Doctors’ Arguments Free Essays

This paper seeks to examine several arguments presented by three doctors concerning the presence of mental states in a non-human brain and posit the writer’s own reasoning and conclusion. The three arguments will be presented along with the writer’s commentary on each. After careful examination of the arguments and reading various sources, the writer has come to a conclusion that non-human brains are capable of mental states albeit extremely limited ones. We will write a custom essay sample on Doctors’ Arguments or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the matter of mental states, it would be useful for the writer of this essay to first define the mental state. For purposes of this essay, a mental state will include conditions or processes that are performed exclusively by thinking and feeling organisms. Therefore, in examination of the arguments, the capacities of thinking and feeling are key to the presence of mental states. It is imperative that the brain in examination should be able to induce emotion and thought. It must be noted that the patient in question could be the writer herself. The first doctor posits that the patient in question is not capable of thinking and feeling, because of the absence of the soul. Thus it is established that the patient in question does not have a soul and is not perhaps human. Personally, the writer finds it even more difficult to explain the concept of the soul than that of mental states. Mental states may be recognized and even documented, however, in the field of evidence, souls have not been documented or recognized. Perhaps the doctor in this argument would equate the soul to the mind, an entity which is hidden and whose inner workings in the capacity of the human body are mysterious and unexplainable but are thought to function fundamentally for human existence. In Gilbert Ryle’s examination of Descartes’ position on the matter (1949), the separation of mind and body are presented to give way for the understanding of mental states in a separate fashion. However, Ryle mentions the difficulty in examining the mind because of the mystery of its powers and processes (Ryle, 1949). If we were to follow Ryle’s work, the mind presents a consciousness or entity separate from physical space and intangible to the senses. The processes which it undertakes are not witnessed at all and it is sometimes even perceived that these processes may not exist. The fact that these processes cannot be monitored give venue to its questionability. For the writer, explaining the presence of mental states through the soul which can be similar to the mind is insufficient because of the difficulty in verification. Also, Ryle explains the difficulty in seeking to explain the causality of the mind’s processes (Ryle, 1949). If such a mysterious and invisible entity exists, how can it directly cause so many actions? Also, the congruence of such actions is questionable, such as how a will can cause a perception to scratch his nose (Ryle, 1949)? The second doctor’s argument posits that only organic brains alike to those of humans are possible of having mental states. It is thus established that the patient in question (who is most probably the writer) does not have an organic brain and the brain itself is not akin to a human brain. This presumes that the doctor believes in the existence of brains that are inorganic and not human, and explains the difference as well. Inorganic brains are not capable of mental states and processes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What then, are the capacities of an inorganic brain? Searle (1980) posits the ‘strong AI’ or strong artificial intelligence in this case, which is capable of outputting actions and responses similar to that of humans when presented with certain stimuli (Searle, 1980). This strong AI has its own structure or physical materials and to function, it is programmed with a set of rules to follow and guidelines in which the responses of humans are thought to be replicated. Perhaps the doctor thinks that artificial brains that are programmed are not entirely possible of replicating human thought. After all, the set of rules that the AI is governed by dictates its responses and in the end, it will only follow those rules. The doctor may be looking for responses that are unique to humans and that vary greatly. Indeed, even the strongest AI is still governed by only a larger and more intricate set of rules which the human programming it inputted. It would only go as far as the human who created it could consider. The last doctor then rejected the formers’ conclusions and reasoning by virtue of the outputs that the patient presented. The similarity to human actions made the doctor believe that though the patient has an artificial brain, the brain could produce mental states. Bertrand Russel posits the capacity of the mind to react to stimuli in unique ways depending perhaps on the mental state in which the person is in (Russel, 2001). The last doctor may see that the patient reacts in unique ways, and similarly to a human, due to the fact that the patient had lead a normal life up to the moment her brain was examined. After examining all the doctors’ arguments the writer would like to concentrate on the second argument. The most probable form of artificial brain would be that of an AI and its strength determines how much of a mental state it can produce. However, once the program is inputted, the AI can still only perform what the program tells it to, and most probably, be in whatever mental state the program also tells it to. A human brain, on the other hand, can change responses depending on the mental state, which no program induces. It is then that the writer posits that the patient does have mental states, but because of the lack of information from the prompt, the mental states cannot be examined. However, if an artificial brain is in place within the patient’s brain, then the mental states are dictated by the program as well. The writer also says that no matter how numerous the responses are that are programmed into the patient’s artificial brain, these responses can never be changed and can never differ from what they are programmed to do. The AI can perhaps learn but cannot exhibit the changing responses of a human. If the question would be solely based on mental states then the position of this writer would be that the patient is capable of producing and being in mental states, but these are all borne from programming. The validity of the programming is not in question in this essay but only that of the mental states. In going further, these mental states of the artificial brain can only produce set and programmed outputs. True, the patient may indeed feel pain and pleasure, but the responses are set. They may be numerous, but always set. The new factor that would come in when considering the mental states of human brains and that of artificial brains is that of the concept of choice. A human can feel a mental state and choose to respond to it. She may respond in different ways and it would be depending on her choice. An artificial brain on the other hand would need only look to the rules programmed into it and evaluate several factors and produce a response that would follow the said rules. Indeed, the mental states that the patient goes through may even be the programmed response as well, accompanying the outside response as well, to make the patient herself unaware of her own artificial brain. What then of the human brain, is it programmed as well? Could socialization and other life processes have acted as the programmers for our brains? This question would depend on how the human makes her choices. After all, a human can change on her own but an artificial brain can only do what it does again and again. Bibliography Russel, B. (2001). The Argument from Analogy of Other Minds. Retrieved July 10, 2008, from TCU Philosophy Department: http://www.phil.tcu.edu/readings/Russell.doc Ryle, G. (1949). Descartes’ Myth. In G. Ryle, The Concept of Mind. Searle, J. (1980). Minds, Brains and Programs. Behvioral and Brain Sciences Vol. 3 , 417- 457. How to cite Doctors’ Arguments, Papers

Corporate Responsibility and Ethics Sustainability and Public Relatio

Question: Discuss about theCorporate Responsibility and Ethicsfor Sustainability and Public Relations. Answer: Introduction Corporate Responsibility and Ethics means to integrate corporate self-regulation into a business model. It is a self regulatory mechanism so that the business can monitor its activeness to ensure the compliance related to law and ethical standards. It aims at increasing long term profit of the organization, building shareholders trust by maintaining positive relations and high ethical standards with the public to avoid legal risk and business harm. Many consumers believe that business should not only focus on making profit but should also take social implications of the business activities into consideration. It is the obligation of the corporate to maximize positivity and minimize negativity of its business impact on the society. The laws; and rules and regulations that basically encourages corporate to maintain high ethical standard, attitude and values are the basic ethical conduct (Mermod, A and Idowu, S, 2013). It is the duty of the corporate managers to maintain these ethical codes of conduct in an organization. The conflicts and problems that take place in a corporate can be avoided if the managers work accordingly to the ethical values and conduct prescribed by the company. There are good reasons for maintaining ethical values in an organization. Maintaining ethical conduct will ensure higher profits. It will increase the reputation of the business (Rajko, A, 2013). Ethical behaviour will be helpful in enhancing leadership (Woodstock Theological Centre, 1990). When ethical choices are taken, it will minimize the stress of the managers as well as of other employees. The Advantages of Business Ethics Business ethics means to realise the difference between the wrong and right business practices in a corporate (Hill, B, 2016). When the principles of honesty and fairness are applied in a business it will develop the relationship of the workers and employees in a positive way. The advantages are as follows: Build Customer Loyalty Consumers can let a company take a negative advantage of them only once, when they realise that they have been treated in an unfair manner like if the customers are over charged or defective product is offered, they will not become a repetitive customer of the company. (Ferrell, O and Fraedrich, J, 2016). Therefore it is very important for a company to maintain ethical values to build customer loyalty and to attract more customers. Positive Work Environment The employees of the company should be honest and fair since the very beginning, from the interview itself (Stanwick, P and Stanwick, S, 2015). Ethical employees will help in maintaining sustainability in a corporate. Trust factor will be developed between the employees and the employers (Giacalone, R, Jurkiewicz, C and Dunn, C, 2005). Ethical Issues Faced by Shell in Nigeria The multinational Corporations are usually been accused of indulging in conflicts related to human rights and many environmental issues relating to operations, and due to this they have become the targets of many social activists. Shell group of companies normally operates in the region of Nigeria. It is a multinational oil corporation which is generally being accused of irresponsibility in their operations that are seriously injustice, creates unhappiness and pain, and violates the basic human rights and hindrance to promote flourishing lives to the society. Shell is engaged in polluting the environment by producing harmful substances that are detrimental to the health and live. The Government has highlighted the unethical conduct of Shell in Niger Delta that is against the human rights. The parent company of Shell, Royal Dutch Shell is denying its responsibility to control the pollution of its subsidiary. Due to this Shell Nigeria has been challenged by the Dutch Court, for violating the human rights and the non compliance of environment laws (Williams, C, 2009). Shell should ethically start working with the Nigerian Government and other Foreign Government to eliminate the negative impact of its operations which are responsible in causing great environmental damages in Nigeria and other local communities by making excessive release of Carbon dioxide that causes global warming. Role of Government in Business Ethics The Government plays a vital role in encouraging the business to maintain ethical values and standards in their activities. We cannot assume that a corporate can follow the ethical values perfectly without the strict governance of the government (Pompper, D, 2015). The enforcement of various laws and policies concerning corporate social responsibility and ethical code by the government is mandatory to bring sustainability in social values. The Government has the following role: Legislating Role To ensure the compliances of corporate to follow ethical obligations, legislation is necessary so that the public do not suffer because of unethical and dishonest business practices (Breslin, C, 2016). The legislature rules helps in preventing the business practices related to bribery and dishonesty. It was developed that those business which do not have legislature rules imposed by the government tends to engage in more of unethical business practices (Morrison, J, 2015). Supervisory Role In the context of business ethics, Government has plays a supervisory role. When organizations merges or are taken over by another business it results in anti- competitive behaviour, as a result that organization becomes a monopoly in the market thus engaging itself in the act of unethical business practices (Brink, A, 2011). These practices are detrimental to the interest of the general public. To avoid unfair practices in such acquisition and merger, Government tends to play a supervisory role. Incentivizing Role The government has introduced the system of providing incentives to those corporate who complies with the ethical code prescribed by the government (Sullivan, P, Smith, M and Esposito, M, 2012). The companies having environmentally friendly practices are often awarded because of its effective environmental policies concerning ethical standards. Those companies that are wasting energy and cannot maintain proper waste disposal system are not entitled for such incentives (Fleming, P, Jones, M, 2012). The Impact of Corporate Responsibility on Organizational Sustainability According to the local communities, Shells operation is regarded as ethically unacceptable due to lack of environmental protection and degradation of their own operations (Burger, A. (2011). Shell is a partner and a participant of National Society of that country where it operates. Therefore it is the moral obligation of the company to maintain all the rights and obligation for the aid of local government and communities; and to help them in establishing policies; rules and regulations to protect the environment by using the resource and knowledge that is available to Shell. As we know that the Government has started to take actions against companies that are causing harm to the environment by the explosion of harmful substances and creating pollution (Cross, F and Miller, R. (2008); Shell has a moral obligation to promote and ensure a clean environment to live in for the future generations. Shell no longer keep interest only in making profit but also works for the betterment of the community and promote the basic rights of the society by providing a safe and clean environment to live. It has made progress in this context, but is a little away from making it fully accomplished. Many underdeveloped countries lack the existing rules and regulations which are related to environmental concern and social issues. So it becomes the duty of the corporate community to maintain adequate standards and not to be accused of immoral and unethical policies. Currently Shell Oil not only works to increase production but also makes sure that the company is not engaged in creating pollution that becomes harmful in maintaining sustainability. Other industries should implement plans and policies like Shell and promote sustainability by maintaining standards and ethical values in their corporate strategy planning. Shell has begun to maintain this and hence it should be continued. Initiative Taken to Stop the Unethical Practices of Shell in Nigeria Various social active groups have been formed to stop the harmful activities performed by Shell in Nigeria. These groups are working by conducting research and imparting education related to the environmental issues and social values of the oil industry. A few of these social group includes- Environmental Rights Action and Niger Delta Human and Environmental Rescue Organization. These groups along with other social group aims at bringing a positive change in the ethical standards and values that Shell should follow. Various efforts have been taken by Shell to avoid such issues. Shell now takes initiative to clean the oil spills, and reduced the gas flaring. Shell is now showing self determination to comply with the ethical standards imposed by the government and other social activists. Conclusion Corporate Responsibility and Ethics plays a very important role in maintaining sustainability and stability in business activities. A good business ethical code of conduct will help the company to have competitive advantage over their competitors. Customers will be attracted and will show interest in making investment in shares by establishing long term relations with the concerned company. If a company is not maintaining good ethical policies the company will have a bad reputation in the market, it can also cause into a scandal related to fall in stock price, low morale among employees and can also lead shut down of business activities. Local communities in Nigeria are highly disappointed by the unethical practices followed by Shell. Shell is engaged in polluting and degrading the environment; and makes it a harmful place for future generation to live in. Due to the strict action imposed by the Government of Nigeria on Shell, it is now showing helpful hands in resolving this environmental problem. Shell along with many other social activists in Nigeria cleans the oil spills, and also aims at reducing air flaring. Self realisation is very important to maintain ethical standards and value in an organization, by creating social corporate responsibility Shell has been successful in creating a feeling of morale and dedication among the workers. Employees are willing to work together to achieve the predetermined goals of Shell. References Breslin, C. (2016). Role of Government in Business Ethics, Viewed 27 September 2016 from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/role-government-business-ethics-65128.html done Hill, B. (2016). The Advantages of Ethical Behaviour in business, Viewed 27 September 2016 from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-ethical-behavior-business-21067.html done Pompper, D. (2015). Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Public Relations: Negotiating Multiple Complex Challenges. Routledge. Fleming, P, Jones, M. (2012). The End of Corporate Social Responsibility: Crisis and Critique. SAGE. Stanwick, P and Stanwick, S. (2015). Understanding Business Ethics. SAGE Publications. Giacalone, R, Jurkiewicz, C and Dunn, C. (2005). Positive Psychology in Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility. IAP. Morrison, J. (2015). Business Ethics: New Challenges in a Globalised World. Palgrave Macmillan. Brink, A. (2011). Corporate Governance and Business Ethics. Springer Science Business Media. Sullivan, P, Smith, M and Esposito, M. (2012). Business Ethics: A Critical Approach: Integrating Ethics Across the Business World. Routledge. Ferrell, O and Fraedrich, J. (2016). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making Cases. Cengage Learning. Burger, A. (2011). Shell in Nigeria: Oil, Gas, Development Corporate Social Responsibility, Viewed 27 September 2016 from https://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/shell-nigeria-csr-corporate-social-responsibility Cross, F and Miller, R. (2008). The Legal Environment of Business: Text and Cases- Ethical Regulatory, Global and E-Commerce Issues. Cengage Learning. Mermod, A and Idowu, S. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Business World. Springer Science Business Media. Williams, C. (2009). Shell must clean up its act in Nigeria, Viewed 27 September 2016 from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/dec/04/shell-nigeria-oil-spills Woodstock Theological Centre (1990). Creating and Maintaining an Ethical Corporate Climate. Georgetown University Press. Rajko, A. (2013). Behavioural Economics and Business Ethics: Interrelations and Applications. Routledge.

The Ethics of Hacking

Introduction Modifying computer hardware and software with an objective other than the original purpose of the creator constitutes computer hacking. In computer networking, hacking also means manipulating network connections.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Ethics of Hacking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most computer hackers are self-taught, but they possess expert-level skills in a number of programming languages. Although a considerable number of hackers are driven by ulterior motives, many use their skills to solve problems. Some corporations hire hackers to join their technical staff. Their job is to find vulnerabilities in the company’s security system for patch-up before hackers with ulterior motives discover the flaws and exploit them (Computer Hacking, n.d.). Hacking skills can, therefore, be employed to prevent computer related crimes such as identity theft. Although hacking cam be used fo r good, the term is nowadays associated with malicious attacks on the web and other networks. Hackers use scripts which are used to manipulate data in a network connection to gain desired information. There are many ready scripts available online that can be used by inexperienced hackers. Experienced hackers can modify the scripts to come up with new methods of attacking network connections. While hacking can be wrong in many instances, it is still helpful. The big question is whether doing what can be considered wrong by parties such as corporations is still ethical when the very actions help other people, especially the consumers. History of hacking Early hackers as we understand them today can be traced to 1960s. They were primarily computer experts only interested in modifying programs to make them work better. In the majority of cases, the modifications developed by them were better than existing systems. UNIX operating system was a hack product by Dennis Ritchie and Keith Thom son (Computer Hacking and Ethics, n.d.).Advertising Looking for essay on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1970, a new type of hacker called â€Å"phreakers† emerged who targeted telephone systems exclusively. They exploited the switching network of the telephone system to make long distance calls for free. 1980s was the turning point in the history of hacking. Introduction of personal computers led to the increase in the number of hackers as well as hacker targets were widened. Use of modems expanded hackers reach to include a lot of people. During this time, hacker’s philosophy changed from benign exploration to the pursuit for personal gain. This emerging breed of hackers consisted of young people who were not satisfied with the old hacker philosophy of freedom and technology. Beginning 1990s, a new type of hackers, who were different from earlier hackers, emerged and was bent on using their knowledge to achieve criminal ends (The Ethics of Hacking | Jonathan Zdziarski’s Domain, n.d.). They were involved in acts such as pirating and distributing proprietary software, virus, games, etc. Hackers even formed online gangs whose mission was to stealing sensitive and other classified information. This new development led to passage of laws that related to hacking. One such law was passed in 1986. The law criminalized tampering with a computer with the intention to acquire other people’s personal information. Hacking and cracking To most people, what they know as hacking is in fact cracking. Cracking is used to describe attacks on a computer network for selfish or malicious goals. Hacking applies to network manipulation for useful purposes. The two terms are, however, used interchangeably by many people outside the world of academia.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Ethics of Hacking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pa ge Learn More Common hacking techniques Hackers exploit weaknesses in a system which includes the following: Poor configuration of web servers Poor security controls Bugs in software Default password Poor choice password Other than use of scripts in hackings, unauthorized access of computer remotely can be done using computer worms and denial of service (DoS) attacks (Computer Hacking and Ethics, n.d.). Poor configuration and security control enable hackers to connect using unsecured WAPs. Complexity of software systems makes it impossible for developers to predict or simulate how the software would behave if the source code was slightly modified. A gifted hacker can get interesting results by interfering with source code. Reasons for ethical hacking Hacking has in recent years become a big problem. Big corporations and government facilities have borne the brunt of these attacks. All these cases, the motive of attackers was to steal information for personal gain. Et hical hacking has developed as a method of defense against hacking. Ethical hackers are security specialists who use hacking skills to discover vulnerabilities for patching before they are exposed and exploited by unethical hackers (Mathew, 2003). Many big corporations, government facilities, and educational institutions hold important information which if compromised, would lead to either loss of money, reputation, or important security information. As a result, considering the stakes, organizations are willing to go the whole hog to protect their data. As more and more corporations adopt IT as an integral part of their operation, ethical hacking will become even more important (Computer Hacking and Ethics, n.d.). Besides, it is projected that cyber attacks will continue to increase in the near future. Corporations nowadays have to contend with scrutiny emanating from regulatory procedures and fear for scandals, such as the Enron debacle (Harper, 2011). As a result, protecting info rmation assets is considered important and most corporations take proactive steps to institute protective measures. Maintaining confidentiality is, therefore, of paramount importance.Advertising Looking for essay on computer science? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In a world where attacks can occur anytime, the skills of an ethical hacker can be very useful. The Ethics of hacking In the early years of telephony, companies such as ATT were making huge profits by overcharging consumers for calls and related equipments. Through legislation, if was, for instance, illegal to plug in an equipment not made by ATT. This gave the company monopoly and perpetuated its dominance into the market. Nowadays, it may not be possible for corporations to maintain huge profits through draconian laws. Abnormal profits can still be maintained through use of Digital Rights Management (DRM). Using DRM, companies can lock out features to stifle competition. Hacking such devices helps in accessing locked features and keep manufacturers in check. In 1960s, ATT used legislation to prevent third parties from plugging in equipment other than their own into the phone jacks. Had the company used technology instead, people would have, in all probability, hacked phone jacks t o allow third party connections. Looking back, such kind of hacking could have enabled people to make calls at a cheaper price, but back then, their actions could have been unacceptable to ATT, as they would be losing revenue. In such a scenario, the ethical question is this: between the hacker and the company overcharging consumers, who is wrong and who is right? The hacker would have helped customers from exploitation, but such actions appear immoral. The Digital Millennium Act allows consumers to: Unlock their phones Fix vulnerabilities Undertake technical research This has solved the ethical dilemma about whether hacking to solve a technical problem exposing the user to danger is morally right. The government allows corporations to lock devices but also to unlock as long as the intention is good. Companies normally lock mobile devices to a certain network and sell the same at subsidized cost. This way, companies sell more units and also earn revenues from service contracts. Et hical hacking is close to investigative journalism. An ethical hacker posses technical skills to alter the function of a system, but has the discipline to so for morally right reasons. This hacker does more than just seek for the truth; he also takes action to correct wrongs or vulnerabilities. The ethical challenge is to differentiate between theft of services and corporate greed. A good example of corporate greed is where a phone manufacturer may, for example, disable a function and later charge customers to reactivate it. Considering increase in corporate greed, ethics of hacking demands that limitations that the manufacturer of a device may impose be completely justified. If that is not the case, a hacker perhaps has the right to re-enable such features that were disabled with the intention of exploiting the customer. The important question a hacker has to consider before hacking is whether a corporation is gaining by providing certain functionality or by restricting it. If this question cannot be answered, it is impossible to determine who is stealing from whom. Hackers are important because what they do expose technical details that others can use to make similar or better products. In doing so, they are helping maintain healthy competition which capitalism depends to remain healthy. As earlier noted, hacking can of course help improve devices. When apple iphone was released in 2007, it was an instant hit on the market. The hacking community started to work on it to expand the functionality of the device so that third party applications can install and run. After a short period of time, hacker community developed a compiler and many applications to run on iphones. The ability of iphone to be modified to accept third party applications has boosted sales iphone further. Later developments by Apple to play catch-up with the application developer community have been belated. What hackers did with iphone helped consumers and led to development much free softw are. Apple also benefitted because sales of their phones increased. In the case of apple, the act of hacking benefitted all parties. Hackers using the first iphones released in 2007 were able to identify glaring security vulnerabilities and immediately fixed them. The company was able to develop future versions that were more secure compared to the first iphone released in 2007. Although hacking in the case of Iphone made everybody happy, the question still remains whether doing so was ethical. End-user-agreements forbid acts aimed at tampering with the software of the device the customer is purchasing. Going by that agreement, hacking is therefore unethical. However, a more pertinent question that also arises is who owns the device. Is it the owner of the phone or the buyer? The two types of hackers (White Black) Black-hat hackers gain authorized access to a system to either steal data or do other illegal acts. White-hat hackers, on the other hand, use their hacking skills usefull y (Himma, 2007). They find security loopholes so that they can be patched up before they can be exploited for evil purposes. Conclusion Hacking to steal information or deface websites in criminal. However, hacking has other useful purposes. Many hackers lack the skills to damage network systems in a major way. Engaging an ethical hacker can help seal holes to stop low level attacks. But hacking is more complex than that. It’s used to develop third party applications for phones such as iphones. Ethics of hacking concerns itself with hacking that apparently benefits consumers, but manufacturers do not seem to harm manufacturers. References Computer Hacking. (n.d.). College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Web. Computer Hacking and Ethics. (n.d.). Computer Science Division | EECS at UC Berkeley. Retrieved from https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~bh/hackers.html Harper, A. (2011). Gray hat hacking: the ethical hacker’s handbook (3rd ed.). New Y ork: McGraw-Hill. Himma, K. E. (2007). Internet security: hacking, counterhacking, and society. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Mathew, T. (2003). Ethical hacking: student courseware. S.l.: OSB Publisher. The Ethics of Hacking | Jonathan Zdziarski’s Domain. (n.d.). Jonathan Zdziarski’s Domain | Scientist and occasional hacker. Author and occasional theologian. I invent stuff and wail on bass guitar. Twitter: @JZdziarski. Retrieved from http://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=33 This essay on The Ethics of Hacking was written and submitted by user Haylee Michael 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.

Free Essays on Assumption of Risk

Assumption of Risk: Who is to Blame For Our Actions The doctrine of "assumption of risk" clearly defines the responsibility of all voluntary actions taken on by individuals, independent of the inherent risk or danger involved with such actions. Are we only to assume responsibility for the positive outcomes of our actions, without also accepting the negative outcomes as well? Most individuals only claim responsibility in cases in which they are fully responsible for their actions. Living within a country which houses a large amount of private enterprise, we often find ourselves relying on outside help. In many occasions we, the individual seeking assistance, hold the power to choose which avenue of help will be taken. In these cases in which we have the choice, should we not also be held responsible for the outcomes of our decisions, especially in cases in which we have been pre-warned about any inherent risks or dangers? For example, When we take it upon ourselves to drive on a private road, smoke cigarettes, work for a mining company, or fly on a discount airline at our own volition, do we tacitly consent to take responsibility for any outcome these actions may hold? The "assumption of risk" doctrine seems to ignore the fundamental obligation of entities to ensure their natural goals. The distinguishing factor in deciding responsibility in faultless cases which call on the "assumption of risk" doctrine is the control held by individuals after the situation has begun. In accordance, companies such as discount airlines and cigarette companies must take on the responsibility of completing their duties, while individuals who chose to work in a mine or drive on a private road must accept the responsibility of their actions to do so. All airlines hold the responsibility of transporting their customers from a point of origin to a previously designated destination. The person who agrees to buy a discount... Free Essays on Assumption of Risk Free Essays on Assumption of Risk Assumption of Risk: Who is to Blame For Our Actions The doctrine of "assumption of risk" clearly defines the responsibility of all voluntary actions taken on by individuals, independent of the inherent risk or danger involved with such actions. Are we only to assume responsibility for the positive outcomes of our actions, without also accepting the negative outcomes as well? Most individuals only claim responsibility in cases in which they are fully responsible for their actions. Living within a country which houses a large amount of private enterprise, we often find ourselves relying on outside help. In many occasions we, the individual seeking assistance, hold the power to choose which avenue of help will be taken. In these cases in which we have the choice, should we not also be held responsible for the outcomes of our decisions, especially in cases in which we have been pre-warned about any inherent risks or dangers? For example, When we take it upon ourselves to drive on a private road, smoke cigarettes, work for a mining company, or fly on a discount airline at our own volition, do we tacitly consent to take responsibility for any outcome these actions may hold? The "assumption of risk" doctrine seems to ignore the fundamental obligation of entities to ensure their natural goals. The distinguishing factor in deciding responsibility in faultless cases which call on the "assumption of risk" doctrine is the control held by individuals after the situation has begun. In accordance, companies such as discount airlines and cigarette companies must take on the responsibility of completing their duties, while individuals who chose to work in a mine or drive on a private road must accept the responsibility of their actions to do so. All airlines hold the responsibility of transporting their customers from a point of origin to a previously designated destination. The person who agrees to buy a discount...

The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Body Ritual Among the Nacirema - Case Study Example In contemporary American culture the festival of Halloween appears to be derived from the pagan traditions of Samhain, although Halloween is based on Christian beliefs. From observing the customs related to Samhain, the roots, core features and stereotypical concepts associated with Halloween become evident. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Celtic festival of ‘Samhain’, and examine its rituals and symbolism in relation to Halloween. According to Ohogain (2003), the influence of the Celts is far more extensive than is indicated by its fragmented survival beyond the fringes of western Europe. This culture which had been once been considered a highly significant one, continues to remain as a vital component of European civilization and heritage from east to west. Among the Celts, the feast of Samhain involved stock-taking, and reorganizing communities for the winter months which included the arranging of quarters for traveling warriors and r eligious teachers. Samhain also denoted a period of supernatural intensity, when darkness and decay prevailed, emerging from the ancient mounds of the countryside, known as sidh. For protection against these spirits, the Irish built large, symbolically life-sustaining bonfires, and appealed to the gods for help by means of â€Å"animal and perhaps even human sacrifice†... Of the two great doorways of the Celtic year, Samhain on November 1st was more important than Beltane on May 1st, since it marked the beginning of a completely new cycle; similar to the Celtic day which begins at night. â€Å"The most magically potent time of this festival is November Eve, the night of October 31st† (Freeman, 1999), known today as Halloween. Samhain marked took place between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. Halloween is derived from All Hallow Even, or the eve of All Saints Day, 1st November. Together with All Souls Day on the 2nd November, the Christian calendar assigns the festival â€Å"for honoring the saints and the newly departed† (Rogers, 2003, p.22), and in past centuries for praying for souls in purgatory. Samhain distinguished the first day of winter, â€Å"when the herders led the cattle and sheep down from their summer hillside pastures to the shelter of stable and byre† (Freeman, 1999). All the harvest should be gathered i n by this time, of barley, apples, turnips, wheat and oats; with the beginning of November the faeries were believed to destroy any remaining crops or plants. Peat and wood for winter fires were stocked up close to the hearth. â€Å"It was a joyous time of family reunion, when all members of the household worked together baking, salting meat, and making preserves for the winter feasts to come (Freeman, 1999). Samhain was the major feast of the year; and everyone gathered together for the â€Å"Feast of Tara†, when the royal seat of the High King as the heart of the sacred land, and the creator of the new year was celebrated. Every household in the country put out their hearth fires, and waited for the Druids to light the new fire of the year. At Samhain the gods came

Strategic Management Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Strategic Management Plan - Essay Example The plan will clearly state the role of each individual while implementing the plan and the possible negative and positive outcomes of the organizational changes. The main objective of this strategic management plan is to emphasize on the relevance of designing one technology based Human Resource Information System (HRIS) for enhancing the overall integration of the firms HR functions. HRIS will help the company to maintain information regarding the employee performance report, salary statement, personal file and applicant tracking. However, the method of implementation is the most important factor that determines the effect of the HRIS. As in Garson & Khosrow-Pour (147), the implementation of effective HRIS would reduce response time to serve customers and clients, improves the quality and timeliness of service to employees, improves the quality of HR services to employees, and makes HR more responsive to customers. Therefore, management and participants must get convinced of the significance of the strategy. The organization might confront with problems related to a proper system design and acquisition. Therefore it is the area where manage ment needs to hire the assistance of some professionals and vendor experts. The HRIS project manager should have the up-to-date technical and professional knowledge because system development and implementation are the significant stages of the HRIS project where specialized understanding is needed. However, manager should be cautious about data privacy issues, vendor selection, planning, and development while the service is entrusted to outsourcing. It can be done if the organization determines the external involvement to specific limits. In order to prevent deliberate malpractice in the system, system programming and maintaining needs to be separated. Vendor selection is another important area where conflicts of

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 16

English - Essay Example The list appears and I can choose the friend I specifically want through filtering. Is that the right term? Well, it just makes it easy to find people who I believe are very compatible with me and my personality. Making friends online eliminates geographical boundaries. You can make friend i a girl from another state to another continent. This way, I learn a lot. I currently have friends from Canada, Europe, and Asia and they all give me fresh insight about their culture. This suits my interest in enhancing my knowledge of different traditions and culture. The diversity of people online searching for a friend makes it exciting. I learn a lot from other people. I hope they learn from me too†¦Ã¯ Å  However, Myspace is not the type of place I would like to find really serious and close friendship. I guess it’s human nature—I feel the need to really â€Å"experience† the person. I mean, I need face to face interaction in order to form a solid friendship. You can’t be best friends with someone you only meet online right? And a dozen chat sessions can never compensate by really having coffee together or walking in the mall. I always find this weird but often times, even though I make friends with people with the same interest as I am, we just don’t seem to click. Do you know what I mean? There’s no chemistry. Well, that’s for lovers but same for friendship I guess. Sometimes, the numbers or letters or titles won’t really assure you that you are compatible with another person. Do I need to tell you that some people even still hide their identity while online? I believe that trust should still be the foundation of friendship. So just how can you be friends with someone who is hiding behind an alias and another person’s photo? It’s really disgusting. Social networking online does not in any way allow you to identity people who do this. Well, in some cases, most people who find