Virtu And Fortuna Essays - Italian Politicians, Machiavellianism

Virtu and Fortuna Virtu and Fortuna Under close scrutiny, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is seen to be a mind-baffling construct of many levels of meaning, and, many might say, enigmatically so. It is hard to determine where Machiavelli is writing in earnest and where in sarcasm or self-condemnation. As John Plamenatz says, the perverse Machiavelli "likes to make himself out worse than he is. He likes at times to shock his contemporaries..." No doubt he succeeds. The important message here, though, is that the reader can never be positive of Machiavelli's real views. The same is true in considering the significance of the terms virtu and fortuna (and their several translations), so often used by Machiavelli to drive home his points. But by looking at many possibilities for their frequent and seemingly suggestive usages, and at some of the ancient thought with which Machiavelli was supremely familiar, we can arrive at a satisfactory speculation, we can discuss the web weaved by Machiavelli in his profes! sions. The first, most obvious purpose of The Prince is stated by the author himself, addressing Lorenzo de' Medici: If you will read [this book] over and study it carefully, you will recognize in it my most earnest desire that you may achieve that summit of grandeur to which your happy destiny and your other capacities predestine you. And if from that summit Your Magnificence will occasionally glance down at these humble places, you will recognize how unjustly I suffer the bitter and sustained malignity of fortune. Clearly there is a sizeable amount of cajolery occurring here (and also foreshadows the following discussion of fortune and virtue), and this same stroking of Lorenzo's ego continues through the book, with slight references to how fit to rule this prince is, how "virtuous," how fated to be the incredible Prince for whom Machiavelli writes. It could easily be said that with this book the author may have trying to ingratiate himself to all the local nobility; on the other hand, knowing what follows might also suggest that Machiavelli was really attempting to play off the nobility's fears of chaos and insecurity, guaranteeing safety if they read his short piece. The second possible purpose--definitely an outcome--is the creation of a learned historical discourse. I will leave out examples; it suffices to say that The Prince encompasses many centuries of human history, many deeply researched examples of politico-military events, and so on. True, they serve enforce his ideas on "virtuous government," but they also seve the modern historian in his search for original sources. A third possible purpose of The Prince might be to outline the ideal government or, if not the ideal, the most virtuous or the best possible. It is in this purpose, the same goal pursued by countless political thinkers in history, that we extract much of what the current age considers Machiavellian. The lord most would consider ruthless and cold, but whom Machiavelli names a virtuoso, is but one (probably Cesare Borgia, son of Sixtus IV) character in the book. The author's supposedly cruel way of equating bad with good is traditionally what has gotten him into hot water. The fact is, however, that Machiavelli never truly addresses the issues of bad and good, right and wrong, these absolute judgments most people would, I think, claim him to make. Machiavelli, in laying out the "best" government, does so from a completely political and pragmatic point of view, by what works, what is possible, and, really, what for his prince results in the most power and security. The auth! or carries out this investigation using two parameters in particular, the Italian virtu and fortuna. They can be translated in many ways (Robert M. Adams has done it very nicley so I shall not repeat them here) which is part of what gives the book its depth. In general, though, the spirit Machiavelli attaches to these two crucial words resembles the following. Virtu embodies a paragon or paradigm; the virtuous man takes action, he anticipates and exhibits resolve, shrewdness and aptitude. Above all, he commits himself to politically sound, whole-hearted efforts. Politics here reign supreme; while he does acknowledge that there are ideals in the world, he asserts that it is futile to discuss them because

Free Essays on Slavery And The Kansas-Nebraska Act

The question of slavery within the new states becomes the foregrounds for what began to divide early America into numerous groups that not only held different views but also possessed hostility towards one another. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stirred up much concern and immediately divided America into several proslavery and antislavery groups. America was so carefully divided that people remained extremely passionate and extremely desperate to fight for their particular beliefs. The compromise of 1850 searched for a way to mend the nation but instead it helped keep the nation separated. The massive outward migration from the North and South to the new territories of America brought about an enormous problem that required a solution. Would the new territories be slave states or free states? The Gadsden Purchase of almost 30,000 square miles added to the United States geographically and problematically. At first it was thought that half of the territory would be free and the other half would be slave. Kansas would be free and Nebraska would be slave. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed because outraged Northerners called Nebraska an â€Å"atrocious plot† to make a â€Å"dreary region despotism inhabited by masters and slaves† (Berkin p. 403). Berkin exemplifies the severity of the dissimilarities between the beliefs of the North and the South. The ideologies of the North and the South are not moral decisions empowered by humanity, they are material decisions fueled by economic interest. The North does not want the South to have the benefit of slave plantations because this is a remarkable advantage economically and the South does not want their extremely lucrative slave plantations to be compromised. If only this problem could have been foreseen then maybe conflict could have been spared. The Kansas Nebraska act passes a law that allows residents of Kansas And Nebraska to decide whether to allow slavery or not within the states. Th... Free Essays on Slavery And The Kansas-Nebraska Act Free Essays on Slavery And The Kansas-Nebraska Act The question of slavery within the new states becomes the foregrounds for what began to divide early America into numerous groups that not only held different views but also possessed hostility towards one another. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stirred up much concern and immediately divided America into several proslavery and antislavery groups. America was so carefully divided that people remained extremely passionate and extremely desperate to fight for their particular beliefs. The compromise of 1850 searched for a way to mend the nation but instead it helped keep the nation separated. The massive outward migration from the North and South to the new territories of America brought about an enormous problem that required a solution. Would the new territories be slave states or free states? The Gadsden Purchase of almost 30,000 square miles added to the United States geographically and problematically. At first it was thought that half of the territory would be free and the other half would be slave. Kansas would be free and Nebraska would be slave. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed because outraged Northerners called Nebraska an â€Å"atrocious plot† to make a â€Å"dreary region despotism inhabited by masters and slaves† (Berkin p. 403). Berkin exemplifies the severity of the dissimilarities between the beliefs of the North and the South. The ideologies of the North and the South are not moral decisions empowered by humanity, they are material decisions fueled by economic interest. The North does not want the South to have the benefit of slave plantations because this is a remarkable advantage economically and the South does not want their extremely lucrative slave plantations to be compromised. If only this problem could have been foreseen then maybe conflict could have been spared. The Kansas Nebraska act passes a law that allows residents of Kansas And Nebraska to decide whether to allow slavery or not within the states. Th...

5 Great American Humorists of the Early to Mid-20th Century

5 Great American Humorists of the Early to Mid-20th Century 5 Great American Humorists of the Early to Mid-20th Century 5 Great American Humorists of the Early to Mid-20th Century By Mark Nichol Humor is in the eye (or, frequently, the ear) of the beholder, but if you prefer elegance in your entertainment and wish to find inspiration for your own mirthful musings, check out the works of these five twentieth-century titans of comic composition. 1. Robert Benchley Benchley was a master of parody and surreal humor, often writing about an everyman discombobulated by the modern world. He wrote for leading magazines, then went to Hollywood, where he intended only to write but also frequently appeared on camera. He had modest success in mostly small roles, sometimes alongside top actors but in some of their more forgettable films. (He is probably best known in this capacity as the provider of exposition in the Bob Hope–Bing Crosby classic Road to Utopia.) Benchley found more satisfaction writing and appearing in short film parodies such as the Oscar winner How to Sleep. The Best of Robert Benchley is a good introduction to his writing style. 2. Dorothy Parker Parker, the model for every woman who dares to have a biting wit, overcame an unhappy childhood and weathered alcoholism, several suicide attempts, numerous unsuccessful marriages and affairs, and criticism of her leftist politics to become one of the great comic writers of the twentieth century. Her short story collections include Laments for the Living and After Such Pleasures, she published poetry in volumes titled Enough Rope, Sunset Gun, and Death and Taxes, and Constant Reader contains many of the book reviews she wrote for the New Yorker. Parker later worked on stage and film scripts, including A Star Is Born, the screenplay of which was nominated for an Academy Award. 3. S. J. Perelman This master parodist, considered the pioneering American surrealist, is noted for his wordplay, including metaphors, non sequiturs, and obscure references and terms, and is celebrated overall for his devotion to the absurd. Perhaps you need to know nothing more than that he was the screenwriter for several of the best Marx Brothers films. His works, more accurately referred to as sketches than short stories, are collected under such titles as Acres and Pains (about the ordeal of owning a Pennsylvania farm) and Crazy Like a Fox or go for the obvious with The Best of S. J. Perelman. His talent declined as he grew older, but his best is among the best. 4. George S. Kaufman Kaufman’s humor wasn’t written to be read he was a prolific playwright and sometime screenwriter but his scripts are exemplars of writing that induces laughter. Usually in collaboration with one or more other writers his professional partners included Edna Ferber, George and Ira Gershwin, Moss Hart, and Morrie Ryskind he wrote (and directed and produced) many enduring stage plays and musicals, though he was said to dislike the latter art form. He shared the Pulitzer Prize for the comedy You Can’t Take It with You and the musical Of Thee I Sing! Other memorable works include Dinner at Eight, Stage Door, and The Man Who Came to Dinner (all of which, like You Can’t Take It with You, were adapted for the screen, all to great acclaim). 5. James Thurber This American writer and cartoonist, who as a result of a childhood accident lost an eye and was nearly blind in the other, produced an impressive array of wryly amusing stories and illustrations. The book of short stories that brought him fame is called My Life and Hard Times; he also wrote some essays about language, including â€Å"The New Vocabularianism,† â€Å"The Spreading ‘You Know,’† and â€Å"What Do You Mean It Was Brillig?† He also cowrote a stage play (later adapted into a film) called The Male Animal, and late in life appeared in the theatrical revue A Thurber Carnival, based on his stories, in a segment called â€Å"File and Forget.† He is best known for his short story â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† (loosely and, to Thurber’s mind, poorly adapted into a movie), about a timid daydreamer. Thurber is the only person on this list who was not a member of the loose-knit assemblage of wits who formed the Algonquin Round Table (named after the New York City hotel they frequently dined at), whose members sometimes collaborated creatively. (He was, in fact, a critic of the group’s sometimes vicious practical jokes and some of its members, including Dorothy Parker, later disparaged it as well.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Cost-Effective vs. Cost-Efficient20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsHow to Address Your Elders, Your Doctor, Young Children... and Your CEO

Compose a report on management performance characteristics Essay

Compose a report on management performance characteristics - Essay Example I studied the essentialities of the skill in detail, considering the context of the role of the Head of MLT. I plan to develop my communication skills through a number of interventions, over a period of time. Nurturing my communication skills shall take place through simulation games, skill improvement exercises, understanding the 7Cs of communication and taking part in cross-cultural communication training. These evaluation and diagnostic tools would facilitate in furthering my skills and contribute towards the success of my career. Management has been my favourite subject since my childhood. After completing my undergraduate course, I wish to study Masters In Business Administration, under the discipline of Marketing Management. During this undergraduate course, I also happened to learn about the prospects offered by Information Technology and could cognise that it is a flourishing industry. Under this context, I set the role of Manager of a Marketing Leadership Team in a multinational software organisation as my career goal. This job involves understanding the markets, facilitating transformations that improve the efficiency of marketing function in the entire organisation, by increasing its impact on the prospective customers, giving due consideration to the job satisfaction of the marketing team and managing the lower level marketing leaders. The job description depicts that my aim is not easy to embrace and is a step-by-step process, where I need to attain the eligibility and highlight myself as the most qualified and appropriate candidate at every instance. Advancement in this direction should be a planned self-development exercise that instils new skills and boosts the existing ones to the desired intensity. Along with the educational background and experience, I need to recognise my internal capabilities and shoulder the responsibility of developing my management and leadership skills too, in order to attain that position and efficiently manage

English as a Second Language for Adult Immigrants (The Domain is Adult Term Paper

English as a Second Language for Adult Immigrants (The Domain is Adult Education) - Term Paper Example With the increasing number of adult immigrants in the USA and Canada, English language becomes a significant issue for people. Immigrants need to adjust with the foreign cultural environment and with the common language i.e. English. The major dispute concerning the English language within immigrants is that it creates verbal obstructions as well as misinterpretations, and can harm the effective communication within organizations (Charlotte Mecklenburg, 2002). Literature Review According to Burt (2004), knowledge and fluency in English is explicitly connected with financial self-sufficiency. Immigrants who are literate in languages except English are more probable to have temporary work and get less income as compared to those who are well-educated in English and have English as first language. Several surveys on the immigrants’ income in the USA depict that there is positive relations between English learning capabilities and salaries of immigrants. This is one of the major reasons that immigrants want expertise in English language both in speaking as well as in writing. Providing â€Å"English as Second Language (ESL)† lessons to immigrants is a useful method to resolve the English communication problem in the workplace. However, it can be observed that companies are reluctant about providing ESL lessons due to problems with regard to planning, expense, and a sense that providing ESL lessons are not their duty (Burt, 2004). ... ing citizenship, the demand of â€Å"English for Speakers of Other Language† (ESOL) in Canada and the USA is increasing constantly, and it is considered as one of the fastest growing constituents for adult education. The admission for English education is also inclined by the way of â€Å"Immigration Reform and Control Act† (IRCA) in the year 1986. Presently, the population assisted by English learning programs has changed significantly. The immigrant populations of the USA and Canada in present days are much different than past days with respect to size, origin and financial status. According to a Census survey in the year 2000, the number of Hispanic population was more than 58% compared to 1990. In order to fulfill the emerging requirements of English education for the immigrant population, huge numbers of qualified teachers are required. ESOL classes are often organized to accommodate for initial, transitional, and advanced level of expertise. On the basis of resour ces of organizations and requirements of students, different approaches, practices and technologies are used in ESL training. The major objective of ESL programs is to assist adult immigrants in accomplishing competency in English language. Majority of classes are developed on the basis of students’ needs and benefits, for instance, the ESOL classes can be aimed towards adult learners who have arrived in Canada or in the USA, and therefore include survival as well as life skills training in their programs. Other classes may incorporate ESOL guidelines with professional education and family knowledge, as well as citizenship and academic training. The governments always help immigrant learners to obtain necessary skills and knowledge so that they can become active performers in workplace and in society

Effective Communication Essay Example for Free

Effective Communication Essay Effective communication is the backbone of any business organisation. Discuss. Communication can be defined as a two way process of reaching mutual understanding in which participants not only exchange(encode and decode) information but also create and share meaning. Effective communication is whereby the information send must be received and understood by the receiver in the way intended by the sender and the receiver has to send feedback to confirm the results. Managerial time is largely spent on face to face, electronic or telephone communication with subordinates, supervisors and customers. Views of organizational communication can be categorized as those that view organizational communication as one aspect of an organization versus those that see it as the underlying basis of the organization itself. An example of the former is exemplified by Drenth et al. 1998), who define communication as the sending and receiving of messages by means of symbols and see organizational communication as a key element of organizational climate. The latter viewpoint is reflected by Myers and Myers (1982:34) who define organizational communication as â€Å"the central binding force that permits coordination among people and thus allows for organized Behaviour,† and Rogers and Rogers (1976:3) who argue that â€Å"the behaviour of individuals in organizations is best understood from a communication point of view. The success of the organization greatly depends on the effectiveness of organizational communication, hence to a larger extent, communication can be regarded as the backbone of every business organization and therefore communication needs to be effective and also this is the reason why effective communication skills form vital part of a job requirement, are prerequisite for promotion to higher positions and are essential to all problem solving since they ignite enthusiasm, enhance motivation and hone traits of leadership. The success of an endeavour hinges on the ability to communicate effectively in todays fast paced life, everyone is asked to do more with less. In such a scenario effective communication holds the key. Effectively communication centres round the usage of words, speed of delivery of words, pitch modulation and body language. Using the right tools to communicate the right messages at the right time can salvage crises and motivate people to work towards success. Communication in an organization is inevitable. Departments communicate from time to time in respect to daily activities and the organizations relationship with the external world. It says what it intended via written and unwritten means, either planned or impromptu. It could be hierarchical, that is, from top to bottom or vice versa. It could be formal or informal; vertical, horizontal or diagonal. Whichever means, modes or types of communication, what matters is that communication takes place. At a most basic level, good communication is necessary to be able to follow instructions and to carry out roles. If a member of staff misunderstands what it is that they need to do and the basic functions and roles of the management could not be performed without communication. Planning, organizing, coordinating, budgeting, monitoring, controlling, staffing, delegation; and including marketing, production, financing, staffing (human resource managing), research and development, purchasing, and selling could not be well coordinated, harnessed and their goals achieved without communication Effective communication strengthens the organization’s existing relationships and helps the subordinates to form strong positive bonds in future interactions. In essence through communicating subordinates and management get to agree on certain specific performance standards to control and guide activity towards the attainment of the organization’s overall objectives. If there is poor communication, there lacks uniformity between the required performance and actual performance therefore if communication improves relationships, misunderstandings are reduced. Effective communication is related to self confidence therefore if the organization has in place proper channels of communication subordinates are motivated in the sense that they get feedback for information that would have been passed. If subordinates are given room to respond to instructions in any way, that is, by asking questions or even suggestive questions, it shows to them that they are involved as part of the organization and the sense of belongingness motivates employees. Motivated employees are productive, so in essence one can say effective communication motivates employees hence increases productivity of workers as it even facilitates delegation of duties, reducing overlapping responsibility and work overload. Finally communication increases job satisfaction. Communication facilitates decision making, if two directional communication is used, lower level managers getting a chance to be heard by top management with their work needs being met, proper organizational decisions can be made. Operational managers and their subordinates are believed to have a closer contact with customers and clients, therefore they know better what the customers need at a specific time and the proper decisions are made as to what should the organization do to meet the demands of the consumers(delivering the right merchandise to the right people at he right time and place). Communication also increases participation, that is, if a goal is communicated throughout the organization, the subordinates with the aim of achieving self esteem would want to participate in the attainment of the desired outcome motivated by the rewards they expect from participation, effort and performance(Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory). Production of defects is also reduced by effective communication. Subordinates usually work under instruction, that is, there should however be proper clarification on what really needs to be produced, boiled or roasted chicken. If there are no proper channels of communication, producers end up producing the products that are not required. Effective communication also facilitates coordination between individuals and departments within an organization (production department and the marketing team or the research and development department). Communication reduces and resolves conflicts, for instance resource allocation conflicts, the marketing department and the production department need to communicate well on how the finance department has allocated financial resources for their purposes, failure to communicate results in departmental conflicts. However it is through communication that both individual conflicts and departmental conflicts can be resolved. Leaders should create open communication and state clearly what they could have seen that, heard or experienced that would have influenced their views in the matter at hand as conflict often arises from misunderstanding and misconceptions of what people meant. Everyone allowed should then be allowed to say what is important to them (communicate openly) why is it important and what they are hoping for. Effective communication gives the subordinates the ability to express new ideas and therefore policies and standards can be easily formulated and monitored. For organizations that use budgeting as a planning tool, communication is needed in the process of formulating budgets since the process involves individuals from all departments (functions) to participate in the formulation of functional budgets. Communication helps ensure uniformity and timing of the budgets hence proper allocation of financial resources. Open communication increases trust among subordinates, that is, they will have shared agendas and objectives are revealed to everyone. Open communication is therefore preferable since the parties involved can scrutinize the message fro hidden agendas and meanings without trying to understand the message itself, hence creates supportive climates for subordinates, team building and team work and coordination. Managers use downward communication to direct, inform, coordinate and evaluate subordinates and also to provide job descriptions, rules and policies as well as procedures to the subordinates and the subordinates use upward communication to supply information to the upper levels about what is happening at the lower levels and this comes in form of questions feedback and suggestions. However in the process of communicating, the parties involved encounter certain barriers that may haunt communication, these may include differing perceptions, language, noise inconsistent verbal and non-verbal communication, emotionality, information overload, filtering of information and increased specialization as in lateral communication. Differing perceptions, that is when the receiver often sees or hears information depending on his/her needs, motivations, experience and background. Language refers to the words used, words mean different things to different people for example the term ‘short term’ in the research and development would mean six to nine years while in the hotel industry the period may range from four to six months. Language difference may also come in the form of jargon. Non-verbal communication is often accompanied by oral communication for example showing anger in the tone of the voice. Emotional reactions such as anger, jealous, hate and fear influence how we understand others’ messages. Information overload occurs when the information received exceeds the capabilities of the human information system, that is, when the subordinate is overloaded with reports, manuals, letters, memos, which he/she has to go through within a limited time as a result the subordinate will ignore some of the things or there will be delay on his part which will hinder communication within the organization. Information can be shortened or lengthened such that at the end the original information can be distorted. To sum up one can say that regardless of the above mentioned shortcomings communication remains the backbone of any organization since there are certain measures that can be put in place to overcome the barriers, some of which are that parties involved should carefully understand the background of each other and thoroughly explain the message, emphasizing and seeing the situation from the other person’s point of view to remove ambiguity in messages. Using simple language and ask for feedback, confirming and restating the main points of the message. Gestures, postures and facial expressions and other non-verbal communication should agree with the message. Subordinates should talk about their concerns and should pay special attention to what they say. Organizations can also introduce casual recreational activities so that managers can meet their subordinates on an informal basis for example organizing a sports day where organizational problems can be discussed on an informal basis. In general, removing communication in an organization, we are going to have dead entity, good for nothing and worth been shut down. Communication is the backbone for organizations success since it increases the will to work, skill to work, and thrill to work.

Universal Issues in Education Essay example -- Argumentative Persuasiv

Universal Issues in Education Many universal issues in education are a major concern for our country today. The principles defining education, how children are raised, the grave impact of technology, and the way minorities are treated and perceive themselves are all issues for us to be alerted about. Teaching and learning have been an important issue since human existed in this world. What is "teaching and learning?" According to the Oxford dictionary, "teaching" is the process to cause somebody to know or to be able to do something, and "learning" is the practice to gain knowledge and skill. In Paul Goodman' s opinion, the schools are only a therapeutic halfway house for young kids. And Ralph Waldo Emerson refers that "universities are, of course, hostile to geniuses." In general, education is to help young people adapt to this society and perform well. The manner in which children are raised affects the development and growth of a child trying to learn in school. In, "Zen and the Art of Burglary", a father feels he must lock his son in a trunk in order for his son to determine how to secretly escape and master his father's skill. The son finally acquires the skill, but he had to experience the actual deed, first. Sometimes, kids need to venture through a certain act, so that they eventually understand how it works (Fa-yen). Another concern in raising children deals with what they pick up from adults. Moral intelligence is learned from other people. Children are constantly observing grown-ups, and in turn, begin imitating their behaviors and mannerisms. Kids begin to pick up skills on day one. Parents are capable of teaching their children about wishing and yearning, as well as coping with disappointment. During a ... ...duced to a new field of study. Finally, education should help to build a good social identity for people as well as maintaining their own heritage. Bibliography 1. Gelernter, D., "Unplugged". The New Republic. 1994. 2. Goodman, P. Little Brown Reader. Pg. 358. 3. Emerson, R.W. Little Brown Reader. Pg. 361. 4. Fa-yen,W. "The Sayings of Goso Hoyen". Buddhism in China. 1964. 5. Coles, R. "On Raising Moral Children". The Moral Intelligence of Children. 1997. 6. Stoll,C. "Invest in Humanware". The New York Times. 1996. 7. Bambara, T.C. "The Lesson". Little Brown Reader. Pg. 442. 8. White, M. "Japanese Education". Little Brown Reader. Pg. 396. 9. Belencky, M.F., McVicker, B., Goldberger, N.R., Tarule, J.M. "How Women Learn". Women's Way of Knowing. 10. Shen, F. "The Classroom and the Wilder Culture". Little Brown Reader. Pg. 417.