Essay on Morality and Relgion - Irish Murdoch - 1704 Words

Iris Murdoch-â€Å"Morality and Religion†: Notes pg. 733, para 1: Murdoch’s purpose is to question the relationship of morality to religion, and look at their differences as well as the definition of religion. -She claims this essay is moral philosophy and feels she must clarify whether her philosophy is religious or not. -She discusses how some believe religion really must be â€Å"breathed in† during childhood (taught to children by their parents); otherwise, adults may feel they are just faking it—but, Murdoch notes, those who are religious when younger will have a hard time giving it up as adults. pg. 733, para 2: Virtue (doing right) is the most obvious connection between morality and religion. -Seeking virtue has lost popularity, and†¦show more content†¦-But Murdoch admits that religious people experience a heightened consciousness, which resonates with literary critic Matthew Arnold’s claim that religion is â€Å"morality touched by emotion.† -Murdoch explains the great intensity and assuredness that religion provides: it is deep, holy, absolute, engages one’s imagination, and engages the whole person at every moment of his/her life, and every moment matters. -Murdoch concludes that a high level of morality without religion doesn’t have any foundation. -With religion, Christians have points of reference to give their morality foundation, like the image of Christ, and Murdoch suggests that Christians adjust their attitudes to resonate with the image of Christ in order to make their beliefs true. [So these images Christians create become for them the truth even though they’re man made.] -Since images of Christ change over time, Christianity is a continuous adjustment to its images throughout history. [suggesting a perpetuation of a fantasy or that religion changes as historical periods change] pg. 737, para 5: Murdoch uses the example of a simple Welsh traveling pastor’s (Francis Kilvert’s) journal entries to demonstrate how religious reverence can make someone sound comfortably dumb, naà ¯ve, simple, humble. Kilvert is so secure in his faith that he is like a child. pg. 738, para 5 (con’t): Wittgenstein (Murdoch’s teacher) described why believers like

Winesburg Free Essays

The word grotesque is an oxymoron in itself. It means beautiful ugly. How a person can have both of these adjectives is the theme of Winesburg, Ohio written by Sherwood Anderson. We will write a custom essay sample on Winesburg or any similar topic only for you Order Now His characters become grotesque by holding onto one truth that make them distorted but unknowingly make them beautiful simultaneously. Anderson uses the motif of isolation on Seth Richmond, the Stranger and Tandy to develop their grotesqueness by making the characters’ isolation be the reason why they hold onto one truth causing their grotesqueness. On the other hand, the author ses biblical allusion to help clarify the truth Jesse Bentley lives by that causes his grotesqueness. Anderson uses the motif of isolation in order to enhance the grotesqueness of Seth Richmond, as the character’s self-imposed isolation causes his grotesqueness. Seth Richmond grows up with his mother, Virginia Richmond who does not know how to discipline him and a deceased father. Seth only stares at his mother apathetically when she scolds him that causes his mother to withdraw from her displeasure. Seth also only shows indifference in things other boys engage in and finds him different rom others, since he does not feel the same emotions people would usually feel. Hence, he holds onto the truth that he does not belong in the town and â€Å"he [wishes] that he himself [be] stirred by something† (133). Seth’s self-imposed isolation is what causes his grotesqueness. He thinks Just because he doesn’t have the same interest as the others and is not â€Å"stirred by something† makes him an outcast and unlike. When in fact, the people of Winesburg admire him because he comes off as a passionate and mature man. Nevertheless, Seth does not acknowledge the people’s houghts because he lives by his truth that he does not fit in Winesburg because he is indifferent about things the people our engaged in. For this reason, he is distorted and grotesque for believing one truth and not accepting the others’ truths. Later, Seth fancies a girl named Helen but with him imposing that he does not belong in the town and wants to leave, he soon drives away Helen and begins to think that the reason of her departure is because of his truth that he is an outcast. When in reality, Helen departs to avoid further sentiment because Seth tells her that it was their last ime they’ll see each other. Nonetheless, He continues to say, â€Å"when it comes to loving someone, it wont never be [him]. It’ll be†¦ someone who talks a lot – someone like that George Willard† (142). Seth continues to hold onto his truth and imposes that he needs be isolated further more from the town and needs to leave Winesburg. This eventually drives Helen away, but Seth believes it is because of his social skills. Hence, he becomes Jealous of George Willard and wants to be like him because he thinks that if he were George, Helen would not have left him. However, George Willard is not that social either, Seth assumes he is a social butterfly because he is a reporter but as a matter of fact he only listens well. Seth is grotesque because he believes in a truth that is not absolute. He believes that Helen left him because he is not as social as George Willard, when it is not the case. He is grotesque tor believing a truth about George Willard that is not true. The author also uses the motif of isolation to develop the grotesqueness of the Stranger and Tandy, as the characters’ isolation causes them to hold onto one truth aking them grotesque. Tandy Hard lives only with her father, Tom Hard because her mother is dead. Tom Hard spends most of his time being an atheist, wrecking the ideas and belief that God exists causing his daughter to be neglected. Not having anyone to nurture her and guide her, she becomes lost and continues to live without an identity, as implied by the author when he does not mention her real name until she the stranger names her Tandy. The stranger comes to Winesburg, Ohio in order to cure his alcohol addiction and addiction to an image of a lover. He claims that his over is named Tandy who has â€Å"the quality of being strong to be loved,† and the only reason he is not with her is because â€Å"she did not come in [his] time† (145). As a result of the stranger being lone and isolated for not having a lover, he holds onto the truth that his lover is named Tandy and she was not born in his time for the stranger does not find her yet. His reasoning makes him distorted because he continues to believe the truth that there is a Tandy that was not born at his time and not acknowledge the truth that there might not be any Tandy at all. In addition, his isolation also makes im grotesque because it makes him live by the truth that his lover is someone like Tandy and does not acknowledge the truth that there are other women out there that can be his potential lovers without necessarily having the same quality as Tandy. Nonetheless, the stranger imposes on the daughter that she should be Tandy and she should be strong and brave in order to beloved. Consequently, the daughter not having an identity starts to incline on the idea of Tandy. When her father calls her, she retaliates and says, â€Å"[she] want[s] to be called Tandy – Tandy Hard† (146). After he daughter’s statement demanding she wants to be called Tandy, it is implied that she will continue to live as Tandy. For that reason, the daughter is grotesque for not accepting that she can have her own truth to live by and not Just the truth of the stranger. However, the only reason she holds onto the stranger’s truth is because she does not acquire her own identity from the isolation and lack of nurture she gets from her father. Therefore, her isolation because of the lack of guidance from her father causes her to live by another person’s truth distorting her and making her rotesque. Anderson uses biblical allusion to help clear up the truth Jesse Bentley lives by creating his grotesqueness. Jesse Bentley inherits a colossal amount of land from his dead father and brothers. Before inheriting the land Jesse Bentley studied to be a minister, so returning home he is filled with religious thoughts. Hence, he begins to think that his farm is an empire of God and thinks that his lands need to be protected from â€Å"the hands of the Philistines† (73). As a man who studied to be a minister, it is understandable to return with the words of God. However, Jesse Bentley ssociating his life to the Bible and calling his neighbors Philistines is Just absurd and twisted. He lives by the truth that his life is parallel with Jesse’s life from the Bible, and even goes to the extent of calling his neighbors Philistines implying that they are enemies. For this reason, Jesse Bentley is grotesque because he lives by the truth that his neighbors are Philistines like in the Bible, causing his distortion and grotesqueness because his truth is not really true. As I said before, Jesse Bentley commences to equate his life to the Jesse of the Old Testament. The Jesse from the Old Testament is known as Christ’s key ancestor. As a result, Bentley prays to God that his wife conceives a son that can be named David in order for the lineage to start. However, his wife conceives a girl, Louise that gives birth to a son named David. Jesse Bentley then starts to get obsessive about contacting God through his grandson David. He thinks that through David they â€Å"will see the beauty and glory of God† (100), so he brings a sheep to sacrifice and uses David as a host in the forest. Jesse Bentley holds onto the truth that he can be a significant person like the Jesse from the Old Testament through his grandson. He strongly believes that his life is parallel to the life of the Bible’s Jesse when it is not the case. In addition, the fact that he still tries to equate his life into the bible when there’s a generation gap and the story that he is reenacting is Abraham and Isaac and not Jesse and David shows that he is so desperate to communicate with God and feel significant that it makes him distorted and grotesque. Furthermore, because Jesse Bentley is blinded by his want to be significant and the truth that he can communicate with God, he does not accept the ruth that God may not exist making him grotesque. In conclusion, the characters’ isolation leads them to live by one truth that enhances their grotesqueness. Additionally, the author uses biblical allusion to explain and clarify the truths the characters’ hold onto that makes them grotesque. In some way, the characters’ or in general people’s grotesqueness can be seen as beautiful. People’s faith in a certain truth can be considered beautiful and no matter how distorted it makes them seem, it’s the fact that people stand on their ground and fght for what they believe in, makes them admirable. How to cite Winesburg, Papers

Accounting Software Packages used in Australia Small and Medium Organ

Question: Discuss about theAccounting Software Packages used in Australiafor Small and Medium Organizations. Answer: Introduction The literature review depicts the usage of accounting software packages in Australia. In order to reduce the traditional operational issues small and medium organizations are adopting this product in wide scale (Tijani and Mohammed 2013). The review will demonstrate the history of accounting software packages, development and adaptation of accounting software. It will also describe the current market size along with the challenges faced by the organization. Finally the literature review will provide certain recommendations or suggestion for accounting software packages used in Australia. History of Accounting Software/Packages Used in Australia From the market analysis five small accounting software packages such as Intuit QuickBooks, MYOB, Reckon, Saasu and Xero are identified in Australia. The features are as follows: Factors MYOB QuickBooks Saasu Xero Quotes and affordability It does not have the feature of Quotes. It charges $29 to $65per month for the subscription The range of products allows the users of the software packages to build quotes. The monthly charge for this software package is $15 to $35. It has the ability to built quotes Charges $35 in the monthly basis. Does not have any quote feature. . It charges $19, $29, $64 in every month. Feedback Provides different formats for feedback. Provides simple flow of invoices functionalities. Sales are easily recorded in case of Saasu. It allows the users to create draft invoice or feedback. Statements The statement template is highly customized From the software gallery the users can directly access the statements. Gives opportunity to the users to customize the feedback. Provides print and email statements in customized manner. Security Highly secured Highly secured Medium Medium Accounting software is referred to as a computational program mostly used by small to medium organizations to manage their accounting system effectively and efficiently. It helps to store accounting records of transaction, employee details, payroll management system etc. traditionally, the accounting system was manually processed with the help of paper but gradually after the invention of computer and technologies revolutionary changes occurred in accounting system (Daneshgar, Low and Worasinchai 2013). Much affordable software is currently available in global competitive market and the changed mechanism has moved the concept of traditional programs. According to Sam et al. (2012), the changes are adopted due to certain features such the operational speed and faster management provoked the traditional accounting system to move into this platform. Mayasari (2015) stated that once a data stored in the database will not get deleted and it reduces the chances of occurrence of data redundancy. Important information can be fetched with the help of simple queries from a large storage in minutes (Gupta and Sawyer 2015). Whereas, Seethamraju (2015) argued that, though the system is efficient but there is high chance of data hijacking if appropriate security service is not used. Development and Adaptation on Software Packages During market assessment it has been found that, most of the widely used accounting software packages are used in Australia such as Intuit QuickBooks, MYOB, Reckon, Saasu and Xero. According to Bradshaw, Pulakanam and Cragg (2015) traditionally immediate access was not possible as the system was maintained by human resources. There was a huge chance of error occurrence. Again the traditional system also cannot assure that the stored data will never lose. Arcega et al. (2015) opined that if a system is managed by more than one then interruption might lead to vast confusion within the system itself. In order to avoid these issues advanced accounting packages are innovated. Wongsim and Hongsakon (2015) stated that, the computerized system enhanced the accuracy of measurements than the traditional process. In addition to this, Rajasa and Faturachman (2015) stated that, computerized accounting process has the characteristics of easy insertion, deletion and update whenever required. Different small to medium organizations with exceptional characteristics and faster processing and transactional requirements are adopting software packages such as MYOB, XERO. Henny et al. (2013) stated that based on the quality and features of organizations the accounting software are developed. Most of the government organizations and small to medium business organizations are adopting accounting software packages. Mohamed (2013) stated that, this system serves the general purposes of data management uniquely. Mayasari (2015) argued that the general purpose software cannot provide all the requirements of an organization whereas, accounting software meet all the requirements of the consumers and the organization too. Current Market Size During the period of market analysis it has been found that, most of the small to large business organizations have adopted the accounting software packages in order to avoid improper data management. Over the last ten years the market distribution of accounting software has completely changed in Australia Sam et al. (2012). Again, Bradshaw, Pulakanam and Cragg (2015) mentioned that Xero has about 67% of total market share, whereas saga has shared 35% of total market share. Since two to three years MYOB is focusing on the trades following the successful market IPO. MYOB also joined other locally located accounting software providers (Gupta and Sawyer 2015). Domestic as well as international investment is giving wide mode of advantages to the businesses and to the software development organizations also. Wongsim and Hongsakon (2015) argued that, in order to gain significant benefits from the marketplace many businesses are switching its platform from traditional to cloud based accounting system. In case of MYOB, it has been found that, more than 1 million of small to medium business are adopting the desktop based product invented by MYOB itself. In addition to this Arcega et al. (2015) opined that, the equity return percentage is 10% and 28 % respectively for MYOB and XERO. The Australian investors are continuously paying for further development of this accounting software. Financial circumstances are needed to be stronger for the potential development. Figure 1: Current market size of accounting software packages used in Australia (Source: Wongsim and Hongsakon 2015, pp- 1297) Identification of Leaders in the Market There are many accounting software used in the current market of Australia but based on the features of all the software packages the best one which might lead in the market is needed to be identified by the small to medium business enterprises (Tijani and Mohammed 2013). Different accounting software contain various characteristics for example payroll and accounting software is holds cash flow calculator, standard tools and it can manage huge number of users at a time without any kind of error. Wongsim and Hongsakon (2015) stated that, both the accounting software Xero and QuickBooks are cloud based but regardless of subscription planning Xero attracted vast number of users. Hongsakon (2015) stated considering the pricing aspects it has been detected that, for integrated payroll services Xero and QuickBooks both are similar. Competitive Advantages According to Rajasa and Faturachman (2015) over last two to three years cloud based accounting packages are widely used by different small to medium business organizations. These products are time saving, secured and also easily accessible by the employees and consumers as well. Again Seethamraju (2015) stated that, integration of these products along with the existing strategies will be much beneficial. The competitive advantages are defined during research and these are as follows: Reduction in the IT maintenance cost: Most of the cloud based product does not require adopting particular software (Wongsim and Hongsakon 2015). Thus it reduces the cost of regular update and backup. Availability: The stored banking and personnel information related to the employees can be easily accessed regardless of time and location (Daneshgar, Low and Worasinchai 2013). Even, it allows the users to view information from different digital devices. Feeds from banks: Information of credit cards can be easily downloaded to the bank accounts and according to Mohamed (2013) this is the most time saving operation. Easy sharing: Without using the USB keys information can be shared from one to other. Analysis of Current Gaps and Challenges Identified by the Consumers During analysis it has been found that the users are facing challenges while using the products these are as follows: Cost: According to Gupta and Sawyer (2015) the cost of counting software are reasonable but associated cost are very high during its utilization. For example RAM, speed of the processor, memory capacity require minimum standard. Difficulty: Non expert employees found difficulties while using it. Hongsakon (2015) opined that, improper accounting terms and business layouts are leading to massive loss. Time management: The feedback processes of accounting software take huge time. Lack of time management is leading to business failure. Maintenance: The maintenance does not include only software update the associated devices are also needed to maintain as well (Seethamraju 2015). However, due to lack of maintenance the organizations are facing competitive challenges. Conclusion and Recommendations From the overall discussion it can be concluded that, in order to avoid accounting based issues small to medium organizations are adopting accounting software packages in Australia and among them, most widely used software package in Xero. Due to the operational speed, production of automatic documents, appropriate management of information and accuracy these products are used. The literature has elaborated the history of accounting software including the development and adaptation procedure. The current market size and among them the leading brand is also identified. However, still certain issues are facing by those, who adopted the packages. Those challenges and there mitigation process are also recommended in this literature review. The recommendations are as follows: Advanced technology adaptation: In order to avoid the current challenges the small and medium business organizations should adopt more advanced and innovative technologies. Security: This is one of the major concerns; the organizations must keep the banking data and personnel information secured with the help of proper encryption key so that unauthorized users cannot access those data from the storage. Training to experts: enterprises must develop regular training programs for the employees so that they become familiar with the technologies very soon. Platform selection: Best cloud based platform is required to be selected to avoid data management and storage issues. References Arcega, C.K., Datinguinoo, E., Guerra, J., Guno, C., Mayuga, H.J., Villamena, E. and Manongsong, J.L., 2015. Computerized vs. Non-computerized Accounting System of Small and Medium Enterprises in Lipa City, Philippines: A Comparative Analysis.Asia Pacific Journal of Academic Research in Business Administration,1(1). Bradshaw, A., Pulakanam, V. and Cragg, P., 2015. Knowledge Sharing in IT Consultant and SME Interactions.Australasian Journal of Information Systems,19. Daneshgar, F., Low, G.C. and Worasinchai, L., 2013. An investigation of build vs. buydecision for software acquisition by small to medium enterprises.Information and software technology,55(10), pp.1741-1750. Gupta, R. and Sawyer, A.J., 2015, November. The costs of compliance and associated benefits for small and medium enterprises in New Zealand: Some recent findings. InAustralian Tax Forum(Vol. 30). Henny, H., Lianawati, C., Hari Setiabudi, H., Diana, Y. and Merlin, S., 2013. Evaluation of utilization information technology on kopwani accounting information systems using cost benefit analysis and gap analysis. Mayasari, M., 2015 The Influence of Personal Characteristics, Interaction:(Computer/Individual), Computer Self-efficacy, Personal Innovativeness in Information Technology to Computer Anxiety in use of Mind your Own Business Accounting Software.International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues,5(1S). Mohamed, Z., 2013. The Perception of Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) on the Importance of a Proper Accounting System: Malaysian Evidence.Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing,9(10), pp.1302-1321. Rajasa, A. and Faturachman, F., 2015. Predicting the Intention to Re-Use on Accounting Application Software (The Case of Accurate Application Software Users in Indonesia).The International Journal Of Business Management,3(8). Sam, M., Fazli, M., Hoshino, Y. and Tahir, M.N.H., 2012. The adoption of computerized accounting system in small medium enterprises in Melaka, Malaysia.International Journal of Business and Management,7(18). Seethamraju, R., 2015. Adoption of software as a service (SaaS) enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).Information Systems Frontiers,17(3), pp.475-492. Tijani, O. and Mohammed, A.K., 2013. Computer-Based Accounting Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises: Empirical Evidence from a Randomized Trial in Nigeria.Universal Journal of Management,1(1), pp.13-21. Wongsim, M. and Hongsakon, P., 2015. The Adoption of Process Management for Accounting Information Systems in Thailand.World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Computer, Electrical, Automation, Control and Information Engineering,9(5), pp.1293-1301.