Advanta India Limited Expanding International Presence Via Extensive Research and Development

ADVANTA INDIA LIMITED 1  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied T ABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary: Advanta India Limited 2. Advanta India Limited Business Overview Introduction Expertise Product 2. 1 2. 2 Major Investments in the Company Evolution 2. 3 Ownership Structure 2. 4 3. Corporate Timeline Advanta India Limited Organisational Structure Advanta India Limited Products Portfolio 3. 1 3. 2 Field Crops 3. 3 4. Oil Seeds Vegetable Crops Advanta India Limited Financial and Operational Performance 4. 1 4. 2Advanta India Limited Geographical Revenue Segmentation, FY’2011 and FY’2012 4. 3 5. Valuation Analysis and Financial Summary DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) Valuationa and Upside Potential Advanta India Limited Annotated Stock Chart and Analyst Recommendations 5. 1. Advanta India Limited Annotated Stock Price Performance 5. 2. Analyst Recommendations Expected Bullish Stock Performance Buy Recommendation in Long term Expectation of E arning Growth 6. SWOT Analysis Strengths 2  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied WeaknessesOpportunities Threats 7. Advanta India Limited Key Professionals 7. 1. Board of Directors Profile 7. 2. Management Profile 8. Macro Analysis of Seed Industry 8. 1. Indian Hybrid Seed Industry Overview and Size, FY’2008- FY’2012 8. 1. 1 Indian Hybrid Seed Industry Segmentation, FY’2012 8. 1. 2 Market Share of Major Players in the Indian Hybrid Seed Market, FY’2012 8. 2 Australian Seed Industry Market Size, FY’2008-FY’2012 8. 3 Argentina Seed Industry Market Size, FY’2008-FY’-2012 9 Competitive Analysis 9. 1 By Products Offered/Revenue/Business Strategy 9. 2By Financial Performance (Topline/ Enterprise Value/ Multiples) 9. 3 A Relative Valuation Analysis of Indian Seed Industry 10. Advanta India Limied Management Outlook and Future Projection 10. 1. Advanta India Limited Future Projections 10. 2. Advanta I ndia Limited Company Financials Future Projections 10. 3. Advanta India Limited Ratio Analysis 11. Appendix 11. 1. Market Definitions 11. 2. Abbreviations 11. 3. Research Methodology Data Collection Methods Approach Non-linear Factor Based Regression Model 3  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied 1. 4. Disclaimer 4  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied L IST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Advanta India Limited Corporate Timeline 1994-2012 Figure 2: Advanta India Limited Ownership Structure in Percentage as on 31st December 2012 Figure 3: Advanta India Limited Organizational Structure Figure 4: Advanta India Limited Product Portfolio Figure 5: Advanta India Limited Annotated Stock Price Performance on the Basis of Volume Traded and Stock Prices in Thousand Shares and INR per Share, 29th February 2012-1st March 2013Figure 6: India Hybrid Seed Industry Market Size and Contribution in the Overall Indian Seed Market on the Basis of Revenue in INR Crore and Percentage, FY’2008-FY’2012 Figure 7: India Hybrid Seed Industry Segmentation on the Basis of Contribution in the Overall Hybrid Seed Industry in Percentage, FY’2012 Figure 8: Market Share of Major Players in Indian Hybrid Seed Market on the Basis of Contribution by Revenue in Percentage, FY’2012 Figure 9: Australia Seed Industry Market Size on the Basis of the Revenue in INR crore, FY’2008-FY’2012Figure 10: Argentina Seed Industry Market Size on the Basis of Revenue in INR Crore, FY’2008-FY’2012 Figure 11: Advanta India Limited Future Projections on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA Margin and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore and Percentage, 2013-2017 Figure 12: Non-linear Regression Analysis and Scatter Chart Based upon Indian Hybrid Seed Industry Market size, FY’2008-FY’2012 5  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied L IST OF TABLE Table 1: Advanta India Limi ted Financial Summary on the Basis of Revenue, Growth and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore and Percentage, 2008-2012Table 2: Advanta India Limited Major Investments in Company Evaluation on the Basis Deal Stake, Deal Value and Implied Enterprise Value Table 3: Advanta India Limited Ownership Structure on the Basis of Shares Held as on 31st December 2012 Table 4: Advanta India Limited Promoters Stake on the Basis of Number of Shares Held and the Percentage of Shares Held in Shares Outstanding, as on 31st December 2012 Table 5: Advanta India Limited Revenue Segmentation on the Basis of Contribution by Products in the Overall Revenue, in FY’2011-FY’2012Table 6: Advanta India Limited Recent Developments in Oil Seeds Table 7: Advanta India Limited Recent Developments in Field Crops Table 8: Advanta India Limited Recent Developments in Vegetable Crops Table 9: Advanta India Limited Financial Performance on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA Margin and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore, and Percentage, 2008-2012 Table 10: Advanta India Limited Valuation Analysis on the Basis of Market Capitalization, Net Debt and Enterprise Value in INR Crore and Units as on 1st March 2013 Table 11: Advanta India Limited Valuation Multiples on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA and Net Profit Multiples, 2008 -2012Table 12: Advanta India Limited Revenue Segmentation on the Basis of Geographical Contribution in Overall Revenue in Percentage, FY’2011-FY’2012 Table 13: Advanta India Limited Discounted Cash Flow Valuation on the Basis of Weighted Average Cost to Capital, Present Value of Company Valuation and Target Share Price Table 14: Advanta India Limited Sensitivity Analysis of Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Perpetuity Growth Rate and Weighted Average Cost of Capital on the Basis of Perpetuity Growth Rate Method in INR Crore and in PercentageTable 15: Advanta India Limited Board of Directors Table 16: Advanta India Limited Management Profile Table 17: Company Comparables o n the basis of Products Offered, Revenue and Business Strategies 6  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied Table 18: Company Comparable Analysis on the Basis of Financial Performance in INR Crore and Valuation Multiples as on LTM 31st December 2012 Table 19: Company Comparables on the Basis of Revenue in INR Crore, FY’2008-LTM year ending 31st December 2012Table 20: Relative Valuation Analysis on the Basis of Deal Value, Deal Stake, Implied Enterprise Value and Multiples in INR Crore, Percentage and Multiples Table 21: Advanta India Limited Company Balance Sheet, 2011-2015 Table 22: Advanta India Limited Company Income Statement, 2011-2015 Table 23: Advanta India Limited Company Cash Flow Statement, 2011-2015 Table 24: Advanta India Limited Ratio Analysis on the Basis of Liquidity, Asset Management, Profitability and Leverage Ratios in Multiple and Percentage, 2008-2015 Table 25: Regression Coefficients of the Advanta India Limited Table 26: R egression Intercepts of the Advanta India Limited  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied E XECUTIVE SUMMARY: ADVANTA INDIA LIMITED Recommendation: ~ Date: 1st March 2013 Target Price: INR ~ Advanta India Limited is an agronomic seed company with major operations in India, Australia, Thailand, the US and Argentina. The company is involved in production of hybrid seeds of field crop and vegetable seeds. The company specializes in the production of hybrid sunflower seeds by technical plant breeding and application of bio-technological methods.The company was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange the National Stock Exchange of India in 2007 and having its registered office in Hyderabad. Key Differentiators ? ? ? ? Competition and Positioning ? Key Developments ? Advanta is dominant player in the Thailand corn market Dominates the international sorghum market The company has 16 subsidiaries all over the world representing its global presence First Indian m ultinational seed company Advanta dominates the sunflower seed market in Argentina with ~% market share as of 31st December 2011 ? ? ? ?In 2011 the company established a new research and breeding station in Toulouse, France so as to cater the growing demand of the European markets ? ? ? ? Financial Summary Advanta India Limited Financial Summary on the Basis of Revenue, Growth and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore and Percentage, 2008-2012 Particulars 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Revenue Growth% Net Profit% 8  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied C ORPORATE TIMELINE Advanta was established in 1994 as a joint venture between ITC Limited and Zeneca Limited.On 24th January 1994 the company started its production of hybrid seeds from its registered office at Hyderabad. The joint venture was named as ITC Zeneca Limited with the objective of production of hybrid seeds in the Indian seed market. In 1994, the company acquired seed business of Hysun India Limitedà ¢â‚¬ ¦ In 2007, Advanta India Limited came with an IPO of INR ~ crore. The IPO was of ~ equity shares at a price of INR ~ per equity share†¦ Advanta India Limited Corporate Timeline 1994-2012 9  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copiedA DVANTA INDIA LIMITED ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE The company currently has ~ plants in India, out of which ~ plants are located in Andhra Pradesh and ~ plant in Haryana. Out of 16 subsidiaries across the world Advanta Netherland Holdings BV was the highest profit making subsidiary of Advanta, generating a net profit of INR ~ crore during 2011 and Advanta Holdings BV was the highest loss making subsidiary of INR ~ crore in 2011†¦ Advanta India Limited holds ~ shares that is 100. 0% of Advanta Semillas SAIC and ~ shares of Pacific Seeds Pty. Limited implying 100. % stake in the subsidiary†¦ Advanta India Limited Organizational Structure 10  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copie d A DVANTA INDIA LIMITED PRODUCTS PORTFOLIO The company engages in ~ types of hybrid seed products in India and across the globe such as sorghum, corn, cotton, sunflower, mustard, canola and others and for vegetable such as tomato, cauliflower, sweet corn, hot pepper, okra and others. Business cycle of the company is to research and develop, produce and distribute the seeds to farmers through its distributors†¦Advanta India Limited Product Portfolio O IL SEEDS Oil seeds are produced as a source of the production for different types of oil. The oil seed portfolio of the company consists of the three hybrid seeds namely sunflower, canola and Indian mustard. These three products contribute the largest proportion of the company’s revenue†¦ 11  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied The company operates in the Australian canola seed market through its 100. 0% owned subsidiary namely, Pacific Seeds Pty Limited.Pacific Seeds is involved in the production of ~ types of hybrid canola seed variety such as [email  protected], [email  protected], [email  protected], [email  protected] and others. The company has achieved ~ % growth in its global canola business in 2011 y-o-y. The company has a pan India presence in the Indian hybrid mustard market. UPL group in collaboration with state government of Gujarat has entered into a project for the production of coral-432 with the average selling price of seeds INR 22. 5 and average selling price of oil INR 56. 0 under normal conditions.Advanta India Limited Recent Developments in Oil Seeds Countries Recent Developments in Product Portfolio India Mexico A DVANTA INDIA LIMITED FINANCIAL AND O PERATIONAL PERFORMANCE V ALUATION ANALYSIS AND FINANCIAL SUMMARY The company’s revenue has showcased a CAGR growth of 16. 4% from 2008 to 2012. Increase in revenue was due to the expansion of company’s operations in various countries in the last five years by mergers and acquisitions of different companies. Additionally, over the years the company has been spending considerable amount on research and development.These research and development expenditure has produced new and improved products for the company such as PAC 801, PAC 807 and others in hybrid rice seed which had enhanced the company’s revenues. The revenue for 2012 was INR 1073. 0 crore showcasing a growth of 17. 7% by y-o-y†¦ Net profit of the company has increased at a CAGR of ~% from 2008 to 2012†¦ 12  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied The company has been valued at INR ~ crore as on 1st March 2013. The revenue multiple of the company has shown a declining trend.Revenue multiple represents the amount that has to be paid by the investor for purchasing the company’s sales. The revenue multiple has declined at a CAGR of ~% from 2008-2012 showcasing a decline in the value of the company against the company’s sales as the amount of sales has been increasing over the years which implies that the company is now more cheaper to purchase as compare to what it was in 2008†¦ Advanta India Limited Financial Performance on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA Margin and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore, and Percentage, 2008-2012 Particulars (in INR Crore and Percentage) 008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Revenue y-o-y Growth% EBITDA% Net Profit% Advanta India Limited Valuation Analysis on the Basis of Market Capitalization, Net Debt and Enterprise Value in INR Crore and Units as on 1st March 2013 Particulars (in INR Crore and Units) Share Price* Share Outstanding (in Units) Market Capitalization Net Debt Associates/ Minority Interest Enterprise Value Advanta India Limited Valuation Multiples on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA and Net Profit Multiples, 2008-2012 Particulars 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 EV/Revenue EV/ EBITDA EV/Net Profit 13 This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied D CF (DISCOUNTED CASH F LOW) VALUATIONA AND UPSIDE P OTENTIAL Advanta India Limited Discounted Cash Flow Valuation on the Basis of Weighted Average Cost to Capital, Present Value of Company Valuation and Target Share Price Particulars Value (in INR Crore, Percentage and Units) WACC Revenue CAGR over 2013-17E Present Value of Cash Flow till 2017E Terminal Growth Present Value (PV) of terminal cash flow PV of firm Less: Current Debt Total present value of the Equity Number of Equity Shares Outstanding (in Units)DCF – Target price (INR) Advanta India Limited Sensitivity Analysis of Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Perpetuity Growth Rate and Weighted Average Cost of Capital on the Basis of Perpetuity Growth Rate Method in INR Crore and in Percentage Particulars (in INR Crore and Percentage) Weighted Average Cost of Capital Perpetuity Growth Rate 14  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied M ACRO ANALYSIS OF SEED INDUSTRY M ARKET SHARE OF MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE INDIAN HYBRID S EED MARKET, FY’2012 The Indian hybrid seed industry is dominated by Nuziveedu Seeds Private Limited.The company has a market share of ~% in the overall Indian hybrid seed industry, followed by Maharashtra Hybrid Corporation (Mahyco) and Vibha Agrotech Limited which have a share of ~% and ~% respectively. As per the historical trend, the revenue of the seed companies has been inclining†¦ For Monsanto India, corn hybrid was the single biggest focus in seed business. Through its Project Golden Rays project the company has signed a public-private partnership with Rajasthan state government for increasing the maize hybrid yields by two folds. The project involves 7. 8 lakh tribal farmers.The company has a share of 4. 4% in the overall hybrid seed market†¦ Market Share of Major Players in Indian Hybrid Seed Market on the Basis of Contribution by Revenue in Percentage, FY’2012 Nuziveedu Seeds Private limited Maharashtra Hybrid Corporation (Mahyco) Monsanto India Li mited (MIL) Rasi Seeds Private Limited Bayer CropScience Ltd. – India Du Pont Pioneer Syngenta India Ltd. Advanta India Limited Others 15  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied A USTRALIAN SEED INDUSTRY MARKET SIZE, FY’2008-FY’2012 Australia is the second largest exporter of canola in the world.Australian seed market has declined at CAGR of ~% from USD ~ million to USD ~ million from FY’2008 to FY’2012. Decline in the Australian seed industry was mainly due to natural disaster in the country which effected the production of seeds. During the early FY’2000, the seeds industry of Australia was at its peak. The seed sales grew by ~% to USD ~ million in FY’2007 from USD ~ million in FY’2005 due to pleasant weather conditions in the country, higher commodity prices and positive market sentiments†¦ Australian government policies had also played a major role in the performance of the seed industr y of the country.Australian government has strict regulations which have restricted the entry of major players in the country. These strict regulations of the government restricted the growth of the industry and debarred the nation from adoption of hybrid seeds which actually have the potential to increase the agricultural productivity with the limited use of resources. Australia Seed Industry Market Size on the Basis of the Revenue in INR crore, FY’2008FY’2012 2,500. 0 INR Crore 2,000. 0 1,500. 0 1,000. 0 500. 0 0. 0 FY'2008 FY'2009 FY'2010 FY'2011FY'2012 16  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied C OMPETITIVE ANALYSIS B Y FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (TOPLINE/ ENTERPRISE VALUE/ M ULTIPLES) Table: Company Comparable Analysis on the Basis of Financial Performance in INR Crore and Valuation Multiples as on LTM 31st December 2012 (INR Crore, unless Stated) Company Market Cap Last Twelve Months (LTM) Year Ending December 2012 Net Debt Enterprise Value (EV) EV/Revenue EV/EBITDA P/E JK Agri Genetics Limited Advanta Limited India Monsanto Limited India Nath SeedsLimited India Kaveri Seeds Company Limited Mean Median 17  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied Table: Company Comparables on the Basis of Revenue in INR Crore, FY’2008-LTM year ending 31st December 2012 Revenue (in INR Crore) FY’2008 FY’2009 FY’2010 FY’2011 FY’2012 LTM JK Agri Genetics Limited* Advanta India Limited** Monsanto India Limited Kaveri Seeds Company Limited Nath Seeds India Limited A DVANTA INDIA LIMITED FUTURE PROJECTION Advanta India Limited has been focusing the European hybrid seed market.After doing research for over 4 years, the company is planning its first hybrid sunflower seed sale in Romania, Ukraine, Romania and France. Advanta will launce ~ hybrids sunflower seeds products to farmers of these countries under ALTA brand. The ~ hybrids sunflower seeds will generator thei r brand name in future and expected to capture sizable market share in the European seed market. This will lead to an increase in profits of the company in future. The company has recently entered into a genetically modified (GM) corn agreement with Monsanto for two countries namely, Brazil and Philippines.GM corn is developed by adding animal’s DNA into seeds DNA and thus amplifies the utility of the seeds†¦ †¦The company is expected to showcase a revenue growth of CAGR ~% from 2012 to 2017. Additionally, the company is spending substantial amount on research and development of products and these new products will generate positive cash flow in future and will increase the revenue of the company. All these factors will lead to an increase in company’s revenue from INR 1,073. 0 crore in 2012 to ~ crore in 2017. 18  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copiedAdvanta India Limited Future Projections on the Basis of Revenue, EBITDA Ma rgin and Net Profit Margin in INR Crore and Percentage, 2013-2017 3,500. 0 16. 0% 3,000. 0 14. 0% INR Crore 10. 0% 2,000. 0 8. 0% 1,500. 0 6. 0% 1,000. 0 in Percentage 12. 0% 2,500. 0 4. 0% 500. 0 2. 0% 0. 0% 0. 0 FY'2013 Revenue FY'2014 FY'2015 EBITDA Margin FY'2016 FY'2017 Net Profit Margin A DVANTA INDIA LIMITED COMPANY FINANCIALS FUTURE P ROJECTIONS Over the years Advanta India Limited has been showing a constant growth in its shareholders’ funds as the company has been constantly generating after tax net profit expect in 2010.Net worth of the company has increased at a CAGR of ~% from 2009-2012, representing increase in profitability margin of the company. The company is expected to follow the same trend in future and anticipated to increase its net worth at CAGR of ~% from 2012-2015. As of now the contribution of outsider’s funds in the total assets of the business is greater than shareholders’ equity but with the increase in profitability the company is e xpected to reverse this scenario and debt to equity ratio will decrease in future†¦ 19 This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied The company’s cash flow from operation has showcased a positive growth trend in 2011 and 2012. It is anticipated that the cash flow from operation of the company will increase at a CAGR of ~% from 2011-2015 largely due to increase in after tax net profit of the company. In 2015 it is expected that the company will increase its revenue from operations by ~% y-o-y. An average annual growth of ~% is expected in the company’s capital expenditure from 2011-2015 due to commercialization and expansion of business.Overall cash and cash equivalent balance of the company is expected to increase at a CAGR of ~% from 2011-2015†¦ 20  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied D ISCLAIMER The research reports provided by Ken Research are for the personal information of the authorized recipien t and is not for public distribution and should not be reproduced or redistributed without prior permission. You are permitted to print or download extracts from this material for your personal use only. None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use.The information provided in the research documents is from publicly available data and other sources, which are reliable. Efforts are made to try and ensure accuracy of data. With respect to documents available, neither the company nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use will not infringe privately owned rights.The report also includes analysis and views expressed by our research team. The research reports are purely for informatio n purposes. The opinions expressed are our current opinions as of the date appearing in the material and may be subject to change from time to time without notice. 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Requests to republish any material may be sent to us. 21  © This is a licensed product of Ken Research and should not be copied

Pure conversation movement in China Essay

The â€Å"Pure Conversation† (qingtan ) cultural movement emerged in the Wei-Jin period and is defined as not only the approach that scholars communicate with each other, sharing their thoughts, but also a form that shows the main stream of the philosophy thoughts of the society in the Wei-Jin period. (Tang 1991, pg. 18). :This essay will introduce the â€Å"Pure Conversation†(qingtan) movement by analyzing the reason that it emerged and the influences of it. In the first part, the origin of qingtan will be introduced. It is advocated by the historian that qingtan is an extension of qingyi in the late Han dynasty, which will be explained in details later. (Tang 1991, pg. 11)). While discussing the reasons of its origin, some points of view of scholars will be reviewed. Also, the argument that whether the â€Å"Pure Conversation† has negative or positive influences to the society will be discussed. Some scholars believed qingtan is the major reason that caused the fall of the dynasty. (Chan 1963: pg. 314). However, the positive influences of qingtan cannot be ignored. Since qingtan helped to develop Neo-Daoism, it is one side to judge qingtan as a completely negative thing. (Chan,1963:316). In the last part, a comprehensive conclusion will be given to conclude that in what extent qingtan has positive influences and negative influences to the society. :Yiming Tang in his dissertation proposed that the â€Å"Pure Conversation† (qingtan) cultural movement in Wei-Jin period refers to the conversation that conducted by educated elites to discuss about the events including human life, society and the universe. (Tang 1991, pg. 18). :He also pointed out that qingtan often took the form of debate to illustrate the ability of eloquence and rhetorical skills of the participants. (Tang 1991, pg. 18). :Miyazaki Ichisada, a Japanese historian argued that the origin of qingtan could date back to the Han dynasty. (Tang 1991, pg. 11. ). In his opinion, qingtan is an extension of qingyi in the late Han dynasty. (Tang 1991, pg. 11). Brackenridge Scot in his dissertation â€Å"The Character of Wei-Jin qingtan Reading Guo Xiang’s â€Å"Zhuang Zi†Ã¢â‚¬  pointed out that in the Han dynasty, qingyi literally means pure criticism, which is used by the eminent scholars to comment on politics and the talents that the government uses. (Scot 2010, pg. 33). Later, Neo-Taoism (xuanxue ? ? ) flourished in the  Wei-Jin period, the subject of qingyi changed to talking about xuan ?. (Scot 2010, pg. 29). Therefore, the term qingtan replaced qingyi and it was generally referred as xuanyan , tanxuan sometimes. (Scot 2010, pg. 33). ? ? ? ? ? ? ? : There are some reasons that proposed by scholars to analyze why the â€Å"Pure Conversation† (qingtan) cultural movement appeared in the Wei-Jin period. A historian of Chinese philosophy Chan Wing-tsit believed that after the collapse of the Han dynasty, the poor situation of the country did not improved under Wei’s dominant is an important reason. (Chan 1963: pg. 314). It is demonstrated that the continuous war and repeated floods and drought caused a largely decreased population and a poor living standard of people. (Chan 1963: pg. 314) However, the government of the Wei dynasty still repeated the ugly drama of the Han dynasty. (Chan 1963: pg. 314). The corrupt government directly leading to many scholars lost the confidence to the government, thus they refused to serve the government and escape from the reality in order to research the transcendental values using the form of qingtan. (Chan 1963: pg. 314). Further, another historian of Chinese philosophy Fung Yu-lan believed that  the appearance of the â€Å"Pure Conversation† cultural movement followed the trend of the philosophy ideology development in Chinese history. (Fung 1959: pg. 231). In the Han dynasty, thinking of Confucius was the dominated ideology in the society. (Chan 1963, pg. 315). Moreover, the government selected talents by the criteria that whether people can recite the classics of Confucius. (Chan 1963, pg. 316). Therefore, the thinking of Confucius was widely spread and well developed. However, after experienced the continuous war, many precious classical books of Confucius were damaged and destroyed. (Chan 1963: pg. 316). When the  Wei came to the central power, the numbers of the teacher that who teaching the rites and thoughts of Confucius was shapely decreased. (Chan 1963: pg. 316). Therefore, the Daoism with simplified thoughts and rites were widely spread due to this special historical context. Daoism significantly influenced people in the Wei-Jin period which leading to the approach that used to discuss the thinking of Taoism qingtan was very popular. (Fung 1959: pg. 231). As it mentioned before, qingtan often took the form of debate to display the ability of eloquence and rhetorical skills of the participants. The book Shishuo Xinyu complied by Liu Yi-qing , who is a princess of Liu-Song dynasty 420-429, records the activities of scholar officials and noble families from the end of the Han dynasty to the end of the Eastern Jin dynasty. (Tang 1991, pg. 15). This book is the only extant book from Wei-Jin period. (Tang 1991, pg. 15). Although it is traditionally classified as a novella (xiaoshuo ? ? ) and not a history in the strict sense, it is historical intent and can give an impression of the life and thought of the upper social class during Wei-Jin period as Tang argued. (Tang 1991, pg. 16). Professor Richard Mather’s English version of Shishuo Xinyu (Anew account of tales of the world) will be cited in this essay for discussing qingtan. A group of men of letters during the Wei-Jin period (mingshi , â€Å"famous scholars† or â€Å"famous gentlemen†) is noticed as the most famous representation of the activity of qingtan, which is known as the â€Å"Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove† ? ? ? ? (zhulinqixian). (Scot 2010, pg. 2). The â€Å"Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove† including Ji Kang , Ruan Ji ? ?, Shan Tao , Xiang Xiu , Liu Ling , Wang Rong and Ruan Xian . (Scot 2010, pg. 3). Shishuo Xinyu described them as â€Å"The seven used to gather beneath a bamboo grove, letting their fancy free in merry  revelry. † It is pointed out that their life style was opposed to orthodox values (i. e. , Confucian) and government service, and that instead they were devoted to wine, music, literature, and the art of conversation (qingtan). (Chan 1963, pg. 315). Also, they conducted qingtan is described as purely an escape from reality. (Chan 1963: pg. 314). As a representation of advocating qingtan, it can be seen that many educated elites in Wei-Jin period were acting just like the â€Å"Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove†; they did not care about national affairs but conducted qingtan for entertainment all day. Critics judged this type of  behavior as the most important reason for the fall of the dynasty. : Gu Yan-wu (1613-1682) who is a Chinese philologist in the late Ming dynasty and the early Qing dynasty (Bartlett 2009, pg. 185) used the activity of qingtan during the Wei-Jin period as an example to blame scholars in the later Ming dynasty for they do not have concerns about the society but advocate to empty talks, thus the Ming dynasty fell. (Bartlett 2009, pg. 185). In an essay of his work Rizhi lu (Record of Daily Learning), he proposed that: When (the barbarian chiefs) Liu (Yuan) and Shi (Le) invaded China (in  the early 4th century), the root cause was the widespread intellectual collapse due to (Neo-Daoist) qingtan thought; everyone knows that. †¦ They do not study the classical texts, and don’t investigate the records of the great rulers, they substitute empty phrase for the substantial learning of self-cultivation and governing others. (Bartlett 2009, pg. 189). Qingtan directly leading to the result that the regime collapsed is one criticism by scholars to the ethos of talking about xuanxue during the Wei-Jin period. Although it is partial to comment that the regime in Wei-Jin period fell because of qingtan, the truth that the Wei-Jin scholars  abandoned the real world affairs and concentrated on abstract and theoretical activities cannot be denied. No. 3 of Affairs of State from Shishuo Xinshuo demonstrated that: Wang Meng, Liu Tan and the monk Zhi Daolin came to visit general He. However, He was reading documents and letters and paid no attention to them. Wang said to him, â€Å"We’ve come today with Zhi Daolin for a visit, hoping you would lay aside ordinary duties and join us in some abstruse conversation. How does it happen that we find you just now with bowed head reading this stuff? † He replied, â€Å"If I didn’t read ‘this stuff’, how would you fellows manage  to survive? Everyone considered it as a fine answer. It is illustrated by Shishuo Xinshuo that people in Wei-Jin period were aware of the harmful effect of qingtan. Although the criticisms above about qingtan are reasonable, qingtan still have some positive aspects that should be noticed. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? : First of all, it is argued that the aesthetic values of qingtan couldn’t be ignored. Fung in his work Short history of Chinese philosophy pointed out that: The art of such conversation (qingtan) consisted in expressing the best thought, which was usually Daoistic, in the best language and tersest phraseology. (Fung 1959, pg. 231). As it mentioned before, qingtan has high requirement to the ability of eloquence and rhetorical skills of the participants. Tang concluded the critiques of a good qingtan as, first of all, the participants should be creative and not mimic other’s point of view; secondly, their argument should be soundly reasonable and convincing; thirdly, they have to be eloquent and rich in style. (Tang 1991, pg. 43). From the critiques of qingtan, it is demonstrated that qingtan is not only an approach to exchange the intellectual’s thinking but also a form of art to show the beauty of language. More importantly, Chan argued that the most significant influence of qingtan is that the Wei-Jin scholars developed new thinking that is Neo-Taoism (xuanxue) under the effects of the Daoism of the Laozi and Zhuangzi. (Chan,1963:316). The Wei-Jin scholars enjoyed debate with each other, and enjoyed ‘demolishing â€Å"objections†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. (Chan,1963:316). However, they were not satisfied with the argumentation they developed in research of transcendental values, they further exploit the concepts of Taoism and the Neo-Taoism appeared. (Chan,1963:316). Qingtan as the form talking about xuanxue helped Neo-Taoism flourished in the Wei-Jin period. As mentioned, the object of qingtan is talking about xuan, which refers to the content of the three books Zhuangzi , Laozi and Zhouyi . (Scot 2010,pg. 1). However, the foundation of Neo-Daoism was laid by the work of Wei-Jin scholars including Wangbi’s Laozi Zhu (Commentary to Laozi), Guoxiang’s Zhuangzi Zhu (Commentary to Zhuangzi) and Xiangxiu’s Zhouyi Zhu (Commentary to Zhouyi). (Scot 2010,pg. 2). Some examples from Shishuo Xinyu will be present to illustrate how people using qingtan to discuss xuanxue. ? ? ? : No. 55 of Letters and Scholarship recorded that one day Zhidao Lin, Xu, Xie Shengde and others of outstanding virtues were gathered together at the home of Wang Meng. Xie proposed that everyone should all speak or intone poems to express their feelings to memorize the assembly. He then asked everyone present to make an exposition of the title of one of Zhuangzi’s chapter Yufu. Then everyone told him what in his mind and discuss about each other’s idea. This story illustrated that during the Wei-Jin period, it is very normal to see a group of the educated elite gathered together to talk about xuanxue. : â€Å"No. 29 of Letters and Scholarship mentioned that Huan Wen  was assembling the famous and outstanding men of the time for lectures on the Zhouyi and was planning to do one hexagram a day. Emperor Jian Wen heard this he turned back, saying, â€Å"Some of the interpretations will naturally be difficult and some easy. How can each lecture be limited to one hexagram? † From this excerpt it can be seen that talking about Zhouyi was very popular in that time. By conducting qingtan, scholars in the Wei-Jin period developed the concept of â€Å"non-being† of the Daoism of Laozi and Zhuangzi and pursued the reality beyond the space and time instead in research of the mutual  effect between the nature and the man that was the most popular approach in Han thought. (Chan 1963: pg. 317). ; In the Han dynasty, the teachings of Confucius were the dominated philosophy thought. However, the situation was not beneficial for the diversity of the development of culture. (Chan 1963, pg. 317). Therefore, qingtan also helped to improve this situation; people did not necessarily learn the doctrines of Confucius and can gradually develop the ability of independent thinking by practicing qingtan (Chan 1963, pg. 315). Also, it is pointed out that the movement of  qingtan had created a spirit of critical and independent thinking. (Chan 1963, 315). As people no longer view Confucius as ‘a throneless king whose subtle doctrines lay behind his written word’ but ‘an ancient teacher who transmitted the wisdom of the past’. (Chan 1963: pg. 315). In conclusion, this essay introduced the background of the origin of qingtan, meanwhile, the reasons of its emergence were discussed. It is believed that qingtan is an expansion of qingyi that can be date back to the late Han dynasty. However, the subject of qingyi, which is, talking about politics had changed to talk about human life, society and the  universe, thus qingtan emerged. Reasons of its emergence can be concluded as scholars in the Wei-Jin period were disappointed to the government thus they used qingtan as an approach to escape the reality; another reason is that the development of Chinese philosophy helped the emergence of qingtan, since people in that time were attracted to Laozi and Zhuangzi. Before discussing the influences of qingtan, Shishuo Xinyu, a book recorded qingtan from Wei-Jin period was introduced. By referencing some stories from Shishuo Xinyu, the positive influence and negative influence of qingtan were discussed in a comprehensive view. It is argued that qingtan is an approach that used by the elites to escape the reality which leading to that the elites does not care about the national affairs d resulted in that the dynasty collapsed. However, some different perspectives were proposed that qingtan can have some positive effects referring to its aesthetic value, also it helped the Neo-Daoism flourished in the Wei-Jin period and it was beneficial to the diversity of the development of culture. By judging by the appearance, qingtan had negative effects because it prevented the development of the Wei-Jing society. However,  the reason of the fall of the Wei dynasty can be complicated more than just one. It is one side to make the judgment that qingtan directly leading to the fall of the dynasty. Still, the positive aspects should be considered when discussing qingtan. For the most important reason, Neo-Daoism will not be flourished and spread in Wei-Jin period without qingtan. References: Bartlett, Thomas (2009). Phonology as Statecraft in Gu Yanwu’s Thought in Link, P. (ed. ), The Scholar’s Mind in Honor of Frederick W. Mote (pp. 181-206). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press. Chan, Wing-Tsit (1963). A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (1953). A Short History of Chinese Philosophy. Bodde, Derk. (Ed. ). New York: The Macmillan Company. Liu Yi-qing, Shishuo Xinyu A New Account of Tales of the World, trans. Mather, Richard B, (2002). Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan. Scot. J Brackenridge (2010). The Character of Wei-Jin qingtan Reading Guo Xiang’s Zhuangzi commentary as an Expression of Political Practice. Received from ProQuest Digital Dissertations. (AAT 3448864). Tang, Yi-ming (1991). The voices of Wei-Jin scholars: A study of ‘qingtan’. Received from ProQuest Digital Dissertations. (AAT 9202757).

Ecological Footprints Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecological Footprints - Essay Example This paper will explore the concept of ecological footprint as applied in the universe today to monitor the relationship between humanity and nature. First and foremost, the paper will look into what is ecological footprints and then focus on the importance of this concept and lastly explore the strengths, benefits as well as the weaknesses of the concept. Ecological footprint is the metric tool that allows us to evaluate human pressure on the universe and it is defined as a measure of the load imposed on nature by a given population (Spellerberg 108). It can also be defined as the estimate of the land area or land equivalent necessary to sustain current levels of resource consumption and waste assimilation for a given population, where land is the area of the environment including the aquatic habitat (Spellerberg 108). It is for instance estimated that the earth today takes about one year and six months to regenerate the resources used up by humanity and to assimilate the waste prod uced (â€Å"Global Footprint Network†). ... this way, the concept provides a simple way for comparison between the demand for natural resources and the ability of nature to provide, bio capacity. When there is increased ecological footprint, there is increased demand for resources than the capacity of nature to provide and this creates a deficit/gap commonly referred to as overshoot. The world ecological footprint is described to have increased by 50% between the year 1970 and 1997, an increase of about 1.5% per year and the living planet index decreased by about 33% (Spellerberg 108). Overshoot is one of the most underestimated threats to the human population and it is maintained through the utilization of nature in a manner that is not sustainable (Smith 10). The concept of ecological footprint is very useful to the human race and the universe in general as it helps to monitor the use of ecological resources and foster advancements in sustainable development. By measuring the ecological footprint of a certain population be i t individuals, a state, a business or even humanity in general, we can be able to evaluate the pressure we are exerting on the planet and take caution. We will be able to utilize the available resources more wisely and also take individual and even collective initiatives to support and improve the ecological habitat of humanity. A UN projection study for instance shows that if the recent consumption model continues, by the year 2030, humanity will need the equivalent of two Earths to sustain itself (â€Å"Global Footprint Network†). The concept is very instrumental in helping the society deal with the problems that arise from overshoot whereby people are converting resources into waste faster than the waste can be put back into resource. The results of overshoot are devastating to humanity

Performance management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Performance management - Essay Example Impact of organizational culture however depends on its pervasiveness within an organization whether it is widespread, or shared among the members of the group. 2. Can the culture of an organization be changed to increase performance?   To better answer, culture must be first placed in proper perspective of what it is really all about and what it does so that any attempt to determine whether culture can be changed to increase performance will be properly grounded. Culture, is the shared philosophies, ideologies, values, assumptions, beliefs, expectations, attitude, and norms that knit a community together. All of these interrelated psychological qualities reveal a groups agreement, implicit or explicit, on how to approach decisions and problems: â€Å"the ways things are done around here.† (Kilmann, 1986). Culture is manifest in behavioral norms, hidden assumptions, and human nature, each occurring at a different level of depth. â€Å"At its deepest level, culture is the co llective manifestation of human nature – the collection of human dynamics, wants, motives and desires that make a group of people unique† (Kilmann, 1986). Culture is the behavior and mindset that animates the organization to stay in a competitive environment. ... And â€Å"whether a given culture can be changed depends on how deep-seated the culture is and whether multiple culture exist. The deeper the level at which culture change is required and the more cultures there are in the organization, the more difficult and time consuming the culture change process. When culture change involves changing surface-level behavioral norms, it can occur with relative ease because members can articulate what behaviors are required for success today in contrast to those required yesterday. In addition, closing the gap between actual and desire norm is easier if the desired norms are essentially the same throughout the organization – if the environment is homogenous. Even when multiple cultures exist, requiring different changes in each work group, change is still easier to effect when the focus of culture change is on behavioral norms rather than hidden assumptions or hidden nature (Kilmann, 1986). 3. As a senior leader in an organization what can you do to change the culture and in turn increase performance of the business?   As a senior leader in an organization, culture can be changed on a top down when â€Å"one single corporate culture exists (and those at the top thus could be accurate in their view of their desired culture) and if the focus is on changing norms and not assumptions. â€Å"This is however may be difficult to sustain, even though such changes may be easy to bring about; top-down approaches generally result in overt compliance to what is mandated, not covert acceptance† (Kilmann, 1986) So that, a participative approaches to changing underlying assumptions, although difficult and time-consuming to

Levels of Prevention Paper (Primary Health Prevention levels by Essay

Levels of Prevention Paper (Primary Health Prevention levels by Community Health Nurses) - Essay Example Health relates to ensuring the optimal level of well-being in the individual. In the homeless this relates to ensuring that they are as well protected from the effects which being homeless may have on their health as possible. The nursing paradigm relates to the use of the skills of the community nurse in creating and maintaining a relationship with the individual as well as offering appropriate treatment and care. Taking these four metaparadigms into account, primary prevention would be considered to be an effective community health care strategy to use with the homeless. Primary prevention relates to the interventions which the community nurse creates to prevent risk behaviors before they start. In the case of the homeless aggregate this pertains to preventing behaviors which may put the homeless person’s health and well being at risk in order to maintain this at the optimal levels possible given the situation. This could also be considered in terms of maintaining the fourteen areas of nursing care as established by Henderson in the Interactive model of nursing (Tourville and Ingalls, 2003). This framework can be seen in Appendix 1. Primary prevention will be achieved through health promotion and education and health protection in line with this framework, focusing in preventing any behavior which may compromise the elements of the framework. The importance of primary prevention is that it is independent of diagnosis (Wenger, 2006). This means that it is an accessible form of health care, making it particularly suitable for those groups who m ay resist diagnosis, as may be the case for some subgroups of the homeless. This step of primary prevention focuses on the development of accessible health education programs for the homeless. This focuses on using education to prevent any behaviors which may put the health of the individual at risk, such as heavy alcohol consumption, unprotected sex and other risky behaviors. The strategies

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Sociology - Essay Example (2). The social perceptions and social constructs of gender have played a major role in the way in which the two genders have advanced in politics in the United States of America. (3). In this social construct women were considered Ill-equipped for the function of politics, leading to women having hardly any role to play in politics. (1). Women meekly accepted this less than subordinate role in politics, as assigned by social constructs, so much so they played a very small role in the political arena, leading to a situation wherein there was a paucity of women as political leaders, a vacuum that women still strive to fill in the United States of America. Thus the absence of women from the political power structures can be put down to the social construct of women not being naturally built for a role in politics, and the meek acceptance of such a social construct by women for a very long period of time in American politics. (4). The United States has for long been known as the â€Å"melting pot† of diverse races and cultures, which should mean that assimilation has occurred and there is equality in all aspects. However, this is not true particularly in the case of the minorities made up of the African-Americans, the Latinos and the Asians, who have not been assimilated into this land with a white majority, and so do not enjoy equality in all aspects including economic power. (5). This lack of assimilation is important in a land where the whites are in majority and believe that the responsibility of success or failure of an individual or a group of individuals is solely theirs and is a reflection of the effort, culture, and values of the individual or group of individuals. Having been the dominant grouping with access to all the facilities that are required for economic success, while there has been denial to the minorities

Analysis of the Allegory Of The Cave, Delphic Quest, and Aristotle's Essay

Analysis of the Allegory Of The Cave, Delphic Quest, and Aristotle's On The Soul - Essay Example Eventually a prisoner is released and the allegory details his progression out of the cave and into higher states of knowledge. It’s abundantly clear that the prisoners shackled in the cave represent humans at beginning stages of cognitive knowledge. Plato urges the reader to consider the prisoners’ predicament in terms of knowledge, ‘Now consider what would happen if their release from the chains and the healing of their unwisdom should come about in this way.’ As the prisoner is released from the shackles and realizes that the fire and statues have caused the shadows, he has then metaphorically passed from the imagining stage of reason to the belief stage, as evidenced in N. Jordan’s chart. However the prisoner is still unaware of the world outside the cave and as he exits the cave he gradually becomes privy to a higher stage of cognitive development, â€Å"At first it would be easiest to make out shadows, then the images of men and things reflected in water, and later on the things themselves. After that, it would be easier to watch the heavenly bodies and the sky itself † As the prisoner exits the cave, man is correspondingly shown to have entered the thinking stage of cognitive development, where mathematical concepts are implemented through reason to construct and understand the world. The prisoner then enter the final stage of cognitive development where they witness the actual objects that witness the cave from the outside, the actual objects that cause the reflections in the water, and ultimately the sun itself, â€Å"And now he would begin to draw the conclusion that it is the sun that produces the seasons and the course of the year and controls everything in the visible world.† This final stage is the Form of the Good, this seems to correspond to Plato’s concept of the idealized forms and Socrates concept that the unexamined life is not worth living, to conclude that the

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design Article

Epistemology versus Ontology in Research Design - Article Example These elements will provide the examples for the use of ontology instead of epistemology. Therefore, it may be said that this paper has been written on the assumption that ontology is better suited than epistemology for the research design. Finally, there will be a conclusion that will summarize the findings that have been acquired through this paper. The presentation of these findings or reasons as to why ontology is better suited than epistemology will be summarized in a systematic manner. Epistemology: This is a field of study that is closely related to philosophy. Epistemology, through the definition of theories and concepts, seeks to study a body of knowledge by applying the relevant definitions. It is a field of study that uses tools like analysis and interpretation. For the application of epistemology, it is important to have a body of ready to use or analyze factual data. This field combines the study of data with the application of philosophical tools, so as to garner broad generalizations. These generalizations adhere to various truths and beliefs, as may be depicted in the overall perception of the philosophical dimensions of the knowledge being studied. There is a strong scope for the use of logic and reasoning in this area. Justification of findings through various mathematical and statistical modes is also an important part of the field of epistemology. (www.wikipedia.com) Ontology: Ontology is a vast field of study. Its scope is greater than that of epistemology. This can be demonstrated by the fact that epistemology simply seeks to derive various findings through a study of the facts. Ontology on the other, seeks to find all the relevant knowledge that can contribute to a more systematic study of facts for more accurate findings. In the field of ontology, there is a focus on the defining of various parameters from varied perspectives. This helps the researcher reach certain generalizations so as to arrive on the common features of the parameter being studied. These common features can be summarized to form an accurate depiction of the issue at hand. (www.wikipedia.com) At this point, it is imperative to describe the research area. The research area is knowledge management. This part of the paper will contain the reasons throughout the conception of the area, as to why epistemology is less suitable than ontology for this particular research design. The title of the paper is 'Evaluating the Impact of Culture to Knowledge Management Designs, Tools and Implementations in Greece MNCs.' Research Problem This study seeks to investigate the impact of culture in the design, tools and the implementation of knowledge management in Greece. A cross-sectional study on five industries will be used as a sample in order to test the correlation of KM design, tools, and implementation and culture in Greece. At the end of the study, a proposed KM design, tools and implementation procedure will be recommended which can be used for other MNCs in Greece. This

Stress and burnout Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stress and burnout - Research Paper Example Ayala (2002) further indicates that uncontrolled levels of stress can eventually lead to burnout that is detrimental to the overall productivity of employees in an organization. However, stress may be beneficial because it can lead to creativity and inventions at the workplace. Consequently, it is fundamental to discuss the effects of stress and burnout to an organization and its employees. According to Gryna (2004), burnout is a feeling that results from an extended period of stress. Continuous burnout has a hazardous effect that lowers the self-esteem of individuals while on duty. Employees begin disliking their pastime activities in the organizational context. Notably, burnout correlates with emotional instability highlighting the absence of zeal and enthusiasm. Gryna (2004) asserts that burnout is a condition that arises when an individual lacks the motivation to undertake duty. It is equally attributable to prolonged suffering. Clinically, it is complex to guesstimate the level of employee burnout. Problems associated with stress and burnout to the organization One of the major problems associated with stress and burnout is the employees incapability to produce quality results as they did in the past (Ayala, 2002). Consequently, both stress and burnout are the main inhibitors of success to organizations. These two attributes contribute to huge losses to organizations annually. Gryna (2004) affirms that organizations incur losses because of the increased levels of stress among its staff. The most widespread loss is the reduction in the level of employee’s productivity in the organization. Subsequently, stressed employees exude low morale when undertaking duties and obligations. Lack of confidence contributes to their dismal performance at work because strained employees perform poorly. According to Gryna (2004), burnout increases the rates of turnover of employees; thus, increasing the costs required to run operations in an organization. This is beca use an organization will have to incur costs when recruiting new staff to continue with operations. Moreover, organizations will have to invest in training new employees before entrusting them with duties. High turnover due to burnout affects the employees’ loyalty who may feel neglected by the management (Gryna, 2004). This will make it difficult for them to focus on organizational growth. Interestingly, employees in organizations attribute stress to several to harsh working conditions. Problems associated with stress and burnout to the employees According to Arnold, Demerouti & Wilmar (2005), burnout affects employees’ attitude leading to the deterioration of an individual’s health. Subsequently, burnout leads to financial losses. For example, an employee experiencing burnout is prone to commit errors while on duty. Additionally, there are high chances that conflict can arise in an organization when employees experiencing burnout. Stress and burnout does not o nly affect the organization’s performance but they also affect the overall wellbeing of an individual. For instance, stressed employees exude negative emotions while on duty that may influence their lives. Moreover, an employee suffering from burnout is likely to develop chronic illness that may lead to depression. Arnold, Demerouti & Wilmar (2005) indicates that chronic ailments such as type diabetes have been associated with

The Accuracy Of Sensory Information Essay Example for Free

The Accuracy Of Sensory Information Essay There are many reasons to believe the accuracy of sensory information. Here are three feel, see and smell. Feeling sends a message to your brain letting you know what something is. Just say you have been blind folded and an object (cake) has been placed in front of you. In feeling the object you would be able to tell the texture and what the object is. See provides you with accurate information about your surroundings. For instance, if you see individuals playing chess it is certain that they are actually playing. Another good example would be children playing kick ball, what you see is what it is. Smelling means that there could be danger but not in all cases. When there is a desirable smell that could sense that something is cooking or a fragrance. Now there is the type of smell that senses danger. For instance, the smell of smoke means something is on fire. Now I would describe the inaccuracy of sensory information. In the past we all have jumped to conclusions at some point and time. Just say there is a case where you walk in a room and everyone starts to look at you. There’s no doubt that they are looking at you but you sense that they may be talking about you. Now this could mean that you are just insecure and feel that everyone is against you. Your surroundings can determine the action of your sensual organs. Like going down a street and you notice that your car is the only one on the street. The first thing pops into mind is maybe this street is closed or everyone is in a building. If the street was closed it looks like there should be some type of signage. Regardless of the sensual organ we are using it’s not always accurate. This is why we shouldn’t be dependent on them. Nature and nurture is a very debatable topic. Research is still being conducted about the debate on nature and nurture. Nature is said to refer to the qualities of an individual. It has been proven that nature not nurture was responsible for intelligence. On the other hand the genes are nature as well which the physical and personality state is. The physical state consist of weight, eye and hair color. Personality state would be how the person is defined to self and others. On a more personal experience that is considered to be nurture. The way that you were raised or the relation to your childhood plays its role. One’s personal traits are predetermined by their genes. Now overall it’s due to life experiences that define that individual. In my view of nature and nurture I see it as not being stable. There is no doubt that both nature and nurture plays a part in whom we are. When it comes to nurture or otherwise known as environment, it has a higher impact on which we are as individuals. We as humans have brains that all receive a different message. The amount of education a person receives doesn’t tell exactly their level of intelligence. Now it does have some effects on beliefs, behavior and intelligence. Not the person as a whole does it has an effect on. It’s only human that we learn from each other. Being influenced or develop ways of thinking and acting coincides.

Social Inclusion Via Social Skills Training Nursing Essay

Social Inclusion Via Social Skills Training Nursing Essay My patient was 59 year old lady suffering from schizophrenia since 25 years. According to patient she had a happy married life in London, her husband died and she was brought to Pakistan due to her abnormal behavior and her son was also separated from her. Medical file reveals that after her husbands death she had behavioral changes for which she was consulted to psychiatrist and diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was forcefully brought to Karwan-e-Hayat 3 years back due to violent behavior. Since then she is there, presently she is experiencing social isolation as she stayed in her room most of the time, refuses to participate is day care activities and verbalizes that I like to be alone, dont want to meet anyone I have nobody to share my feelings, people here cant help me, everybody think I am mad. I observed her hesitation with people around her weather they are patients, staff or doctors. However one typical observation was that when I forced her to participate in activity she ref uses twice but third time she participated by silently doing the task and went quietly. I noticed that she was facing difficulty in understanding but she didnt ask for any clarification and continued. Reflecting upon the scenario I was motivated to work on something that can help to manage her social isolation. Reviewing through literature I came across concept of social inclusion of patient via social skills training in patient with Schizophrenia. As we know that human is social animal and social interactions are crucial for regulating a successful functioning in the society. According to Mental Health Coordinating Council, MHCC (2007) .Social inclusion is about ability to engage in all aspects of a society that genuinely includes people living with mental illness that supports, intervenes without stigmatization. Further Ware, N.C et.al. (2008) Define it a process through which individuals with psychiatric disabilities develop an increasingly exercise capacities for interpersonal connectedness and citizenship. Social inclusion is essential in schizophrenia as due to cognitive deficits individual social and vocational abilities and hinders routine functionality of a person and make person uncomfortable in social situation. (Dickinson, D.et al.2007). To promote social inclusion in patient I choose social skills training (SST) as it is utilized as a tool to engage patient in routine life and feel as a part of society. SST consists of learning activities utilizing behavioral techniques that enable persons with schizophrenia and other disabling mental disorders to acquire interpersonal and independent living skills for improved functioning in their communities. (Kopelowicz, A. et al, 2006). Reason for selecting it for my patient is that her cognitive deficits have lead to social isolation that makes her uncomfortable in social situations. I have observed her uncomfort while talking with others, hesitating in marinating eye contact and also unable to share her emotions so SST will sever as a basic step in promoting socialization and also help her to feel confident. In Pakistan vast numbers of people are suffering from mild to moderate psychiatric illnesses and an estimated number of mentally disturbed people in Pakistan are even higher (Punjab Institute of Mental Health, PIMH 2009). Only few researches have been conducted on this issue due to low research priority, negative perception about mental illness and low priority of mental health training in the country. One of the study done on psychologists experience of cognitive behavior therapy in Pakistan suggests that despite significant number of psychologists in Pakistan yet psychological interventions play only a minor role in treatment plans in Pakistan. In addition psychotherapies need adjustments for use in Pakistan; they shared four major issues that are hurdles in therapy, its related issues, involvement of the family and modification in therapy service and resource issues. (Naeem et al.2010).However Department of Health Promotion Punjab(2009) is primarily concern to initiate appropriate mental health promotion strategies. They have developed manual to be used for the capacity building of health care providers thus bridging a gap between health care delivery system. They have integrated provision of supportive environment and development of personal skills in component of mental health promotion. They have also planned to facilitate social settings which enhance social network for mentally ill patients. Furthermore their approach towards mental health promotion represents social inclusion, participation, strengthening individuals, communities society to increase social support for sufferers. One of their goals is to encourage people with mental disorders to participate in normal life with their families and friends once treated and stable ,they also provide specialized training to doctors in the field of psychiatry especially for counseling and rehabilitation techniques as this is a weak element in our context .(PIMH 2009).Fortunately it seems that Pakistan has in itiated a step towards mental health promotion which is an achievement and its our responsibility to take this step ahead toward accomplishing goals. Social inclusion is necessary for mental health promotion and for the recovery from mental illness. A social connection is the key for including person in society which includes engaging person with its environment. In relation to my patient as she is an elderly woman, along with her disease process there are other factors that have contributed to social isolation for example: her early widowhood, separation from son due to her psychiatric illness, suspiciousness towards her family members all has lost her social role in her family. (CITRA 2007).Many studies have concluded that social inclusion in older people serve as a protective factor to overcome social isolation. These factors are defined as connection with friends, family members; neighbors children and community (Warburton.J, Lui.C.W.2007). Research done on preventing social isolation among older people suggests that and social activity and group interventions can alleviate social isolation among older people. Researchers agre e that a meaningful social network is a strong support against social isolation in later life. (Cattan.M, et al,2005).For my patient family support is difficult to establish as her son is abroad and she is suspicious to others due to her disease process, presently her community participation can be enhanced for her social inclusion. Here comes the role of SST, In my patient learning social skills will help her to achieve her own personal goals and enhance her communication of feelings and needs and improve the quality her relationships with others which she think is not good. An effective SST program is based on certain principles that include guidance, demonstration, practice and feedback. The amount of time needed to complete a SST program depends on patients performance (Stuart,G.W. 2009).Recent advance in SST by A. Kopelowicz et al. (2006) highlighted that in over 2000 patients with schizophrenia, there was a considerable association between characteristic that reflected social competence, good psychosocial functioning and having confidants as well as subjective reports of high levels of life satisfaction. Moreover research by Dickinson, D.et al. (2007) supports that competent use of social skills by people with schizophrenia is extensively related to actual role functioning in the community. In fact patient s with good social skills, as measured by the MASC (Maryland Assessment of Social Competence.), were more likely than others to have been competitively in employment. Which means that patients can prove themselves if they are well treated on time. According to A. Kopelowicz et al.(2006) The components of the SST procedure are derived from basic principles of human learning, I incorporated social learning theory(Bandura,1989) in relation to my patient scenario, as according to social learning theorist internal cognitive processes influence behavior ,as well as observation of the behaviors of others and the environment in which behavior occur Similarly it outlines three requirements for people to learn behavior include retention, reproduction and motivation to adopt the behavior. All these interactions help person to modify their behavior. (Smith, E. E, et al,2003).Considering my patient, this learning model will help her in learning and modifying her behavior in front of others and m ake her feel comfortable and confident to react in a particular situation. Ultimately this will boost her interaction with others comfortably and her antisocial behavior will be changed. Strategies to promote social inclusion via SST are multidimensional. It varies from individual to group, community and institutional level. At individual level interventions focuses pertinent needs of an individual, successful individual interventions progress to group therapy. At community level, psychological needs of the person should be recognized in adopting social skills by engaging family and creating supportive environment for patient in surroundings. According to A. Kopelowicz et al. (2006) the community-based interactions help them adjust their behaviors to their unique environments and practice and implement the skills that they have tailored. At government or institutional level, awareness session should be held for the provision of knowledge to people and should train personnel, to implement SST as a health promoting practice, for psychiatric patient to promote social inclusion and participation by them, in this way mental illness will not be stigmatized and together we can help theses patient. (MHCC 2007). I have incorporated Learning-Based Procedures Used in Social Skills Training (A. Kopelowicz et al.2006) within the nursing process which involve interventions from all levels. It focuses on needs identification, which was done thorough assessing patient by taking history, doing mental status examination followed by building trust relationship. Specific to socialization I asked patient to share her expectation from self and what changes would she like to make in her routine life? In which she highlighted that I want to be accepted by people. Then setting goals with specification of the social behavior was done by involving patient where patient would be able to participate in social gatherings on her willingness. It was accomplished to certain extend due to her short attention span. Planning was followed by interventions that includes helping her in promoting relationships wherever she can, taught her to begin and maintain conversation; by motivating her in initiating , help her to have voluntary interactions with others especially with her roommate and neighboring people by involving her in activity with others and take part in group. For this behavioral rehearsal approach was taken in which patient demonstrated skills that are needed for quality social interaction. In addition ongoing corrective feedback was given to modify the behavior like she was encouraged to sit throughout the session with other patients. Social modeling was done by observing behavior during OT activities and accordingly modified with the patient. Additionally positive reinforcement was given on improved social behaviors. Implementation process was integrated with social learning theory by considering patient ability to retain and focus on her attention span. I intervene gradually by monitoring patient ability to grab things, and by reinforcing positive behavior of patient. Reproducibility was assured and motivation was given on and off. Moreover, I first time saw patient laughing and involved with others during OT activity and her expression of I am enjoying this activity made me glad. Evaluation was based on asking question regarding her feelings of modified behaviors, Observed her ease in OT activities, able to express herself and less hesitated and maintain eye contact while talking.(A. Kopelowicz et al.2006) I always had a negative feeling towards mentally ill patient, while working with my patient I felt blessed because I was able to see her suffering. It was my prejudice that every person is capable to interact with others in the world with social skills and able to communicate in society .I had this understanding that mentally ill patient usually like to be socially isolated because they have their own world and will not be able to adjust themselves but now I understand that there are so many reasons to it. In fact before reading about SST I didnt know that it has profound benefit in promotion of mental health. This writing helped me to correct my attitude towards mental illness and enrich me with knowledge and importance of social inclusion in patients life. To summarize socialization is a lifetime process and it has great value in every aspects of life. Promoting social inclusion by helping patient to learn social skills will offer support, built confidence , enhance self-esteem in patients which eventually improve the quality of life, promote recovery and leads to successful functioning of individuals in society. As concluded by MHCC (2007) the social inclusion approach offers a valuable frame work to view both the individual and collective responsibility for good mental health. References: Cattan.M, White.M, Bond.J Learmouth.A (2005). Preventing social isolation and loneliness among older people: a systematic review of health promotion interventions. Ageing Society 25 pp 41-67. Cambridge University Press Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA). (2007) Social Isolation: Strategies for Connecting and Engaging Older People. Dickinson.D,Bellack.A.S Gold,J.M.(2007).Social/Communication Skills, Cognition, and Vocational Functioning in Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia Bulletin 33( 5). Kopelowicz, A; Liberman,R. P; Zarate, R. (2006). Recent Advances in Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia.Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32(1), S12-S23. Merton,R Bateman,J, (2007). Social Inclusion: Its Importance to mental health. Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC). Naeem,F; Gobbi,M; Ayub,M; Kingdon,D.(2010).Psychologists experience of cognitive behavior therapy in a developing country: a qualitative study from Pakistan. International Journal of Mental Health Systems.4 (2) Norma C. Ware,N.C;Hopper,K; Tugenberg,T;Dickey,B; Fisher,D. (2008).A Theory of Social Integration as Quality of Life. Psychiatric Services (59) pp 27-33 Rana, N.A. (2009).Mental Health in Primary Care. Punjab Institute of Mental Health. (PIMH). Smith, E. E; Hoeksema, S.N; Fredrickson. B; Loftus,G.R. (2003).Atkinson Hilgards Introduction to Psychology (14th ed.).Thomson:Wadsworth. Stuart,G.W.(2009).Principles and practice of psychiatric nursing(9thed.).St.Louis:Mosby. Warburton.J, Lui.C.W.(2007).Social isolation and loneliness in older people: A literature review. Australasian Centre on Ageing

Tourette Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, and Genetics :: essays research papers fc

Usually, the first symptoms of Tourette Syndrome are facial tics, commonly eye blinking. Other facial tics include nose twitching and grimaces. The next tic to appear will usually be some other minor motor tic such as foot stomping, head jerking, neck stretching, or body twisting and bending.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Affected individuals may also have a vocal tic such as clearing their throat, coughing, grunting, sniffing, yelping, barking, or shouting. Few Tourette Syndrome patients also experience coperlalia-the uttering of inappropriate or obscene words or phrases. They also may repeat words they hear others saying (echolalia).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some individuals touch people or repeat actions in an obsessive manner. Very rarely, patients demonstrate self-harming behavior such as head banging, and lip or cheek biting; only patients with severe TS exhibit such behaviors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tics are random, changing in severity, number, frequency, type, and location. Oftentimes, symptoms will subside for weeks or even months at a time and later reappear.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder in which too much or too little dopamine is produced in the brain. Too much dopamine causes hyperactivity. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter used in the substantia nigra and striatum which are important for movement. Other systems which can be effected by dopamine send axons from the midbrain to the forebrain, including the cerebral cortex. Recent research has shown that TS may also be an abnormality in the genes affecting the brain’s metabolism of neurotransmitters in general.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tourette Syndrome is a highly penetrant, sex influenced autosomal dominant trait that can cause different symptoms in different family members. If the offspring that carries the TS gene is male, his risk of developing symptoms is three to four times higher. In few cases, TS is sporadic and the cause is unknown.

Hamlets Destructive Humor Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework

Hamlet's Destructive Humor      Ã‚   Humor can be funny and uplifting or cynical and destructive. Hamlet's humor insults every one around him and it's very cynical and leads to his downfall. When Hamlet insults people around him, his remarks are not clearly understood by the people who he is insulting. Hamlet makes Polonius look like a fool when he criticizes him with his words, and Polonius doesn't know that he is being fooled. Hamlet even makes fun of the courtiers particularly Rosencrantz and Guildernstern. Although Hamlet doesn't stop there, he even insults Claudius and his own mother, Gertrude. Hamlet's love, Ophelia, is also an unfortunate victim of these remarks. All these insulting remarks show Hamlet's lack of sympathy for other people, and this confusion leads to his downfall.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Hamlet feigns madness, Polonius is the most unfortunate victim of Hamlet's insulting and humorous words. When Polonius asks Hamlet, "Do you know me my lord?" (2.2.173) Hamlet replies by saying, "Excellent well. You are a fishmonger." (2.2.174). Hamlet says that, Polonius is sacrificing his daughter's happiness to win the trust of the king. Hamlet says to Polonius, "For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion-Have you a daughter?" (2.2.182-183). Hamlet says that it is not surprising that Polonius is such a hypocrite, because the life giving sun can produce all kinds of horrible things, especially from other horrible things. Polonius asks Hamlet, "Will you walk out of the air, my lord?"(2.2.204), and Hamlets says, "Into my grave" (2.2.204). When Polonius offers Hamlet to go to a warmer room, Hamlet says he'd rather die than go anywhere with Polonius. All these insulting remarks show that Polon... ...  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet's humor is rude and insulting to people around him; it's very cynical and leads to his downfall. Hamlet proves his cynical humor when he fools Polonius, makes fun of the courtiers and insults Claudius, Gertrude and Ophelia. Hamlet insults Polonius with his words and always finds out what the courtiers were up to. All these experiences show that humor can be joyful but on the other hand it could prove to be very fatal.    Works Cited and Consulted: Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Interpretations Of Hamlet. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Brodwin, Leonora. Hamlet Character Analysis. Monarch Notes. Brodwin's Notes Scott-Hopkins, Benjamin. "Dark Humor of Hamlet" Shakespeare-Online Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Unabridged William Shakespeare. William George Clark and William Aldis Wright, ed. Running Press. 1989.

The Bloomsbury Group Essay -- History People Authors Essays

The Bloomsbury Group The Bloomsbury Group consisted mainly of family, colleagues, and friends who shared ideas in writing and painting. "Bloomsbury" signified a group of people who were close in friendship as well as in talent. The Bloomsberries, who were known as the Bloomsbury Group, spent a tremendous amount of time together. Each individual attempted to contribute valuable ideas to one another’s individual works. Two of the most important aspects of the Bloomsberries were Literature and Art. All members of this circle of intellectuals were vastly incorporated with both of these aspects as well as a few others. The most well recognized writer of this group was Virginia Woolf. "The Bloomsbury Group is a popular collective designation for, a number of English intellectuals prominent in the first quarter of the 20th century, all of whom were individually known for their contributions to the arts or to the social science" (www.funkandwagnall.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/b/6003001758.html). Bloomsbury is a residential and academic district in London. "Bloomsbury" began shortly after the death of Sir Leslie Stephen in 1904" ( Johnstone 3). Leslie Stephen with the help from the Victorians basically prepared a passage for "Bloomsbury" to come about. The death of Sir Leslie Stephen was basically how the Bloomsberries finally came out into the open. "Leslie Stephen’s life, which neatly straddled Victoria’s reign, was an epitome of a facet of the intellectual life of that era" (Johnstone 3). The Bloomsberries and the Victorians were quite diverse in their style of art. The Bloomsberries rebelled against the Victorians. "It is a polemic against the Vic torian establishment and its culture- that culture which Bloomsbury believed ha... ...hroughout all of that she achieved great accomplishments as her life went on. The Bloomsbury Group will always be remembered to many people that have a love for literature. Works Cited http://kvtr.elte.hu/csoport/ago/eng.html http://metalab.unc.edu/cheryb/women/virginia-woolf.html http://www.bloomsburyart.com/list.htm http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/%7evfores/sorian03.html http://www.funkandwagnall.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/b/6003001 758.html http://www.helicon.co.uk http://www.jefferson.village.virginia.edu/elab/hf10225.html http://www.online-library.org/fictions/kew-gardens.html Johnstone, John Keith. The Bloomsbury Group; a study of E.M. Forster, Lytton Strachey, Virginia Woolf, and their circle. New York: Noon Day Press, 1954. Marcus, Jane. Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, c1987. The Bloomsbury Group Essay -- History People Authors Essays The Bloomsbury Group The Bloomsbury Group consisted mainly of family, colleagues, and friends who shared ideas in writing and painting. "Bloomsbury" signified a group of people who were close in friendship as well as in talent. The Bloomsberries, who were known as the Bloomsbury Group, spent a tremendous amount of time together. Each individual attempted to contribute valuable ideas to one another’s individual works. Two of the most important aspects of the Bloomsberries were Literature and Art. All members of this circle of intellectuals were vastly incorporated with both of these aspects as well as a few others. The most well recognized writer of this group was Virginia Woolf. "The Bloomsbury Group is a popular collective designation for, a number of English intellectuals prominent in the first quarter of the 20th century, all of whom were individually known for their contributions to the arts or to the social science" (www.funkandwagnall.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/b/6003001758.html). Bloomsbury is a residential and academic district in London. "Bloomsbury" began shortly after the death of Sir Leslie Stephen in 1904" ( Johnstone 3). Leslie Stephen with the help from the Victorians basically prepared a passage for "Bloomsbury" to come about. The death of Sir Leslie Stephen was basically how the Bloomsberries finally came out into the open. "Leslie Stephen’s life, which neatly straddled Victoria’s reign, was an epitome of a facet of the intellectual life of that era" (Johnstone 3). The Bloomsberries and the Victorians were quite diverse in their style of art. The Bloomsberries rebelled against the Victorians. "It is a polemic against the Vic torian establishment and its culture- that culture which Bloomsbury believed ha... ...hroughout all of that she achieved great accomplishments as her life went on. The Bloomsbury Group will always be remembered to many people that have a love for literature. Works Cited http://kvtr.elte.hu/csoport/ago/eng.html http://metalab.unc.edu/cheryb/women/virginia-woolf.html http://www.bloomsburyart.com/list.htm http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/%7evfores/sorian03.html http://www.funkandwagnall.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/b/6003001 758.html http://www.helicon.co.uk http://www.jefferson.village.virginia.edu/elab/hf10225.html http://www.online-library.org/fictions/kew-gardens.html Johnstone, John Keith. The Bloomsbury Group; a study of E.M. Forster, Lytton Strachey, Virginia Woolf, and their circle. New York: Noon Day Press, 1954. Marcus, Jane. Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, c1987.

Contract Law Assignment Essay

From looking at the facts laid out by Grab regarding the purchase of a sandwich shop, it seems that the most likely action is that of misrepresentation. A misrepresentation is defined at common law as â€Å"a statement of fact made by one party to the other party, which is false. While not necessarily forming a term of the contract, is yet one of the main reasons which induces the one party to enter into the contract† and is supported by the Misrepresentation Act 1967. From the facts of the case according to Grab, it seems that he is unhappy about the purchase of the shop. There are two issues present here concerning misrepresentation. Firstly, he ‘specifically inquires’ to Dino whether Porthampton Institute (who are the shops main customers), if it was going to re-locate out of town, which was said to be rumoured. Grab refers to the statement made by Dino explaining that he had asked a neighbour, who is a senior planning official with the City Council, and assured Grab that â€Å"no move is planned†. Once buying the shop the institute moved out of town, causing the income of the shop to be substantially reduced. The second issue concerning misrepresentation is that of the business turnover for the previous three years. Dino explained to Grab that the shop was receiving ‘up to ,000 per year’. But after purchasing the shop Grab asked his accountant to look over the figures and found that it had only reached ,000 in the last year and was below ,000 for the previous two years. However for Grab to have an action for misrepresentation, he must first prove that Dino’s statements were those of fact and were false. It is necessary to discover whether the statements are a misrepresentation in the legal sense. A false statement of opinion is not a misrepresentation of fact -Bisset v Wilkinson. However, where the person giving the statement was in the position to know the true facts and it can be proved that he couldn’t reasonably have held such a view as a result, his opinion will be treated as a statement of fact. This would apply to the statement made by Dino about Porthampton institute not moving. Grab trusted Dino’s reassurance about ‘no move being planned’, because he had asked a person who looked like they were in the position to know the answer i.e. Dino’s neighbour, a senior planning official for the City Council. In this case to the general person, it would seem that Dino’s statement about the sandwich business having a turnover of up to ,000 per year for the previous three years is a statement of opinion due to the language used. Dino states up to ,000, meaning it may come across as a statement of fact because Grab sees Dino as a person who has owned the business and run it for the last ten years, suggesting that he had some skill or knowledge of the subject matter of his statement. The case of Smith v Land and House Property Corp is an example of how the courts could view Grabs case. In this case a statement that the tenant of the house concerned was a â€Å"very reliable person† which was considered to be a statement of fact rather than a statement of opinion as â€Å"†¦..the opinion was being made by somebody who had the knowledge to make such a statement†, so in my opinion the courts could view Dino’s statement as a statement of fact in this context, as h e had the â€Å"knowledge† to make such a statement due to his position as the owner of the sandwich business. If the courts were going to look deeper into Grab’s case they could look at another issue concerning ‘silence’. Generally silence is not a misrepresentation. The effect of the maxim caveat emptor is that the other party has no duty to disclose problems voluntarily. Thus if one party is labouring under a misapprehension there is no duty on the other party to correct it: Smith v Hughes . However there is an exception to that rule which may help Grab. Half truths – the representor must not misleadingly tell only part of the truth, thus a statement that does not present the whole truth may be regarded as a misrepresentation as in the case of Nottingham Brick & Tile Co. v Butler . We need to find out whether the statements made, induced Grab into signing the contract. The courts would look to four conditions laid down by a series of cases to decide whether the statement did induce the contract to be entered into by the representee. The first of these is defined by the cases of Smith v Chadwick and Museprime Properties Ltd v Adhill Properties Ltd where it was decided that the representation must be material to the subject matter of the contract. The second is that the representee must have relied on the misrepresentation. The misrepresentation has material value – the business profit margin. It can be seen adequateley important enough to influence Grab as a reasonable person. Once Grab has proved that both the statements made by Dino are actionable misrepresentation it is necessary for me to advise him of the type of misrepresentation which has occurred, which depends on the mind of the representor at the time he made the statements. The first type of misrepresentation is fraudulent misrepresentation at common law. I would advise Grab that this bears a very high standard of proof and is very difficult to prove, as he would need to prove that Dino was deliberately dishonest in making the statement. Another type of misrepresentation is that of negligent misstatement at common law. Here the claimant must prove that there was a special relationship between the parties and he must also prove all the elements of the tort of negligence. However, once again this is difficult to prove as the burden of proof is on the ‘wronged party’, and I would advise Grab that it would be difficult to prove that Dino knew that he would act on his representation. I would advise Grab that it would be better to attempt to repudiate the contract under the doctrine of ‘negligent misrepresentation’ under the Misrepresentation Act 1967, for the statement about the turnover of the business being not exactly true. This is because s2 (1) of the act changes the burden of proof, shifting it to Dino who must now prove that he had â€Å"†¦.reasonable grounds to believe †¦.and did believe the statement(s) to be true..† , if Dino cannot prove that he believed the statement to be true  than he will be ‘negligent’, meaning he will be liable for damages and or rescission of the contract (subject to certain bars of rescission). This burden can sometimes be difficult to discharge as shown in the case of Howard Marine & Dredging Co. v Ogden & Sons . I would advise Grab that the decision of the courts in the case of Howard Marine, if it was to be followed by the courts in his case, that it could be an important factor. In Howard Marine the courts said that for them to reasonably believe their statement was true they must take reasonable steps to verify this fact i.e. the manufacturer of the ship. If it is established that Dino did not have proper recordings of the business accounts, this could be a major factor in Grab’s case. Now that damages for negligent misrepresentation may be awarded the question arises whether the representees own negligence, which has contributed to his decision to enter the contract operates to reduce proportionality to the liability of the representor. The courts may take this into account with Grab that contributory negligence is present here, because Dino offered him the chance to look over the business turnover accounts before putting in an offer to purchase. As in the case of Gran Gelato Ltd v Richcliff (group) Ltd , Sir Donald Nicholls V-C decided not to make any reduction in the damages awarded, on the ground that the defendants intended that the plaintiffs should act in reliance on the misrepresentation, so they cannot complain when liability is imposed precisely because the plaintiffs did act in the way the defendants intended . Innocent Misrepresentation is another form of misrepresentation. It must be regarded as a false statement, which was made neither fraudulently nor negligently. In fact, as a result of the wording of s.2 (1) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967, the representee must not only have believed the statement, but must be able to prove that he had reasonable grounds for believing it. The victim of an innocent misrepresentation is entitled to rescission of the contract, and to an indemnity intended to help restore the parties to the position before the contract was made. There is no right to damages for innocent misrepresentation, but the court has a discretion to award damages in lieu of rescission provided the right to rescission has not  been lost – as set out in s.2 (2) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967. It is clear with Grab’s case that Dino made a false statement innocently, which can be believed to be correct because he asked a senior planning official who was a neighbour of Dino. Even though the information was not completely right, it still looks reasonable enough to believe such a statement. Overall, my advice to Grab is if he prosecutes Dino with innocent misrepresentation for the move of the Institute and negligent misrepresentation regarding the turnover of the business, the courts would look into giving Grab the right to rescission, putting him in the position before the contract was first made and also they would calculate the loss of earnings for the ten months that he was in ownership of the sandwich shop and award him with compensation. It is not definite that the courts will uphold both negligent and innocent misrepresentation but the contract between Dino and Grab will definitely become voidable as opposed to becoming void. Meaning that he will receive either rescission or damages, but that would be for the courts to decide. Overall Grab has a strong case against Dino.

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 52-55

CHAPTER 52 The Sprawling 185-acre estate of Chateau Villette was located twenty-five minutes northwest of Paris in the environs of Versailles. Designed by Franà §ois Mansart in 1668 for the Count of Aufflay, it was one of Paris's most significant historical chateaux. Complete with two rectangular lakes and gardens designed by Le N;tre, Chateau Villette was more of a modest castle than a mansion. The estate fondly had become known as la Petite Versailles. Langdon brought the armored truck to a shuddering stop at the foot of the mile-long driveway. Beyond the imposing security gate, Sir Leigh Teabing's residence rose on a meadow in the distance. The sign on the gate was in English: PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO TRESPASSING. As if to proclaim his home a British Isle unto itself, Teabing had not only posted his signs in English, but he had installed his gate's intercom entry system on the right-hand side of the truck – the passenger's side everywhere in Europe except England. Sophie gave the misplaced intercom an odd look. â€Å"And if someone arrives without a passenger?† â€Å"Don't ask.† Langdon had already been through that with Teabing. â€Å"He prefers things the way they are at home.† Sophie rolled down her window. â€Å"Robert, you'd better do the talking.† Langdon shifted his position, leaning out across Sophie to press the intercom button. As he did, an alluring whiff of Sophie's perfume filled his nostrils, and he realized how close they were. He waited there, awkwardly prone, while a telephone began ringing over the small speaker. Finally, the intercom crackled and an irritated French accent spoke. â€Å"Chateau Villette. Who is calling?† â€Å"This is Robert Langdon,† Langdon called out, sprawled across Sophie's lap. â€Å"I'm a friend of Sir Leigh Teabing. I need his help.† â€Å"My master is sleeping. As was I. What is your business with him?† â€Å"It is a private matter. One of great interest to him.† â€Å"Then I'm sure he will be pleased to receive you in the morning.† Langdon shifted his weight. â€Å"It's quite important.† â€Å"As is Sir Leigh's sleep. If you are a friend, then you are aware he is in poor health.† Sir Leigh Teabing had suffered from polio as a child and now wore leg braces and walked with crutches, but Langdon had found him such a lively and colorful man on his last visit that it hardly seemed an infirmity. â€Å"If you would, please tell him I have uncovered new information about the Grail. Information that cannot wait until morning.† There was a long pause. Langdon and Sophie waited, the truck idling loudly. A full minute passed. Finally, someone spoke. â€Å"My good man, I daresay you are still on Harvard Standard Time.† The voice was crisp and light. Langdon grinned, recognizing the thick British accent. â€Å"Leigh, my apologies for waking you at this obscene hour.† â€Å"My manservant tells me that not only are you in Paris, but you speak of the Grail.† â€Å"I thought that might get you out of bed.† â€Å"And so it has.† â€Å"Any chance you'd open the gate for an old friend?† â€Å"Those who seek the truth are more than friends. They are brothers.† Langdon rolled his eyes at Sophie, well accustomed to Teabing's predilection for dramatic antics. â€Å"Indeed I will open the gate,† Teabing proclaimed,† but first I must confirm your heart is true. A test of your honor. You will answer three questions.† Langdon groaned, whispering at Sophie. â€Å"Bear with me here. As I mentioned, he's something of a character.† â€Å"Your first question,† Teabing declared, his tone Herculean. â€Å"Shall I serve you coffee, or tea?† Langdon knew Teabing's feelings about the American phenomenon of coffee. â€Å"Tea,† he replied.† Earl Grey.† â€Å"Excellent. Your second question. Milk or sugar?† Langdon hesitated.† Milk,†Sophie whispered in his ear. â€Å"I think the British take milk.† â€Å"Milk,† Langdon said. Silence. â€Å"Sugar?† Teabing made no reply. Wait! Langdon now recalled the bitter beverage he had been served on his last visit and realized this question was a trick. â€Å"Lemon!† he declared. â€Å"Earl Grey with lemon† â€Å"Indeed.† Teabing sounded deeply amused now. â€Å"And finally, I must make the most grave of inquiries.† Teabing paused and then spoke in a solemn tone. â€Å"In which year did a Harvard sculler last outrow an Oxford man at Henley?† Langdon had no idea, but he could imagine only one reason the question had been asked. â€Å"Surely such a travesty has never occurred.† The gate clicked open. â€Å"Your heart is true, my friend. You may pass.† CHAPTER 53 â€Å"Monsieur Vernet!† The night manager of the Depository Bank of Zurich felt relieved to hear the bank president's voice on the phone. â€Å"Where did you go, sir? The police are here, everyone is waiting for you!† â€Å"I have a little problem,† the bank president said, sounding distressed. â€Å"I need your help right away.† You have more than a little problem, the manager thought. The police had entirely surrounded the bank and were threatening to have the DCPJ captain himself show up with the warrant the bank had demanded. â€Å"How can I help you, sir?† â€Å"Armored truck number three. I need to find it.† Puzzled, the manager checked his delivery schedule. â€Å"It's here. Downstairs at the loading dock.† â€Å"Actually, no. The truck was stolen by the two individuals the police are tracking.† â€Å"What? How did they drive out?† â€Å"I can't go into the specifics on the phone, but we have a situation here that could potentially be extremely unfortunate for the bank.† â€Å"What do you need me to do, sir?† â€Å"I'd like you to activate the truck's emergency transponder.† The night manager's eyes moved to the LoJack control box across the room. Like many armored cars, each of the bank's trucks had been equipped with a radio-controlled homing device, which could be activated remotely from the bank. The manager had only used the emergency system once, after a hijacking, and it had worked flawlessly – locating the truck and transmitting the coordinates to the authorities automatically. Tonight, however, the manager had the impression the president was hoping for a bit more prudence. â€Å"Sir, you are aware that if I activate the LoJack system, the transponder will simultaneously inform the authorities that we have a problem.† Vernet was silent for several seconds. â€Å"Yes, I know. Do it anyway. Truck number three. I'll hold. I need the exact location of that truck the instant you have it.† â€Å"Right away, sir.† Thirty seconds later, forty kilometers away, hidden in the undercarriage of the armored truck, a tiny transponder blinked to life. CHAPTER 54 As Langdon and Sophie drove the armored truck up the winding, poplar-lined driveway toward the house, Sophie could already feel her muscles relaxing. It was a relief to be off the road, and she could think of few safer places to get their feet under them than this private, gated estate owned by a good-natured foreigner. They turned into the sweeping circular driveway, and Chateau Villette came into view on their right. Three stories tall and at least sixty meters long, the edifice had gray stone facing illuminated by outside spotlights. The coarse facade stood in stark juxtaposition to the immaculately landscaped gardens and glassy pond. The inside lights were just now coming on. Rather than driving to the front door, Langdon pulled into a parking area nestled in the evergreens. â€Å"No reason to risk being spotted from the road,† he said. â€Å"Or having Leigh wonder why we arrived in a wrecked armored truck.† Sophie nodded. â€Å"What do we do with the cryptex? We probably shouldn't leave it out here, but if Leigh sees it, he'll certainly want to know what it is.† â€Å"Not to worry,† Langdon said, removing his jacket as he stepped out of the car. He wrapped the tweed coat around the box and held the bundle in his arms like a baby. Sophie looked dubious. â€Å"Subtle.† â€Å"Teabing never answers his own door; he prefers to make an entrance. I'll find somewhere inside to stash this before he joins us.† Langdon paused. â€Å"Actually, I should probably warn you before you meet him. Sir Leigh has a sense of humor that people often find a bit†¦ strange.† Sophie doubted anything tonight would strike her as strange anymore. The pathway to the main entrance was hand-laid cobblestone. It curved to a door of carved oak and cherry with a brass knocker the size of a grapefruit. Before Sophie could grasp the knocker, the door swung open from within. A prim and elegant butler stood before them, making final adjustments on the white tie and tuxedo he had apparently just donned. He looked to be about fifty, with refined features and an austere expression that left little doubt he was unamused by their presence here. â€Å"Sir Leigh will be down presently,† he declared, his accent thick French. â€Å"He is dressing. He prefers not to greet visitors while wearing only a nightshirt. May I take your coat?† He scowled at the bunched-up tweed in Langdon's arms. â€Å"Thank you, I'm fine.† â€Å"Of course you are. Right this way, please.† The butler guided them through a lush marble foyer into an exquisitely adorned drawing room, softly lit by tassel-draped Victorian lamps. The air inside smelled antediluvian, regal somehow, with traces of pipe tobacco, tea leaves, cooking sherry, and the earthen aroma of stone architecture. Against the far wall, flanked between two glistening suits of chain mail armor, was a rough-hewn fireplace large enough to roast an ox. Walking to the hearth, the butler knelt and touched a match to a pre-laid arrangement of oak logs and kindling. A fire quickly crackled to life. The man stood, straightening his jacket. â€Å"His master requests that you make yourselves at home.† With that, he departed, leaving Langdon and Sophie alone. Sophie wondered which of the fireside antiques she was supposed to sit on – the Renaissance velvet divan, the rustic eagle-claw rocker, or the pair of stone pews that looked like they'd been lifted from some Byzantine temple. Langdon unwrapped the cryptex from his coat, walked to the velvet divan, and slid the wooden box deep underneath it, well out of sight. Then, shaking out his jacket, he put it back on, smoothed the lapels, and smiled at Sophie as he sat down directly over the stashed treasure. The divan it is, Sophie thought, taking a seat beside him. As she stared into the growing fire, enjoying the warmth, Sophie had the sensation that her grandfather would have loved this room. The dark wood paneling was bedecked with Old Master paintings, one of which Sophie recognized as a Poussin, her grandfather's second-favorite painter. On the mantel above the fireplace, an alabaster bust of Isis watched over the room. Beneath the Egyptian goddess, inside the fireplace, two stone gargoyles served as andirons, their mouths gaping to reveal their menacing hollow throats. Gargoyles had always terrified Sophie as a child; that was, until her grandfather cured her of the fear by taking her atop Notre Dame Cathedral in a rainstorm. â€Å"Princess, look at these silly creatures,† he had told her, pointing to the gargoyle rainspouts with their mouths gushing water. â€Å"Do you hear that funny sound in their throats?† Sophie nodded, having to smile at the burping sound of the water gurgling through their throats. â€Å"They're gargling,†her grandfather told her. â€Å"Gargariser! And that's where they get the silly name â€Å"gargoyles†.† Sophie had never again been afraid. The fond memory caused Sophie a pang of sadness as the harsh reality of the murder gripped her again. Grand-pere is gone.She pictured the cryptex under the divan and wondered if Leigh Teabing would have any idea how to open it. Or if we even should ask him.Sophie's grandfather's final words had instructed her to find Robert Langdon. He had said nothing about involving anyone else. We needed somewhere to hide, Sophie said, deciding to trust Robert's judgment. â€Å"Sir Robert!† a voice bellowed somewhere behind them. â€Å"I see you travel with a maiden.† Langdon stood up. Sophie jumped to her feet as well. The voice had come from the top of a curled staircase that snaked up to the shadows of the second floor. At the top of the stairs, a form moved in the shadows, only his silhouette visible. â€Å"Good evening,† Langdon called up. â€Å"Sir Leigh, may I present Sophie Neveu.† â€Å"An honor.† Teabing moved into the light.† Thank you for having us,† Sophie said, now seeing the man wore metal leg braces and used crutches. He was coming down one stair at a time. â€Å"I realize it's quite late.† â€Å"It is so late, my dear, it's early.† He laughed. â€Å"Vous n'etes pas Americaine?† Sophie shook her head. â€Å"Parisienne.† â€Å"Your English is superb.† â€Å"Thank you. I studied at the Royal Holloway.† â€Å"So then, that explains it.† Teabing hobbled lower through the shadows. â€Å"Perhaps Robert told you I schooled just down the road at Oxford.† Teabing fixed Langdon with a devilish smile. â€Å"Of course, I also applied to Harvard as my safety school.† Their host arrived at the bottom of the stairs, appearing to Sophie no more like a knight than Sir Elton John. Portly and ruby-faced, Sir Leigh Teabing had bushy red hair and jovial hazel eyes that seemed to twinkle as he spoke. He wore pleated pants and a roomy silk shirt under a paisley vest. Despite the aluminum braces on his legs, he carried himself with a resilient, vertical dignity that seemed more a by-product of noble ancestry than any kind of conscious effort. Teabing arrived and extended a hand to Langdon. â€Å"Robert, you've lost weight.† Langdon grinned. â€Å"And you've found some.† Teabing laughed heartily, patting his rotund belly. â€Å"Touche. My only carnal pleasures these days seem to be culinary.† Turning now to Sophie, he gently took her hand, bowing his head slightly, breathing lightly on her fingers, and diverting his eyes. â€Å"M'lady.† Sophie glanced at Langdon, uncertain whether she'd stepped back in time or into a nuthouse. The butler who had answered the door now entered carrying a tea service, which he arranged on a table in front of the fireplace. â€Å"This is Remy Legaludec,† Teabing said,† my manservant.† The slender butler gave a stiff nod and disappeared yet again. â€Å"Remy is Lyonais,†Teabing whispered, as if it were an unfortunate disease. â€Å"But he does sauces quite nicely.† Langdon looked amused. â€Å"I would have thought you'd import an English staff?† â€Å"Good heavens, no! I would not wish a British chef on anyone except the French tax collectors.† He glanced over at Sophie. â€Å"Pardonnez-moi, Mademoiselle Neveu. Please be assured that my distaste for the French extends only to politics and the soccer pitch. Your government steals my money, and your football squad recently humiliated us.† Sophie offered an easy smile. Teabing eyed her a moment and then looked at Langdon. â€Å"Something has happened. You both look shaken.† Langdon nodded. â€Å"We've had an interesting night, Leigh.† â€Å"No doubt. You arrive on my doorstep unannounced in the middle of the night speaking of the Grail. Tell me, is this indeed about the Grail, or did you simply say that because you know it is the lone topic for which I would rouse myself in the middle of the night?† A little of both, Sophie thought, picturing the cryptex hidden beneath the couch. â€Å"Leigh,† Langdon said,† we'd like to talk to you about the Priory of Sion.† Teabing's bushy eyebrows arched with intrigue. â€Å"The keepers. So this is indeed about the Grail. You say you come with information? Something new, Robert?† â€Å"Perhaps. We're not quite sure. We might have a better idea if we could get some information from you first.† Teabing wagged his finger. â€Å"Ever the wily American. A game of quid pro quo. Very well. I am at your service. What is it I can tell you?† Langdon sighed. â€Å"I was hoping you would be kind enough to explain to Ms. Neveu the true nature of the Holy Grail.† Teabing looked stunned. â€Å"She doesn't know?† Langdon shook his head. The smile that grew on Teabing's face was almost obscene. â€Å"Robert, you've brought me a virgin?† Langdon winced, glancing at Sophie. â€Å"Virgin is the term Grail enthusiasts use to describe anyone who has never heard the true Grail story.† Teabing turned eagerly to Sophie. â€Å"How much do you know, my dear?† Sophie quickly outlined what Langdon had explained earlier – the Priory of Sion, the Knights Templar, the Sangreal documents, and the Holy Grail, which many claimed was not a cup†¦ but rather something far more powerful. â€Å"That's all?† Teabing fired Langdon a scandalous look. â€Å"Robert, I thought you were a gentleman. You've robbed her of the climax!† â€Å"I know, I thought perhaps you and I could†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Langdon apparently decided the unseemly metaphor had gone far enough. Teabing already had Sophie locked in his twinkling gaze. â€Å"You are a Grail virgin, my dear. And trust me, you will never forget your first time.† CHAPTER 55 Seated on the divan beside Langdon, Sophie drank her tea and ate a scone, feeling the welcome effects of caffeine and food. Sir Leigh Teabing was beaming as he awkwardly paced before the open fire, his leg braces clicking on the stone hearth. â€Å"The Holy Grail,† Teabing said, his voice sermonic. â€Å"Most people ask me only where it is. I fear that is a question I may never answer.† He turned and looked directly at Sophie. â€Å"However†¦ the far more relevant question is this: What is the Holy Grail?† Sophie sensed a rising air of academic anticipation now in both of her male companions. â€Å"To fully understand the Grail,† Teabing continued,† we must first understand the Bible. How well do you know the New Testament?† Sophie shrugged. â€Å"Not at all, really. I was raised by a man who worshipped Leonardo Da Vinci.† Teabing looked both startled and pleased. â€Å"An enlightened soul. Superb! Then you must be aware that Leonardo was one of the keepers of the secret of the Holy Grail. And he hid clues in his art.† â€Å"Robert told me as much, yes.† â€Å"And Da Vinci's views on the New Testament?† â€Å"I have no idea.† Teabing's eyes turned mirthful as he motioned to the bookshelf across the room. â€Å"Robert, would you mind? On the bottom shelf. La Storia di Leonardo.† Langdon went across the room, found a large art book, and brought it back, setting it down on the table between them. Twisting the book to face Sophie, Teabing flipped open the heavy cover and pointed inside the rear cover to a series of quotations. â€Å"From Da Vinci's notebook on polemics and speculation,† Teabing said, indicating one quote in particular. â€Å"I think you'll find this relevant to our discussion.† Sophie read the words. Many have made a trade of delusions and false miracles, deceiving the stupid multitude. – LEONARDO DA VINCI â€Å"Here's another,† Teabing said, pointing to a different quote. Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes! – LEONARDO DA VINCI Sophie felt a little chill. â€Å"Da Vinci is talking about the Bible?† Teabing nodded. â€Å"Leonardo's feelings about the Bible relate directly to the Holy Grail. In fact, Da Vinci painted the true Grail, which I will show you momentarily, but first we must speak of the Bible.† Teabing smiled. â€Å"And everything you need to know about the Bible can be summed up by the great canon doctor Martyn Percy.† Teabing cleared his throat and declared,† The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.† â€Å"Okay.† â€Å"Jesus Christ was a historical figure of staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic and inspirational leader the world has ever seen. As the prophesied Messiah, Jesus toppled kings, inspired millions, and founded new philosophies. As a descendant of the lines of King Solomon and King David, Jesus possessed a rightful claim to the throne of the King of the Jews. Understandably, His life was recorded by thousands of followers across the land.† Teabing paused to sip his tea and then placed the cup back on the mantel. â€Å"More than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John among them. â€Å"Who chose which gospels to include?† Sophie asked. â€Å"Aha!† Teabing burst in with enthusiasm. â€Å"The fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.† â€Å"I thought Constantine was a Christian,† Sophie said. â€Å"Hardly,† Teabing scoffed. â€Å"He was a lifelong pagan who was baptized on his deathbed, too weak to protest. In Constantine's day, Rome's official religion was sun worship – the cult of Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun – and Constantine was its head priest. Unfortunately for him, a growing religious turmoil was gripping Rome. Three centuries after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Christ's followers had multiplied exponentially. Christians and pagans began warring, and the conflict grew to such proportions that it threatened to rend Rome in two. Constantine decided something had to be done. In 325 A. D. , he decided to unify Rome under a single religion. Christianity.† Sophie was surprised. â€Å"Why would a pagan emperor choose Christianity as the official religion?† Teabing chuckled. â€Å"Constantine was a very good businessman. He could see that Christianity was on the rise, and he simply backed the winning horse. Historians still mar vel at the brilliance with which Constantine converted the sun-worshipping pagans to Christianity. By fusing pagan symbols, dates, and rituals into the growing Christian tradition, he created a kind of hybrid religion that was acceptable to both parties.† â€Å"Transmogrification,† Langdon said. â€Å"The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Jesus. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual – the miter, the altar, the doxology, and communion, the act of† God-eating† – were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.† Teabing groaned. â€Å"Don't get a symbologist started on Christian icons. Nothing in Christianity is original. The pre-Christian God Mithras – called the Son of God and the Light of the World – was born on December 25, died, was buried in a rock tomb, and then resurrected in three days. By the way, December 25 is also the birthday of Osiris, Adonis, and Dionysus. The newborn Krishna was presented with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Even Christianity's weekly holy day was stolen from the pagans.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"Originally,† Langdon said,† Christianity honored the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday, but Constantine shifted it to coincide with the pagan's veneration day of the sun.† He paused, grinning. â€Å"To this day, most churchgoers attend services on Sunday morning with no idea that they are there on account of the pagan sun god's weekly tribute – Sunday.† Sophie's head was spinning. â€Å"And all of this relates to the Grail?† â€Å"Indeed,† Teabing said. â€Å"Stay with me. During this fusion of religions, Constantine needed to strengthen the new Christian tradition, and held a famous ecumenical gathering known as the Council of Nicaea.† Sophie had heard of it only insofar as its being the birthplace of the Nicene Creed. â€Å"At this gathering,† Teabing said,† many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon – the date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the administration of sacraments, and, of course, the divinityof Jesus.† â€Å"I don't follow. His divinity?† â€Å"My dear,† Teabing declared,† until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet†¦ a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal.† â€Å"Not the Son of God?† â€Å"Right,† Teabing said. â€Å"Jesus' establishment as ‘the Son of God' was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea.† â€Å"Hold on. You're saying Jesus' divinity was the result of a vote?† â€Å"A relatively close vote at that,† Teabing added. â€Å"Nonetheless, establishing Christ's divinity was critical to the further unification of the Roman empire and to the new Vatican power base. By officially endorsing Jesus as the Son of God, Constantine turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchallengeable. This not only precluded further pagan challenges to Christianity, but now the followers of Christ were able to redeem themselves only via the established sacred channel – the Roman Catholic Church.† Sophie glanced at Langdon, and he gave her a soft nod of concurrence. â€Å"It was all about power,† Teabing continued. â€Å"Christ as Messiah was critical to the functioning of Church and state. Many scholars claim that the early Church literally stole Jesus from His original followers, hijacking His human message, shrouding it in an impenetrable cloak of divinity, and using it to expand their own power. I've written several books on the topic.† â€Å"And I assume devout Christians send you hate mail on a daily basis?† â€Å"Why would they?† Teabing countered. â€Å"The vast majority of educated Christians know the history of their faith. Jesus was indeed a great and powerful man. Constantine's underhanded political maneuvers don't diminish the majesty of Christ's life. Nobody is saying Christ was a fraud, or denying that He walked the earth and inspired millions to better lives. All we are saying is that Constantine took advantage of Christ's substantial influence and importance. And in doing so, he shaped the face of Ch ristianity as we know it today.† Sophie glanced at the art book before her, eager to move on and see the Da Vinci painting of the Holy Grail. â€Å"The twist is this,† Teabing said, talking faster now. â€Å"Because Constantine upgraded Jesus' status almost four centuries after Jesus' death, thousands of documents already existed chronicling His life as a mortal man. To rewrite the history books, Constantine knew he would need a bold stroke. From this sprang the most profound moment in Christian history.† Teabing paused, eyeing Sophie. â€Å"Constantine commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ's human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned.† â€Å"An interesting note,† Langdon added. â€Å"Anyone who chose the forbidden gospels over Constantine's version was deemed a heretic. The word heretic derives from that moment in history. The Latin word haereticus means ‘choice.' Those who ‘chose' the original history of Christ were the world's first heretics.† â€Å"Fortunately for historians,† Teabing said,† some of the gospels that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950s hidden in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert. And, of course, the Coptic Scrolls in 1945 at Nag Hammadi. In addition to telling the true Grail story, these documents speak of Christ's ministry in very human terms. Of course, the Vatican, in keeping with their tradition of misinformation, tried very hard to suppress the release of these scrolls. And why wouldn't they? The scrolls highlight glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda – to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.† â€Å"And yet,† Langdon countered,† it's important to remember that the modern Church's desire to suppress these documents comes from a sincere belief in their established view of Christ. The Vatican is made up of deeply pious men who truly believe these contrary documents could only be false testimony.† Teabing chuckled as he eased himself into a chair opposite Sophie. â€Å"As you can see, our professor has a far softer heart for Rome than I do. Nonetheless, he is correct about the modern clergy believing these opposing documents are false testimony. That's understandable. Constantine's Bible has been their truth for ages. Nobody is more indoctrinated than the indoctrinator.† â€Å"What he means,† Langdon said,† is that we worship the gods of our fathers.† â€Å"What I mean,† Teabing countered,† is that almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.As are the stories about the Holy Grail.† Sophie looked again at the Da Vinci quote before her. Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes! Teabing reached for the book and flipped toward the center. â€Å"And finally, before I show you Da Vinci's paintings of the Holy Grail, I'd like you to take a quick look at this.† He opened the book to a colorful graphic that spanned both full pages. â€Å"I assume you recognize this fresco?† He's kidding, right? Sophie was staring at the most famous fresco of all time – The Last Supper – Da Vinci's legendary painting from the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie near Milan. The decaying fresco portrayed Jesus and His disciples at the moment that Jesus announced one of them would betray Him. â€Å"I know the fresco, yes.† â€Å"Then perhaps you would indulge me this little game? Close your eyes if you would.† Uncertain, Sophie closed her eyes.† Where is Jesus sitting?† Teabing asked. â€Å"In the center.† â€Å"Good. And what food are He and His disciples breaking and eating?† â€Å"Bread.† Obviously.† Superb. And what drink?† â€Å"Wine. They drank wine.† â€Å"Great. And one final question. How many wineglasses are on the table?† Sophie paused, realizing it was the trick question. And after dinner, Jesus took the cup of wine, sharing it with His disciples. â€Å"One cup,† she said. â€Å"The chalice.† The Cup of Christ.The Holy Grail. â€Å"Jesus passed a single chalice of wine, just as modern Christians do at communion.† Teabing sighed. â€Å"Open your eyes.† She did. Teabing was grinning smugly. Sophie looked down at the painting, seeing to her astonishment that everyone at the table had a glass of wine, including Christ. Thirteen cups. Moreover, the cups were tiny, stemless, and made of glass. There was no chalice in the painting. No Holy Grail. Teabing's eyes twinkled. â€Å"A bit strange, don't you think, considering that both the Bible and our standard Grail legend celebrate this moment as the definitive arrival of the Holy Grail. Oddly, Da Vinci appears to have forgotten to paint the Cup of Christ.† â€Å"Surely art scholars must have noted that.† â€Å"You will be shocked to learn what anomalies Da Vinci included here that most scholars either do not see or simply choose to ignore. This fresco, in fact, is the entire key to the Holy Grail mystery. Da Vinci lays it all out in the open in The Last Supper† Sophie scanned the work eagerly. â€Å"Does this fresco tell us what the Grail really is?† â€Å"Not what it is,† Teabing whispered. â€Å"But rather who it is. The Holy Grail is not a thing. It is, in fact†¦ a person†