Impact of Recession on Working Capital Requirements of a Company free essay sample

Impact of Recession on Working Capital Requirements of a Company Working Capital Management is a managerial accounting strategy focusing on maintaining  efficient  levels of both components of working capital, current assets and current liabilities, in respect to each other. Working capital management ensures a company has sufficient cash flow in order to meet its short-term debt obligations and operating expenses. Implementing an effective working capital management system is an excellent way for many companies to improve their earnings. The two main aspects of working capital management are ratio analysis and management of individual components of working capital. Ratio analysis will lead management to identify areas of focus such as inventory management, cash management, accounts receivable and payable management. Working capital theory prescribes using the optimal amount of net working capital to maximize shareholder wealth. Evidence from multiple countries indicates a negative relationship between the cash conversion cycle or net working capital and firm profitability. We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Recession on Working Capital Requirements of a Company or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, severe economic conditions may force firms to change their inventory, accounts receivable, and/or accounts payable policies, causing the firms to use more/less net working capital. Also, it appears firms in general held more net working capital in order to face new economic challenges. Most businesses like to plan ahead mainly focusing on setting targets and monitoring performance for sales growth, cost control and profit improvement; however the Management of Working Capital is often missed from the plan. In these times of credit crisis, trying to monitor and improve sales and profit performance may be difficult and suddenly Working Capital becomes vital. Yes, it is still important to control costs, but if the business is experiencing falling demand for its products and services, or pressure to lower prices, then â€Å"Cash is King† and the importance of control over working capital (stock levels, customer debts, amounts owed to suppliers and bank facilities) comes into sharp focus. Impact of recession on working capital components: Inventory levels: Reducing stock requires careful analysis to identify slow-moving / surplus items and attempt to turn those into cash. At the same time re-order levels need to be reviewed to see whether certain lines can be reduced or discontinued. Care is needed here to ensure that the business can still react to customer demands without falling short of stock. Accounts Receivable/Debtors: Tightening up on credit control and customer payment terms also needs careful consideration and is unlikely to be resolved overnight. It is important to handle this steadily, systematically and sensitively to avoid losing customers. However there is a point when slow payers may become uneconomical if profit margins are being eroded by the cost of the money outstanding, the time and effort to collect it or both. Accounts Payable/Creditors: Finally the possible impact of slightly relaxing the time taken to settle suppliers’ invoices needs to be considered. Deferring payment for too long may cause undesirable reactions from suppliers – they may perceive you to be a poor credit risk and reduce your permitted order levels, or consider stopping supply. The economic and credit crisis of 2008 has forced many companies into cash flow problems due to non availability of working capital and credit facilities which in turn have led to retrenchment of staff, shrinkage of operations, curtailment of plans for capital expansion into different markets and downsizing. For most of these companies such a curtailment of operations and credit crunch threatens their very existence. To overcome this problem company’s look up to finance professionals who can manage the working capital requirements through planning, obtaining additional facilities and restructuring their operations. Working capital management is one of the cornerstones of business continuity and acts as a hedge against tightening credit and access to additional capital. Companies which manage their working capital optimally during times of recessions come out stronger post the recession period. Measures adopted by companies to improve working capital position: Improve existing working capital processes (eg. standardise, reengineer, automate) Negotiate better terms with buyers and suppliers Improve information systems internally (eg. acquire new technology or pplications) Provide better sales and collections support for foreign operations Provide financing support for operating entities (eg. â€Å"internal bank†) Integrate more transparently with external information systems (e. g. , suppliers, banks) Outsource working capital processes or move to shared services centres Provide financing support for suppliers (i. e. , supply chain financing) Sell or discount receivables using a bank Best Practices to Improve Working Capital Management: Many organizations are currently re-examining their working capital metrics, looking to uncover untapped sources of cash. CFOs, controllers, and treasurers are investigating new procedures and systems to enable a leaner back-office. But they still want access to fast, actionable information about current and future cash flows and working capital requirements. Included in best practices are those that centre on streamlining the accounts payable and accounts receivable function. 1. Centralize and standardize financial transaction processing to drive maximum efficiency and to draw meaningful insights out of underlying data. 2. Use data from an enterprise resource management (ERP) system to inform daily credit and collection activities. . Conduct real-time analysis of cash flow drivers to ensure reliable forecasts and optimize spare cash. 4. Design custom measures of working capital management that are relevant to their business models. 5. Identify and resolve data discrepancies on the front end of the process. Mistakes made in Working Capital Management: Smart companies know that working capital management is a strategic tool that can fund research and development, acquisitions, share buybacks, and higher dividends. Common mistakes companies make when establishing working capital improvement programs: Believing that only the CFO can fix problems in working capital management. Engaging in efforts, such as delaying payment to suppliers or stepping up collection activities, to artificially boost quarterly or year-end metrics. Beating the cash is king drum internally and for Wall Street, but not linking executive compensation to cash flow and comprehensive working capital metrics. Waiting for a business recovery before trying to improve working capital processes. Reducing inventories without improving the overall supply chain process. Conclusion: During the recessionary period, some businesses experienced difficulties in managing their cash flow and working capital and this was sometimes exacerbated because of the difficulties in obtaining support from banks to deal with cash shortfalls. As a consequence, many businesses have made efforts to improve their arrangements for the management of cash and working capital which had somewhat deteriorated over a period of years. Moreover the continuing problems being experienced with the banks coupled with the potential future liquidity problems means that effective cash and working capital management is seen as a managerial priority.

Free Essays on The Stranger

In â€Å"The Stranger† Albert Camus portrays the world as without purpose. Meaursalt, who as a reflection of Camus is indifferent to his own life and death. Meaursalt eventually senses guilt for his crime, but not because he feels remorse for taking a life, but because he realized he would lose the little things he considered most important. The weather had made Meursault kill the Arab. The brightness of the sun caused him to pull the trigger and fire the shot that would change not only the outcome of the story, but also Meursault’s life. Because of the outburst of sunlight, Meursault was momentarily overwhelmed and his reaction was to tense up and, in doing so, he pulled the trigger of his gun. If it had been raining or overcast, Meursault would not have killed the Arab. Meursault doesn't want to kill the Arab, he even considers turning back and leaving the Arab alone. â€Å"It occurred to me that all I had to do was turn around and that would be the end of it. But th e whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back† (Camus 58). Meursault kills the Arab because of the sunlight’s effect on him causing physical pain which jolts him into committing a violent act. The sun was a symbol for feeling and emotion, which Meursault could not deal with. The sun was present all throughout the book. The sun was a distraction for Meursault which he could not handle. To Meursault, the sun is an influence on all his senses, as he cannot hear what someone else says to him. Meursault constantly thinks about the sun when one would expect him to be mourning the death of his mother.Meursault has shown no emotion towards his mother's death and he directs his bottled up anxiety at the sun. The sun forces Meursault to fire and kill the Arab with a revolver. What makes it worse, he fires four more times to make sure the sun is gone for good. The shooting of the Arab was a complete opening to gradual self awareness for Meursault. â€Å"My whole b... Free Essays on The Stranger Free Essays on The Stranger The Stranger The novel, â€Å"The Stranger†, written by Albert Camus is about one man’s life. The main character and the author, Meursalt, gives every detail and thought throughout the novel. He portrays himself as a person who doesn’t seem to care about much, yet he is a hero. Meursalt shows his heroic traits when he stands up for his friend, stands up for what he believes in, and always tells the truth. When Meursalt’s neighbor and friend, Raymond, gets into a fight with an Arab, Meursalt helps him with advice and physical fighting, without even thinking twice about it. To help anything serious from happening to his friend, Meursalt says, â€Å"Right. But if he doesn’t draw his knife, then you can’t shoot.† Meursalt even takes Raymond’s gun from him and says that he would shoot the Arab if the Arab pulled his knife on him. Without even thinking about it, Meursalt says that he would basically take the fall for shooting the Arab. Another way to show that Meursalt is a hero, is when he stands up for what he believes in. At the end of the novel when the chaplain comes to Meursalt’s cell to talk to him about God, he says, â€Å"Why haven’t you come to see me? I said that I didn’t believe in God. He wanted to know if I was sure and I said that I didn’t see any reason to ask myself that question: it seemed unimportant.† After that the chaplain continues to question Meursalt, insisting that he must believe in God. But Meursalt stands very strongly on what he believes in. Just like in the movie, Braveheart, the main character played by Mel Gibson is forced with a question on what he believes in. He is to lie and say he has a king, which they would kill him quick, or stand up for what he believes in by saying no, and they would torture him until he dies. He chose to stand up for what he believes in, just like Meursalt. Finally, Meursalt shows how he is a hero, by telling the truth all the time. Throughout... Free Essays on The Stranger In â€Å"The Stranger† Albert Camus portrays the world as without purpose. Meaursalt, who as a reflection of Camus is indifferent to his own life and death. Meaursalt eventually senses guilt for his crime, but not because he feels remorse for taking a life, but because he realized he would lose the little things he considered most important. The weather had made Meursault kill the Arab. The brightness of the sun caused him to pull the trigger and fire the shot that would change not only the outcome of the story, but also Meursault’s life. Because of the outburst of sunlight, Meursault was momentarily overwhelmed and his reaction was to tense up and, in doing so, he pulled the trigger of his gun. If it had been raining or overcast, Meursault would not have killed the Arab. Meursault doesn't want to kill the Arab, he even considers turning back and leaving the Arab alone. â€Å"It occurred to me that all I had to do was turn around and that would be the end of it. But th e whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back† (Camus 58). Meursault kills the Arab because of the sunlight’s effect on him causing physical pain which jolts him into committing a violent act. The sun was a symbol for feeling and emotion, which Meursault could not deal with. The sun was present all throughout the book. The sun was a distraction for Meursault which he could not handle. To Meursault, the sun is an influence on all his senses, as he cannot hear what someone else says to him. Meursault constantly thinks about the sun when one would expect him to be mourning the death of his mother.Meursault has shown no emotion towards his mother's death and he directs his bottled up anxiety at the sun. The sun forces Meursault to fire and kill the Arab with a revolver. What makes it worse, he fires four more times to make sure the sun is gone for good. The shooting of the Arab was a complete opening to gradual self awareness for Meursault. â€Å"My whole b... Free Essays on The Stranger The Stranger For Camus, freedom arises in awareness of one’s life, the every-moment life, an intense glorious life that needs no redeeming, no regrets, no tears. Death is unjustifiable, absurd; it is but a reintegration into the cosmos for a "free" man. Until a person reaches this awareness, life, like death, is absurd, and indeed, generically, life remains absurd, though each individual’s life can be valuable and meaningful to him. In a sense, The Stranger is a parable of Camus’ philosophy, with emphasis on that which is required for freedom. Meursault, hero of The Stranger, is not a person one would be apt to meet in reality in this respect; Meursault does not achieve the awakening of consciousness, so essential to freedom and to living Camus’ philosophy until the very end of the book, yet he has lived his entire life in according with the morality of Camus’ philosophy. His equivalent in the Christian philosophy would be an irreligious person whose homeland has never encountered Christianity who, upon having it explained by a missionary, realizes he has never sinned. What is the morality, the qualities necessary for freedom, which Meursault manifested? First, the ruling trait of his character is his passion for the absolute truth. While in Meursault this takes the form of a truth of being and feeling, it is still the truth necessary to the conquest of the self or of the world. This passion is so profound that it obtains even when denying it might save his life. Second, and not unrelated to the first, is Meursault’s acceptance of nature as what it is and nothing more, his rejection of the supernatural, including any god. Actually, "rejection" of God is not accurate until later when he is challenged to accept the concept; Meursault simply has never considered God and religion worthwhile pursuing. The natural makes sense; the supernatural doesnà ¢â‚¬â„¢t. It follows that death to Meursault also is what it is naturally; the end... Free Essays on The Stranger In The Stranger, by Albert Camus the character Meursault, who is the book's narrator and main character is very detached, and unemotional. He does not think much about events or their consequences, and he doesn’t express feeling in relationships or at emotional times. He displays a un-intrest if you will throughout the book by his reactions to the people and events described in the book. After his mother's death he didn’t cry or show any emotion on the subject at all. He shows limited feelings for his girlfriend, Marie Cardona, and shows no remorse at all for killing an Arab. He is called â€Å"the stranger† because of his reactions to life and to people. Despite this behavior of his, there is a young woman who seems to want to have a relationship with Meursault and a neighbor who wants a friendship. Meursault rarely shows any feeling when in situations, which would, for most people, create strong emotions. Throughout the vigil, and at her funeral, he never crie s. He’d rather enjo! y a cup of coffee with milk during the vigil, and have a smoke with a caretaker at the nursing home where his mother died. The following day, after his mother's funeral, he goes to the beach and meets Marie Cardona. They swim, go to a movie, and then spend the night together. Later in their relationship, Marie asks Meursault if he wants to marry her. Once again he shows a blatant amount of emotion by responding that it doesn't matter to him, and if she wants to get married, he wouldn’t abject. Then she takes an even bigger shot in the dark and asks him if he loves her. And he responds that he probably doesn't, and says that marriage really isn't such a serious thing and that it doesn't really need love. This reaction is well to say the least, typical of Meursault. He is casual and indifferent about life events. Nothing is very significant to him. Later on in the book, after he kills an Arab, not once does he show any remorse or guilt for what he did.... Free Essays on The Stranger An Exploration of â€Å"The Stranger† by Albert Camus The Stranger is a book of many facets and meanings most of which are not immediately apparent. In fact without in depth analysis the entire point of the book is easily missed. The manner of story telling in The Stranger is unique and at first hard to come to grips with. It is not the story which is especially complex but the manner in which it is told. It is done by a narrator. In his telling of his tale he neglects to mention several important aspects of his internal state, (which after a great deal of speculation seems to be what the book is really about). One soon learns that it is exactly that which is most important for complete understanding of the book, which is so carefully omitted. But, these features are not completely forgotten about, they are implied and inferred creating the need for careful analysis. For example, Camus himself, on the back cover of the book says the book is an exploration of â€Å"the nakedne ss of man faced with the absurd†; at first glance this book seems to have an almost unhealthy lack of the absurd and Camus’ statement seems meaningless. That is until the book as a whole is explored and one realizes that the lack of such is exactly what is absurd. This simple leap of thought, if the conclusion is correct is precisely the key to understanding The Stranger. It forces one to read between and even through the lines in a search for understanding, one comes to see that that which remains unwritten is the most important thing to read in this particular novel. The story begins with the death of the central character, Mersault’s, mother. That is in fact the first line of the book, the statement of this fact. It is the deadpan and uncaring manner of this statement that alerts the reader to the fact that this will be a different kind of book. The narrator never says that he is not overly distraught over his mother’s death, but it is implied through t he lan... Free Essays on The Stranger The Stranger It was a dark and stormy night. I was just about to go to bed and suddenly there was a knock on the door. Startled, I was reluctant to open the door but I gained enough courage and slowly opened it. It was my mom. In awe, I invited her in, wondering why she was out at such an hour. We sat for an hour and talked about a couple of unusual topics such as death and what happens after a person dies. When I asked her why she was talking about these subjects, she replied that my father visited her about an hour and a half before she arrived. She said that he had told her that there is no such thing as Heaven or Hell, but instead the souls of the people who die are doomed to roam the earth looking for a way out of this fate. I tried to explain to her that that is impossible, for my dad passed away almost three years ago, but my mother, being stubborn as usual, refused to believe me. I fixed up a snack for her at about 1:30 because she looked a little pale, but she refused to eat any of it. We talked for an hour or so more and finally she told me that she better get going. On her way out she told me to how proud she was of me and that she loved me with all her heart. About ten minutes later, after I just was about to fall asleep, the phone rang ((((Ring, Ring)))) ((((Ring, Ring)))). Angered, I answered and a strange voice said â€Å" Hello, Mr. Parker? I am sorry to bother you at this time of night but I couldn’t find any information on who to contact in case of an emergency. I am very sorry to inform you but your mother had a heart attack and died at about 10:56 last night.† The End... Free Essays on The Stranger An Exploration of â€Å"The Stranger† by Albert Camus The Stranger is a book of many facets and meanings most of which are not immediately apparent. In fact without in depth analysis the entire point of the book is easily missed. The manner of story telling in The Stranger is unique and at first hard to come to grips with. It is not the story which is especially complex but the manner in which it is told. It is done by a narrator. In his telling of his tale he neglects to mention several important aspects of his internal state, (which after a great deal of speculation seems to be what the book is really about). One soon learns that it is exactly that which is most important for complete understanding of the book, which is so carefully omitted. But, these features are not completely forgotten about, they are implied and inferred creating the need for careful analysis. For example, Camus himself, on the back cover of the book says the book is an exploration of â€Å"the nakedness of man faced with the absurd†; at first glance this book seems to have an almost unhealthy lack of the absurd and Camus’ statement seems meaningless. That is until the book as a whole is explored and one realizes that the lack of such is exactly what is absurd. This simple leap of thought, if the conclusion is correct is precisely the key to understanding The Stranger. It forces one to read between and even through the lines in a search for understanding, one comes to see that that which remains unwritten is the most important thing to read in this particular novel. The story begins with the death of the central character, Mersault’s, mother. That is in fact the first line of the book, the statement of this fact. It is the deadpan and uncaring manner of this statement that alerts the reader to the fact that this will be a different kind of book. The narrator never says that he is not overly distraught over his mother’s death, but it is implied through the l...

Starbucks in China Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Starbucks in China - Case Study Example As the marketing rule goes, it has been known that the best of the market share can be achieved only if the organizations and firms go global. This can also be achieved by having risk taking minds behind the strategies. Starbucks has been planning to open around 1200 stores on an international scale this year alone (Fellner, 2008, p. 12). The main strategy that has been seen to be followed and been implemented by Starbucks includes the global level joint ventures and partnerships that Starbucks has with the other coffee chains all around the world. These are the ventures that allow the other companies to own and run coffee chains. The local partner of the country knows the best locations and can make aware of the local tax issues and customer demands, thus giving Starbucks a bit added customer appeal (Earnshaw, Graham et al., 2005, p. 33). Starbucks has been seen to gain much popularity in China as compared to KFC and McDonalds. China has been embracing the idea of global trade and global business since many years and it has been seen that the foreign firms and organizations feel at home while they work in a foreign country, especially China. One of the main strategies that has been implied by Starbucks is that it is aware that the Chinese people do not like coffee. Therefore, Starbucks plans to provide the Chinese with more kinds and varieties of tea.

Discussion-MODULE 10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion-MODULE 10 - Essay Example -Classic societies in Mesoamerica included the presence of jade carvings, engineering genius, complex and perfect signs, the Oto-Manguean language, and the establishment of the 365-day secular calendar and 260-day ritual calendar . Other features included monumental stone heads, and occupation of Balsa river basin, which is the origin of the Olmec society Olmec culture. On the other hand, the lecture, textbook, the reading by Diaz del Castillo, and the video "Engineering an Empire: Aztecs," describes the origins of Aztec society and their rise to power in the Valley of Mexico. Indeed, they agree that the origin of the Aztec is legendary and uncertain but relate their traditions to hunters and gatherers who originated from the northern Mexican plateau before migrating to the Valley of Mexico. The name Aztec originated from the name Aztlà ¡n that referred to northern Mexico. The Aztec rose to power in the Valley of Mexico by forming allies with the powerful tribes in the Valley of Mexico, brilliant military campaigns, and adopting new technologies to survive in the harsh environment. Ideally, the technological achievements in Tenochtitlan enhanced their gradual accumulation of power by transforming the marshes in the Valley of Mexico into rich agricultural land that improved their economic capacity to fight their rivals. They also used technologies to expand the island and create more spaces for transporting their materials. However, the human sacrifice practice adopted by the Aztec led to their fall since they sacrificed a huge number of their people at once thus deflating their army. The human sacrifice led to the defeat by the Spaniards who later occupied the Mexico City. Moreover, the lecture, textbook, and the reading by Cieza de Leon describe the basis of Andean society and the rise of the Inca Empire. The use of huge numbers of reluctant draftees defined the basis of Andean society that was fighting the Spaniards. The Inca Empire rose in the 1440s under the

The reasons for a growing consumer preference for branded jewellery in Dissertation

The reasons for a growing consumer preference for branded jewellery in India - Dissertation Example Showing from where do you prefer purchasing jewellery Table 23. Showing if brand, what are the factors responsible for this choice Table 24. Showing, if local retailers, what factors affect this decision Table 25. Showing, from where did you get the knowledge of this store/brand Table 26. Showing, how long have you been making purchases of jewellery from this store/brand Table 27. How satisfied are you with the jewellery you buy Table 28. How important is the advertisement campaign followed by the store to make you opt for it Table 29. Before making any jewellery purchases, do you compare the designs and prices of the same between the branded showroom and the local dealers Table 30. Do you plan to shift or change the source of purchasing jewellery LIST OF FIGURES Analysis of Growing Consumer Preference for Branded Jewellery in Mumbai Figure 1. Showing how frequently do you make jewellery purchases Figure 2. Showing from where do you prefer purchasing jewellery Figure 3. Showing if br and, what are the factors responsible for this choice Figure 4. Showing, if local retailers, what factors affect this decision Figure 5. Showing, from where did you get the knowledge of this store/brand Figure 6. Showing, how long have you been making purchases of jewellery from this store/brand Figure 7. How satisfied are you with the jewellery you buy Figure 8. How important is the advertisement campaign followed by the store to make you opt for it Figure 9. Before making any jewellery purchases, do you compare the designs and prices of the same between the branded showroom and the local dealers Figure 10. Do you plan to shift or change the source of purchasing jewellery Analysis of Growing Consumer Preference for Branded Jewellery in Delhi Figure 11. Showing how... India has traditional relations with jewellery. Branded jewellery in India has established a niche for itself in the competitive Indian market. Branding is the procedure involved in making an exclusive picture and name for a product in the customers mind, generally in the course of advertising campaigns by way of a reliable and consistent theme. Significantly, the younger generation has more disposable earnings these days and they are ready to expend it on luxuries of preference. The younger citizens in their mid thirties and their seniors are normally prepared to buy branded jewellery. The aim of branding is to establish a differentiated and considerable presence in the marketplace so that it can retain and attract faithful and loyal customers. Branding is also a technique in establishing a significant business asset, which is nothing but an excellent reputation. The gems & jewellery business is one of the fastest growing businesses in the country with a market share of $13 billion in 2011 and is estimated to grow to $20 billion by 2015. In 2008-09 the business was $17.1 billion in opposition to $16.64 in 2005-06 billion, reflecting a growth of 26%. The picture of Indian ladies, wearing a sari and various types of ethnic jewellery in festival season and wedding, is no longer the sole customer profile of the world’s major gold importing state. Indian ladies around the world are turning out to be more emancipated: conveying a way of life that combines the strong values and traditions of their society and their modern worldwide approach to life, job and spending

The Boundary Of The Boundless Of Anaximander Philosophy Essay

The Boundary Of The Boundless Of Anaximander Philosophy Essay This study tells about Anaximanders theory of Apeiron and as well as his life and his philosophical background. Anaximander is said to be a younger contemporary of Thales, who also sought for the first material principle; he was a disciple and successor of Thales and philosophized in dialogue with him. He was not mentioned until the time of Aristotle. Unlike Thales, Anaximander wrote a philosophical work, entitled  On Nature; unfortunately, neither this nor any of his other works has survived. The information about his philosophy came from summaries of it by other writers, especially Aristotle and Theophrastus. Anaximander was said to have drawn the first map of the inhabited world on a tablet, which was a marvel in his day (Agathemerus  I, 1) Statement of the Problem Anaximanders theory of Apeiron, a Greek word which literarily means boundless, indeterminate, unlimited, infinite, or indefinite is an unintelligible idea about the origin of all things. It gave confusion with his Arche which means beginning, or origin. He explains how the  four elements  of ancient physics (air,  earth,  water  and  fire) are formed, and how Earth and terrestrial beings are formed through their interactions. However, unlike other Pre-Socratics, he never defines this principle precisely, and it has generally been understood (e.g., by Aristotle and by  Saint Augustine) as a sort of primal  chaos. The researcher has his own rule on doing this research. The studies came from the book and through internet. The researchers use a descriptive type of research. This research is for educational purposes and serves as a requirement in on the researchers study. All of the information that has gathered in the entire sources is a big help in answering the research. All of the information that was gathered will serve as knowledge to us and for the readers. This study will be beneficial to the students and instructors. This researchs goal is designed to help students improve academic competency. The output of this study is a source material that the teachers can assimilate and disseminate by diffusion and induction technique. The proposed study serves the students as their reference or guide in creating their research. It will also help students taking help in making their research studies about their topics. For the teachers, this study will help them to have a deeper understanding of the said research. By this study they will come up with easier and powerful research. To the researchers, the proposed study will benefit and help the future researcher as their guide. The study can also open in development of this study.   Background of the Study Anaximanders Biography Anaximander, son of Praxiades, was born in  Miletus  during the third year of the 42nd  Olympiad  (610 BC).  According to  Apollodorus of Athens, Greek grammarian of the 2nd century BC, he was sixty-four years old during the second year of the 58th Olympiad (547-546  BC), and died shortly afterwards. Establishing a timeline of his work is now impossible, since no document provides chronological references.  Themistius, a 4th-century  Byzantine  rhetorician, mentions that he was the first of the known Greeks to publish a written document on nature. Therefore his texts would be amongst the earliest written in  prose, at least in the Western world. By the time of  Plato, his philosophy was almost forgotten, and Aristotle, his successor  Theophrastus  and a few  doxographers  provide us with the little information that remains. However, we know from Aristotle that Thales, also from Miletus, precedes Anaximander. It is debatable whether Thales actually was the teacher of Anaximander, but there is no doubt that Anaximander was influenced by Thales theory that everything is derived from water. One thing that is not debatable is that even the ancient Greeks considered Anaximander to be from the Monist school which began in Miletus with Thales followed by Anaximander and finished with  Anaximenes  3rd-centuryRoman  rhetorician  Aelian  depicts him as leader of the Milesian colony to  Apollonia  on the  Black Sea  coast, and hence some have inferred that he was a prominent citizen. Indeed,  Various History  (III, 17) explains that philosophers sometimes also dealt with political matters. It is very likely that leaders of Miletus sent him there as a legislator to create a constitution or simply to maintain the colonys allegiance. Philosophical View The Apeiron Anaximander shares Thales assumption that all things originate from one original element and ultimately are that element; to use Aristotles terminology, he holds that there is a first (material) principle (arche) of all things. Unlike Thales, however, Anaximander asserts that the first principle is not water but what he calls theapeiron, translated as the indeterminate or limitless. Simplicius , drawing upon theophrastus work, gives following account of anaximanders. Anaximander named the arche and element of existing things the apeiron, being the first to introduce this name for the arche. He says that it is neither water nor any other of the so-called elements, but a different substance that is limitless or indeterminate, from which there come into being all the heavens and the worlds within them. Harmony of the Opposites Dependent upon Theophrastus, Simplicius says according to Anaximander, things perish into those things out of which they have their being, according to necessity; for they make just recompense to one another for their injustice according to the ordinance or assessment of time. The Aperion as Unconditioned and God We cannot say that the apeiron has no effect, and the only effectiveness which we can ascribe to it is that of a principle. Everything is either a source or derived from a source. But there cannot be a source of the apeiron, for that would be a limit of it. Further, as it is a Beginning, it is both uncreatable and indestructible. For there must be a point at which what has come to be reaches completion and also a termination of all passing away. That is why, as we say there is no principle of this, but it is this which is held to be the principle of other things, and to encompass all and to steer all; as those assert who do not recognize, alongside the infinite, other causes such as mind or friendship. Theories Anaximanders theories were influenced by the  Greek mythical  tradition, and by some ideas of  Thales   the father of philosophy   as well as by observations made by older civilizations in the East (especially by the Babylonian astrologists). All these were elaborated rationally. In his desire to find some universal principle, he assumed like traditional religion the existence of a cosmic order and in elaborating his ideas on this he used the old mythical language which ascribed divine control to various spheres of reality. This was a common practice for the Greek philosophers in a society which saw gods everywhere; therefore they could fit their ideas into a tolerably elastic system. Apeiron For Anaximander, the  principle  of things, the constituent of all substances, is nothing determined and not an element such as water in Thales view. Neither is it something halfway between air and water, or between air and fire, thicker than air and fire, or more subtle than water and earth.  Anaximander argues that water cannot embrace all of the opposites found in nature for example, water can only be wet, never dry and therefore cannot be the one primary substance; nor could any of the other candidates. He postulated the  apeiron  as a substance that, although not directly perceptible to us, could explain the opposites he saw around him. Anaximander maintains that all dying things are returning to the element from which they came (apeiron).   Cosmology Anaximanders bold use of non-mythological  explanatory hypotheses considerably distinguishes him from previous cosmology writers such as  Hesiod. It confirms that pre-Socratic philosophers were making an early effort to demythify physical processes. His major contribution to history was writing the oldest prose document about the  Universe  and the origins of  life; for this he is often called the Father of Cosmology and founder of astronomy. However,  pseudo-Plutarch  states that he still viewed celestial bodies as deities. Anaximander was the first to conceive a  mechanical  model of the  world. In his model, the  Earth  floats very still in the centre of the infinite, not supported by anything. It remains in the same place because of its indifference, a point of view that Aristotle considered ingenious, but false, in  On the Heavens.  Its curious shape is that of a  cylinder  with a height one-third of its diameter. The flat top forms the inhabited world, which is surrounded by a circular oceanic mass. Such a model allowed the concept that  celestial bodies  could pass under it. It goes further than Thales claim of a world floating on water, for which Thales faced the problem of explaining what would contain this ocean, while Anaximander solved it by introducing his concept of infinite (apeiron). Multiple Worlds According to Simplicius, Anaximander already speculated on the plurality of  worlds, similar to  atomists  Leucippus  and  Democritus, and later philosopher  Epicurus. These thinkers supposed that worlds appeared and disappeared for a while, and that some were born when others perished. They claimed that this movement was eternal, for without movement, there can be no generation, no destruction. In addition to Simplicius, Hippolytus  reports Anaximanders claim that from the infinite comes the principle of beings, which themselves come from the heavens and the worlds (several doxographers use the plural when this philosopher is referring to the worlds within,  which are often infinite in quantity).  Cicero  writes that he attributes different gods to the countless worlds. This theory places Anaximander close to the Atomists and the  Epicureans  who, more than a century later, also claimed that an infinity of worlds appeared and disappeared. In the  timeline of the Greek history of thought, some thinkers conceptualized a single world (Plato, Aristotle,  Anaxagoras  and  Archelaus), while others instead speculated on the existence of a series of worlds, continuous or non-continuous (Anaximenes, Heraclitus,  Empedocles  and  Diogenes).   Meteorological phenomena Anaximander attributed some phenomena, such as  thunder  and  lightning, to the intervention of elements, rather than to divine causes. In his system, thunder results from the shock of clouds hitting each other; the loudness of the sound is proportionate with that of the shock. Thunder without lightning is the result of the wind being too weak to emit any flame, but strong enough to produce a sound. A flash of lightning without thunder is a jolt of the air that disperses and falls, allowing a less active fire to break free. Thunderbolts are the result of a thicker and more violent air flow. He saw the sea as a remnant of the mass of humidity that once surrounded Earth.  A part of that mass evaporated under the suns action, thus causing the winds and even the rotation of the celestial bodies, which he believed were attracted to places where water is more abundant.  He explained rain as a product of the humidity pumped up from Earth by the sun.  For him, the Earth was slowly drying up and water only remained in the deepest regions, which someday would go dry as well. According to Aristotles  Meteorology  (II, 3), Democritus also shared this opinion. Origin of humankind Anaximander speculated about the beginnings and  origin  of animal life. Taking into account the existence of fossils, he claimed that animals sprang out of the sea long ago. The first animals were born trapped in a spiny bark, but as they got older, the bark would dry up and break. Anaximander put forward the idea that humans had to spend part of this transition inside the mouths of big fish to protect themselves from the Earths climate until they could come out in open air and lose their scales. He thought that, considering humans extended infancy, we could not have survived in the primeval world in the same manner we do presently. Other Accomplishments Cartography Maps were produced in ancient times, also notably in  Egypt,  Lydia, the  Middle East, and  Babylon. Only some small examples survived until today. The unique example of a world map comes from late Babylonian tablet BM 92687 later than 9th century BCE but is based probably on a much older map. These maps indicated directions, roads, towns, borders, and geological features. Anaximanders innovation was to represent the entire inhabited land known to the ancient Greeks. Such an accomplishment is more significant than it at first appears. Anaximander most likely drew this map for three reasons.  First, it could be used to improve navigation and trade between  Miletuss colonies and other colonies around the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Second,  Thales  would probably have found it easier to convince the Ionian  city-states  to join in a federation in order to push the Median  threat away if he possessed such a tool. Finally, the philosophical idea of a global representation of the world simply for the sake of knowledge was reason enough to design one. Gnomon The  Suda  relates that Anaximander explained some basic notions of geometry. It also mentions his interest in the measurement of time and associates him with the introduction in  Greece  of the gnomon. In Lacedaemon, he participated in the construction, or at least in the adjustment, of  sundials  to indicate  solstices  and  equinoxes. Indeed, a gnomon required adjustments from a place to another because of the difference in latitude. In his time, the gnomon was simply a vertical pillar or rod mounted on a horizontal plane. The position of its shadow on the plane indicated the time of day. As it moves through its apparent course, the sun draws a curve with the tip of the projected shadow, which is shortest at noon, when pointing due south. The variation in the tips position at noon indicates the solar time and the seasons; the shadow is longest on the winter solstice and shortest on the summer solstice. However, the invention of the gnomon itself cannot be attributed to Anaximander because its use, as well as the division of days into twelve parts, came from the  Babylonians. It is they, according toHerodotus  Histories  (II, 109), who gave the Greeks the art of time measurement. It is likely that he was not the first to determine the solstices, because no calculation is necessary. On the other hand, equinoxes do not correspond to the middle point between the positions during solstices, as the Babylonians thought. As the  Suda  seems to suggest, it is very likely that with his knowledge of geometry, he became the first Greek to accurately determine the equinoxes. Prediction of an earthquake In his philosophical work  De Divinatione  (I, 50, 112), Cicero states that Anaximander convinced the inhabitants of  Lacedaemon  to abandon their city and spend the night in the country with their weapons because an earthquake was near.  The city collapsed when the top of the  Taygetus  split like the stern of a ship. Pliny the Elder also mentions this anecdote (II, 81), suggesting that it came from an admirable inspiration, as opposed to Cicero, who did not associate the prediction with divination. Philosophy Contributions Cosmology the production of the opposite and their separating off are important in his cosmology penalty and retribution of the opposites in accord to the assessment of time. The earth is cylindrical in shape and its depth is 1/3 its breath. It is immobile (the earth does not rest on water ) in the center of the universe by way of its equilibrium. The earth may someday become dry. Concerning the formation of the heavenly bodies: the sun is equal to the earth. The circles and spheres carry the heavenly bodies. An eclipse occur when the aperture of the sun or moon are blocked. Concerning meteorological phenomena: the winds thunder and lightning all these have to do with winds. Zoogamy the 1st living creatures were born in moisture and enclosed in thorny barks. As their age grows they came forth into the drier part and the bark was broken off. Anthropology- Anaximander held the theory of evolution of animals. Man was born from animals of another species (man come into being inside fishes). Conclusion Anaximander was indeed one of the greatest minds that ever lived. By speculating and arguing about the Boundless he was the first metaphysician. By drawing a map of the world he was the first geographer, by boldly speculating about the universe he broke with the ancient image of the celestial vault and became the discoverer of the Western world-picture. The Boundless has no origin. For then it would have a limit. Aristotle once said there is no beginning of the infinite, or in that case it would have an end. But without beginning and indestructible, as being, a sort of first principle is necessary for whatever comes into existence should have and end and there is a conclusion of all destruction. But there is no principle of this Apeiron (www.egs.edu/library/anaximander/qoutes) and Anaximander himself affirm that that all dying things are returning to the element which they came which is the apeiron. The fact that things dies, decays, or wither states its limit, therefore it is limite d, finite, and is bounded by the natural law. We find his theory of Apeiron unbelievable especially when it is first; a theory and has no proof, second; a paradox itself in a way that he viewed the world as tangled in a neatly bounded category. Its hard to believe on what someone has said when that someone, itself, defies what he have stated and thus formed a seemingly contradictory paradox that leads to confusion.

My Brother Jack :: essays research papers

MY BROTHER JACK 1.There are numerous reasons why this novel is titled My brother Jack. The title My Brother Jack deludes the reader in thinking the novel is based on Jack, yet we find that the prevailing concern is not ‘My Brother Jack’ at all. The title suggests a rewriting of Jack’s life. The novel is also called My Brother Jack because of the fact that the author George Johnston, portrayed as David had a brother named Jack, with whom he shared a good relationship with and was also a prominent person in his life. Since Jack is the person in whom David has the greatest sense of identity and reverence, it may well be an appropriate title. In the novel My Brother Jack David often writes about Jack and recapitulates the episodes of his life with Jack. This is evident in a statement David made about his brother as he was travelling on a train. ‘I saw him suddenly as a find of sunburnt Icarus, a freeman, buoyant and soaring in his own air, in the clear and boundless space of an element families yet new’ (pg 294). It is evident through examples, why the novel was called ‘My Brother Jack’. The title may suggest an account of Jack’s life through the eyes of David. The perception you get is that Jack’s life is of greater importance than David’s. Shifting the novel focus from his own inadequacies, George Johnston tries to in fact get the reader to confront these issues. 2. George Johnston uses the theme of deception all through the novel, through the character of David Meredith. David was the most deceitful character in the novel. He did not care who he hurt on the way to getting away from his plain and mediocre life. David basically hurt everyone in his life that ever cared about him. George Johnston used the theme of deception when David continuously deceived his parents. He lied to his parents about the paintings being his own when they were only a lithograph of Tom Middleton’s work. ‘…I would also bring printed samples of work that Tom Middleton had done, and say that I had lithographed them;’ (pg 83). Through the lies that David told and the pain that he caused it is quite clear that George Johnston has used the theme of deception throughout the novel. 3. There is an obvious contrast between his outer success and his inner failure.