Using the data and information from the Why we still love IKEA case Essay

Using the data and information from the Why we still love IKEA case study - Essay Example According to Kwapong (2005), IKEA’s diversification strategy has been characterized by a direction and a scope targeting long term achievement through configuration of resources for manufacturing of the best furniture to fulfill the expectation of the customers. As clarified in the above case study, it is very clear how IKEA has implemented the Bowman’s Strategy Clock model together with the diversification strategy effectively through organizational activities. From an organizational perspective, IKEA Company has diversified into production of varied types of types of furniture stationed at different outlets across the world (Verbeke, 2013; Plunkett, 2008). As such, it has been possible for an organization to charge affordable cost on organizational products while still able to meet the market demand. Using the Bowman’s Strategy Clock, the case study has pointed out that the company communicates the organizational contents while encouraging the customers to adop t the concept of building IKEA’s brands in the market. With the adoption of perceived value characterized by low pricing, IKEA Company has gained popularity in different outlets thus achieving the organizational competitive advantage. As such, it has embraced the Bowman’s strategy clock as a framework for achieving more edge against various competitors in the furniture industry. As mentioned below, IKEA has incorporated varied directions as part of the strategy to ensure that potential customers receive a more affordable pricing in the market clarifies (Thomson, 2009). Based on the In Doyle (2011) clarification, IKEA Company has never chosen to compete in the furniture trade. As such, it has embraced the concept of bargain basement since some of the organizational furniture has not drawn the element of differentiation in Asian countries. However, IKEA has won customers loyalty

The Electoral College is a critical tool in American electoral Essay

The Electoral College is a critical tool in American electoral system.Define and assess the Electoral College and how it has or has not encouraged political participation by the citizenry - Essay Example A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the president. The state’s entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its congressional delegation. Electoral College has not encouraged political participation by citizens especially since it is inherently undemocratic and gives the small states additional powers to prevent politicians from focusing only on issues which affect the larger states. The fear being without power, politicians would completely ignore small states and focus only on big population centers. The Electoral College favors the smaller states with disproportionate voting power in electing the President and the Vice President. On the other hand, advocates of the system say that this uneven power forces politicians to pay attention to smaller states which would otherwise be ignored. Except in closely fought swig states, voter turnout is largely insignificant due to entrenched political party domination in most states. The Electoral College decreases the advantage a political party might gain from encouraging voter turnout, except in those swig state (Hewson 15). In conclusion, the Electoral College is a critical tool in the electoral system of America. Even though the Electoral College does not encourage political participation by the citizenry, the electors are an important component of the Electoral College and each vote cast for the President and the Vice President determines the future exercise of power in the

Emirates Airlines Pest Analysis Tourism Essay

Emirates Airlines Pest Analysis Tourism Essay In 1985 Emirates Airlines was established by Dubai Government with just two aircrafts. Today Emirates has 83 aircrafts files to 78 destinations in 55 countries worldwide. It has a large number of cabin crews from 95 nationalities. It recently made an aircraft orders worth more than $ 26 billion for 45 Airbus A380, which makes the company the worlds largest purchaser of Airbuss super-jumbo. (About Emirates) Emirates Airlines recently becomes one of the fastest growing airlines and the fifth-most-profitable airline in the world. It has been growing by more than 20% a year since the last 17 years making a profit of $637 million in 2004-05. (BBC News) Emirates Airlines is committed to achieve its mission, namely offering consistently high-quality value-for-money service and to be the best airline on all of its routes. Accordingly, it is known as an innovative and customer-oriented provider of advanced services, such as offering personal entertainment system in all classes, 18 TV channels, 22 audio channels and online booking service which enables customers to book, search for flights and choose seats. (About Emirates) Because of that excellence, it gained over 280 international awards, such as the prestigious CAPA airline of the year award 2005 by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. The airline industry is affected by political situations, namely wars and terrorism. For instance, terrorists activities in different areas globally, namely USA (11th Sep), UK, Lebanon and Qatar made the regions unattractive for tourists and business travellers and reduce the passengers traffic. The political instability affected businesses between airlines in Middle East and the world by facing a difficulty to join any international alliances with any of the airlines leaders such as American Airlines. (Growth phenomena, Nora Byman) Economical factors One of the factors behind any success airlines is having modern airports supported with latest technology to meet customers requirements. UAE for example plans to invest in developing its main airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The UAEs total investments on airport development over coming 20 years will exceed Dh 71 billion. The benefits of developing airports are: enhancing economy, reducing depends on oil revenues by moving into new sector (tourism), increasing tourists number and thereby driving profits to airline firms. Globally, alliance is considered as the main factor of many airlines companies success as it reduces the operation costs. Social factors Some of those factors are: increasing worlds population, tourists and number of educated people. For instance, the population is growing globally, in UAE the population in 2002 was 3,754,000 people and reached to 4,320,000 in 2004, this is because UAE is a multicultural country. As the number of expatriates is increasing, airlines firms profits will increase, because those expatriates need to travel to their homeland sometime. Additionally, many diseases influence the population in many courtiers, like Bird Flu, those killer diseases affect airline industry since they reduce populations level. (Economic Development) Technological factors The new technology affected airline industry negatively and positively. For example, the technology of teleconferencing reduced the need for face to face business meetings which affects on the number of business travellers and on the sales of business tickets. However, e-booking system makes the reservation easier and save many expenses such as reducing the printed tickets. (Current State) There is a growth in internet usage worldwide. In the UAE, internet accounts are likely to grow from 251,000 in 2001 to exceed 600,000 accounts by 2006. Thus, local airlines industry should provide online services to get competitive advantage ex. Emirates Airline. (UAE to remain on top in Arab Internet market) Internal Environment SWOT analysis Strengths Member of the Arab alliance, known as Arab Air Carriers Organization promoting cooperation, safety standards among Arab airlines (Arab Air). First airline in Arab World that offers online booking service. Offering long-haul flights, like from US to Dubai. Offering self check-in service for customers at Dubai airport (Emirates expands). At Dubai Air Show 2005, Emirates made an aircraft order of 45 Airbus by 2012 making it the worlds largest purchaser of Airbuss super-jumbo. Providing employees with training, rewards and performance programs, thus reducing labour costs and increasing employees loyalty (People). An official sponsor of 2006 Fifa World Cup, which will increase its brand awareness. It has its own Frequent Flyer Program known as Skywards Miles that shared with Sri Lankan Airways. It has recently chosen Dexterra Mobile Platform to enable front-office mobile solutions that will enhance customer service interaction (Unisys). It offers training service to other airlines in Middle East which increase its profit. Weaknesses High Operation costs due to huge investment on buying aircrafts and implementing new technologies. Known of its high prices of tickets comparing to other airlines. Not a member of any global alliances (UAE). It doesnt have a hub in Abu Dhabi airport (capital of the UAE). Young airline that was established in 1985 Opportunities The income per capita is growing in UAE. Lots of investments will be made by the government of UAE for developing main airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There is an overall growth in the population of the world and in UAE. World Travel Tourism Council forecasts that there will be an annual growth in the number of UAE tourists. There is an expected growth in internet users worldwide and in UAE. Aviation events such as Dubai Air Show promotes for Middle East airlines among other participates worldwide airlines and show the growing of aviation industry in Middle East. Threats It is located in politically instable region and the terrorism activities have been increased in Middle East recently. Increase of aviation security costs and insurance which increase the operational costs of airlines. The increase of the fuel prices which raise the operational costs. The airline industry might face losses of around $ 3 billion if the oil prices did not reduce (IATA). New entrants and the raise of low cost airlines. The e-ticking system can be abuse by the hackers or it might be crashed by viruses, this will damage the company database and will cost a lot of money. Passengers can be a threat to the company, as they have a strong power in the airline industry. The natural crises such as the earthquake and hurricane. As mentioned by Al-Arabia channel, Dubai is threatened by an earthquake (2005). This will affect the tourism in this region, which will reflect in the Emirates airline. There is a possibility of rapid spread of new acute diseases such as SARS and Bird Flue that affect tourism and airlines. Strategic planning models There is no one perfect strategic planning model for each organization. Each organization ends up developing its own nature and model of strategic planning, often by selecting a model and modifying it as they go along in developing their own planning process. The following models provide a range of alternatives from which organizations might select an approach and begin to develop their own strategic planning process. An organization might choose to integrate the models, e.g., using a scenario model to creatively identify strategic issues and goals, and then an issues-based model to carefully strategize to address the issues and reach the goals. The following models include: basic strategic planning, issue-based (or goal-based), alignment, scenario, and organic planning. Model One Basic Strategic Planning This very basic process is typically followed by organizations that are extremely small, busy, and have not done much strategic planning before. The process might be implemented in year one of the nonprofits to get a sense of how planning is conducted, and then embellished in later years with more planning phases and activities to ensure well-rounded direction for the nonprofits. Planning is usually carried out by top-level management. The basic strategic planning process includes: Identify firms purpose (mission statement) Select the goals your organization must reach if it is to accomplish your mission Identify specific approaches or strategies that must be implemented to reach each goal Identify specific action plans to implement each strategy Monitor and update the plan Model Two Issue-Based (or Goal-Based) Planning Organizations that begin with the basic planning approach described above, often evolve to using this more comprehensive and more effective type of planning. Organizations that begin with the basic planning approach described above often evolve to using this more comprehensive and more effective type of planning. Summary of Issue-Based (or Goal-Based) Strategic Planning (Note that an organization may not do all of the following activities every year.) External/internal assessment to identify SWOT (Strengths and Weaknesses and Opportunities and Threats) Strategic analysis to identify and prioritize major issues/goals Design major strategies (or programs) to address issues/goals Design/update vision, mission and values(some organizations may do this first in planning) Establish action plans (objectives, resource needs, roles and responsibilities for implementation) Record issues, goals, strategies/programs, updated mission and vision, and action plans in a Strategic Plan document, and attach SWOT, etc. Develop the yearly Operating Plan document(from year one of the multi-year strategic plan) Develop and authorize Budget for year one(allocation of funds needed to fund year one) Conduct the organizations year-one operations Monitor/review/evaluate/update Strategic Plan document. Model Three Alignment Model The overall purpose of the model is to ensure strong alignment among the organizations mission and its resources to effectively operate the organization. This model is useful for organizations that need to fine-tune strategies or find out why they are not working. An organization might also choose this model if it is experiencing a large number of issues around internal efficiencies. Overall steps include: The planning group outlines the organizations mission, programs, resources, and needed support. Identify whats working well and what needs adjustment. Identify how these adjustments Model Four Scenario Planning This approach might be used in conjunction with other models to ensure planners truly undertake strategic thinking. The model may be useful, particularly in identifying strategic issues and goals. Select several external forces and imagine related changes which might influence the organization, e.g., change in regulations, demographic changes, etc. Scanning the newspaper for key headlines often suggests potential changes that might affect the organization. For each change in a force, discuss three different future organizational scenarios (including best case, worst case, and OK/reasonable case) which might arise with the organization as a result of each change. Reviewing the worst-case scenario often provokes strong motivation to change the organization. Suggest what the organization might do, or potential strategies, in each of the three scenarios to respond to each change. Planners soon detect common considerations or strategies that must be addressed to respond to possible external changes. Select the most likely external changes to effect the organization, e.g., over the next three to five years, and identify the most reasonable strategies the organization can undertake to respond to the change. Model Five Organic (or Self-Organizing) Planning Traditional strategic planning processes are sometimes considered mechanistic or linear, i.e., theyre rather general-to-specific or cause-and-effect in nature. For example, the processes often begin by conducting a broad assessment of the external and internal environments of the organization, conducting a strategic analysis (SWOT analysis), narrowing down to identifying and prioritizing issues, and then developing specific strategies to address the specific issues. Another view of planning is similar to the development of an organism, i.e., an organic, self-organizing process. Certain cultures, e.g., Native American Indians, might prefer unfolding and naturalistic organic planning processes more than the traditional mechanistic, linear processes. Self-organizing requires continual reference to common values, dialoguing around these values, and continued shared reflection around the systems current processes. General steps include: Clarify and articulate the organizations cultural values. Use dialogue and story-boarding techniques. Articulate the groups vision for the organization. Use dialogue and story-boarding techniques. On an ongoing basis, e.g., once every quarter, dialogue about what processes are needed to arrive at the vision and what the group is going to do now about those processes. Continually remind yourself and others that this type of naturalistic planning is never really over with, and that, rather, the group needs to learn to conduct its own values clarification, dialogue/reflection, and process updates. Be very, very patient. Focus on learning and less on method. Ask the group to reflect on how the organization will portray its strategic plans to stakeholders, etc., who often expect the mechanistic, linear plan formats. Managing risk Risk management is a process used to avoid, reduce or control risks. Some risks can be insured against, others cannot. Organisations deal with their insurable risks but can be applied to all risks. Ignoring the risks which apply to hospitality and tourism business activities or the events business have planned could impact on the following: the health and safety of employees, customers, volunteers and participants reputation, credibility and status public and customer confidence in the organisation financial position plant, equipment and the environment A systematic approach to managing risk is now regarded as good management Practice. Following is the best example from International Hilton Group (IHG). Process and framework IHG has an established risk management process and framework embedded in all regions. The long-term strategic goals are aligned with the IHG core purpose Great Hotels Guests Love and include these key elements: safety and security of guests, employees and other third parties brand strength supported by operational excellence in risk management at all hotels and corporate locations Maintenance and promotion of the reputation of the Company. Our approach has been to enable and support hotel owners, staff and corporate functions to manage risk effectively. This is accomplished by giving them a systematic approach and framework to follow and by providing them with tools to do the job. The Risk Management function aims to share specialist knowledge and capability globally. Safety and security in hotels A strategic framework for hotel safety and security has been designed for owned and managed hotels and is illustrated below showing the identified groups of risks and describing the management activities carried out to mitigate the risks. The red wheel illustrates the groups of risks which IHGs risk managers around the world work on with IHG general managers and their management teams in order to minimise the risks and keep the hotels safe. Over the years we have developed risk management strategies to assess and treat individual types of risk. This has involved developing policies, standards and guidelines, raising awareness levels, training staff on the controls and systems which have been developed for their use and reviewing and reporting upon progress and continued risks. These management activities are represented by the purple wheel.Hotel safety framework Security risks, particularly the threat of terrorism, have increased. In recent years, IHG has developed an increasingly sophisticated response that is intelligence-led and risk-based. The security risk environment is highly dynamic and needs to be managed both centrally and locally in hotels. In common with all risk strategies, there are three elements that must be developed and maintained: physical and technical systems, people capabilities and processes and procedures. Corporate risk management The management activities shown above are being adapted and applied to manage corporate risks. This initiative is led by the Executive Committee, facilitated by the Risk Management function and integrated with quarterly strategic reviews. IHGs Risk Management function has recently reviewed the way in which corporate risk and the major risks to IHG are managed and are seeking to develop a framework to improve risk management capability further, represented diagrammatically below:Corporate risk management Each year, risk identification workshops are run with the senior IHG management. The output is a Group Risk Register, divided into areas of accountability for each member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee uses the findings to identify the major areas of risk for IHG and to assign accountability for cross-functional leadership between them. The Executive Committee prioritises and co-ordinates efforts to optimise the management of major risks to IHG. Risk owners then identify existing controls as well as the ability, benefit and cost to improve them. This work is documented in Risk Action Plans that support the risks that are reported in the Group Risk Register. Executives review the risks at quarterly strategic reviews as part of their business review with the Chief Executive and strategy team. Global Risk Management also submits periodic incident reports and two major reports each year to the Executive Committee and the Board on hotel safety and security as well as a further report on the major risks to IHG. The Internal Audit function is separately responsible for providing assurance across the Group. They report their findings to the Audit Committee. This ensures separation of duties between the Risk Management and Internal Audit functions and hence supports good governance. The Board is ultimately responsible for the Groups system of internal control and risk management and for reviewing its effectiveness. In order to discharge that responsibility, in 2008 the Board considered the most recent Major Risk Review which involved extensive consultation throughout the business. Strategy and ethics The hospitality industry is made up of many companies who are run by business people. Business people who put short-term profits ahead of concern for the long-term health of the company or who make additional profits by failing to spend the money necessary to handle toxic waste or pollution resulting from the manufacturing process, are not professionals and harm the reputation of the industry as a profession . The scandalous behaviour of some business leaders in the past decade has damaged the reputation of business with the community. The former what is good for business is good for the country has been replaced with a virulent distrust of big business. Corporate social responsibility requires organizations to demonstrate responsible business conduct that does no harm in the marketplace, in the workplace, in the community they operate in, and to the natural environment. The actions of business impact the local, national, and global community, so businesses have a responsibility to ensure that the impact is positive. Corporate Social Responsibility also involves achieving commercial success in ways that honour ethical values and respect people, communities, and the natural environment. There is no universally accepted definition of CSR, but most of the definitions have to do with business having a positive impact on the community and meeting or exceeding public expectations of good corporate citizenship. Ethics in Tourism   Ethical principals apply to all individuals, communities and societies; they also apply to all the bodies in tourism in their respective specific roles. This entails both rights and responsibilities. Concrete and specific ethical standards for behaviour and practises in tourism must follow the broad principles as outlined here. Solidarity with those who are directly and strongly affected by tourism and who suffer from unjust structures connected with tourism, and solidarity with those who need material or political and philosophical support in defending their interests and rights which are threatened by tourism development or which are ignored in decision making processes; Justice in a world tourism order, an aim which intends to change all structures of injustice that exists in the fields of economics, politics, social and cultural life; Respect of diversity in the various areas of life societies, environment, cultures, religions and politics which calls for sensitivity to difference and the practice of tolerance. Authentic information for all people involved or interested in tourism. Such authentic information is a basic need for a just world tourism order. This places a particular responsibility on the media to be objective, fair and truthful when reporting on tourism. Professionals engaged in tourism education should also promote need for authentic research and information to develop sensitised and aware personnel in tourism. In order to improve the present situation in tourism and to minimize its negative impacts, firms must urge all (nation) those involved to contribute the best of their knowledge, abilities, and skills towards a tourism that is in line with these ethical principles. The tourists board must involve the governments, other public authorities, decision makers and professionals in the field of tourism, public and private associations and institutions whose activities are related to tourism, tourists and local communities to adopt the realistic principles and work towards the mutual objectives. Strategic VS operational conflicts Just like any other business, Tourism Business planning always have a strategic and an operational element to position the strategies. In order to make the intangible and highly sensitive industry firms must be able to balance the different roles and utilize strategic and operational plans. A Strategic Plan is an organizations summary of the development process and the presentation of core directions An Operational Plan is an annual work plan explaining how the goals of the strategic plan will be implemented and what budget and processes are required. Strategic planning helps the organisation to pull back the lens, get a big picture view and consider future scenarios. It gives you the best opportunity to maintain control, avoid serious pitfalls and capture opportunities. Thinking strategically about business involves creating a vision for where you want to be in 2, 5 or 10 years, Strategic planning is not just for big companies and has benefits no matter what the goals. The defined goals might include increasing the sales or market share. Goals may also include environmental and sustainability targets or to sell the business. Operational planning focuses tightly on the day to day operations with no more than a 12 month cycle. Depending on the farms activities, the manager might want to further break things down to daily, weekly, monthly or seasonal active. Operational planning focuses on adjusting and developing controls, increasing efficiencies and reducing time and investment. Conclusion and Recommendation The airline industry is a huge market as there are 900 airlines companies internationally with total of nearly 22,000 aircrafts, nevertheless it has a low growth rates as it is in its mature stage of life cycle. (The economic social benefits of air transport). For any new entry the airline industry is considered to be unattractive, because the demand is low, the competition is strong and the operation costs are increasing. However, for Emirates Airlines it is attractive as its strategy and market position creates a good defence against its competitor. For example, it created a strong brand name and customer loyalty in the market by implementing the latest technologies in its services to be positioned as a pioneer in the airline field. It also achieves high profits yearly as it focuses proficiently to enhance its market position by differentiating in its strategies that would be used to attract customers such as flyer frequent program. Also, it has many chances to overcome with all the obstacles that might occur and affect the airline industry such as political or economical problems, etc. as it is a member in Emirates Group which enables sharing resources and reducing the companys expenses, thus leading the company to protect its position in the market. Overall, Emirates has a great market position plus its a profitable airline which is measured as a competitive advantage, since it has the opportunity to compete and expand its business to gain higher profits. Emirates Airlines adopts differentiation generic strategy to gain a competitive advantage amongst its competitors by offering the highest quality services in order to be the best company in the market and differentiates from its competitors. For example, Emirates airlines was the first airline that offered TV screen for all aircrafts classes. Also it was the first company in the Middle East to serve the e-ticketing. In addition, it gained a competitive advantage by focusing in new segments in the market. For instance, it provides another airline companies such as Qatar Airways with training courses by using the most modern machines, called plane simulator to be the only company in the Middle East that offers such service. The aim of such changes is to be the leader in industry by increasing the brand name awareness regionally and internationally which will increase the demand and the profit as well. As the Airline industry is in the maturity stage, there is a strong competition between airline firms. Each firm should use offensive strategies besides doing analysis for internal and external factors that may affect its position. The research and analysis for Emirates airlines address following recommendations: The operational cost is increasing due to huge investments of Emirates on aircrafts and services and increase in fuel prices. Emirates should reduce the costs by making operational improvements, namely improving maintenance processes, maintaining high aircraft utilization and making effective flight scheduling. It could also be reduced by investing technology in distribution channels to reduce labour costs. In response to the threat of low cost airlines, Emirates shouldnt lower its fares after years of offering advanced services, instead it has to offer new low cost brand as a subsidiary of Emirates group serving economic travellers who are now customers of new low cost airlines, thus expanding the market share. Extending routes is recommended especially there is a growth in tourism UAE. There are main regions in the world that Emirates do not have routes in, namely Canada, It has to extend destinations worldwide (especially attractive areas). Joining a global alliance enables increasing its destinations, offering more fare options for customers helping to solve problems of new low cost airline. Investigating technology is recommended for improving customer service and Emirates has to sign contract with an e-business company that offers airlines technology solutions. Generally, Emirates should do analysis for internal and external factors and its competitors and develop new strategies to stay competitive in the maturity stage.

Utilization of 14c Phenylalanine Derived from Arylphorin or Free Amino

UTILIZATION OF {14C} PHENYLALANINE DERIVED FROM ARYLPHORIN OR FREE AMINO ACID IN MANDUCA SEXTA PHARATE ADULTS GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE PAPER How did someone figure out that carbon dioxide in the bloodstream is exchanged for oxygen in the lungs of mammals? And how do we know that hormones are produced by, for example, the pituitary gland and, moreover, that these hormones signal the body to grow. These and many other questions have been answered by means of the scientific method. Scientists form hypotheses, experiment, collect data, and draw conclusions from this data that is then applied to answering questions about that certain topic. Some research seems to be obselete and/or practically useless, only to come into the picture years or decades later and shift the field of science. Although at times it is difficult to say what the repercussions of a particular study will be, it is not uncommon for that very study to play a key role in a major scientific breakthrough later. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that although a particular study may not seem to be important at the time, later it could be the most signifi cant study in the field. This study performed by Min Wu and Dr. Marc E. Tischler, at first glance may appear to have a narrow focus, but upon furthur consideration, one realizes that its findings have applications to any number of related topics. In this experiment, Wu and Tischler tracked what paths a specific protein, arylophorin, and followed its production and distribution throughout the body of Manduca sexta pharate adults. Their first goal was to determine the most efficient method for producing radioactively labeled arylophorin, called 14C-Arylphorin. Their second goal, and purpose of the experime... ...test) difficulty of the experiment--finding the right conditions from which the highest (or most acceptable) specific activity could be achieved. After much experimentation it was determined that incubating one-half fat body in 1 ml of medium (0.15 mM of labeled phenylalanine and amino acids at 25% normal level in Grace's medium) for 15-24 hours, chasing labeled phenylalanine after one hour with unlabeled phenylalanine, yielded most desirable results. Temperature was shown to have little or no affect on the results, so room temperature was used in further experimentation and final implementation in achieving high specific activity (more convenient). REFERENCES Tischler, Marc E., Wu, Min. (1995) Utilization of 14C Phenylalanine Derived From Arylphorin or Free Amino Acid in Manduca sexta Pharate Adults. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology pgs.258-272.

Allegory of Young Goodman Brown Essay

The story, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† by Nathaniel Hawthorne has a lot of allegories. It is a moral story that is told through the corruption of a religious person. Goodman Brown is a Puritan minister who lets his pride and belief in himself interfere with his relations with the community after he meets with the devil, which causes him to live the life of not knowing who to trust or believe in his own community. In the beginning when Faith, Brown’s wife, asks him not to go. Brown says to her â€Å"My love and my Faith †¦ this one night I must tarry away from thee†. DiYanni 273) When he says his â€Å"love† and his â€Å"Faith†, he is talking to his wife, but he is also talking to his â€Å"faith† to God. He is headed into the woods to meet with the Devil, and by doing so he leaves his faith in God with his wife. His pride made him feel that he can sin and meet with the Devil because of this promise that he made to himself. This promise is not without irony because when Goodman Brown came back he no longer looks at his wife with the same faith he had before. When Brown left and met with the Devil, he declares that the reason he was late was because â€Å"Faith kept me back awhile. ( DiYanni 273) From talking to the devil Brown says that he comes from a â€Å"race of honest men and good Christians† ( DiYanni 274) . The Devil then pointed out his father and grandfather when they were flogging a woman or burning an Indian village. These words were ironic because of the bad things that they had done and it shows that he does not come from â€Å"good Christians. † ( DiYanni 274) The devil continued trying to convince Brown, but he did not give in because of his wife, â€Å"Faith†. And because of her, he couldn’t continue. The Devil agrees with him and tells him to turn back to prevent that â€Å"Faith should come to any harm† like the old woman in front of them on the path. ( DiYanni 274) The turning point of the story starts when Brown’s is confuse about his faith because the woman on the path is the woman who â€Å"taught him his catechism in youth, and was still his moral and spiritual adviser. † ( DiYanni 275) The Devil and the woman had spoken to each other, Brown continues to walk on with the Devil in the disbelief of what he had just witnessed. Brown again decides that he will no longer continue and says that just because his teacher was not going to heaven, why should he â€Å"quit my dear Faith, and go after her†. ( DiYanni 275) The Devil tosses Brown his staff and leaves him. Brown begins to think to himself about his situation and his pride in himself begins to build. Brown is feeling good about his strength in resisting the Devil, he see a carriage coming, and he hears the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin. He overhears their conversation and hears them discuss about a â€Å"goodly young woman to be taken in to communion†! ( DiYanni 276) that evening at that night’s meeting and fears that it may be his Faith. When he heard this he became weak and fell to the ground. He â€Å"begins to doubt whether there really was a Heaven above him† and this is a key point when his faith begins to corrupt him. Once he begins to doubt whether this is really what he had heard or not, the sound comes t o him again and this time it is followed by â€Å"one voice, of a young woman†. ( DiYanni 277) He believed it was Faith and he yells out her name in the forest. A pink ribbon flies through the air and he grabs it. At this moment, he has lost all faith in the world â€Å"My Faith is gone† and was convince that there were â€Å"no good on earth. † ( DiYanni 277) Brown was manipulated simply by his belief. Not only was his wife gone but also his faith, because to him his wife was the only one who was innocent, but also now she was taken open by the evil in the town. At this point Brown had lost his faith in God, therefore there was nothing holding his instincts from moving towards evil. Brown then goes mad and challenges evil. He feels that he will be the downfall of evil and that he is strong enough to overcome it all. He believes that he is better than everyone else in that he alone can destroy evil. He says this remark because he is upset about the lost or his wife to evil. Throughout the story, Brown does not show any emotions like a normal person would have had. The author shows that Brown has â€Å"no compassion for the weaknesses he sees in others, no remorse for his own sin, and no sorrow for his loss of faith. (Easterly 339) This is an example of how Goodman Brown chose to follow his head rather than his heart. The â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† ends with Brown returning to Salem at early dawn and looking around like a â€Å"bewildered man. † He cannot believe that he is in the same place that he just the night before. Salem was no longer home to him. He felt like an outsider in a world of Devil worshippers and because his â€Å"basic means of order, his religious system, is absent, the society he was familiar with becomes nightmarish. (Shear 545) He comes back to the town â€Å"projecting his guilt onto those around him. † Brown shows his anger towards the community when he sees Faith who is overwhelmed with excitement to see him and he looks â€Å"sternly and sadly into her face, and passed on without a greeting. † ( DiYanni 280) Brown cannot even stand to look at his wife with whom he was at the convert service with. Goodman Brown was devastated by the discovery that the potential for evil resides in everybody. The rest of his life is destroyed because of he has to face the truth and live with it. The story, which may have been a dream, and not a real life event, created a lot of doubt in Brown’s mind that cut him off from his fellow man and leaves him alone and depressed. So no matter if it was a dream or not it had a huge impact on him. His life ends alone and miserable because he was never able to look at himself and realize that what he believed were everyone else’s faults were his as well. His excessive pride in himself led to his isolation from the community. Brown was buried with â€Å"no hopeful verse upon his tombstone; for his dying hour was gloom. â€Å"

J.L. Mackie

J. L Mackie Introduction Mackie’s argument The proposed solution to be discussed and Mackie’s response to it is the claim that ‘evil is due to human free will’ and as such it cannot be attributed to God. Evil should instead be attributed to the free actions of individuals, the power of which has been endowed upon them by God. While it is acknowledged that there exists evil in the world, as a result of some human free will, it is claimed that freedom of will is a more valuable good than any resultant evil. Through God allowing such freedom, He has satisfied His ‘wholly good’ requirement. Creating men who always choose good Mackie’s first criticism of this solution is that if God was omnipotent and he created men so that they would favour choosing good over evil, why did he not create them such that they would always choose good? The obvious response to this claim is that to constrain man’s actions in such a way is to critically undermine freedom of the will; to demand that man always choose one way whether it be in the promotion of good or evil is still to control his will and deprive him of his freedom and autonomy. Paradox of Omnipotence Adequate solution For Mackie, an adequate solution is one that if adopted the initial problem does not arise for you, however the solution may have raised other problems. The only discussed solution that does not hold God responsible for evil in the world is the compatibilist approach to free will. Upon formulating this solution the two major issues are on the interpretation of omnipotence and freedom. Omnipotence has been revealed to be an almost meaningless term by way of the paradoxes that it gives rise to, such as the ability or inability of an omnipotent God to make rules or animals that restrict its own powers. The interpretation discussed and ultimately the proposal that gave rise to a compatibilist approach was that proposed by Mackie and so there is little that he could criticise about this part of the argument. Conclusion Mackie’s argument that God could have made men always choose good undermines the most valuable good which is freedom of the will. His claim that this implies that it must then be a logical necessity for man to choose wrong instead of good is not accurate, for it is sufficient to be a logical possibility for man to choose wrong. On this interpretation freedom is maintained, however the strongest objection arises with the omnipotence paradox. A resolution for this paradox can be reached using Mackie’s dichotomy of omnipotence. The resulting solution maintains God’s omnipotence and man’s free will and while there exist some issues as to the credibility of this interpretation of freedom, as described from a compatibilist perspective, these are ‘other problems’ and as such the solution can be classified as an adequate one.