To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird incorporates historically accurate material into an otherwise fictional story. Drawing upon current events, social conditions, and attitudes prevalent in the United States during the 1930s, the novel’s setting, characters and themes depict a realistic interpretation of life in a southern town during the Depression. This classic novel takes place during the early 1930s. The novel accurately portrays the social system and troubles of the Depression era, where poverty and unemployment affected numerous states, including Alabama. Poverty seemed to have been the main struggle for families in the 1930s. Atticus Finch, the protagonist of the novel, an educated lawyer, who goes to work in clean clothes, and owns enough money to hire a black housekeeper to watch over his children belonged to the elite of local society, however they too were low on money. Poverty seemed to have contributed to making the south a class-conscious society. As Jem said â€Å"There’s four kinds of folks in the word. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes.† (page 103) To further explain, the Finches stand towards the top of Maycomb’s social hierarchy, following the townspeople beneath them. After the townspeople come the ignorant farmers such as the Cunninghams, then the white trash Ewells resting at the bottom of the totem pole. However at the very bottom of the list come the African-Americans. These social divisions are what make up Maycomb, causing children’s perplexity at the class status, and prejudice in human interaction amongst Maycomb’s few residents. It is evident that the way things are in the small town of Maycomb, are the way they have always been. At this time, in the early 1930’s, automobiles had only been around for a few years, it was common for most families to depend on horses for transportation, while the more elite were fortunate enough to drive automobiles. The Great Depression affected every group of Americans during the tough era. Whether one was a farmer like Mr. Cunningham or a lawyer like Atticus Finch, black or white, young or old, they were affected. However in those years, there was a clear hierarchy and difference between those that had money and lived in nice, furnished houses, compared to those who struggled to operate their own farm. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee focused more on the differences between whites and blacks in the society. To Kill a Mockingbird portrayed the racial injustices and prejudice against African Americans in the United States during the Great Depression. These criminal rights issues were shown during the Trial of Tom Robinson. All black men were viewed as rapists, after a false rumor and accusation. It is evident Maycomb has always been racially segregated. The African-Americans of Maycomb have their own church and cemetery outside the cities border. Inside the courtroom, the white hav e good seats on the floor, while the blacks sit up in the balcony in their own separate section. Similar to this, in movie theatres designated doors were assigned to coloured and whites with signs written on separate doors. White and black children attended different schools until school segregation was established in 1954. Whites and blacks were not allowed in the same jail cells, and the inequality amongst races in the courtroom during trials. Once Mayella, Mr. Ewell and Tom Robinson had all testified, even though it was clear Tom Robinson was innocent, the jury claimed him guilty because they wouldn’t allow a black man free against the testimony of two white people. Similar to Tom Robinson’s trail is the Scottsboro trial that took place in March of 1931 in Alabama. That day, two white girls were allegedly raped by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad. Although there was no evidence connecting the boys to the women, they were all charged with rape and sent t o jail. This court case caused many trails, convictions and punishments for a crime that was never committed. Both Tom Robinson and the Scottsboro trial dealt with the word of a white woman against the word of an African-American and the fact there was no real evidence. There were several instances where a black man had been killed before he was put on trial. This type of racism occurred because the white people saw themselves as better and more civilized people The families and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird were accurately portrayed in traditional, old fashioned households in the early 1930’s. Girls were expected to act like ladies, and boys to act like gentlemen. The traditional woman jobs included stay at home house wives, and teachers such as Miss Caroline. Scout is unlike more girls her age. She prefers overalls and a button up shirt as supposed to a dress with stockings. However, Atticus’s sister, Aunt Alexandra is the perfect southern lady. She has very strict and traditional ideas of how Maycomb’s society works and the roles a Southern woman must play. She earnestly tried to pass along and teach Scout to becoming a lady, who is not predominantly interested. Her concernedness and determination lead to her stay with the family the summer of Tom Robinson’s trail to â€Å"properly† raise Jem and Scout. Atticus treats his children as adults, and expects to be treated with respect. Majority of the population of Alabama at this time were Christians, and attended church every Sunday morning. Calpurnia, the Finchs coloured house keeper took Jem and Scout to the church for African-Americans outside of town on Sundays. There, the kids saw that Calpurnia acted differently with her friends they she did in the Finches household. That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages. (page 128). Back in 1930, the majority of the African-American population was uneducated. They did not have the same opportunities as the whites. A typical colored family in the 1930s consisted of the wife working as a maid or housekeeper, the man working a very low income job, and the children often did not attend school, and instead helped provide an income for the family. After Tom Robinson was put in jail, Helen, his wife, no longer had an income. The old fashioned households are to say were due to the stubbornness of the society, and the unwillingness to change. Atticus Finch, unlike most Maycomb residents, was the only one to come into Tom Robinson’s defense, demonstrating his kindness and his firm beliefs of equality. To Kill a Mockingbird depicts multiple themes, however the most important theme is the exploration of moral nature of humans. In other words, whether people are good or evil. This is shown through Jem and Scout’s childhood innocence being transitioned into a more adult perspective. Like any kids, Jem and Scout assumed that all people are good, because they had never seen evil. However, after witnessing the Tom Robinson trial, the children see that there is evil that exists. Despite Tom’s conviction Scout struggled to understand yet still maintained faith in human nature. However Jem’s faith in humanity was damaged once discovery the evil of racism. A prime example of goodness is Atticus Finch. All throughout the novel, he stood up for his personal beliefs. He taught his children, as well as the town that people contain aspects of good and evil, however the good often will prevail. Atticus struggles to change the society’s perspective, however continues to stand wall because he believes goodness will prevail over all evil, including racism and racial equality will soon exist. Conflicts are caused between certain individuals and the community, when each has a different standard of right and wrong. Due to Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson in his trial, the farmers, including Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Ewell were not happy with Mr. Finch. Atti cus stood tall from the beginning to the very end of the trial, in hopes of proving to the town about goodness. Scout developed as a character in the novel through her gradual development towards understanding Atticus’s lessons about goodness. In the final chapters, she viewed the world from Boo Radley’s perspective and has a strong belief that in the end, goodness prevails. Published in 1960, some believe To Kill a Mockingbird is an autobiography of Harper Lee’s life. However she denied that the story is not an autobiography and simply wrote â€Å"what she knows†. There are numerous similarities between the characters and setting and her own childhood and life growing up. Harper Lee grew up in Monroeville, a small town in Alabama similar to Maycomb. Similarities between herself and Scout’s life are unmistakable. Her father, A.C. Lee, was her inspiration for Atticus’s character. He too was a lawyer and defended two black men accused of murder. However these two men were found guilty and were hung. Lee described her childhood in an interview as being a â€Å"rough n tough tomboy†. Growing up she was surrounded by racism and occasional violence, and said her childhood inspired her to write To Kill a Mockingbird. Through the use of setting, characters and one of the many themes, To Kill a Mockingbird accurately represented the southern United States in the early 1930s. Written 30 years later, Harper Lee was able to loosely incorporate similar events, environments, and social aspects of Alabama during the years of the Great Depression. One reason why this novel is considered an all-time classic is because of its lasting significance that portrays different aspects or events and issues, making it worthwhile and memorable. Works Cited Crow, Jim. The Scottsboro Case (1931). PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_scotts.html To Kill a Mockingbird: Scottsboro Trials. To Kill a Mockingbird: Scottsboro Trials. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/mockingbird/scottsboro.htm Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. N.p., 09 July 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://www.slideshare.net/es99.trish.turner/themes-in-to-kill-a-mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird. Study Guides Essay Editing. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. http://www.gradesaver.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird/study-guide/major-themes/.

Information Search and Analysis Skills

Information Search and Analysis Skills 1.0 SYNOPSIS The research was carried on one of Microsoft Windows operating systems which is Windows 2000. The various factors such as security, reliability and easy to use interface were discussed. In Windows 2000 security is more improved as compared to previous versions, point-to-point Tunnel protocol (PPTP) and layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP as alternative security for Virtual Private Network (VPN)). Windows 2000 security has significant benefits like confidentiality, authentification, Data integrity, Smarts cards, Encryption and Kerberos. It is a reliable desktop and laptop operating system for business of all types. It is a build on NT technology and offers rock solid reliability and manageability. The operating system provide an intelligent user interface that adapts to the way users work and this makes it more efficient. 2.0 INTRODUCTION According to Silberschatz (2007), Windows 2000 is a type of operating systems released by Microsoft Company for use on business desktops, notebook computers and servers. This operating system was released on 17 February 2000. Windows 2000 was originally named Windows NT 5.0, this is because it was a successor to Windows NT 4.0, then Windows NT 2000 and finally was called Windows 2000. Windows NT 5.0 was the last version of Windows NT. An operating system is a boundary between the hardware and the user that manages and coordinates the activities in order to share the resources of the computer. It acts as basic program for computing applications that are run on the machine. As a basic program some of the tasks it performs are recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directory on the disk and controlling peripherals devices such as printers and disk drives. In a nutshell, operating system handles the details of the operation o f the hardware. As it is the successor of Windows NT 4.0 operating system it was titled Windows NT 5.0. This operating system combines the stability and security of Windows NT 4.0 and Plug-and-Play capabilities of Windows 9x. windows 2000 supports new technologies such as Accelerated Graphics Ports, USB devices, DVD drives, multifunction adapter cards and also a full line of PC cards. This operating system also grants a new distributed directory service for controlling resources across an enterprise, FAT 32 support, and the internet Explorer 5 web browser. Crowley C. (1998) said, Windows 2000 has four basic editions, these are Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 server, Windows 2000 advanced server and Window 2000 datacenter server. These editions were targeted for different markets and they share the most significant features and system utilities, which include Microsoft Management Console and typical system administration applications. The entire set of versions sustains Windows NT file system, NTFS 3.0, Encryption File System and disk storage. Windows 2000 might be installed in two ways, that is either manual or unattended installation and it requires at least 133MHZ Pentium class system with 64mb of RAM. BACKGROUND STUDY Security http://www.answers.com/topic/microsoft.windows stated that, it is important to implement security on computing environment so that unauthorized users cannot have access, steal or damage system resources. Implementing security has significant benefits on computer users because only authorized personnel have access. TCP/IP provides security on windows 2000 with internet standards that use cryptographic security services: 3.1.1 Confidentiality: Internet Protocol security (IPSec) traffic is encrypted and can only be decrypted with and encryption key. 3.1.2 Authentification: Before the receiver verifies that the message was sent by IPSec peer, the IPSec traffic has to be digitally signed with the shared encryption key. 3.1.3 Data Integrity: A cryptographic checksum that have the encryption key is found in IPSec traffic. Confirmation on modification of packets can be done by a receiver. 3.1.4 Smart Cards: To protect your network smart card technology is used in windows 2000 environment, unlike using password protection. Tamper-proof storage is offered for a users key pair and an associated public key certificate and these keys are termed as symmetric and asymmetric keys which are protected through Personal Identification Number (PIN) that the users required to enter. If you are a smart card writer you are also a smart card reader, this means you preserve to use a generic smart card reader to write certificate to a smart card. ( http://technet Microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316363.aspx) 3.1.5 Encryption for data: Windows 2000 offer the ability to make information unreadable that is encryption, by using the techniques of NTFS file system so that unauthorized users can not access your data. Files and folders can be encrypted by setting an attribute under Properties dialog box. Encryption is done through the use of algorithms that mess up, reorganize and encode the data. There is a key pair that has a private and public key. It is used to encode and decode the encrypted information. The user has to designate a recovery agent so that the data can be recovered when the key pair is lost or damaged. If the user has not designated a recovery agent the data cannot be recovered. (http://www.answers.com/topic/microsoft.windows) 3.1.6 Central storage of security policy and account information: the purpose of this policy is to implement security that is required by computer systems and data and grant accountability agenda for users. It also creates, processes and manages sensitive information on daily basis. The appropriate mechanism are developed and maintained to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computerized information. (http://www.answers.com/topic/microsoft.windows) 3.1.7 Kerberos: Dr.R.C.Joshi e tal (2005) stated that, these are protocols used to enable users to authenticate without sending a password over the network. A user obtains a special kind of key from the network central security at login. The protocol prevents outside attacks. The name Kerberos comes from Greek mythological three- headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades. Reliability This refers to the ability of the operating system to protect itself from handling error conditions, protect its users from malfunctioning software. Windows 2000 is reliable on desktop and notebook computers operating system for businesses of all kinds. It is more reliable as compared to Windows 95 and 98. Windows 2000 uses hardware protection for virtual memory to be resistant to failings and attacks. It also uses software protection mechanism for operating system resources. Windows 2000 has local file system, which is NTFS file system and it recovers automatically from many types of file-system errors after system crash, said Dr. Joshi R. C. (2005). Dr. Joshi R.C (2005) also stated that, changes were made on kernel-mode to make windows 2000 reliable. Kernel-mode write protection offers and reads only subsections of device drivers and kernel. It has code signing which verifies the source of system file and existing Digital Signature Cryptographic technology before windows 2000 is installed. There is also Pool tagging where better drivers and cleaner code are produced by kernel mode device drive because memory allocations are made to selected device drivers out of a special pool, unlike a shared system pool. The recovery time is reduced on Faster CHKDSK. An administrator is given one step process to dependably restart Internal Information Server. There is a kill process tree which when a parent process is stopped makes sure that all processes initiated by parent process are removed. Kernel-only crash dumps are added for contents of the kernel to be written optionally to disk after a crash. Users can correct installation problems o r change settings that have caused boot problems when Safe-mode boot uses its minimal services to boot the computer. Easy to use interface The user interface of Windows 2000 id more improved compared to other versions. In Windows 2000 the information is accessed quickly whether it is on a computer or network. Improved wizards of windows 2000 assist users to achieve tough tasks quicker. Only items that are used more frequently are displayed on Start menu and this made the Screen clutter to be reduced. The Dialog box has been improved as words are automatically completed when the user types and most recently used words are listed so that the user can select the appropriate. The Quick launch tool bar can be used to open Microsoft Internet Explorer or to read the e-mail by adding the customizable toolbars. Also with Windows 2000 desktop, it is easy to switch between windows and the desktop because the new Show Desktop button is located on the task bar. My Documents offers a permanent location which store personal files and folders and it also has My Picture folder where photos can be stored and scanned. Windows 2000 support s multilingual, that is it can identify and establish any essential fonts or signs to observe multilingual information. Encryption and decryption methods are made transparent to authorized users because each file is encrypted with its key. Windows 2000 also provide smart cards which require users names and passwords unlike depending on a single factor to authenticate a user. (http://technet Microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316363.aspx) Windows 2000 offers 25% faster performance than Windows 95 and 98 on systems with 64MB and more memory. Its web intergrated capabilities and broad support for mobile computers and hardware devices make easy for business operators to connect to internet and work anywhere and at anytime. (http://technet Microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316363.aspx) 4.0 CONCLUSION To conclude on this, Windows 2000 is a far more secure and reliable than previous other version. The process of installation and configuration of hardware is easy compared to NT platforms. It provides centralized management of users and resources over the network and it also offers enhanced security management of users, computers and devices. This makes Windows 2000 to support a security model stronger than those of previous Microsoft operating systems. It is interoperable with various operating systems, like Novell Netware, Windows NT Server 4.0, Macintosh, Linux and UNIX. The operating system runs on a wide variety of computers and users can choose and upgrade hardware to match their budgets and performance requirements without needing to alter the applications that they run. REFERENCE 1. Available: http://technet Microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316363.aspx (cited on 15 July 2009) 2. Available: http://www.answers.com/topic/microsoft.windows (cited on 17 July 2009) 3. Dr.R.C.Joshi e tal (2005) Operating Systems 4. Crowley C, (1998) Operating Systems, a design oriented Approach 5. Silberschatz A, e tal (2007) Operating System concepts

Mathematics :: Personal Narrative Math Essays

Mathematics At the recent annual meeting of the Psychology of Mathematics Education--North America Chapter, held in Florida, Bob and I were playing Frisbee on the beach. The lure of the surf soon led us into thigh deep water where waves added to the fun we were having with the wind. We were throwing parallel to the shore but the waves were coming in at an angle so that a breaking wave first hit Bob before hitting me a few seconds later. Verbal communication was difficult due to the noise of the surf, so thumbs-up or down, applause, head-nodding or shaking, along with smiles or frowns took its place. Soon a game had evolved and the use of the signs mentioned above became structured. Entering Paul's Umwelt The waves are high and strong making it challenging to catch the Frisbee unless it is thrown accurately. But the waves are also high enough to make it interesting to try to throw the Frisbee such that it just clears a wave as its crest passes the halfway point between Bob and me. Shake the water off, wait...wait...throw! Alright! A thumbs-up from Bob. He's right I got really close that time--but I bet I can cut it closer--just have to get a feel for the timing--aim a tad lower. OK, here comes his throw. Oops! Too high--Arrgghhh-splutter...YES--got it! Big complimentary smile from Bob. Actually it's fun when he misses high because then I get to jump for it just as a wave crashes into me. OK, my turn, wait...wait...remember-low...now! Perfection--that one skimmed the crest of the wave!! Entering Bob's Umwelt The waves are high and strong enough to make it challenging to catch the Frisbee unless it is thrown accurately. Uh-Oh...another low throw...Arrgghhh-splutter--yes! Hangs on for the touchdown. Big smile and thumbs up from Paul. Hmmpf! Does he really enjoy making it so hard for me to catch it? He always seems to time it so that a wave crashes on me just as the Frisbee arrives. OK, back to him...have to clear the waves...wait for the calm between the waves...now! Yes! Right on target and high enough for an easy catch--not too high like last time. Hmmm...no response from Paul--doesn't he appreciate my accuracy? Umwelts in Collusion While walking back to the hotel we discussed our "game". Bob: You sure had a knack for timing your throws! Paul: It was challenging to see how close to the water I could throw it and have it still get to you.

History Of Cleveland :: essays research papers

Cleveland, Ohio has been in existence for 203 years. There are more than 500,000 people living in Cleveland, yet few know about its past. In this paper, I am going to take you along as I tell you the history of Cleveland.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On July 4th 1796 the Connecticut Land Company sent out a search party to find new land. General Moses Cleaveland headed this search party, and on July 22nd of 1796 they found their new land, naming it Cleaveland after the leader of the search party.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The beginning of the population was predominately white. In 1800 the population of Cleaveland was what now would be an unheard of 7. In 10 years however the population grew to 57, 10 years following that increasing by almost %1100! What did 1840 now spell, as â€Å"Cleveland† was the 45th largest city in the nation at 6,071 people. Decade by decade Cleveland grew, becoming more of a populated city then others. Just 40 years after being the 45th largest city in the nation it was the 12th. When the 20th century came around Cleveland was proud to be the 7th largest city in the nation with 381,768 people. Although Cleveland never became the largest city in the nation, the closest they got was 5th with 900,429 people. Interesting enough, even though that was the highest position Cleveland ever got, that wasn’t the highest the population ever was. In 1950 the population was 914,808 which put them in 7th place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With large populations came major events. The first major event for Cleveland is one that now is a regular occurrence. A year after it was founded, the first wedding was held in the settlement of Cleaveland. In 1803 mail service was extended to Cleveland making the town able to communicate with the rest of the nation. In 1810 the first doctor arrived, followed 3 years later by the first courthouse being built. Some things even happened that are still around today, such as the bridge across the Cuyahoga River and Ohio and Erie Canal. Newspapers were established and the Old Stone Church that is still standing was built in 1820. The first street light, which is now seen everywhere, was placed in 1849. In 1866 the Cleveland Police Department was established, which like the street light is still seen today. The first phone company began service in 1880, giving people another way to communicate.

Sir Thomas Malory :: Essays Papers

Sir Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory was an "English translator and compiler" (Encarta) who wrote "the first great English prose epic, Le morte d'Arthur (Encarta). However, little is truly known about Maloryà ­s personal life. We do know that the title of his most famous work, "Le Morte D'Arthur", was first seen on William Caxton's illustrated edition in 1485. In the first chapters, Malory "refers to himself as a knight-prisoner" (Paula Barker) which has led many historians, according to Paula Barker, to believe that at least some of Le morte d'Arthur was written while his incarceration. The work is a collection from French sources, The Vulgate-the Arthurian Prose Cycle (1225-1230), which Malory so delicately "reduced", in addition to Maloryà ­s own writings, additions, and compilations to produce Le morte d'Arthur. Today Maloryà ­s collection has become "the basis of most modern tellings of the Arthurian story. " Because it occurs just past the age of chivalry, the 15th century, Maloryà ­s work has the opportunity to evaluate the "elegance and leisure of the antecedents in chivalric literature." (Tara Knapp) It was written in English and consists of eight intertwining tales of King Arthur and his different knights, and is packed with "compassion for human faults and nostalgia for the bygone days of chivalry." (Encarta) Each tale flows from one to the other which allows better understanding for the reader. However some of that understanding is lost because it seems to be a tale told in a series of flashbacks which would allow for Maloryà ­s memory loss at times. Despite this loss, the story has cohesion because of its compilation from many different fragments of different stories. It is speculated by Tara Knapp, J. S. Brown, and numerous others that Malory was born in the year 1400. Although it is possible, his birth date could range from 1400 to as late as 1405. Little true facts are known of his personal life, although there has been some speculation concerning a Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire. According to Knapp, this knight served with a Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who "had some difficulties with a local priory" resulting in a period of imprisonment for Malory as well as Beauchamp. More specifically this violent and vagrant individual committed several crimes such as robbery, murder, and extortion.

Chemical element

True The half-lives of unstable isotopes vary from milliseconds to billions of years. The combining of atoms is known as nuclear fusion. Multiple choice (271)mints) The man responsible for discovering that the atom is mostly space is: Rutherford false statement concerning matter is: All matter contains mass. The true statement concerning the atomic nucleus is: It is made up of electrons only. The element has how many protons? 7 has how many neutrons? 146 Which statement is true? Isotopes of a given element have very similar chemical properties. The atomic number of an atom is equivalent to the number of: protons Rutherford coined the term used for the simplest positive charged particle and called it the: neutron An alpha particle is: an electron Select all that apply. In the vertical columns of the periodic table: All the physical properties are identical.The number of positive charges in the nucleus of an atom is equal to: its atomic number Most of the mass of an atom is made up of: The protons and neutrons Movement of electrons about a central nucleus is a concept by: Boor Periodicity is best defined as: The repeating nature of physical and chemical properties with increasing The last element in any period always has: eight electrons in the outermost energy level The maximum number of electrons in a p sub-level is: 3 The 3 in up represent TTS: the number of electrons Name the element that corresponds to the following electron configuration. 2 , as , up neon 22 61 What does the p mean in Is as the p shell What causes the lines in the spectrum for elements? None of the above What is the maximum number of electrons found in any shell of the known elements? 8 A principal quantum number refers to: The numbered energy levels starting from the nucleus outward 2 2 The electron configuration of En is: Is In the vertical columns of the periodic table, as the atomic numbers increase: The numbers of electrons in the valence shell increase.

Mpw1153 Moral Education Essay

ASSIGNMENT 1: ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING We make choices every day. Some of our choices are practical decisions about what will work best, look prettier, feel softer, taste sweeter, what to eat today or last longer. Those decisions don’t necessarily involve right or wrong; they involve efficiency, availability, practicality or preference. For those choices list your options, gather information about your choices, list the pros and cons for each one, select the best option and there you have it – a real decision. On the other hand many of our choices are about doing the right thing. Each of these choices involves thousands of messages whirling inside the brain. In a split second our minds review the facts, explore our feelings, study consequences, compare the options against our beliefs and priorities, consider what others may think, and give the cue for action. Decisions happen so quickly but the consequences can last a lifetime. That’s why careful consideration is important. A code of ethics can help. It determines direction in our lives. Important decision take time and need to be think it carefully cause what you do will affect the people around you. Say, you are a CEO in the process of finalising a business partnership which is vital for the survival of your company, and then you are appalled to discover at the last minute that your prospective partner is involved in systematic bribery of tax officials in one of the main countries where you are hoping to expand the market for your product. So long as nobody knows that you know you overheard a conversation in a lift, or accidentally saw an email intended for someone else. You have the option of turning a blind eye. If and when the corrupt practices are brought to light, you can claim that the wool was pulled over your eyes. By that time, your balance sheet will be looking healthier and you can afford to break with your partner and let them face the trouble alone. There is no doubt that such a course of action is unethical. But in a real life situation, the alternative option might be a very difficult decision to take, especially if there is a real danger that without this partnership your company will go out of business. Self-interest is a valid consideration. A company is not required to sacrifice its interests and those of its shareholders for the greater good. However, the case we are now describing goes well beyond legitimate self-interest. The problem, bluntly, is one of weakness of will. You know what you should do, but are reluctant to bite the bullet. And the other situation, a freak accident occurs at a chemical factory with a previously exemplary safety record, and a man dies. An investigation into the causes of the accident recommends measures to prevent similar accidents happening in the future. However these changes would be prohibitively expensive to implement. The CEO faces the choice of closing down the plant with the loss of hundreds of jobs, or allowing the plant to continue with changes in procedure which reduce the risk but do not eliminate it entirely. We are asked to determine the value of eliminating a small but significant risk of injury or death versus the value of continuing to provide employment. A dogmatic response would be to say that no value, however great, can be put on a man’s life. However, if that principle were to be put literally into practice, daily life would grind to a halt. Even if only one person a year died in a car accident, all private transport would be banned. So, while we pay lip service to the belief that a human life is beyond measure, in practice decisions are made which are inconsistent with that belief. A genuinely difficult ethical decision, on the other hand, is one where with the best will in the world you do not know what you should do. The problem here is not with the will but with ethical knowledge. The wise decision maker has the ethical knowledge that the unwise or inexperienced decision maker lacks. Lack of ability in ethical decision making can be remedied by appropriate training. As we shall now see, however, competence in making ethical decisions is still not enough. Sometimes we face ethical decisions which are difficult, not because of something we lack the required knowledge or expertise but rather because the nature of the situation which we are dealing with is such that no amount of expertise would be sufficient to  determine the one and only ‘correct’ answer. This is the characteristic feature of a true ethical dilemma.