Apology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Apology - Essay Example Yet another account of the trial is given by Aristophanes, a comic playwright. The philosopher was a member of the sub-council – the Council of Five Hundred – that ruled over the Assembly. His morals, way of thinking did not create much of a fuss at first. He did all that he thought was right, nothing more and then a time came when Athens was under attack and Sparta won the battle. The Greeks were humiliated and angry, especially when Socrates did not seem to approve of their form of government. He was considered as a critic of the then governmental system of Greece and due to this and other things he was accused against, he was put on trial by Anytus, Lycon and Meletus – the latter being the prosecutor who was mostly responsible for putting Socrates on trial. "Socrates does injustice and is meddlesome, by investigating the things under the earth and the heavenly things, and by making the weaker speech the stronger, and by teaching others these same things" (Plat o, West and West 66). The above were the charges placed against Socrates and he had to plead innocent or guilty for them. In simple words, Socrates’ thoughts were not similar to the thoughts the Greeks generally had. He believed that the gods knew everything, were present everywhere, one could not hide anything or anyone from them. The majority of the Greeks thought that the gods were partially present, that they knew some things and remained unaware about others. Their concepts of gods was different and it was not that much of a problem until Socrates actually refused to follow an order regarding to agreeing to allowing something illegal to happen. He had taken a vow and believed that the gods would know he had done wrong and for this he was being put on trial, for going against what they thought was god’s will when, in fact, it was just their own. The wording of this charge of impiety makes one assume that Socrates did not believe in the gods which were worshipped by the people of Athens, but also that he did not believe in the authority of gods at all. When, in fact, that was not the case and Socrates proves them wrong at several points in his apology. Socrates relates an incident in which Chaerephon, a friend of his and also quite a famous personality in the city, went to the Oracle of Delphi and actually questioned whether anyone was wiser than Socrates and the reply was in negative. The philosopher believed this to be a paradox in itself since he did not consider himself to be the wisest person, but thought it to be true, too, so he spent his entire life trying to prove the Oracle of Delphi correct. On questioning a few of the prominent Athenians who were thought to be wise, Socrates only managed to conclude that, indeed, he was the wisest of all of them. This was because he was aware of the fact that he was still ignorant of many things of life, whilst the others thought they were intelligent enough, they did not think that there might be room for further improvement, etc. and that was the paradox itself. The fact that he knew he was ignorant and the others did not proved that he was the Oracle was right. This point did seem to humiliate the respected men and only managed to turn them against him though. But it also shows that Socrates wanted the Oracle to be right and if he

Oligopolistic Market Model and Oil Prices

Oligopolistic Market Model and Oil Prices Executive Summary The report is prepared to explain how oligopolistic market model is the best model to relate to the current increase in the price of Oil. The Oil petroleum Organization is analyzed deeply which clearly depicts the oligopoly style of marketing by the members of OPEC. It has also examined by lot of research and based on recent reports that the OPEC tries to influence the oil prices by controlling the supply of oil production with the consent of all the members and tries to fix the oil prices in order to gain heavy profits. OPEC works on the same rule as followed by oligopoly market structure and hence clearly indicates its relation to each other and is best example of oligopoly market style. 1.0 Introduction The Oligopoly market structure is the market which has few producers and large number of buyers which gives these producers an advantage to control the market. According to (Scholasticus, 2010), the buyers have very less alternatives and do not have enough knowledge about the market. The producers inflate the prices of their goods to attract more customers by reducing prices leading to deflated price level.ÂÂ   Based on Scholastics writing in one of its articles, the producers have perfect knowledge of the consumers but consumers do not have any information about the producers or their act of influencing the prices has a negative effect on national economy. 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Features of Oligopoly Market There are few producers and large number of buyers. The producers deal in differentiated products. (Jayasuriya, 2011, p. 87) One of the producer or firm become the leader of the group and makes others to agree or dominates them to fix the prices which results in price leadership. The competition in an Oligopoly market is intense and both price and non-price methods are used to attract more customers. For example in lot of advertisements, producers mention We will not be beaten on price. The price will be matched with the competitor selling price (Labs S. S.) In Oligopoly market, firms or producers get together to share a market and decide on prices. Because of an uncompetitive market structure, they enjoy heavy profit by raising the prices or lowering the prices to attract more customers resulting in entry barriers to this market. (Labs S. S.) According to recent study by Stanley St Labs., the competition is very different in oligopoly as compared to other markets forms. In other markets, it is violent because of the high competition to gain the market share but in oligopoly, the firms are interested to gain the market share by collaborating to earn heavy profits. Firms are mutually interdependent which means if one firm changes its prices, it will affect the sales of other firms. 2.2 Kinked Style Demand Curve According to (Stewart Rankin, 2008, p. 141), the oligopoly market structures have kinked demand curves and the demand curve for the product has two sections called inelastic and elastic section. demand curve.png Kinked Demand Curve The elasticity of demand depends on the amendments of rival companies price or service output. The assumption made here is that the all the companies would want a considerable market share along with heavy profits: There is no increase of price by one particular firm. This is elastic demand. There would be an adverse impact on the total revenue of the company. In a situation where the rival company reduces it prices in order to maintain its market share, it would be an inelastic demand curve. Due to reduction in prices again, this would impact the total revenue of the company. The Price warsÂÂ  between the firms does not benefit anyone but it benefits the consumers in fact. (ecoteacher) Based on the above graph, we state it faces kinked style demand curve because of these reasons: It shows price rigidity. It controls the market segment. Leader decides the market Price and others agree to it. It results in Mergers/cartels and collusion to control market. Producers decide on prices with the consent of others. It has Horizontal and Vertical Integration. 2.3 Few Industry examples given by Economists teachers society of South Australia are: The grocery market in Australia is oligopoly which is dominated by Woolworths and Coles. They have lot of stores in Australia and have an extensive distribution system across Australia. It is difficult to compete with these firms as it requires huge investment to gain the kind of market share as they have. The Automobile Industry is a form of oligopoly market. The world Oil production market or Oil refining is also another oligopoly dominated by the seven sisters multinational oil companies like BP, Shell, and Exxon. The telecommunications market in Australia was initially aÂÂ  monopoly but as new telecom service providers started operating, it resulted in a group of few giant telecom providers competing for a greater market share. 2.4 INTRODUCTION OF OPEC According to the OPEC Organization, OPEC is the intergovernmental organization (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) consisting of 12 oil producing and exporting countries across America, Asia and Africa continents. The members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates Venezuela. (About Opec, 2011) A report (OPEC organization, 2011) states that it was formed on September 14, 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq, by five Founder Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It was registered with the United Nations Secretariat on November 6, 1962 (UN Resolution No 6363). OPEC organization (2011) indicates their principal objectives as: To develop and maintain the petroleum policies for the Members Countries to safeguard their interests. To ensure the stability of the prices in the international oil markets to eliminate the unnecessary price fluctuations To provide a regular supply of petroleum to the nations while expecting a fair return on the petroleum industry investment. 2.5 OPEC: Oligopolistic market model TheÂÂ  Organisation of Petroleum Exporting CountriesÂÂ  orÂÂ  OPECÂÂ  is an oligopoly market which is dominated by the Arab oil producers as they hold the maximum amount of oil refineries which gives them an opportunity to dominate others and decide on prices. Cartel is another name for an oligopoly of producers of a commodity. (About Opec, 2011) The Members of OPEC tries to influence the world oil prices with the consent of all and they set the production quotas and become an effectiveÂÂ  cartelÂÂ  by restricting the sales. They deeply analyse the current market situation and anticipate future demand and supply to see various fluctuations of prices in the markets. After analysing the market scenario, they decide to raise or lower the oil production as agreed by all the members to maintain price stability and make the oil available for consumption. (corporation, 2003-2011) According to (Oil :Crisis and Collusion, 2011), OPEC was organized with the purpose of manipulating the oil prices by controlling oil supplies to the market. It controls approximately 80% of the worlds oil reserves and 40% of the worlds production among their 12 member states. As discussed earlier, it is dominated by Gulf States who can easily turn the taps on and off when required to influence the market prices. Even when the economy was facing an issue of recession, it did not have any effect on oil industry and were still making heavy profits. Hence, we can say that OPEC does play an important role in making decision of oil supply to the market which may affect the oil prices in a greater extent. The members have larger number of oil reserves and can increase or decrease the production or supply whenever they want. As they very well know that all the developing and developed nations wants oil and has almost become the necessity of life like food in todays lifestyle, so they try to earn as much as they can by controlling the prices with the kind of power they hold in their hands. However, we may say that OPEC has oil reserves and cannot produce more oil as they do not have any more oil reserves as overestimated by us. There can be lot of other reasons as well which may give rise to the oil prices like any commodity price fluctuation due to the demand and supply effect. (Savage, 2008) 2.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Oligopoly Market Structure The cost of a service of product in under oligopolistic tend to be lower in comparison to that of a monopolistic firm, but more than a competitive market. There is stability in pricing; however the prices would lead to reduction if any other firm reduces. This will impact the profitability of the companies giving a benefit to the customer. As there are barriers to join oligopolies, it gives the firms cost advantages. This is because they would cater to mass production. Consequently it encourages having highly competitive production processes which than improvises the service delivery. (William Boyes, 2008) 3.0 Conclusion To conclude, we can say that OPEC is an oligopoly form of market structure where few nations who have oil reserves decide on the current production and supply of oil with each other consent which directly influences the price of oil. Hence, oligopolistic market structure model explains the behaviour of oil industry and its effects on the market prices. In a recent report (corporation, 2003-2011) states that United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia and China also produces oil and are expected to reduce the need for gasoline in future through its improved techniques and research and development in other forms of energy which will also reduce the affect of dominance of OPEC on the price of oil.

Analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo :: The Count of Monte Cristo Vengence Power Essays

Analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo The theme of The Count of Monte Cristo is one of vengeance and forgiveness, power and powerlessness. When Dantes is unfairly given a life-prison sentence by his enemies (Villefort, Danglars, and Fernand), he spends every waking moment planning his revenge. As soon as Dantes miraculously escapes and returns to the world with riches, he sees it as a sign that God has opened for him the door of revenge. He is no longer his former self. Fourteen years behind bars in a dark cell has given him a criminal’s mind. Instead of the innocent, carefree, life-loving boy of nineteen, Dantes is now a hardened, cynical, and mistrustful man in his mid-thirties. It seems a reverse baptism of sorts takes place instantly as Dantes hits the water after being thrown off the cliff by the prison guards. Immediately Dantes begins lying to and using those around him. No longer is Dantes the clear-cut hero. To show that he is a different person, Dumas refers to Dantes as the Count of Monte Cristo once he returns to society. Now the count, now he has enemies, and plays games with those he dislikes. Though he rewards those who treated him and his father well, most of the story is devoted to Monte Cristo’s desire for vengeance. Throughout the story, Dantes changes disguises in order to deceive those around him and further his own agenda of punishment for his enemies. Yet when he sees Villefort’s dead son, a truly innocent victim, the count realizes that he has gone too far. For the first time he comes to the realization that perhaps he doesn’t have the gift of Providence, the right to punish others. In efforts to reconcile these feelings, Monte Cristo arranges the marriage between Maximilien and Valentine. At first he hopes to punish himself by committing suicide, but when Haydee admits her love for him, the count takes it as a sign from God that he is forgiven. Analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo :: The Count of Monte Cristo Vengence Power Essays Analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo The theme of The Count of Monte Cristo is one of vengeance and forgiveness, power and powerlessness. When Dantes is unfairly given a life-prison sentence by his enemies (Villefort, Danglars, and Fernand), he spends every waking moment planning his revenge. As soon as Dantes miraculously escapes and returns to the world with riches, he sees it as a sign that God has opened for him the door of revenge. He is no longer his former self. Fourteen years behind bars in a dark cell has given him a criminal’s mind. Instead of the innocent, carefree, life-loving boy of nineteen, Dantes is now a hardened, cynical, and mistrustful man in his mid-thirties. It seems a reverse baptism of sorts takes place instantly as Dantes hits the water after being thrown off the cliff by the prison guards. Immediately Dantes begins lying to and using those around him. No longer is Dantes the clear-cut hero. To show that he is a different person, Dumas refers to Dantes as the Count of Monte Cristo once he returns to society. Now the count, now he has enemies, and plays games with those he dislikes. Though he rewards those who treated him and his father well, most of the story is devoted to Monte Cristo’s desire for vengeance. Throughout the story, Dantes changes disguises in order to deceive those around him and further his own agenda of punishment for his enemies. Yet when he sees Villefort’s dead son, a truly innocent victim, the count realizes that he has gone too far. For the first time he comes to the realization that perhaps he doesn’t have the gift of Providence, the right to punish others. In efforts to reconcile these feelings, Monte Cristo arranges the marriage between Maximilien and Valentine. At first he hopes to punish himself by committing suicide, but when Haydee admits her love for him, the count takes it as a sign from God that he is forgiven.

Creationism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Essay

The significant role of schools in teaching the population of students is one way to make sure that the society will have a bright future. However, in the cases wherein inappropriate teaching methods are used, this dream may be compromised. A very clear example is the teaching of creationism. Creationism is a perspective that identifies a certain supreme being to be the main perpetrator of the existence of the universe, including humanity (Ruse, 2007). There is an identifiable group of people who primarily believes in this notion. And because of that sectarian acceptance, there was a time when schools became a subject of intention in propagating this idea. In a much greater sense, creationism should never be taught in schools primarily because of the compromising effects it will bring towards the molding of the students. The topic is very much centered towards the philosophy of a person and do not provide any significant learning attribute. This is in direct contrast to the mission of the school to provide only the type of learning methods based on exact, credible and scientifically formulated aspects of knowledge. Creationism tends to be of religious in nature. It always inhibits the natural flow of scientific process to learn the observable and logical way of nature. As a result, it is very possible that students may get confused about their own perception about the universe and everything about it. They may leave the pre-conditions of scientific knowledge in favor of an easier to understand notion of creationism. Moreover, there may be cases in which some students may feel deprived of their rights to believe what they want to according to their respective philosophies in life. Creationism is a biased form of belief which only bases its ideology to a personal intuition. References Ruse, M. 2007. Creationism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved January 14, 2008 from http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/creationism/.