Friday, August 31, 2007

Issue 1

There are essentially two forces that motivate people: self-interest and fear.”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your position with reasons and/or examples from your experience, observation, or reading.


Views differ greatly when it comes to the issue of whether there are essentially two forces which are self-interest and fear that motivate people. While some people consider that everyone is selfish, others hold the view that people have good side. My personal experience and actual observations of life have led me to strongly maintain that self-interest and fear are essentially to forces that motivate people.

First of all, economist has said that everyone is self-interest, and it can make economy have optimal situation. Although people might think that the man who is selfish is not popular, they do not actually know what their daily life is full of selfish behaviors. Even the easier thing in daily life like buying, no one wants to buy expensive thing if it can be got cheaper one. Someone might say that there are still lots of people who donate their fortune and do not get gain any reward. At first glance, it seems that these people do not want get any repay, but after deeply though it can be found that they are still the selfish people. For example, lots of corporations contribute fund to build the hospital. It seems that they really want to contribute to their country. However, more money they donate, more reduction of tax they can get. Furthermore, administering a hospital is also a way to make money.

In addition, people are not only motivated by self-interest but also by fear. It is instinctive for people to avoid any dangerous situation or hazard. Even infant knows that using crying to express fear and avoid it. Furthermore, people fear beast so that they build the house. People fear hungry so that they cultivate rice. In society with legal system, the reason why people legislate against violent is a good example to demonstrate that people are motivated by fear.

In summary, on the basis of the reasons presented above, I must wholeheartedly agree that self-interest and fear are essentially to forces that motivate people. We can say that the best reason to explain every human does is self-interest and fear.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Argument 2

The following appeared as part of the business plan of the Capital Idea investment firm.
“Across town in the Park Hill district, the Thespian Theater, Pizzazz Pizza, and the Niblick Golf Club have all had business increase within the past two years. Capital Ideal should therefore invest in the Roxy Playhouse , the Slice-o’-Pizza, and the Divot Golf Club, three new business in the Irongate district. As a condition, we should require them to participate in a special program: Any customer who patronizes two of the business will receive a substantial discount at the third. By motivating customers to patronize all three, we will thus contribute to the profitability of each and maximize our return.”


In this plan, the writer recommends that Capital Idea should invest in the Roxy Playhouse, the Slice-o'-Pizza, and the Divot Golf Club, three new businesses in the Irongate district, and participate in a special program. In support of this recommendation, he points out that in the Park Hill district, the same businesses have all had account increases within the past two years. While the plan seem to be somewhat convincing at first glance, a deeper investigation will reveal that the recommendation does not take into account the unique condition of every district. Doubtless, faulty analogy makes the argument problematic in several respect.

First of all, the writer cites that the Thespian Theater, Pizzazz Pizza, and the Niblick Golf Club across town in the Park Hill district have all had business increases within the past two years. However, he forgets to compare difference between two districts. Whether it is a residential district or industrial estate, different type of ditrict has totally different strategy of investment. For example, Park Hill district might be a residential district. Thus, the residents are going to have fun at those entertaining businesses, and make those businesses increase. Yet, if the Irongate district is a industrial estate, the final result would be reverse. Needless to say, no one wants to have fun there. According to this assumption, it is not a good idea to invest in the Irongate district.

In addition, the author also recommends that any customer who patronize two of the businesses will receive a substantial discount at the third. Nevertheless, not every customer has enough money to consume three of their businesses. For instance, playing golf needs some equipments which are not afforded for everybody. Furthermore, each of business has their own customer, some are teenages and some are elder. The younger might rather go to theather than play golf. On the other hand, the elder might not like eat pizza because of teeth. Therefore, deeper investigation is nescessery to support this recommendation.

In summary, the writer should reconsider his plan, and look for more evidence to support his position. He uses incredibly circumstantial evidence to make a plan on investing three new businesses in the Irongate district. Only one district booming last two year does not mean it will success everywhere. Therefore, it does not makes me find this plan well-reasoned.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

有感

我愛你這三個字對我來講是意義非凡的;在我的觀念中,喜歡這個字眼感覺就像是小時候對於純純的愛會用的,而帶給我的意義會是欣賞、羨慕抑或是欽佩,但是它並不帶有任何的承諾,就像是歌迷之於歌手、粉絲之於偶像般輕鬆、自在,任何的一舉一動都不會破壞平衡,更不用說所謂的壓力;但是我愛你卻是我一直以來非常謹慎使用的,兩個句子更是有天壤之別的差距;對家人那是輕而易舉、毫不思考就可以脫口而出的,因為那代表著不僅僅是心理上的渴望,更是義無反顧、無悔無尤的關懷、奉獻,以及共同的進步;它代表的不僅僅是一句句子,更是一個甜蜜的承諾;說這麼多我只是想讓你知道,對我來說我並不是不經大腦思考就脫口而出的,至少我也是經過相處後,使我更加的堅定,雖然我不知道我是否有這個能耐實現,但是我願意用時間去證明;最後我只想對你說一句,我愛你。

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Argument 1

Restaurant. Hippocrene has apparently been quite successful there because it is planning to open a large outlet in a nearby city.But the Cumquat Cafe, one year after moving to its new location , has seen its volume of business drop somewhat from the previous year's. Clearly, the fomer site is a better business location, and the Cumquat Cafe has made a mistake in moving to its new address."


In this article, the writter says that the Cumquat Cafe has made a mistake in moving to the new address.In support of this argument, he points out that while Hippocrene Plumbing Supply has apparently benn quite successful by opening a wholesale outlet in the location once occupied by the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant, the Cumquat Cafe, one year after moving to its new location , has seen its volume of business drop somewhat from the previous year's. However, I do not think the argument is logiclly convincing because some of the premises on which its conclusion rests are highly questionable. Here are some reasoms why.

First of all, the argument wrongly assumes that the company Hippocrene Plumbing Supply and Cumquat Cafe Restaurant are analogous.Because they have totally different competors, it can not compare their profit directly.For instance, if the location now occupied by the Hippocrene Plumbing Supply is lack of wholesale outlet , comsumers might have no choice but comsumig at new opening wholesale outlet. However, if the location nearby is full of cafe restaurant, the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant has to compete with other rivals. In this situation, the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant does not make a mistake in moving to find a better business location where has less same business competors.

In addition, the editorial does not look at the economical condition surrounding the whole world. Perhaps, the whole world had ressesion or serious inflation in last year.Therefore, the Cumquat Cafe which has seen its volume of business drop somewhat from the previous year's does not mean having made a wrong decision. Furthemore, the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant just has business in new location in first year. Thus, it probably isn't popular there. Comparing to the past, the restaurant had more constantly comsumer than now.If the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant has some advertisement or discount this year, it might make restaurant more comsumers.

In summary, the conclusion lacks credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis dose not lend strong support to what the author claims. Even if the Cumquat Cafe Restaurant's business has drop, the writter still can not clonclue that the company has made a mistake. To strengthen the argument, the author would have to consider all other possible factors that affect the companys' business and the surrounding condition near two location.