometimes, the company refused to give the dividend amount to their shareholders because the company wants to spend the profit by giving dividend to the share holders of the company (Lease, 2000). Another alternative impact of repurchasing the shares of the same company is to reinvest the earnings in the companys project which will help the company to grow rapidly in the market and can earn more amounts of dividends from the company, as the company will earn more profit (Xu, Yasinzai and Lev, 2013). ii) The impact of dividend payment on market capitalisation: Dividend policy of a company means the total amount of dividend paid by the company and the amount of profit earned by the company retained in the company to invest in a new project. The dividend policy is associated to dividing the profits earned by the company between the share holders of the company and the amount of profit retained in by the company for investing in a new project (Poterba, 2004). Many corporate analysts studied that the impact of companys dividend is recorded on the risk factor of the company. They made many research on this risk factor and found that the companys size, firms leverage and companys dividend policy have major relationships of companys risk factor. The corporate analyst studied that the company which have higher beta values are related to lower dividend payments among the share holders (Santoro and Wei, 2008). This shows a negative union between the dividend policy of a company and the risk factor of the company. This means the company who have more beta value has high financing cost, so the company is like to follow low dividend policy among the share holders of the company. Another union of corporate analysts studied the relationships between the dividend payment to the share holders and the volatility of the market price of the share. When the market price of the company is highly volatile in the market, the company should not take the risk to pay out the dividend to the share holders of the company (Xu, Yasinzai and Lev, 2013). If the company still spent the profit among the share holders of the company, then the company is thinking about the share holders wealth and secondly, the company wants to attract more share holders towards the company so that the share holder will invest more in buying the shares of the company due to the dividend policy. This will make the fund of the company more efficient and can invest more amounts of money in new projects of the company to earn more profit from the projects. When a firm reduces the amount of cash by paying out the money as dividend paid by the company to the share holders, then the companys value of the equity fall by the identical amount of dividend paid by the company to its share holders (Appendix). Appendix: For example: Newco has 20,000 shares outstanding and total income is $ 100,000. The market price of share is $ 40. How does it effect on 1 % stock repurchase. Price per Earnings ratio of Newco = $100,000 / 20,000 = $ 5 per share P/E ratio = $ 40 / $ 5 = 8x With 1 % stock repurchase, Newcos shares outstanding are reduced to 19,800 shares (20,000 * (1-0.1)) Newcos EPS = $ 100,000 / 19800 = $ 5.26 References: Casey, K. (2009). Dividends. [Bradford, England]: Emerald. Libby, R., Libby, P. and Short, D. (2011). Financial accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Tuller, L. (2008). The small business valuation book. Avon, MA: Adams Business. Agrawal, R. (2009). Risk management. Jaipur, India: ABD Publishers. Crouhy, M., Galai, D. and Mark, R. (2000). Risk management. New York: McGraw Hill. Holmes, A. (2002). Risk management. Oxford, U.K.: Capstone Pub. .Jordao, B. and Sousa, E. (2010). Risk management. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Krause, A. (2006). Risk management. Bradford, England: Emerald Group Pub. Bell, L. and Jenkinson, T. (2001). New evidence of the impact of dividend taxation and on the identity of the marginal investor. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Cohen, M. (2012). The eclipse of 'elegant economy'. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Pub. Gleditsch, N. (1996). The peace dividend. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Idowu, S., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. and Das Gupta, A. (2013). Encyclopedia of corporate social responsibility. Berlin: Springer. Jordao, B. and Sousa, E. (2010). Risk management. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Kari, S., Karikallio, H. and Pirttila, J. (2009). The impact of dividend taxation on dividends and investment. Munich: CESifo. Lease, R. (2000). Dividend policy. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. Poterba, J. (2004). The impact of population aging on financial markets. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research.

Capital Budgeting Of New Heritage Doll Company †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Capital Budgeting Of New Heritage Doll Company. Answer: Synopsis: The report is about New Heritage Doll Company which started its operations in the year 1985. The company has three segments i.e. retailing, production and licensing. Among the three the production segment is the most asset rich of all. The sale composition of the company comprised of 75% sales to the retailing segment of the company and the rest 25% came from manufacturing private label goods. Currently the Vice President of the company Emily Harris has been faced with the challenge of evaluating two proposals i.e. Match my Doll Clothing Line Expansion and Design your Own Doll[1]. In order to ascertain which proposal has to be selected Emily has to present her choice coupled with detailed analysis of the reasons for not choosing the other one. This would require assessment of both financial and non-financial aspects of the projects future performance and profitability. Symptoms: Every project proposal shows some kind of symptoms of failure or problems. These symptoms prove to be the nerves of the future performance appraisal of the project. Careful study of these symptoms can help Emily decide the project that has to put forward for acceptance. The symptoms showed by the two proposals ae as follows: Match my Doll: The brand manager Marcy McAdams is hurrying into the implementation and execution of the project. The project also requires huge amount of marketing and RD outlay which suggests that the project has inherent risk of unacceptance in case it is executed without proper research and development and intensive marketing. Design Your Own Doll: In this proposal the symptoms showed include complete change in the technological outlay of the organisation, webhosting capacity and immense modification will be needed in respect of third party service agreements entered into by the company. Root Cause The root cause behind the symptoms help in realisation of the challenges in the implementation of the proposed project from the point of view of the profitability and various other factors. The root causes of the problems of the proposals are as follows: Match my Doll: In this case the implementation has to happen very quickly because of the changing trends in the tastes and preferences of the children. The immense marketing has to be undertaken in order to stay ahead of the competitors as this is easier proposal from the point of execution as it doesnt require heavy capital expenditure in terms of new machinery or technology etc[2]. The company is not fully unaware about the execution of the proposal as it has already been executed in a smaller previously by the company. Design my Doll: The reason for the complete change in the technological outlay is because the changes made by the customer as per his desires to the doll are dependent upon how well the software is designed. The webhosting capacity has to be increased as it must be accessible to every customer whenever they want. A large number of customers may log in at the same time which might cause technical problems in the future. This is one of the major and basic requirements of the proposal. This can prove to be a major deterrent in terms of the flexibility of the organisation in response to the changes taking place in the technological field. Quantitative Analysis: From the quantitative analysis conducted it is seen that the net present value of the Match my doll proposal is way higher than that of the Design my doll. This objectively suggests the choice to be made in terms of the profitability of the business. The management should proceed with the first proposal[3]. While conducting the quantitative analysis due consideration has been given on the various factors like the working capital requirement of the proposal, the capital expenditure of the project and the projected operating profits from the project in the future. The calculation of NPV, IRR, Payback period and profitability are provided in the Appendix. The decision for the best investment project have been made after factoring in all the relevant calculations. Based on the calculations it can be said that the Match My Doll proposal is the best available option for the company. Qualitative Analysis: In order to conduct the qualitative analysis the requirements of both the proposals must be understood objectively. The first proposal requires huge marketing for its success. But, it must be kept in mind that one of the variant of the design my doll is already time tested in the past when it consisted of the some accessories for the warm weather. This shows that the project despite not much requirement for changing the operational structure of the organisation can prove to be successful. On the other hand design my doll requires complete change of the operational structure of the organisation especially in the field of technology used by it[4]. The fixed cost per unit of the products thus produced by the entity will rise along with the complexity of the manufacturing process. The proposal not only requires the company to change its way of operation but also requires it to take the risk of losing its loyal old customers and in addition to that it will be compelled to charge higher pr ice from its customers. Recommendation It is recommended that the first proposal is accepted due to profitability as well as organisational reasons. The second proposal cannot be selected because its net present value of inflows is significantly lower than the first proposal and also it demands immense amount of organisational change both in the field of capital expenditure and the technological requirement. References Almazan, Andres, Zhaohui Chen, and Sheridan Titman. "Firm Investment and Stakeholder Choices: A Top?Down Theory of Capital Budgeting."The Journal of Finance(2017). Burns, Richard, and Joe Walker. "Capital budgeting surveys: the future is now." (2015). Chittenden, Francis, and Mohsen Derregia. "Uncertainty, irreversibility and the use of rules of thumbin capital budgeting."The BritishAccounting Review47, no. 3 (2015): 225-236. Johnson, Nicole Bastian, and Thomas Pfeiffer. "Capital budgeting and divisional performance measurement."Foundations and Trends inAccounting 10, no. 1 (2016): 1-100.