Alchemy, Compare Paracelsus Essay

Neither Francis Bacon nor Paracelsus claims to be a professional alchemist, however, they both portray a strong defence as to why it is imperative to divulge the mysteries of nature. Both readings assert alchemy as a way of discovering the true forms of things. Paracelsus uses alchemy as a reference point of the past in defence for his use of medicine, whereas Bacon asserts through inductive reasoning that this ‘art of logic’ is how ‘we conquer nature’ (Bacon 1620). What they both get right is their concept of alchemy as an art, and how it is seen as ‘the art of discovery’ (Dawkins 1999). f the divine power. Bacon has two readings that both discuss the matter of alchemy, however, in diverse ways. Firstly, let us acknowledge his insisting on inductive reasoning. Essentially, Bacon presumes through inductive reasoning several interpretations of nature; he chooses this argumentative approach because of his inferences of the unobserved patterns of the future from particulars observed in the past. He suggests an entirely new system of logic, which is based on induction, rather than on syllogism. In fact, Bacon rejects proof by syllogism as it ‘operates in confusion and lets nature slip out of our hands’ (Bacon 1620). Through alchemy, we can conquer nature; overcome the ‘difficult and dark things’ (Bacon 1620). What’s more is the role he suggests of observational experiment as prerequisites for the construction of scientific theory (Bacon 1620). Paracelsus, on the other hand, convinces us that alchemy is ‘nothing, but the art, which can separate the useful from the useless, and transmute it into its final substance and its ultimate essence’ (Paracelsus 1951). He deduces that, without alchemy, there would not be medicine. So we can conclude that when he defends alchemy, he defends medicine, rather than the revelation of the mysteries of nature. In his guide, Bacon discusses how we can teach our minds to be receptive to truth and how our minds can invoke illusions, perceptual illusions – idols of the tribe (Mulder 2000)that are inherent in the nature of the intellect itself. Our senses are how we inspect and analyse the nature of this real world (Bacon 1620), and it is within our subconsciousness that we devise things in certain ways. Our senses affect the way in which we perceive shapes, colours and metals. Whereas Paracelsus talks about physical changes, like from lead to gold. Did he then consider himself to be a ‘natural magician’, who explored the secrets of nature(Gal 2013)? Moreover, he notes the mysteries of nature and how alchemy attempts to reveal and ‘brings to light’ (Paracelsus 1951) what is hidden. There is physical transmutation, an experience, which leads to the unveiling of truth and disproves mystery. What we also should take into consideration is the role of God and how His influence has affected their respective analysis In Bacon’s The Making of Gold, he addresses the negative view on alchemy due to incorrect implementation. He notes that if done in a proper manner with axioms, then it would work and people would be more accepting of it. Similarly, Paracelsus believes his medicine is the only way to recognize and overcome diseases. ‘Physicians who say that the prescriptions (he) writes are poison’ (Paracelsus 1951), are lacking in understanding of natural forces. The mysterium of nature created by God is implemented through alchemy. As a consequence, are alchemists seen to be meddling with God’s creation? If they are, it is supposedly both futile and heretical, and we’ll say: dangerous. Indeed God tasks man with completing his natural creation, for ‘man is nature’s agent and interpreter’(Bacon 1620), however, can we say the transmutation of base metals to gold is a way for mankind to alter the ways of God’s creation, perhaps even replace God’s intentions? For example, the ‘spirit of metal be quickened, and the tangible parts opened’(Bacon 1627) leads to the revelation of gold, hence the alchemist reveals great virtues that ‘lie hidden in nature’(Paracelsus 1951). Here, Bacon presents us with two types of worlds in his Guide to the Interpretation of Nature; nature, free and unconstrained, and nature, confined and harassed when forced from its own condition by art and human agency (Bacon 1627). Essentially, Bacon argues that nature is more likely to reveal its full potential through the ‘harassment of art’, rather than in ‘her own proper freedom’(Bacon 1627). Although Paracelsus asserts that alchemy is indispensable, Bacon accepts the understanding of nature that upheld the theoretical principles of alchemy (Linden 1974). He embraced a similarity of sorts, but one divested in the tremendously complicated system of analogies (those referencing God, included) adopted by Paracelsus and the magicians.

Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde Essay

Oscar Wilde and his trials, both literal and figurative, has been the subject of quite a few films and plays apart from the considerable mass of writing that exist on this subject. This is because Oscar Wilde, as a metaphorical figure has never failed to capture the public imagination as the veritable revolutionary against society’s delimiting and deterministic conventions and a crippling value system. And yet, Moises Kauffman’s latest play Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde manages to turn the relatively familiar material – the trials and indictment of the legendary Wilde on charges of sodomy and pederasty – into a riveting and powerful document against social determinism. The theme of Kauffman’s play is the ever-continuing conflict between art and morality and of course with such a theme, Wilde, the martyr to nineteenth century morality, with his assertion that there are no immoral books, only badly written ones is the perfect hero. Drawing from a huge variety of sources that includes trial transcripts, journalistic articles, contemporary autobiographies (including the one by Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas) and later biographies, Kauffman in the play successfully brings alive the past in a way that Wilde himself would have approved of. The play breaks all generic boundaries and has the elements of a historical drama, a docudrama, a courtroom drama, a social commentary, tragedy and comedy all rolled into one. The oft-repeated tale of Wilde’s fall from fame and fortune is by no means old wine in new bottle, primarily because the playwright’s in-depth research brings in new life into the tale by documenting new perspectives and exploring newer avenues and thereby problematizing the positions of victim and victimizer, secondarily because Kauffman concentrates in showing history in its own context and does not overtly attempt to make it contemporary, and finally because by showing Wilde’s plight in his confrontation with a world that found him fundamentally subversive to the interests of the society the playwright strikes an universal chord. Wilde’s passionate attempt to live a life on his own terms is superbly dramatized in the play. Most riveting are the dramatizations of those moments that change the life of the author for once and all. Such a fateful moment comes when Wilde denies kissing a young man with a witty putdown of his looks instead of a straightforward ‘no’. In the first of the three trials and in a climactic moment Wilde is asked by the prosecuting attorney Edward Carson, if he had ever kissed one of the young working class men with whom he was known to keep company. Wilde, with his suave and polished wit replies: â€Å"Oh, dear, no, He was a peculiarly plain boy. † Carson leaps victoriously at the implication of such a comment, that Wilde would have kissed the boy if he was a little more attractive and the author’s fate is sealed. From this moment onwards the play takes on a destructive momentum as Wilde’s entire life spirals out of control betrayed by his own wit. Never again is he able to gain control of his life. Through the presentation of Wilde, with support from his extensive research, Kauffman manages to subtly problematize the positions of victimizer and victim in the play. For as we find in the play, even before he stabs himself with his own clever tongue Wilde frittered away his prodigious talents by surrounding himself â€Å"with the smaller natures and the meaner minds. As he quotes from â€Å"De Profundis† towards the end of the play â€Å" I became the spendthrift of my own genius, and to waste an eternal youth gave me a curious joy. † Still, the intrinsic irony of the fact that it is his suavity, wit and incomparable craft with words that would bring his downfall is also highly symbolic as far as the theme of the play is concerned, for the play, among other things, engages with the typical Victorian debate over morality and art. Wilde refused to side with the dominant discourse of compartmentalizing his personal erotic longings and keeping it separate from the aesthetic side of his life. And the fact that he raised his personal sense of morality to the level of an art turned out to be the ultimate source of his tragedy in an age which preferred to look at art as a mode moral dispensation for social welfare. Apart from tracing the tragic downfall of this hero with a sincerity and passion that raises Wilde’s conviction and his untimely death to the level of a crucifixion so that the protagonist becomes a patron saint for all those whose life has been crippled by the narrow moralities of a compulsively prohibitionist society, the play also successfully and subtly presents a multilevel study in public perceptions of class, art and sexuality and this is what makes Kauffman’s themes universal. The playwright uses a chorus of actors, who appear both on stage and in front of it posing as the investigators in a hearing, almost classical in its simplicity. This modern chorus continuously reads, quotes or acts out from a huge variety of sources – fruits of the playwright’s research on his subject – establishing an ever-shifting mosaic of perspectives. This chorus takes up several convincing and often hilarious figurative perspectives. The multiple roles bring to the table the likes of Queen Victoria (the author of the Gross Indecency Law), and G. B. Shaw to name a few. The chorus quotes from the memoirs of Wilde and his lover, the accounts of Sir Edward Clarke and the editor Frank Harris. A particularly inspired scene is the one when a later day academic is brought into the play to deconstruct Wilde’s performance in court with insights that are nonetheless valid for being presented satirically. However the most hilarious of all these is probably the scene where the chorus dons long white underwear to display how Wilde procured his ‘gross indecencies’. The greatest success of Kauffman’s use of the chorus lies in the fact that by means of it, very subtly but surely, he manages to communicate a rather unsettling idea to the readers of the play: that even in our age of individual freedom, we are not very far from the social Puritanism that crippled Wilde during his lifetime.

Client And Agency Variables And Contest For Work - 1510 Words

1. Client and Agency Variables and Contest for Work a. What is the client’s demographic information? Sam Winchester is a 30-year-old, middle class, heterosexual, white male. He has his high school diploma, a four-year degree from SUNY Oneonta, and has a year and a half worth of law school from SUNY Albany. Mr. Winchester is not married and does not have any children. Sam is currently single and has no potential partners in his life. Mr. Winchester is also an atheist. He has decided to reach out for grief counseling on his own. Before coming into the agency Sam was living out of his car and traveling the country. During the counseling process he was living with a close family friend named Bobby Singer in Norwich, New York. Bobby currently owns a small farmhouse, in the middle of the woods. The nearest neighbor is a mile down the road. Sam refused to call Bobby’s house his home, and he still refers to himself as homeless. Sam has no living blood family members at this time that he is aware of. b. What are the agency’s mission and your role with the client in the agency? I work for a privately owned agency that was started by a close friend, Tiffany Carr. The agency’s name is Viviano-Carr Counseling Center. At the Viviano-Carr Counseling Center we feel it is our responsibility to engage in grief counseling and any problems that may arise as a result of said grief. Throughout our work with clients we utilize empowerment and strengths-based approaches to remind the client thatShow MoreRelatedAdvertising and Promotion2827 Words   |  12 Pagesa new product. An advertising agency or advert agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning, and handling advertising (and sometimes other forms of promotion) for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client s products or services. 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The Number One Article on Essay Help

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Social Responsibility And Business Ethics Essay - 1470 Words

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to assess an article written by William Cohen (2009) which outlines Peter Drucker’s description of the role of social responsibility in business organizations and society. This paper will compare similarities and differences between Cohen’s perspective on social responsibility to the social responsibility and business ethics theories of Drucker and Milton Friedman. Furthermore, this paper will provide a frame of reference on corporate social responsibility and business ethics presented in other research. Social Responsibility Defined Cohen, 2009 wrote in his article that Drucker defined social responsibility as the full responsibility of every organization to assume its impact on employees, the environment, customers, and whoever and whatever it touches. In essence, business organizations should care about the internal and external societal ecosystems where it exists. Other researchers such as (Halme, Roome, Dobers, (2009)) consider Corporate Responsibility as activities implemented by a company that contributes to a better society including its environmental conditions. However, for the purpose of this paper, social responsibility, as defined by Drucker is adopted. Friedman (1970) presented another perspective of social responsibility in business. 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The solution on Accounting Software Package Use in Australia

Question: Discuss about theUsage of Accounting Software/Packages in Australia. Answer: Introduction The report provides a review of literature related to usage of Accounting Systems application/software usage in Australia. The review covers development, usage, adaptability and problems faced in general by business companies while using Accounting packages and software in computers. Accounting applications and software are normally used almost all types of organizations, and while exploring literature related to accounting software or packages, the secondary sources indicated many software are available in the market with a variety of features and functionalities to suit different types of organizations and their operations. Accounting software is also used in educational institutions, non-profit organizations, however in this report an attempt is made to discuss the use of accounting software packages in Australian business environment in general with no focus on any one particular company or software solution provider. The literature reviews provided in the report are obtained fro m secondary sources (journals, conference papers, reports and online information) related to this topic. While reviewing literature it was found that SMEs in Australia comprise of around 99.7% of 2.1 million firms in the country (DIISR, 2011). This interesting statistic influenced the review to be made for accounting software usage in business firms in Australia. The review is made in accordance with the development and usage of accounting software in Australia. The resources reviewed include history, adoption and development, and competitive advantage realized by business firms. The gaps and challenges faced by users in the accounting software are also highlighted. The suggestions to overcome some common challenges that were identified by business firms are also explained. Literature Review The review of literature is made in the context of business research. As mentioned earlier, the usage of accounting software/package in a business environment is reviewed. While reviewing implementation of accounting software in business companies, it was found that business companies can be classified as small and medium businesses (SMB), small and medium enterprises (SME) and large enterprise business companies and other organizations such as governmental organizations, non-profits, banking and insurance, etc. The methodology followed in writing this literature review report is illustrated in figure below: Figure 1: Steps followed in literature review Background of Accounting Software According to Scott (2015), the background of accounting software/packages dates back to 1955, over 60 years now and have evolved a long way along with developments in digital computer technology. From the days of the mainframe computers introduced by IBM, accounting packages and computers seems to naturally fit well in the area of financial management. The developments in digital technologies make significant contributions in improving accounting systems which can be found in computerized software such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Accounting Information Systems (AIS) and so on. Brief on Accounting Software Usage Fink (2007) provided a study on the success of information systems in the context of large organizations to evaluate two main variables namely, user practices and design features in accounting software that which are designed and developed in-house. This evaluation was done by public accountants who deal with business companies to provide accounting expertise, controls, and computerized accounting package evaluations. Evaluation for these two variables was done for SMEs because SMEs have increasingly adopted accounting packages within their companies. SMEs make use of information systems for reporting, accounting and outsource their IS operations. The results of the evaluation showed satisfactory ratings for user practices and design but with exceptions in some cases. For instance, the installation process in the software was not well managed, but the functionalities and reporting features were good. This study was made to identify accounting package deficiencies and improve the soft ware to overcome deficiencies. In this study, Fink highlighted the importance of IS success, the usage of accounting packages by SMEs and the involvement of public accountants to improve accounting software. Sori (2009) explained that the involvement of consultants in accounting software implementation and usage will help in identifying incongruence within the accounting IS and the implementation team. A Brief on Accounting Practices The general case of SMEs in Australia explained by financial researchers and experts state that there exists a positive relationship between efficient cash flow management and working capital and the companys profitability. Therefore it must be noted that if an SME will manage its working capital well it can increase profitability and achieve business success (Yazdanfar and Ohman, 2014). At the same time in the case of owner-manager run companies, poor financial controls, and management practices are some of the reasons for the decline in business performance. Vos and Roulston (2008) suggest that in owner-manager run firms must actively engage themselves in monitoring cash flow cycle, break-even and profitability. In addition to these situations, SMEs find their accounting and reporting systems are adequate for accounting and compliance purposes. At the same time, their accounting systems used by SMEs may be inadequate for monitoring company performance on the daily, weekly or monthl y basis. This poor performance in accounting and financial management can be overcome through developing more skills on financial controls and knowledge of computer based accounting software. According to Breen et al. (2003), the motivation for adoption of computerized accounting systems (CAS) by businesses in Australia is mainly driven by IT systems adoption in their companies. Their research project was made to examine the small business usage of CAS and to identify obstacles that prevent business companies from adopting CAS. The overall objective is to encourage adoption of accounting software in SME record keeping. Since accounting packages need an IT system, IT adoption of is influenced by many factors such as making decisions in the organization for IT, using technology for innovation, the overall organizational style, and the business environment. It is found that in large organizations, IT is used extensively, as business operations are computerized. On the contrary, smaller business firms depend on the owner-manager who makes decisions on IT (Liberman-Yaconi et al. 2010). Halabi et al. (2010) suggested that the IT knowledge levels, proficiency and characteristics of owner-manager play a major role in determining CAS in the company. In addition to these constraints it was found that small business companies have resource limitations and in many instances, the owner himself performs the accounting function. For companies initiating the use of accounting packages, public accountants offer support in implementing the accounting package and improving it further (Breen et al. 2003). Hunter (2015) stated that the availability of more powerful computers along with user-friendly accounting software has influenced SMEs to implement IT and accounting software along with other packages in the recent years. There is also considerable research to demonstrate the link between improved business performance and use of accounting package/software. SMEs are found to be using accounting software for obtaining information related to business operations more efficiently (Reid and Smith, 2002). Looking into these circumstances, it can be understood that for having a more systematic and comprehensive performance monitoring of financial data, the owner-manager must be proficient and skilled in accounting software. More financial literacy is also highlighted for SMEs to help them have more control of their finances and sustain themselves in the competition. Mazzarol (2015) suggests the need for a national system such as Australian Small Business Commissioners to provide assistance to SMEs on regulatory changes, information control, advocacy services and in dispute resolution. Many researchers have also highlighted that accounting department maintains books of accounts for all the departments, the input data from other departments came in different formats. This has often resulted in duplication of data and posed challenges while reconciling accounts at the end of the year. This problem is often faced by companies running an accounting package on a standalone computer. The solution to this problem led to the development of centralized database and accounting systems which were used by SMEs and large enterprises. In the centralized database, the problem of data duplication and issues in multiple formats of data is easily handled (Svejvig, 2011). Large business companies implement network-based software systems such as ERP and to maintain the centralized database and establish uniformity and consistency of data from different sources. ERP systems integrate different individual applications in business functions and ensure data centralization and avoid the ne ed for an independent accounting package. ERP software is a business enabler and provides competitive advantage but the implementation is quite challenging and must be done correctly (Xu, 2011). A number of accounting packages are available for use immediately off the shelf and can be customized. Some examples are XERO, MYOB, Oracle, SAP, etc. Conclusion In summary, the report provides a detailed review of the use of accounting software by business companies in Australia with a focus on SMEs. The review summaries are made by using journals, conference proceedings and research reports which are the sources of information. It can be found that SMEs and small companies due to their limited resources face many problems and challenges in effectively managing their finances which can be overcome by the use of centralized databases and software applications. The role and involvement of public accountants in Australia in improving accounting packages used by SMEs are briefly mentioned for its importance to enhance the features of in-house developed software. The use of computerized accounting systems is highlighted to overcome the problems faced by SMEs in managing their cash flow, capital and company performance. The need for a centralized software system such as ERP is highlighted to ensure data consistency and uniformity in business funct ions. References Breen, J., Dr. Sciulli, N. and Calvert, C. (2003) The Use of Computerized Accounting Systems in Small Business, 16th Annual Conference of Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand, Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2003. pp. 3-8. DIISR (2011) Key Statistics: Australian Small Business, AGPS Canberra, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Fink, D. (2007) Information Systems success in small and medium enterprises: An evaluation by Australian Public Accountants, Australian Journal of Information Systems. 4 (1), pp. 32-34. Halabi, K.A., Barrett, R. and Dyt, R. (2010) Understanding financial information used to assess small firm performance, An Australian quantitative study. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management. 7 (2), pp.163-170 Hunter, M.G. (2015) Strategic Utilization of Informatio Systems in Small Business. PA: Business Science Reference (An imprint of IGI Global). Mazzarol, T., Reboud, S. and Clark, D. (2015) The financial management practices in small and medium enterprises, Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand, 28th Annual SEAANZ Conference Proceedings, 1-3 July, Melbourne 2015. pp. 1-20 Reid, G. and Smith, J. (2002) The Bigger Picture, Financial Management, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, pp. 24 26. Scott, B. (2015) The Accounting Journal: 60 years of Accounting Software, The Pulse Australia. [Online] Available at: https://myob.com.au/blog/60-years-of-accounting-software-introduction/. [Last Accessed 17-Aug-2016]. Sori, M. Z. (2009) Accounting Information Systems (AIS) and Knowledge Management: A Case Study, American Journal of Scientific Research. (4), pp.36-44 Svejvig (2011) A successful enterprise system re-implementation against all odds - a multi-sourcing case study, Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research. 13(4). Liberman-Yaconi, L., Hooper, T. and Hutchings, K. (2010) Toward a model of understanding Strategic decision-making in micro-firms: Exploring the Australian information technology sector, Journal of Small Business Management. 48 (1), pp.70-78 Xu, L. (2011) Enterprise Systems: State-of-the-Art and Future Trends, IEEE Transactions On Industrial Informatics. 7(4), pp. 630-640.

The Fifteenth President Essays - Presidency Of James Buchanan

The 15th President : James Buchanan was born in a log cabin on April 23, 1791. His parents, James Buchanan and Elizabeth (Speer) Buchanan were Irish immigrants who had made a successful life for themselves as merchants in rural Pennsylvania. James was the second of eleven children and the oldest boy.(Uher) Always eager to learn, he was privately tutored at home, and then he attended the village academy. He later studied law and graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Soon after the War of 1812, Buchanan's venture into politics began. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives at age 23 and served from 1814-1819. In spite of a recent personal scandal, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1820. Buchanan served ten years as a Congressman from Pennsylvania (1821-1831). In 1832, President Jackson made him Ambassador to Russia, where he served 2 years. James Buchanan was well suited to the foreign posting. The two nations had been unable to negotiate a trade treaty, and Buchanan's legal skill enabled him to broker an agreement. In 1833,after returning from St. Petersburg he won a U.S. Senate seat. He served in the Senate from 1834-1845. President Polk named him to be the Secretary of State, from 1845-1849. When he did not win the Presidential nomination in 1852, President Pierce appointed him Ambassador to the Court of King James in England. He served in London, until the election of 1856. By the time Buchanan returned to Washington, slavery had become an important issue in American politics. He objected to slavery personally, but viewed the abolitionist movement as a greater threat to the Union. He claimed that the Constitution upheld the right of Southerners to own slaves and saw it as America's duty to protect slavery in the South. In 1856 Buchanan became the Democratic candidate for president. Having been a long time member of Congress and envoys to Russia and England, Buchanan had many political assets. He was a smooth, pleasantly dull conservative from the North with Southern support. Buchanan was the last president to support a legal recognition of slavery. When he took office the country remained dangerously divided between pro- and anti-slavery states, and he hoped to ease tensions. The situation was further inflamed, however, just two days into his term with the Supreme Court?s Dred Scott decision. The court declared that slaves and their descendents were property, not citizens. Furthermore, the court declared that the government could not dictate a white citizen?s right to own slaves based on where he lived. As a result, Northerners vowed to fight the decision and Southerners threatened to secede.."(Miller Center, U. of Virginia) In 1819, Buchanan became engaged to Anne Coleman, the daughter of a Philadelphia millionaire. She broke off the engagement after there was some speculation that Buchanan was only marrying her for her money. Coleman died a few days later, possibly a suicide . The physician's records list her cause of death as an overdose of laudanum, an opiate. Buchanan was not allowed to attend the funeral and his letter of sympathy was returned unopened by her father. James Buchanan swore "never to marry in honor of her memory."."(Miller Center, U. of Virginia) Although he remained a bachelor, James Buchanan did not lack for family life. When he was elected president he took his grown niece Harriet Lane, an attractive and popular woman in her twenties to be White house hostess. Buchanan loved to entertain and the White House saw a social season that rivaled the days of Julia Tyler.."(Miller Center, U. of Virginia) Numerous social events filled the ballrooms, and a Washington frightened by the impending war was only too glad to enjoy the hospitality While in Washington, Buchanan's "room mate" was Senator Rufus King of New York. The two men were virtually inseparable and were rumored to be lovers. They shared a house and a bedroom (this apparently was not uncommon for the time.) There are many written references of the close relationship and Historian James Loewen supports the theory that Buchanan and King were lovers. He notes that the two were referred to around Washington as "Siamese twins" which was contemporary slang for gay couples. Professor Loewen goes so far