Kants Categorical Imperative Essay Example for Free

Kants Categorical Imperative Essay Kantian ethics is a deontological, absolute theory proposed by Immanuel Kant in the late 1700’s. Kant taught that an action could only count as the action of a good will if it satisfied the test of the Categorical Imperative. The categorical imperative is based around the idea to act solely for the sake of duty. For example, you should share your sweets because it is a good thing to do; not because it makes you feel good. Consequentially, Kant would justify the good feeling you do when you perform a good act as a bonus not a reward. This opposes the hypothetical imperative which is where you act simply so you receive a of reward of some sort. The categorical imperative is based upon universable rules; maxims. These maxims are absolute moral statements that Kant says should be used everywhere by everyone and should thus never be broken. For example, do not kill. Additionally, the categorical imperative does not take individual situations into account. This means it is applicable to all situations and very straight forward to follow considering that everyone allegedly has the innate knowledge to follow these rules; for example do not steal. However, since it is absolute it means you must ignore any emotional influences on your decisions. Kant’s morals truths are revolved around following reason, not feelings. For example, if you have to choose between saving your grandfather or an unknown baby; the baby should be saved considering it has longer to live and more potential. You must ignore any temptation to save your relative due to your emotional attachment because you know reason does not justify that decision. Unlike the hypothetical imperative, the categorical imperative uses ends not means so is non-consequentialist. Therefore, it is wrong to use someone or something to achieve a certain outcome. For example, to be kind to my mum simply so she gives me money to go shopping. Kant would object to this instance in that you should be kind to your mother since it is your duty to respect your parents and be a kind person. Kant believed in a kingdom of ends. This idea is if everyone followed universalisation we would all be treated with equal respect. Furthermore, the Kantian theory is based upon the concept that good will joined with duty accounts an action as good. â€Å"It is impossible to conceive anything at all in the world which can be taken as good without qualification except a good will†. Thus good will, to â€Å"act for the sake of duty†, should a priority in your actions in order to fulfil your purpose not for external motives. This duty is innate within every person as a priori so an individual’s experiences, or lack of, cannot justify an action which does not follow good will. Kant believed numerous qualities for example, courage, intelligence, ambition and honour all to make a situation morally poorer. Kant also introduces the idea of the Summun Bonum. This is derived from Kant’s postulates of practical reason; aspects that are necessary within his theory for it to work. Firstly we must have freedom in order to use the innate knowledge we attain to follow duty and good will to achieve good. The Summun Bonum is the ultimate goal for everyone to aim to achieve in order to accomplish the ultimate reward. This reward points towards the existence of a God since one can only attain Summun Bonum in the afterlife; it is not achievable on earth. This means someone must be in the afterlife to give reward you what you deserve. Furthermore, this makes sense of the inequality in life. For example, paedophiles living happier lives than charity workers. Kant would say your good will must be repaid in the afterlife. b) â€Å"Kant’s ethical theory has no serious weaknesses† (Jan 09) Kan? an moral ethics is an absolute, non-consequen? alist, deontological theory proposed by Immanuel Kant. It is divided into two categories; hypothe? cal impera? ve and categorical impera? ve. The hypothe? cal impera? ve is when an act depends upon something else whereas the categorical impera? ve is an independent ac? on. A main weakness to Kant’s ethical theory is the fact that it is revolved around ful#lling your supposed duty. But who decides your duty? And what if you have two conic? ng du? es, for example you to #ght for your country but also to support your family; which do you priori? se? There are no guidelines as to which to priori? se. Furthermore, there are no guidelines how to face not priori? sing your emo? onal a)achment. By not having any considera? on for your feelings, this theory has a massive weakness since you have to be very strong willed to convince yourself Kant is correct. Especially if you were ever actually put that posi? on it seems unrealis? c anyone would chose to apply these rules, for example to save a stranger over their family. However, people may object saying a key strength to Kant’s theory is that it is a simple, absolute theory that by being applicable to all sta? ons is allowing for all people from all backgrounds and circumstances to understand as long as they have ra? onal thinking; according to Kant all human beings have. â€Å"Everyone who is ideally rational will legislate the same universal principles† Pojman (2002:147). Another unavoidable weakness to Kan?an moral ethics is that his universable laws are not applicable to all situa? ons. For example, do not lie. Should we follow that and make someone unnecessarily distressed? Kan? an ethics is not a consequen? alist theory however humans ae naturally compassionate and sensi? ve for a reason. Furthermore, from this we can deduct that your reason might not be the best thing to do. It is not guaranteed since it does not take consequences into considera? on. There are some situa? ons which require consequences to be considered since the outcome is so severe it seems kinder just to break a rule. However in response to this some people may say a prime strength of Kant’s theory is that Kant has a great respect for human beings autonomy. Therefore, a lot of dignity is carried with his theory that we have the ability to use our own ra? onal. In conclusion, Kan? an ethics de#nitely has some serious weaknesses due to the unrealis? c priori? sing of those you don’t have emo? onal connec? ons to, the fact it is not clearly applicable to every situa? on and addi? onally that it is based upon following your ‘duty’ of which is a weak concept itself for reasons explained.

Comparing the French Lieutenants Woman and Jewel in the Crown Essay

Similarities between French Lieutenant's Woman and Jewel in the Crown      Ã‚  Ã‚   John Fowles's French Lieutenant's Woman and Paul Scott's Jewel in the Crown are two literary works that illustrate continuity in British literature over time.   While French Lieutenant's Woman [is set in]...the Victorian era and Jewel in the Crown [depicts events in]... the twentieth century . . ., the two exhibit similar thematic content.   Both works emphasize the importance of social stature, both portray society's view of what's acceptable in the intimate relationships of women, and both are stories in which two lovers are together regardless of whether or not society approves.    The portrayal of social statures in French Lieutenant's Woman is rather simple.   Other than Sarah Woodruff, the characters are of the wealthy upper class.   Sarah is described as a "poor but educated woman who has lost her reputation."   Other characters include Charles Smithson, a wealthy gentleman who becomes Sarah's lover; Ernistina Freeman, Charles' fiance and daughter of a wealthy businessman; Mr. Freeman, Ernestina's father, a successful businessman who aspires to the upper class by marrying his daughter into [a higher class]...; and Ms. Poultney, a wealthy widow who takes in Sarah Woodruff to belittle and humiliate.    Social statures portrayed in Jewel in the Crown are more complicated; race also plays into the social status of its characters.   The main character of the story is Daphne Manners, who starts off as upper class but is later demoted to "that Manners girl" due to an inter-racial relationship with Hari Kumar.   Hari is born in India, but grew up well to do in England.   Upon his return to India he has lost his social status.   he aspires to the ... ...disapprove and criticize her.   It was a sad reality that white hostility for mixed relationships could devalue the life of an innocent child.    Jewel in the Crown and French Lieutenant's Woman illustrate in full, continuity in British literature.   While French Lieutenant's Woman represents the 1860s and Jewel in the Crown represents the 1940s, the two literary works remain very similar in plot and theme.   They also illustrate that the values of the British in regards to intimate relationships and social boundaries remained unchanged for over eighty years.    Works Cited    Damrosch, David, et al., ed.   The Longman Anthology of British Literature.   Vol. B. Compact ed.   New York:   Longman - Addison Wesley Longman, 2000. Scott, Paul.   The Jewel in the Crown.   (1966.)   Vol. 1 of the Raj Quartet.   Rpt. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1998.

Difference Between Black and White

Audrey Edwards propagates her belief that blacks must only marry blacks for the simple reason that whites continue to feel superior to blacks because the latter were their slaves at one time. Apparently, the difference between the whites and the blacks of the United States is deep-rooted – going back to early America where Europeans had brought African slaves. Although slavery was abolished in the centuries to come, the huge socioeconomic difference between the white masters and their black slaves was to remain at the level of the subconscious mind of America.From the subconscious mind to the culture of America – it was effortless for the â€Å"difference† between black and whites to make a transition. In a newspaper report published in the year 1957, the Governor of Arkansas maintained that peace was not possible without racial segregation, that is, without strict adherance to the concept of white privilege, which is defined as â€Å"a special advantage or bene fit of white persons; with reference to divine dispensations, natural advantages, gifts of fortune, genetic endowments, social relations, etc.  (Clark)†Integration was virtually impossible, in other words, and racial tension was expected to rise as a result of the discussions about letting the African Americans and the whites study together in an academic institution (â€Å"Act To Block Integration in Arkansas†). After all, the concept of white privilege entailed that the whites were socially and intellectually superior to the blacks, and therefore could not study with those that were inferior to them. In a racial riot like the one that was expected back in 1957, the African Americans were expected to fight for their self-esteem.The white Americans, on the contrary, were expected to protect their notion of superiority by fighting back. It appears to be a fact that the â€Å"difference† was mainly maintained by the whites as opposed to the blacks. The blacks wer e fighting for equal rights during the Civil Rights Movement of America. In response to the racial abuses they had suffered at the hands of the whites who had considered themselves superior to their slaves of the past; the blacks had to be compensated by means of affirmative action.Affirmative action is defined as a â€Å"policy that gives a preference to individuals based upon their belonging to designated groups who are underrepresented not only in the most desirable occupational classes, but also in school admissions and government contracts. † Those who are underrepresented thus can be referred to as disadvantaged groups, seeing as they do not have a powerful representative voice to speak for their rights.The policy of affirmative action serves as a blessing for the disadvantaged groups for this reason, by not only adding extra points to the credit of the members of disadvantaged groups when performance evaluation is called for, but also by allocating extra funds to recru it such members of the community. Whereas the opponents of affirmative action claim that it is injustice to favor a group just because it is considered â€Å"disadvantaged,† proponents of the policy assert that affirmative action is necessary to right the wrongs of the past with respect to discrimination and/or racism (Boylan).In other words, in the absence of affirmative action, discrimination and/or racism may very well continue in almost any if not all spheres of life. The â€Å"difference† between whites and blacks has definitely seeped into the culture of America from its subconscious mind where the history of the nation is stored. If the whites of America had not used the services of black slaves in the past, there would have been no question of white privilege, and America would not have found it useful to combat racism with affirmative action.In actuality, white privilege translates into obvious racism, which is a belief system claiming that individuals can be superior to others solely on the basis of race. The theory of racism has led to much violence and genocide in the world. It was racism that led the Nazis to slaughter the Jews simply by believing that the latter were inferior. The theory of racism seems to have been applied everywhere in the world, even though universal values inform us that people who are superior are only those who do good in this world.Would universal values, therefore, be able to end the â€Å"difference†? The answer appears to be Yes. Even so, the collective memory of America will not be eradicated, and nobody can force the whites, in particular, to forget that the blacks were their slaves in the past. The â€Å"difference† is expected to be maintained at some level. Finally, it is worthy of note that without the great socioeconomic divide between the blacks and the whites in America’s early memories, there would have been no conflict whatsoever.

The Revolution And The Reformation - 1432 Words

During the 16th and 18th century such as,the town of Boston being founded in 1632. Later, Roger Williams arrives in what today is Rhode Island, where he is to establish a settlement with twelve loving friends and neighbors† in 1636. All these events added to the idea that the explorers were more important than the scientific revolution and the reformation. Thus, the most important period for me was the explorers because without them we would not have some of the things we have today because they found the New World we use today and without them we would not have had the triangle trade. Supporters of the Explorers believe that without them we would not have the New World. Even if he wasn t the first his goal was to find a route to China going West. In his text/lecture â€Å"Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese Explorer)†,Francisco Contente Domingues a argues that â€Å"On October 12, 1520, he rounded the Cape of the Virgins (Cabo Và ­rgenes, Argentina) and at approximately 52`50`S entered the passage that proved to be the strait of his seeking, later to bear his name† (Encyclopedia Britannica). Based upon research, it is clear that Ferdinand Magellan is important because he found a different way to go around the world and opened it up for more explorers to come and discover more of the land. He went towards the west because he needed to avoid the Portuguese and because the Pope told him to because of the Treaty of Tordesillas .This research supports the idea that without them we would notShow MoreRelatedThe Scientific Revolution And The Reformation1435 Wo rds   |  6 Pagesarrives in what today is Rhode Island, where he is to establish a settlement with twelve loving friends and neighbors† in 1636.† ( Timeline). All these events added to the idea that the explorers were more important than the scientific revolution and the reformation. Thus, the most important period for me was the explorers because without them we would not have some of the things we have today because they found the New World we use today and without them we would not have had the triangle trade.Read MoreThe Revolution And Reformation During The Renaissance1205 Words   |  5 PagesRevolution and reformation; these are two words that are often identified with war, disagreement, and regional effects. While these things do indeed come along with a revolution or reformation, they heed an array of positive and secular outcomes as well. In addition, a revolution can, and usually will, cause a reformation. Conversely, a reformation can cause a revolution. This can happen despite the two things involved with the change or disagreement being seemingly unrelated. The world is connectedRead MoreHumanism and the Renaissance + Protestant Reformation = Scientific Revolution3038 Words   |  13 PagesHumanism and the Renaissance + Protestant Reformation = Scientific Revolution Kelly McCabe CCM Summer Session III Professor Pilant Term Paper CCM Summer Session III 2012 Early Modern European History Term Paper The later Middle Ages is characterized as a time of great transition and advancement, especially pertaining to areas of politics, economics, art and intellect. A new trend towards the pursuit of new knowledgeRead MoreCompare and Contrast Religion during Reformation, Industrial Revolution, and World at War1413 Words   |  6 PagesThe periods during the Reformation, Industrial Revolution, and the World at War all experienced religious and church conflicts. During the Renaissance and Reformation (1330 – 1650), the fundamental practices of the church came under fire. The church at this time was the largest and most political body. The pope, himself, was the most recognizable political figure. It was due to this authority that the church and its pope were more interested in political issues and less with the spiritual needsRead MoreHow the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution Led to a More Secular and Democrtatic Society1437 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Revolu tions Lead to Political Reform: How the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution Led to a more Secular and Democratic Political Atmosphere. Since the beginning of time cultural views have influenced and shaped our society but never has more change occurred than during the Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution. We leave the middle ages a society of Kings and feudal life and emerge with the beginnings of modern political theory. The RenaissanceRead MoreThe Reformation Of The 16th Century862 Words   |  4 Pages One of the most significant religious revolution of the 16th century was the Reformation. Martin Luther protested the doctrine of the church such as – indulgence could help ordinary people pay for their sins and that church was the only way to attain salvation. On the other hand Luther believed that faith alone leads to salvation and it can t be won or bought. He criticized the administration of the church for luring people in buying relics saying it represented god or sending them to pilgrimageRead MoreThe Decline Of The Protestant Reformation1276 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: The Protestant Reformation was a religious act in the 1500’s that split the Christian Church in Western Europe and led to the establishment of many new churches. It effected spiritual thought, philosophy, political work, and the economies of several countries all around the world. The effects of the Reformation can still be felt in modern times. Stimulated by a devout and renowned German Monk, Martin Luther, this reformation sent shockwaves throughout Europe and played a significantRead MoreEnlightened Philosophers (John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Jean Jacques Rousseau)1495 Words   |  6 Pagesthose times. During the Protestant Reformation, times were also different and his opinion may have altered again. Locke may have not cared about the people as much because he was too busy criticizing the government/ churches. The Protestant Reformation was a time where people were very critical of the churches because they abused their power which is one of Lockes philo sophies; people want to be protected by the government, not abused. During the Scientific Revolution, however, people were big on scienceRead MoreThe Protestant Reformation And The Reformation916 Words   |  4 PagesThe Protestant Reformation took place in the 16th century and was a major European movement whose goal was to reform the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. This movement led to people worshipping God as they wanted and no longer relying on the Catholic Church for guidance with religious matters. Even though people were doing what they believed, the Protestant Reformation brought many conflicts. Religious disagreements caused bloody conflicts all over Europe. The principal figureRead MoreCauses Of The Protestant Reformation725 Words   |  3 Pagesperiod of 1300 to 1789 the churchs power declined by a significant amount. A number of things happened that decreased the churchs power during the time period of 1300 to 1789, but the Protestant reformation a nd the Scientific Revolution had weakened the role of the church the most. The Protestant Reformation had decreased the role of the church in Europe by decreasing its power by a large margin. Martin Luther had, had some ideas of what was wrong with the church. He expressed his ideas by writing

TOEIC Scores by Age, Gender, Country, and Education

If youve taken the TOEIC Listening and Reading exam, then you know that it can be difficult to ascertain how well youve done on the test. Even though many businesses and institutions have minimum TOEIC scores or proficiency levels for hiring, the levels may be quite different from another institutions base requirements. So, where do you stand with the scores youve earned? How do your scores compare with the scores of others who have taken the test? Here are the average TOEIC scores by a number of different factors: age, gender, country of birth, and education level.   Average TOEIC Scores by Country of Birth The first numbers after the countries are the mean or average TOEIC scores for the Listening Test. The second numbers are the mean or average TOEIC scores for the Reading Test. Remember that the highest possible score achievable on each exam is a 495 and anything over 450 is generally considered excellent with no real weaknesses in the language by the makers of the test, ETS.   ALBANIA 208   168  ALGERIA 344   299  ARGENTINA 368   340   BELGIUM 393   362BRAZIL 334   303  CAMEROON 322   282CANADA 432   393CHILE 257   218  CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 350   322COLOMBIA 343   304  COSTA RICA 378 326COTE DIVOIRE (IVORY COAST) 324 297  CZECH REPUBLIC 398 362  EGYPT 218 177  FRANCE 377   342  GERMANY 425   362  GREECE 321 247  HONG KONG 297 235  INDIA 408   361  INDONESIA 234 188ITALY 371   355  JAPAN 284   228KOREA (ROK) 351   295LEBANON 409   354MACAO 258 191MALAYSIA 362   294  MONGOLIA 247 189MOROCCO 375   324   PAKISTAN 299 227PERU 307 279  PHILIPPINES 384   325  POLAND 315   243  PORTUGAL 404   362  REUNION 352   318  RUSSIA 359   308  SENEGAL 344   298SLOVAKIA 358 317  SPAIN 345   335  TAIWAN 294   242  THAILAND 274 207  TUNISIA 374   334  TURKEY 355 299  Ã‚  UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 298   183  VIETNAM 249   229  Ã‚  Ã‚   Average TOEIC Scores by Age It appears as though the 26-30-year-olds have the highest average TOEIC scores in this set of statistics, even though they accounted for only17.6% of testers. Check it out: Age Average Listening Score Average Reading Score under 20 276 215 21-25 328 274 26-30 339 285 31-35 320 270 36-40 305 258 41-45 293 246 over 45 288 241 Average TOEIC Scores by Gender Just 44.1% of test-takers were female, compared to the 55.9% of testers who were male. On average, women outscored men on both the Listening and Reading tests.   Female Listening Score Average: 327Female Reading Score Average: 266Male Listening Score Average: 304Female Reading Score Average: 255 Average TOEIC Scores by Level of Education More than half (56.5%) of the test-takers sitting for the TOEIC exam were in college, attempting to earn their undergraduate degree at a four-year university. Here are the statistics, based on the levels of education of the testers. Again, the first score is for the Listening exam and the second is for the Reading portion. Graduate school: 351   310Undergraduate college:   338   285Junior high school: 284 214High school:  276   212Elementary school: 265   220Community college:  Ã‚  268   210Language institution:   268 194 Vocational school after high school:  258   193Vocational school:   236   169 TOEIC LISTENING PRACTICE

Obesity As An Extreme Excess Of Body Fat - 1690 Words

Put simply, obesity can be defined as an extreme excess of body fat. Simple, health-oriented definitions of obesity should be based on the amount of excess body fat at which health risks to individuals begin to increase. Since no such definitions currently exist, measurements of height and weight help to assess the overall health and nutritional status of adults. Obesity and healthy weight can be defined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated as weight and height squared. Obesity is caused by many factors, including the contributions of inherited, metabolic, behavioral, cultural, and socioeconomic effects. Obesity may raise the risk of illness from numerous issues such as heart disease and diabetes. As weight increases, so does the prevalence of health risks. Because of the importance of these issues, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers obesity among the 10 leading health indicators in Healthy People 2020, which are the health objectives for the Nati on. In recent history, obesity among the black communities has become one of the most prevalent issues that urban America endures. But why is urban America falling victim to such a seemingly curable health epidemic you ask? Over the years, people of color in focus groups have admitted that they did not eat healthy foods or exercise regularly. Many had personal stories of friends and family members who had been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure. This reality was making them moreShow MoreRelatedObesity is Not a Disease Essay1185 Words   |  5 PagesObesity has played a major role in media over the last decade. With growing concern over the issue, a controversy over whether obesity is a disease itself or not has developed. Obesity, by definition, is a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body, usually indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater. According to the currently accepted definition of disease, a condition of the body or one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typicallyRead MoreThe Obesity Pandemic Occurring Across The World1090 Words   |  5 Pagesthe reason for the obesity pandemic occurring across the world, how ever few understand the true meaning. Media attempts to portray the simpler version of energy balance, consuming the proper amount of calories to energy expenditure. Conversely, the quality of the calories consumed drastically alters the end result. For example, consuming excess sugar with limited fiber leads to the creation of fat. The directors of Fed Up raise awareness to the many other issues producing an extreme weight gain amongRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity Essay1169 Words   |  5 PagesObesity Obesity refers to excess body fat while overweight refers to excess body weight in terms of excess fat, muscles, bone or water. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2009–2010), about 69% of the adult population in the U.S. is overweight or obese, with more than 78 million adults being obese. Consistent with the survey, at least 2 in 3 adults are overweight or obese and more than 1 in 3 adults are obese. In addition, more than 1 in 20 adults in the URead MoreEssay about Childhood Obesity1310 Words   |  6 PagesThe biggest loser is one of the reality television programs that aimed to reduce the contestant body weight and gain healthy lifestyle. From this reality television programs lot of overweight people assemble to enter this competition. If it being looked deeper with or without we realizing, obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, and all this evidence suggests that the situation is likely to get worse. In developed regi ons such as Europe, the United States of America, and in AustralasiaRead MoreDr. Robert Lustig s A Professor Of A University Program1258 Words   |  6 Pageseventually gained his medical degree from the medical school at Cornell University. He is the Professor of Pediatrics in the Endocrinology Department, at the University of California, San Francisco. He specializes in Neuroendocrinology as well as the obesity of children. In addition to his role as the Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF, Dr. Lustig is the director of a university program known as the WATCH program, or Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health. Furthermore, Dr. Lustig spearheaded the non-profitRead MoreWeight Loss Of Overweight And Obesity Essay1124 Words   |  5 PagesTable of Content Disclaimer, Terms Conditions Introduction to Weight Loss Causes of Overweight and Obesity Different Body Parts and Weight Diet Weight Loss Your Weight Loss Daily Diet Plan 12 Best Weight Loss Friendly Foods Best Exercises to Lose weight on Different Body Parts Best Way to Lose Weight in a Week The Magic of Affirmations Conclusion One Last Thing Introduction to Weight Loss Unfortunately, for most people gaining weight is much easier than losing weight. It is not uncommon forRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1442 Words   |  6 Pages5/13/16 Take home Project: Obesity Obesity basically means having too much body fat. Not being overweight for your height, having too much muscle, or water in your body. What exactly is obesity? â€Å"Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is a tool used to measure obesity. Obesity increases your risk ofRead MoreExternal Environment765 Words   |  4 PagesSo far I’ve proposed the ecology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦both non-ecological and ecological factors (predominately, changing food culture) contribute to obesity. However, there reaches a point in which these gene-environmental conditions directly intersect with the external environment of an individual, which can is turn influence their internal environment and determine how we process cues and food from our surroundings. This is arguably the ultimate gene-environmen tal interaction under which we have no over-riding controlRead MoreCritique of Mary Worleys Article: Fat and Happy Essay997 Words   |  4 PagesAs obesity escalates towards becoming an epidemic in modern day America, pressures to stay fit have become overwhelming from media and doctors. Mary Ray Worley, a member of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), believes that modern day society is completely intolerant of obesity so much as to say that they would rather die or cut off a limb than be fat (492). She has made it a priority to convince Americans to accept obesity which she fights for in her essay, Fat and Happy:Read MoreJunk Food And Its Effects On The Levels Of Healthy And Well Diet1100 Words   |  5 Pagescalories, salt, and fat. Fast food and junk foods share a common involvement with high levels of calories from fat or sugar with petite minerals, proteins, and vitamins. In most cases, junk foods are considered to be candy, gum, fried foods, salted s nack, sugary beverages,fast food and sweets. Frequently, foods with more highly processed are considered as junk food. The importance daily intake of junk food determines the level of healthy and well diet. Fast food gives the body back an insignificant

Relationship Between Leaders and Followers

Question: Discuss about the Relationship Between Leaders and Followers. Answer: Introduction: Any successful organization depends solely on the relationship that exists between its leadership and the entire stakeholders. Locke and Associates (1999) define leadership a process of motivating others to take a particular action for a common goal. Being a leader, you must have followers which in this case are several members including the personnel within the organizations. Both members and the leaders have different obligation required of them to execute to attain the mutual mission of the organization. Therefore, the aim of this excerpt is to explore in details the relationships that exist between the leaders and their followers within organizations. Worth noting is that the relationship between leaders and the members can be influenced by the organizational structure adopted by a particular firm. An organization that takes a closed system of management often tends to exhibit strict chain of command which intricately slows down the process of decision making. In this kind of system, no one dares, especially the subordinate, employees to question the leader even if the decision is wrong. Such an occurrence could be simply because the company policy dictates one to follow the stipulated channel of communication. On the other hand, organizations that adopt an open system of management provide an ample environment for both leaders and followers to relate well without hindrance for the common goal of the groups. Milakovich and Gordon (2009) refer to the leadership of this kind of system as a social system in which the meaning is attained through a mutual transaction between the leaders and the followers of an organization. Transaction al leaders are the ones that identify the needs of their members in their working environment and try to avail them for the benefit of motivating them. As a result, the production will increase to meet the organization's goals. Moreover, theorists such as Fidler who coined the contingency theory of leadership argue that the output of a particular group depends on the emotional orientation of the leader as well as the environment of the group, the nature of the task and finally the power position held by the head (Peterson et al., 2008). If the relationship between the leader and the followers is right, there are higher chances of attaining the target goal. Moreover, the nature of the task also can determine the relationship between the members and the leader. The contingency theory argues that the behaviour pattern exhibited by a leader is determined by the requirements dictated by the situation. The task variable explains how the nature of work determines the leader-follower relations. If the work to be carried out is clearly defined, the leader will not have to spend much time explaining to the followers what they are required to do. Furthermore, the power position is another determinant of relations between the leader and the follower based on Fidlers contingency theory (Goldhaber, 1993). The leadership position of a leader depends on whether the individual assigned to the position has an authoritative power over the members. If the position has authority, within an organization then that leader has less effort making decisions over the employees or followers, and they are likely to listen to him/her. Such is contrary to when they have less authority. For example, a leader is given the position of a chairperson in a committee within an organization but does not have the power to make major decisions. Therefore, building and maintaining a good relationship with the followers determine the output. Based on the leader-member exchange theory, the rate at which the followers produce often tends to be proportional to how he/she relates to them. Some follow produce more than others based on some variables such as the e nvironment created by fellow followers and the leader or the psychological factors (Sheraz, 2012; Yaseen, 2010). Therefore, to achieve the maximum output from the followers, a leader ought to employ the transactional kind of leadership to make every follower feel they are part of the organization. On the flip side, the followers also have an obligation within an organizations leadership. A follower must be able to portray a good sense of judgment. Such is considered being a quality that every individual within the organization must possess some leaders may at times fail to offer the right decision. Therefore it is upon the follower to gauge the directive by the leader and be able to act upon it. Some leaders make bad choices which if not corrected in time, might put the organization in an awkward position. For example, a chief executive officer may give additives that can jeopardize the image of the company. Thus the public relations office being a follower has an obligation to make the right call act on the directive or offer a proper advice on how to react to the situation. Moreover, a good follower also must observe a work ethic. To have a good relationship between the follower and the leader, the follower must be diligent in their obligations. Bess and Dee (2012) argue that contingency theory of leadership requires the member traits, which entail right skills, and maturity level determines the leadership behavior. The leaders role is to provide the necessary requirements for the followers to achieve optimum performance while the supporters duty is to use their skills and competence to execute their due obligations. Also, members know their responsibility. A good relation between the follower and leader is often achieved when the follower knows his/her responsibility. It is much easier for a fan to complete their obligation without conflicting with the leader. It also makes them proactive to help fellow members for achieving the groups desired goals. In turn, this also helps save time and improves efficiency within an organization. Besides, followers must possess courage as one of their traits. It is not easy in some organizations for followers to take the bull by the horns and confront their leaders even when they out rightly know the head is wrong. Such a scenario often arises where the organization adopts the hierarchical kind of management. As a result, the followers often retreat for fear of being intimidated by their leaders or fear of causing a strained relationship between them and the leader. In turn, this may cause significant problems to the organization because of a single mistake that ought to have been reported by the follower but chose not to. Interpersonal relationship between the member and the leader could have the influence on the organization's goals. It is wise to note that the ultimate reason for both the leader and the follower is to achieve the preset organizational goals. At times, the strained interpersonal relationship between the leader and the follower could affect the performance o f either due to poor communication as well attitudes towards each other. However, the bottom line is for the follower to understand where his/her loyalty lies. Personal relationship with the leader should not act as a boulder between them and attain the organizations goals (Chris Maser, 2013) Also, emotional consciousness is a requirement of a follower. To have a good relationship between the leader and the follower, one must possess a sense of controlling their emotions to themselves as well as with another member. They must remain composed and maintain calm in challenging situations. For instance, some leaders, due to time constraints push their followers to work for long hours to meet the deadlines, which could affect the relationship that exists between them and their supporters. However, it is too, an obligation of the follower to understand the matter at hand and put the interest of the organizations first before theirs. Nevertheless, self-motivated followers often create a good relationship between them and the leaders. Real fans always take an initiative to perform the task without being pushed around to accomplish the work that they ought to have done on their own. As a result, in most organizations, people with such initiatives have landed recognition through awards and promotion to leadership since they get along with almost anyone. However, it should be worth noting that having such an initiative trait should not lead the follower to be contemptuous of fellow members, rather a motivation to provide more for the organization while maintaining good relations with the leader. While we have analyzed the roles the leaders and followers in an organization, it is important to look at benefits of having a good relationship between them and its repercussions to the team. First, a good rapport between a leader and the followers builds trust. As discussed above in the Fidlers contingency theory of leadership, some leadership power position determines the members performance. Thus, suppose the leadership position has a little power that is the leader does not have authority over the followers, good relationship that exists between him/her and they will convince them to perform without being pushed around because they have trust in him/her. As a result, the organization will benefit Moreover, a good relationship between a leader and the followers will create the right organizational image to the public, which may attract a positive reaction from stakeholders who would like to associate with the organizations. Examples include the investors as well as well-wishers. An organization whose leaders relate well with their followers, often tend to experience tremendous positive changes. Leaders who embrace new ideas from their supporters can gain more (Chen Silverthorne, 2005). Thus, they not only improve the services of the organization but also provide an opportunity for follower members to become leaders. These are often known as transformative leaders since they see the goodness in others. In conclusion, the relationship between the leaders and followers is vital to the success of any organization. As discussed in the essay, both the leader and the follower must meet several obligations as well as exhibit certain traits for common organizational goals. Irrespective of the circumstances that are contingent to various leadership practices effective communication between the leaders and followers is crucial. Also, the relationships that exist between leaders and followers have the significant influence on output and building of members trust. Finally, the image of the organization hinges on relationship positive relations among its member. References Carolin G., Wilkins, D. (2013). Leadership Pure and Simple: How Transformative Leaders Create Winning Orgaanizations. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Chen, J., Silverthorne, C. (2005). 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