SELLARS AND THE MYTH OF THE GIVEN :: essays research papers

SELLARS AND THE "MYTH OF THE GIVEN" To be presented at the Eastern Division APA Meeting to be held at the Washington Hilton & Towers (Washington, DC) on Dec. 27 - 30, 1998: Book discussion: Wilfrid Sellars's Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind (International Ballroom West, Wed., Dec. 30, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.) -- Published with the permission of Prof. Alston. Since the body of the paper will be distinctly critical, I would like to begin by paying tribute to Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind (EPM) as one of the seminal works of twentieth century philosophy. I still remember the growing excitement with which I read it when it first came out in Volume I of the Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science (1956), in the Detroit Airport, of all places. (My colleague, Tamar Gendler, remarked to me that I was probably the only person there reading Wilfrid Sellars, the others, no doubt, reading best sellers.) Over the ensuing decades the excitement, though never wholly extinguished, has been adulterated by numerous second thoughts, some of which will be expounded here. Having already taken issue with Sellars' general argument against immediate knowledge in section VIII of EPM and elsewhere, in my essay "What's Wrong with Immediate Knowledge?"1, I will concentrate here on his complaints about "the given". But I must admit at the outset that it is not easy to pin down the target to which Sellars applies that title. At the beginning of EPM Sellars makes it explicit that though "I begin my argument with an attack on sense-datum theories, it is only as a first step in a critique of the entire framework of givenness". (128)2 But just what is this "framework of givenness" of which sense-datum theory is only one form? A bit later he says ". . . the point of the epistemological category of the given is, presumably, to explicate the idea that empirical knowledge rests on a 'foundation' of non-inferential knowledge of matter of fact". (128) That makes it sound as if any foundationalist epistemology is a form o f the "myth of the given". And I am far from sure that this is not the way Sellars is thinking of it. Nevertheless, for present purposes I will construe the commitment to the given as more restricted than that, identifying it with one particular way of thinking of "non-inferential knowledge of matter of fact".

Liberty Communication Satellite Phones Essay

Mexico is one of the leading markets for electronic goods such as mobiles creating a global business avenue. Like any other business, a number of risks face electronic goods. The objective of the paper is to conduct a risk analysis on Mexico for Liberty communications Satellite Phones Company a new business venture. Risk analysis in this case is an aspect of identifying risk factors that jeopardize the success of the new communication company in Mexico. The rules regulate marketing, supply and distribution of satellite mobile phones which affects operation of business. Communication through satellite mobile is regulated by rules made by politicians and thus the company is supposed to have adequate knowledge about communication rules. Another risk to be analyzed is exchange and repatriation of funds which relates to exchange rates. The company is supposed to consider the value of Mexican currency against other currencies to meet global standards (Fleisher Craiq, 2005). This risk occurs when currency trades badly against other currencies as it is a loss to the communication company. Competition is a general risk to any kind of business and thus Liberty communications should consider evaluating whether there is any other dominating company that deals with satellite mobile phones. Upon close evaluation of the communication sector, Liberty communications is bound to make sound decisions about that particular venture. Every business is bound to pay tax to government and this is a major area of concern by Liberty communications. The taxation rate differs from one business to another according to laws made by political entities (Culpan Refik, 2002). In certain instances, the rate of taxation is very high making business to pay heavily. The communication company should consider laws regarding taxation and double taxation. Marketing of satellite phones is a major risk that ought to be analyzed before venturing into communication market. The major aspects to be considered include the 4p’s such as product, price, place and promotion. Management at Liberty communication is supposed to consider putting satellite phones (product) at the right place (Mexico) at the right price and time (promotion). Once these elements are considered the company successfully ventures communication sector without obstacles. Distribution and supply chain is another major risk that should be analyzed as it can lead to poor trading. The company is bound to exploit certain royal customers with the intention to make maximum sales. Distribution of satellite phones is exposed to both physical and environmental risks which should be evaluated before venturing into the business. Social and cultural life of Mexican people is another major area that exposes the company to risks. The social life and cultural practices in Mexico have an influence in communication and Liberty communications is bound to consider such values. This is related to life style as it is influenced by technology and cyber. Management of Liberty Company should consider whether Mexican people have enough knowledge on technology as it is the main area of specialization. References Fleisher Craiq, 2005, Competitive Intelligence and global Business, Praeger. Culpan Refik, 2002, Global Business Alliances: Theory and Practice, Quorum Books.

Crime in Victorian London - 1449 Words

Nineteenth century London is famous for being the birth place of the Industrial Revolution. But that is not all the victorians are famous for, they are also known for their high crime rate and being the home of multiple notorious serial killers, like Jack the Ripper. London was also overpopulated which some think might be the cause of the high crime rate. Though Urbanization did have an affect on crime,an incompetent police force and a media that glamorized crime also contributed to the high crime rate. Before the industrial revolution, most of Britains population lived and worked on farms, but skilled laborers and artisans were an important part of Britains economy (Martello). The country was especially wealthy because of their†¦show more content†¦Pretty much where ever you are you really arent all that safe. When youre at home, groups of thieves could rob a person and then kill them. On a crowded street, someone could bump into someone and just so happen to walk away with their wallet. And if someone were walking around in some secluded area, they could easily get attacked, robbed, and killed. The problem remains, the police were rarely ever any help in the matter. Sometimes because they were too drunk to notice, and sometimes the thieves would throw the cops off their scent by actually throwing acid on them (Banerjee). Another crime rarely ever reported was child murder. The Central Middlesex Coroner reported that at least 800 children had been killed in that area in just a year. He thought that the number was so high because those killing the children werent apprehended, so no one would stop. Most of these murders were committed by the children’s parents and usually out of need. At the time, having a child could actually ruin lives, especially if they already had children. Another mouth to feed was not what these families needed. There were no safe or legal abortion methods at the time so the parents saw no other way out. Most of the children were killed in infancy. In a lot of cases if they lived passed infancy they were sent to the workhouse because it was either that orShow MoreRelatedCertain Geographical Components Allow Specific Crimes And1493 Words   |  6 PagesCertain geographical components allow specific crimes and criminals form in that area and these areas can help cultivate a nd breed new crimes and criminals or alleviate crime in that region. It is in fact geographical areas that can allow criminals to be successful at committing crime or can end their criminal career. Throughout the Victorian era many authors were careful to make a supportive plot for their criminal and detective characters to survive as a character in the story. Authors like theRead MoreA Child of the Jago by Arthur Morrison1665 Words   |  7 PagesArthur Morrison’s A Child of the Jago (1896) is intrinsically linked to the social class system and poverty. The novel is set and published during the late Victorian age, a period in which the working class experienced a relentless struggle against the harsh realities of social and working conditions. Moreover, in his paper The Working Class in Britain 1850-1939, John Benson highlights the disparities between the poor and the economy during the era as a result of the Industrial revolution and urbanisation(BensonRead MoreTransformat ions in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson704 Words   |  3 Pagesappearance; something displeasing, something downright detestable† (35). As per the quote Hyde looks very ugly. His deeds are uglier and compliances suitably to his physical self. 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As the s tory unfolds in the classic literature novel, â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† written by Robert Louis Stevenson, the magnificent city of London becomes a darker and mysterious location. The powerful city of London embodied the freedom and solitude required for the antagonist of the story, Mr. Hyde to hide his wicked behavior from the society as a whole. AccordingRead MoreSherlock Holmes : A Fictional Character Created By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle1121 Words   |  5 PagesSir Arthur Conan Doyle during the Victorian era of England. His stories are so captivating because Holmes is such a complicated, eccentric, character with spontaneous behavior but he managed to solve the most baffling crimes using logic and observation making it easy for readers to overlook the authenticity of the settings and scenes. The background scenes of the tales tell their own stories of the time period of in England. The stories show the reader Victorian customs and mannerisms, clothi ng styleRead MoreCompare The Speckled Band, The Red Headed League and Silver Blaze as Examples of Detective Fiction1421 Words   |  6 Pagesthese books have been created a long time ago and there is still a demand for these types of books. The popularity is still ongoing because it provides constant entertainment, and also the reader can also have a role of detective trying to solve the crime/case committed. Classical detective fiction has a formula, the detective story starts with a seemingly irresolvable mystery, typically a murder, features the astute, often unconventional detective, a wrongly accused suspect to whom the circumstantialRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1291 Words   |  6 PagesThe Victorian era was a period of great change in England in terms of social, political, and even scientific advancement. 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