Sunday, May 24, 2020

Explaining the Origins and Evils of Society in Second...

Second Treatise of Government by John Locke and Discourse on the Origin of Inequality by Jean-Jacques Rousseau are books written to try and explain the origin of society. Both try to explain the evils and inequalities of society, and to a certain degree to discuss whether man in his natural state is better than man in society. These political science based theories do not appear, at first, to have anything in common with J. Hector St. John De Crà ¨vecoeur’s Letters from an American Farmer, which are letters written by Crà ¨vecoeur during the settling of America and the beginning of the American Revolution, however with examination we can see reflection of both Locke’s and Rousseau’s ideas about things such as human nature, government, and†¦show more content†¦Specifically he states ‘This latter type of inequality consists in the different privileges enjoyed by some at the expense of others, such as being richer, more honored, more powerful than they, or even causing themselves to be obeyed by them.’ (Rousseau, 45). Crà ¨vecoeur reflects this when he discusses slavery because he speaks about how the slaves are controlled because the other race has wealth and the slaves are forced to obey them. Slavery is an example of Rousseau’s idea of political equality, which he states does not exist in the state of nature but is created by the consent of man (Rousseau, 45). Something that Crà ¨vecoeur talks about in his Letters is the kind of government in America and his opinion on it. At the beginning this is all very positive, and the first mention of the government is him discussing that there is no absolute power, stating that ‘We have no princes, for whom we toil, starve, and bleed; we are the most perfect society now existing in the world’ (Crà ¨vecoeur, 597). He is quite straight forward with his opinion that the fact that the government being not absolute is a good thing, an opinion shared by both Locke and Rousseau. Locke states ‘It cannot be supposed that they should intend, had they the power to do so, to give to any one,Show MoreRelated On the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau Essay2221 Words   |  9 PagesOn the Virtues of Private Property in Locke and Rousseau John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, following their predecessor Thomas Hobbes, both attempt to explain the development and dissolution of society and government. They begin, as Hobbes did, by defining the â€Å"state of nature†Ã¢â‚¬â€a time before man found rational thought. In the Second Treatise[1] and the Discourse on Inequality[2], Locke and Rousseau, respectively, put forward very interesting and different accounts of the state

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Documentary Of Autism The Musical Show Children Who...

The documentary of Autism: The Musical showcases children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families throughout a twenty two week program ending with a live performance. The documentary not only highlights the growth the children experience socially and emotionally throughout the program, but the challenges faced by the families and the strategies they employ to overcome them. There are five children focused on over the course of the documentary, Neil, Lexi, Henry, Adam, and Wyatt. Each child is at a different place on the spectrum therefore each family is effected differently by it. In fact each family can be seen at a different stage of acceptance ranging from sock, denial, anger, loneliness, sadness, to acceptance (Autism Your Family, 2015). Lexi’s father Joe nicely describes some of the stages he experienced starting with denial which he said ended up taking over his whole life for a period of time, a period he describes as fix it mode, then depression bec ause the parent realized that no amount of money or wishing can change the fact that the child has ASD and will always be living with it and finally comes acceptance. Neil is non-verbal and is an example of the most severe form of ASD out of the children in this documentary. He has a very difficult time communicating and is over aggressive, tending to lash out physically when he is frustrated. His frustration seems to stem from his inability to communicate, therefore to try and overcome thisShow MoreRelatedAn Assessment of the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Nigerian Society: the Examples of Banking and Communication Industries18990 Words   |  76 Pagescotemporary and contextual issue to all stakeholders including the government, the corporate organization itself, and the general public. The public contended that the payment of taxes and the fulfillment of other civic rights are enough grounds to have the liberty to take back from the society in terms of CSR undertak en by other stakeholders. Some ten year ago, what characterized the Nigerian society was fragrant pollution of the air, of the water and of the environment. Most corporate organizations

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Judaism s Views On Euthanasia - 2049 Words

Death is one of the most important topics that religions cope with. Since religion deals with matters of life, death, meaning and virtue, it is not shocking that, for countless people, religious convictions are the core reasoning for their outlook on euthanasia. Euthanasia is defined as the mode or act of inducing death painlessly or as a relief for pain. Although there are different components that play a part in a person’s stance on euthanasia, like empathy, suffering, constitutional rights, etc., this paper will concentrate on the religious aspects of the topic. Judaism and Christianity share an abundance of theological similarities. Religious ethicists from these observances employ individual religious methodologies when seeking to settle ethical predicaments. In aiming to illuminate their religion’s viewpoints on topics of medical ethics, Jewish and Christian ethicists frequently appeal to text, religious doctrine and tradition. In addition, religious ethicists use self-determination and examination when making ethical conclusions. Regardless of the modernized secular world we live in today, religious stances on euthanasia are irrefutably vital considering that religion and medicine are prominent social forces in society. What does Judaism teach about euthanasia? Euthanasia, along with other forms of suicide, are denounced in Jewish thought, mostly because it is conceived as taking a human life that belongs to G-d. Jewish sources viewShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia And Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia2262 Words   |  10 Pagesstates in the United States that prohibits euthanasia and assisted suicide— euthanasia is the act of assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease (Macionis 402-403); however, assisted suicide and euthanasia are not the same thing. The law denying euthanasia and assisted suicide brought conflicts because Brittany wanted to pass peacefully. In order to fulfill her wish, Brittany and her husband moved to Oregon, a state that allows euthanasia and assisted suicide with the â€Å"DeathRead MoreThe Funeral And Mourning Rituals Of Judaism1583 Words   |  7 PagesHow are the customary funeral and mourning rituals of Judaism, Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and Islam similar and different? Judaism and Islam have similar funeral practices. Both Islam and Judaism appoint the responsibilities of the burial of the deceased within their communities. Both traditions require the dead be buried as promptly as possible. It is for the body to be buried on the same day of the death. Islam and Judaism forbid embalming and routine autopsies as desecration ofRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good death, refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s lifeRead MoreEuthanasi Terminally Ill Patient1321 Words   |  6 Pagesact of euthanasia upon terminally ill patient. According to Oxford Dictionary, euthanasia means the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma and according to Euthanasia (2014), it is defined as the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. There are many kinds of euthanasia including voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntar y, assisted suicide, euthanasia by action, and euthanasia by omissionRead MoreEuthanasia Essay : Euthanasia And Euthanasia1753 Words   |  8 PagesEuthanasia is a Greek word which means gentle and easy death. However, it is the other way around. It is not a gentle or easy death because there is not a type of death which called gentle in the world. According to writer Prof. Ian Dowbiggin, in Ancient Greece people used euthanasia without the patient s permission. It means that in Ancient Greece they did not care about the voluntariness. Also, there are just few doctors who obey the rules of the Hippocratic Oath. (250) After Christianity, theRead MoreEssay about Euthanasia1510 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Euthanasia continues to be a subject of ethical debate. It is defined as the administration of lethal drugs by someone other than the person concerned with the explicit intention of ending a patient’s life, at the latter’s explicit request (Quaghebeur, de Casterle, Gastmans, 2009). An unprecedented number of people in the United States today live well into their late adult years. Improved medical and public health practices, increasing life expectancies, and the â€Å"graying† of theRead MoreCultural And Religious Considerations During End Of Life Care1686 Words   |  7 Pagesbeliefs play a role in how nurses approach and care for these individuals. Most religions and cultures view and have a different perspective on how they approach end of life care. There are hundreds if not thousands of religions along with individual cultural beliefs all around the world but, the ones that will be discussed in the content of this paper include; Buddhism, Muslim, Hinduism, and Judaism . Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development that attempts for a deep meaningRead MoreEuthanasia And Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia2323 Words   |  10 Pages Assisted suicide is the act of deliberately assisting or encouraging another person to kill themselves (Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide , 2014). When talking about assisted suicide there are two types: Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) and Euthanasia. Although they both have very similar goals but, they differ in which role the physician has in the action that finally ends life. Euthanasia can be defined as â€Å"the act of bringing about the death of a hopelessly ill and suf fering person in a relativelyRead MoreThe Separation Of The Two Stances Lie1284 Words   |  6 Pagesto the common ideal that killing is wrong. Nevertheless, where the separation of the two stances lie is that people who are against PAS tend to believe that under any circumstances the killing of another person is unethical. This, in fact, is the view of religious institutions which are the predominant advocate group against the right to die. Nearly all religiously affiliated organizations are fundamentally opposed to PAS. The largest of which being the Roman Catholic Church, one of the biggestRead MoreOne Of The Most Controversial Topics That Question What1845 Words   |  8 PagesOne of the most controversial topics that question what is legal and also moral that has been debated is assisted suicide, sometimes known as â€Å"voluntary euthanasia†.  Assisted suicide is suicide with the aid of another human being, typically a doctor.  The word euthanasia, comes from Latin eu for good and thanatos for death (OCRT 1). Many people in this country are existing in a living death, suffering on a day to day basis.  The Declaration of Independence ensures three basic human rights

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Changes Europe Experienced During The Industrial Revolution

Changes Europe experienced during the Industrial Revolution o The Industrial Revolution of the late eighteenth and middle nineteenth was progressive on the grounds that it modified, revolutionized the productive capacity of England, Europe and United States. In any case, the upheaval was something more than just new machines, smoke-burping processing plants, expanded efficiency and an expanded way of life. It was an upheaval which changed English, European, and American culture down to its extremely roots. Like the Reformation or the French Revolution, no one was left unaffected. Everybody was touched in some way peasant and noble, parent and youngster, artisan and commander of industry. The Industrial Revolution serves as a key to the beginnings of cutting edge Western society. The same number of history specialists has viewed, the Industrial Revolution was no inconsequential progression of changes in cutting edge frameworks and era, and however a social change with social reasons furthermore critical social effects. The Industrial Revolution can be said to have made the European working-class. It made the European middle-class as well. In the wake of the Revolution, new social associations appeared. There is no denying the way that the Industrial Revolution began in England eventually after the focal point of the 18th century. England was the First Industrial Nation. As one money related understudy of history commented in the 1960s, it was England which at firstShow MoreRelatedIndustrial Revolutions During Europe During The Industrial Revolution1298 Words   |  6 PagesIndustrial Revolution in Europe Before the industrial revolution, Europe was mostly dominated by farmers but as the industrial revolution progressed this changed dramatically. Industrial revolution had a significant impact in the process by making new demands that shaped the way of life through increased competition and technological innovation. Generally, it was a historical period that sparked in a stroke a number numerous changes in the economic, social and political dimensions. It is consideredRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution During The 19th Century955 Words   |  4 Pages19th centuries Europe found itself dealing with vast changes in its way of life. The Industrial Revolution took Europeans from the rural countryside into the urban powerhouses as the continent experienced a sudden shift in everyday living, economic structure, and social hierarchy. This sudden change in how Europe was ran from an economic standpoint caused yet another rift between the proletariats and bourgeoisies. Life became difficult for the newly founded working class of Europe as shown in FriedrichRead MoreThe Causes And Effects Of Europe945 Words   |  4 Pagesa constant theme of revolutions and counterrevolutions across space and time that have shaped the very foundations of societies across the expanse of the continent. Furthermore, these revolutions occurred in many different spheres of daily life. For instance, some revolutions featured prolonged periods of violent political upheaval while others featured a more subtle revolution, changing the very social fabric of Europe. In addition, some revolutions centered on economic change while still othersRead More The European Expansion and its Effects on the World Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesscientific revolution was fueled by the blending of â€Å"liberal† and â€Å"servile† arts, in other words, science and technology. Because of the European expansion taking place throughout the world, new commerce and industries were advancing, creating the need for new technology and science. The theories and inventions that Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton provided were the fist major advances during the scientific revolution, and perhaps were the most profound. The European expansion during the 15th andRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution Essay742 Words   |  3 PagesThe Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution is the name given to the movement in which machines changed peoples way of life as well as their methods of manufacturer. It brought three important changes: inventions of machines that simplify and speed up the work of hand tools, use of steam (and other power) versus human power, adoption of a factory system. Workers were brought together under one roof and were supplied machines. The Industrial Revolution began throughout the worldRead MoreThe Transformation of Europe Essay1252 Words   |  6 PagesOver two-hundred years ago, Europe was a vastly different place. To the modern eye, the Europe of the 18th Century would be unrecognizable compared to its current state. However, the road to this new Europe has been not been all kicks and giggles, but a rather rough and tumble journey. Due to the introduction of new ways of thinking, the occurrences of multiple revolutions, changes in government style and leadership, which led to the creation and extinctio n of numerous countries as well as rearrangementRead MoreThe First Humans Were Hunter Gatherers907 Words   |  4 Pageseconomic and political system. Over time the industrial revolution transformed capitalist nations from agriculture to industrial nations. Throughout history countries have wanted to control lands beyond their borders and a new practice named colonialism give Europeans full or partial political power over countries they occupied, or settled in the â€Å"Age of exploration.† The feudal system is often referred to as Europe Dark Ages or Middle Ages. During the feudal system small communities were formedRead MoreImpact Of Industrialisation On Patterns Of Urban Development1498 Words   |  6 Pagescentury Europe Urbanization is defined as an omnipresent process during which a primary and rural society revolves gradually into a cultivated and industrious one. The linkage between industrialization and urban growth defies an explicit description it is tight and visible, but cannot be simply reduced to direct linearity. It is well known that many small African countries have initiated or accomplished low-level urbanization without economic growth. Roughly without industrial revolution, a few citiesRead MoreThe Economic Expansion Of Venice1738 Words   |  7 Pagesthe size of London. This expansion includes contractual innovations making economic institutions much more inclusive such as commenda. Government documents replaced with new names. The economic expansion of Venice created more pressure for political change. There are some innovation such as Great Council with sub councils Senate and the Council of Forty, General Assembly, new doge had to swear an oath of office. The institutional innov ations included creation of independent magistrates, courts, a courtRead MoreThesis on the First World War1510 Words   |  6 Pagesstep: the change in the context and trend of war in terms of ferocity of the weapons and the increase in human/nations participation was occasioned by the industrial revolution and the French revolution. B. Thesis: The First World War stimulated the greatest changes in warfare because it brought about new technology and industry development, advancement in science, and improved infrastructure and communication; essentially the First World War combined the legacies of the French and Industrial Revolutions

Humanism and Secular Humanism Free Essays

string(59) " tax exempt status or deem themselves expressly religious\." The question has been raised: who is in control of curriculum in our school? Not just the choosing of the precise books, but who is in charge of the contents of the books that curriculum directors can choose from? Once the answers to these questions are found, what should be done if they point to one group? So many problems in the United States have arisen when the people discover that one group is violating the people†s rights in some way by not allowing others power, that it would be logical to conclude that it would be perceived by many to be unfair if it is found that one interest group chooses what all American children learn, especially if that interest group is furthering their own interests by doing so. However, finding out the answers to these questions is quite difficult at best. The subject has been written about extensively, and since there are so many opinions, the unbiased truth is virtually impossible to come by. We will write a custom essay sample on Humanism and Secular Humanism or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this topic, it has been at least suggested by others that everyone is biased, including our Supreme Court, so one must tread carefully in stating so-called â€Å"facts.† Humanism and secular humanism and what they have to do with present educational curriculum will be discussed for the remainder. Though human nature tends to make all humans biased in some way, both sides of the argument have been researched and will be documented until fair conclusions can be made. First, the term â€Å"humanism† must be defined. To do this fully, the definition of â€Å"humanism† will be given from the dictionary, and then humanists themselves will have a turn to define themselves. Merriam Webster†s Collegiate Dictionary terms â€Å"humanism† as â€Å"a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; esp.: a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual†s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.† The same dictionary defines â€Å"doctrine† as â€Å"a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief: DOGMA.† To understand fully what this is pointing to, one must then look at the definition of â€Å"dogma†-â€Å"a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.† Most will agree that an accredited collegiate dictionary is an acceptable place to look for information, and here it is shown that humanism can be tied to a religion. People who claim to be humanist would also seem to be a good place to look for a formal term for humanism. Rebecca Bushnell writes of early humanist pedagogy when she says, â€Å"This is a humanism based on belief that people are largely responsible for what happens on this earth; committed to tolerance, attention to the differences among people and the need to treat them with equal respect; shaped by a cheerful acceptance of ambivalence and contradiction; and informed by an almost painful historical consciousness, which sees the past as estranged yet able to illuminate present concerns (8).† This explanation definitely sounds like what most people want to feel, or at least what they claim to, but humanism is more than this. Humanism is also defined by the worship of man; Curtis W. Reese writes, â€Å"There is a large element of faith in all religion. [Christianity has faith] in the love of God; and Humanism in man as the measure of values†¦Hypotheses, postulates, and assumptions in their proper realm are comparable to faith in the realm of religion. In this way I speak of the faith of Humanism.† Another humanist deals with the humanistic beliefs in right and wrong: â€Å"In humanism right and wrong are defined in terms of consequence to human life (10).† To further clarify what humanists believe, more writings of humanists will prove that they consider humanism to be their religion. Gerald A. Larque, a man who signed the Humanist Manifesto II, writes, â€Å"Our religion is based upon the best that we know about our cosmos, our world, and ourselves†¦We recognize our oneness with the cosmos and our spatial and temporal minuteness†¦We see ourselves as the highest life-form the evolutionary process has developed†¦(11).† The 1979 Humanist of the Year, who co-founded and edited The New Humanist, also believes humanism to be a religion: â€Å"†¦Humanism in a naturalistic frame is validly a religion†¦(7).† A Humanist Manifesto, also known as the Humanist Manifesto I, continually describes humanism as a religion. â€Å"The time has come for widespread recognition of the radical changes in religious beliefs†¦In every field of human activity, the vital movement is now in the direction of a candid and explicit humanism†¦religious humanism (13).† From the Humanist Manifesto II, one can see that Kurtz thinks of humanism as † a philosophical, religious, and moral point of view† and that it offers a believer a formula for salvation and a future sanctuary (12). Other humanists who claim humanism as their religion illustrate what â€Å"religion† means to them. Julian Huxley says in Religion Without Revelation, â€Å"There are whole religions which make no mention of God. The most notable example, as already mentioned, is that of Buddhism (14).† Furthering this thought, â€Å"Religion, then,†¦will mean a ruling commitment practiced by a community of individuals to what they believe creates, sustains, saves, and transforms human existence toward the greatest good (15).† With this, one has sufficient information concerning basic humanism beliefs. Besides the fact that humanists themselves admit to being a religious organization, there are several examples of how the American legal system treats humanism-as a religion. In a Supreme Court case, Torcaso v. Watkins, a Notary Public from Maryland was reinstated after being fired for refusing to proclaim a belief in God. The Court recognized religions that do not believe in God as â€Å"real† religions when it wrote, â€Å"Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism and others (7).† This statement will be considered later in the discussion. All formal humanist membership organizations in America claim 501(c )3 religious tax exempt status or deem themselves expressly religious. You read "Humanism and Secular Humanism" in category "Papers" Dr. Paul Kurtz states, â€Å"Even the American Humanist Association (3,500 members)†¦has a religious tax exemption (7).† An editor of The Humanist magazine, Paul Blanshard says, â€Å"There has been another victory for those who would interpret the word â€Å"religion† very broadly†¦the appellate court reversed by a unanimous decision. Now the F.O.R. [Fellowship of Reconciliation] is established as a â€Å"religious† organization, with full right to tax exemption (7).† Tax-exempt status is serious business. In an article titled â€Å"The Religion of Democracy: Part II,† Rudolph Dreikurs argues that humanism should be thought of as religious because of the form and content. â€Å"The new religion will probably be humanistic. It will be concerned with man and not with God.† This â€Å"new religion† will have new principles, new rituals, and new symbols (16). Those involved in the humanist religion also have their own ministers, and â€Å"minister† is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as â€Å"one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship.† Harvard University has its own Humanist chaplain, Thomas Ferrick, who is also â€Å"one of the 34 full- and part-time chaplains that make up the United Ministry at Harvard and Radcliffe, and he also serves as executive director of the Humanist Association of Massachusetts† local chapter (17).† In Auburn University†s Student/Faculty Directory, under â€Å"Auburn Pastors and Campus Ministers-Humanist,† there is a Humanist Counselor for the students (7). The University of Arizona†s Student Handbook for 1990-1991 lists â€Å"Humanists† under the title â€Å"Religious Services† (7). These facts should only prove further that Humanism is a religion. Now that humanism is understood, it is time to link humanism with present-day educational curriculum. Paul Vitz conducted research on the censorship of student†s textbooks, funded by the National Institute of Education, a part of the federal government, and came to the conclusion that they are strongly biased for the Secular Humanist worldview. â€Å"Whether one calls it secular humanism, enlightenment universalism, skeptical modernism, or just plain permissive liberalism, the bottom line is that a very particular and narrow sectarian philosophy has taken control of American education (18).† This seems to be a documented conclusion from an recognized institute, but yet it has not been fully discussed with the American public at large. Humanists themselves have admitted to the fact that they use the classroom to further their religion. John J. Dunphy states in his A Religion for a New Age, â€Å"[T]he battle for humankind†s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being (19).† Another man who calls himself a â€Å"Humanist minister†, Charles Francis Potter, says: â€Å"Education is thus a most powerful ally of Humanism, and every American public school is a school of Humanism. What can the theistic Sunday-schools, meeting for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of the children, do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching? (20)† He then continues, â€Å"So very Humanistic is modern education that no religion has a future unless it be Humanism (20).† These men obviously believe very strongly not only that humanism is being taught in American public schools, but also that it should overpower other religions. John Dewey, who signed the Humanist Manifesto I, wrote a book, Education Today, in which he voices many opinions about education and how humanism should be implemented. â€Å"I believe that†¦it is the business of every one interested in education to insist upon the school as the primary and most effective instrument of social progress and reform†¦(21)†. On page eighty he says, â€Å"We certainly cannot teach religion as an abstract essence. We have got to teach something as religion, and that means practically some religion.† He also believes public education to be the vehicle by which this â€Å"deeper religion† is promoted (21). Now that it has been documented that the humanist religion is being funneled into public schools, it is time to give a few examples of the things in school curriculum that are humanist in nature. First, homosexuality is being pushed as acceptable behavior to students. The schools are teaching that it should be looked at as positive to have â€Å"full sexual adjustment without any hang-ups caused by outdated religious concepts. And our schools are the main tool used to teach the young people this human freedom (6).† Not only is homosexuality taught as â€Å"okay,† but they are also teaching the theory of evolution in full force. Teachers are not allowed to present any kind of argument for creationist theory; Jerry Bergman, Ph.D., states, â€Å"In fact, it is often considered inappropriate to criticize evolution, let alone present the creationist position (6).† This occurs without much argument, despite the fact that there are many books very critical of evolutionary theory â€Å"written by either evolutionists or by individuals who at least do not agree with the creationist perspective (6).† The biology textbook Of Pandas and People by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon was included by the trustees in Plano, Texas, in the school curriculum, and humanist educators lost all pretense of â€Å"tolerance† because the book â€Å"acknowledges the abundance of design manifest in the natural world and thus reasonably postulates an intelligent Designer (7).† Homosexuality and evolution are just a couple examples of humanist perspective in the schools. The logic these humanists use, that schools are the best place to push their beliefs, makes complete sense, even â€Å"falls in line† with some of the basic thoughts of sociological theory: that â€Å"no knowledge is value-neutral; no knowledge is free of presuppositions. All knowledge is rooted in the social structure in particular ways and reflects (even if indirectly) the particular interest of different sectors of the population (4).† Reasonably, this idea is also true for knowledge given to children in public schools. Even John Dewey said (as quoted earlier) that the teaching of religion is inevitable in schools, that â€Å"some religion† would have to be taught. Is this what the American Constitution allows? It is wrong, and very punishable, for public schools to advocate Christianity or to teach any of its beliefs, but the teaching of humanism†s beliefs remains untouched. Humanists tend to label certain â€Å"unpopular† ideas (those that they do not agree with) as religious, and those they do support as non-religious. For instance, schools are free to teach â€Å"thou shalt not steal, lie, or murder† but not â€Å"thou shalt not commit adultery or take the name of God in vain.† What is the difference between the two statements, which are both from the Ten Commandments, the most basic Western religious law? Other concepts taught presently that have a religious origin are â€Å"the goal of treating others as one would like to be treated, the need to take an occasional break from one†s work, to be balanced in all things, and the attempt to be fair to all people (6).† One of the biggest objective of liberals in recent years has been to insure equal rights for all people, yet this idea was adopted as a religious goal over 2,000 years ago in the Christian Scriptures. Bergman states, â€Å"Incidentally, the source of the belief in the equality of man is the Bible, few ancient books espouse this concept, and it is foreign to most non-Christian peoples (6).† Since these concepts are biblical in origin, why are the students not told this? What about the fact that abortion, homosexuality and fornication are talked about in school, but teachers are not allowed to discuss the religious side of the issue, only the side deemed non-religious? Though the public schools are teaching a type of religion, obviously, the students are not informed about it; in fact, the topic of religion is not deemed important (6). Community schools, before federal aid was instigated, were to reflect the values of those who lived in it. â€Å"What happened to â€Å"community public schools† that were to reflect the values of the community? They disappeared when federal aid was approved. Now only what is approved by secularists [humanists] in Washington is ‘neutral† (22).† As James David Hunter documents, â€Å"Public education arguably shares a common ethical orientation with modern humanism, particularly to the degree that these perspectives are advanced without respect for cultural traditions that might dissent (4).† Community†s values are no longer taken into account when curriculum is chosen. In recent times, the idea of choice in education has come to life with a system of tuition vouchers, but criticism of this choice has been rampant among the educators who believe in humanism. Richard A. Baer, Jr. writes: â€Å"The point is this: Education never takes place in a moral and philosophical vacuum. If the larger questions about human beings and their destiny are not being asked and answered within a predominantly Judeo-Christian framework, they will be addressed within another philosophical or religious framework-but hardly one that is â€Å"neutral.† The arrogance and philosophical implausibility of secular humanism are demonstrated by the insistence of many humanists that their position possesses such neutrality, lack of dogma, and essential rationality. It is an arrogance that also quickly becomes coercive and imperialistic, as is clearly seen in the widespread opposition among such educators toward genuine choice in education, for instance, the kind of choice that would be possible through a system of education tuition vouchers (23).† If America is a land of freedom, one would assume that Americans could choose where to send their children to school and what they are taught. However, not all Americans can afford private schools, so beyond their local public school, there is no choice. With all of this discord, it would be surprising if no one had taken this matter to the courts. They have, in some aspects. First one must look at the history of the First Amendment. The First Amendment was written to guarantee that the interest of certain faiths would not be expanded by direct or indirect benefaction of the government, at least not to the hindrance of smaller, minority faiths. When originally written, its intention was to curb the â€Å"deep and long-standing tensions† between various inter-Protestant competitions (4). Of course, they also encompassed conflicts between Protestants and Catholics and between Jew and Christians, whose beliefs are quite different, though these conflicts were minor because Catholics and Jews comprised less than two percent of the population at the start of the nineteenth century. When these populations increased, their full religious liberties were still restricted, continuing past the beginning of the twentieth century (4). This failure to fully perfect the ideals of the First Amendment is important because â€Å"many of the social dynamics taking place in the present find a parallel in the past (4).† Not only have the numbers of Muslims, Mormons, Hindus, and Buddhists grown, but the secular humanists have increased from two percent in 1962 to about eleven percent in 1990. Though humanism is not the same kind of religion as Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism are determined to be, how should they be perceived for First Amendment purposes? The Supreme Court held a strict definition of religion-â€Å"Our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian†¦Ã¢â‚¬ -until the early 1940s, when it broadened the definition: â€Å"Religious belief arises from a sense of the inadequacy of reason as a means of relating the individual to his fellow men and to his universe-a sense common to men in the most primitive and the most highly civilized societies†¦It is a belief finding expression in a conscience which categorically requires the believer to disregard elementary self-interest and to accept martyrdom in preference to transgressing its tenets†¦Conscientious objection may justly be regarded as a response of the individual to an inward mentor, call it conscience or God, that is for many persons at the present time the equivalent of what has always been thought a religious impulse (4).† This expanded the criterion from the nature of belief in a divine being to the psychological function of belief (4). In 1961 the Supreme Court decided that a Maryland law violated the no establishment clause because it put â€Å"the power and authority of the State of Maryland†¦on the side of one particular sort of believers-those who are willing to say they believe ‘in the existence of God† (4).† This new functional definition was not used with the no establishment clause by opponents until the case Smith v. Board of School Commissioners. The plaintiffs believed that most of the textbooks in the county public school system promoted secular humanism†s religion, which would violate the no establishment clause of the First Amendment. The first judgment in the case favored the plaintiff; however it was eventually overturned. A Washington Post columnist, Colman McCarthy, wrote: â€Å"A careful reading of the decision, as against a skimming of news accounts of it, reveals that Mobile families had a fair grievance: That what was taught in classrooms about religion was impeding the teachings of mothers and fathers at home about religion. What†s wrong with that complaint? (4)† What is wrong with that complaint? Surely every parent has the right to teach their children what they want to. It seems confusing to find that the Supreme Court did not believe humanist religion to be in school curriculum, especially when humanists themselves have admitted to the fact, as documented earlier. However, humanists have backtracked from their earlier, outspoken works. Paul Kurtz, quoted earlier, wrote his 1989 book, Eupraxophy: Living Without Religion, to â€Å"take back† all the earlier writings of humanists that claimed it a religion. He even coined a term-eupraxophy-to describe humanism without using the word religion. â€Å"Eupraxophy†¦provides a coherent, ethical life stance†¦it presents a cosmic theory of reality†¦defends a set of criteria governing the testing of truth claims†¦advocates an ethical posture. And it is committed implicitly or explicitly to a set of political ideals. Eupraxophy combines both a Weltanshuung and a philosophy of living.† Now, why would Kurtz do this after he had decided already that humanism was, in fact, a religion, his religion? Why? Kurtz realizes that if humanism is religion, then it will not be allowed in the schools: â€Å"For if humanism, even naturalistic and secular humanism, is a religion, then we would be faced with a violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.† (24).† It causes more confusion in the whole topic when different people claim different things. The whole argument comes down to this: That academic freedom seems to be unequal among educators. There are many different religious beliefs in America, and most teachers would claim to have some kind of religion or world view. â€Å"Academic freedom is the ability of the instructor to teach what he/she feels is the truth about reality in an intellectually honest and reasonable way (6).† Teachers in the present day are not allowed to teach what they believe and why, because of the First Amendment. Humanists and Christians have both agreed that religion will be taught in the schools in one manner or another, and this causes a great problem because someone must choose which religion will be taught. Noebel writes in his Clergy in the Classroom: â€Å"Imagine a child enrolled in a public school and learning only what that public school imparted (with no outside interference from family, church, Christian teachers or Congressional chaplains). When he graduated, what would he believe? Without divine intervention, he wouldn†t have much choice: Secular Humanism would be all he knew. This situation is idyllic, as far as the Humanists are concerned. Because their doctrines are every bit as dogmatic as Christian doctrine, and because they view Christianity as a ‘rotting corpse,† they use their established position to censor any hint of positive Christian influence in the classroom. Though they posture as ‘open-minded,† ‘tolerant† folks, Humanists eagerly discriminate against Christianity in the classroom (7).† This is not fair, just as it would not be fair if America†s public schools taught strictly Christian doctrine. Excluding religion from the classroom, when the whole purpose of school is to teach the entire body of knowledge, is â€Å"censorship of the worst sort (6).† Many parents, Humanist or Christian, Buddhist or Catholic, are rightfully worried that their children†s teachers will indoctrinate their children with some specific religious belief. However, students are bright, reasoning people and do not gullibly believe everything a teacher says. Children who have strong prejudices against certain groups do not let go of them easily, even when a teacher tries to help that child overcome the prejudice. Also, a teacher†s ideas may spark a child†s desire to further research the topic so that the child comes to his own conclusions. If students are to become those who can debate important topics, it seems that removing all religious questions would hinder that which is significant for living a well-rounded life (6). Jerry Bergman gives the example of Australia to clarify whether it is possible to bring religion into the classroom. Only three percent of Australia†s population attends church regularly, but the schools still have classes in religious education as an â€Å"integral part of the school curriculum at all grade levels (6).† This brings the conclusion that religion in schools is feasible, and not just the religion of one group. In conclusion, the questions asked at the beginning have been answered, but not fully. It has been proven that Humanism is a religion, by quotes of many influential Humanists and by the Supreme Court, and that there is evidence of Humanist beliefs in our school curriculum, by a federal government study and by Humanist†s admittance. Many men, Humanist, Christian, and those with unknown beliefs, have agreed that education cannot occur without some religious worldview†s influence, and the topic does not seem to be dormant in their minds. The battle is not over; the writer is quite convinced that there will be more court battles concerning this issue. To have an education system that treats each person†s beliefs equally, there needs to be a change. Either separate all children into schools of their respective religions, or treat them as intelligent individuals with minds that deserve to learn about all religious views and the immense amount of history that goes with them. Shujaa, Mwalimu J. Too Much Schooling, Too Little Education: A Paradox of Black Life in White Societies. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press, Inc., 1994. This book covered many areas of African-American education, and was a great background knowledge source. The topics most valid to my interests were the African experiences in schools, the analysis of African-American males† response to schooling, exploring exemplary African-American teachers† views, and African-Americans† communal nature of learning. Also I got great information concerning different school environments, and their effect on African-American students† education, which I then used to get strategies for teaching African-Americans from. How to cite Humanism and Secular Humanism, Papers

Describe ways in which discrimination may deliberately or inadvertently occur in the work settings free essay sample

Indirect Discrimination: Indirect discrimination occurs when policies and practices, which appear neutral or fair because they are applied to everyone, actually disadvantage people and particular groups within society. For example, if a job advertisement states that applicants must be able to drive then this could put a certain people at a disadvantage, such as those with a disability. So for example you may have a school display every year to celebrate Christmas because the majority of the children would be classed as ‘white’ ‘’Christian’. But if other faiths celebrations are not represented then smaller groups could be discriminated against. Direct discrimination in the work setting occurs when nursery policies which applied to everyone might on purpose disadvantaged children from particular group. For example if the nursery every year celebrate Christmas and making a display and activities about that , but not taking into account that not every child is christen and not celebrating other cultures festivals then children are discriminated one against the other. We will write a custom essay sample on Describe ways in which discrimination may deliberately or inadvertently occur in the work settings or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The other example is when the nursery gets children from one particular group, but not trying to be open for everyone and not getting children from different cultures, countries and race Practitioners might unintentionally categories children in a particular way. For instance girls playing with dolls in a cooking area and boys playing with cars and trucks, girls are more quiet than the boys, concentrate and settle down easier, children with African background are better in sport and music, but not good in academic subjects, physically disabled children will not manage in the sport activities, travelers children live poor life and never achieve anything because of their way of living. This is called stereotyping and this type of practice might not be deliberate. It happens when the practitioner is not aware of his attitude and see children as a group of the same characteristics but not as an individuals. Stereotypes: A practitioner may intentionally or intentionally categories children in a particular way. So for example boys play with blue things and girls play with pink or boy can play with car toy and girls can play with dolls and the dressing up area.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Flow Foundations Of Positive Psychology - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Questions: What Are The Limitations Of Cloud Computing? What Are The Negative Impacts Of Cloud Computing In A Business Organization? Is Cloud Computing Secure Enough For An Organisation? What Are The Possible Threats Of Using Cloud Computing In A Business Organization? Is The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Cloud Computing Industry Specific? What Approaches Of Using Cloud Computing Are Incompetent For Generating Profit? How The Services Of Cloud Computing Can Be Improved? Answers: Introduction The business research is conducted for analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the cloud computing that is being used by the business organization in Australia. The cloud computing has revolutionized the way business functions and even managed business applications, computer software and servers to deliver computing resources through use of internet. The internet is enabled for managing the cloud computing and has created better scopes and opportunities for providing computer processing resources and servers to other computer systems based on the needs and requirements (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 2016). One of the major advantages brought up with the implementation of cloud computing system is the accessibility to various kinds of computer applications and programs with the help of internet. The other advantages include reduction of operational costs, on-site hosting of price for deploying the computer applications in the cloud and management of physical resources properly as well . Project Objective To identify the probable ways by which data and information can be stored and processed on a private cloud. To evaluate the impact created by using the cloud computing by the retail organizations in Australia. To assess the various ways or approaches that are required to undermine the cloud computing system and prevent issues related to data security and accessibility To recommend necessary measures for improving the effectiveness of cloud computing system implemented by the retail organizations in Australia Project Scope The scope of the project is enough to find out the various ways by which cloud computing can be done along with the benefits obtained from it. It can be seen that cloud computing provides better services for managing the fluctuating bandwidths and manage the remote servers properly. Cloud computing helps in managing disaster recovery as well as manages automatic software updates to keep the computer system secure and free from any kinds of viruses and malwares (Bryman and Bell 2015). The files that are stored on databases can be accessed from anywhere with the use of internet connection. In spite of the benefits, cloud computing has several drawbacks too like additional charges for managing bandwidths, not being able to access data in case on no internet connection, sharing and exchange of private data may not be possible when required and lack of ability to manipulate files and data locally (Bykztrk 2017). Cloud computing The cloud computing enables storage for data and information that can be maintained, managed and backed up even, thereby allow the users of services to store files online in a secured manner as well as gain accessibility to those from anywhere over the world by using internet. With the advancement in technology and communication, business management organizations need to sustain properly and for that it is important to manage storage of data, maintain good system architecture, enable autonomic computing system and ensure that all information are properly stored and accessed (Collis and Hussey 2013). The servers of networks are used that are hosted on the internet for handling data storage, accessibility and processing rather than using a local server or personal computer system. Advantages of cloud computing The major benefits of using the cloud computing are improving the technological infrastructures to expand flexibility and reduce the costs of expenses incurred while managing the cloud computing system. The cloud computing system is location independent, because of which, the users can access data from anywhere just by utilizing the internet facility. The businesses can follow a centralized approach that can reduce the cost of operations and overhead as well as increase the effectiveness of systems with ease and effectiveness (Csikszentmihalyi and Larson 2014). There are better scopes for managing disaster recovery and the security measures have improved as well. Cloud computing system enables self-service provisioning that allows the end users to compute the resources and manage workload according to the demands. The businesses can easily scale up with the increase in needs of computing whereas the scaling down happens when the demands are decreased (Marshall et al. 2013). The users could pay for the resources and workloads used by them, which further could result in avoiding the necessity to make investments. Disadvantages of cloud computing Few disadvantages of using the cloud computing are that lack of usability and convenience, poor bandwidth, etc. If data and information are transferred from the local storage device to the cloud storage, then it would be permanently moved and it could not be retained in the original folder where it was found earlier. The cloud storage devices have certain limit for bandwidth and in case the organization moves beyond the limitation of bandwidth, then additional charges will be required (McDonald et al. 2013). Thus, business organizations need to look at the bandwidth prior to considering the cloud storage. If there is no internet connection, there is no benefit of cloud computing and data cannot be accessed even. The security of data and information is hampered because sharing and exchange of information and data to other organizations can create complexities for business. All the services must be downloaded on all devices to manage the changes of data and information (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2012). The cloud computing has offered extensive services like encryption and decryption along with better management of security of data and information effectively. This could prevent identity thefts as well as loss of important data and information with ease and efficiency. Literature gaps The gaps found in the literature are related to the articles and documents that are not authenticated and validated, due to which the research has taken some additional time for completion. The articles and documents consisting of relevant data and information must be assessed again to determine the negative outcomes that might be generated as well as accomplish the research in much more details (Schaufeli, Maslach and Marek 2017). Research Hypothesis H0: The cloud computing used within the Australian retail sector has created some major issues while accessing data and information H1: The use of cloud computing system has improved the efficiency of business processes by managing servers, accessing and storing data with better flexibility. Research Question Research questions are the backbone of the research on which it is carried out. It is impossible to carry out research in any discipline without formulating proper research question. The questions are identified through the literature review, where the gap is identified to find out the scope where additional research is needed. The research questions are broadly divided into two categories that are primary and secondary. The primary research question focuses on the detail that needs to be answered, whereas the secondary questions are formed to obtain the answers for the primary question. Both the primary and secondary research questions helps the researcher to direct the research in a particular direction. Research Design and Methodology In this part of the research proposal, the discussion is based on different methodsa and designs that will work as a vessel to carry out the entire research. According to Baskerville and Wood-Harper (2016), research methodology and design is the framework of any research, which is associated with a set of paradigm assumption, and this assumption will conduct the research. Henceforth, it is necessary to identify the methods that are essential for the success of the research (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 2016;Bryman and Bell 2015). The research methods are broadly divided into two categories that are qualitative and quantitative research method. Qualitative methods are used to collect the qualitative data. This type of data can not be quantified or put in number. The analysis are done by its quality not quantity. On the other hand, quantitative methods are used to collect the measurable numeric data. There are various methods used in data collection. Some of them are specific to one cat egory and some of them are used in both the methods (Bryman and Bell 2015). This particular research will incorporate some specific data collection method that will be fruitful and provide significant data. They are as follows. Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research Both of these can be used in both the researches. The process of selecting the target population on which the study will be conducted is called sampling. The process marks out of segments a small portion of a larger population. It identifies the part of the larger mass that is potential to provide accurate data on the research. It is done in the initial part of the research (Collis and Hussey 2013). On the other hand, sample size is the number of the number of a sample on which the research is likely to be conducted. (Marshall et al. 2013) Data Collection Method The data collection method can be further divided into two types Primary data collection method and secondary data collection method. If the data is collected from the primary sources such as from the organization CEO, employee who are directly related to the organization, it is primary data collection method. Whenever the data are collected for secondary sources such as literature, it is referred as secondary data dollection method (Saunders, Lewisand Thornhill 2012). Reliability and Validity Csikszentmihalyi and Larson (2014) points out that when a particular instrument is used multiple times on the same topic in order to get similar topic, it is called reliability. It is for verifying the authenticity of the data. Validity of the other hand is the mandatory requirement for all types of research (McDonald et al. 2013). Research Instrument Research instruments are the tools used for collecting data. Various research instruments will be utilize in this research such as questionnaire, interview, observation, and reading (Schaufeli, Maslach and Marek 2017). Quantitative Data Analysis Process These are the numeric data collected using a range of methods and instruments. The management of cleaning and coding has been done to present the data in a detailed manner based on proper analysis and interpretation. All these are important concepts of the quantitative data analysis (Bykztrk 2017). Interview and Questionnaire Design One of the most important method used in this particular research is the interview and questionnaire method. When the researcher directly interacts with the informant and indulges in a question answer process for obtaining information, it is called interview. Both open ended or closed ended questions are asked in this particular process for accessing particular information. Questionnaire on the other hand is also a type of interview where the subject is provided with a set of questions. S/he has to reply to the questions in yes and no format. These two methods are important in organizational research where primary authentic data is necessary (Willis 2015). Research Limitation Every research has a limitation and it cannot address everything related to the topic. Too much data can sometimes spoil the research. The researcher himself sets some limitations whereas; some are imposed by the external factors. Time is an important external factor that sets limit for the research. Only a limited amount of data is possible to collect and analyzed in a particular timeframe. On the other hand, limitation set by the researcher is important to focus on a particular aspect of the study. Objectives of the research plays crucial role in setting limits as the research focuses in meeting the particular objectives(Veld-Merkoulova and Viteva 2016). Time Schedule (Research Plan) The research will be carried out over 2 year relying on both primary and secondary data. The secondary data includes the articles, journals, reviewed articles etc. On the other hand, the primary data are the data collected through interview method and questioner design. In both the cases, both qualitative researches and quantitative research will be carried out for collecting the data. The time schedule specifies particular timing and order to carry out the research successfully (Collis and Hussey 2013). It can also be refer as research plan, which specifies the topic, background, objective, methods, data, and analysis of the data and the timing and order it needs to be conducted. Main activities/ stages Month Jan 2016 Month Jun 2016 Month Dec 2016 Month Jan 2017 Month Jun 2017 Month Dec 2017 Selection of topic Collecting data from secondary sources Constructing the research layout Literature review Development of research Plan Selection of Appropriate Research Techniques Primary data collection Analysis Interpretation of Data which are collected Conclusion Development of Draft Final Work submission Conclusion Various researches conducted on the cloud computing demonstrates potential advantages and approaches of using the service in a business settings. The impacts of incorporating cloud computing in a business organization have been identified. However, there are only limited researches that focus on the disadvantages and limitations of cloud computing in business organizations in different industries. It is important to identify the limitations, disadvantages and negative impacts of the services to improve the service and extract the maximum profit out of it. Moreover, the possible threats of using cloud computing and the vulnerability of the system are the important area of research to make necessary innovation in the service. The confidential data of the business organizations needs absolute protection from the external threat. Therefore, understanding the negatives will throw lights in the areas that require development. The proposed questions mentioned in the proposal are capable of addressing these problems. The methodology and design of the research discussed in the report are essential to carry out the research in a favorable structure. However, there are some limitations of the research due to the limited time and access. Hence, the research will be carried out in the given boundaries. Reference List Baskerville, R.L. and Wood-Harper, A.T., 2016. A critical perspective on action research as a method for information systems research. InEnacting Research Methods in Information Systems: Volume 2(pp. 169-190). Springer International Publishing. Bryman, A. and Bell, E. 2015, Business Research Methods, (Fourth Edition), UK, Oxford University Press. Bykztrk, ?., 2017. Sosyalbilimleriinverianalizi el kitab?.PegemAt?f?ndeksi, pp.1-213. Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2013.Business research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Palgrave macmillan.Saks, M. and Allsop, J. eds., 2012. Researching health: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. Sage. Csikszentmihalyi, M. and Larson, R., 2014. Validity and reliability of the experience-sampling method. InFlow and the foundations of positive psychology (pp. 35-54). Springer Netherlands. Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A. and Fontenot, R., 2013. Does sample size matter in qualitative research?: A review of qualitative interviews in IS research.Journal of Computer Information Systems,54(1), pp.11-22. McDonald, C.M., Henricson, E.K., Abresch, R.T., Florence, J., Eagle, M., Gappmaier, E., Glanzman, A.M., Spiegel, R., Barth, J., Elfring, G. and Reha, A., 2013. The 6?minute walk test and other clinical endpoints in duchenne muscular dystrophy: Reliability, concurrent validity, and minimal clinically important differences from a multicenter study.Muscle nerve,48(3), pp.357-368. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. 2012. Research Methods for Business Students 6thedition, Pearson Education Limitedf. Schaufeli, W.B., Maslach, C. and Marek, T. eds., 2017.Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research. Taylor Francis. Veld-Merkoulova, Y. and Viteva, S., 2016. Conclusions, Limitations and Future Research. InCarbon Finance (pp. 129-131). Springer International Publishing. Willis, G.B., 2015.Analysis of the cognitive interview in questionnaire design. Oxford University Pres