Course Project 1 - 718 Words

Bus 379 Course Project March 31, 2013 Task 1 1. National First with an APR of 3.25%(Prime Rate) +6.75%=10% The ERA=(1+10%/2)^2 – 1= 10.25% Regions Best 13.17 APR compounded monthly. The ERA = (1+13.17%/12)^12 – 1= 13.99% 2. I would recommend National First Bank, the ERA with NFB is 10.25% and the ERA with Regions Best is 13.99%. National First Bank is calculated semiannually so it is only twice a year but Regions Best is compounded monthly. The APR with National Best is low even if it is Prime. 3. The loan amount is $6,950,000, interest rate is 8.6% APR over 5 years. To do the calculation we work with (loan amount)*(interest rate)/(years) N=60 I=0.7167 PV= 6,950,000 Payment =x The monthly payment for†¦show more content†¦Most of the time the price of the preferred dividends is higher than the common stock because there is more risk for investors but there is also more payoff if it does well. 4. 1.50 * (1+10%)=1.65 1.65 / (10%-1%)= $18.33 IF the required rate of return increases from 8.1% to 10% then the current share price of common stock with decrease from $21.41 to $18.33. As the price of the stock increases this can be riskier for the investor. But with higher risk the returns should be higher as well with dividends. If the dividends are higher this can boost the confidence of others to buy more stocks as there are good returns with the company. Task 3 1. Annual Rate = 7.5% Current price of bond = $1062 Term 20 years Par value of bond $1000 Annual interest $75.00 Semi-annual interest $37.50 The coupon rate AirJet Parts sets on new bonds would be 6.92% 2. The YTM rate is the rate of return that could be earned if held until the maturity date. The coupon rate is usually a fixed and is the known rate of the bond. 3. The credit risk on a bond is the chances that the company will default on the bond. The amount the investor makes is lower. Inflation rate risk, when inflation goes up, the price of the bond usually goes down. Interest rate risk the price of the bonds changes because of the increase and decrease of the interest rates. 4. File quarterlyShow MoreRelatedCourse Project 11173 Words   |  5 PagesCourse Project – Part I  © The content of this document is the property of Wendell W. Bragg and DeVry University. No portion of this document may be reproduced in any manner except as a homework assignment submission. Duplication, reproduction or display either physically or electronically for any other purpose without the author’s written consent is prohibited. Introduction The Course Project is an opportunity for you to apply concepts learned to a real-life simulation experience. ThroughoutRead MoreCourse Project 11131 Words   |  5 PagesCourse Project-Part 1 Hannah Satterthwaite Professor Gatto DeVry University Finding the Best Loan Options 1. Assuming that AirJet Parts, Inc. is considering loans from National First and Regions Best, what are the EARs for these two banks? National First- (1+.0675/2) ²-1 = .078890625 Regions Best- (1+.1317/12) ¹Ã‚ ²-1= .1399478787 Using the Estimated Annual Rate formula, I found that National First estimated annual rate was 7.9% and Regions Best was 13.995% 2. Based on your calculationsRead MoreAcct 505 Course Project 1651 Words   |  3 PagesACCT 505 Course Project 1 https://homeworklance.com/downloads/acct-505-course-project-1/ COURSE PROJECT 1 INSTRUCTIONS You have just been contracted as a budget consultant by LBJ Company, a distributor of bracelets to various retail outlets across the country. The company has done very little in the way of budgeting and at certain times of the year has experienced a shortage of cash. You have decided to prepare a cash budget for the upcoming fourth quarter in order to show management theRead MoreProj592 Course Project Part 11941 Words   |  8 PagesCourse Project Part 1 â€Å"Consulting Service† PROJ592 Project Cost amp; Schedule Control Table of Contents Executive Summary/Proposal 3 Project Description 4 WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) 5 Capital Cost Estimates 6 Advanced Cost Estimating Technique 7 Cost Assumptions 9 Financial Analysis 10 Schedule 11 Executive Summary/Proposal The Consulting Service Company will lean on its relationships that have been built in the project management industry to take full advantage ofRead MoreEssay on Course Project Wireless World 1 1 1 1507 Words   |  7 Pagesthe salaries of the managers, Initial Investment in Inventory ($20,000), Legal costs ($160) In our analysis of our Cash-flow budget sheet for the upcoming 5 years of our business venture we managed to drive some the necessary information to project our NPV, IRR, Payback Period and our Pro-Forma projections. In our in-depth research of our data we manage to come up with our Net Present Value of our company which was $857,149.53 which indicated a good sign to go through with this venture. TheRead MoreProj595 Course Project Part 12499 Words   |  10 PagesBuilding an Auqaponic Farm: Construction amp; Operation PROJ592 – Project Cost amp; Schedule Control Course Project - Part 1 Executive Summary With a minimal initial investment of $100,000 and a single acre of level ground, a self-sustaining aquaponics based growing operation can be established and become profitably within 6 months. Through continuous year round vegetable and fish production, this operation can conservatively generate $250,000 in annual revenue starting in the very firstRead MoreEssay on FIN364 Course Project Summary 1 648 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿ Course Project: Economic Research Objective Each student is to select research question related to money and banking and develop a well written paper that provides insight into the topic. The goal is to obtain a better understanding of the topic, while relating the identified topic or concept with real world scenarios. Guidelines For this project, select one of the following research questions below. If you want to select a topic that does not appear in the list below, please contact me forRead MoreProj 420 Coursework Guide Week 1 - 7696 Words   |  3 PagesCoursework Guide Week 1 - 7 Purchase here http://devrycourse.com/proj-420-coursework-guide-week-1-7 Product Description (PROJ 420 Project Risk Management) PROJ 420 Week 1 Course Project Assignment; Project Topic Proposal and Outline PROJ 420 Week 1 Discussion 1 Why Should We Practice Risk Management PROJ 420 Week 1 Discussion 2 The ATOM Risk Management Process PROJ 420 Week 2 Course Project Assignment; Project Sizing and Stakeholder Analysis PROJ 420 Week 2 Discussion 1 The InitiationRead MoreAcct 212 Course Project610 Words   |  3 Pages212 Course Project Click Link below To Purchase: http://homework-aid.com/ACCT-212-Course-Project-1731.htm?categoryId=-1 This course has two course projects due. The first, Course Project 1, reinforces the basic principles of accounting and application of the accounting information system. It is completed in two parts. The second, Course Project 2, is an opportunity to show the ability to analyze financial statements to arrive at conclusions based upon the analysis. Course Project 1 - OverviewRead MoreEssay on Socs 350 Entire Course Week 1 - 81370 Words   |  6 PagesSOCS 350 Entire Course Week 1 - 8 Purchase here http://chosecourses.com/SOCS%20350/socs-350-entire-course-week-1-8 Product Description (SOCS 350 Cultural Diversity in the Professions - DeVry) SOCS 350 Week 1 Assignment Paper: Let’s Be Lefties for a Day SOCS 350 Week 1 Discussion 1 You Eat What?! SOCS 350 Week 1 Discussion 2 Some of My Best SOCS 350 Week 2 Course Project: Project Proposal SOCS 350 Week 2 Quiz (11 Questions Answers) SOCS 350 Week 2 Discussion 1 Culture is in

Plato s Critique Of Democracy - 1768 Words

Plato continually attempted to enter the world of politics, but after being let down time after time and seeing the execution of his beloved mentor Socrates, Plato criticized the regime of his time (Athenian democracy). He sought to draft his own representation of the ideal constitution, outlined and explained in his work Republic. Plato’s critique of democracy is expected since democracy embodies the opposite of his ideal regime: A government controlled and ruled by the uneducated masses that easily slips into chaos and tyranny. According to Plato, democracy cannot function efficiently due to its unnatural, weak leaders, disordered functionality, and its appetitive citizens. He defines his conception of democracy through its deviation†¦show more content†¦Every citizen of his republic plays a role towards the efficient function of the city, either ruler, warrior, or laborer. Democracy defies that rule by allowing variety and liberty, and because of this variety, dem ocracy appears with a certain loveliness which produces the most diverse population. In a democratic city, since it is full of freedom â€Å"embroidered with every kind of character type, would seem to be the most beautiful† (557d, p.228). This seems to be Plato’s only seemingly positive comment on democracy. But he later comments, â€Å"And it would seem to be a pleasant constitution, which lacks rulers but not variety and which distributes a sort of equality to both equals and unequals alike† (558c, p.228). If properly executed, this constitution is seemingly splendid and agreeable. But Plato emphases that this attractiveness of diversity is only temporary: â€Å"Isn’t that a divine and pleasant life, while it lasts?† since (558a, p.228). An excess of freedom produces an excess of opinions, perspectives, and interests. These factions must be appeased, flattered, and indulged by a leader to receive support from the people. The very freedom of demo cracy directly leads to absolutism due to the people’s love of tolerance and eqaulity rather than love of true good. Plato reasons this by dissecting democracy into three parts: first, the class of the idlers or the drones, as said before, labeled as the dominant, controlling class. Second is the wealthy class. InShow MoreRelatedPlato s Critique Of Democracy2140 Words   |  9 Pages Why Plato’s critique of democracy is still relevant today. Democracy is often referred to as the rule of the many, but Aristotle called this definition incomplete. In his book â€Å"Politics†, he explained that in a city if the majorities are aristocrats and if they have political authority, then it is an aristocracy not a democracy. He therefore defined democracy as when â€Å"free people have authority and Oligarchy as when the wealthy have it† (1290b). Plato viewed Democracy as a flawed systemRead MoreComparing Twentieth Century Political Thought Leo Strauss And Richard Rorty1421 Words   |  6 PagesStrauss at the University of Chicago, and was always quick to acknowledge the influence that his former teacher had on his writing. In the following paper I will briefly highlight and critique the fundamental arguments presented by the duo. Certainly, Rorty and Strauss share a degree of commonality in their critique of the Enlightenment. Furthermore, I will assert that Rorty’s ‘pragmatic argument’ a nd Strauss’ ‘esotericism’ share a degree of kinship. However, when it comes to a close examination ofRead MoreAn Analysis Of Euripides The Suppliants 1372 Words   |  6 PagesIn The Suppliants, Euripides wrote, â€Å"The people cannot form proper judgements and therefore cannot rightly direct a state†. Euripides is living in the midst of democracy in Athens; therefore his quote is a critique of what is happening around him. In his quote, he is taking an anti-democratic stance towards the question of who is fit to rule. Euripides believes only one or few people should rule a state, as not all are qualified or have the ‘proper judgement’ to do so. However, people do rule theRead MoreThe Slave By Frederick Douglass972 Words   |  4 PagesConcepts, techniques, and ways of thinking can last much longer than their creators. The philosophy of Plato is an example of that. Its ideas can be found in a speech written thousands of years later. In â⠂¬Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?† Frederick Douglass, a former slave, addresses an audience of white abolitionists on July 5th of 1852. He focuses on the disparity between the American values celebrated on the Independence Day and the issue of slavery. To do so, Douglass raises the questionRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s The Cave Essay2307 Words   |  10 PagesWithin the ship as presented above, a chaos reigns which is, according to Plato, similar to the situation in a democratic society. The disagreements between the sailors on the ship symbolically represent the instability of a democratic society. The shipmaster symbolizes the masses, something quite powerful and strong, but at the same time and due to his nearsightedness and deafness, easily tricked and seduced by persuasion and lies, having for consequence that unable people govern. A comparison canRead MoreAnalysis Of Plato s The Democratic Man 1865 Words   |  8 PagesBrandon Wilson Professor Evans Intro to Philosophy 4 March 2015 Plato’s Democratic Man Plato describes the degeneration to democracy in Book VIII of The Republic as the relationship between man and the city. There are five stages starting with the first being and aristocracy led by a philosopher king who is wise and makes the decision for all and his soul is considered to be that of gold. Aristocracy stage leads to timocracy which would is the new generation of leaders and their souls are not consideredRead MoreMarx, Mill And Freud s Critique Of Political Economy And The Communist Manifesto Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pagesof Job to Plato) as a comparative yardstick, or point of reference, but without letting them take over the foreground in your paper -- the latter should be reserved for these three figures. Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and John Stuart Mill are three authors who tackle the topic of freedom in unique ways, but their messages are fundamentally the same and continue the ideas that we encountered in the esoteric texts as well as in The Matrix: . First, we have Karl Marx’s Capital: Critique of PoliticalRead MorePlato s View On Justice1261 Words   |  6 PagesWell-structured societies are built on a foundation of justice that brings unity, development, equality and respect between people. Throughout The Republic, Plato defines justice and its significance to the state and its individuals. In Book I, Thrasymachus and Socrates both provide their views on the definition of justice. The discussion takes place in Cephalus’s residence with his son Polymarchus. Through Plato’s dialogue, the definitions on justice by both Thrasymachus and Socrates will be discussedRead MoreThe And Make A Sacrifice1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe Bible comprises the teachings and deeds of Jesus. After the crucifixion of Jesus, â€Å"the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God s Son!’† (New Test ament 70). â€Å"Earthquake†, a violent and sudden shaking of the ground, indicates the tremendous power and influence that Jesus’s death had on people. The centurion was â€Å"terrified†, implying that they felt extreme fear caused by Jesus.Read MoreCompare and Contrast Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism2094 Words   |  9 Pagesits early forms the term â€Å"communism† first came into use in France, after 1840; the general idea being that private property is the source of all social ills which can be cured only by a community of goods and interest. In the Greco- Roman world, Plato expounded the idea in his book The Republic in the 4th century and to stoics implied it in their doctrine of natural right or as they called it â€Å"jus natural† which means according to which natured created all men free and equal and private property

Living My Live and Seizing the Day (Carpe Diem) Essay Example For Students

Living My Live and Seizing the Day (Carpe Diem) Essay Seize the day. I believe people are too focused and consumed by the past and the future than to take the time and focus on the present itself. As stated in the poem Carpe Diem, Robert Frost suggested that â€Å"It lives less in the present than in the future always and less in both together than in the past† (lines 20-23). Robert Frost’s perspective within this poem is â€Å"the present is so busy that it distracts people from actually living and taking everything in† (page 3 of the assignment handout) I couldnt agree more, with today’s society we as people are too busy with our daily lives to live in the moment and just enjoy the life we have been given. We only get one life and we are supposed to make the most of it. We try so hard to get to the future as fast as possible while depending on the past as cane to aid us that we never really stop and take a deep breath while taking in today as the only day that matters. Today’s society is almost too overcome with technology to really appreciate the world we live in. Back in the day when there was no televisions, computers or cellphones people communicated with nature and each other verbally and spiritually. They took the time to enjoy the present as it was and used their knowledge they gained to pass on to their children in hopes to better the future. Elderly people use their knowledge to enlighten today’s society on how simple life was and should be but yet we still become too consumed by our over active lifestyles The two lovers in this poem are so in love and determined to be together- as to be caught up in the moment you could say and believe they are happy yet have not realized the true happiness they have gained together that they have not experienced the true happiness they desire due to the fact they are so overwhelmed by their daily strive for better to actually focus on their love as it is today. I think everybody in today’s society live a lifestyle where they do not cherish the present but rather looks to the past hoping for better results in the future. A prime example of this situation is ones who meet and date for a short period and then get married quickly after and then not to long after realize they are not for each other. What happened was these two people were succumbed with the thought of happiness that they truly did not reach the true underlying happiness, as expressed in a different form as Robert says (in lines 15-18) â€Å"That overtaken lovers from being over flooded with happiness should have it. And yet not know they have it. Which is simply saying the two lovers thought they reached the full happiness by the thoughts and emotions they were overcome by but did not really know they were happy cause of the too busy life they were living in pursuit of the future. I myself experience this kind of daily living, when I had my daughter two years ago I could not have been happier to start my life with my baby girl. I was constantly planning and setting up things for her future and figuring out how I wanted to raise her, what I wanted for her to get out of life and before I knew it days, weeks, and months have passed by and all I had was pictures to remind me of what once was. .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .postImageUrl , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:hover , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:visited , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:active { border:0!important; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:active , .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62 .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u89f03dbf03f975e4702544cfe8d4fe62:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Sex Education EssayShe was growing up so fast before my eyes that within the blink of an eye I was planning her first birthday, I sat there and reflected on the past year and came to the realization that I was to consumed with figuring things out for her future and posting pictures on Facebook for friends and family that I did not take the year I was given already and cherish it day by day and make the most of each day that was presented. I just had her second birthday two months ago and I still sit here looking at her and asking where time went and regret not taking these precious years so far into consideration in depth at the time and just grow with her and receive the utter most enjoyment out of becoming a parent rather than focusing on her future at such on early age. As of today when I reflect I know I should have done a lot of things differently cause she will never experience these great milestones and growing ever again in her life nor will I ever get to hold her as a baby and rock her to sleep or grasp her once tiny little fingers around my one finger. She will never take another first step and I will never hear those mumbled first words that sound like a mixture of a foreign language and an actually word. I was too busy as a parent always focusing on what is to be expected at her age or looking forward to her talking and walking or riding her first bike or telling me how her day was, being consumed by society’s â€Å"rules† as a parent with how to raise them and care for them that I never stopped and just took every day in as it was and just focused on hers and my own utter happiness as a whole. My daughter is my everything and as a single parent I know that not just myself but majority of most single mothers out there, that we are always trying to do better for our child and when time just flies by we sit there and become overwhelmed with sorrow and regret that we never just made everything simple and let things happen on their own. I know I wish I lived in a simpler time and I as a parent didnt have so many worries regarding my child whether it comes to safety, health, and stability. I have questions constantly popping up in my head such as will she be safe outside, will she be able to afford shelter and food, will she be accepted for who she is when she grows up, will the cost of school be too high for her to attend to get a higher education and grow within her career choice. These questions I do not have the answers to and never will but every time I look at her I worry for her well-being especially when the time comes that I am no longer here to help her. When I was growing up the cost of living was lower I never had a cell phone or a social media site. My curfew was when the street lights came on school was easily assessable to all kinds of parents being a kid did not carry so much weight and responsibility being a parent did not carry so much concern. Nevaeh is a piece of me who walks around with my heart on her sleeve and soon will be independent but my job as a parent is to guide, care, and nurture her every step of the way which is my ultimate goal in life. She is the air I breathe but no matter how hard I try to make things simpler, I constantly find myself looking to the past and future and not really cherishing the present still to this day. .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .postImageUrl , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:hover , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:visited , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:active { border:0!important; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:active , .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38 .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0851be24394b0f971d3b90bd7c7d0f38:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Holocaust Repirations and Payments EssayThe gift I was given by being able to be her mother is a once in a lifetime chance she will never experience these years again and I will never get to watch her grow from a tiny little dot to a grown women throughout her lifetime. I feel that with me being caught up in daily life and not seizing the day is a shame on my part and after reading this poem I now will try harder to stop and smell the flowers first hand rather than just walk past them per say. Every single individual should take the time to reflect and change certain aspects in their lives because then and only then will we have the true happiness we seek in life. It will not be in the past as the past is made for us to learn from nor will it be in the future as that is only a figment of our imagination but all true happiness lies within the present. What we make of today will be our greater tomorrow. I was given very wise advice growing up and that is to live as today is your last cause you never know what will happen tomorrow. This saying is so true to this poem this young couple to which Age is looking upon are so lost in the thought of the future that they do not know what the present is and never will till it is too late.

The Great Man Theory of History as evidenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance Essay Example

The Great Man Theory of History as evidenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance Essay Applying the Great Man theory of History as a subtext to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s classic essay Self-Reliance makes for an interesting synthesis. The Great Man theory was brought into public discourse by Thomas Carlyle in the 1840s. But most of the later commentators pointed out to some of the misassumptions and flaws in the theory. Chief among them was Herbert Spencer who viewed that great individuals were products of their culture, history and environment and the inverse is seldom true. Yet the idea of the Great Man holds an intuitive appeal to readers. As people sharing a sense of community we are all looking for leaders and role models to provide us guidance. It is this intuitive appeal for leadership that sustains the value of the Great Man Theory, although it had somewhat become unfashionable in the last century. Great men are thought to be path-breakers and independent thinkers. (James, p.114) In Emerson’s text, we find a powerful invocation of individuality. He attacks acts of token conformity that we all display due to pressures of society. As his famous quotation from the text mocks, â€Å"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines†. (p.25) A man who succumbs to the habits of conformity loses the spontaneity and the open-mindedness that are the hallmarks of a man living to his full potential. It is in identification of these exceptional qualities that Emerson cites Plato, Moses and Milton among his Great Men. We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Man Theory of History as evidenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Man Theory of History as evidenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Great Man Theory of History as evidenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Emerson’s litany of great men contains several luminaries across the span of two millennia of European civilization, including â€Å"Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton†. (p.44) But these people did not become legends through dint of birth, privilege or fortune. Most of them were vilified and ostracized during their own life times. Some of them even lost their lives for the cause they believed in. This is the uttermost expression of individuality and originality. These great men refused to bow to pressures of conformity due to the profound faith they held in their convictions. Though great men are mostly misunderstood during their own lifetimes, they grace humanity through the wisdom and legacy they leave behind. In this context, Emerson asks, â€Å"Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? †¦every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.†(p.32) At the center of Emerson’s thesis are three ideas: distrust of social norms, recognition of genius in oneself, and the value of self-worth. These are also the virtues of Great Men as indicated in the theory. (Frinin, p.96) For example, great individuals that shaped the course of civilization were men of strong motivation, exemplary vision and self-belief. Of these characteristics, it is self-belief that enables and supports the other two. Since self-belief springs from individuality, Emerson’s assertion that â€Å"envy is ignorance, imitation is suicideâ€Å" is particularly prescient. When we analyze the lives of great men of history, we see how this attitude was manifest in all key moments in their lives. Whether we take rulers like Napoleon Bonaparte or Queen Elizabeth, or we consider the lives of scientists, philosophers and intellectuals, they are all united in belief in their convictions. Speaking for himself, Emerson writes, â€Å"My life is not an apology, bu t a life. It is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady.† (p.26) Courage is another virtue of the great men of history according to the theory. (Frinin, p.96) Congruent with this, Emerson’s text alludes to the centrality of this virtue for living a great life. In a strong endorsement for practicing valor in our everyday lives, Emerson writes â€Å"the sinew and heart of man seem to be drawn out, and we are become timorous desponding whimperers. We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other.† (p.45) If courage is the state of not being afraid, it naturally follows that we express our thoughts in a honest manner. When it comes to self-expression, Emerson condemns half-measures or half-truths. He says, â€Å"We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents†¦but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.† (p.11) Hence, while being courageous in our dealings with society is rewarding, the failure to upkeep it will not even bring us f orgiveness from God. Emerson thus swiftly links human action and divine sanction. Works Cited: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance, A Classic Essay by Emerson. Excerpted from Essays, First Series. Published August 1st 2007 by Arc Manor. James, W. 2005 [1880]. Great Men and Their Environment. Kila, MT: Kessinger Publishing Grinin, Leonid 2010. The Role of an Individual in History: A Reconsideration. Social Evolution History, Vol. 9 No. 2 (pp. 95–136).