Essay on Working in Groups and Social Loafing - 1810 Words

Social loafing is the effect that people will exert less effort if they are working in a collective environment. Working in groups is an integral part of everyday life because it happens in almost every context whether it is sports teams, organizational groups, project groups and even juries. Therefore it is important to understand the underlying factors that influence this construct. The current research composed of 20 participants, investigated the social loafing effect of two working conditions: Coactive and Collective. It was hypothesized that collective groups would have significantly lower scores than coactive and the results supported this prediction strongly as there was a significant difference between the groups. These results†¦show more content†¦Therefore it is important to understand the factors that motivate or demotivate individuals in those contexts in order to improve the collective outcomes that could generally be critiqued as unreliable or invalid due to t he social loafing effect. Previous studies have indicated that the type of cognitive task performed mediates the effect social loafing. For example in challenging tasks that involved brainstorming or generating an ideas, the work teams had an opportunity to contribute their own unique ideas that made it more likely that they suffered consequences of social loafing (Robbins, 1995). Personal involvement has been said to mediate the effects of social loafing. This is a situation where the subjects have intrinsic value or personal meaning that play an important role in the participants lives (Brickner et al., 1986) As a result, high-involvement subjects produced more favourable thoughts whereas low-involvement did not. Weldon and Gargano (1988) suggested that anonymity is associated with group performance. Basically, the larger the group the more difficult it is to monitor individual performance thus individual efforts are unknown and they are free to loaf without fear of social judgme nt (Weldon Gargano, 1988). Therefore it is consistent to say that although social loafing is expected to occur in most collective tasks, this can be decreased or even eliminated if the group performance is being compared to otherShow MoreRelatedSocial Loafing and Recommendations on How to Reduce Its Occurrence within Groups Working on University Poster Presentations1286 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Loafing and Recommendations on How to Reduce Its Occurrence within Groups Working on University Poster Presentations Abstract Social loafing occurs in groups and reduces group effectiveness and productivity. Various literatures on social loafing reviewed suggest that the group size, the identifiably of the participants, the evaluation of their performance, people’s beliefs about their feelings of uniqueness, envy, task difficulty, how people’s beliefs about their Read MoreSocial Loafing Essay1313 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Loafing A major component of Social Psychological research is based on social loafing. Social loafing can result in diverse possibilities and also not only affects the individual who is conducting the social phenomenon but also group members are subjected to exposure. Discussion regarding the reasons of social loafing as an occurrence will be based primarily on evidence from literature regarding the specific component, envy. Possibilities of outcomes range fromRead MoreThe Term Social Loafing 1543 Words   |  7 Pagesconied the term ‘social loafing’ to describe the idea that people tend to put in less effort when working in groups than when working alone, be it in sports or in academic settings. Now shirking is a term to describe group member who slacks off or avoids working all together based on the fact that he has been put in a group, this essay will try to answer the questions, should shirkers be reported to instructors, and is the group ethically bound to tell the shirker? Is social loafing always shirkingRead MoreSocial Loafing Essay examples1411 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Social Loafing? Social Loafing is something everyone has experienced. Most likely if you do not like group work this is one of the main reasons why. â€Å"Social loading describes the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group. Because all members of the group are pooling their effort to achieve a common goal each member of the group contributes less than they would if they were individually responsible† (Cherry). This challenges the common belief that groupRead MoreAlleviating The Laidback Behavior Of A Loafer761 Words   |  4 Pagesthe laidback behavior of a loafer in a group setting is crucial for shared responsibilities and tasks completion in the group. Also, lack of effort from a group member like Brian can be frustrating and can elicit the sucker effect among partners of a social loafer (Simms Nichols, 2014). Various social loafing studies have examined the antecedents and preventions of social loafing with variables such as the effect of persona l effort, motivation, the group size and expectations (Simms Nichols,Read MoreTaking a Look at Social Loafing1178 Words   |  5 Pagesindependently and where the individuals performance cannot be acknowledged as excellent and important are called as social loafing (Joseph Timothy 2012). Social loafing is the characteristic of individuals in a part of their academic life. It may be seen as a failure to willingly satisfy the duties and commitments to others because of the perception of reduced social pressure. Yet, social loafer or free-rider without exerting effort in a team will gain benefits from the work of others as the outcomeRead MoreThe Nature Of Human Behavior1319 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals always work harder in a group than on their own. Since, while it is undeniable that, by nature, we are social rather than solitary animals and that working in groups has had many advantages to the evolution of our species by allowing us to, for example, increase our safety in th e presence of danger, working in a group does not always guarantee that an individual will be more productive than if they were simply working on their lonesome, or that group work in general is always beneficialRead MoreDealing With Performers and Non-Performers and Performance Management720 Words   |  3 Pageshow persons are likely to perform in groups or teams. According to the theory of social loafing, it is far easier to conceal ones laziness in a group setting than in a setting where ones individual output is being measured. A good example of this is in a game of tug-o-war. When two people are engaged in the match, it is obvious who is the stronger person will be based upon the visible winner, so both people are likely to try very hard to win to avoid social embarrassment. But when there are a largeRead MoreSocial Loafing And Conformity Within Teams746 Words   |  3 Pages Working with other individuals in a group or a team comes very naturally to most people. In Genesis 1:26 God said, â€Å"†¦Let us make mankind in our image and our likeness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  We were created to be relational people as a reflection of the relationship God has within the trinity, as well as the relationship He desires with each and every one of us. According to Fischer, there are many benefits from working together. These benefits include, but are not limited to, having more voices or perspectivesRead MoreThe fundamental attribution The fundamental attribution error plays a main part in our everyday700 Words   |  3 Pagesdoing something’.† Social Loafing The mutual problem, when working in a group, is social loafing. â€Å"Social loafing is the inclination for individuals to apply not as much of effort when working together than when working independently. â€Å"The best way to dismay social loafers is bound the group size, holding each responsible for their part, and setting group aims. One of the popular stereotypes about assemblies is that a team work intimates individual energy and increases the groups’ capability to achieve

The Future Of Project Management - 1659 Words

The Future of Project Management Ninderjit Kaur MGMT 391 Embry-riddle Aeronautical University The future of project management Project management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, and controlling a project to achieve the specific set objectives. The business world of today is speedily increasing and changing. Projects drive business in industries like banking, software development, telecommunication, construction, engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and information technology. Thus to get a quality product as well as maximum profit, a project ought to be well planned and executed (Cleland Ireland, 2006). Most projects have a tight schedule, diminishing resources, tight budget, and time constraint. Therefore, most businesses have understood the need to communicate as well as coordinate work in departments and professions, thus they are practicing project management. For this, project management as a discipline has to adjust to these changes to meet the ever-changing business world. This research paper will discuss the future of project management as a discipline. Project management as a discipline was developed from various fields of application such as defence, construction, and engineering. In the United States of America, Henry Gantt is the project management forefather, called the planning and control techniques father. He is known for his Gantt chart use as a tool of project management. The 1950s marked the start of modernShow MoreRelatedMy Future Career : Project Management782 Words   |  4 PagesMy Future Career in Project Management Project management takes the form of many job positions and roles within a job force. Project management to some, means a person who manages a project. This is a very broad title. Project managers can manage a project that covers a new program release, an implementation of a new method, or the creation of a physical product for a customer. For me, project management is taking a task from start to finish, with the goals of the customer in mind. Three roles thatRead MoreProject Management and Innovation Past and Future4513 Words   |  19 PagesProject Management and Innovation: Past and Future Nikunj M. Prajapati Sardar Patel Institute of Technology Gujarat Technological University, Gujarat, India nmprajapati@spitcp.ac.in ABSTRACT Originally developed a way back, in the mid-20th century, project management has become a distinctive way to manage business activities nowadays. Another important development is almost virtually universal recognition of the role of innovation and technology in the corporate change, growth and profitabilityRead MoreProject Management Recommendation For Company s Future Growth1450 Words   |  6 Pages Project Management Recommendation Your name OPS/571 Aug 19, 2013 Faculty Project Management Recommendation Dear Mr. Gritsch, Thank you very much for your confidence in our expertise and competency to analyze newly proposed project for company’s future growth to capture more market share in our specialties. As mentioned in your email note, â€Å"the first project Juniper is an enhancement of a current widget being offered by the company, the second project Palomino is a new line of widget productsRead MoreProject Management : The Accumulated Benefits For My Future Career Essay2011 Words   |  9 Pagesprogram of Mater Science in Project management, the accumulated benefits for my future career, and some valuable advices regarding the personal experience for students who are preparing for enrolling in this program. Career advancement â€Å"Project management is a growing filed used increasingly by businesses of all sizes† (Harbour). In other words, project management occupies a significant position during the development of the company. Without well designed and planned management, any entrepreneurs andRead MoreEssay on Important Factors for Project Success582 Words   |  3 Pages People in top management positions, is a key stakeholders in projects success. Top management can help project managers secure adequate resources, get approval for unique project needs in a timely manner, receive cooperation from people throughout the organization, and learn how to be better leaders. The reason why project success come from the project managers, but there are other important factor that make the project success such as takes careful planning, attention to detail and effective communicationRead More Use of Project Management Software in Business Essay1222 Words   |  5 PagesUse of Project Management Software in Business Project Management is using the concepts of information technology in businesses to meet the requirements of a particular project. It depends on the process it needs to take to implement a project. The application of knowledge, skills, and tools and techniques is needed (http://www.asp.org/infoglossary/p). There are 3 main phases of project management, they are planning, scheduling and controlling. How the process is implemented is through differentRead MoreProject Management Tools And Techniques1203 Words   |  5 Pages Project Management Tools and Techniques Stephanie Czechowicz MSc Project Managment Anglia Ruskin University 05/01/2016 Project Management Tools and Techniques A number of techniques are used by the project managers for the success of a project. Any activity or a task that needs some preparation for achieving goals can be done better by the use of methods of project management (chapman, 2002). These methods can help the managers in planning and management of different sort of tasks, especiallyRead MoreManagerial Accounting, Applied to Successful Project Accounting Practices1215 Words   |  5 PagesAccounting, Applied to Successful Project Management Accounting Practices 1.1 Introduction to Managerial Accounting in Project Work Environments This paper provides research and pertinent Managerial Accounting strategies that support the overall financial goals of project management professionals within the context of project management work environments. Many industries rely on project management as an important part of a successful business strategy. Project managers are under extreme pressureRead MoreEssay on Construction Project Management and Business Management925 Words   |  4 PagesConstruction Project Management and Business Management Over the past few years, the construction industry has been changing dramatically. One of the most important stages in the construction management and business management is the planning phase. They share similar two main levels of planning which are the strategic and operational planning. However, business management planning to decide in advance what should be done, and how to do it, when you do and you are done. On the other hand, ConstructionRead MoreAn Evaluation Of Capital Budgeting1137 Words   |  5 Pagesbudgeting will give a concise view of the process management takes to determine the return on a potential investment. After analyzing this concept, the following methods used in making capital budgeting decisions will be discussed: internal rate of return, net present value, and payback period. For each of these three methods, an explanation of the strengths and weaknesses, how they are used, and decisions rules will be given. Capital Budgeting When management of a company is deciding on developing a new

Short Biography on Bill Gates free essay sample

William Henry Bill Gates III (born October 28, 1955)[4] is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. He is consistently ranked among the worlds wealthiest people[5] and was the wealthiest overall from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third. [6] During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder, with 6. 4 percent of the common stock. 7] He has also authored or co-authored several books. Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. Gates has been criticized for his business tactics, which have been considered anti-competitive, an opinion which has in some cases been upheld by the courts. [8][9] In the later stages of his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of mone y to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000. We will write a custom essay sample on Short Biography on Bill Gates or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect. In June 2006, Gates announced that he would be transitioning from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work, and full-time work at the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation. He gradually transferred his duties to Ray Ozzie, chief software architect, and Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer. Gates last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008. He remains at Microsoft as non-executive chairman.

Thoreaus Life without Principle Summary and Analysis

Introduction: the Main Themes of Life without Principle Life without Principle is one of the most remarkable short works by an American author and critic Henry David Thoreau. The essay was published in 1863, 15 years after the famous Civil Disobedience. In summary, Life without Principle and other Thoreau’s books influenced many people of different ages and social statuses. Political leaders found his works educative and used quotes from Life without Principle in their practice. Ordinary people, in their turn, found the message of the text very personal and compelling. That is why it was not a surprise that Thoreau’s essay was recognized as a work that offered a program to be taken by every righteous person. One can not reduce the summary of Life without Principle to one topic. It is rather a list of themes and thoughts illustrated by real-life examples. Through the latter, the character and personal experience of the writer are revealed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Thoreau’s Life without Principle: Summary and Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though it is hard to define one concrete thesis of Henry David Thoreau’s Life without Principle, the point that this thesis somehow connected to money and its power in the world is evident. â€Å"This world is a place of business† (Thoreau 4) is one of the leading phrases in Life without Principle that depicts a true nature of H.D.Thoreau’s ideas and attempts; this message of Life without Principle is considered to be the central fact that is proved throughout the whole text by means of examples, which fulfill our everyday life. In this essay, I make an analysis of Life without Principle. Main Message of Life without Principle Thoreau is the author who does not want to stop on one message and develop it during the whole paper. That is why what he chooses for his Life without Principles is compelli ng and captivating. He presents one major theme of Life without Principle, defining the world as the place of business and tries to prove the chosen position by a variety of examples. He argues about the values and goals of people, who are eager to develop commerce and support the ideas of globalization without taking into consideration the fact that people themselves become victims of personal desires. He raises one of the most provocative analyzation questions that influence our lives considerably and tries to conclude whether all those costs, both financial and spiritual, are worthy of the profits. The purpose of the essay is to show its reader the way of how money rules this world. From the very beginning, the author correctly defines his positions with respect to the reader and admits that he does not want to â€Å"talk about people a thousand miles off, but come as near home† as possible (Thoreau 2). Such concretization makes the reader believe that his purposes are pur e and definite. He writes to help, open the reader’s eyes, and show how wrong or useless human attempts can be. This is the major theme of Life without Principle. His purpose is to characterize the way how materialism and commercialism enslave American society, to show how the Good Life should look like, and to teach the reader to analyze personal attitude to lives, where money and prosperity may lose their powers and impact on people. He wants to show how elusive human demands can be, admitting that â€Å"the ways by which you may get the money almost without exception lead downward† (Henry David Thoreau, Life without Principle, 8). The target audience of the essay cannot be framed. One of the most peculiar features of Life without Principle is that there is no concretization concerning who is intended to be the reader of this essay.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn M ore It may be an unfortunate debtor who â€Å"goes to church to take account of stock† or men, who are â€Å"so well employed,† or a â€Å"gold-digger† with his passion for gambling, etc. (Thoreau 13, 10, 19). In other words, this essay may become somewhat helpful for those who somehow deal with money, and these are all people in the world. The author admits that people become dependent on money unintentionally. The writer â€Å"cannot easily buy a blank-book to write thoughts in† because everything is â€Å"ruled for dollars and cents† (Henry David Thoreau 4). Maybe, it is safe and more effective not to define the target audience at once and provide every reader with a chance to discover whether this source is exciting and helpful for him/her. The uniqueness of this essay is the author’s impartiality to the reader and unbelievable focus on the topic. The purpose of the essay is achieved through a close connection to the reader’s de mands. After reading this essay, a powerful desire to re-evaluate personal life and place in this world appears. In my opinion, this is the desired effect expected from the paper. When the reader accepts the author’s point of view and finds that these ideas are appropriate for this life, the primary purpose of any essay is achieved. In Life without Principle, Thoreau’s goal is to show how considerable and influential the power of money can be, and how people limit their opportunities. One debtor may read this essay and comprehends that his troubles and his challenges mean nothing in comparison to his spiritual life and his attitude to life. This is why it is possible to say that the author’s choice to use real-life examples and personal experience in this work is wholly justified. Even more, it becomes an effective means to achieve the essential purpose and convict the reader. The effectiveness of the essay lies deep into the author’s demands. I genuinely believe that one of the first steps that need to be taken by any author is to believe in personal ideas and thoughts. The chosen argument is perfectly argued because the author uses as many different things as possible to show when his ideas are likely to rely upon. He not only teaches the reader but also explains why these lessons are essential. His powerful examples that are so close to our everyday routines cannot but impress the reader. â€Å"If a man walk in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer, but if he spends his whole day as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making earth bald before her time, he is esteemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.† (Thoreau 6). This citation would probably be the best summary of Life without Principle.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Thoreau’s Life without Principle: Summary and Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pag e Learn More Thoreau’s Life without Principle: Conclusion This paper aimed to make an analysis of Life without Principle by Henry David Thoreau. This is one of the great writings offered by the author. The essay reviews the main idea of Life without Principle. Quotes and excerpts from the text are used as illustrations.The messages of the work by Thoreau are touching and educative, helpful and frustrating, amazing, and sometimes evident. Due to such doubtful nature, many readers can find the book interesting under their demands. Everyone knows that he/she lives in a world that is too dependable on money because each citizen is a voluntary participant in this pursuit for profit. The effectiveness of the essay under discussion lies in its connection to everyday problems and human desires: people want to become smart and prudent in their activities, but their attention and passion make them so blind and stupid, and, what is more frustrating, dependent on their pro duct, money. Works Cited Thoreau, Henry, D. Life without Principle. 2010. Web. This essay on Thoreau’s Life without Principle was written and submitted by user Johanna Raymond to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Essay Example

The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Paper The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a dramatic tale of a great king brought down by â€Å"fate† and the destiny of the gods. It is a story of strife over events that were out of one’s control but mainly handled in a way that only caused further destruction and heartache. There are many universal lessons to be learned by Oedipus and his tragic story; lessons that every man today could benefit from, such as the downfalls of arrogance and selfishness, the grave mistakes in being judgmental and sanctimonious, and the repercussions of being quick to act without sufficient knowledge. Now, I am here. I will begin the search again, I will reveal the truth, expose everything, let it all be seen† (160-163). This line spoken by Oedipus toward the start of the play clearly demonstrates his tendencies toward arrogance and insolence. He boasts of his abilities above others previous and states how he will come to find the truth when they could not. He g oes on to reveal that he is doing so mostly for selfish reasons. â€Å"Justice and vengeance are what I want. [†¦] Family, friends—I won’t rid myself of this stain, this disease, for them—they’re far from here. I’ll do it for myself, for me† (165, 167-169). Oedipus allows his selfish ego to get in the way of him here. The people are in need of help and he claims to be the only one who can provide it. He takes matters into his own hands and decides that for his own glory he is going to discover the secrets of the past and lives before his arrival in Thebes. He then reveals that he is doing so mostly for his own benefit. I think he proves himself haughty in his claims to be able to uncover the truth and such actions and attitude prove to be met with unpleasant ends. We will write a custom essay sample on The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After Oedipus makes these bold claims that he and he alone can uncover the culprit he seeks, he compiles his mistakes by being smug and quick to judge. He proclaims his unquestionable innocence and quickly denounces whosoever is the guilty party. â€Å"I know nothing about the murder, I was alone, how could I have tracked the killer, without a clue, I came to Thebes after the crime was done. [†¦] these words come from and innocent man. One of you knows who killed Laios (294-296, 298-299). After quickly announcing his own innocence, Oedipus goes on to condemn the guilty. My power is absolute in Thebes, my rule reaches everywhere, my words will drive the guilty man, the man who knows, out of this city, away from Thebes, forever. [†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦] Drive him from your homes. Let him have no home, nothing. No words, no food, shelter, warmth of hand, shared worship. Let him have nothing. Drive him out, let him die. He is our disease. [†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ] let my hatred burn out his life, hatred, always. Make him an ember of suffering. Make all his happiness ashes (313-315, 324-327, and 335-338). Oedipus publicly makes these statements, arrogantly exiling the culprit, all the while ignorantly condemning himself. Once he states his ability to be the only savior of Thebes and promises to weed out the â€Å"disease† of the city, Oedipus wraps himself too far up in his own boastful quest that he cannot even see when other are trying to turn him off his path of self destruction. Teiresias warns Oedipus that his pursuance of the past will only bring him sorrow but he ignores these warnings, forcing Teiresias to speak. â€Å"Stubborn old fool, you’d make a rock angry! Tell me what you know! Say it! † (449-450). Jocasta, his wife, even begs Oedipus to leave these pursuits once she learns the travesty of the truth and Oedipus ignores her as well. JOCASTA. Oedipus, you must stop. I beg you—stop! OEDIPUS. Nothing can stop me now. I must know everything. Everything! JOCASTA. I implore you, Oedipus. For your own good. OEDIPUS. Damn my own good! (1329-1334) Oedipus does exactly that. He damns his own good by being overtaken by his selfish arrogance, self-righteous judgment, and his quick action in ignorance. Oedipus turns out to be the murderer he seeks. He unknowingly is the â€Å"disease† he speaks of expelling from the city. All of these events come together to reinforce age-old life lessons. One should never bask in his own abilities and be boastful of his capabilities, but rather be humble and hardworking towards any success. One should not be quick to judge others when they are ignorant of the facts. This also reflects the saying, â€Å"people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. † Oedipus was unknowingly living in a giant glass house that inevitably came crashing down on him. He mocked the blind Teiresias, just to end up blind himself in the end. He slandered his own name by slandering that of a culprit he sought out. He condemned his own life by condemning another. He didn’t heed the advice of others but instead pushed on his own selfish path to what unknowingly led to his demise. The lessons of Oedipus are truly universal. What one wishes to receive, one should give. People should act with compassion and understanding and be sure to have all the facts before making judgments. Selfishness will only lead to loneliness and despair. In the end, though Oedipus’ tale is more dramatic than most modern day situations, one could end up exactly the same as he if they do not heed these lessons. Nothing, nothing is left of me now—no city with its high walls, no shining statues of the gods. I stripped all these things from myself—I, Oedipus, fallen lower than any man now, born nobler than the best. Born the king of Thebes! Cursed with my own curses, I commanded Thebes to drive out a killer. I banished the royal son of Laios, the man the gods revealed is stained with the awful stain. The secret stain that I myself revealed is my stain. And now, revealed at last, how could I ever look men in the eyes? Never. Never.

Five Longest Mountain Ranges in Europe

Five Longest Mountain Ranges in Europe Europe is one of the smallest continents but you wouldnt know it from the size of some of its mountain ranges. The mountains of Europe have been home to some of the most daring feats in history, used by explorers and warlords alike. The ability to safely  navigate these mountain ranges helped shape the world we know today through trade routes and military achievements. While today these mountain  ranges are mostly used for skiing and marveling at their wondrous views, their history is no less important.  Ã‚   Five Longest Mountain Ranges in Europe Scandinavian Mountains - 1762 kilometers (1095 miles) Also known as the Scandes, this mountain range stretches through the Scandinavian Peninsula. They are the longest mountain range in Europe. The mountains arent considered  very high but theyre known for their steepness. The western side drops into the North and Norwegian sea. Its northern location makes it prone to ice fields and glaciers.   Carpathian Mountains - 1500 kilometers (900 miles) The Carpathians stretch across Eastern and Central Europe. Theyre the second-longest mountain range in the region. The mountain range can be divided into three major sections, the Eastern Carpathians, Western Carpathians, and the Southern Carpathians. The second largest virgin forest in Europe is located in these mountains. They are also home to a large population of brown bears, wolves, chamois, and lynx. Hikers can find many mineral and thermal springs in the foothills.   Alps - 1200 kilometers (750 miles) The Alps are probably the most famous mountain range in Europe. This range of mountains stretches across eight countries. Hannibal once famously rode Elephants across them but today the mountain  range is more home to skiers than pachyderms. The Romantic poets would be enamored with the ethereal beauty of these mountains, making them the backdrop for many novels and poems. Farming and forestry are large parts of these mountains economies along with tourism. The Alps remain one of the worlds top  travel destinations, with good reason.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Caucasus Mountains - 1100 kilometers (683 miles) This mountain range is notable not only for its length but also for being the dividing line between Europe and Asia.  This mountain range was an important part of the historical trade route known as the Silk Road. This was the road which connected the ancient Eastern and Western world. It was in use as early as 207 B.C., carrying silk, horses and other goods to trade between continents.   Apennine Mountains - 1000 kilometers (620 miles) The Apennine mountain range stretches the length of the Italian Penninsula. In 2000, the Environment Ministry of Italy suggested extending the range to include the mountains of Northern Sicily. This addition would make the range 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) long. It has one of the most intact ecosystems in the country. These mountains are one of the last natural refuges of the largest European predators like the Italian wolf and Marsican brown bear, which have gone extinct in other regions.

First Meditation by Rene Descartes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

First Meditation by Rene Descartes - Essay Example Descartes begins ‘First Meditation’ or ‘On what can be called into Doubt’ by introducing his first proposition that everything he knows, i.e. everything that we know, must be put to the test as they may not exactly be what is real. This is suggesting that the very foundation on which he based everything that he knows must be shattered to truly come up with a conclusion on matters of self-assessment verifiable accuracy. Thus he begins, â€Å"Some years ago I was struck by how many false things I had believed, and by how doubtful was the structure of beliefs that I had based on them† (p. 1). From here he traversed a self-contemplation that was unforgiving in looking at the most minute details to see the logical sequencing on how his perceptions came to be. It suggests going back to the beginning and doing away with all of his opinions to look at the core of his philosophy. Descartes professed that everything is false with clear and ardent belief that th ey are so. He provides that some reason, not altogether significant reason but only an inkling, to tilt the scales over to doubt is an unmistakable occasion for doubt. The foundations are the key in being able to comprehend whether or not there is room for doubt as going at each opinion one by one to look for fallacy would be tedious and next to impossible. When this central aspect is magnified then its analysis becomes possible. The vital attribute of the ‘First Meditation’ is the conversation-like format that is meant to be an almost question and answer type of reading between ‘Hopeful’ and ‘Doubtful.’ The first proposition is a direct interpretation of Aristotelian philosophy on the importance of the senses in our accumulation of knowledge and beliefs. The ‘Hopeful’ dialogue supposes that facts that are perceived by the senses cannot be denied such as the simple position of sitting, the bedtime clothing, the warmth of a fireplac e and the act of gripping a paper. To sustain doubt over such factors such as being in one’s body would be analogous to being mad.