Philosophy - Introduction to Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philosophy - Introduction to Ethics - Essay Example Thus moral duty has intrinsic moral worth in itself. This is derived from a priori laws that govern the creation. Basing one’s life on the call of pure, practical reason leads a moral life. According to Kant ‘duty’ was the supreme moral notion in the world. It forms the basis of Kant’s substantive ethics. But no action based on duty leads to creation of a moral law. Duty succeeds moral law and doesn’t precede it. There are no ‘a posteriori’ conditions of the existence of moral laws. However, it has a moral worth that is unconditional and doesn’t depend upon circumstance and the person. On following the duty a person derives the highest moral worth that is based on Universal laws. The realization of one’s sense of duty is the greatest good and treasure trove of happiness. He held that a rational man always performed moral duty yielding the highest good and greatest happiness. Kantian reason says that these universal truths a re a priori, that they exist in nature even before a man realizes them. Kant argued that only universal laws can have the power moral worth to demand abiding sense of duty from the rational beings. A law made by an authority less than nature is fallible. Nature is a perennial source of goodness but was bound by its intrinsic and unalterable laws. The universal laws sustain goodwill and morality lies in spreading goodwill by conforming to the universal laws by an innate yet rational belief in duty. Man has been bestowed with reason to take morally uplifting decisions and actions that not only brought him in consonance with the rational acts of others but also that of nature. Kant suggested that man’s call for moral duty often comes in conflict with his own ‘small nature’; desires borne out of natural impulses. But Kant emphasizes that duty borne of reason yielded the greatest happiness and duty. Thus actions done based on moral duty

Hydrographic Surveying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hydrographic Surveying - Essay Example Since then the science has evolved from a crude form of conjecture to a fairly accurate predictive one. This paper prepares a report form of investigation in which the implications of converting hydrographic surveying based on single-beam echo sounders to multiple-beam ones shall be studied and considered in detail to assess feasibility and functional efficacy with particular reference to Medway Ports, UK. To initiate this noble venture it is first necessary to study a little of Medway Port, Kent, UK, especially in detail to its known navigation features. The Medway Ports authorities define the Medway River as one of the principal trade arteries of the United Kingdom with particular utility to the South East of England through which this river flows before ending into the sea strategically near to the English Channel and the North Sea (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). This proximal position to two main European trade routes, the port's efficient functionality and its easy accessibility to its hinterland by road, rail and water has eventually evolved it into a port of choice for many export and import operators. Cargoes such a fresh produce, forest products, new vehicles and steel and containers pass through it to and fro British soil (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). Actually, the... Actually, the Medway Ports authority is a statutory one and is responsible for a 27 mile stretch of water that is a combination of the Medway and Swale rivers. The authority is responsible for maintaining the rivers and for providing and coordinating pilotage and vessel traffic services to ensure safety of all river users including pleasure boat ones (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). The Ports are mainly a combination of the Sheerness and Chatham docks (Peel Ports Group, Medway Ports, 2007). Britain's first LNG handling terminal was constructed at the Isle of Grain within the Ports complex (Peel Ports Group, Medway Ports, 2007). Pilotage services provided by the Ports authorities are compulsory for vessels of 50 metres and above in length. The Medway Conservancy Board has taken over hydrographic surveying of the Medway Ports system from the Royal Navy Hydrographic Inshore Squadron since the 1960s. Presently, it has tow crafts at its service - the 18.9 metre Medway Surveyor that surveys the main reaches of the Medway and the deeper offshore waters and the 6 metre Medway Recorder which surveys the berths and shallower waters. Both vessels have permanently installed echo sounders that can also work as side scan sonar recorders (Hydrographic Service, Medway Navigation Service, 2007). It is assumed that the echo-sounders are all single beam ones.Hydrographic Surveying Hydrographic surveying is undertaken in two types of operational locations - oceanic or relatively deeper offshore waters and relatively shallower inshore waters. As has already been evidenced with Medway Ports, the former locations are usually surveyed by larger survey ships like the Medway Surveyor and the latter locations by smaller