HCOB2503:INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

GROUP 5: ASSIGNMENT
HCOB 2503 : INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

TACKLED QUESTIONS
Discuss eight organizational factors that have resulted to employees distress in the workplace
and the solutions to employee stress management
Discuss the role which the leaders mentioned below played in world politics and critique their
personality types
 Adolf Hitler
 Maoz Dong
 Joseph Stalin
Philosophy refers to the study of general and fundamental problems in the society which is
connected to the mind, reality, reason and language .in lieu to the above statement, discuss the
reasons why there has been high increase of suicide cases among campus students in Kenya and
give solutions to the vice
INTRODUCTION
DR. Myles Munroe being my role model hence a philosopher he came up with so many quotes
which inspires me on how to live amongst them includes;
 “The greatest tragedy in life is not death but a life without purpose”
 “solid character will reflect itself in consistent behavior, while poor character will seek to
hide behind deceptive words and actions”
 “one of the greatest tragedy in life is to watch potential die untapped”
 “we are the sum total of what we have learned from all who have taught us, both great
and small”
 “God did not create woman from man’s head, that he should command her, nor from his
feet, that she should be his slave, but rather from his side, that she should be near his
heart”

QUESTION ONE
1. Excessively high workloads

Excessive workloads with unrealistic deadlines can make employees feel rushed, under
pressure and overwhelmed.
This can make employees to be stressed because of the pressure to complete the work
within the set time limit.

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For example, the general manager may give accountants huge tasks of transactions to
carry out and due to the small number of accountants then available accountants may get
pressure to complete the work hence being stressed

2. Bullying and or harassment

Some senior employees may take advantage of new recruits who have not been in the
work place and its now their first time and end up abusing their rights by giving them hug
tasks and set deadlines for them and expect uncompromised respect from them.
The new recruits will be under pressure and hence be under stress
For example, when you first join the firm as an accountant and the employees you get
there leave all the work to you and avoid you in most of key decisions hence using you as
their machine you work, this leads to stress and hence demotivation.

3. A poor physical working environment

If the working environment has for example, excessive heat, cold or noise, inadequate
lighting, uncomfortable seating due to sometimes poor spacing,
equipment this leads to distress among employees.
For example, if an employee tends to be working at a place where there is no proper
spacing, hence no privacy he may end up being stressed which in turn reduces the level
of productivity.

4. Weak or ineffective management

Some organizations may be having the management that does not follow up the activities
of the employees which makes hence leaving the employees feeling they don’t have a
sense of direction. sometimes over management too can leave employees feeling
undervalued and which affect their self-esteem hence the productivity tends to drop.

5. Poor communication
Failure to keep employees informed about significant changes to the business, causing
them uncertainty about their future.
For example, if the organization has introduced a new system without the knowledge of
the employees it will cause distress among them which consumes a lot of time for them to
catch up and others may even quit work due to excessive pressure.

6. Concerns about job security, lack of career opportunities or level of pay

If the employees are not assured of job security that’s the fear to loose job and become
jobless may make them be stressed hence low self-esteem. similarly, if the employees are
not given chances for career opportunities they will be working at a low rate at their own
pace.
In addition to that if employees are paid lowly, the level of stress increases because of the
family needs and hence the payment is not able to meet the wants.

7. A blame culture within your organization

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This is where people are afraid to get things wrong or to admit to making mistakes.
This fear creates certain pressure and hence employees work to avoid blames which may
be shifted to them .in so doing, if the employee is again blamed he ends up being
demoralized and demotivated and stressed which may make him quit the job.

8. Lack of interpersonal support or poor working relationships leading to a sense of

isolation
The moment an employee lacks support; and he or she has poor working relationship for
example, he is not in good terms with the managers and his colleagues he may be
demoralized and hence lack someone to associate with at work hence being stressed and
which may make him perform poorly to the extent of quitting work.

SOLUTIONS TO EMPLOYEES STRESS MANAGEMENT

I. Get some support
Your employer may also have stress management resources available
through an employee assistance program, including online information
available counselling and referral to mental health professionals

II. Proper leadership and management

The managers should ensure proper and efficient governance among the
employees hence proper role descriptions and teamwork

III. Job security and better payment

Employees should be assured of job security and the benefits that come
with retirement such as pensions .in addition to that the organization
should ensure that employees are paid well depending on the nature of
work and the level of productivity

IV. Giving them opportunities for promotions and career advancement

Employees should be assured of promotion as a reward for hard work and

career advancement incentives such as training and time to advance more
in the career which makes the employee feel accommodated hence and
increase in productivity.

V. Ensuring good relationship

If there exists a good relationship between an employee and the supervisor
and among employees, this enables teamwork hence employees are going
to perform the best.

VI. Proper communication

The managers should be in a position to communicate to the employees on
time in case of any changes before they are put in place. similarly,

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employees can also be consulted and hence getting the views on the
proposed system

VII. Involvement of employees in decision making

The management should involve some of the employees in decision
making before introducing change prior to their knowledge. if employees
are involved they feel needed and appreciated in the organization and
hence they will work hard and increase productivity.
QUESTION 2
Adolf Hitler in Politics
Role
He was a German Reich.
He was also the leader of Germanys Nazi party.
He was one of the most powerful and notorious dictators of the twentieth century.
He capitalized an economic woe, popular discontent and political infighting to take absolute
power in Germany beginning in 1933. His writings and methods were often adapted to need and
circumstance, although there were some steady themes including anti-Semitism, anti-
communism, anti-parliamentarianism.
He was basically fighting the Jewish Marxism.
Hitler’s political views were formed during 3 periods:
1. His years as a poverty-stricken young man
This is when he turned to nationalist-oriented political pamphlets and anti-Semitic.
2.Closing month of world war 1
When Germany lost the war, Hitler is said to have developed his extreme nationalism during this
time desiring to ‘save’ Germany from both external and internal enemies.
3.The 1920’s
As his early political career began, Hitler had to renounce his Austrian citizenship and had to
acquire Germany’s. he was influenced by Mussolini who was a prime minister of Italy in
October 1922.
He epitomized the force of personality in political life. His views were so important that they
immediately affected the political policies of Nazi Germany.
Hitler firmly believed that the force of will was decisive in determining the political course for a
nation and rationalized his actions accordingly.

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He embodied the supreme power of the state and as the delegate of the German people, it was his
rob to determine the outward form and structure of the Reich.
He initiated world war II in Europe by invading Poland in September in 1939. He was involved
in war with Britain, France and Japan. The entry of the united states into the war forced Germany
onto the defensive and it suffered a series of escalating defeats.
In the final days of the war, he married and committed suicide. In his reign he was responsible
for the genocide 5.5 million Jews and 19.3 million civilians and prisoners, 28.7 million soldiers.
Personality Adolf Hitler
He is termed as cruel, inhuman and insatiably greedy for power. He became a dictator. As a
small boy he wanted to be a famous artist. it is also said that due to his sexual harassment as a
child he became homosexual, heterosexual and sexually obsessed as he grew.
He was also an ambitious person. He inherited his personality and temperament from his father
who was rigid, stubborn, grumpy and hostile.
Adolf is a neuroticism person, he was the person that often experienced emotional instability and
much of them are negative emotions.
Mao ze Dong
He existed in the period between 1893-197c.
He was part of the revolutionary change in 20th century China.
From an early age, Mao was a veracious leader.
At the age of 16 he joints an elementary school training in Hunamese.
It was here that he began to experience the powerful revolutionary waves engulfing Chinese
society.
He read the works of Kang you-yvei and this led to his admiration for the strong emperor's in
earlier periods of Chinese history.
1919-1920Mao picked up odd jobs but devoted his energies to reading, writing and talking
about revolution.
He later became one of the founders of Chinese communist party.
Mao became a major participant in the united front.
In 1921 Mao married Yang Kainui. She was later executed in 1930. However, in 1925 Mao had
begun to live with a young girl of 18. After having 5 children he divorced and married Jiang
Qing.
1929 was a cataclysmic year for everyone involved in Chinese Revolution. After the April
Shanghai coup Mao and his communist co hurts were involved in futile uprisings in southern

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China. The experience led to lifelong distrust of soviet advice and intentions a deep animosity
towards Chiang.
In 1949 Mao was responsible for many of the political initiatives that transformed the face of
China. These included land return, collectivization of agriculture and the spread of medical
services.
He remained alert to what he saw to be new forms of oppression and sensitive to the interest of
the oppressed.
In 958 he advocated a self-reliant "Great Leap Forward" campaign in rural development. The
failure of the leap led Mao to turn many responsibilities over to other leaders and to withdraw
from active decision making.
In 1960 he led China’s divorce from the Soviet Union.
Domestically he became wary of his subordinates’ approach to development.
Mao initiated the cultural Revolution a program to remove counter- revolutionary elements in
Chinese society which lasted 10 years and was marked by violent class struggle.
In 1972 Mao welcomed American President Richard Nixon in Beijing, signaling the start of a
policy of opening Chins to the world. After years of I'll health Mao suffered a series of heart
attack and died in 197c.
Mao is regarded as one of the most influential individuals.
He is also known as a political intellect, theorist, military, strategist, poet and visionary;
characters which other leaders try to emulate.
Supporters credit him with driving imperialism out of China, modernizing the nation and
building it into a world power.
China's population grew from 550 to 900milion.
He was an autocratic and totalitarian and condemned for bringing about mass depression and
destroying religious and cultural artifacts.
In his regime 30-70milion victims died due to starvation.
Personality of Mao ze Dong
i. Mao was known to be arrogant and extremely prideful to take criticism.
ii. He had a liking for teenage girls and often had sex with them.
iii. He was dirty SNF spread STD due to his lack of hygiene.
iv. Had mood swings.
v. He was paranoid and insecure about everything.
vi. His food was tested for poison.
Joseph Stalin

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He was born in 1878 in Georgia, Russia. He grew up poor and an only child. His father was an
alcoholic and scolded him too much. He got small pox which left him with scars.
He earned scholarship to attend a seminary in Tbilisi, while there he began secretly reading the
word of German social philosopher. After leaving school he became an underground political
agitator. He also joined the military wing.
He got involved in criminal activities such as bank heists. He married Ekaterina who died as a
prisoner in Germany. He then married a second wife, Nadezhda and had two children. Nadezhda
committed suicide. Stalin also fathered several children out of wedlock. Stalin continued to move
up the party ladder and in 1924 Stalin eventually outmaneuvered his rivals and won the power
struggle for control of the communist party.
By 1920 he had become a dictator of the Soviet Union. Starting in the late 1920’s, Joseph
launched a series of five-year plans intended to transform the Soviet Union from a peasant
society into an industrial super power.
His development plan centered on government control of the economy and included the force
collectivization of soviet agriculture in which the government took control of firms. Millions of
farmers refused to cooperate with Stalin’s orders and were shot in exile as punishment.
The force collectivization also led to widespread of famine across the Soviet Union that killed
millions. He expanded the powers of the secret police, encouraged citizens to spy on one another
and had millions of people killed or sent to the outage system of forced labor camps.
He had several treaties signed with Adolf Hitler.
Personality of Joseph Stalin
Stalin prosecute a reign of terror purges executions exiles to labor camps and persecutions in
postwar USSR, suppressing all dissent and anything that smacked of foreign especially western
influence.
He led the Soviets into the nuclear age by exploding on atomic bomb.
He often seen as a paranoiac, a crazy man who was able to control the biggest country in the
world.
He had trust issues towards everyone including his friends, colleagues and event intimate family.
Moreover, people describe him as a contradicting person who was self- taught, with a strong
discipline.
Despite all the dictatorial character he had loved his native country.
He was a cynic and lacked feelings to the external of killing his own friend who was thought to
be better than him in speech.
He was power -hungry leading him to be adictator.

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QUESTION THREE

Causes of suicide among university students

 Academic performance
The main aim of attending a university is to attain an academic
degree or diploma .in the process towards attainment of that an
individual has to perform well for him to attain the qualifications.
The pressure to perform has been the main stressor experienced by
the university students.
When student’s performance is not adhered to the student tends to
find different manners to deal with the pressure.
He may end up taking alcohol and abusing drugs
This happens up to the point where the student decides to commit
suicide.

 Loneliness
Is the feeling of being alone?
Many students feel as though they are alone when they begin to
face university education.
This feeling grows when an individual is an introvert compared to
when he or she is an extrovert
Introverts tend to be loners and find it harder to make friends as
well as lacks any knowledge concerning the university set up.
When this continues the individual will find himself or herself
committing suicide.

 Conflict
is identified as a disagreement between individuals due to their
opinion.
the conflict may result in arguments as well as physical fights
among individuals.
peer conflict is the most common conflict among university
students.
When an individual note that he has been defeated in front of his
friends, he may end up committing suicide.

 Illness
When a student is diagnosed of HIV/AIDS he may see as if he is
no longer needed and he does not have to live hence he makes up
the decision of committing suicide.

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 Financial constraints
This is the main challenge facing most university students.
Without upkeeps and enough funds to cater for fees and
accommodation the student may go through the same problem over
a long period of time after which he will end up committing
suicide.

 Anger
Most of the university students tend not to be in a position to
control their anger.
They tend to take everything by chest and if someone messes
around with him and he has nothing to do about it he may end up
committing suicide.

 Depression
Most of the students are usually in deep thoughts maybe because
of family issues or personal issues which tend to control their
intelligence and hence end up committing suicide.

 Hopelessness
Most of the students tend to be hopeless in life because of lack of
advisors and hence when he fails to handle the problem he
commits suicide

SOLUTIONS TO SUICIDE

a) Create an institutional framework for the prevention and control of suicide

and suicidal tendencies.
When looking into existing policies we have to identify upcoming laws that help
develop an effective intervention program.
For instance, recently the law set ensures that all practicing counsellors are trained
and adhere to the ethics of counselling as agreed upon by Kenyan Counselling
and Psychotherapy Association

b) Provision of knowledge within educational institutions and religious

institutions
Some of the causes of suicide or suicidal behaviors are socially instigated and
therefor can be solved in the immediate society.

c) Developing an authority to handle suicide and mental health related issues.

The authority should be seriously funded like the case of HIV/AIDS.

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The authority should be able to establish policy for the involvement of the society
Its policies should result in re-establishment of positive social norms
The change in norms is likely to change society to prevent causes and effects of
suicide making the society view the phenomenon differently and positively.

d) Giving financial support to the needy students

The national government in conjunction with the county government must ensure
that bursaries and funds are available for the needy students who will view as they
have been accepted in the society and hence able to sit and attend to lectures with
the other students.

e) Holding seminars and workshops

The seminars should bring out all the problems affecting the youths and possible
solutions to the problems and how efficient the problem can be solved.
In so doing, people will be in the know how on how to cope up with challenges in
life.

f) Changing the system of education

The former system of education taught students on how to be academic machines
and no skills
The system that was introduced a few months ago caters for all the students hence
placing the student where he better fits than taking him to the university and he
can make a good athlete and or footballer

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