Thomas Reid’s and Thomas Pain’s Common Sense

Thomas Reid was a philosopher (1710-1796) who moved from being a pastor to professorship at King’s College in Aberdeen in 1752.  After completing his dissertation he founded the Scottish School of Common Sense with his 1764 book entitled An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense. He eventually replaced Adam Smith at the University of Glasgow.

His philosophies didn’t die in the university but continued to spread around the world causing new structures to develop. Modern day America owes as much to Thomas Reid as it does to Thomas Pain. One European concept of Common Sense led to the American Revolution and the shot heard around the world. 

The School of Common Sense was particularly important in Scotland as an almost national philosophy. It is a philosophy which believes that most understanding is within the grasp of the common human mind.  The average human being, with some capacity to make judgments, can determine the general truths and falsehoods of arguments. Only when the information is complex and difficult to grasp does common sense fail. 

The philosophy basically states that most people have daily experiences to provide them information for survival. They have little need to dig into the finite details of arguments. These arguments are the existence of the self, the existence of real objects, and general basic religious/moral principles. We know them to be true because we experience them on a common level. 

The details of how we know we exist, why basic values work, and the nature of world objects don’t really enter the conscious nature of the average man. They take such assumptions on a basic level and rarely question the nature of existence. Spending energy on such concepts is counterproductive for those trying to eat and squeak out an existence. 

Each person exists within a societal order based within their cultural perspective. They have a difficult time questioning their personal position within that social order or the social order itself. Yet without questioning the perceived right of Kings to rule men Thomas Reid’s common sense philosophy would not have made it into Thomas Pain’s Common Sense pamphlet designed to change that social structure (1776).    

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again." -- Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Moving Online Education to a Leadership Position

Dr. Peter Shea from the University of Albany found that all the hoopla about online education being second class compared to on ground education was simply untrue. Concerned about the results of a limited study which found that those who engaged in online classes were less likely to finish college were based upon outlier information. He decided to conduct his own study but instead used national data to generate his results.  Generally, the greater the amount of information included in a study the higher its validity.

Spending on colleges has come under increased scrutiny as budget woes have reared their ugly head. Using data from a 2009 Beginning Post Secondary Student Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, it was found that those who entered online classrooms to obtain an associate’s degree were more likely to graduate. With national graduation rates low, policy makers are concerned not only about return on investment of college in general but also future preparation of the nation. 

Online education has been abused as not worthwhile with a wide range of people joining in the apple throwing. However, over the past few years other similar studies and surveys are finding that in some respects online education may actually be superior to traditional education.  According to Allen & Seaman ( 2013) nearly 70% of U.S. Academic Vice Presidents found that online learning outcomes are as good as or better than ground based classroom courses. 

The growth in online education is remarkable as transient students seek opportunities to maintain their educational goals despite changing lives and demographics. Students may change jobs, locations, and even their lifestyles but online education allows for consistency.  It also provides for very rich interactive content that is not often gained from physical settings. If online education is slightly beating odds as a disruptive technology today imagine what the field is going to look like in the next 10 years. Is there still doubt?

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Eating Turnips on the Moon-NASA Believes it is Possible

Eating turnips on the moon may someday be possible with a new government-business initiative to grow plants in outer space. The Lunar Plant Growth Habitat team comprised of NASA scientists, contractors, volunteers, and students are trying to realize an idea that died decades earlier.  With any luck they will be able to grow a small amount of food on the moon and start greater processes of experimentation.

The primary subjects include basil, sunflowers, turnips and various plants. Each will be placed within a coffee can like device with just about everything they need to grow. The scientists want to see how radiation, limited gravitation, and other space conditions impact the plants. If everything works out well it may someday be possible to grow a food source for stations on other planets.

Each canister works like an incubator. The aluminum cylinders include a camera, sensors, and other electronics. Researchers will be able to measure and view growth from Earth to see which plants are able to grow and which don’t make it. The information may be used to improve upon the canisters for future use.  

The advantage of the government and business collaborative effort reduces costs from $300 million down to a couple of million dollars. With growth in commercialized flight it is possible that many more projects can be hedged with lower costs. NASA uses their knowledge while spurring greater innovation with less risk in the process.  Companies get the advantage of developing new products and services while contributing to national development.

Other Reading:

Forbes

Singularity Hub

Gismodo

Call for Papers: International Journal of Business (IJB)

The International Journal of Business (IJB) and the School of Accountancy Research Centre (SOAR) at the Singapore Management University jointly announce a special issue on research in accounting practice. It aims to bridge the gap between accounting academe and practice by promoting rigorous academic research which can find a solution to a current accounting problem. 

Deadline: November 30, 2013

The International Journal of Business (IJB) will serve and provide a forum for exchange of ideas among business executives and academicians concerned with global business and economic issues. It will publish empirical, analytical, review, and survey articles, as well as case studies related to all areas of global business and economics. For more information on the Journal, visit its website at http://www.craig.csufresno.edu/ijb/.

http://accountancy.smu.edu.sg/faculty-research/school-accountancy-research-soar/call-papers

Creating National Innovation Through Information Diffusion

National innovation is an all growth proposition that seeks to make maximum market gains by exporting relevant products to excited customers. Charging forward with a barrage of new products and services creates a zeitgeist of growth that is not easy to match. The researchers Change and Cui (2013) analyzed the factors that help encourage higher levels of international competition that led to GNP growth and development. 

Countries rely on informal and formal innovation networks to turn good ideas into marketable growth. National innovation systems refer to the innovative network within a country whereby departments and agencies promote innovation through the economic, scientific, and technological organizations (Zheng, 2006). Each of these organizations uses the knowledge of other sectors to enhance their own positions. 

Often countries use more of a closed innovation system. Each company works within a silo and doesn’t share information. Even though great ideas do come forward it is often much slower than what would be realized through higher levels of mutual development. Those countries that can generate more ideas, better products, and lower lead times can dominate the market. 

National innovation can be improved by applying scientific and technical knowledge to the development processing and exportation of products (Wang and Zhang, 2002). As universities develop new methods and people with practical experience apply that knowledge in new ways product enhancement is realized. The transference and application of information is an important criterion in the creative process.

Even though in a knowledge economy the markets transfer information across borders economic hubs should be draws for such information.  Let us assume that a new process for product development is used in one country. It will not take long before that process is copied by others as its benefits become apparent to competitors. Global hubs should be drawing in this knowledge to enhance their local hubs and operations. 

The authors found that technology transfer and diffusion are important elements in growth.  All hubs must draw in, generate and then diffuse information for the greatest possible growth. This occur most often when international trade, foreign investment, and cross border R&D processes are developed. Each hub brings in resources and information and then uses this information to enhance their competitive position.   

Chang, Y. & Cui, X. (2013). The Interactive Relationship of Transnational Technology Transfer & Diffusion and National Innovation Capability. International Journal of Business and Management, 8 (21).

Wang, Z. & Zhang, W. (2002). Foreign direct investment, technology licensing and technology innovation. Economic Research, 3, 69–75.

Zheng, X. (2006). Research Review on National Innovation System. Scientific Management Research, 24(4), 1–5.