International Business Strategy Analysis Of Samsung Electronics - Samp

Question: Analyse the International Business Strategy of Samsung Electronics. Answer: Introduction The most important objective of pursuing this study is to critically evaluate the international business strategy of as adopted by Samsung Electronics. The company which originates from Korea has today emerged as one of the largest companies which have capabilities of outshining corporate giants like Apple Inc.(Worstall, 2012). This makes the choice of Samsung to be very apt as the company has not only expanded beyond its national frontiers but also has been successful to manage a large product / service portfolio to a greater extent. The study reviews Samsung Electronics on multiple aspects especially those related to its organizational design and culture, global market entry strategies, global operations, production and supply chain management and global human resource management. The study also determines varied management issues and opportunities to which Samsung is exposed to thus developing recommendations to overcome the same. Samsung: Company Overview and Current Operating Position Samsung, the Korean company which made a humble beginning as a small trading company in 1938 has today evolved as a world-class modern corporation. By the end of 2014, Samsung operated in more than 84 countries through over 213 offices across the globe and employed some 320, 000 people(Samsung Electronics , 2015). The companys portfolio spans electronics, heavy industries, financial services, chemicals, services and others. Its businesses are wide-ranging that extend over semiconductors, advance technology, skyscraper and plant construction, fashion, petrochemical, medicine, hotels and much more(Samsung Electronics, 2014). At Samsung, talent and technology are directed beyond accomplishing the economic goals to also contribute towards creating a better global society(Samsung Electronics , 2015). Excellence is among the core values of the company which is evident from the fact that in 2015 Samsung Electronics occupied 13th position in Fortune Global 500(Samsung, 2016; Fortune Global, 2016). Under the leadership of Mr. Oh-Hyun Kwon, Vice Chairman and CEO, the company has topped the charts in the overall mobile phone and smart-phones segments during Q3 2015 holding market shares of 19.0% and 23.2% respectively as per rankings of the research firm Counterpoint(Guha, 2015).Despite getting a tough competition from its rival Apple, the company has still managed to be the worlds largest mobile vendor(Mathew, 2015). As a brand, Samsung has recently been ranked at 7th place in Interbrands Best Global Brands 2015. The progress of the brand is evident from that it stood at 17th place during 2011(Samsung Electronics, 2015). Samsungs current market position can be attributed to its core values, planned business moves, tight control over supply chain activities, and its strategy to reap advantages of experience curve economies (Simonin, 2014). Organizational Design and Control Issues At Samsung, the organizational design was primarily influenced by the typical Korean culture, often represented by disciplined, authoritarian and bureaucratic management styles. Such an organizational design facilitates top managements imposition of vision on the rest of the company thereby easing control over activities (Stachowicz-Stanusch, 2010). But such an organizational design not only negatively affected the economic goals of the company; it also drew lot of external criticism to the company declaring it to be non-innovative and laggard(Stachowicz-Stanusch, 2010; Chun, 2015). The company therefore took a revolutionary decision to modify its organizational design from being an efficiency-focused to a more innovation oriented organization. The once risk aversion philosophy has been replaced by an organizational design which promotes continuous experimentation and innovation. Over the years, it has inculcated an organizational culture of developing in-house expertise (Glowik, 2016). The company operates on a non-union philosophy which was actually the idea of its founder, Mr. Lee ByungChul(Yoo Kim, 2015). Since 2013, Samsung has been reorganized into three key divisions: IT Mobile Communications, Consumer Electronics, and Device Solutions as depicted in the figure below. Figure 1Organizational Design of Samsung Source: (Samsung Electronics , 2015) These three major divisions of the company operate independent of each other. The company asserts that this not only aids in achieving operational synergies but also strengthens the individual capabilities of these divisions. But, in reality the company still has an organizational design which is vertically structured and too hierarchical. The commands in the company flow from top to bottom which not only delays decision-making but also acts as a source of discontentment among the workforce. Its autocratic organizational design is probably the reason that company took too long to understand the value of innovation(Worstall, 2012).However it cannot be denied that vertical integration strategy of the company enables cost-efficiency which helps the company in winning competitive advantage. On the basis of literature contributed by Burns and Stalker (1961) cited in Chun(2015)Samsung is a mechanistic organization which is characterized by high horizontal and vertical differentiation, strict hierarchical structure, centralized decision-making and high formalization of roles and responsibilities. Entry Strategies and International Competitive Strategies Samsung has a diverse global portfolio and therefore enjoys an extensive global coverage. While choosing a new marketplace, Samsung basically aims at achieving economies of scale. A thorough market research is conducted and those markets are selected where the company can get cheaper factors of production and sell mostly standardized products with limited localization (Levine, 2015). Samsung prefers cost-leadership over differentiation strategy while operating internationally. In fact the company has been widely criticized for its strategy to copy rivals. Out of the four common foreign market entry strategies: licensing, joint venture, exporting and sole venture, the company mostly employs joint venture approach (Glowik, 2016). Samsung believes in forming strategic relationships which has aided the firm in emerging as a world-class leading technological firm (Levine, 2015). Its diversified portfolio helps in risk aversion at many times when there are adverse situations in any of the partner nations (Levine, 2015). Operational Control, Production and SCM The entire operational control and manufacturing system in Samsung is vertically integrated which assists the company is excelling in its supply chain (Degun, 2014). The operations management and control in Samsung Electronics is governed by the basic Japanese approach wherein innovation was concentrated upon(Jung, 2014). Though quality compromise was strictly prohibited but organization was encouraged to be more cost effective. The operations revolved around low-cost manufacturing systems along with being customer centric (Jung, 2014).The overall value chain of Samsung is depicted in figure below: Figure 2 Operational Value Chain in Samsung Electronics Source: (Jung, 2014) For ensuring sustained operational control over its activities, Samsung Electronics has a continually reviews it business against the disclosure control policy annually and thus takes corrective actions in cases of deviations (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, 2009). Another way of monitoring operations in Samsung Electronics is managing the overall value chain thus generating significance for organizational stakeholders. A culture of continuous improvement of process was also entrusted through operational control (Jung, 2014). The production in Samsung electronics is supported by six sigma approach that was adopted in 1993 by overhauling the overall management approach towards production(Mo Yang et al, 2007). Though initially Six Sigma was adopted only to manage the quality of final products but in due course of time it became one of the most significant business principles for Samsung Electronics. Later based on quality movement within the organization and its subsidiaries across the world, quality enhancements were ensured even in business processes too. The eventual outcome was provision of quality outputs to the consumers, supporting innovations through new product developments, escalated profits and rising customer loyalty(Sabri, 2015). Supply chain management (SCM) in Samsung Electronics has been one of the major pillars that have supported organizational growth beyond leaps and bounds. Multiple technologies related to SCM plays a dominant role in managing its supply chain thereby integrating its international activities along with supporting innovations. The most significant SCM technology deployed by Samsung electronics is the advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems which was adopted in 1990s but yet is considered to be highly successful(Mo Yang et al, 2007). Continuous innovations have been made within the system to support external and internal environmental changes. The supply chain of Samsung Electronics is depicted in figure below: Figure 3Layers in Samsung Electronics supply chain and their importance Source: (Han et al, 2013) The supply chain of Samsung is developed in a manner that most of its production are absorbed within the Samsung groups and by its affiliate inustries. It is evident from the fact that production by Samsung Thailand is sold to Samsung in European countries as well as that in Brazil and Korea (Christiansen, 2015). Thus it operates as a highly integrated system wherein it acts as a producer as well as consumer in many circumstances. One of the major issues within this supply chain is that, Samsung Electronics lays more emphasis on domestic companies rather than on international or transnational organizations associated with the same. Though quality is given due importance but discrimination is also practiced which affects the supply chain ethically thus having negative implications of supply chain partners of Samsung(Han et al, 2013). Another major issue identified with the supply chain of Samsung is that its non-adherence to social and environmental standards. Though a larger extent the company has resorted to environmental conservation but it fails to integrate the same with supplier management programs thus resulting in ineffective implementation of such approaches. Further it also forbids the company from taking maximum advantage of environmental certifications like ISO 14001 which results in increased risks of being subjected to social issues(Lee Kim, 2009). In Samsung electronics to optimize benefits from Six Sigma and SCM both were amalgamated to drive organizational sustainability and support innovations. Recommendations Irrespective of having highly effective and efficient supply chain and production systems it is important for Samsung to improve the same to retain its leadership position in international markets. It is thus recommended that Samsung needs to deploy a more obedient approach that would streamline issues present within existing supply chain as well as incessantly monitor the activities within the chain. Another major issue that is discrimination needs to be curbed which is possible only when the company resorts to a fair trade policy(Wilkinson, 2007). It is also significant for Samsung Electronics to have a codified regulatory system that will be equivalent for all the firms and supply chain associates based on their position and dealings with the company. Such a system would enhance the trust of supply chain partners in Samsung and thus motivate to them to conduct fair business along with being loyal to the company. It is also recommended to Samsung to resort to reverse logistic that will help the company in overcoming environmental sustainability issues as well as minimize wastages(Sarkis et al, 2010). Through reverse logistics, Samsung will be able to support recycling, reuse and recovery of its used products thus helping in environmental conservation. Considering the fact that HR management has been a significant issue for Samsung not within its company but within supplier companies it is critically essential for Samsung to design stringent measures to curb such practices. This is possible when the integrity management policy as determined by Samsung is also enforced upon the varied organizational suppliers. Further it is also important for Samsung to conduct HR audits at supplier firms on a regular basis with the help of a special team created solely for this purpose(Farndale et al, 2010). The team would operate as an external individual group and conduct audit thus certifying suppliers in accordance to Samsungs norms. This will help Samsung to overcome blind belief on suppliers and their audit reports thus safeguarding its employees as well as goodwill. Conclusion Samsung has been operating with excellence in international markets which is clearly visible through its growth graph which it has achieved within a very short span of time. With an expansive geographically diversified portfolio, it is intricate for Samsung to manage its international business. But through proactive approaches amalgamated with an incessant urge to achieve leadership position has been the driving force of Samsungs success. By defying traditional approaches and developing innovative management system Samsung has been able to outshine its competitors. However to manage dynamics of international business and gain long run sustainability it is critically significant for Samsung to be proactive in its approach and thus manage hindrances effectively. References Samsung Electronics . (2012). Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report 2012 . Seoul: Samsung Electronics . Adnan. (2016). Mergers and acquisitions helping Samsung boost business oversea. Retrieved June 7, 2016, Bloomberg. (2011). Samsung Electronics Co. buys out Sony's stake in LCD joint venture. Retrieved June 7, 2016, Cheng, J., Lee, M. (2015). Samsung Shareholders Back $8 Billion Merger, in Blow to U.S. Hedge Fund. Retrieved June 7, 2016, Christiansen, B. (2015). Handbook of Research on Global Supply Chain Management. Hershey: IGI Global. . Chun, J. (2015). How Samsung Electronics Organizational Structure and Culture Affect Its Innovation. Denmark: Ibp Union. Farndale, E., Paauwe, J., Boselie, P. (2010). An exploratory study of governance in the intra firm human resources supply chain. Fortune Global. (2016). Fortune Global 500. Retrieved June 6, 2016, Glowik, M. (2016). Market Entry Strategies: Internationalization Theories, Guha, R. (2015). Samsung leads the Indian mobile market share in Q3, 2015: Study. Retrieved June 6, 2016.

The Little Mermaid

Adapting an already existing story into a movie, especially when it comes to book classics, is one of the least gratifying jobs ever; no matter how hard the movie director tries, (s)he goes into no-win situation, since the audience will always find the discrepancies in the story, the plot, the characters or whatever needs changing for a longer running time.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Little Mermaid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It would be wrong to claim that all adaptations are doomed to being washed away by the sands of time, but in most cases, people either love or hate the adapted version, and this nowhere come as in one of the Disney’s greatest animation stories of all time, the Little Mermaid. Actually, the similarities between the two versions of the classic fairy tale are very basic. They follow the pattern of a mermaid seeing a human prince, falling in love for him and trying to win hi m over after bargaining a pair of legs for her voice from a sea witch. Besides that, the story was changed to the core. The settings also remained quite similar to the ones in the book; both the underwater world and the kingdom look quite generic in the movie, allowing for placing the story in a typical European country; presumably, Denmark. The characters, however, have undergone a great makeover. First and foremost, each of the characters finally got a name – there was no longer the Little Mermaid, the Prince and the Sea Witch, but Ariel, Prince Eric and Ursula. Together with names, each of the characters acquired a clear personality, except from the Prince, who remained quite generic. Ariel, for instance, while being under the sea, seems an annoying whiny teenager; however, when she gets to the surface, her curiosity comes out in full blue, and it makes her a compelling and interesting character. Ursula, in her turn, has become much more sinister and evil: â€Å"Yes, hurr y home, princess. We wouldn’t want to miss old daddy’s celebration, now, would we?  Ã¢â‚¬  (The Little Mermaid), and sometimes even vulgar: â€Å"And don’t underestimate the importance of body language!† (The Little Mermaid). In addition, a bunch of new characters arrived, creating a unique atmosphere. It would have been easy just to slip them in as puppets to create a foil for the romance between Ariel and Eric, but instead, the audience sees these characters, think, emote and converse, which altogether creates a unique and very believable atmosphere. The weird thing, however, is that Ariel’s sisters, who were the next focus of the book apart from the prince and the mermaid: â€Å"The fourth of the sisters was timid† (Anderson 3), â€Å"The third of the sisters, who came of age the following year, was the most daring among them† (Anderson 2), are given little to no screen time. Perhaps, Clemens and Musker considered that adding an other plotline would make the movie unnecessary complicated.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Among the most obvious changes, the songs must be mentioned. The Little Mermaid was made into a movie with occasional musical numbers, which is another reason why it differs so much from the source material. They help build a particular character, and each of them, from Poor Unfortunate Souls to the unforgettable Under the Sea and Part of My World, are a gem. Quite honestly, it could not have been any other way around, with Alan Menken at the helm of song-writing process. Of course, in contrast to the real story, in the Disney version, the Little Mermaid survives – Disney did not let her die; in fact, one can claim with certainty that they could not let her die, seeing how the Disney’s trademark was the magical happily-ever-after, the stories where the characters’ dre ams come true. Clemens and Musker also made a number of subtle yet significant alterations of the original story. As it has been mentioned above, the witch and the girl whom the Prince mistakes for the Mermaid are two different people in the book, and the witch does not seem to be the least bit interested in taking over King Triton’s realm. The given addition, however, makes Ursula much more complex than her book protagonist, adding another dimension to her character and making the story more intense. Finally, the Prince and the Mermaid are given much more screen time than they are in the story. This allows for watching them develop their relationships, which they, in fact, have to start from scratch and, more importantly, work on, in contrast to other typical Disney fairytales. All of these editions of the original story do not change the story to the point where it becomes barely recognizable, yet clearly intend to change what quite honestly should be called a tragedy into a traditional fairytale with a princess, a prince, an evil witch and a happy ending, which is all that a family flick needs. All in all, it is clear that the Disney Company has made tremendous changes to the story and its characters in order for it to be considered safe enough by the parents of the target audience. However, even though it is clearly obvious that the changes to the original are huge, it cannot be said that these changes destroy the tale. Instead, they give it a new life and allow people to relate to the characters and enjoy a more traditional and, quite honestly, desired outcome of the good-vs.-evil battle between the mermaid and the witch. A perfect family film that spawned the Disney Renaissance, this is a true gem of hand-drawn animation era. Works Cited Anderson, Christian. The Little Mermaid – Den Lille Havfrue. 1837. PDF file. 20 August 2013.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Little Mermaid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Little Mermaid. Dir. Ron Clemens and John Musker. Perf. Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes and Pat Carroll. Disney, 1989. Film. This essay on The Little Mermaid was written and submitted by user Leanna V. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

World View Essay

World View Essay World View Essay By asking people what their worldview is, they wouldn’t know. Starting this assignment I didn’t even know what my worldview was. I started thinking about, read about, watch videos and everything and what I have found is that worldview â€Å"is the way someone sees the world† (Merriam-Webster) so if you ask people you would get unlimited answers. The origin of Christian worldview of life is that everything that living in this world was made by God, our creator, â€Å"In the beginnings God created the heaven and earth† (Genesis 1:1 New International Version (NIV)). Many would believe that there was evolutionary process but believing in our god it is said, â€Å"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.† (Genesis 1:27 NIV) I believe that God created man, Genesis 1:27, as stated above paragraph, teaches that God created man in his own image. We were set apart by God to rule over all th e creatures that move on the earth. â€Å"Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. (Genesis 1:28 NIV) The bible provides a simple explanation of what it means to know God, â€Å"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.† (John 17:3 NIV) It is even stated on the meaning to live your life, such as, Luke 15:21. For the ones that walk in the faith of God they know their shortcomings and the need for morality and forgiveness, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). To a Christian, the definition of moral behavior comes directly from the bible. Moral behavior is obedience of god’s commands. One major point that Christians believe is that, Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Psalms 51:5). Destiny is what lies ahead

Concentration Definition (Chemistry)

Concentration Definition (Chemistry) In chemistry, the word concentration relates to the components of a mixture or solution. Here is the definition of concentration and a look at different methods used to calculate it. Concentration Definition In chemistry, concentration refers to the amount of a substance per defined space. Another definition is that concentration is the ratio of solute in a solution to either solvent or total solution. Concentration usually is expressed in terms of mass per unit volume. However, the solute concentration may also be expressed in moles or units of volume. Instead of volume, concentration may be per unit mass. While usually applied to chemical solutions, concentration may be calculated for any mixture. Two related terms are concentrated and dilute. Concentrated refers to chemical solutions that have high concentrations of a large amount of solute in the solution. Dilute solutions contains a small amount of solvent compared with the amount of solvent. If a solution is concentrated to the point where no more solute will dissolve in the solvent, it is said to be saturated. Unit Examples of Concentration: g/cm3, kg/l, M, m, N, kg/L How to Calculate Concentration Concentration is determined mathematically by taking the mass, moles, or volume of solute and dividing it by the mass, moles, or volume of the solution (or less commonly, the solvent). Some examples of concentration units and formulas include: Molarity (M) - moles of solute / liters of solution (not solvent!)Mass Concentration (kg/m3 or g/L) - mass of solute / volume of solutionNormality (N) - grams active solute / liters of solutionMolality (m) - moles of solute / mass of solvent (not mass of solution!)Mass Percent (%) - mass solute / mass solution x 100% (mass units are the same unit for both solute and solution)Volume Concentration (no unit) - volume of solute / volume of mixture (same units of volume for each)Number Concentration (1/m3) - number of entities (atoms, molecules, etc.) of a component divided by the total volume of the mixtureVolume Percent (v/v%) - volume solute / volume solution x 100% (solute and solution volumes are in the same units)Mole Fraction (mol/mol) - moles of solute / total moles of species in the mixtureMole Ratio (mol/mol) - moles of solute / total moles of all other species in the mixtureMass Fraction (kg/kg or parts per) - mass of one fraction (could be multiple solutes) / total mass of the mixture Mass Ratio (kg/kg or parts per) - mass of solute / mass of all other constituents in the mixturePPM (parts per million) - a 100 ppm solution is 0.01%. The parts per notation, while still in use, has largely been replaced by mole fraction.PPB (parts per billion) - typically used to express contamination of dilute solutions Some units may be converted from one to another, however, its not always a good idea to convert between units based on the volume of solution to those based on mass of solution (or vice versa) because volume is affected by temperature. Strict Definition of Concentration In the strictest sense, not all means of expressing the composition of a solution or mixture are termed concentration. Some sources only consider mass concentration, molar concentration, number concentration, and volume concentration to be true units of concentration. Concentration Versus Dilution Another common usage of the term concentration refers to how concentrated a solution is. A concentrated solution contains as much solute as it can hold. Chemists often prefer to call such a solution saturated. In contrast, a solution that contains few solute particles is said to be dilute. In order to concentrate a solution, either more solute particles must be added or some solvent must be removed. If the solvent is nonvolatile, a solution may be concentrated by evaporating or boiling off solvent. Dilutions are made by adding solvent to a more concentrated solution. Its common practice to prepare a relatively concentrated solution, called a stock solution, and use it to prepare more dilute solutions. This practice results in better precision than simply mixing up a dilute solution because it can be difficult to obtain an accurate measurement of a tiny amount of solute. Serial dilutions are used to prepare extremely dilute solutions. To prepare a dilution, stock solution is added to a volumetric flask and then diluted with solvent to the mark. Source IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the Gold Book) (1997).

Cycles of Failure, Mediocrity and Success and the Role of Staff Essay

Cycles of Failure, Mediocrity and Success and the Role of Staff Empowerment on Breaking the Cycle - Essay Example The paper tells that the role of employee motivation in generating customer satisfaction has been traditionally studied in the context of employees within the service sector. This is because from the company’s perspective frontline interactions with customers are a significant way of attaining competitive advantage and differentiating oneself. Hence, employees dealing in frontline work are expected to anticipate the needs of customers, deliver the service based on customized needs and build long term, personalized relationships with the customers. Thus, staff empowerment is a crucial aspect of maintaining employee motivation and customer loyalty. From the above it follows that poor working environment can translate into poor customer service with employees dealing with their customers the way their managers treat them. Furthermore, employee turnover is attributed to what is known as the â€Å"cycle of failure†. In other cases, some degree of job security is present but there is little room for practicing one’s own initiatives. This situation arises from the lack of empowerment and is termed as the â€Å"cycle of mediocrity†. However, by employing the right tools of empowerment, the management of any company can develop a positive attitude in service employees which is known as â€Å"cycle of success†. The â€Å"cycle of failure† is attributed to the delegation of monotonous, mundane tasks to cheaply hired and untrained employees by employing the division of labor philosophy. This cycle is split into two cycles that work simultaneously. The first one involves failure with workers and the second one involves failure with customers. The cycle of failure pertaining to employees involves working on tasks requiring little or no skills and little scope for personal control. The output is strictly controlled by technology and emphasis is on following the rules as opposed to focusing on the quality of customer service. It is a c ommonplace to hear management attributing this failure to shortage of skilled labor, dearth of motivated employees in the labor market and the fact that high costs of skilled labor would have to be borne by customers in the form of high prices (Lovelock, Wirtz, & Chatterjee, 2007). Mostly companies consider training as a cost (and not an investment) and fear that it will result in wastage of funds if the employee walks away after acquiring the training (Lovelock, Wirtz, & Chatterjee, 2007). Failure with customers is associated with the lack of a consistent and clear image of the company to the customers which occurs because of changing faces due to high employee turnover. Also companies focus too much on the attraction of new customers as opposed to the retention of

Ralph Vaughan Williams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Essay Example At this juncture, in order to understand the reasons behind the great degree of neglect Vaughan Williams faced, it is necessary to start from the beginning of his musical life. Ralph Vaughan Williams was born as the third child of Arthur and Margaret Vaughan Williams, on 12 October 12, 1872, in Down Ampney. Arthur was the vicar of All Saints Church at Down Ampney. Ralph received his early music lessons from his aunt Sophy as music was important in the family. Thus, at the age of six, he produced his first piano piece named ‘The Robin Nest’. According to records, he also loved reading, playing duets, and enjoying Shakespearian works3. As he reached the preparatory school at Rottingdean, he realised that he was good in violin. However, his family wanted him to concentrate on organ instead of violin. After his preparatory school, he joined the Royal College of Music where Sir Hubert Parry gave him in depth knowledge about music. Furthermore, it was at this time that he was filled with a degree of nobility and greatness of English choral tradition. One can see the influence of folk songs on the texture, contours, and melodies of his works like Fen Country and Norfolk Rhapsodies. In addition, there was the impact of his connection with hymn-tunes on his works as he was the musical editor of the English Hymnal for a long time. At that time, he spent considerable amount of time studying the works of Tudor and Elizabethan composers. In fact, over these years, he was influenced by the works of a lot of great people ranging from Sir Hubert Parry, Tudor, and Elizabethan choral music. Thus, in the year 1910, he produced remarkable works like Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and A Sea Symphony. As Alain Frogley points out, the lack of recognition received by Vaughan Williams was not a mere accident; instead, his contribution was distorted and blighted â€Å"not only by the international musical politics of this century,

PHIL 201 Study Guide Essay Example for Free

PHIL 201 Study Guide Essay View and take notes on the presentation, â€Å"An Overview of Issues in Contemporary Justification, Part 1. † What are 3 characteristics of a person’s noetic structure? The sum total of everything that person believes It recognizes the differing degress of certainty, firmness, and conviction with which people hold their beliefs. Characterized by how beliefs are related together. Explain coherentism and the 3 problems with it. Coherentism: All beliefs fall into one category. No beliefs are more foundational than the others. Problems: Circularity: How do I justify my belief in P? It coheres with Q. Isolation Problem: Coherentism isolates my beliefs from the external world. Plurality: It is possible to have 2 coherent systems that are logically incompatible. Read chapter 4 of Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous, â€Å"Foundationalism. † As you do, consider the following questions and points: What is the root idea of foundationalism? Each of us holds a set of beliefs basically or immediately while we hold other beliefs non basically or mediately. Why would one adopt a foundationalist approach to justification? Because they are epistemic engies of our noetic structures, imparting to all of our non-basic beliefs, while not themselves requiring justification from any other beliefs – this support goes just one way. What is the regress argument? Taking for granted the general reliability of your conscious faculties, and indeed must take them for granted. What are the 3 basic components of foundationalism? Basic or immediate beliefs- Form the bedrock of what all we believe undergirding everything else we are justified in believing. Mediate or non-basic beliefs- Everything else we believe Basing Relation- Specifies how the epistemic merit of our basic beliefs is to be transferred to out non-basic beliefs. What are the characteristics of strong foundationalism? Specifically explain: The 3 conditions for a basic belief. Must be self-evidently true: those we see to be true immediately, without the benefit of deliberation or argument, merely when we understand the term of the claim in question. Must be Incorrigible: The belief in question is one that is impossible to believe and be mistaken about. Evident to the Senses The means by which basic beliefs support non-basic beliefs. Entailment is the only logical relation that preserves certainty. If one starts with self-evidently true starting points and accepts only what can be validly derived from the same, one thereby insures that one’s entire set of beliefs is untainted and error free. Four â€Å"additional† features of foundationalism. One cannot claim to have knowledge simply by asserting that one knows One must be inwardly cognizant that one’s claims to knowledge is genuine. One must be prepared to show that this is the case. What are the main problems with foundationalism? Note: This section can be challenging; try to understand the main points raised; don’t be concerned about all the details except as a way to understand the following main points: Problems: One’s beliefs in the reliability of one’s senses or memory or consciousness; none of these beliefs is either self evident or incorrigible or evident to the senses, yet they are held as properly basic by virtually everyone. Any acceptance of supposedly pure and certain basic beliefs makes use of various background assumptions or information that compromises their certainty and undermines their basicality. Why only these conditions for a basic belief? Claims that foundationalism solves the regress argument fail (the arbitrariness of stopping points). Other means of supporting beliefs than just deduction/induction (best explanation, retroduction, concurrence, etc. ). The security vs. content problem. The strict demands for four unimpeachable certainty leave one with so small a set of basic beliefs that they can’t possibly bear the heavy weight of all we believe. Other problems (excessive individualism, access requirements, noetic effects of sin). Pg 95. What are the similarities and differences between strong and modest foundationalism? Specifically: What is primae facie certainty? One’s foundational beliefs are not necessarily immune to any conceivable doubt they can be overridden but they are perfectly acceptable unless one has a good reason for thinking they have been undermined. Four of Reid’s contingent truths. The thoughts of which I am conscience are thoughts of a being I call myself. Those things really happened which I distinctly remember. Those things really do exist which we distinctly perceive by our senses, and are what we perceive them to be. What is to be will probably be like what has been in similar circumstances. Reid’s reliabilism of first principles. For our evidence concerning reliability would have to include deliverances of the faculties whose reliability we are accumulating evidence for. On behalf of his foundational principles, they can be correctly identified by their accompanying marks or signs. If someone persists in requesting additional assurances over and above the usual marks accompanying properly based beliefs, then the person holding such beliefs can only respond with genuine bewilderment. Two weaknesses with modest foundationalism. Reid may have underestimated the capacity for thinkers of sound mind and sincere will to disagree about alleged, philosophical first principles. The belief in God can be held in a basic belief. Alvin Plantinga’s belief in God as properly basic. The belief can be justifiably held in the manner of a first principle, that is w/out the benefit of argumentative support. Terms Make sure you can explain the following terms and concepts: Indefeasible- Not able to be lost, annulled, or overturned. Retroduction- A king of reasoning from the best explanation. It is reducible neither to induction or deduction. Concurrence- Observations that cumulate in his belief. Necessary First Principles- They are self-evidently justified, being believed merely upon being understood. Must have these. Contingent First Principles- Not self-evidently justified. Dependent upon something. Doxastic Assumption- A theory that a belief is justified if it coheres with other beliefs.