Definition of Philosophy

Is the US Bailout Plan a Philosophical Move?

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The much talked about financial bailout move of the US government is deeply under scrutiny and as concerned citizens, many would think that such a move may perhaps be a good one. But if you are in the business and political sector, it may be not necessarily a sound one.

For one, how can such a move be based on the fact that big companies such as Lehman Brothers and the ongoing sale of some others like Morgan Chase Bank be the basis of it all? Are we forgetting the concept of probably mismanagement and bad business practice? Let me reiterate, where is capitalism and what has happened to it? If this becomes a trend, what would stop smaller companies from demanding and seeking aid from the government?

That is why the philosophy of making sound decisions in office is entirely crucial. You simply cannot please everyone. But the fact remains, while such a move is viewed by many as a common good for all, you really cannot generalize at this point. How can you explain such a financial bailout plan to the smaller companies that simply fold up and not ask for help?

In fact, some may even call it a discriminate move. It is true that the US is teetering on the brink of economic disaster but still, political intervention is something that is bound to get a lot of attention. Wise move or not, the fact remains, that this economic crisis that the US is under is far from over.

Originally posted on December 30, 2008 @ 4:36 am

Countries Lagging Behind with Technology

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The Philippines is indeed a gold mine for information technology professionals but the fact remains that they need to consider the fact that technology is more than purely educating people. One thing that they sorely lacking is implementation, an instance that has become one of the reasons why some countries always become last.

Locally, the Philippines fail to realize the value of Internet marketing. They pretty much discuss the importance of globalization but rely heavily on individuals using old tactics such as traditional travel or long distance communications to strike deals. By the time they agree on something, chances are that other global partner has long been a success.

The apprehension and common belief of local top executives is that they are afraid to pry away from the current trends of being successful. Current practices such as Internet Marketing and Blog Marketing are sound topics we see on the web and yet most of them choose to ignore it. One reason is that they are only looking for a local market and not the global opportunity.

It is apparent that not all people appreciate the value of globalization. They know it theoretically but the whole essence is sorely lacking when it comes to actual implementation. So in the end, it is a large opportunity lost not only because of arrogance but because they lack the confidence in allowing technology into their ventures.

The current business issues speak a lot. While many are looking at recession and possibly business closures, others are sitting comfortably and waiting for the expected boom from Internet technology. It is happening right now. They just choose to refrain from stepping out of their comfort zones.

Originally posted on September 30, 2008 @ 4:52 am

Peter Singer Speaks in Guelph

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peter-singer-guelph-posterThe Department of Philosophy of the University of Guelph will be inviting a speaker every year to their campus hold an event called The Guelph Lecture in Philosophy. This is the very first year that the event will be held. The inauguration of the Guelph Lecture in Philosophy will be held on March 21 from 2 to 4pm at the Rozanski Hall in Guelph. The lecturer, Peter Singer, will speak on “Ethics and Animals”. Everyone is invited to come and listen to the lecture. NO ADMISSION FEE.

Peter Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and laureate professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE), University of Melbourne. He is best known for his book Animal Liberation, which is credited by some for the formation of the animal rights movement as we now know. With a utilitarian approach to ethics he asserted the principle of minimizing suffering in his book and argued that animals have rights and these rights should be based on their ability to feel pain. Singer’s latest book, The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty, is fresh out of printing. Though I haven’t got hold of a copy yet but it promises to be a riveting read based not only on the topic itself and Singer’s reputation but from the first few paragraphs shown in the book’s website.

With such a distinguished guest it is no wonder Prof. Andrew Bailey of Guelph’s Philosophy Department feels that they are indeed fortunate.

Originally posted on March 20, 2009 @ 2:56 am

The Philosophy of the U.S. Financial Bailout

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From the eyes of an ordinary consumer, the financial bailout is bound to point to only one thing, save the debt-ridden country from collapsing and nothing else. If only that were the case in doing business then perhaps we would have seen a lot of businesses surviving and economies rising. Sadly, the philosophy of it all is that business is done more than plain business.

There are more business components to consider. One of which is business policies that are sure to be varied, depending on the philosophy of the management team tasked to establish the business venture and create a profit overall. If something goes wrong along the way, you are sure to note that it is not plainly a matter of infusing cash and paying off debt. For how can a business go on surviving if such debts will just accrue over time?

Also, as far as the recourse provided by the government is concerned, it is more than just paying off debt. In exchange, various arrangements such as a stake in the company in the event they fail to settle their financial bailout loan is pegged as one of the key highlights in exchange for a loan. Is that feasible?

As far as companies are concerned, it may be the last hurrah for them. Rather than filing for bankruptcy, they are left with little choices. So in the event they still falter, then the company may give way to political power. If that would be the case, at least they tried and now pass the problem to the government powers. In the end, it is similar to applying a loan using your business as collateral.

Makes you think of the government has a dirty hand in it all. But if that is the philosophy they are applying then they just have to honor it, especially if they sign on the dotted line.

Originally posted on October 9, 2008 @ 3:17 pm