Kropotkin

Russian main proponent of anarchist communism, Kropotkin (1842–1921)  believed that Darwin’s theory of evolution, properly applied, showed that human beings are social creatures who flourish best in small communities cemented together by mutual aid and voluntary associations. A guiding spirit of the international anarchist movement, Kropotkin was also a distinguished geographer, a scientist and a positivist. He was a geographer who carried out explorations of Siberia, Finland, and Manchuria before devoting his life to political activities. Kropotkin was a Russian aristocrat by birth but he renounced his title 1872 and henceforth devoted himself to the cause of social revolution, spending most of his later life in Western Europe and Britain. Memoirs of a Revolutionist is the work in which Kropotkin summarized his ideas. This entertaining and candid autobiography of the great anarchist is highly impressive. There are fantastic characters – the millionaire gourmet prince who ate away a fortune; thrilling adventures – escape from the Peter and Paul prison, Petersburg’s Bastille; amusing ironies on the run, as when he gets a job in London on Nature under an assumed name and is asked to review his own books. Lenin thought Kropotkin a worthy bore. Kropotkin regarded Lenin as an honorable tyrant. The main issue touched upon by the memoirs is the analysis of correlation between Darwinism and â€Å"the progressive evolution† of human society[1]. Memoirs of a Revolutionist helps track the life journey made by Kropotkin before his formulated his ideas. Born into an aristocratic Moscow family close to the Russian Imperial throne, Kropotkin was educated at an exclusive military academy, but at 20, filled with the desire to be useful, he renounced a brilliant career to serve for five years as a military administrator in Eastern Siberia. His hopes for liberal reform by Alexander II, the tsar who had abolished serfdom, were soon disappointed. He also lost any faith in the virtues of state discipline in society and began to move slowly towards an anarchist position. He now turned to scientific exploration of the nature, and his observations laid the foundations of his theory of â€Å"mutual aid†[2] among animal species. Anarchism, as advanced by Peter Kropotkin, was equally prepared to recognize the profound influence of Darwinism on modern thought. Darwin, Kropotkin argued, made biology an advanced science by giving it an evolutionary principle of universal magnitude. Darwin’s theory, in his opinion, provided a key for reconstructing â€Å"the progressive evolution† not only of plants and animals but also of human society as a scientific challenge. Kropotkin did not deny the role of the struggle for existence in the evolutionary process, but he bitterly opposed Darwin’s designation of that struggle as the primary motor of biological transformation. Kropotkin gave credit to The Descent of Man, one of Darwin’s major works, for demonstrating the biological origins of morality, the foundation of â€Å"mutual aid†. Kropotkin’s ideas have clear positivist coat. He saw the development of anarchism as one aspect of the whole movement of modern science towards an integrated philosophy. He believed that the dominant phenomenon in nature was harmony, arrived at by a continuous process of adjustment between contending forces. In human, as in animal societies, the dominant phenomenon was mutual aid: thus once metaphysics, law and state authority had been shaken off, harmony could be realized. Developing his idea of â€Å"mutual aid† Kropotkin comes to a fair, as he believes, society, that is anarchist communism. It is a society without government, where harmony would be obtained not by submission to law, or by obedience to any authority, but by free agreements between the various groups, territorial and professional, instituted for the sake of production and consumption as also for the satisfaction of the infinite variety of needs and aspirations of a civilized society. In such a society, as in organic life, Kropotkin believed harmony would result from â€Å"an ever-changing adjustment and readjustment of equilibrium between a multitude of forces and influences†[3]. The individual would not be limited in the free expression of his powers in production by a capitalist monopoly, or by obedience, which only led to the sapping of initiative. On the contrary, he would be able to obtain the complete development of all his faculties: the fullest individuation. Works Cited Kropotkin, P.   Memoirs of a Revolutionist. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1962 Shatz, Marshall S. Essential Works of Anarchism. New York: Quadrangle Books, 1972 [1] P. Kropotkin,   Memoirs of a Revolutionist. (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1962), 498. [2] P. Kropotkin,   Memoirs of a Revolutionist. (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1962), 499. [3] Marshall S. Shatz, Essential Works of Anarchism. (New York: Quadrangle Books, 1972), 269.   

TV Programs (or Magazines) -Marketing Behavior Class- Essay

TV Programs (or Magazines) -Marketing Behavior Class- - Essay Example This allowed one to analyze their specific behaviors and relationships to others within society. The two magazines which I was familiar with were compared to Entertainment Weekly and Life and Style. I wasn’t familiar with these two particular magazines and had rarely identified with them. When reading both magazines, it could be seen that they were based on the â€Å"Yuppie† lifestyle, as well as one which was interested in being an experiencer. This was from an individual who was looking at concepts that were created from self – expression and the ability to identify with the fashions and latest trends as a form of the expression. The belief with the experience is created from the fashions and trends also leading to the latest growth in society and holding a specific social status (Linquist, Sirgy, 2003: p. 133). It could also be noted that these two magazines targeted women that were younger, living in cosmopolitan areas and which were interested in the enterta inment and leisure which were a part of both of these areas. The extreme differences between both of the magazines are one which is important to note, specifically because it shows how the attitudes and behaviors constitute the main demographics which one has.

Crito Plato Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crito Plato - Essay Example He knew that the only way of making better amends was by making peace with himself rather than keep on running yet he was already past seventy years. He opined that the best thing for Crito was not to follow or care about the opinions of the many but to adhere to the law. Crito adamantly believes that the opinion of the many has led to the evils of the world, and the way Socrates was treated was a show enough that they were lost of good opinion (Ibid. 51). Agreeably, Socrates seems to think more about what will happen to him and his friends who are willing to risk their lives to have him get out jail. I believe that the best thing as Socrates notes is the adherence to the law. This is something that many do not agree with because corruption has infiltrated many authoritative figures, and the best way of making sure that justice is not served is by offering a little money to achieve personal goals. This also fails to achieve the notable aspects of the society that could allow the world to make better changes and allow the rule of law to take more precedence in dealing with issues within the society. The reflection given by Socrates against Crito is that the wise will always make peace within and not fear what the majority think or feel. They will do anything that is within the law even it if is unjust and may lead to death. Socrates holds on morals that Crito seems to question, but agrees that Socrates is truthful in many of the issues discussed. Socrates wisely listens to what Crito has to say and makes choices based on his volition. He sees the plot as very tempting, but also recognizes the fact that the greater the zeal, the greater the danger (Ibid. 53). He knows that if the plan backfires, many more will be put to hang, and that would make lesser sense. He knows that his mistakes should not be placed on a platform that frightens the rest of the society but which define the fairest way of

Renewable Energy Project Financial Plan Coursework

Renewable Energy Project Financial Plan - Coursework Example Duke Energy alongside the plan will be depended on a current purchase by Duke Energy (DUK) within the solar energy. The goal is to debate on the project’s decision and cost evaluation process. This plan will entail project cost of capital, cash flows, cash flow statement, approximation of capital in every hazard classification, risk class of assets, exhaustive financial features of the enterprise, as well as the validation debate of whether the project must be undertaken. Black Mountain Solar Project Duke Energy currently bought an Arizona solar farm investment from Solon Corporation. The Black Mountain Solar Project is a 10-Megawatt (MW) 40,000 solar panel renewable energy farm located in Mohave County, Arizona. Project Cash Flow The ensuing spreadsheet indicates the cash flows, net present value (NPV), as well as the internal rate of return (IRR) for the Solar Farm Project that Duke Energy is interested in purchasing. Calculations for the Project Cash Flow Period Cash Flows NPV $35,366.48 Dec-08 453,000.00 Dec-09 556,000.00 Dec-10 128,000.00 Dec-11 440,000.00 Dec-12 550,000.00 Dec-13 740,000.00 NPV at 15% rate for a period of five years is $ 35,366.48 Cost of Project Capital The phrase cost of project capital is usually misunderstood. For instance, it is not the company’s past cost of finances like a coupon settlement of present stocks. The essential cost is a chance cost. This refers to the rate by which investors may offer funds for the capital budget project under concern now† Emery, Finnerty, & Stowe, 2007). Cost of capital: = %debt*After Tax Cost Of Debt + %equity*Required Return On Equity After Tax Cost Of Debt = (1-TaxRate)*Required Return On Debt Required Return On Equity = Risk Free Rate + Beta*(Return On Market – Risk Free Rate) = (313.38 + 0.16)/ 21.56 = 14.72 = 15%. Project Cost Flow Project cash flow PVIF@ 15% P.V Year 1 2 3 4 5 556000 128000 440000 550,000 740,000 0.8696 0.7561 0.6575 0.5485 0.4360 483497 96781 289300 364825 480395 Less initial capital 372000 +NPV 1342798 IRR using 15% Years Cash flow PVIF@ 15% P.V 1 2 3 4 5 556000 128000 440000 550000 740000 0.8696 0.7561 0.6575 0.5485 0.4360 483497 96781 289300 364825 480395 1714998 Using 10% Years Cash flow PVIF@ 15% P.V 1 2 3 4 5 556000 128000 440000 550000 740000 0.8696 0.7561 0.6575 0.5485 0.4360 505459.6 105779.2 330572 402657.9 512475.6 1856944.3 Therefore IRR = x[Z/-c = w – r/x – 7] + r = z = w – r + r x - c x -7 = z = 15% - 10% + 10% 569810.8 72232.8 72232.8 z = 2849054 z = 2849054 72232.8 = 39.44 + 10% IRR = 49.44 Cash Flow Statement Years Ended December (In millions) 2011 CASH FLOWS OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Income $ 2,235 Changes to settle net income to net cash offered by functioning activities Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of nuclear fuel) 2,026 Equity component of AFUDC (260) Gains on sales of other assets (19) Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets 335 Deferred income taxes 602 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (160) Contributions to qualified pension plans (200) Accrued pension and other post-retirement benefit costs 104 (Increase) decrease in Net realized and unrealized mark-to-market and hedging transactions (48) Receivables 2 Inventory (247) Other current assets 185 Increase (decrease) in Accounts payable 41 Taxes accrued 27 Other current liabilities (254) Other assets 12 Other liabilities (188) Net cash provided by operating

EPR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

EPR - Essay Example The uniqueness of an ERP is that it can be implemented into large and small sized organizations alike. ERPs are divided into different modules like procurement, sales, marketing, etc. which makes it possible for an organization to implement only those modules that are descriptive of their business. Some of the widely known applications available off-the-shelf are my SAP by SAP, PeopleSoft by Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics by Microsoft and Sage ERP by Sage Group. Due to the popularity of 'free' technologies (paid by through advertisements), several open source ERP software are also available. ERPs have gained enormous popularity in the business world and are considered as a 'dream come true'. Thus by looking at the advantages it can be found out whether it is a good dream or not. (TechFaq, 2008) (Swartz and Orgill, 2001) A seller of cartons of steel nails gets an order through the customer service representative who forwards the request on the ERP system to the production department after checking all necessary customer information through the same ERP system. Procurement, Production and all other concerned departments see the same information and update it as its get completed. A route is created where the information is automatically sent to relevant departments who track it down till its completion and its sales to the customer through the Customer Relationship Management systems. The customer gets the carton of nails faster and with fewer errors while the company gets lower cost and tracking facility. Reality Check Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) appears to be a 'dream come true'. These commercial software packages promise the seamless integration of all the information flowing through a company. Mostly companies implement ERPs to try to integrate the financial and customer order information, standardize and improve organizational processes, reduce inventory and standardize HR information (Koch, 2008). However hidden costs such as training,

Global Matrix Design. Differentiation And Operations Management. ISO Assignment

Global Matrix Design. Differentiation And Operations Management. ISO Certification - Assignment Example The Global Matrix Design is an organized structure where a new organizational structure is superimposed on an existing structure. Global Matrix Design offers an organization a chance to have a fluid organizational structure, and the firm will be able to adjust its operations to suit international needs. By superimposing the new structure on the existing one, the organization has to adjust the various aspects of the existing organizational structures. Once the organization thinks of going international, it will have to adhere to international standards in all its operations. For instance, the products of the organization will have to meet the international standards and the organization may need to be certified. Although not all international organizations have ISO standardization, getting this standardization will be important in that most of the firm’s business will come from customers who will need to be assured that the products of the organization are of international stan dards. As such, any organization that intends to operate in the international market will have to reengineer its operations and make sure that it has met both local and international standards (Gerlrad, 2009). The other area apart from this that the organization will need to restructure its standards is in the way it does its accounting and financial reporting. Once the organization decides to go international, it will have to satisfy the accounting and financial reporting standards of each of the countries it will be operating in. This means that the organization will have to adjust its financial reporting to make sure that it does not violate the local tax laws and requirements. This will call for the organization to change its management operations as well as its production operations in a radical way. To fit in the international market environment, the organization will also have to restructure its human resource so that it meets the needs that will arise from the change. In the long run, the whole organization will have to be changed completely and restructured. How does differentiation relate to operations management? Differentiation gives an organization a chance to access a unique market in the market, whether it is the local or the international market (Gerlrad, 2009). It allows the organization to access a market area where there is no competition or where there is less competition. Once a firm decides to use differentiation as its strategy, it will have to restructure its management functions as well as its operations to help the business to take advantage of differentiation. Differentiation brings new opportunities that the management should be prepared to take advantage of. To be able to take advantage of these new opportunities, the organization will have to come up with new ways that are not in the mainstream management theories. For instance, the organization will need to develop a plan on how it will take advantage of the unique opportunities that may be yet to be taken by other similar firms. The effect of this on the organization is that the organization will have to restructure its resources, both human and economic, to suit these needs. The second way differentiation will affect the organization is by bringing new challenges. Every new opportunity comes with a new challenge or even more new challenges. Differentiation will mean that the organization will have unique challenges that it will have to deal with in terms of management and in terms of operations management. For instance, the firm may have to deal with more challenging logistics operations, and the firm may have

Employing Strategy in a Competitive Environment Essay - 1

Employing Strategy in a Competitive Environment - Essay Example Campaigns for efficiency of national transport systems advocate for mass public means of transport as a preferred way of reducing losses and costs, posing a major threat to private transport services (Cooper, Mundy, & Nelson 2010). Unforeseen eventualities in the infrastructure and national and global economy continue to pose a threat to the transport since antiquity. Complex innovations across the infrastructure needs imply that a compromise calls for a great deal of investment to rectify the challenge. The level of damage that the multi-billion dollar industry suffers during eventualities is irreparable in the modern day, exposing the customers and the company to serious losses. As an illustration, the recent trends of extreme weather are serious challenges to the maintenance of the integrity of transport infrastructure such as roads, so the reliance on such transport services becomes risky in this era of efficient business practices (McSherry, 2002). In addition, the volatility of the global economy and the uncertainties it brings to corporate strategy options exposes the York Trans Rove to unpredictable market threats. Service and fleet portfolio at York Trans Rove elevates the company as a daring participant in the New York market, where many players would not find it easy to enter. Having entered the market as a small scale player and navigating through the competitive space with its current portfolio – these actions demonstrate resilience and conviction to market participation (Loh, 1997). In terms of this internal belief for undisputed possibilities, the company has established a strong foundation to challenge such giant players as Enterprise Rent-A-Car Corporation. The concept of operating as a small company focused only on growth prospects as opposed to a huge company considering downgrading operations under a particular pressure presents York Trans Rove with a