Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree Essay Example for Free

Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree Essay The student who decides to pursue a liberal arts education in University often faces a discouraging reaction from family and friends. Everyone seems to know a B. A. in Philosophy who is flipping burgers at Wendy’s, or an M. A. in English who is clerking at Wal-Mart. Students who choose liberal arts hear the same remarks over and over: â€Å"What good is a degree in Medieval History, or Chinese literature, or Classics? Study something practical and get a real job! † In fact, however, no degree provides an automatic job ticket, since the market for employment is constantly in flux. The liberal arts offer education, not training, and thus prepare students for a wide range of possibilities in both work and life. By developing their minds through a liberal arts education, students benefit themselves, their eventual careers, and the culture at large . For anyone interested in personal and intellectual growth, the liberal arts offer immeasurable benefits. Studies in such fields as English and Philosophy introduce a student to the great writers and thinkers whose ideas have shaped our culture. By working through the dialogues of Plato, students see logic in action; by studying the plays of Shakespeare, the poetry of Wordsworth, or the novels of Dickens, they realize the power of language. Without knowledge of the great writers and thinkers of the past, people operate in a vacuum, unable to see beyond their immediate world. How can they gauge the validity of ideas if they know nothing except the present moment? In a media-driven culture of instant celebrity, students need to experience truths that have endured over hundreds and even thousands of years. These truths expand their thinking beyond their immediate limitations, and they discover new insights into their own minds. The benefits of a liberal arts education, however, go beyond personal growth into longer-term career skills. Every liberal arts course from Art History to Women’s Studies requires proficiency in reading and writing. Graduates with Arts degrees find their communication skills in demand by employers seeking people who can read, write, and speak well. As Francis Bacon observed nearly 400 years ago, â€Å"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man, and writing an exact man†(106). No courses develop these skills more fully than do those in the liberal arts. In addition, the liberal arts foster analytical thought: the ability to break an argument into its parts and assess its validity. Clear analysis is fundamental to the practical worlds of trade  and commerce. Finally, the liberal arts encourage originality, as students learn to think in creative ways. The student who gives an inventive presentation or develops a fresh perception will enhance the workplace with that creativity. It’s no surprise that law schools actively seek liberal arts graduates for its programs, or that jobs in the civil service, human resources, and upper management are typically staffed by people with Arts degrees. The only surprise is that anyone still scoffs at the notion that a general B. A. is a useful degree. As significant as its impact may be on personal and career growth, the real value of a liberal arts education is found in its benefits to the culture as a whole. The liberal arts retain and transmit the history of civilization itself. Without a commitment to preserving that history, our culture runs the risk of forgetting or distorting its past. Liberal arts students serve as guardians of intellectual thought for the next generation. Writers, journalists, film-makers, and politicians – the people shaping the thoughts and actions of the future – are drawn from the ranks of liberal arts majors. For example, the creator of the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling, has an undergraduate degree in Classics, and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff earned degrees in History. Moreover, the liberal arts tend to be interdisciplinary in nature. Knowledge in one area illuminates another, so that instead of creating a society of narrow specialists, liberal arts studies actually encourage a culture of educated, open-minded people. Such individuals have both the capacity and the training to address practical problems in society. Leading reformers of the 20th century, including Nelson Mandela (â€Å"Nelson†) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (â€Å"Martin†), profited from their liberal arts studies. A degree in the liberal arts is not a dead-end route that culminates in a lifetime of serving fries or stocking shelves. Rather, it is a doorway that opens to paths heading in every direction. Students who expand their minds through liberal arts benefit themselves, their future career choices, and the wider culture.

What Christians can do in a world of cultures in conflict? :: Religion

What Christians can do in a world of cultures in conflict? The main topic of this book is â€Å"worldview†. What’s â€Å"worldview†? It’s not easy to find completed answer. There is a story like that. King of Siam was surprise about story of Dutch ambassador that in winter elephant could walk on river. It’s hard for King of Siam living in the tropics to believe. The King’s worldview could not allow him to accept this. The aim of this book is to help reader will gain a better understanding of his own worldview. This book seems not interesting for me at the first time I read. However, I realized that sometimes I had asked myself such questions. After chapter 2 I gradually understand. In chapter 3 tell about â€Å"the secular world view†. It means the world without God and spirits. The rest tell about modernists’ thought. Some of these are Ludwig Feuerbach (1804 - 1872) he said: humanity created God. Another one is psychologist Richard Gregorg said that body is hardware and â€Å"mind† is software. The other is human is consider a biological mechanism. Sometime I surprise with assumption from it. This non-answer question I asked myself sometimes. The rest of chapter 3 tells about community, value (ethic), Marxism and why the secular worldview influences around the world, and the imperfect. In community, the worth of each member is more important than that of family and social responsibilities. Laws and ethical values are based upon man-made assumption. The Marxism’s view is â€Å"nothing remains exactly the same† or the new generation is better than previous generations. According to this, communism is better than capitalism. Nex t, the reason why secular worldview influences most the world is affecting the economy and technological development. Therefore, this affects the country economic in specially. However, this worldview has some weakness. The secular worldview has result in major scientific develop but it has failed to provide answer to some of the basis question of human life. In chapter 4 tell about the traditional worldview. I read this chapter very quickly because I live in a traditional worldview. This chapter compares secular and traditional worldview. For example, person‘s soul is external which differ to Western worldview. In traditional worldview community or society is more important than individual desires. I always believe that important decisions are made by the community as a whole and age is important and respect. However, some thought is not up to date such as the viewing time of traditional worldview.

Anglo American PLC in South Africa Essay

1. The pros would be: a) The early adoption strategy of ART can help the company to prevent and combat the spread of the disease not only on its workforce but also the populations of surrounding communities. This early initiative can also help to prevent further loss in operating expenses and declining workers’ productivity in the company. b) Anglo American became a de facto leader in the private-sector fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. It also became a trendsetter for other MNEs to follow suit such as Coke, Ford, and Colgate-Palmolive. c) Received positive reactions and approval from WHO, the Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS, and a host of other NGOs. d) Became a socially responsible company in the global market. This comprehensive program reflects that Anglo American has a good intention on protecting the rights of infected workers. e) The program might have a bright future, as 95% have responded well to the treatment and are working productively. f) The gradual change in the South African government’s view towards HIV/AIDS can further on help Anglo American to combat this national wide epidemic issue of the disease. The cons would be: a) The company had to bear outrageous amount of operating costs to combat this issue, with an estimated $4,000 per employee when the company typically offers $830 for wages and benefits per employee. b) There is a 15% level of non-adherence from the workers who are enrolled in the program and due to harsh working conditions make it hard for workers to take medications on time or to deal with side effects. c) Pressures and oppositions from various constituencies such as the South African government, political leaders, and CEO Brian Gillbertson of BHP Billiton who all thought that the program was not efficient. South Africa’s prime minister uttered the initative as a â€Å"vigilante† move designed to place unreasonable burdens on the government. Recommendations: Anglo American should cut down on major costs to support the program in order prevent further waste of money since it can cost 7.2% of the company’s wage bill. Provide only to those who need to be treated and who can adhere to the program. Anglo American should also seek support from WHO and other international humanitarian organizations, and the South African government with the objective of a great cause for the South Africans. Also try to cooperate with pharmaceutical companies who can sell antiretroviral drugs at a subsidized rate. All of these actions should help maintain the image of the company in the global market. 2. Since migrant workers in South Africa account for about four-fifth of the total workforce, it would not be a strategic decision to adopt the policy of not hiring migrant workers. This policy can also have negative impacts on the company’s image, since it is a pretty discriminatory policy and can cause unequal treatments to workers. Therefore, Anglo American should still hire migrant workers because there are a lot of workers needed to work in the mine site. Switching policies regarding whom to hire will only further increase operating costs. 3. Pharmaceutical companies play a big role in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Since GlaxoSmithKline can sell antiretroviral drugs to Anglo American at 1/10th of the market price in industrialized world, other pharmaceutical companies should be able to do so in order to safe the lives of millions of people. The South African government should cooperate with these pharmaceutical companies since the government itself has started implementing National Strategic Plan for combating HIV/AIDS. This will allow pharmaceutical companies to enter in B2B deals with the government and companies who care for their employees’ health. For the poor enforcement of patent rights, Pharmaceutical companies should enter into an agreement with the South African government that these rights will be protected otherwise cooperation between parties will not take place. There should be strict policies and courses of actions to tackle infringement of patent rights. Pharmaceutical companies should also invest more in R&D to create drugs for HIV/AIDS that can save the lives of people. 4. South African government should not 100% implement aggressive policies that were conducted in Brazil and Thailand mainly due to differences in political, economic, legal, cultural conditions, these policies might not work in South Africa (such as taking advantage of TRIPS agreement etc). Instead, the South African government should learn from these countries how to tackle the epidemic issues, relate the situations and implement some of the steps that might be feasible to implement in South Africa. Anglo American’s cooperation with GlaxoSmithKline purchasing life saving drugs at a reasonable price should encourage other pharmaceutical companies (especially MNEs) to join the program to fight against this epidemic disease.

Short Story - 1043 Words

Cloud just shook his head and laid down on the floor next to the sheep. The smile that had formed on his face refused to go away. He was happy that he was able to stay in the same room as Shisa. â€Å"Progress,† the sweet voice in his head smiled. â€Å"And this way we can watch her even better,† the deep growl noted. Later that night Shisa woke up. She looked to see none other than Cloud sleeping peacefully next to Kira and Livia. There was something about this boy that made her trust him. It was like she was drawn to him. She remembered how ready to kill the drunken man he was and how for the past week she couldn’t remember having a moment alone except for the bathroom. At first it had bothered her but now it seemed like it was just a†¦show more content†¦Shisa looked up at the blond man. His head was in his hands as he tried to calm his breathing. His shirt had no sleeves, leaving his muscles out in the open. Shisa walked next to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. â€Å"Are you alright?† She asked. Cloud looked up at her, his eyes burrowing into hers. â€Å"I’m fine,† he muttered, turning away. â€Å"You don’t look fine,† Shisa turned his body to face hers. â€Å"You were having a nightmare. What was it about?† Cloud looked at her, wondering why she even cared. Everything she had done so far made it seem like he was invisible to her. But now looking at her, he knew that she wasn’t going to drop it and, if he was being honest, he didn’t want her to drop it. He wanted to talk to her and be loved by her. He looked at her and sighed. â€Å"My family,† â€Å"Where are they?† Shisa asked. Cloud was about to answer but then looked down. â€Å"I-I don’t k-know,† he stuttered. â€Å"I’m an orphan,† â€Å"So is Ethan,† Shisa said, placing a hand on his shoulder. â€Å"Ashton’s father is an abusive alcoholic and Ethan never knew his dad. His mother died a few years ago,† â€Å"I never knew my parents. They left me alone when I was young,† Shisa didn’t know what to say. â€Å"I’m sorry,† she mumbled, looking down. â€Å"It’s ok sweetheart,† Cloud gently lifted her chin. â€Å"It wasn’t your fault,† For a moment Shisa was frozen. Everything around her turned into a watercolor background and all that was left was Cloud and his hand that stroked her cheek.Show MoreRelatedshort story1018 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Short Stories:  Ã‚  Characteristics †¢Short  - Can usually be read in one sitting. †¢Concise:  Ã‚  Information offered in the story is relevant to the tale being told.  Ã‚  This is unlike a novel, where the story can diverge from the main plot †¢Usually tries to leave behind a  single impression  or effect.  Ã‚  Usually, though not always built around one character, place, idea, or act. †¢Because they are concise, writers depend on the reader bringing  personal experiences  and  prior knowledge  to the story. Four MajorRead MoreThe Short Stories Ideas For Writing A Short Story Essay1097 Words   |  5 Pageswriting a short story. Many a time, writers run out of these short story ideas upon exhausting their sources of short story ideas. If you are one of these writers, who have run out of short story ideas, and the deadline you have for coming up with a short story is running out, the short story writing prompts below will surely help you. Additionally, if you are being tormented by the blank Microsoft Word document staring at you because you are not able to come up with the best short story idea, youRead MoreShort Story1804 Words   |  8 PagesShort story: Definition and History. A  short story  like any other term does not have only one definition, it has many definitions, but all of them are similar in a general idea. According to The World Book Encyclopedia (1994, Vol. 12, L-354), â€Å"the short story is a short work of fiction that usually centers around a single incident. 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In the short stories â€Å"Miss Brill† and â€Å"Frau Brechenmacher attends a wedding† written by Katherine Mansfield, the themes which are relevant to real life in Miss Brill are isolation and appearance versus reality. Likewise Frau Brechenmacher suffers through isolation throughout the story and also male dominance is one of the major themes that are highlighted in the story. These themes areRead MoreShort Story and People1473 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Title: Story Of An Hour Author: Kate Chopin I. On The Elements / Literary Concepts The short story Story Of An Hour is all about the series of emotions that the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard showed to the readers. With the kind of plot of this short story, it actually refers to the moments that Mrs. Mallard knew that all this time, her husband was alive. For the symbol, I like the title of this short story because it actually symbolizes the time where Mrs. Mallard died with joy. And with thatRead MoreShort Story Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesA short story concentrates on creating a single dynamic effect and is limited in character and situation. It is a language of maximum yet economical effect. Every word must do a job, sometimes several jobs. Short stories are filled with numerous language and sound devices. These language and sound devices create a stronger image of the scenario or the characters within the text, which contribute to the overall pre-designed effect.As it is shown in the metaphor lipstick bleeding gently in CinnamonRead MoreRacism in the Short Stor ies1837 Words   |  7 PagesOften we read stories that tell stories of mixing the grouping may not always be what is legal or what people consider moral at the time. The things that you can learn from someone who is not like you is amazing if people took the time to consider this before judging someone the world as we know it would be a completely different place. 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