Why Would You Study Philosophy Philosophy Essay

Why Would You Study Philosophy Philosophy Essay Several weeks ago, before the start of the 2013 winter semester my roommate asked me why I would take a philosophy class. My answer was a very typical response for a college student, credit hours. Later, I thought about my answer, there are hundreds of classes I could have taken. I could have taken astronomy, psychology, or an economics course. Each subject seems interesting enough, why did I choose philosophy? I found my answer on the first day of class. I took philosophy, because I didnt know anything about it. The thought experiments we did on the first day triggered an interest. At first, maybe it wasnt as overwhelming as the idea that there are billions of galaxies each containing billions or even trillions of stars. That it is possible for a psychopath to be conditioned into simulating the feeling of empathy. Even that from an economic standpoint it is impossible to eliminate pollution. Philosophy is a abstract idea to study, but it is extremely interesting. The word philosophy comes from the Greek word philosophia which means love of wisdom. The key to philosophy is to be about being very critical towards any ideas, including things that seem certain. A philosopher has to ask critical questions or abstract questions on any subject. The reason these questions are asked is for the pursuit of the absolute truth. We have to think critically about everything we believe to be true, and even the thing we dont. The four branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic. Each branch asks a specific question. Metaphysics asks, What is? Epistemology asks, What do we know? Ethics asks, How should we act? Finally logic asks, What is the reason? Each is essential to the study of philosophy, but epistemology is the most important for answering the question Why study Philosophy? We all as individuals know that we exist in one way or another. In our existence we want to make ourselves better. One of the ways we improve is through s tudy. Studies generally make us believe we are increasing our knowledge, leading us to a certain, understood, clear world. Just by studying philosophy it brings us closer to the truth. Sometime after my roommate asked why I would take a philosophy class, I found myself reading a letter titled Why explore space? The letter is addressed to Sister Mary Jucunda, whom asked the question why spend billions of dollars on exploring space when there are so many starving children on Earth. Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Centers associate director (1970) responded with several good reasons including a story that took place some 450 years ago. A count lived in a small town in Germany; he was much appreciated because he would give a large part of his wealth to the poor in the town. The letter reads, One day, the count met a strange man. He had a workbench and little laboratory in his house, and he labored hard during the daytime so that he could afford a few hours every evening to work in his laboratory. The strange man created small lenses that he used to look at very small creatures under strong magnification. The count amazed by this invited the man to mov e his laboratory to the castle and to become a member of the counts household. This angered the townspeople when they realized that the count was wasting his wealth on a purposeless hobby. The people were suffering from plague and were begging for more money. The count promised to give them as much as he could afford, but said that he would also support the man and his work, because he knew someday something would come out of it. Something very good did come out of the mans work, he invented a simple microscope, the invention that has given the most to medicine, and helped eliminate the plague. So the count, by putting some of his wealth into research helped the people more than directly giving money to them. Using time, money, and effort on things that may seem abstract at the time may lead to incredible things. Studying philosophy is similar to the counts story, instead of studying more practical topics like language or mathematics studying philosophy will help us answer questions about ourselves that we have been asking for centuries. When we are answer some of these questions, we will know what really matters, again itll bring us closer to a certain truth. Now that I have started to understand the most basic ideas in philosophy, I am better equipped to answer my roommates question. I need this class, philosophy teaches something that no other course can. Philosophy teaches you to think for yourself, to be critical of theories, and to be critical of familiar and foreign ideas. Every educated person needs to take a philosophy course so they can understand what they are learning in all other subjects. Philosophy is also intriguing when questions about reality are asked. Questions in the metaphysics branch of philosophy may be the most abstract, but they play an important role in determining what we are. The idea that maybe, none of this actually exists is staggering to think about, but it is fascinating and is something people should think about. Just knowing the little I do about the subject matter of philosophy has caught my interest and will lead to me advancing and taking more courses like this one. My roommate know fully knows why I chose to take this course. I now know why it is essential for any student to take a philosophy class, perhaps even my roommate will take a philosophy course next chance he gets. Philosophy may seem slightly abstract now but in my future I can see myself using it to critically and logically think through situations. The reason why to study philosophy is to make yourself more critical in your pursuit of the truth.

The Red Curtain Trilogy by Baz Lurhmann Essay -- Papers

The Red Curtain Trilogy by Baz Lurhmann On The Red Curtain Trilogy, which were all directed by Baz Lurhmann, all of the films began with red curtains opening up like in a theatre to 'reveal' the film. In 'Strictly Ballroom' the scene opens with silhouettes of the main characters dancing, waiting for a performance to start (?) then walking excitedly onto screen which starts the movie. For 'Romeo & Juliet' the opening shot is a lot more fast and furious. The film begins with a plain black screen, then a television screen appears. the television screen, that is showing a news report, appears and draws closer to the viewer. The reporter is reciting the prologue of the play. Accelerated scenes from the film are shown, with words and sentences in red lettering from the prologue, this scene reminds me of a trailer for a film. The story then starts, showing both families of the story, their traits and portrays the friction between the Montagues and Capulets. For Moulin Rouge, when the red curtain begins to open, a conductor appears and begins conducting the music for the film, to give a feel of being at a theatre. Then the town where Moulin Rouge is set is introduced to us, and the main character is introduced, and then begins to tell the story. The Music in 'Strictly Ballroom' for the opening sequence is slow, quiet calming music, but as it becomes closer to the actual beginning of the film, the music becomes louder and more extravagant, and then for the 'salsa' scene the music is very jazzy and upbeat. The music for this film is very well done because it portrays exactly what is happening on the screen at the time. The Music is mor... ...gant things which you would never see at theatres. I think my favourite opening would be the one for Romeo and Juliet. The opening is fast paced and has bright colours. It contains scenes form the film which seems to pull the viewer in to watching the film. The films differ from each other as well, as Strictly ballroom begins with red curtains opening to the beginning of the film. Romeo and Juliet decided to not use the Red curtain theme, although because it is based on a play, there was already a feeling of 'red curtain' (play) about it. Moulin rouge used the red curtain idea and extended it by showing the conductor which you would see at a theatre or musical, which Moulin rouge was intending to be. Overall, I think the openings for the Baz Lurhmann Trilogy are gripping and make you want to see the rest of the film.

19th Century industrial leaders Essay

Many have debated that the industrial leaders following the 19th Century were â€Å"Robber Barron’s†. However, in this very competitive time period, many new businesses were being formed. It took talented businessmen such as Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller to get ahead and keep the companies running, building America into what it is today, the most powerful nation in the world. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was a classic Market Entrepreneur, succeeding by creating and marketing a superior product at a low cost. He was a key figure in breaking the steamboat monopoly in the waters around New York City; in the transatlantic steamship business; in the east coast to west coast steamship business; and the builder of the New York Central system, which, in effect, replaced the Erie Canal. Vanderbilt set the example for future â€Å"Industrial Statesman† by hard work and dedication; being fiercely competitive, willing to cut prices to get business; reliability, meaning repeat customers; the ability to master the details of a new business and to act boldly when necessary. When he died he was the richest man in America ($105m) and he left a high quality quadrupled track railroad that played a key role in the development of the Midwestern United States. See more: Satirical essay about drugs In 1873, Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) became convinced that the future of industry was in the manufacture and use of steel. Concentrating on steel production, he began his acquisition of firms, which were later consolidated into the Carnegie Steel Company. His success was due in part to efficient business methods, to his able lieutenants, and to close alliances with railroads. By 1900, the Carnegie Steel Company controlled iron mines, coke ovens, ore ships, and railroads. It was these circumstances that the U.S. Steel Corp. was formed to buy Carnegie out. In 1901 he transferred possession for $500 million, the largest personal transaction ever made, and retired from business. Carnegie believed that the wealthy had an obligation to give back to society, so he donated much of his fortune to causes like education and peace. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) was the guiding force behind the creation and development of the Standard Oil Company, which grew to dominate the oil  industry and became one of the first big trusts in the United States. Rockefeller was naturally cautious and only undertook a business venture when he calculated that it would be successful. After he carefully weighed a course of action he would then act quickly and boldly to see it through. He had iron nerves and would carry through very complicated deals without hesitation. This combination of caution, precision, and resolve soon brought him attention and respect in the industrial community. Rockefeller also was one of the first major philanthropists in the U.S., establishing several important foundations and donating a total of $540 million to charitable purposes. â€Å"Robber Barron’s† to those who didn’t reap the benefits of these industrial empires but these â€Å"Industrial Statesmen† knew what it took to succeed in business. Each had their own characteristics that enabled them to make tough decisions and beat the competition. That Competition has inspired the businessmen of today, and fueling today’s industry and technology.

Earthquake Devastating Natural Disaster - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 906 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/08/06 Category Science Essay Level High school Tags: Earthquake Essay Did you like this example? Earthquakes are one of the most devastating natural disasters on the planet. They have killed countless amounts of people and are hard to tell when coming. In this essay I will being talking about the experiences and how it feels to be in an Earthquake.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most devastating earthquake on record happened in 2004. This earthquake was a 9.1 magnitude on the richter scale and created a Tsunami that put together killed about 230,000 people. This earthquake had several survivors who shared their experiences with the internet, these are just a few of them. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Earthquake: Devastating Natural Disaster" essay for you Create order   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There was a young individual named Louis Cryer who was 18 at the time and survived this incredible natural disaster. He talks about living in a hotel with multiple stories where him and his mom were living on the second floor when the earthquake hit. He said that the tsunami hit so fast that they had know time to get out there hotel. The water was destroying walls and buildings with its sheer force. Louis and his mom tried to help people get to high ground. He even said that he had to carry an older person who they thought broke her back to highground. They ended up going to a temple that was structurally sound and above the huge waves. Louis said that the only plus from this experience was that it brought people together and it did not matter if you were a certain religion or not everyone was checking on each other.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There was another set of people that survived this insane tidal wave. There names were Tom and Arlette who were on holiday. They were having breakfast at the time of the Earthquake and said that the waiters were pointing at the sea. Everyone thought that it was not harmful and went out to take pictures. Tom knew this was not just any wave though and he grabbed his wifes hand and they ran for highground. Tom and Arlette where running for their lives as the wave was not far behind. They had made it to highground but other people were not so lucky. When everything settled they got there truck and loaded wounded people in the back. They did not want to go down to the beach though because they knew it would be scattered with dead corpses. Another gigantic Tsunami hits soon after and most people had made it to safety by then so it was not as devastating as the first time. After the second wave Tom and Arlette stayed on high ground for a few hours before startin g their long journey home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The final experience was kay and her partner. They were snorkeling when the earthquake hit. They were told to come back on the boat when the Tai people noticed the water was being displaced. If they did not get on the boat they would have been swept away and most likely killed. They had no idea how devastating the Tsunami was until they got a call from the shore that told them that. If Kay and her fiance did not go snorkeling that day or overslept, they could have been part of the have of the people who were killed in there hotel. The boat they were on had saved their lives and it was also a safe place to sleep over night because that was safer than going on the mainland. They stayed on the boat until the next morning when they were picked up by a military airplane and taken to safety. It was not until that morning when she realized how devastating the earthquake was with a soup of debris all over.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There was another website that had the story of Christine Lang. She was out with her brothers significant other when the giant wave hit. She remembers people running for their lives away from the ocean as she heard this terrible noise. She thought there island was under attack. When she looked at the ocean there was a huge black wall of water. While Lang was running she was swept off her feet and got caught in the wave. She said it felt like she was inside a giant washing machine with the islands debris. She thought for sure that she was dead, but than Lang started getting very angry and did not want to die so she swam up as fast as she could. After that Lang blacks out and wakes up under water. She thought that the top was about 40 meters above her because of the pressure on her ears. When she came up at the top there was a floating door that she could float on. This was the first time she was able to see how badly the earthquake affected her area. After that she was pulled up onto a roof of a building that was still intact. Lang was able to see everything from up there and said   It honestly felt like the end of the world. Lang learned from this experience to never to take life for granted because you never know when it can just be washed away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As you can see Earthquakes are one of the most devastating natural disasters on the planet. These stories of people surviving the 2004 Earthquake/Tsunami were all true. Always be careful about earthquakes because you never know when they could be big or small, or even create a giant Tsunami. This was how earthquakes feel by Kyler Andersen.

Culture A Personal Interview With A Person Whose Culture...

Culture is too much of a broad topic to be explained in one phrase. Rather it’s not only defined as shared beliefs, values, religions and attitudes, but it’s also categorized as, in scientific terms, as maintaining a group of tissues and cells that are in conditions suitable for growth. In other words, just as scientific terminology defines culture to be the conditions suitable for tissue growth, the definition of social culture is conditions suitable for growth in communication and relations. The objective of this essay is to address differences in culture which is demonstrated from a personal interview with a person whose culture is different than mine. More specifically, I will define how culture branches out into subcategories like power distribution, orientation, avoidance, context, proximities, and intercultural competence (Verderber Verderber, 2012). Power distribution is expectations and acceptance of how power is shared unevenly. In correlation to this, there is high power-distance and low power-distance. High power-distance is natural, it’s the recognition of higher and lower power. In other words, people within the group understand and respect who has high power and who does not. Places where high power-distance is practiced is the Middle East, Malaysia, Guatemala, Venezuela and Singapore. Low power-distance is the opposite, rather everyone within the group expects power to be given and respected evenly. No one stands higher than anyone else. LowShow MoreRelatedThe Differences in Health Traditions Between Cultures1188 Words   |  5 PagesThe Differences in Health Traditions between Cultures Each individual has an exclusively cultural heritage attachment that is comprised of a lot of different customs and values. It is almost impossible for anyone or group of people to live everyday by not practicing according to their beliefs or cultural background. Being born to a person depending on whom they are or where they live means so much in some cultures. For example, I was born into a family where my parents were both educated and goodRead MoreThe Ethics Of Living Jim Crow Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagesdalliance, with the staff being warned that the victim was a â€Å"lucky bastard† since his life was spared (Wright 139). The possibility of his losing one’s manhood had to be a troubling prospect for the other bellboys, who could see this man as a no more than a cautionary tale warning them to not to act on their interracial carnal desires. Richard Wright’s life in the south wasn’t one filled bliss and pleasantness, but one filled with painful experiences. From having scarring physical events occur in hisRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Wizard Of Oz 1639 Words   |  7 PagesThe Wizard of OZomoness â€Å"There is no place like home,† Which could not be more true for the most of us, is a famous quote from The Wizard Of OZ, a movie about a girl who finds herself in a world different from hers, wishing to return to her farm in Kansas. Along the way, she discovers many things about herself that she never thought she was capable of. Although her time in the Land of OZ was just a dream, it sends powerful messages. Not only that there is no place like home, but that in our dreamsRead MoreMy Thoughts About Myself And How I Communicate With Others Essay1804 Words   |  8 Pageson how to improve my communication skills and situations in which they may be helpful. Reflecting on my journal entries has helped me to learn about myself (as a communicator and a person) as well as develop ideas to improve myself and how I communicate. Patterns appear in different areas of communication for different people. For me personally, I noticed two main patterns in my interactions with other individuals. One was my perception of others during my conversations with others. When reading myRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On Surveillance And Privacy1762 Words   |  8 Pageswhole notion of the issue of privacy. It could be our concern for privacy stems from our cultural development? And the American lifestyle is what should be examined. People in the Western world live an individualistic lifestyle. They value personal achievement and privacy. Privacy is seen as a basic right in the western world, despite the lack of laws in place to protect the people s privacy. The rise of new technology threatens people s privacy, as they also assist the government s effortRead MoreEssay about Clear Liquid Thought: The Photographs of Jim Dine4339 Words   |  18 Pagesdisclosing images of the artists unconscious specifically encoded into symbolic meaning. On the contrary, my concern is with these works potential to generate visual equivalents of inner life perceptions in a variety of puzzling formal patterns whose disclosure of meaning is cunningly deferred. The photographic compositions of Jim Dine are not narratives of inner life, but forms of visual experience that inform our ways of thinking the unconscious. ------------------------------------ 1 Franà §oisRead MoreInterracial Couples2405 Words   |  10 PagesInterracial marriage is more than an ethical discussion. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on the internet, interracial couple is a romantic couple or marriage in which the partners are of different races. The answer, if differences affect in multiracial couples is positive. There is a continuous debate among spouses related to the most serious issues of individual religion, nationality and education. Let us have a first look in history. In the book entitled Tell the courtRead More The Sociological Aspect of Obesity Essay7419 Words   |  30 Pagesexamining the socio-cultural, gender, and psycho-social effects and includes the different perceptions of the epidemic as well as what is deemed acceptable in the society we live in. In the American culture, obesity is seen as a bodily abnormality and deviance that should be corrected. Obesity has indeed become one of the most stigmatizing bodily characteristics in our culture (Brink, 1994). In the Western culture, thinness does not just mean the size of the body, but it is associated with suchRead MoreCultural Tourism in Mauritius5854 Words   |  24 PagesCHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1. Cultural Tourism in Mauritius Tourism comprises of activities of persons travelling and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than 1 consecutive year, for leisure business and other purposes (WTO, 1991). Mauritius is one of the islands which make up the Mascareignes Islands group. Tourism is a major factor in keeping the economy of this country as high as it is. Before people started visiting this beautiful part of the world they solely reliedRead MoreThe Medical Practice Of Medicine Essay1970 Words   |  8 Pagesof the appropriate age, should be making the decision for himself or herself. Through the examples from history, philosophical reasoning, and, most importantly, the interview I conducted, I will demonstrate that the only person who should be in charge of treatment is the patient. [4] This story was told to me by a family friend of mine, who is a orthopedic surgeon back home in Moscow. A 65-year-old female patient, who has diabetes, several heart diseases, and other age – related conditions tripped

Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence Essay

Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was the author of The Declaration of Independence, and according to Bellis, Jefferson was also a jurist, a diplomat, a writer, an inventor, a philosopher, an architect, a gardener, a negotiator of Louisiana Purchase, but he only requested three of his many accomplishments to be noted on his tomb. (2005). Thomas Jefferson was a very smart politician and he knew what to say to whom in order to enhance their support. This essay will be an analytical paper discussing Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence. It will also clarify the basic ideas contained in The Declaration of Independence; the influence of the Declaration upon American War of Independence,†¦show more content†¦His friend James Madison succeeded Jefferson as president in 1809, and during the last seventeen years of his life, he stayed at his mansion, Monticello. Just hours before his close friend Adam was to signing the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas J efferson died on July 4, 1826. As he also wished that his tombstone reflects the things that he had given the people, not the people that had given to him. HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BORN APRIL 2. 1743. O.S. DIED JULY 4. 1826 Declaration of Independence: In 1776, since Jefferson was a member of Continental Congress, he was chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence, since he was a member of Continental Congress. (Brief†¦Jefferson, 2005). Looking back in High School, the class discussion about The Declaration of Independence was that Jefferson predicted the coming of great changes in America within the times that he lived in. He wrote this document for the American Citizens at the time, and it still exists today. The Declaration personified many of the ideas that separated the colonies from England and therefore the process of creating a new country begun. TheShow MoreRelatedThomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1560 Words   |  7 Pagesso, as Thomas Jefferson’s actions clearly characterize his individual self, while also inducing the question, Does Thomas Jefferson deserve the honor he possesses, through these eminent actions? Many people believe that Thomas Jefferson is a powerful individual who helped form our country, and was a great leader through his presidential career. He made the best out of difficult situations, when he knew the complete situation had to remain unsolved, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence for theRead MoreThomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1199 Words   |  5 PagesI Introduction Thomas Jefferson, who was the third president of the United States, was born in Virginia to a wealthy family. Jefferson began writing the first draft of â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† in 1776. The draft was completed and approved by Congress on July 4th, 1776. Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary and in 1767 was admitted to the Virginia bar. Two years later he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he represented Virginia at the Continental CongressRead MoreThomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1360 Words   |  6 PagesThomas Jefferson was a man who was born on April 13, 1743, he the third president of United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, a lawyer gentlemen farmer, he also was the father of the University of Virginia. Jefferson’s influences on government was to end federal government, to allow the Sedition and Alien Act to put an end to it, to end the taxes, and after ending taxes to release pris oners held by this act. Thomas brought a studied informality to the presidency. He used revenuesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1113 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence share many similarities and probably the same amount of differences. The Unites States Constitution was written on 17 September 1787 and the Declaration of Independence was written on 4 July 1776, the dates hold no significance at that time, but the Declaration was written first. This shows that out of the three the Declaration of Independence was written first, and with that being said was most important. Usually documents written and signedRead MoreThomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1125 Words   |  5 PagesThomas Jefferson attended law together school together with George Wythe. Notably, Wythe was a legislator when Thomas Jefferson drafted the new law of Virginia. Also, he wrote the Declaration of Independence document dur ing the revolution. Essentially, he was of the opinion that the battle could be won, and when this happens, the young country would require a new law to govern the people. Therefore, he took the initiative of developing the law, getting it enacted during the revolution. In this periodRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1455 Words   |  6 PagesThe Declaration of Independence is viewed by just about every patriotic American citizen as one of the most ideologically appropriate documents encapsulating the beliefs for which the United States of America stands. Written in 1776, it encompasses the themes of freedom for every man in the world, a concept and belief that is still the central idea and goal in this country well over 200 years later. Much credit is due to those who authored such an inspirational and monumental document. The most famousRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1463 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the Declaration of Independ ence was written by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was actually part of a five member committee appointed by the Continental Congress to write the document, but he is the main writer of the document. The other members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman (Surfnetkids n.p.). Jefferson was born into a prominent family and had a very educational background. Jefferson’s reasons for his contributions to the Declaration of Independence wereRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson884 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Jefferson, in his well-known Declaration of Independence, conveys his message through belletristic devices. He employs imagery, language, diction, and syntax in an organized and straightforward manner, which gets the audience intrigued. Jefferson’s tone is formal and adamant and his purpose is to convince the colonist that loyalty to Britain is futile, and that help from other nations is needed. Jefferson, in Th e Declaration of Independence furthers his purpose by adequately employing ethosRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1193 Words   |  5 Pagesof words, diction, and syntax had the ability to transform a country. Thomas Jefferson, the author of â€Å"The Declaration of Independence†, clearly and precisely uses specific language to get his argument across. The thirteen colonies are in dire need of independence and Jefferson wrote according to the needs of the New England culture. Because of the evidence, warrant, and language Jefferson uses in â€Å"The Declaration of Independence†, he is able to clearly and effectively argue against the British monarchyRead MoreThomas Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence1600 Words   |  7 Pages Thomas Jefferson was one of the main authors of the Declaration of Independence and believed in equality for all individuals. Believing in even rights for slaves, he fought peacefully for the good of his natio n. Helping to expand our Naval Artillery, and wagering different options for the good of America. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of America, was one of the most influential men in our history Thomas Jefferson lived in Shadwell, Virginia, and was born on April 13, 1743. One of his most

Clinical Reasoning Cycle Leonard

Question: Discuss about the Clinical Reasoning Cycle Leonard's Falls And Other Health Risk Factors. Answer: Introduction Effective clinical reasoning skills are vital for a nurse to improve patients health condition and ensure positive outcomes. The process of clinical reasoning developed by Levett Jone is the cycle of linked and ongoing clinical situations (Dalton et al. 2015). The paper deals with the case study of Leonard who is presented to the acute medical ward after fall. The report discusses Leonards falls and other health risk factors using the reasoning cycle framework. The report further critically evaluates the best-practice assessment tools appropriate for the case. Lastly, the report presents the support given to Leonard applying the person-centred approach while meeting the obligations as health professional. Leonards falls and other health risk factors Collection of information As per the case history of Leonard, his age is 65 years. He is admitted to acute medical ward by the Emergency Department after falling at local shop. He did not sustain a fracture, although he had severe bruising of his face and hip. He is diagnosed with decompensate liver disease due to heavy alcohol intake (40 g/day for last month). His clinical handover shows present symptoms of anorexia, dyspnoea, jaundice, and lethargy. He was not coping with his illness prior to his admission. His admission history shows mental and behavioural disorder due to alcohol dependence, a decubitus ulcer on the shin of his left leg, anaemia, industrial deafness, some evidence of urinary incontinence, mild hypotension, lower limb oedema, and regular falls. After his wife death, Leonard has lost support system. He lives in a single storey house, with four steps to the front and two steps at the back with no rails. He lives with his housemate, who is mentally ill and rarely home. He receives mild support from his two elder sisters. Over the last six months, he is unable to carry his activities of daily living independently. In addition, he has some evidence of urinary incontinence and lower limb oedema. He had a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 28/30, but appears to have little insight into his problems and also exhibits motor planning difficulties. In addition, Leonard also has industrial deafness as he worked as boilermaker in a very noisy factory. The patient denies support services at home; however, he is keen to return home. The cause of physical deterioration was due to range of manual and labouring jobs. He is mostly restricted to home with no entertainment. Process of information Leonard has severe risk of fall in future as he his physically fragile. His physical frailty is also evident from his need of walking frame for mobility. Recently, his functioning has detoriated due to which he is not able to perform his activities of daily living independently. Due to dyspnoea, anorexia, arthritis in his lower back, mild hypotension, he is at risk of poor physiologic condition and poor mobility (Shen et al. 2015). According to Soenen and Chapman (2013. P. 643) lack of grab rails on the toilet is adding to the risk of fall. Adding to the risk is his muscle weakness, poor balance and risk of gait. MMSE score of 28/30 is indicative of normal cognition. However, Motor planning difficulties and confusion can lead to frequent accidents and decrease confidence (Schoene et al. 2014). He needs dietitian to maintain healthy nutritional status, as he is anorexic and anaemic. His alcoholic liver disease also increases the risk of gastrointestinal tract upset. His symptoms of dyspnea increase the risk of respiratory diseases (Yeluru et al. 2016). Leonard has poor coordination and is not mentally alert. It is evident from his poor planning of tasks and inability to get dressed (Mihaljcic et al. 2015). He lacks support and care needed as he lives alone with his housemate too has mental illness. He receives inadequate support and assistance from his two elder sisters. He was in bereavement after his wifes death due to cancer. It may have caused him to developed fear of hospitals. This fear is depriving him of receiving adequate physical and mental health care (Keyes et al. 2014). His alcohol dependence is also the outcome of his bereavement and has caused decompensate liver disease. He lacks love, belongingness and affection, which is decreasing his coping with illness ( Feng et al. 2014). Lack of family members support and hearing impairment decreases social life and depression. It decreases functional and emotional status. Leonard has low energy to take part in recreational activities such as gardening and fishing. Financial constraints in addition to illness may be adding to the depression (Roets-Merken et al. 2015). In conclusion, Leonard has high risk of fall. In addition to that, other health risk factors of Leonard include Increased risk of mortality due to alcoholic liver disease, Decreased independency to perform activities of daily living, Development of depression and anxiety, Neglecting personal hygiene, Risk of gastrointestinal tract upset Risk of respiratory disease Risk of poor social connectedness due to hearing impairment, poor mobility and motor planning difficulties Three best-practice assessment tools appropriate for this case The three best practice assessment tools appropriate for this case are Falls Risk Assessment Tool or FRAT, Mini-mental state examination or MMSE, and Alcohol use screening assessment tool. The best practice assessment tools for Leonard for his fall are Peninsula Health FRAT. It is commonly used in Australia for elderly people living in community (Hill et al. 2016). The study evaluating the reliability and validity of FRAT has been published in Cattelani et al. (2015). FRAT has three sections. The first section assesses falls risk status followed by the second section consisting of risk factor checklist and the last section dealing with action plan. The tool requires approximately 15-20 minutes. The tool has criterion that is Medium risk: score of 1215 and a High risk: score of 1620. This assessment tool gives detailed information on the underlying factors contributing to the patients fall. It serves as screening test only The best practice assessment tools for cognition are MMSE. This tool is effective for grading the cognitive state of the client. The tool gives information on the degree of cognitive impairment (out of 30 if the score is 21-24 then it is mild impairment, 10-20 as moderate and The third assessment tool appropriate for Leonard is the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Instrument Geriatric Version (SMAST-G). The instrument has scoring system where a score of 2 or more responses for Yes indicates the alcohol dependency problem. This tool is the first step to develop interventions and referral to treatment (Taylor et al. 2014). Nurses can use the scores to determine the degree to cut alcohol intake when scored high above the recommended state. In older adults the score helps to determine the risk of depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems. The instrument can only be used for screening and has been commonly used for older adults who are drinking at higher levels. The tool has been found to have high sensitivity and specificity. The feasibility and the acceptability of the tool has been tested and its reliability and validity has been published in Randall-James et al. (2015) Person-centred approach to support Leonards rights In nursing practice, person-centred care is essential to improve patients health outcomes. As a nurse, focus will be put on Leonards individual needs and goals. The family member of the client will be involved as appropriate. His right of autonomy will be ensured by involving him in making heath related decisions. His rights to access health care information, treatment options and express personal concerns will be maintained. The patients right to dignity will be maintained by knowing the patient as an individual, being responsive, and respecting his values, needs and preferences. While caring and promoting physical and emotional comfort emphasis will be given on his freedom of choice. Patients Privacy will be respected while caring and confidentiality of the information will be protected. The standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia in respect to the code of ethics will be complied. The standards set by the board will be strictly followed for providing the right care to the patient considering the spiritual, cultural and ethnic factors (Gray et al. 2016). Conclusion The paper has highlighted the health risk factors of Leonard supporting with literature. It has discussed the effective assessment tools for Leonard. In conclusion, nurses need effective clinical reasoning skills to identify the health risk factors and priority needs of patient. Nurse must be aware of the necessary tools for health assessment of patients to develop effective care plan. Nurses must protect patients rights, as it is important for their satisfaction of health care services. Nurses need to be competent in implementing the person centred approach and must be efficient in placing the patients needs above those identified as priorities by the heath cafe professional. References Cattelani, L., Palumbo, P., Palmerini, L., Bandinelli, S., Becker, C., Chesani, F. Chiari, L., 2015. FRAT-up, a web-based fall-risk assessment tool for elderly people living in the community.Journal of medical Internet research,vol. 17, no. 2. Dalton, L., Gee, T. Levett-Jones, T., 2015. 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