Recent orders
Scientist-Rebecca Hernandez
Q1.
In reviewing the sources, I was particularly found interest in the idea of trying to reduce the conflict between usable lands and creating enough space for solar panels to provide alternative and sustainable forms of energy. I have never really thought about the conflict that exists when people try to create and use available land to install solar panels and other energy sources. The initiative by Dr. Rebecca Hernandez sheds a lot of light on a sector that very few people ever think about. It is important to recognize the some advancements in science and the requirements to have alternative energy sources may lead to the encroachment of agricultural land and other important sectors.
Q2.
Although not directly, the resources highlight the beneficial relationships that create synergies in different situations, such as the digestive system and bacteria. The bacteria in the human digestive system are beneficial, the gut also offers a safe haven for the bacteria in a mutualism relationship. Similarly, using repurposed land such as landfills creates a situation where unusable lands are now converted into areas that support the budding solar energy sector (Gorn, 2016). Degradable land is used in the production of renewable energy, bringing back usability to such lands and creating employment for hundreds of people. The relationship is mutual and very sustainable in the long run due to the synergies created.
Q3
After reviewing these sources, a number of questions emerge:
What other synergies exist when repurposing waste lands for use in facilitating solar power generation?
What are the opportunity costs of repurposing land for use for solar power production versus other uses such as wind energy or as landfills?
Are the alternatives provided by Dr. Hernandez sustainable?
What are the main impacts of the development of solar energy on other vital sectors such as agriculture?
How is the domestic solar manufacturing sector contributing to the energy and environment debate?
Q4.
These resources reveal that people that do science have a particular role in trying to solve daily problems, while factoring in possible tradeoffs brought about by the solutions created for every issue. For example, Dr. Hernandez must consider the tradeoff that emerges when people use agricultural land to manufacture solar energy (University of California, 2017). Here, although solar energy is a sustainable and cheaper form of energy, it also means that the agricultural production is also significantly affected. Therefore, people that do science are constantly in a mode of providing answers to problems that affect people using the nest possible win-win situation at every juncture.
References
Gorn, D. (November 18, 2016). A new approach to energy: Using old landfill sites to generate
solar power. SCPR. https://www.scpr.org/news/2016/11/18/66016/using-old-landfill-sites-to-generate-solar-power/
University of California. (December 19, 2017). Researchers identify nontraditional sites
for future solar farms. Phys Org. https://phys.org/news/2017-12-solar-energy-encroaching-potential-farmland.html
Leadership, from the Tsingtao pre-seen case study
Q.1
Leadership, from the Tsingtao pre-seen case study, can be defined as a relationship where an individual influences the behaviour and actions of others. Drucker’s (1955) remarks held the position that leadership is majorly a talent. I do not fully agree with this statement, because leadership theories in the 20th century focused on identification of certain traits, personality patterns, and behaviors to different leaders from those that were not. However, dramatic changes in leadership theories have led to an increase in the functionality of leadership, thus introducing the concept of acquired leadership through learning, development, and mentorship (Channing, 2020). Now, leaders can be successfully trained and incorporate aspects of innate abilities to become successful. Yet, even with training, there is some aspects of leadership that is innate, calling for a revision of the definition to include both acquired and natural skills. From the Tsingtao pre-seen case study, it is clear that leadership was lacking due to a poor culture on the same. After the overhaul, leadership skills were imparted on managers through learning.
Q.2
Jin Zhiguo created organizational change via leadership. Specifically, he employed components of change of culture, management, and motivation to influence those under him to transform their attitude and values. The organizational culture at the time of his taking over was very poor and a carry-over from the state-owned corporate culture of laxity and conformity to traditional systems. He introduced managerial changes and a new corporate culture through leadership and control. He introduced a new HR function to track and monitor employee performance, staffing, and recruitment. By laying off individuals who were not performing, Zhiguo kicked off a new culture of requiring employees to be accountable. He executed a carefully planned strategy that included 100% transparency, telling the truth, communicating the plan, and creating a roadmap for all employees. He then conducted a managerial overhaul in order to see his vision reflected in the control and management structures of the organization. He introduced a corporate culture based on customer satisfaction and made the changes very gradual to minimize resistance.
References
Channing, J. (2020). How Can Leadership Be Taught? Implications for Leadership
Educators. International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, 15(1), 134-148.
Drucker, P.F. (1955). The practice of Management, Harper, New York.
Viewpoint of the Author
Q.1 Viewpoint of the Author
The topic of Terror and Torture is addressed in Part 3 of Applied Ethics (Wolff, 2017, p. 488). The matter concern among the most debated and pressing questions that political authorities face in the world today relating to how to approach terrorist campaigns. Here, the concept of a “ticking time bomb” is at the crux of many philosophical discussions. The author assumes for the moment that the authorities are aware of a bomb that will result in the deaths of a significant number of individuals. Further, Wolff (2017) presents that authorities in the assumed case are well aware that the ticking time bomb will detonate within the next twenty-four hours. One of the terrorists who is now behind bars is the only one who is aware of the location of the explosives. The author poses the following questions to present his case:
Is it permissible for the government to use torture on a terrorist in order to discover the location of the bomb so that lives may be saved?
In this particular scenario, the utilitarian argument in favor of torture seems to be insurmountable, but is it a sufficient justification to do so?
Shouldn’t we also safeguard the human rights and civil freedoms of every person, even those who commit acts of terrorism?
During his encounters with Israeli law enforcement, Wolff (2017) was introduced and made aware to how well the use of torture is widespread in the world. The use of the ticking time bomb defense as a justification for use of torture led to Wolff (2017) taking a purist position against torture. He challenges the structure of terror and torture by being directly against the use of intellectual, legal, and moral justification for a pervasive system. Wolff argues that if the justification to use torture is on the basis of the ticking time bomb scenario, then usage of “persuasive” interrogation techniques should be limited to such situations. He also recommended the use of a torture warrant if the structure is morally and legally justifiable. Wolff sees his argument as a bid to increase civil liberties in situations where torture occurs as opposed to being a compromise to individual rights.
Q.2 Main Arguments for Each Position
If torturing one criminal is acceptable if it avoids the suffering of one hundred innocent people, then torturing one guilty person may also be justifiable if it stops a time bomb from taking the lives of thousands of innocent bystanders. Torturing a single guilty terrorist who is illegally withholding information needed to prevent a terrorist attack is without a doubt preferable to allowing a large number of innocent people to be killed, as the simple cost-benefit analysis that supports the use of nonlethal forms of torture appears to make an unarguable case: torturing a single guilty terrorist who is illegally withholding information needed to prevent a terrorist attack is preferable (Wolff, 2017, p.495). Pain is less terrifying and simpler to recover from than death, and the lives of one thousand innocent people ought to be treasured more than the body of a single individual who has committed a terrible deed. If torture, which has been deemed intolerable by the civilized world for more than a century, were to be permitted today – even for limited use in one particular case – it would be a tremendous symbolic loss in the worldwide campaign against human rights abuses. This loss would be especially significant because torture has been regarded as intolerable by the civilized world for more than a century (Wolff, 2017, p.496). If the largest democracy in the world condones the use of torture, it seems certain that this would encourage other nations to do it more often. This cannot be avoided. Regardless of whether or not torture is legal, this would take place. This form of straightforward utilitarian argument for a single instance demonstrates simple-mindedness due to the absence of any inherent constraints on its scope.
Q.3 Main Areas of Agreement and Disagreement
Wolf (2017) posit that everything is lawful according to the simple-minded utilitarianism approach as long as the number of individuals tortured or murdered does not exceed the number of lives saved. Unless there are other jobs that we are unable to do, this is a numbers-based morality. These additional constraints may be derived from utilitarianism or other moral concepts, such as the rule that purposefully punishing the innocent is wrong. We risk falling down a slippery slope toward immorality and, ultimately, authoritarianism if we don’t put limits on the use of torture and other unpleasant techniques to deter terrorists.
Torture cannot exist inside our legal system in order for us to have worth. We should never want our military or president to do something we believe is improper or unlawful in a democracy founded on the rule of law. Nothing should be done “off the books” in a judicial system that supports the rule of law (Wolff, 2017, p. 498). Even the necessity defense must be legally supported. The excuse of “necessity” has always been exploited by those in charge of a country’s security to acquire what they want.
Q.4 Personal View on Key Issues
I believe that Wolff (2017) makes a valid point on the use of force and torture in interrogations related to terrorism. However, I also believe that in the ticking time bomb case, the use of any methods necessary is important to save lives. In the recent shooting in a school setting, for example, I would advocate for the use of controlled torture to uncover the plot to kill tens of innocent children and teachers. To bridge the gap that Wolff introduces, I would propose a legal system that enables and controls how torture is used based on a situation and the supporting evidence. Irrefutable circumstances that would lead to saving of many innocent lives would demand the use of torture in a regulated environment that should be a part of the judicial system.
References
Wolff, J. (2017). Readings in Moral Philosophy. WW Norton & Company.