Post by acurtiss on Jun 28, 2015 8:56:31 GMT
Week # 1
Why was Socrates sentenced to death?
Upon reading “How Socrates Died” written by Plato and edited by David Lane, Socrates was sentenced to death by the ingestion of poison. This sentence was handed down after a trial in which Socrates elected to defend himself against charges of impiety- “that he did not believe in the gods recognized by the State and the other, that he corrupted Athenian youth with his teachings”. (P.2) Although Socrates was able to explain his point of view and rationale to his friend Crito regarding what could be interpreted as pious or impious behavior, even to the point of presenting Crito with valid retorts against Socrates’ statements in “The Crito”, he is much less willing to defend these same points when he is called upon as a defendant. Socrates elects not to acknowledge his guilt or present a case for his innocence and as such, leaves the decision in the hands of his accusers. As to the claim that he corrupted the minds of young Athenians, Socrates attempts to present evidence that the information that he is providing to the Athenian youth is simply reflective of the real workings of the world and of man, both positive and negative.
Although the charges above can categorically be utilized why Socrates was found guilty, they do not really answer why he was on trial initially. This is more a matter of Socrates’ ability to mentally outmaneuver other presumed great thinkers of his time. At the time of Socrates, men were held in high regard if they were perceived to be great thinkers, even if self-educated. The fact that Socrates was such an able-bodied debater of other men’s trains of thought created dissent against him and ultimately led to his execution.
Source: (The Life of Socrates, 2012), How Socrates Died Walnut: MSAC Philosophy group, 2015 print
Why is there a conflict (for some) between science and religion?
According to the reading material provided in “The Great Mystery- Matter Versus Spirit” written by Andrea Diem-Lane and David Christopher Lane, there is a conflict between science and religion for several reasons. Among the reasons provided in are “linguistic confusion”- differences of opinion as to what matter is, can be classified as and what it is made of or contains, belief in a higher power or being, a desire to be more than a physical manifestation of matter in a being, general feelings that science attempts to undermine religious beliefs, beliefs that religious faith has been or someday will be disproven, longing for purpose and a higher calling. Additionally, although both have historical basis, science is accepted as factual whereas religious consideration is seen as based in faith, the unknowable and unexplainable. Science has been and continues to be used in attempting to resolve previously unknown phenomena and to prove or disprove hypotheses. While science is precise in its approach it is an always advancing practice, things are considered, evaluated, proven and disproven in the course of that advancement. As religious beliefs are based more on teachings that have been disseminated throughout thousands of years than on that which can be proven or unproven as is the norm in science, religious beliefs are based more on intellectual consideration (hope) than on that of experimentation. Furthermore it can be argued that religious beliefs can be disproven but there is not a means of experimenting the theories behind them.
Source: Lane, David. The Great Mystery, Matter vs. Spirit. Walnut: MSAC Philosophy Group; 2014
Week # 2
Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Understanding physics and general rules of the universe is vitally important to philosophy because they often times support or prove one another. Philosophy as defined by Merriam-Webster is “the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc” or “a particular set of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc.”. Physics is defined as “a science that deals with matter and energy and the way they act on each other in heat, light, electricity, and sound”. Knowledge of physics and the general rules of the universe are essential in order for philosophical theories to develop, be proven or disproven. Without knowing the general workings of physics, a person would be hard pressed in their attempts to explain its philosophical soundness. As the study of physics is in large part based on supporting or disproving a philosophical claim, without philosophy, physics would not progress. Using the sun as an example, many philosophical discussions have been had as to the origins of the sun, what it was made of, how it came to be. In order for anyone to have considered that it may be a ball of gaseous matter, a person would have to first understand that gases can combine and that the gases may fuel one another, otherwise it may still be conceded that the sun is a god to be worshipped for its appeasement.
Sources:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophy
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physics
What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
The phrase Eliminative materialism refers to the process of elimination within scientific processes. In attempts to answer the “why” to certain phenomena, hypotheses are established. When these hypotheses are in their infancy and show promise, additional support is required in order to prove or disprove them. Transitioning from a mathematical equation to physics to chemistry as a means of solving for a particular concern may still not prove or disprove a position unequivocally although each may have a foothold on resolution. If no resolution can be provided, the argument can be made that “God did it” according to the video guide provided. Additionally, within the constructs of Eliminative materialism, there is also intertheoretic reduction, the process of replacing an old or dated concept with a more accurate and provable information- scientific advances in medicine from the days of using leeches to more advanced medical practices being used today. Also reflected in the videos is intelligent reductionism, trying to eliminate or reduce inexplicable phenomena from “celestial to empirical”. The video provided explains that the detriment in this reductionism is the use of unscientifically proven phenomena as a means of explanation, for example, the emotion of love, is not interpreted the same way in each person nor is it received in the same capacity. There are some cultures that do not have a word for love but the emotional connection cannot be physically represented accurately.
Sources:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZmue10YKvc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-o7P3VDNk&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jg_aDTJ8-Q
Week # 3
Why is the theory of evolution so important in understanding how human beings behave?
The theory of evolution is important for many reasons in understanding how humans behave. In the explanation of evolution provided in the film “The Genetic Connection”, it is explained or presented that within research completed to date, it has been determined that plants, animals etcetera all retain a certain level of the same “common heritage”. While this provides insight as to the origins of life for all things. This information is an important basis to all life. The evolutionary process is explained in the video “Evolution Explained in Four Minutes” which gives the acronym VISITED as an explanation of the process. Variation, Inheritance, Selection, Including, Time, Equals, Design- which, when combined, produce a continually adjusting machine. Genetic adjustments from the inception of life on this planet from an evolutionary perspective incorporates unseen failures (extinct forms of life) along with the successes, the life still sustained on Earth. This is also presented in the reading material provided “The DNA of Consciousness” where it is summarized as such: “Every strand of DNA contains a unique history of its journey and what must have transpired to shape it into its present incarnation.” (p 7). The fact that evolutionary changes continue to be made as a result of sexual selection, genetic mutation, and natural selection all play a part in who we are. Understanding this provides a great deal of insight into who we are and how we behave is a result of what genetically took place over millions of years. Just as survival instincts can be attributed in some capacity to learned behavior, evolution can be seen similarly. It is simply the involuntary learning of or genomes how best to survive based on our predecessor’s genes combined with occasional mutation within those genomes.
Sources:
The Genetic Connection www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhkFOTN3NqI
Evolution Explained in Four Minutes www.youtube.com/watch?v=lii2x6Nk8Bg
The DNA of Consciousness- A Brief Introduction to Evolutionary Philosophy Professor Andrea Diem-Lane, Ph.D.
Which questions do you think evolutionary theory cannot answer?
Evolutionary theory at some point and time will be able to answer most if not all questions because evolutionary theory is a scientifically provable study. As science progresses in the world of genome research and new theories are introduced, proven and disproven regarding evolution, it will become increasingly likely that things like consciousness will eventually be explainable. Currently however, this is not the case. Within the short film, “Darwin-Wallace Debate”, it is explained that Darwin and Wallace disagreed about the manner in which human consciousness came about. Wallace was of the belief that consciousness could not have come from unconscious molecules. He felt that leaving the explanation to Natural Selection was insufficient and incorrect. Darwin on the other had believed that evolution and Natural Selection were indeed the catalyst of human self-consciousness.
Sources:
The Darwin-Wallace Debate on the Mind of Man / How Far Does Natural Selection Extend?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLlfCIKfR9c
Why was Socrates sentenced to death?
Upon reading “How Socrates Died” written by Plato and edited by David Lane, Socrates was sentenced to death by the ingestion of poison. This sentence was handed down after a trial in which Socrates elected to defend himself against charges of impiety- “that he did not believe in the gods recognized by the State and the other, that he corrupted Athenian youth with his teachings”. (P.2) Although Socrates was able to explain his point of view and rationale to his friend Crito regarding what could be interpreted as pious or impious behavior, even to the point of presenting Crito with valid retorts against Socrates’ statements in “The Crito”, he is much less willing to defend these same points when he is called upon as a defendant. Socrates elects not to acknowledge his guilt or present a case for his innocence and as such, leaves the decision in the hands of his accusers. As to the claim that he corrupted the minds of young Athenians, Socrates attempts to present evidence that the information that he is providing to the Athenian youth is simply reflective of the real workings of the world and of man, both positive and negative.
Although the charges above can categorically be utilized why Socrates was found guilty, they do not really answer why he was on trial initially. This is more a matter of Socrates’ ability to mentally outmaneuver other presumed great thinkers of his time. At the time of Socrates, men were held in high regard if they were perceived to be great thinkers, even if self-educated. The fact that Socrates was such an able-bodied debater of other men’s trains of thought created dissent against him and ultimately led to his execution.
Source: (The Life of Socrates, 2012), How Socrates Died Walnut: MSAC Philosophy group, 2015 print
Why is there a conflict (for some) between science and religion?
According to the reading material provided in “The Great Mystery- Matter Versus Spirit” written by Andrea Diem-Lane and David Christopher Lane, there is a conflict between science and religion for several reasons. Among the reasons provided in are “linguistic confusion”- differences of opinion as to what matter is, can be classified as and what it is made of or contains, belief in a higher power or being, a desire to be more than a physical manifestation of matter in a being, general feelings that science attempts to undermine religious beliefs, beliefs that religious faith has been or someday will be disproven, longing for purpose and a higher calling. Additionally, although both have historical basis, science is accepted as factual whereas religious consideration is seen as based in faith, the unknowable and unexplainable. Science has been and continues to be used in attempting to resolve previously unknown phenomena and to prove or disprove hypotheses. While science is precise in its approach it is an always advancing practice, things are considered, evaluated, proven and disproven in the course of that advancement. As religious beliefs are based more on teachings that have been disseminated throughout thousands of years than on that which can be proven or unproven as is the norm in science, religious beliefs are based more on intellectual consideration (hope) than on that of experimentation. Furthermore it can be argued that religious beliefs can be disproven but there is not a means of experimenting the theories behind them.
Source: Lane, David. The Great Mystery, Matter vs. Spirit. Walnut: MSAC Philosophy Group; 2014
Week # 2
Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Understanding physics and general rules of the universe is vitally important to philosophy because they often times support or prove one another. Philosophy as defined by Merriam-Webster is “the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc” or “a particular set of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc.”. Physics is defined as “a science that deals with matter and energy and the way they act on each other in heat, light, electricity, and sound”. Knowledge of physics and the general rules of the universe are essential in order for philosophical theories to develop, be proven or disproven. Without knowing the general workings of physics, a person would be hard pressed in their attempts to explain its philosophical soundness. As the study of physics is in large part based on supporting or disproving a philosophical claim, without philosophy, physics would not progress. Using the sun as an example, many philosophical discussions have been had as to the origins of the sun, what it was made of, how it came to be. In order for anyone to have considered that it may be a ball of gaseous matter, a person would have to first understand that gases can combine and that the gases may fuel one another, otherwise it may still be conceded that the sun is a god to be worshipped for its appeasement.
Sources:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophy
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physics
What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
The phrase Eliminative materialism refers to the process of elimination within scientific processes. In attempts to answer the “why” to certain phenomena, hypotheses are established. When these hypotheses are in their infancy and show promise, additional support is required in order to prove or disprove them. Transitioning from a mathematical equation to physics to chemistry as a means of solving for a particular concern may still not prove or disprove a position unequivocally although each may have a foothold on resolution. If no resolution can be provided, the argument can be made that “God did it” according to the video guide provided. Additionally, within the constructs of Eliminative materialism, there is also intertheoretic reduction, the process of replacing an old or dated concept with a more accurate and provable information- scientific advances in medicine from the days of using leeches to more advanced medical practices being used today. Also reflected in the videos is intelligent reductionism, trying to eliminate or reduce inexplicable phenomena from “celestial to empirical”. The video provided explains that the detriment in this reductionism is the use of unscientifically proven phenomena as a means of explanation, for example, the emotion of love, is not interpreted the same way in each person nor is it received in the same capacity. There are some cultures that do not have a word for love but the emotional connection cannot be physically represented accurately.
Sources:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZmue10YKvc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-o7P3VDNk&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jg_aDTJ8-Q
Week # 3
Why is the theory of evolution so important in understanding how human beings behave?
The theory of evolution is important for many reasons in understanding how humans behave. In the explanation of evolution provided in the film “The Genetic Connection”, it is explained or presented that within research completed to date, it has been determined that plants, animals etcetera all retain a certain level of the same “common heritage”. While this provides insight as to the origins of life for all things. This information is an important basis to all life. The evolutionary process is explained in the video “Evolution Explained in Four Minutes” which gives the acronym VISITED as an explanation of the process. Variation, Inheritance, Selection, Including, Time, Equals, Design- which, when combined, produce a continually adjusting machine. Genetic adjustments from the inception of life on this planet from an evolutionary perspective incorporates unseen failures (extinct forms of life) along with the successes, the life still sustained on Earth. This is also presented in the reading material provided “The DNA of Consciousness” where it is summarized as such: “Every strand of DNA contains a unique history of its journey and what must have transpired to shape it into its present incarnation.” (p 7). The fact that evolutionary changes continue to be made as a result of sexual selection, genetic mutation, and natural selection all play a part in who we are. Understanding this provides a great deal of insight into who we are and how we behave is a result of what genetically took place over millions of years. Just as survival instincts can be attributed in some capacity to learned behavior, evolution can be seen similarly. It is simply the involuntary learning of or genomes how best to survive based on our predecessor’s genes combined with occasional mutation within those genomes.
Sources:
The Genetic Connection www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhkFOTN3NqI
Evolution Explained in Four Minutes www.youtube.com/watch?v=lii2x6Nk8Bg
The DNA of Consciousness- A Brief Introduction to Evolutionary Philosophy Professor Andrea Diem-Lane, Ph.D.
Which questions do you think evolutionary theory cannot answer?
Evolutionary theory at some point and time will be able to answer most if not all questions because evolutionary theory is a scientifically provable study. As science progresses in the world of genome research and new theories are introduced, proven and disproven regarding evolution, it will become increasingly likely that things like consciousness will eventually be explainable. Currently however, this is not the case. Within the short film, “Darwin-Wallace Debate”, it is explained that Darwin and Wallace disagreed about the manner in which human consciousness came about. Wallace was of the belief that consciousness could not have come from unconscious molecules. He felt that leaving the explanation to Natural Selection was insufficient and incorrect. Darwin on the other had believed that evolution and Natural Selection were indeed the catalyst of human self-consciousness.
Sources:
The Darwin-Wallace Debate on the Mind of Man / How Far Does Natural Selection Extend?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLlfCIKfR9c