Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

Understanding Health Insurance Basics

Medicaid vs. Medicare

Medicaid: Medical assistance for low-income persons or families. This is "means-tested," meaning eligibility is based on income.

Medicare: Health insurance for those aged 65 and older, certain individuals under 65 with disabilities, or those with End-Stage Renal Disease. Funded by employer-employee taxes from paychecks.

Medicare Parts

• Part A: Hospital Insurance
• Part B: Medical Insurance (includes options like HMO, PPO, fee-for-service)
• Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

Medigap (Medicare Supplemental Insurance)

Private insurance plans designed to fill in "gaps" not covered by Medicare.

→ Each policy typically covers one person.

Limits Set by Insurance Companies

• Per Claim Maximum: The maximum

The Making of Amends for Wrong or Injury Done - Reparation

Tending to Talk a Great Deal - Loquacious

To Prove to Be False or Erroneous, as an Opinion or Charge - Refutable

Showing Great Attention to Detail, Very Careful and Precise - Meticulous

A Right or Privilege Exclusive to a Particular Individual or Class - Prerogative

A Person New to or Inexperienced in a Field or Situation - Novice

Dangerously High or Steep - Precipitous

The Ability to Make Good Judgements and Quick Decisions, Typically in a Particular Domain - Acumen

Having or Showing a Strong or Unreasoning Desire for Revenge - Vindictive

A Spontaneous or Natural Liking Sympathy for Someone or Something - Affinity

Not Conspicuous or Attracting Attention - Unobtrusive

The Character and Atmosphere... Continue reading "Reparation, Loquacious, Refutable, and More: Vocabulary Words Explained" »

Coordinated Propositions

• Intercourse: and, or
• Dilemmas: or, or
• Adversity: but, however
• Explanation: that is, or
• Dilemma: because...because, well...well, some...others

Subordinate Clauses

Adjective Clauses

Introduced by: what, who, where, when, how, whose, which.

Noun Clauses

Introduced by: that, if, who, what, where, how, when.

Adverbial Clauses

• Time: then, later, soon, now, today, if, etc.
• Place: here, there, where, far, near, up, down, etc.
• Manner: so, as, as if, following, well, badly, fairly, etc.
• Comparison: as much as, rather than, less than, more than, equal to, greater than, less than, better than, worse than, etc.
• Cause: because, since, as, having been produced, etc.
• Consequence: so that, so, therefore, etc.
• Condition: if, provided that, etc.
• Concession:

Essential English Vocabulary

Here's a compilation of useful English words and their meanings, categorized for easier learning:

Common Verbs and Adjectives

• Over: Finished
• Complain: Say that you aren't satisfied
• Jumpers: Sweaters
• Down: Sad
• Fades: Become less bright
• Rise: Get up
• Sight: View
• Costumes: Clothes
• Tend: Are more likely
• Flicker: Move quickly
• Amazing: Wonderful
• Displays: Shows
• Dishes: Foods
• Such as: For example
• Truly: Really
• Join in: Do an activity with others
• Turn up: Arrive
• Share out: Divide
• Wet: Humid
• Cross: Angry
• Tough: Hard
• As: Because
• Harbour: Place on the coast...
• Loads: Many
• Scruffy: Dirty
• Crowded: Full
• Perform: Entertain an audience
• Stage: Platform
• Sightseeing: Visiting places
• Soak up: (British) Absorb
• Claim: Say that something is true
• Appeal: Be attractive
• Cater:

Core Police Functions and Patrol Principles

Robert Peel's Principles

According to Robert Peel, key police functions include:

• Deterring crime
• Enhancing the feeling of public safety
• Making officers available for service

Wilson's Patrol Theory

James Q. Wilson explains that patrol aims to create an impression of police omnipresence, thereby eliminating opportunities for misconduct.

Types of Police Patrol

Hot Spot Patrol

Officers are assigned to patrol locations receiving an above-average concentration of crime. This method has proven effective in numerous studies (20-25 cited).

Foot Patrol

Officers are assigned to patrol designated areas on foot rather than in vehicles.

Organizational Styles in Policing (James Wilson)

James Q. Wilson identified three primary... Continue reading "Police Patrol Methods, Styles, and Supervision" »

Taylor on Subjective Meaning in Life

Taylor uses a paradigmatic example... it lies outside him.

Our life is like... We wonder what the point of it all is. If “the point of any living thing’s life is, evidently, nothing but life itself,” then why do we do anything at all? So then Taylor introduces the concept of impulses...

This is the “subjective meaning”: what makes our life meaningful depends upon one having the desire to do the activities that make up one's life. Taylor states that although we cannot have an objective meaning of life, we can still have subjective meaning...

Wiggins' Critique of Taylor's View

Wiggins thinks that Taylor’s position is incoherent. On Wiggins' view, a purpose has no permanence, and even if it did, its... Continue reading "Subjective vs Objective Meaning: Taylor, Wiggins & Schopenhauer" »

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Philosophy of Non-Violence

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," natural laws are described as being created under the universal moral law, or in this case, the law of God. These truths were originated to be the essentials of what makes us human. However, unjust laws were made to create unequal treatment between two groups of our society: the rich and the poor. Therefore, favoring one side to become superior while the other side is weakened. Civil disobedience is refusing to comply with the government's commands, in which facing the consequences will likely occur. Rather than submitting to unjust laws, King used the acts of civil disobedience to achieve seemingly impossible goals. Furthermore, these... Continue reading "Civil Disobedience and Ethical Humanism: Principles of Justice" »

Transitions are words or phrases that connect two ideas. Transitions help your reader follow your line of thought. You can use transitions to add information, contrast ideas, or show cause and effect. A transition usually connects two sentences or independent clauses. When it connects two sentences, use a period. When it connects two independent clauses, use a semicolon (;). When it begins a sentence or clause, use a comma after the transition.

Adding Information with Transitions

You can use transitional words such as the conjunctive adverbs also and furthermore to add information to a statement.

More people are being born than are dying. Also, people are living longer. The building will have 180 floors; furthermore, it will have stores and cinemas.... Continue reading "Using Transition Words and Phrases Effectively" »