Post by jchang194 on Jul 3, 2015 22:47:50 GMT
WEEK 1
1. Why was Socrates sentenced to death?Socrates was sentenced to death because there were two main accusations against Socrates. The first accusation was from many years ago from several accusers, "That there is one Socrates, a wise man, who occupies himself about celestial matters, and has explored every thing under the earth, and makes the worse appear the better reason" (p.30). The second accusation is from Meletus and he accuses Socrates of "corrupting the youth....by inventing new gods and denying the existence of old ones..." (p.5-6). Both these accusations have in common that Socrates is responsible for corrupting society's youth by persuading them and instilling them with thoughts and beliefs that contradict those of society's. Greece believed in multiple but the same gods for many years and for someone such as Socrates to say that the sun is not a god but to say that it is a star or a stone and that the moon was just a rock shook the Greeks. This goes with the film Emergence of Rationality since the film stressed the theme of the shift from myths and superstition to logic and facts, a movement that Socrates seemed to support and be an integral part of. Also, Plato's Allegory to the Cave ties into the society of Greece while Socrates was alive. Just like the prisoners in the cave, the masses of Greece's society has been in the dark of true and correct knowledge for so many years that they have accepted those incorrect ideas to be true and have become comfortable in their ignorance. They don't want to be corrected because they don't think that they are wrong and no one wants to be told that they are and have been wrong for such a long period of time.
2. Why is there a conflict (for some) between science and religion?
Science and religion both are, at best, a cluster of theories to almost prove that something almost did this which almost started this and this and so on and so forth. Neither one gives us the answers to our questions. And, even when we take science classes and go to church and gain more knowledge about the respective topic, we seem to have even more questions. As said in "The Limits of Science" clip, "the limits of our skull limits our understanding." We can't possibly know everything because we are just not made that way and I think this also ties into the concept the more you know, the less you know. I also think science is being made the villain when some people blame it for reducing us into cells, atoms, molecules, or matter. We want to believe that we are special or transcendent and get insulted by the notion of being just matter. However, we fail to realize that being called matter can be just as special and amazing as being called to have holiness or purity. Matter is so intricate and so complex that baffles us. We are not just matter. "Even if we forego religion and spirituality and opt for a purely materialistic understanding of what surrounds us, we are still touching moment to moment a mystery that transcends our ability to understand it" (The Great Mystery, p.13).
Extra Credit (Response to Kolton Martin): I agree with you when you say that Socrates' punishment was done because his opinions and claims conflicted with his society's beliefs in both science and religion. The people that disliked Socrates were so quick in judgment that they didn't really bother to consider if Socrates was right or not. Socrates only wanted the truth and nothing but the truth but the way he embarked on attaining such truth rubbed many people the wrong way and for that, he was sentenced to death. I admire Socrates passion for the truth and the fact that he would rather die than admit that he was wrong and that the current beliefs of his society were true is astounding and respectable.
WEEK 2
1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
I believe it is important to have an understanding about physics in order to do philosophy well because physics is more than just mathematical equations and empirical truths. Quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that has been met with scrutiny and skepticism, addresses the nature and actual reality of our world. This seems to me as very similar if not the same as the purpose of philosophy. Having an even basic understanding of quantum mechanics can question one's previous philosophical beliefs about reality and nature but also help one ask more questions about life.Quantum mechanics raises the notion that we will never know true objective reality because we cannot see nature as nature or furthermore see an atom as an atom since the very act of getting close enough to see the atom or another molecule disrupts it's virgin nature. Niels Bohr compared us to the prisoners in the cave in Plato's Allegory because we can only ascertain what we know to be real and not real from our current position. Being the prisoners disables us to have a 360 degree view of the world around us. This idea goes hand in hand with the uncertainty principle which states that the more precise we ascertain an object's location, we lose information about it's momentum and vice versa. The uncertainty principle essentially claims that there is randomness inherent in the universe. Tying this all together, quantum mechanics states the "observer alters the observed" (Quantum Weirdness, p.17). Quantum mechanics is an enigma but an enigma that introduces a bold new concept of whether or not we as a people can even confidently say that we live in absolute reality or surrounded by pristine and pure nature. Quantum mechanics, even physics introduces many new ideas and theories and also raises even more questions. However, isn't that the same and nearly the entire purpose of philosophy? One can see now how directly correlated physics and philosophy really is.
2. What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the process of understanding an idea or concept by elimination by applying various different sciences i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology, etc. And, for anything that cannot be explained by these sciences, one can say, "Well, God did it." Three examples of eliminative materialism are found in the clip Eliminative Materialism: The Death of Thor part 2.The first example is the proper replacement of Thor being the deity who controls thunder and lightening with the nature and role of electromagnetic currents. The second example is with the idea that it is actually bacteria and viruses that cause illness and not spirits or demons. The third and last example is that it is actually our hearts, brain, and nervous system that control us rather than other worldly phenomena. One can see that the progress of technology and science are the two causative agents in debunking once seen to be correct myths and false claims.
Extra Credit: In response to Anthony Perez,
I really liked your definitions of the phenomenal and Noumenal realm and how you made them clear and easy to understand since I had a difficult time understanding them myself. You make a good point when you said that physics is necessary to further expand our knowledge on the phenomenal realm. Physics truly does aid in further increasing our senses and also helps us to look at things and to address difficult theories and conjectures in a different light.
I believe it is important to have an understanding about physics in order to do philosophy well because physics is more than just mathematical equations and empirical truths. Quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that has been met with scrutiny and skepticism, addresses the nature and actual reality of our world. This seems to me as very similar if not the same as the purpose of philosophy. Having an even basic understanding of quantum mechanics can question one's previous philosophical beliefs about reality and nature but also help one ask more questions about life.Quantum mechanics raises the notion that we will never know true objective reality because we cannot see nature as nature or furthermore see an atom as an atom since the very act of getting close enough to see the atom or another molecule disrupts it's virgin nature. Niels Bohr compared us to the prisoners in the cave in Plato's Allegory because we can only ascertain what we know to be real and not real from our current position. Being the prisoners disables us to have a 360 degree view of the world around us. This idea goes hand in hand with the uncertainty principle which states that the more precise we ascertain an object's location, we lose information about it's momentum and vice versa. The uncertainty principle essentially claims that there is randomness inherent in the universe. Tying this all together, quantum mechanics states the "observer alters the observed" (Quantum Weirdness, p.17). Quantum mechanics is an enigma but an enigma that introduces a bold new concept of whether or not we as a people can even confidently say that we live in absolute reality or surrounded by pristine and pure nature. Quantum mechanics, even physics introduces many new ideas and theories and also raises even more questions. However, isn't that the same and nearly the entire purpose of philosophy? One can see now how directly correlated physics and philosophy really is.
2. What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the process of understanding an idea or concept by elimination by applying various different sciences i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology, etc. And, for anything that cannot be explained by these sciences, one can say, "Well, God did it." Three examples of eliminative materialism are found in the clip Eliminative Materialism: The Death of Thor part 2.The first example is the proper replacement of Thor being the deity who controls thunder and lightening with the nature and role of electromagnetic currents. The second example is with the idea that it is actually bacteria and viruses that cause illness and not spirits or demons. The third and last example is that it is actually our hearts, brain, and nervous system that control us rather than other worldly phenomena. One can see that the progress of technology and science are the two causative agents in debunking once seen to be correct myths and false claims.
Extra Credit: In response to Anthony Perez,
I really liked your definitions of the phenomenal and Noumenal realm and how you made them clear and easy to understand since I had a difficult time understanding them myself. You make a good point when you said that physics is necessary to further expand our knowledge on the phenomenal realm. Physics truly does aid in further increasing our senses and also helps us to look at things and to address difficult theories and conjectures in a different light.
WEEK 3
1. Why is the theory of evolution so important in understanding how human beings behave?
Understanding the theory of evolution is the bridge between human beings and our ability to ask why. In the "Pivotal Consciousness" clip, "asking why is the pivot foot of consciousness... it allows the mind to revolve and think of new options, ideas, and possible answers." The ability to ask why allows our virtual simulator, our consciousness, to simulate different scenarios and different possible options for each scenario. Consciousness "has been so helpful in allowing humans to survive globally, even when our bodies were not adapted to certain environmental niches" (The DNA of Consciousness, p.20). Consciousness coupled with asking why can be both seen as a product of evolution by natural selection since natural selection "isn't so much about "fittest" or "strongest" or "best", but rather as contingently successful" (The DNA of Consciousness, p.5). Asking why is a fundamental characteristic of human behavior and the theory of evolution states that it is an ability that has been passed down for millions of years because it is an advantageous trait that helps in survival. Some millions of years ago, one of the first humans had the ability to ask why and, with their consciousness, was able to simulate different scenarios and different actions and possibilities that benefit him or her the most and by doing so allowed him or her to reproduce offspring with the same ability and so on and so forth.
2. Which questions do you think evolutionary theory cannot answer?
I think that the evolutionary theory cannot answer the question of the genesis of life. What created the first creation? How did the first creation become created? Also the question of conscious self-awareness comes into the fray. How did we develop conscious self-awareness? Wallace also shared such skepticism since he believed that unconscious processes could not lead to conscious self awareness. He believed that human consciousness specifically was of such a high order of organization that natural selection was insufficient to explain it as stated in the clip "Darwin-Wallace Debate". Darwin however had no problem in believing that natural selection could and had led to conscious self-awareness since it is an advantageous attribute. The questions that I raise I truly believe can't be sufficiently answered by the evolutionary theory and that perhaps a higher order could be responsible for such unexplained phenomena.
Extra Credit: Response to Colin Guthrie
Hello Colin,
I enjoyed and agree with your post on the correlation between evolution and human behavior and how that even though we are much more advanced, we still carry out certain tasks that still show our innate instinct which is to survive. When you talked about jobs, locks, even dating and marriage, you point out how these few examples convey the fierce competition that natural selection plays since everyday holds new mysteries. Particularly dating and marriage are crucial since one leads to the other and is necessary to continue on the bloodline and to pass on the favorable and advantageous attributes needed for survival.
WEEK 4
1. Explain the virtual simulation theory of consciousness.
Consciousness is an attribute and a skill that has been passed down to us for millions of years. Consciousness is an advantageous trait and exists today because evolution via natural selection has shown that consciousness enables one's survival in his or her environment and successfully leads to reproduction. Consciousness allows us to think of various different scenarios and the possible decisions to make in each scenario and the results of said decisions. By doing this, we are scientifically trying out each scenario in our consciousness and end up choosing the scenario, actions, and results that has the highest chance in survival. In "Is the Universe an App" it states, "Let's take a lioness ready to attack an antelope. She crouches down down. She sees the prey. She's forming an image of the size of the prey and its speed, and of course she's planning a jump.....all of a sudden the wind shifts and there's a whooshing sound pf the sort a tiger might make when moving through the grass, and the conscious animal (lioness) runs like hell but the other one doesn't....because the animal that's conscious has integrated the image of a tiger" (p.86). In this example, it is clear that having consciousness is an advantageous trait to ensure survival.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain can deceive us however that doesn't mean that there is no benefit to that deception. Take near death experience, or NDE, for example. Some believe that is the result of “neural trickery or flashes of something trans-rational….glimpses of an afterlife where consciousness transcends the physical body…or biochemistry of the brain” (Cerebral mirage, p.9). It is possible that NDE’s is the result of “the body-brain is under severe stress that consciousness elicits and ultimatum package of patterned meanings, drawn specifically from one’s own unique biographical/psychological history, to encourage one to live and resist dying….. This explains why Christians having NDE’s tend to see Jesus at the end of the tunnel and not Lord Krishna and why Sikhs may see Guru Nanak and not the Virgin Mary” (Cerebral Mirage, p.11&12). This example corroborates the claim that NDE can be brain deception but is for our aid in survival.
Consciousness is an attribute and a skill that has been passed down to us for millions of years. Consciousness is an advantageous trait and exists today because evolution via natural selection has shown that consciousness enables one's survival in his or her environment and successfully leads to reproduction. Consciousness allows us to think of various different scenarios and the possible decisions to make in each scenario and the results of said decisions. By doing this, we are scientifically trying out each scenario in our consciousness and end up choosing the scenario, actions, and results that has the highest chance in survival. In "Is the Universe an App" it states, "Let's take a lioness ready to attack an antelope. She crouches down down. She sees the prey. She's forming an image of the size of the prey and its speed, and of course she's planning a jump.....all of a sudden the wind shifts and there's a whooshing sound pf the sort a tiger might make when moving through the grass, and the conscious animal (lioness) runs like hell but the other one doesn't....because the animal that's conscious has integrated the image of a tiger" (p.86). In this example, it is clear that having consciousness is an advantageous trait to ensure survival.
2. How does the brain trick us and for what benefit is it for our genetic survival?
The brain can deceive us however that doesn't mean that there is no benefit to that deception. Take near death experience, or NDE, for example. Some believe that is the result of “neural trickery or flashes of something trans-rational….glimpses of an afterlife where consciousness transcends the physical body…or biochemistry of the brain” (Cerebral mirage, p.9). It is possible that NDE’s is the result of “the body-brain is under severe stress that consciousness elicits and ultimatum package of patterned meanings, drawn specifically from one’s own unique biographical/psychological history, to encourage one to live and resist dying….. This explains why Christians having NDE’s tend to see Jesus at the end of the tunnel and not Lord Krishna and why Sikhs may see Guru Nanak and not the Virgin Mary” (Cerebral Mirage, p.11&12). This example corroborates the claim that NDE can be brain deception but is for our aid in survival.
WEEK 5
1. Do you think artificial intelligence will be a significant problem in the future?
"We are going to let ourselves be controlled because we are going to entertain ourselves to death" (Digital Philosophy, Andrea Diem-Lane, David Christopher Lane). This quote is true in describing society today concerning the technological advancements that have been made. Smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi nearly anywhere, Facebook, Instagram, etc. have all been products of technological progress. All these examples and many more are why we as a society are more disconnected than connected to the rest of the world. All these examples grab us into a virtual world where anyone's information can be so easily accessible that in a matter of minutes, we already know so much information about a complete stranger without ever having to leave our home. The same goes with our friends; we think liking or commenting on a picture of our friends is just as good as actually being there. This all contributes to the anti-social behavior seen in today's society. Families at restaurant with their smartphones out or couples on dates doing the same exact thing. Even some infants are on tablets given to by parents just so that they would stop crying. This is all why artificial intelligence, I believe, will not be a significant problem. We already prefer going on our phones and other devices than talking to other actual people let alone talking to a machine. The Iphone introduced Siri at even though it was one of it's unique IPhone only quality, it has now become overlooked and scarcely used. Artificial intelligence has a long way to go before it makes any negative impact on us because it has to become in every way better than us humans, including having a "better" personality and even consciousness than us. The latter being the biggest obstacle to overcome.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has made very positive and helpful contributions in my life. For instance, I am horrible with directions so having a built in GPS on my phone has saved me innumerable left and rights that would have surely made me lost. I'm also a big basketball fan so having an app that notifies me of the teams and players I follow keeps me in the loop. However, I believe that today's technology, though it has improved and helped my life, pales in comparison to the contributions made by technology in the past. Nearly everything we see and use now are advanced models of the most basic model made many years ago. Cars, refrigerators, radios, mp3 players, and many more were all catalyst inventions to the creation of something more advanced. As one can see, technology has impacted everyone and I believe has done more good than bad. Technology has improved the duration and quality of life and has also helped us to help those who are unable to be as technologically advanced than us.
"We are going to let ourselves be controlled because we are going to entertain ourselves to death" (Digital Philosophy, Andrea Diem-Lane, David Christopher Lane). This quote is true in describing society today concerning the technological advancements that have been made. Smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi nearly anywhere, Facebook, Instagram, etc. have all been products of technological progress. All these examples and many more are why we as a society are more disconnected than connected to the rest of the world. All these examples grab us into a virtual world where anyone's information can be so easily accessible that in a matter of minutes, we already know so much information about a complete stranger without ever having to leave our home. The same goes with our friends; we think liking or commenting on a picture of our friends is just as good as actually being there. This all contributes to the anti-social behavior seen in today's society. Families at restaurant with their smartphones out or couples on dates doing the same exact thing. Even some infants are on tablets given to by parents just so that they would stop crying. This is all why artificial intelligence, I believe, will not be a significant problem. We already prefer going on our phones and other devices than talking to other actual people let alone talking to a machine. The Iphone introduced Siri at even though it was one of it's unique IPhone only quality, it has now become overlooked and scarcely used. Artificial intelligence has a long way to go before it makes any negative impact on us because it has to become in every way better than us humans, including having a "better" personality and even consciousness than us. The latter being the biggest obstacle to overcome.
2. How has technology impacted your life?
Technology has made very positive and helpful contributions in my life. For instance, I am horrible with directions so having a built in GPS on my phone has saved me innumerable left and rights that would have surely made me lost. I'm also a big basketball fan so having an app that notifies me of the teams and players I follow keeps me in the loop. However, I believe that today's technology, though it has improved and helped my life, pales in comparison to the contributions made by technology in the past. Nearly everything we see and use now are advanced models of the most basic model made many years ago. Cars, refrigerators, radios, mp3 players, and many more were all catalyst inventions to the creation of something more advanced. As one can see, technology has impacted everyone and I believe has done more good than bad. Technology has improved the duration and quality of life and has also helped us to help those who are unable to be as technologically advanced than us.
WEEK 6
1. Why is Faqir Chand's experiences important in understanding the projective nature of religious visions and miracles?
Faqir Chand had his first experience regarding religious visions and miracles when he was a railway master during a war in Iraq. He had returned to Baghdad when people worshiped because he had appeared to them in their heads and gave them counsel which led to their safety. Faqir Chand states that, "I had no knowledge of their trouble. I, myself, being in danger during those days of combat, had not even remembered them" (The Unknowing Sage, p.31). It is stated in the Visionary Illusion clip that "Impressions are unreal...that they are produced by the mind." Faqir Chand supports this claim by elaborating that these religious visions are just a trick of the human mind or their imaginations running awry. Faqir Chand's experiences claim that visions are nothing but a neural trick which for me at least makes me question anyone who says that they experienced such a vision. If whether or not what they experienced is true or just an example of seeing what you want to see when you need to see it.
2. What is meant by the phrase, "philosophy done well is science; philosophy done poorly remains philosophy."
Philosophy and it's followers all aim for one thing: the truth. Now, philosophy wouldn't be still around if all philosophers said were completely false with no empirical evidence to support their claims. In order to obtain the truth, philosophers would have to use the various scopes of science that are grounded in truth. Patricia Churchland states in the "Circle of the Wise", "What happens, of course, in the history of the subject, is that as theories develop, and as hypotheses become confirmed, they sort of hive off the mother body, they hive off of philosophy, and they become a specialized discipline, like chemistry, or physics, or cosmology, or what-have-you" (p.70). Churchland affirms that not only does philosophy require hard proven facts from science to bolster philosophical claims, but also she says that the sciences today are branched from philosophy. In a way, Churchland is saying that philosophers are some of the forefathers of various scopes of science. Philosophy with science will have at least some people listen to it's claims because of certain validity; however philosophy without any science will garner an empty house.
Extra Credit (In response to Ryan Richard)
Hello Ryan,
I like how you agree with Churchland on how philosophy without science or to anything testable and provable will just remain a thought. I think this will help not only us but others when it comes to people in the future to claim certain "truths" or "facts" by actually listening for any facts. Philosophy needs science and facts because no one will listen to philosophers otherwise. Philosophy has been using science which is why it is still here to this day.
Faqir Chand had his first experience regarding religious visions and miracles when he was a railway master during a war in Iraq. He had returned to Baghdad when people worshiped because he had appeared to them in their heads and gave them counsel which led to their safety. Faqir Chand states that, "I had no knowledge of their trouble. I, myself, being in danger during those days of combat, had not even remembered them" (The Unknowing Sage, p.31). It is stated in the Visionary Illusion clip that "Impressions are unreal...that they are produced by the mind." Faqir Chand supports this claim by elaborating that these religious visions are just a trick of the human mind or their imaginations running awry. Faqir Chand's experiences claim that visions are nothing but a neural trick which for me at least makes me question anyone who says that they experienced such a vision. If whether or not what they experienced is true or just an example of seeing what you want to see when you need to see it.
2. What is meant by the phrase, "philosophy done well is science; philosophy done poorly remains philosophy."
Philosophy and it's followers all aim for one thing: the truth. Now, philosophy wouldn't be still around if all philosophers said were completely false with no empirical evidence to support their claims. In order to obtain the truth, philosophers would have to use the various scopes of science that are grounded in truth. Patricia Churchland states in the "Circle of the Wise", "What happens, of course, in the history of the subject, is that as theories develop, and as hypotheses become confirmed, they sort of hive off the mother body, they hive off of philosophy, and they become a specialized discipline, like chemistry, or physics, or cosmology, or what-have-you" (p.70). Churchland affirms that not only does philosophy require hard proven facts from science to bolster philosophical claims, but also she says that the sciences today are branched from philosophy. In a way, Churchland is saying that philosophers are some of the forefathers of various scopes of science. Philosophy with science will have at least some people listen to it's claims because of certain validity; however philosophy without any science will garner an empty house.
Extra Credit (In response to Ryan Richard)
Hello Ryan,
I like how you agree with Churchland on how philosophy without science or to anything testable and provable will just remain a thought. I think this will help not only us but others when it comes to people in the future to claim certain "truths" or "facts" by actually listening for any facts. Philosophy needs science and facts because no one will listen to philosophers otherwise. Philosophy has been using science which is why it is still here to this day.