Rhythmic Foundations, and the Necessary Aesthetic in Peirce’s Categories :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Rhythmic Foundations, and the Necessary Aesthetic in Peirce’s Categories ABSTRACT: There has been a tendency in scholarship to steer quite clear of discussions of Peirce and Aesthetics, and I believe that the main reason that Peirce’s works lacks, perhaps even intentionally, a clear aesthetic theory is because his entire architectonic of experience is aesthetically founded. This thesis is based, in part, on the necessary aesthetic descriptions one is forced to use when describing something such as the categories. For example, Secondness necessarily elicits aesthetic descriptions of relations and tensions, Thirdness is described most accurately with words such as harmony and arrangement, and the process by which we come to attain a belief is an "aesthetic" endeavor aimed at satisfaction. Focusing particularly on the categories, and secondarily on the method for attaining belief, I hope to show that Peirce’s foundation is, itself, an aesthetic awareness of life. There has been a tendency to steer quite clear of discussions of Peirce and Aesthetics. Over and over, statements by Peircean scholars attest to the lack of philosophical guidance regarding the status and judgment of art that is available in his writings.(1) Peirce himself states that, "My notion would be that there are innumerable varieties of esthetic quality, but no purely esthetic grade of excellence."(2) Doug Anderson also states that a Peircean aesthetic is hard to piece together because it was a "very late addition to Peirce’s classification of the sciences." That is, even though aesthetics is presupposed by ethics, logic, and metaphysics, in Peirce’s prioritization of the sciences, his intention was that aesthetics was to be understood through the work he had already done in the other branches of his system.(3) This vagueness hasn’t, however, prevented scholars from speculating on the aesthetic in Peirce’s works. Yet even so, we are still faced with many problems. First is the "paleontological reconstruction", as Herman Parret states, of the various minuscule references by Peirce regarding the aesthetic. Second, it is claimed that if any approach to a Peircean aesthetic is going to be worthwhile, it will probably be too large to handle because it must incorporate his views on logic, metaphysics and theology.(4) Third, as pointed out by Beverly Kent, Peirce seems to conflate two senses of the aesthetic, where it is both a quality that is immediately present and an ultimate ideal.(5) I will argue that the main reason that Peirce’s works lacks, perhaps even intentionally, a clear aesthetic theory is because his depiction of experience is aesthetically founded.

Welfare Reform Act Hcr 230

The Welfare Reform Act Today I will be discussing the Welfare Reform Act and if it has caused existing Medicaid beneficiaries to lose needed coverage and if the welfare act has kept eligible Medicaid candidates from enrolling. Also I will discuss whether or not the welfare reform act has been effective in reducing welfare fraud, increasing personal goals, and basically if it has been able to successfully meet its goals that it had been intended to meet. Welfare Reform Act was established in 1996 with the intentions of changing the social welfare policy of the country.The idea was to reduce the number of people or families that were dependent on government assistance while at the same time helping these people become more independent. They have the welfare to work program which required work in exchange for time limited financial assistance, which is part of the reform act. Also they Job Search which are classes that give people the basic skills that they never had before. For example the taught people how to dress for job interviews, fill out an application correctly, make a resume and how to speak when at a job interview. Teaching them what kinds of questions are asked and how to answer them.There debates about how well the welfare programs work but at least people have more education on the steps needed to get a job. However the initial welfare programs are out dated and needed to be reformed since no programs ever will seem to be able to meet every need of every low income or underprivileged individual or family, more reforms are needed even still. However, â€Å"within 3 years of the reforms enactment, millions of Americans had moved from being dependent on welfare to being self-sufficient. In addition, agencies reported a reduction in the number of social welfare cases. In 2004, the Welfare-to-Work program ended, but during the time this program was active millions of Americans lives were changed for the better (US Welfare System-Help for US Citizens, 201 2). The Welfare Act does affect individuals who receive Medicaid benefits because rules and guidelines can often be changed for participants who participate in this insurance plan. Individuals who gain insurance through Medicaid usually can get it through the TANF program and if there is not a TANF program in place then individuals will not be able to apply for Medicaid benefits.There are many questions that are unanswered such as, â€Å"Should the Medicaid program be considered a health financing program or a welfare program? Should states be given the same flexibility to design and redesign Medicaid programs as was being considered for cash welfare programs? † (Moore,. 1999) Medicaid participants sometimes remain un-enrolled even though they are needy as a result of the Welfare Reform Act, because each state can define their own criteria for eligibility and services and expand or deny services entirely to certain groups that the Department of Human Service staff would belie ve to be a good cause (Moore,. 999). HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), issued a regulation that extends the time allowed to process Medicaid eligibility redeterminations from up to 45 days to up to 120 days. This extension recognizes the extra work states will have to perform to process redeterminations of Medicaid eligibility for individuals who lose SSI as a result of welfare reform provisions and assures that Federal Medicaid matching funds will continue while the redeterminations are made.States generally are not permitted to terminate an individual's Medicaid benefits until it is determined that the individual does not qualify for Medicaid as part of any other eligibility group (Gundling, R. 1997). The Welfare Reform Act is effective in reducing welfare fraud to a certain degree. In other words they have not gotten rid of fraudulent acts but they have reduced them.Here in San Bernardino County they not only check yo ur state identification and your social security card making sure they match up correctly but also run both name and number to be sure there is not a case open anywhere else but they also have you bring in prove of residency and then take your picture and finger prints and run them the system. All of that has helped along with getting rid of paper food stamps and giving out like a debit card that both cash aid and food stamps are out onto once a month. Before people would trade their food stamps like money almost and now you can’t do that.They can only be used for what they were intended for and only at stores that accept EBT otherwise known as Electronic Benefits Transfer which is one’s food stamps and cash aid. So while they have reduced fraud at the same time they increased personal responsibility because since you cannot trade as before people are more likely to do the right thing with their EBT and that goes for stores to because with the EBT cards there is a bett er record of what is being paid for with the EBT so store owners cannot get away with selling items not allowed to be purchased with the food stamps portion on the EBT card.This holds them responsible for their part in committing a fraudulent act. I remember when it was the paper food stamps and in recent years had to receive the new EBT for a short time and was happy to learn about the changes. These rules protect more than just the government but the honest people as well. The Welfare Reform Act has been successful in meeting its intended goals such as placing families on job searches, or providing education needs and training. Also the Welfare Act had other goals such as having families not rely on government benefits and gain employment which has happened for the most part.References US Welfare System-Help for US Citizens. (2012). Welfare Reform-Social Welfare Change. Retrieved from http://www. welfareinfo. org/reform/ Valerius, J. (2008). Medical Insurance. An Integrated Claims Process Approach (3rd Ed. ). Moore, J. D. (1999). Welfare Reform and Its Impact on Medicaid. Retrieved from http://www. nhpf. org/library/issue-briefs/IB732_WelfRef;Mcaid_2-26-99. pdf Gundling, R. (1997). Welfare reform's effect on Medicaid eligibility. Hfm (Healthcare Financial Management), 51(5), 88.

How to Keep a Lake Healthy and Clean

Living with a lake view can be a wonderful way to feel close to nature, to enjoy aquatic activities, and to experience the seasons as they go by. However, owning lakeshore property comes with responsibilities towards the ecological health of the lake. To be able to continue enjoying the natural beauty and recreational activities a lake has to offer, and to  keep your propertys value up, here are a few steps to consider: Minimize Runoff Pollution is perhaps the most direct threat to a lake ecosystem. In the absence of industrial waste discharge, much of the pollutants come from rainfall runoff. Perhaps the single most important step to prevent water pollution is to control the amount of pollutant that gets into the lake washed in by rainfall. This can be accomplished through several approaches: Minimize your lawn area. Maintaining a grass lawn is often thought to mean the application of fertilizers and herbicides and it is very difficult to dose them precisely. Rain will transport excess fertilizer into the lake, which will stimulate smelly, unsightly, and potentially toxic algal blooms. Consider skipping the fertilizer, and learn to live with an imperfect lawn. Better yet, cut down on the amount of lawn you need to maintain. Herbicides can be toxic to aquatic life – if you need to use them, spot treat the problem areas as needed.Capture runoff from impervious surfaces. Rooftops and driveways are examples of impervious surfaces, which do not allow water to percolate into the soil. Instead, rainwater collects pollutants and speeds off, contributing to soil erosion. These soil particles end up in lakes, creating sedimentation problems. Roof runoff can be captured with rain barrels, and later used to water flower beds. Road runoff can be routed into a rain garden made o f water-loving plants. The energy of the moving water will be absorbed, slowing down erosion, and the suspended particles will get deposited in the garden, instead of in the lake. If you’re planning a new or replacement driveway, consider permeable ones made of pavers which lets run water through and reach the soil. Protect Natural Shoreline Vegetation Bare lawn all the way to the shoreline might be an aesthetic that appeals to some, but it is hurtful to a lake. It is important to protect existing vegetation along the shoreline: the shrubs and trees there keep the shallow waters cooler, preventing unsightly algal blooms and protecting fish habitat. The plants’ roots hold on to the shoreline soil, preventing erosion. A thick vegetation strip along the shore also acts as a buffer, absorbing pollutants and sediment flowing towards the lake.Replace lost or damaged shoreline vegetation by planting native species. Your local nursery should be able to suggest fast-growing, hardy plants adapted to wet shoreline conditions. Discourage Invasive Species When landscaping your property, stick to native plant species, especially along the shoreline. Exotic plants can become invasive and rapidly spread along the shore, displacing native ones and disrupting the aquatic ecosystem. Damaging invasive  plants include phragmites, purple loosestrife, and reed canary grass.A common way for invasive aquatics plants to enter a lake is by hitching a ride on a boat (an invasive species vector). Bits of algae or plant can be stuck on a boat propeller, or on the trailer, and be accidentally transferred from one lake to another. To avoid this,  take precautions before putting a boat in and better yet consider the possibility of implementing a boat inspection station at the public boat ramp. Many states have grants to assist landowner associations in funding these inspections. Particularly worrisome are Eurasian water-milfoil and​ the spiny water flea, as they can radically transform a lake’s ecology and significantly alter recreation al activities. Friendlier Fishing Countless lakes now have invasive fish species that were introduced by anglers. Don’t be a bucket biologist – only use native fish, crayfish, and leeches as bait. Many lakes have aquatic ecosystems that have now been transformed by the introduction of yellow perch, golden shiners, or rock bass.A particularly insidious form of lake pollution is lead to lost tackle. Practice lead-free fishing, and avoid making the wildlife sick. Loons, grebes, ducks, and bald eagles are particularly vulnerable. Practice Green Boating Motorboat activities can be disruptive to a lake’s health in many ways. Avoid these issues by choosing human-powered options: canoe, kayak, sailboat, or stand-up paddleboard.If you are using a motorboat, favor four-stroke engines over two-stroke ones. They have better fuel economy, fewer emissions, and are quieter. They also do not release unburned fuel into the water, which two-strokes do.Mind your wake. Slow down when you are near shore, as the wave action created by boats can increase shore erosion, releasing sediment, and damage shoreline vegetation. Controlling Waste Water Follow existing local ordinances for your septic systems. Regulations specify a minimum distance between the lake shore and your septic system. In addition, regular inspections and maintenance will ensure it functions properly. Leaky septic systems are a major source of nutrient pollution.Mind the products that end up in your septic tank – one of the main issues is the algae-feeding phosphate in soaps. Laundry detergent is now largely phosphate-free in the United States, but many dish-washing soap brands still contain it.However tempting it is, avoid washing in the lake. Shampoos and soaps contain chemicals that are not friendly to aquatic ecosystems, despite the â€Å"biodegradable† or â€Å"all natural† labels on the bottle. Going the Extra Mile Join your lake association and be a voice for conservation. When issues arise, research them and promote environmentally sound solutions. In the United States, state departments of natural resources usually have limnologists (lake scientists) who can answer your questions. In addition, many state universities have cooperative extension services which may be able to help you.Be involved with your regional land trust. They may be able to help you protect pieces of shoreline property that are key to the health of a lake.