The Controversy of Paying Amateur Athletes free essay sample

The benefits of receiving an athletic college scholarship are great. Although the benefits or pros of the scholarship are incredible and helps the student receive an education, it doesn’t allow them to live properly. Famous college basketball player, Shabazz Napier said he â€Å"went to bed starving† because he simply â€Å"didn’t have any money to get food† (Edelman The Case for Paying†). This is just one example of many athletes being malnourished because of their sport’s inflexible schedules. The balance of studies, sports, jobs, and personal lives is incredibly challenging for these young scholars. The National Collegiate Athletic Association should allow their athletes to be paid, to a certain extent, by their universities/colleges due to their busy lives as students. Excessively engaged in work These students have extremely busy lives. Alumni or former students can often relate to the â€Å"Freshman Fifteen† and the longing for the need to fit in. We will write a custom essay sample on The Controversy of Paying Amateur Athletes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The desire of people wanting to be a part of something when they convene with dissimilar surroundings is great. Students often try to be inducted into clubs, sororities, or fraternities when they first reach their universities. The students are also under a lot of academic pressure. Keeping up with studies is very critical when receiving a scholarship. Students also go under the stress of missing their homes. Going away to college may be the first time these scholars are not familiar with their surroundings. All of these factors lead to the nervous tension that university athletes receive on a daily basis. On average, a typical Division I college football player dedicates 43.3 hours per week to his sport.This is 3.3 more hours than the typical American work week (21 Reasons Why). The average college football player is working overtime on a job he is not even getting paid for. The strain of juggling work and social life can overall stress the athletes to the highest degree. Substantial Revenue These college competitors also bring in a substantial amount of revenue for their universities. The college sports industry generates $11 billion in annual revenues. Fifty colleges report annual revenues that exceed $50 million. Meanwhile, five colleges report annual revenues that exceed $100 million (Koba). These revenues come from numerous sources, including ticket sales, sponsorship rights, and the sale of broadcast rights. The National Collegiate Athletic Association recently sold broadcast rights to its annual mens basketball tournament for upwards of $770 million per season. And the Big Ten Conference has launched its own television network that sells air time to sponsors during the broadcast of its football and mens basketball games. These college sports revenues are passed along to NCAA executives, athletic directors and coaches in the form of salaries (Schwartz). The students get nothing. In 2011, NCAA members paid their association president, Mark Emmer t, $1.7 million. Head football coaches at the 44 NCAA Bowl Championship Series schools received on average $2.1 million in salaries. The highest paid public employee in 40 of the 50 U.S. states is the state universitys head football or basketball coach. At the University Of Alabama the head football coach, Nick Saban, recently signed a contract paying him $7 million per year – more than 160 times the average wage of a Tuscaloosa public school teacher. Former college quarterback, Johnny Manziel brought in about 24 million dollars in profits for his school’s athletic department. Texas A made enormous amounts of funds off of Johnny’s appearance and merchandise. The school made millions of just one of the players on the team. Manziel did not get one cut out of the money that was made.The NCAA defends its no-pay rules on several dubious grounds. In addition, the NCAA claims that compensating student-athletes would create a Title IX problem. They believe that because the average Division I mens basketball coach earns nearly twice as much in salary as the average Division I womens basketball coach. NCAA members have not suggested terminating the pay of college basketball coaches to resolve this concern. The argument in favor of allowing colleges to pay their student-athletes comes down to economic efficiency, distributive justice and a reasonable interpretation of antitrust laws. By contrast, the argument against allowing pay to student-athletes arises mainly from greed and self-interest (Schwartz). Harming Education College athletes are also given a â€Å"free† education that they cannot even benefit from. In our society, college sports have become a â€Å"massively commercialized industry† which has become â€Å"harmful to education† (Zimbalist). Big-time college sports embody the ideals of amateurism and provide an important complement to university education. Or so its apologists would have us believe. As Andrew Zimbalist illustrated that college sports are really a massively commercialized industry based on activities that are often irrelevant and even harmful to education. Zimbalist combined groundbreaking empirical research and a talent for storytelling to provide a firm, factual basis for the many arguments that currently rage about the goals, history, structure, incentive system, and legal architecture of college sports. He painted a picture of an organization in frantic need of reform Zimbalist also demonstrated in his analysis that â€Å"todays problems are nothing new that schools have been consumed for more than a century by debates about cheating, commercialism, and the erosion of educational principles† (Zimbalist). Although the NCAA claims college athletes are just students, the NCAA’s own tournament schedules require college athletes to miss classes for nationally televised games that bring in revenue. Currently, the NCAA Division I football championship is played on a Monday night.This year, the national football championship game required Florida State football players to miss the first day of spring classes. Meanwhile, the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament affects more than six days of classes. At some schools, the road to the NCAA men’s basketball championship may require student-athletes to miss up to a quarter of all class days during their spring semester (21 Reasons Why). These students often miss precious â€Å"free† classes that they could not attend to because of the NCAA. Athletes cannot learn from classes that they miss. These schedules are affecting these students academically and are not letting them benefit from this form of payment from their universities. On the Contrast Some would say that athletic scholarships provide kids with the opportunity to become successful, go to the college of their dreams, and develop as young adult in a real institutionary campus. Although full-ride scholarships provide students with some benefits, it does not cover the cons. The scholarship does not pay for food, water, or nutrients for the athlete. The NCAA also believes that it will lead to a Title IX problem, which is when one gender receives more benefits/ pay than the other. The assumption that men college athletes would be paid more than women’s is simply absurd. Male athletes do not currently receive â€Å"better scholarships† because they are male. These hypothetical’s made up by the NCAA are preventing the students from receiving a proper education and living. A Proper Solution/Conclusion The National Collegiate Athletic Association should get eliminate full-ride scholarships and pay the athletes annually, to a certain extent. They should not be paid like professionals but be paid to a suitable degree. The NCAA has set rules and regulations which restrict colleges from compensating their athletes. More harm comes to the student than positives. These students have very important lives, don’t get reimbursed, and it affects their education. An all expenses paid scholarship only provides them with education. Scholarships like these do not benefit athletes. These amateurs should be able to have reimbursements instead of an all expenses paid scholarship. Works Cited Edelman, Marc. 21 Reasons Why Student-Athletes Are Employees. Forbes. Forbes c Magazine, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. Edelman, Marc. The Case for Paying College Athletes. US News. U.S.News World Report, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. Koba, Mark. Student-Athletes to Get Paid? It Looks That Way NBC News. NBC News. N.p., 12 Aug. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. Video. Schwartz, Nelson D., and Steve Eder. College Athletes Aim to Put Price on Priceless. New York Times 28 Mar. 2014: A1(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. Print. Zimbalist, Andrew. Unpaid Professionals: Commercialism and Conflict in Big-Time College Sports. By Andrew Zimbalist, 1999. Princeton University Press, 1999. Web. 23Oct.2014. Print .

Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates

Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates Introduction The measure of expectancy theory depends on attitude of employees as the only measure for their relationships (DuBrin, 388, 2008). Every person has a different perception of achieving firm’s set targets/goals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They also have various personal targets such as the anticipate goals set during their elevated efforts in performances. The expectancy theory is one of the standardized measures of how people make their own business decisions depending on the differences of behavioural patterns, which determine the alternatives they are likely to choose. These behavioural patterns are known as the motivational forces (MF) over tasks, actions or business conducts, which determines performance (DuBrin, 388, 2008). According DuBrin (388, 2008), Vroom’s Expectancy theory presents the motiv ational force as a measure that depends on three factors namely, Valence, expectancy and instrumentality. Motivational force is thus a product of the three factors. MF= Valence * Expectancy * Instrumentality Reference of the Expectancy theory The emotional point of reference that each employee has towards satisfactory achievement of personal goals refers to valence. One needs to place some motivating goals such as the rewards they anticipate at the end of the contract. These rewards can be needs, goals or personal values such as better remuneration packages, promotion, and engagement into a program. From the case study, Andrew’s valence was the promised nomination for the firm’s management course, which would provide opportunity for possible posting as a future executive. Andrew anticipated higher income was indirect since his primary concern was possibility of getting promotion to a management position after the firm’s managerial studies. The program sponsored by the company is highly respected since upon completion, successful learners have high possibilities of becoming executives in the firm. Andrew hard and long input hours were in the aim of securing a place at the program.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Valence depends on one’s expectations of satisfaction. It is a force that makes people to react differently for a given situation for instance, the position one get appointed to may be having situations that cause a lot of anxiety but one can give in all other aspirations, to achieve the goals amidst crisis. It is individual’s attitude towards determining the motivational levels. These personal perceptions are subject to intrinsic beliefs for instance, a person might shy away from a task or role due to value for personal peace of mind, while those with greater value for money will work towards the goa ls to enhance their pays. Valence is therefore not the final product or satisfaction that one gets after attaining a goal, but the expectations for some personal goals (DuBrin, 389, 2008). This means that employees who lack motivating factors have zero valences. They have negative point of reference or find no need of attaining goals. Contrary David felt that Andrew had not attained the require competence to get a nomination for a position to the graduates ‘management training program due to the reports about his performance on the assigned tasks, and this injured his further prospects in the firm. According to DuBrin (389, 2008), Expectancy Theory indicates that expectancy is a personal conviction over ability or strength to meet firm or self-set targets/goals. It is personal desire to achieve expected levels, especially those set by the management. The desire makes one to have a strong conviction over personal ability to deliver, therefore one is able to place expectancy bas ed on prior analysis of efforts and performance on similar tasks. At the attachment and casual levels, Andrew had the submissive and agreeing personality that went well with the supervisors as well as the customers. This good quality made him a good sales person and presented him as an amiable personality among his clients who had become regular customers. His advice to clients enhanced his relationship with supervisors since it was crucial for their decision-making and need to return to the store. His reputation at the store during internship and casual programs was excellent and the relationship with the store manager caused his recall after his six-month certificate course to serve as the assistant manager. David was sure that Andrew would meet the expectancy levels based on his prior performances.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Balancing Expectations of Superiors and Subordinates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The recall also boosted Andrew’s confidence and therefore all along he expected that his efforts would lead to anticipated performance. He was sure that positive interactions with others and hard work would improve customer experiences, and consequently improve sales. Andrew was a self-proclaimed achiever as indicated by his actions. He was immensely confident of achieving the set objective of enhancing employees- customers’ relationship and gain a subsequent accomplishment of his set-objective, to win nomination for the prestigious company’s managerial course. Contrary, when an employee feels that the efforts may fail to meet the set targets, their probable expectations are lower. The level of confidence determines the employees’ expectancy and eventually boosts motivational levels. In accordance with McShane et al (331, 2010) Expectancy Theory indicates that when the employee is confidence enough, the managements are ready to live up to the end of the bargain since his involvement is a good deal. This influential or convincing level is termed as instrumentality. European clubs bargain for good international athletes and are often ready to pay highly since they eventually anticipate better results and consequently better financial benefits for their clubs. Instrumentality is therefore the probability that a certain engagement will deliver better outcomes based on the relationship between prior perceived performances and offered rewards. It is a personal believe that ability to meet performance levels translates to better or hefty rewards. In most firms people believe that better performances such as better production leads to bigger rises in salary or levels of command. Various companies offer commission for achievement of certain levels of performances. In such a situation, employees will be motivated to achieve the set level for the material gains. The companies therefore fail to establish a better, constant method of motivatio n. The extra gain is the valence since it creates satisfaction. The set target is achievable, but it depends on one’s confidence over ability. In such a case, the valence and personal expectancy of higher compensation are very instrumental in determining possibilities of working hard to realize the set target. In line with Gitman and McDaniel (246, 2008), â€Å"The product between perceived levels of satisfaction, the personal confidence of achieving the level and the rewards that one hopes to achieve makes up a motivated person.† â€Å"Valence* Expectancy* Instrumentality = Motivation†. Since motivation forces is a product of the three factors, if any of them is zero, then there is lack of a motivating force.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the call up, Andrew was assigned role of restructuring the employee’s relationships with clients across the entire city store. His confidence emerged due to fact that most colleagues liked him even better than they liked their manager. They were free to discuss with him various business challenges and follow his guidance. This was a boost on his expectancy probability and his confidence that his efforts would deliver required results. Andrew’s confidence strengthened his instrumental probability to meet the set expectations and therefore receive the promised reward. The reward was his immediate valence to win nomination for the prestigious management-training program. Equity Theory of employees’ Motivation According to Gitman and McDaniel (247, 2008), equity theory of employees motivation determines the relationship between the drudgery of an employee and the fairness of the management’s actions against their work. Berating staff due to failure to meet achievements is common in many organizations or firms. There is a great correlation between an employee’s perception of supervisors’ treatments and efforts required for the task. This relationship determines the motivational level and any future decisions. Equity theory enables employees to find a balance between their input to a job/task and output (Gitman and McDaniel, 247, 2008). The employees unconsciously place values for their contributions such as time factor (amount of time lost), qualifications, contributed experience, strength and capabilities. The output values are often promotion (status or power gains), recommendation, monetary gains, work flexibility, variety and perquisites, some of which one is able to gain after a promotion. Andrew perceived David’s decision to nominate a colleague instead for the management course as unfair and considered a quit would be better than another year’s wait. His efforts were enormous since he had follow- up programs for the employees and worked extra hours due to the expectancy probability of winning the nomination. Although the efforts were great, he lacked strategy and evaluation procedures. Lengthy sessions were devoted to training and solving individual problems to perfect their presentations. He forgot that the performance analysis, mainly analysis of company’s income from sales would be the key determinant of performance and not the employees’ abilities. At one time, Andrew considered the performance analysis to be David’s task and confidently thought that his strategies would deliver better results. This was a clear indication that achievement depends on performance of various people in the organization; therefore, cooperation and guidance are key aspects of performance. Comparison of Case to Expectancy Theory According to DuBrin (289, 2008), on expectancy theory, a highly motivated person is one who is able to achieve his/her valence, but achievement is also measurable in terms of whether the rewards are measurable to the efforts. Fair treatment therefore comes in when the remuneration is equivalent or close to the work input. Although fair treatment is essential, employees should not be treated equally, despite others measuring up better in terms of their contributions to the firm. In line with DuBrin, (289, 2008), over rewarded employees perform better and have better produce compared to the under-rewarded employees. David’s failure to nominate Andrew was a clear indication that there existed conflict over their valence. Andrew worked towards achieving the nomination from his supervisor, while David focused on his bonus gains after enormous sales volumes. However, there is negligence from both since Andrew would have found some means of determining his performances other than basing on possibility of performing better as per the employee’s responses. David on the other hand should have been involved in evaluation pr ocedures and thus offer guidance early enough to avoid poor outcomes that were converse to expectations. Andrew deserved better treatment and encouragement even when he failed to meet the sales levels. He had achieved the set goal of improving customer experiences but in a different manner, which failed to be productive enough. Andrew felt the urge to quit and find something different such as enrol for the commerce degree elsewhere because his instrumental probability in line with expectancy theory has failed thus killing his motivating factor (Gitman and McDaniel, 247, 2008). His output as the assistant manager at city store was in vain, since it was the only bridge for the managerial course and consequently long-term prosperity at Myer Company. Andrew was being compelled by consequences. According to Gitman and McDaniel (246, 2008), reinforcement theory states that behaviour exists as a meaning of one’s consequences. The manager’s decision not to nominate him shutter s Andrew’s self-confidence. Instead of just indicating his intentions of nominating one of Andrew’s colleagues for the program, David would have taken time to review Andrew’s performance together with him and point out the problems that caused failure. Providing alternative offered would also not shutter his motivation to a point of forfeiting his job for a different option. Clarification and alternative rewards encourage employees to work smarter or work on the same tasks/situations, since their instrumental probability is still in existence although lowered. Poor relationship between managers and subordinates creates discouragement and feeling of failure among the subordinates. They often cannot question the responsibility of the manager and thus endure the whole burden solemnly. Conclusion Good Working Relationships It is important to have good working relationships between managers and subordinates. The work relationship between David and Andrew must have go ne wrong considering that David had initially promised Andrew direct nomination into the management program, as long as he performed well as assistant manager during his first six months of service. Placing personal needs ahead of others destroys performances since there are high possibilities of obliterating any existing motivation among subordinates. David had a slow and hierarchical career progress, where he worked very hard in various companies to progress to the next level. He did not have job mentors and considered his experience as an essential business learning procedure. Due to his prior business-performance relationship with Andrew at Myre, David believed in Andrew’s excellence and knew that by engaging him as assistant manager, he would improve the aspect of customer courtesy across the entire store. This would eventually improve the store’s performances and he would gain better bonuses. On the other hand, having been awarded team responsibility in various s ections of the store, Andrew found this to be an opportunity to prove and market his leadership skills among them for a possible senior management position in the future. They were both acting selfishly for some personal gains or relating to personal prior experiences. Bibliography DuBrin, A. J. (2008). Essentials of Management. Ohio, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Publishers. Gitman, L. J. McDaniel, C. (2008). The Future of Business: The Essentials. Ohio, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Publishers. McShane, S., Olekalns, M. and Travaglione, T. (2010). Organisational Behaviour on  the Pacific Rim. 3rd Edition. North Ryde: McGraw-Hill Australia.

Political culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political culture - Essay Example First of all, the citizens of this country are strongly convinced that any processes that happen in the society should be performed according to the applicable legislation; in other words, the rule of law is one of the most significant elements of it (Sellers and Tomaszewski 88). In addition to that, people believe that they are responsible for electing the government and the President; so, they acknowledge their role in the formation of the political world (Schultz 229). This has important implication as if the government does not act according to the will of the majority it can be dismissed. There is a pair of concepts that often generates heated debates in the society. They are liberty and equality. A part of the population argues that government should never interfere with the private lives, while other are willing to surrender a part of their liberties to feel secured. A good example is the discussion of USA PATRIOT Act after September 11. As for equality, some suggest that all citizens should be recognized as equal and goods and services should be equally distributed, while others favor natural inequality as a result of one’s personal endeavor. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage should be recognized as legal and this contributed to conflicts over the meaning of liberty and equality. A part of the nation argues that marriages as a personal matter and the government cannot dictate who to marry; furthermore, sexual minorities should be seen as equal to ordinary citizens.

Nagel, The Absurd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nagel, The Absurd - Essay Example Nagel’s first argument is that we lead our lives with such intense concern that we become unable to avoid seriousness. This unavoidability of seriousness adds to the absurdity of life. We always have to confront the discrepancy between our serious acts and the possibility of our acts coming true. We are so serious about our actions that any bend in the situation disturbs our minds. Nagel (1971, sec II, par.7) states that human beings â€Å"are prudent, they reflect, they weigh consequences, they ask whether what they are doing is worthwhile.† They have to weigh the choices and their decisions. This is what makes life all the more somber, and the seriousness cannot be avoided. The second is the inescapability of doubt. When we step back to have a look at our lives and goals, we come to know how petty like ants our goals are, and how unimportant our struggle is. He states: â€Å"humans have the special capacity to step back and survey themselves, and the lives to which they are committed, with that detached amazement which comes from watching an ant struggle up a heap of sand† (Nagel, 1971, sec II, par.9). This mismatch of what we do and our looking deeply into it, or comparing it to what others are doing, creates absurdity. Yet, Nagel agrees that we stay engaged to life, no matter we recognize that life is absurd because our perceptions that life and its goals are arbitrary in comparison to what we are actually doing in our lives. An objection to Nagel’s perspective is that: when we assess a situation and its outcomes, we do so by bringing into consideration some set of values and standards, which help us judge the situation, or determine whether it has been carried on in the right fashion. However, this cannot be applied while judging our lives. Stepping back to analyze our lives is like stepping into nothing, because there is no set of values and standards lying outside our lives, which could help to

Microeconomics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Microeconomics - Assignment Example As the supply decreases, demand is relatively constant leading to shortages in the market since demand exceeds supply. As a result, prices are hiked to maintain the equilibrium price and quantity. Thus, due to increased prices, the demand curve shifts to the left from D0 to D1 representing a decrease in the demand for beef. The supply of chicken is expected to increase that will make the supply curve to shift downwards representing an increase in supply. The demand is relatively constant but supply has increased establishing new equilibrium while reducing the price from P0 to P1. The reduced prices makes the demand curve to shift upwards from D0 to D1, representing an increase in demand for chicken. a) Ticket scalping is the resale of ticket prices in the secondary market. They are usually observed in entertainment and sporting events. The box office usually sets low prices for tickets hence creating excess demand in the market that cannot clear out (Rios, McConnell, & Brue, 2013). Thus, unlicensed and licensed members will buy more tickets at low prices and resell at relatively high prices to consumers so that the market can clear out. The original demand is the marginal revenue curve and represents the actual market clearing point. But scalpers intend to make profits and will purchase quantity Q2-Q1 at relatively low prices of P1. They will then resell the same quantity that is equivalent to average value corresponding to price P2. Thus, they will make more profit due to high prices. Therefore, instead of scalpers selling the tickets at equilibrium prices of P1, they sell at P2. This price is high for the consumers and will have to spend more if they are to acquire the ticket leading to welfare loss to the consumers. On the other hand, producer welfare is maximized since the tickets are sold at high prices than expected market prices leading to welfare gain to the producers. c) The tickets

Nerve Conduction Physiology

Nerve Conduction Physiology BASIC PHYSIOLOGY OF NERVE CONDUCTION The neurons form the building blocks of the nervous system. The central nervous system (CNS) contains about 100 billion neurons. It also contains 10–50 times this number of glial cells. Neurons Neurons in the mammalian central nervous system come in many different shapes and sizes. Most of them have the same parts as a typical spinal motor neuron shown in Figure 2. Figure-2: Typical spinal motor neuron The cell body (soma) contains the nucleus and is the metabolic center of the neuron. Neurons have processes known as dendrites which extend outward from the cell body and arborize extensively. Particularly in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, the small knobby projections over dendrites are called dendritic spines. The dendrites are the receptive part of the neuron. A typical neuron has long fibrous axon that originates from thickened area of the cell body, the axon of hillock. The first portion of the axon is called the initial segment. The axon divides into presynaptic terminals, each ending in a number of synaptic knobs which are also called terminal buttons or boutons. They contain granules or vesicles in which the synaptic transmitters secreted by the nerves are stored. The axonal process is responsible for transmission of propagated impulses to the nerve endings. Based on the number of processes that emanate from their cell body, neurons can be classified as unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar. Figure-3: Unipolar and bipolar neurons Figure-4: Multipolar neurons Glial cells: There are two major types of glial cells : microglia and macroglia. Microglia are scavenger cells they resemble tissue macrophages and remove debris resulting from injury, infection, and disease (eg, multiple sclerosis, AIDS-related dementia, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease). Microglia arise from macrophages outside the nervous system and are physiologically and embryologically unrelated to other neural cell types. Glial cells continue to undergo cell division even in adults and their ability to proliferate is particularly noticeable after brain injury (eg, stroke). There are three types of macroglia: 1 Oligodendrocytes, 2 Schwann Cells, and 3 Astrocytes. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells form myelin around axons in the CNS and PNS , respectively. Astrocytes are of two subtypes. Fibrous astrocytes, which contain intermediate filaments, found primarily in white matter. Protoplasmic astrocytes are found in gray matter having granular cytoplasm. Both types of astrocytes send processes to blood vessels, where they induce capillaries forming the tight junctions making up the blood–brain barrier. They send processes enveloping synapses and surface of nerve cells. Protoplasmic astrocytes have a membrane potential varying with the external K+ concentration but they do not generate propagated potentials. They produce substances that are tropic to neurons, and they help maintain the appropriate concentration of ions and neurotransmitters by taking up K+ and the neurotransmitters glutamate and ÃŽ ³-aminobutyrate (GABA). The axons of many neurons are myelinated, that is, they acquire myelin sheath, a complex of protein lipid wrapped around axon. In the peripheral nervous system, when a Schwann cell wraps its membrane around an axon up to 100 times myelin is formed. The myelin is then compacted when the extracellular portions of a membrane protein called protein zero (P0) lock to the extracellular portions of P0 in the apposing membrane. The axon is covered by myelin sheath except at the ending and at the nodes of Ranvier, periodic 1-m constrictions that are about 1 mm apart (Barrett et al., 2012). In the myelinated neurons, the junction between the 2 Schwann cells is known as the node of Ranvier, where the axon remains uninsulated. The intermodal distance is the distance between the 2 nodes of Ranvier and depends upon the spacing of Schwann cells at the time of myelination. As there is no proliferation of Schwann cells later on, intermodal distance increases during the growth of nerve. Thus the fibe rs myelinated early have longer intermodal distance, larger diameter and wider spacing at the node of Ranvier. The nerve conduction velocity depends on the fiber diameter and intermodal distance. The larger the axon the thicker the myelin sheath and longer the internodal distance, the faster the conduction velocity. (Mishra Kalita, 2006). Not all neurons are myelinated; some are unmyelinated, that is, simply surrounded by Schwann cells without the wrapping of the Schwann cell membrane that produces myelin around the axon. Figure-5: Glial cells: A Oligodendrocyte, B Schwann Cell, C Astrocyte Most of the neurons are myelinated in the CNS of mammals,, but the cells that form the myelin are oligodendrocytes rather than Schwann cells. Unlike the Schwann cell, which forms the myelin between two nodes of Ranvier on a single neuron, oligodendrocytes emit multiple processes that form myelin on many neighboring axons. Generation and conduction of impulse in nerve cells Nerve cells have a low threshold for excitation responding to electrical, chemical, or mechanical stimulus. Two types of physicochemical disturbances are produced and these are the only electrical responses of neurons and other excitable tissues,. local, non propagated potentials; and propagated potentials, the action potentials (or nerve impulses) and they are the main language of the nervous system. They are produced by alterations in ion channels causing changes in the conduction of ions across the cell membrane. These electrical events are rapid, measured in milliseconds (ms); and the potential changes are small, being measured in millivolts (mV). The impulse is normally transmitted (conducted) along the axon to its termination. Conduction of nerve impulses is rapid but much slower than that of electricity. Conduction is an active process it is self-propagating , and the impulse moves at a constant amplitude and velocity. Resting membrane potential The resting membrane potential represents an equilibrium situation at which the driving force for the membrane-permeant ions down their concentration gradients across the membrane is equal and opposite to the driving force for these ions down their electrical gradients. In neurons, the concentration of K+ is much higher inside than outside the cell, while the reverse is the case for Na+. This concentration difference is established by the Na+K+ ATPase. In neurons, the resting membrane potential is usually about –70 mV, which is close to the equilibrium potential for K+. Action potential In response to a depolarizing stimulus, some of the voltage-gated Na+ channels become active, and when the threshold potential is reached, the voltage-gated Na+ channels overwhelm the K+ and other channels and an action potential results (a positive feedback loop). The membrane potential moves toward the equilibrium potential for Na+ (+60 mV) but does not reach it during the action potential, primarily because the increase in Na+ conductance is short-lived. The sodium ion channels rapidly get closed called the inactivated state .In addition, the direction of the electrical gradient for Na+ is reversed during the overshoot because the membrane potential is reversed, and this limits Na+ influx. A third factor producing repolarization is the opening of voltage-gated K+ channels. This opening is slower and more prolonged than the opening of the Na+ channels, and consequently, much of the increase in K+ conductance comes after the increase in Na+ conductance. The net movement of positive charge out of the cell due to K+ efflux at this time helps complete the process of repolarization. The slow return of the K+ channels to the closed state also explains the after-hyperpolarization, followed by a return to the resting membrane potential. Thus, voltage-gated K+ channels bring the action potential to an end and cause closure of their gates through a negative feedback process. Distribution of Ion Channels in Myelinated Neurons The spatial distribution of ion channels along the axon plays a key role in the initiation and regulation of the action potential. Voltage-gated Na+ channels are highly concentrated in the nodes of Ranvier and the initial segment in myelinated neurons. The initial segment and, in sensory neurons, the first node of Ranvier are the sites where impulses are normally generated, and the other nodes of Ranvier are the sites to which the impulses jump during saltatory conduction which is responsible for faster impulse conduction in myelinated neurons. The number of Na+ channels per square micrometer of membrane in myelinated mammalian neurons has been estimated to be 50–75 in the cell body, 350–500 in the initial segment, less than 25 on the surface of the myelin, 2000–12,000 at the nodes of Ranvier, and 20–75 at the axon terminals. Along the axons of unmyelinated neurons, the number is about 110. Electrogenesis of the Action Potential The nerve cell membrane is polarized at rest, with positive charges lined up along the outside of the membrane and negative charges along the inside. During the action potential, this polarity is abolished and for a brief period is actually reversed. Positive charges from the membrane ahead of and behind the action potential flow into the area of negativity represented by the action potential (current sink). By drawing off positive charges, this flow decreases the polarity of the membrane ahead of the action potential. Such electrotonic depolarization initiates a local response, and when the firing level is reached, a propagated response occurs that in turn electrotonically depolarizes the membrane in front of it. (Barrett et al., 2012) Figure-6: Propagation of Action Potential Action potential generated in axons is propagated to either direction from its site of origin. Intracellular current flows from the active zone where the inner cell membrane is positively charged compared to adjacent inactive membrane which is negatively charged. An opposing current flows through the extracellular fluid from the inactive to active region. This local current depolarizes the adjacent inactive regions, thus resulting in impulse propagation bidirectionally along the axon. The physiologic impulses, however, arise at one end of the axon i.e., the cell body or sensory terminal and are conducted only orthodromically. In pathological conditions, however, this order of conduction is not maintained. In the myelinated fibers, the conduction is much faster than the unmyelinated. In normal myelinated axons the impulse propagated by saltatory conduction. Saltatory conduction has been compared with a kangaroo travelling at speed. The action potential advance at near uniform velocity , but it is powered by discrete kicks of inward membrane current at the nodes of Ranvier. For rapid conduction, the intermodal distance should be great enough to maximize the jump of the action potential and reduce the loss of current at the node of Ranvier. In myelinated fibers the time required for the local current to excite the next node depends on the longitudinal resistance of the axoplasm, capacitance, and conductance of the intermodal membrane. With high value of these parameters, more current is dissipated before impulse reaches the next node. This results in longer time for the impulse to depolarize the adjacent node, which is responsible for the slower conduction. Myelin thickness is inversely related to internodal capacitance and conductance. Conduction velocity, therefore, increases with the increase in myelin to a certain point. In segmental demyelination or during remyelination, myelin sheath is thin, intermodal distance shorter, internodal conductance and capacitance is increased. These result in greater loss of local current before reaching the next node of Ranvier. The failure to activate the node of Ranvier results in conduction block. In case of a partial conduction, the impulse propagation is slowed due to longer time required by the dissipating current to generate an action potential. In segmental demyelination of smaller fibers the conduction may become continuous instead of saltatory. Impulse conduction in unmyelinated fibers occurs in a continuous manner which accounts for slower conduction velocity compared to saltatory conduction in myelinated fibers. The conduction velocity also slows down in focal compression, which may be due to demyelination and decrease in fiber diameter. (Mishra Kalita ,2006).The loss of myelin is associated with delayed or blocked conduction in the demyelinated axons. Normal conduction of action potentials relies on the insulating properties of myelin. Thus, defects in myelin can have major adverse neurological consequences. Loss of myelin leads to leakage of K+ through voltage-gated channels, hyperpolarization, and failure to conduct action potentials. Nerve conduction tests can detect slowed conduction in motor and sensory pathways. (Barrett et al., 2012) NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES (NCS) The main indication of nerve conduction studies are for evaluation of paraesthesias (insensibility, creeping, fiery) or instability of the arms and legs. The type of study depends on symptoms presented. (Gutmann et al., 2003) NCS studies evaluate the dormancy, magnitude, as well as the pattern of the feedback following stimulation of the peripheral nerve through the skin and tissues by an electrical stimuli. The principle of nerve conduction studies (Mallik, Weir., 2005) In NCS we apply depolarizing electrical pulse square wave to the skin over a peripheral nerve generating a proliferate nerve action potential (NAP) recorded at a distant point over the same nerve. A compound  muscle action potential (CMAP) originating from the awaking of muscle grains in a destination muscle supplied by the nerve. These propagate nerve action potential and compound muscle action potential may be cited with surface or needle electrodes. Minor electrodes are restricted to allow around the full muscle stimulated, giving data for the time taken for the rapid axons to conduct an impulse to the muscle and the size of the feedback. Needle electrodes for NCS give authentic conduction time information, but because they evident from a small area of muscle or nerve it gives poor information and making numerical analysis difficult. Also it is difficult to obtain patient cooperation in an invasive technique. Nerves to be tested can either be stimulated through the skin with surface catalyst or it can be tested via a needle fixed close to the nerve or nerve roots. Choice of the stimulant depends on the desire to bracket above and below the  point of a prospective focal contusion and the anatomical opportunity to the applicable structure. (Mallik Weir et al., 2005). Motor nerve conduction performing motor nerve conduction study the surface electrodes overlying a muscle supplied by nerve to be tested is electrically stimulated and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is recorded . The recording electrodes are fixed using sticky conducive pads placed in to the  overlying target muscle. The effective electrode is placed over the muscle belly and the reference electrode is situated over an electrically inactive site near by muscle tendon. A grounding electrode is placed between the electrodes maintaining a zero voltage reference point. The CMAP  is a calculated voltage response from an individual muscle fiber action potentials. The shortened inactivity of the CMAP is the time from stimulus  to the onset of action and it is a biphasic response with an initial upward deflection followed by a smaller downward deflection. The CMAP  amplitude is consistent from baseline to negative peak (the neurophysiological convention is that negative volta ge is demonstrated by an upward  deflection) and caculated in millivolts (mV) Figure-7: Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) For recording CMAP, the stimulating current or voltage  is constantly increased until a point where there is no increment in CMAP amplitude. It is only at  supramaximal point that reproducible values for CMAP amplitude and the latency between the stimulus and the onset of the CMAP can be recorded  accurately. (Mishra Kalita, 2006) . The nerve is then excited at a more proximal site. In the normal state stimulating a nerve at  proximal site results in two CMAPs of similar shape and amplitude because the like motor axons innervate the muscle fibres making up the response  However, the latency will be greater for proximal stimulation compared with distal stimulation because of the longer distance between the stimulating  and documenting electrodes. The difference in inactivity represents the time taken for the fastest nerve fibre to conduct between the two stimulation  points as well as other factors involving neuromuscular transmission and muscle activation which is comm on to both stimulation sites. (MallikWeir  Gooch Pullman, 2005; Barboi Barkhaus,2004) . If we want to measures the distance between two sites then the fastest  can be calculated as follows: MNCV (m/s) = Distance between stimulation site 1 and site 2 (mm) [latency site 2 latency site 1  measurement the distance between 2 points of stimulation should be atleast10 cm. which reduces the error due to faulty distance  Stimulation at shorter segments of the nerve, however, is necessary in the evaluation of focal compression neuropathies e.g. CTS. Such short segment  stimulation does not allow the effect of focal slowing to be diluted by the unaffected nerve segment (Mishra Kalita, 2006) Sensory  StudiesThe sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) is achived by electrically stimulating sensory nerve fibres by a supra maximal stimulus and caculating the  nerve action potential at a point . Recording the SNAP orthodromically indicate to distal nerve stimulation and recording more  proximally (the direction in which physiological sensory conduction occurs). Recording the SNAP antidromically refers to proximal nerve stimulation  and recording more distally (opposite in order to the physiological sensory conduction occurs). Different laboratories have different antidromic or  orthodromic methods for testing different nerves. The acceleration correlates directly with the sensory latency, because the residual latency which  comprises neuromuscular transmission time and muscle propagation time is not applicable in sensory nerve conduction and therefore, either the results  may be expressed as latency over a standard distance, or acceleration. Only 20% largest diameter and fastest conducting sensory nerve fibres are  using in the conventional studies functionally supplying fine touch, vibration, and position sense. Predominantly small fibre neuropathies affecting  the 80% of fibres existing with prominent symptoms of pain and conventional studies .The various abnormal findings  are conduction slowing, conduction blockage, lack of responses,or low amplitude responses. NCV studies can acknowledge the degree of demyelination  and axonal loss in the segments of nerve examined. Demyelination of a nerve results in prolongation of conduction time (decreased conduction  velocity), where as axonal loss generally leads to the loss of nerve fiber and muscle potential amplitude. ( Mallik ,Weir., 2005)

Discuss Chaucers comic method in the Millers Prologue and Tale Essay

Discuss Chaucer's comic method in the Miller's Prologue and Tale. Combine your personal response with reference to other critical opinion at relevent points in your argument. The Miller's Tale is undoubtedly Chaucer's most crude and vulgar work, but how far did Chaucer intend for there to be a moral to his story? Are we supposed to sympathise with the jealous but 'sely' carpenter when the wife whom 'he lovede moore than his lyf' is unfaithful to him? Should we take pity on Absolon when his 'love-longynge' leads him to the riotous 'misplaced kiss'? We are warned not to 'maken ernest of game' in the Miller's Prologue, and we are also forewarned that the Miller's language and the content of the story may be offensive due to the ' ale of Southwerk'. By this point, it is clear that this is nothing but an amusing story, told purely for pleasure by a drunken and high-spirited miller. Elizabeth G. Melillo agrees in her essay that 'it seems a shame to do anything with the Miller's Tale except laugh heartily! To insert too much intellectual analysis may rob this, the best of 'dirty' stories of its charm.' Chaucer begins by preparing us for the trouble that is to come, by alerting us to the fact that the carpenter has married a woman much younger than him, and that 'his wit was rude' - he is an uneducated and gullible man, with a beautiful young wife. Dissatisfied with presenting us with the bare fact, Chaucer dedicates 40 lines to an elaborate description of Alisoun, in order to emphasise just how attractive she is. As Mc Daniel says, 'She is described in terms of a wily weasel, a vixen, a young calf; animalistic terms that emphasize her youthful sensuality'. By informing us of her 'likerous ye', Chaucer establ... ...ue not to 'maken ernest of game', and not to feel too sorry for the carpenter. The tale ends with the conclusion that 'swyvved was this carpenteris wyf, for al his kepyng and his jalousye'. Chaucer does not want us to take any moral from the tale, but it is packed full of them. It can be seen as a sort of sermon on the sins of pride and jealousy, hidden in the format of a 'naughty story'. According to McDaniel, 'the Miller tells this crude but hilarious story to remind the Host and all the other pilgrims that social pretense is dangerous'. Even though it may be difficult not to pity the carpenter at the end when he is hurt, cuckolded, and taunted, we must refrain from doing it. John Lippitt said that 'the tragic and the comic are not polar opposites, or mutually exclusive, but subtly and sometimes almost paradoxically inter-linked modes of experience'. Discuss Chaucer's comic method in the Miller's Prologue and Tale Essay Discuss Chaucer's comic method in the Miller's Prologue and Tale. Combine your personal response with reference to other critical opinion at relevent points in your argument. The Miller's Tale is undoubtedly Chaucer's most crude and vulgar work, but how far did Chaucer intend for there to be a moral to his story? Are we supposed to sympathise with the jealous but 'sely' carpenter when the wife whom 'he lovede moore than his lyf' is unfaithful to him? Should we take pity on Absolon when his 'love-longynge' leads him to the riotous 'misplaced kiss'? We are warned not to 'maken ernest of game' in the Miller's Prologue, and we are also forewarned that the Miller's language and the content of the story may be offensive due to the ' ale of Southwerk'. By this point, it is clear that this is nothing but an amusing story, told purely for pleasure by a drunken and high-spirited miller. Elizabeth G. Melillo agrees in her essay that 'it seems a shame to do anything with the Miller's Tale except laugh heartily! To insert too much intellectual analysis may rob this, the best of 'dirty' stories of its charm.' Chaucer begins by preparing us for the trouble that is to come, by alerting us to the fact that the carpenter has married a woman much younger than him, and that 'his wit was rude' - he is an uneducated and gullible man, with a beautiful young wife. Dissatisfied with presenting us with the bare fact, Chaucer dedicates 40 lines to an elaborate description of Alisoun, in order to emphasise just how attractive she is. As Mc Daniel says, 'She is described in terms of a wily weasel, a vixen, a young calf; animalistic terms that emphasize her youthful sensuality'. By informing us of her 'likerous ye', Chaucer establ... ...ue not to 'maken ernest of game', and not to feel too sorry for the carpenter. The tale ends with the conclusion that 'swyvved was this carpenteris wyf, for al his kepyng and his jalousye'. Chaucer does not want us to take any moral from the tale, but it is packed full of them. It can be seen as a sort of sermon on the sins of pride and jealousy, hidden in the format of a 'naughty story'. According to McDaniel, 'the Miller tells this crude but hilarious story to remind the Host and all the other pilgrims that social pretense is dangerous'. Even though it may be difficult not to pity the carpenter at the end when he is hurt, cuckolded, and taunted, we must refrain from doing it. John Lippitt said that 'the tragic and the comic are not polar opposites, or mutually exclusive, but subtly and sometimes almost paradoxically inter-linked modes of experience'.

History of Pole Dancing Essay

Pole dancing is a combination of dance and gymnastics that is an increasingly popular form of fitness and dance. Pole dancers use a vertical pole which is either static or spinning, and train in gyms or dedicated dance studios. It’s no secret that pole dancing really started in the strip clubs. But it has evolved into so much more and pole dancing fitness enthusiasts and schools have been working tirelessly to change the perception to one of a legitimate dance style emphasising the acrobatics and strength. Circus influences such as Chinese pole and other aerial arts have helped along the way, moving it away from the erotic environment. Competitions are usually non-sexual and are judged on tricks and transitions rather than sensuality. Rather than just the gyrating and grinding people expect it to be, pole dancing requires an amazing amount of strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance, even a five minute routine is extremely tiring! Obviously in clubs, rather than actual tricks, there is a lot of floor-work and other things that are designed to arouse rather than amaze! Pole dancers use upper body and core strength are the most obvious requirements as there are a lot of climbs, spins and inverting the body weight – it often involves a lot of training to get anywhere near an advanced level. Pole dancing as we see it today originated during the depression in America. The traveling entertainment and carnival troupes would go from town to town. In one of the side tents aside from the main show, girls would dance suggestively on a small stage in front of crowds of cheering men. Sound familiar? Pole dancing gradually moved into to bars in the 1950s as burlesque became more popular and then during the 1980s in North America, became pole dancing and the modern striptease. It was only a decade later that a dancer in Canada started teaching pole dancing for fitness to women who weren’t club dancers. In Australia, the first pole dancing studio, Bobbi’s Pole Studio, opened in Sydney in 2004, closely followed by Pole Divas in Melbourne in 2004 and a national competition followed in 2005. Since then there have been dozens of pole dancing schools opening all over Australia and we boast some of the best pole dancers in the world, including multiple Miss Pole Dance World winner, Felix Cane. We do know that there are different styles of pole dancing including Chinese pole, and Mallakhamb (an Indian sport), neither of which have an erotic component and are mainly performed by men, so obviously pole dancing in different forms has developed around the world over time. The Mallakhamb pole is wide, made of wood and has a wooden ball on the top of it. Chinese Pole is usually performed using two poles, between which the men perform gravity defying acrobatics. During a pole dancing fitness class, which are often similar to aerobics or dance classes in their format, students begin with a cardiovascular warm up, use dynamic stretching and strength drills to prepare and then learn a series of tricks, climbs and inverts and often then put them into a dance routine to practice transitions and develop their endurance. One other thing that is often reported by women who have taken up pole dancing for fitness is a feeling of empowerment and increased confidence. Whether this is because of their developing strength, skill, grace or simply a sense of achievement, differs from student to student. Pole dancing now focuses on the fitness, acrobatics and dance performance aspects and competitions are fierce. Some dancers are lean contortion machines whilst some look like they could be body builders in their spare time. Women and men compete on a regular basis around the world in a number of styles, all with absolutely breathtaking performances. Pole dancing has definitely come a long way from the sexy tent pole dancing where it began!

Learned Interpretation essays

Learned Interpretation essays In her book, "Justice and Interpretation", Georgia Warnke sets forth the general principles of hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is basically another way of referring to the way we as a society interpret various information through our history and culture. It is the way we give reasons why a particular decision or action was appropriate for us at a given time. Warnke also illustrates how hermeneutics can be beneficial to our society. In the conclusion of her book, she discusses the debate on abortion and shows how a hermeneutic approach to the debate can be beneficial to both sides. First, she makes the point that a hermeneutic approach can, shift the emphasis from a conflict, that between the advocates of pro-choice and those of pro-life, to a conflict between two interpretations of how the decisions and actions taken by each group followed along the guidelines set forth by the traditions of our society. Through this change, the conflict becomes one, not over which group is correct in its thinking, but one in which the integrity of our society as a whole can be examined. This change will, in turn, help to reduce the tension between the opposing forces and help them to more effectively reach a resolution that will best represent the feelings of the entire society. The problem that arises here is that the opposing sides may, and often do have opposing conceptions of just how a society can define what is most appropriate for it. Here again, she uses the debate over abortion to illustrate her point. She states that for the pro-life position, banning all abortions may be the only action consistent with the traditions of the society we live in, and that for the pro-choice position, protecting the possibility of abortion as a constitutional right is the only plausible action for the same reasons. She explains how there is no conceivable way o ...

John Coltrane essays

John Coltrane essays Jazz, taking its roots in African American folk music, has evolved, metamorphosed, and transposed itself over the last century to become a truly American art form. More than any other type of music, it places special emphasis on innovative individual interpretation. Instead of relying on a written score, the musician improvises. For each specific period or style through which jazz has gone through over the past seventy years, there is almost always a single person who can be credited with the evolution of that sound. From Thelonius Monk, and his bebop, to Miles Davis cool jazz, from Dizzy Gillespies big band to John Coltranes free jazz; Americas music has been developed, and refined countless times through individual experimentation and innovation. One of the most influential musicians in the development of modern jazz is John Coltrane. In this paper, I examine the way in which Coltranes musical innovations were related to the music of the jazz greats of his era and to the trib ulations and tragedies of his life. John William Coltrane was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on September 23, 1926. Two months later, his family moved to High Point, North Carolina, where he lived in a fairly well-to-do part of town. He grew up in a typical southern black family, deeply religious, and steeped in tradition. Both of his parents were musicians, his father played the violin and ukulele, and his mother was a member of the church choir. For several years, young Coltrane played the clarinet, however with mild interest. It was only after he heard the great alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges playing with the Duke Ellington band on the radio, that he became passionate about music. He dropped the clarinet and took up the alto saxophone, soon becoming very accomplished. When Coltrane was thirteen, he experienced several tragedies that would leave a lasting impression on him and would have a great impact on the mus...

Drugs and Control Substances among Hispanic Cultures Research Paper

Drugs and Control Substances among Hispanic Cultures - Research Paper Example Marijuana and cocaine use among eighth-grade students increased during the years 1991to 2002 according to samples obtained from the MTF. Despite this, there has been a decline in the use of both marijuana and cocaine among the Hispanics for the past few years. However, the Hispanic groups have depicted a higher rate of marijuana abuse compared to other groups such as whites and blacks. Therefore, the high rates of drug abuse among young Hispanic individuals have led to an increased threat to the public health because it contributes to a significant risk of addiction problems. Alvarez, Jason, Olson, Ferrari & Davis (2007) explains that Hispanic cultures in relation to drugs and control substances can be expressed in terms of the gender differences depicted through prevalence rates of drugs substances abused. In fact, these differences are profound among the Latinos and Latinas, whereby the former has increased likelihood of abstaining from abusing drugs and other control substances compared to the latter (Cervantes & Pena, 1998). There are notions from various researchers indicating that this tendency is caused by their cultural norms, which do not support substance use among women. In this case, the Latinas are protected from the effects of drug abuse and substances through a promotion of abstinence. Moreover, empirical evidence has justified the interrelationship between American cultural values and drug abuse among the Latinas. For instance, a national survey indicated that over one thousand Latinas depicted their interaction with non-Latinos and held their cultural values have reduced chances of abstaining from abusing drugs.

Worldview as it Relates to Philosophy Research Paper

Worldview as it Relates to Philosophy - Research Paper Example Through experience and education individuals develop these perspectives and implement them as a means of living their daily existence. When considering myself I recognize that my worldview has changed drastically over the course of my life and has been greatly influenced by experience and philosophy. This essay considers my current worldview and the way my past worldview has been influenced and changed through philosophy. Before taking this course my worldview was strongly rooted in religious doctrines. Throughout the formative periods of my life I grew up in an environment that was strictly Christian. Within this environment my parents and most of my peers believed in the major tenants of the Christian religion. Growing up in this environment I learned to adopt most of the religious principles that are espoused by the Christian religion. In terms of the creation of the world I believed that Earth and the universe had been created by God. I believed in morals as they related to the c oncept of good and evil as established by the Bible. In these regards, morality was presented as an easily understandable concept – if an individual adhered to the law and the tenants of the Bible then they were a moral and good person. I also embraced a concept of the afterlife. If individuals adhered to the Biblical principles and allowed God into their life then I believed they would go to heaven. Conversely, if they disregarded these aspects, they would go to Hell. My relation to science and logic were complex. While I embraced the principle of science in an overarching sense, I came to believe that oftentimes science could be wrong or mistaken. Specifically, in terms of evolution and cosmology I believed that while scientists had approached the concepts of existence and biology with their greatest ability, they were ultimately flawed in their findings. I understood that that ultimately their current scientific investigations would be proven wrong and they would ultimatel y discover that God and Biblical principles were the true reality of existence. When I look back on my worldview during this period of my life I recognize that I was greatly influenced by my personal surroundings and parents’ influence. As I gradually became more exposed to new ideas and new people my worldview drastically changed. In large part, the philosophical ideas I was exposed to in this course shaped and sharpened my worldview in a variety of ways. One of the major notions that I came to recognize through my research in philosophy emerged in terms of Christian morality. While Christianity noted that there were easily understood concepts of good and evil, my exposure to philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche in Beyond Good and Evil led me to understand that moral actions couldn’t easily be broken down into concepts of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ but often involve a complex number of philosophical implications (Nietzsche 1993). Another profound such changes that I experienced occurred in my understanding and eventual embracement of scientific principles. As I previously indicated that I had believed science did not properly understand Christian understandings of the world, as I became exposed to more scientific thought I came to understand that in large part the principles behind such concepts as evolution are supported by substantial scientific research. In these regards, I learned to increasingly embrace the notion that many of the claims made in the Bible may be wrong. As I became exposed to earlier notions of mythology, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which contains a flood story, I further came to recognize