The Role of Multinational Corporations Essay Example for Free

The Role of Multinational Corporations Essay Abstract Literature and discourse relating to Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and human rights is ubiquitous with theoretical contestation on the merits and demerits of the potential harmonious existence of the two. Some argue that by virtue of the consequential results of their business operations, MNC’s have the potential to alleviate human suffering. For others, they are the cause of it. Advocates of both perspectives draw on a mixture of factual experiences and theoretical propositions to substantiate their positions. Empirical analysis is often used to differing degrees, and with differing levels of success, to further authenticate these dichotomised positions. Diverging standpoints, when empirically endorsed, however, ensure that no coherent theory can be extrapolated and applied to specific location and circumstance. With competing views, respectively backed up by statistical data, no overarching determination can be made as to the potential effects of the economic operations of these entities. It is suggested therefore that the trajectory of discourse should be altered so as to assess this relationship from a business perspective first, and a human rights perspective second. That is, in altering positional focus to whether or not human rights is good for business, theoretical suggestions may be legitimately substantiated in the absence of unequivocal empirical data by assessing the extent to which MNCs are in fact likely to respect human rights. Introduction In 1996 William Meyer’s work, which supported theories that MNCs have an overall beneficial impact on both first and second generation rights in developing countries, appeared in Human Rights Quarterly. Using Data from Freedom House and the Commerce Department, and while acknowledging that MNCs have at times had a detrimental effect on human rights, Meyer argued that civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights, correlate positively with Direct Foreign Investment (DFI). In  contradistinction to Meyers claims, however, and using data from Amnesty International, the State Department and the World Bank, Smith et al. responded that MNC’s have in fact a negative impact on human rights. Both positions derive from a determination to substantiate theoretical claims relating to diverging positions on, not only existing relationships, but equally of the potential results of that mutual existence. Both constitute therefore, empirical evidence on previously enunciated theoretical claims relating to the relationship of business and human rights generally. The intention of this paper is to alter positional focus on theoretical positions relating to the pros and cons of business for human rights, and subsequent empirical investigations, to a position which questions. Yet as Meyer, responding to Smith et al. concedes, ‘[n]either study can be used to support a claim that MNCs are always positive, or always negative, in relation to human rights’. This is largely a result of the fact that ‘[t]he fundamental problem with Meyer’s approach [or smith et al.s] is that †¦[they]†¦ cannot distinguish between MNCs that do, in fact, promote human rights and those which, in fact, do not. ’Therefore, when scholars such as Jack Donnelly assert that ‘[i]f business involvement is justified in part because it helps human rights, we can legitimately ask for concrete evidence of that help,’what is likely to surface is not in fact unequivocal evidence relating to the realities of this co-existence, but rather the selective inclusion of data which supports one’s particular position: Empiricism is in fact an illusion. Engines of Development Thesis [] [ 1 ]. Meyer, W.H. 1996. ‘Human Rights and MNCs: Theory Versus Quantitative Analysis’, Human Rights Quarterly 18(2), 368-397. [ 2 ]. Smith, J., Bolyard, M., and Ippolito, A. 1999. ‘Human Rights and the Global Economy: A Response to Meyer’, 21 Human Rights Quarterly 207. [ 3 ]. Meyer, W.H. 1999. ‘Confirming, Infirming, and ‘Falsifying’ Theories of Human Rights: Reflections on Smith, Bolyard, and Ippolito Through the Lens of Lakatos’,Human Rights Quarterly 21(1), 220-228. [ 4 ]. Winston, M.E. ‘Multinational Corporations and Human Rights’, Address at the Mobil Corporation World Affairs Meeting (6 June 1996) cited in Meyer note 25. [ 5 ]. Donnelly, J. International Human Rights (2nd ed. 1998).

Descartes and Dualism Essay -- Dualism Essays

Descartes and Dualism "I think therefore I am," the well known quote of Rene Descartes, is the basis of his theory known as dualism. The intermingling of mind and body or res extensa (extended substance) and res cogitans (thinking substance) displays Descartes' ideas of a "genuine human being" (Cottingham 7). Known as the father of modern philosophy, Descartes realized that one could not analyze a problem simply on the common sense level, but that one must "probe to the micro-level" (Cottingham 4). Through his technique of doubting everything which he believed to exist and establishing a new philosophy, Descartes discovered that without a doubt, the only thing he could truly believe to exist was his own mind. He then supposed that a demon was deceiving him by causing him to believe that which he saw. With this idea, he concluded "all external things are merely the delusions of dreams" (Descartes' Meditations as cited in Cottingham 23) which the demon has devised. By being able to convince himself of ideas and by being able to be deceived b...

Bus210 Appendix G

Appendix G Week 2. Checkpoint Business Organizations Resources:| Resource: Ch. 2 of Introduction to Business| Task: | Write a 200- to 300-word description of a business scenario, either real or fictional, that depicts each of the following forms of business organization:| Joint Stock Company| As a Joint Stock Company I have Chosen The British East India Company. It was granted a royal charter in 1600 with the intention of securing trade with India for England by Elizabeth I. A Joint Stock company has two or more individuals own all the shares of a company. Shares of stock are given in return for each financial contribution and the shareholders are free to transfer their ownership at any time by selling their shares to other share holders. These are known as private companies and the shares are not open to public sale or trading. Any corporate losses have to be paid by the shareholders so there is unlimited liability. Encyclopedia Britannica)| Limited Liability Company| Basically a limited liability corporation means if the company goes belly up, the wealth, and possessions of the owners cannot be taken to repay any debts of the business, only assets in the name of the business can be used to pay off the debt. To my amazement I found that McDonalds is a Limited Liability Corporation. (McDonalds, LLC Corporate home)| Partnership| A partnership is just as it sounds two, or more, people own a business equally. They share all responsibility for the business between them. An example of a Partnership could be the original Johnson and Johnson Company. Now it is a LLC and sells stock, but originally it was a very small company started by 3 brothers in 1886 making surgical dressings. When originally started this was a partnership. (Johnson &Johnson )| Sole Proprietorship| A sole proprietorship is a one man show. Owned, operated, and responsible for all debts by one person. This does not mean they might not have employees, but all the operations of the business are the responsibility of the owner. A good example of this that we might know of is The Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones owns the stadium, the team, and the contracts with the players, and all the rights to the team and the name including the cheerleaders’ name. (NFL 2011)| National Football League Dallas Cowboys. com Johnson and Johnson Corporation McDonalds USA Encyclopedia Britannica inc. copyright 2011

Descartes Proof of the Existence of God in Meditation...

Descartes Proof of the Existence of God in Meditation Three This paper is intended to explain and evaluate Descartes proof for the existence of god in Meditation Three. It shall show the weaknesses in the proof, but also give credit to the strengths in his proof. It will give a background of what Descartes has already accepted as what he truly knows. The paper will also state Descartes two major points for the existence of God and why the points can easily be proven false. The paper will also show that if a God does exist that God can in fact be an evil deceiver. The paper will also show that the idea of a perfect being cannot be conceived by an imperfect being. Descartes starts the meditation by saying what he has already†¦show more content†¦Considering this statement a God could very well exist as a creator, but Descartes states that God is a perfect being and further describes God as follows, I conceive a supreme God, eternal, infinite, immutable, omnipotent, an the universal creator of all things that exist outside of himself. (39 lines 8-11 Descartes, Lafleur) Although this statement does reflect that God is a creator, it also states that God is eternal, infinite, immutable, and omnipotent. Someone cant assume that because you are a creator you are also eternal, infinite, immutable, and omnipotent. Is that to say if you can create life you are also eternal, infinite, immutable, and omnipotent. Furthermore an argument can be made that if something cannot come from nothing, then what or who made God? Descartes tries to answer this question by saying that God created himself, but wouldnt this in fact prove that spontaneous generation can happen leading to the fact that something can come from nothing thus negating the existence of God. Descartes claims that God is all-powerful and completely good, yet gives no proof that God is good. If of course Descartes belief is accepted. You assume that God does exist and that he is all powerful and that the idea of a perfect being does exist only because God put that idea there, then what is to say God is not an evil deceiver who can put any thought that God wishes you to think insideShow MoreRelatedDescartes s Theory Of God1490 Words   |  6 PagesWithin his work, Descartes presents the causal argument, in which he demonstrates the idea that God must exist because everything with an affect must have a cause . This is one approach that Descartes uses to show the proof of God. By the end of meditation two, following onto meditation three Descartes concludes that we as humans are considered as a ‘res cognitas’ in which we are recognised as a thinking thing. However due to humans being known as the ‘res cognitas’ that means God is the ‘perfectRead MoreA Brief Look at Rene Descartes829 Words   |  3 Pages Rene Descartes was a brilliant man who came up with many inventions and thoughts to put in people’s minds and let them ponder off and question life in itself. In one of the many things Rene Descartes created, he wrote a book called Discourse on the Method and Meditations. Descartes discusses how there are two main proofs of God’s existence, the casual argument in meditation three and the ontological argument in meditation five. There are a few differences between these two meditations and one isRead MoreDescartes First Meditation On The Existence Of God1320 Words   |  6 PagesMinglai Dong Descartes Third Meditation: Recommended Topic 2 Descartes’ third meditation on First Philosophy is all about the existence of God. There are many things that Descartes talks about in this meditation. His intentions are to create a set of proofs or arguments that will irrefutably prove God’s existence. He already believes that God exists but he is mainly trying to dispute the reasons why God might not exist or how God may be a deceiver. 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The evil geniusRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1264 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy is a first-person record of Descartes’ descent into the bowels of disbelief, in order to eradicate all flawed belief from his life. In his first meditation, Descartes explains his argument for universal doubt, which leads him to doubt every truth he has ever established. Even the veracity of his sense perception is doubtful, as he renders those perceptions useless by arguing that in dreams, sense perceptions create the wildest of fantasies that cannot beRead MoreDescartes Fourth Meditation On The Existence Of God1382 Words   |  6 PagesIn Descartes’ Fifth Meditation, he delivers an argument that has come to be known as the Ontological Argument. It is here that Descartes argues for the existence of God, through a pri ori reasoning. In order to understand both the strengths and weakness of this argument, I will first break it down into its main premises. 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