Challenging For Engineers: Roundabouts Case Essay Example For College

The Creative Middle Ground Approach

In this case, there is a discussion of roundabouts as challenging for engineers and an arguable method to lower the number of accidents on roads. Although it is the elegant solution to the issues of traffic congestion frequently present, emissions of gases from automobiles, and roadway fatalities, there are conflicts present. However, constructing roundabouts in those busy intersections where they are needed the most, i.e., on bypass roads and combined overpass, can be a successful middle-ground approach.

Conflicting Interests

The conflicts are present in this case, making it necessary to choose where roundabouts are more beneficial than deteriorative carefully. Roundabouts can smooth traffic flow at busy junctions and reduce the probability of fatal accidents due to forcing drivers to lower their speed (Appendix – roundabouts, n.d.). However, it is difficult to navigate on them during bad weather, they provide no priority for emergency vehicles, and they are difficult for pedestrians, especially the visually impaired, to cross (Janous, 2016). They are also more cost-consuming to build while less expensive to maintain. Their efficiency significantly depends on the place conjunction they are constructed at.

Options Available

It is possible to list options available to an engineer in this case. Abandon the idea of building roundabouts. Neglect ADA mandating all transportation facilities be equally accessible to all the citizens and build roundabouts. Continue to develop roundabouts to make them more advanced and simpler in use for both pedestrians and drivers. Those are potential ways of resolving this case, each of which has its pros and cons.

Recommendations

It is possible to recommend constructing roundabouts only in some busy congestions where vehicles, especially heavy ones, are more frequently present, while the need for pedestrians to cross such conjunctions is rare. Further development of roundabouts is also due to ensure complete safety, simplicity of use, and cost-efficiency. It is likely that roundabouts are a useful intervention that needs to be applied only in certain situations.

References

Appendix – roundabouts. (n.d.). Web.

Janous, B. (2016). Are roundabout a silver bullet. Mike on Traffic. Web.

Is “Ethics And Economics” An Oxymoron?

The idea that economics is thoroughly divorced from ethics has been disturbingly persistent among general audiences. While the premises for the specified assumption could be seen as understandable given the multiple examples of global companies engaging in dishonest practices to multiply their benefits, economics should be seen as inseparable from ethics. The idea of combining ethics and economics is not an oxymoron since ethical business practices represent the only foundation for healthy economic relationships and the resulting growth of businesses.

The main reason why placing ethical standards alongside economic interactions is not an inherently absurd action but, instead, a major necessity concerns the importance of ensuring that the needs of all parties are met and that no breach of legal regulations or other established practices occurs (Albareda and Sison 729). Compliance with ethical principles in the context of economics creates mutual trust and the foundation for building new business connections, thus, allowing the economies involved to flourish.

Understandably, the need to prioritize the issues about a participant’s interests is likely to create scenarios where engaging in fraudulent activities for a quick yet sizeable gain becomes unbearably alluring. However, the specified path will inevitably lead to the discovery of the deception and the resulting cancellation of any further cooperation (Albareda and Sison 731). Since the specified outcome is detrimental to economic development and alignment with the principles of economics, “ethics and economics” as a tandem must not be viewed as an oxymoron.

The very nature of economics must be seen as inherently related to ethics due to its primary focus. Despite the common belief of economics revolving primarily around the issue of money and financial transactions, numerous scholars point out that economics incorporates the study of people and their behaviors as participants of trade relationships in an economic context (Albareda and Sison 732). Therefore, ethical standards must apply to economics, making the two entities inseparable.

Indeed, a quick consideration of the examples of companies breaking ethical standards indicates that their actions have not only demolished their credibility, but also contributed to the deterioration of economic relationships. For instance, the infamous case of Enron fraud has led to a significant increase in mistrust toward the idea of stock participation in American citizens, causing multiple smaller companies to dissolve (Tang et al. 921). As a result, SMEs, which constitute a crucial part of the U.S. economy, suffered significant damage, which undermined the state’s economy (Tang et al. 935). Consequently, the interactions between the primary concepts of economics resulting in the sunken costs and lost benefits, have confirmed the need for economics to be viewed as inseparable from ethics.

Since ethics represents the key requirement for companies to maintain credibility and customer loyalty, the concept of ethics and economics as an inseparable entities must not be seen as an oxymoron. Instead, economics must be seen as inseparable from ethics. In the grand scheme, ethics should also be considered connected to economics since ethical principles must be followed in every aspect of people’s interactions, including trade. Therefore, while building an economics-related setting where ethical standards are followed is quite difficult due to the challenges associated with the promotion of respective moral values and principles to all participants, economics itself is not divorced from ethics. Quite the contrary, the two combine naturally and allow for robust and fruitful collaboration.

Works Cited

Albareda, Laura, and Alejo Jose G. Sison. “Commons Organizing: Embedding Common Good and Institutions for Collective Action. Insights from Ethics and Economics”. Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 166, no. 4, 2020, pp. 727-743. Web.

Tang, Thomas Li-Ping, et al. “Monetary Intelligence and Behavioral Economics across 32 Cultures: Good Apples Enjoy Good Quality of Life in Good Barrels”. Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 148, no. 4, 2018, pp. 893-917. Web.

Universalizing Of Religion Of Islam

Introduction

Islam religion maintains that the great good is peace, which means the total surrender to the will of God and the greatest goal of man’s life is the only way to attaining the mission. “Muhammadanism” was used instead of “Islam” until recently. According to them, it seemed it seem to bear the meaning of worshipping Muhammad. The term “Islam” is meant for all creation and not for just a particular individual or state, nor does it imply such a relationship. (Andrew,113-125).

The universalism of Islam’s Religion is based on the message of the prophet Muhammad

Muhammad founded the Islam religion in Mecca. Mohammed was an entrepreneur and was also managing the business of his wife Khadijah, who was also a rich entrepreneur. Mohammad started visiting caves outside the city to find ample sites for meditation because of his great interest in Religion. Muslims believe That one night as Mohammad was meditating, he heard Angel Gabriel’s voice, which instructed him that he was the messenger of God. He was convinced that this was the voice of true Allah speaking through Angel Gabriel and therefore began insisting that other gods are evil and spreading Islam’s Religion. (“Writing the Life of Muhammad”)

Muhammad’s message was based majorly on five pillars of faith and duties which represented submission to God’s will by Muslims. These include Faith, the Declaration of faith that there is no God but Allah must be recited by a new believer converting to Islam. Muslims must pray five times a day while facing the city of Mecca. This takes place mostly in mosques or anywhere. They also give a special religious tax termed Alms by giving the poor money. They also fast from sunup to sundown in the month of Ramadan, eating basic meals at the end of the day. This implies that food and water are not more important than faith. Finally, they are expected at least once in a lifetime to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. This is referred to as Hajj, which takes place annually.

Qur’an is the most vital source of religious authority and is believed to be a holy book with actual words of Allah. According to Muslims, the will of Allah was expressed through Angel Gabriel, which was revealed to Muhammad. After the prophet died, the revelations were summed up in a book, the Qur’an. Ten years after the Hijrah, the prophet died in 632 CE, and Religion had spread over a huge part of the Arabian Peninsula. His life implied that what followed had to be a different formation because he was the last prophesying. A formation of government set up called caliphate was formed, which ruled of the middle of the caliph. By the 8th century, the land of the Atlantic Ocean had been conquered by Muslim armies to the Indus river, and the caliphate stretched 6000 miles west and east. An important role was certainly played by the Religion’s zeal. (“Resilient Prophet”)

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on the massage of Prophet Muhammad which is believed to have been conveyed to him from Allah through Angel Gabriel while he was meditating in the caves. The only God was Allah, and all the other gods were evil. The Muslims believe and respected this massage which led to Universalizing of the Religion of Islam originating from the Arabian Peninsula spreading rapidly across Afro-Eurasia. This was the reason why Islam continued spreading after the prophet Muhammad died.

References

“The Resilient Prophet.” The Prophet Muhammad, 2020.

“Writing the Life of Muhammad.” The Prophet Muhammad, 2020.

Andrew, Youpa. “Summum Mentis Bonum.” The Ethics of Joy, 2019, pp. 113-125.