Midterm: Eliminative Materialism

Eliminative Materialism

“Eliminative materialism is reason writ large.” The problem with eliminative materialism   is that we allow things that may not exist to change our way of thinking about almost everything except for ourselves. It explains why certain events occur in our body, mind, society, and world. What I found interesting is that eliminative materialism changes our perception about almost everything except how perceive ourselves.  The question then becomes how we motivate ourselves. The video, Intelligent Reductionism talks about humans becoming motivated through desire, motivation, love, anger, and free will. Motivation doesn’t occur through brain power but through our own conscious thoughts. The consciousness is said to come from a more ancient religious background.

I think of the idea “Well God did it” coming from the thought that if something can’t be explained then it is the doing of God who created it. The process of finding the unknown starts with mathematics then goes to physics, chemistry, biology, sociology, then ending with sociology until it can be explain leaving the though it must be God. I agree with the statement about people finding any and every way they can explain how things work or are made so that the thought of the unknown doesn’t have to exist. Each method for finding a solution to a theory started with someone who desperately wanted to know the answer to an observation. There are many famous people such as Einstein or Plato who made it easier for people to take their theories and solve their own problems or questions that needed answer.

The one thing that interests me the most is how people can do extraordinary things because they are motivated. I agree with the fact that motivation comes from a conscious thought and I believe the mind is an extraordinary thing which gives people the will power to do anything. I think of athletes, singers, mathematicians, scientist and what may motivate them. Kobe Bryant for example wants to be the best he can be at doing what he loves, Basketball, he works hard every day training to become better. I feel the one thing most people can relate to when it comes to being motivated is achieving success in any form important to them.

Midterm: philosophy done well

"philosophy done well is science and philosophy done poorly is. . . well, philosophy."

                                                                                 - David Christopher Lane

My teacher, David Christopher Lane, argues that “philosophy done well is science and philosophy done poorly is. . . well, philosophy.” I find this quote ironic because philosophy is the study of problems such as how and why we exist, how the universe came about, or anything that should be experimented on in order to be explained. The statement made by my teacher expresses that science helps prove why things may occur in our lives which is what philosophy is the study of. Philosophy done poorly is….well Philosophy,” meaning that even if it is a theory about every humans being created by a bunch of crickets is still a theory that was put together to solve a problem of the unknown.

The advantage with doing a philosophy predicated on science is that your solution to a problem would be more reliable to others. In order for your theory to be conducted scientifically you must first follow the scientific method. So in philosophy predicated on science the scientist or philosopher would ask a question, predict and outcome, test their predicament, and create a theory. Edward O. Wilson’s Consilience is an example of philosophy predicated on science, Edward invented the term Sociobiology, a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethnology, anthropology, evolution, zoology, archaeology, population genetics, and other disciplines. Within the study of human societies, sociobiology is very closely allied to the fields of Darwinian anthropology, human behavioral ecology and evolutionary psychology. (Wikipedia)

 The more traditional route of philosophy is to create a theory to a solution without the use of the scientific method and if the scientific method was use a theory was created even if it cannot be proven. For example the Big Bang Theory was said to explain how the universe came into existence and though it cannot be proven a theory was made. The drawback to a purely scientific endeavor is that thought scientist may do all the research and cannot find an answer they tend to assume one.

Midterm: Einstein/Bohr debate

Einstein/Bohr debate

The Bohr/Einstein debates were a series of public disputes about quantum mechanics between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, who were two of its founders. Their debates are remembered because of their importance to the philosophy of science. An account of them has been written by Bohr in an article titled "Discussions with Einstein on Epistemological Problems in Atomic Physics". Despite their differences of opinion regarding quantum mechanics, Bohr and Einstein had a mutual admiration that was to last the rest of their lives. (Wikipedia) Einstein’s theories on quantum mechanics came about when Max born stated that mechanics was to be understood as a probability without any causal explanation. Einstein was displeased and sent a letter saying, “"I, at any rate, am convinced that He [God] does not throw dice." I think Einstein meant that things don’t happen for any apparent reason and instead of assuming something happened we should figure it out for ourselves.

Einstein uses the double-slit light experiment to prove Born’s theory incorrect. The double-slit light experiment is a “demonstration in which matter and energy can display characteristics of waves and particles as well as demonstrating the fundamentally probabilistic nature of quantum mechanical phenomena.” The experiment conducted to produce this theory involved a coherent light source such as a laser beam that illuminates a thin plate pierced by two parallel slits, and the light passing through the slits is observed on a screen behind the plate. The wave nature of light causes the light waves passing through the two slits to interfere, producing bright and dark bands on the screen, as result that would not be expected if light consisted strictly of particles. However, on the screen, the light is always found to be absorbed as though it were composed of discrete particles or photons. This establishes the principle known as wave–particle duality. Additionally, the detection of individual photons is observed to be inherently probabilistic, which is inexplicable using classical mechanics. (Wikipedia)

When Bohr came along and tried Einstein’s experiment he found that Einstein had made a mistake. Einstein considers a box called Einstein's box containing electromagnetic radiation and a clock which controls the opening of a shutter which covers a hole made in one of the walls of the box. . Einstein's box was supposed to prove the violation of the indeterminacy relation between time and energy. Bohr showed that, in order for Einstein's experiment to work, the box would have to be suspended on a spring in the middle of a gravitational field. In order to obtain a measurement of weight, a pointer would have to be attached to the box which corresponds with the index on a scale. After the release of a photon, weights could be added to the box to restore it to its original position and this would allow us to determine the weight. But in order to return the box to its original position, the box would have to be measured. The inevitable uncertainty of the position of the box translates into an uncertainty in the position of the pointer, of the determination of weight, and of energy.

Midterm: evolutionary theory

Evolutionary Theory

The two theories between Charles Darwin and Brian Greene create a conflict. Charles Darwin believes that matter is composed of small little invisible solid atoms, but Brain Greene would argue that atoms are not solid and cannot be invisible because they all have an internal nucleus. According to Darwin all organisms share the same Ancestors and that we evolve with the help of natural selection. Brain Greene however came up with the string theory, which I used from Wikipedia, is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything (TOE), a self-contained mathematical model that describes all fundamental forces and forms of matter.

The evolutionary theory connects with quantum mechanics because it helps in explaining evolution. The quantum mechanics breaks down what the universe and it’s components are made of as well as aiding the evolution theory on how we evolve. Quatum mechanics ties into Quantum thinking which is about the idea that no one can really see what exactly a bit of matter is. As an example for quantum thinking the video explains that no one knows what an electron is doing. The video goes on speaking about how we cannot alter things that we do not necessarily know what they are. To my understanding know one knows how people come in to existence but everyone seems to have an answer. The Big Bang Theory, God, or other beliefs are ideas that people have come up with reasons for our existence but no one has proof.

Midterm: The theory of evolution

The theory of evolution

A statement I found on Wikipedia sums Philosophy up perfectly, “Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument.” The word "philosophy" comes from the Greek word (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom". So now that we know the definition of philosophy it is easier to understand why finding out where we come from is so important.

Darwin’s theory of evolution is all life is related and has comes from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers are all related. Darwin's general theory believes in the development of life from non-life and stresses that “we descent with modification”. Meaning, complex creatures evolve from a more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. When mutations occur in a way that helps that particular organism and is then passed down to another generation it is known as “natural selection.” These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations combine and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature). Evolution Trilogy states that the Darwinian notion of survival of the fittest is wrong and should be that nature merely allows for the survival of sufficient.

The reason humans behave the way they do is because as human beings we cannot live without a purpose. We need some type of truth whether it is that we all come from apes, that the world came about through a bang, or that we all were created by God and serve a certain purpose. We feel the need to know why and how everything was created because it gives up a relief and a better understanding. I think what we believe in come from how we are raised. I grew up with a Christian background and was thought that God is the ruler and creator of all things, and till this day I still follow those guide lines. All over the world people are being taught how to live and are sculpted by the world on what is acceptable and what is considered improper. For example in America it is frowned upon to be overweight, many companies and advertisements promote a certain look, but in other countries such as Africa obesity is seen as positive rather than negative. My point is that thought evolution may say “survival of the fittest” I tend to believe that only the ones who are accepted by a society are the ones who really survive.

Midterm: How did Socrates die?

How did Socrates die?

        

Socrates, also known as Plato was a one of the best philosopher known to man; he opened student’s eyes to the truth about concepts, like piety, justice, and morality. Socrates helped them expand their minds to see the underlying relationships between many things and see things in new ways. He was born in Greece in 469 B.C. and died at the age of seventy one in 399 B.C. Socrates believed that life is not worth living if you just let it happen to you. He says that we need to reflect inwardly to recognize our true self and our motivations for our actions. He felt that we needed to examine our values to see that they are good and worthy as well as believing we should nourish our souls as we gain knowledge and insight about our self and the world.

Socrates teaching philosophy to children caused problems amongst their parents. Socrates was put to death for teaching what he believed in, using philosophy to determine how we should live. Though he found it important that his students should worry more about the welfare of their souls rather than the well being of their career and families didn’t matter, Socrates was put to trail where the jury condemned him guilty and wanted him put to death. During these times people who were on death row are put to death by drinking of the hemlock plant.

I believe that Socrates’ death was justified, he was put to death for voicing his opinion and today we have laws that give people the right to do so. Socrates didn’t’ t believe in the gods Athens’s wanted him to believe in, he made up gods of his own which was very displeasing to others around him. The thought that someone can come in and teach something of their own knowledge and experience without the consent of everyone else was illegal. We have many freedoms such as the Freedom of Speech law that allow us to voice our opinion on anything that we may not agree with, for example if I didn’t agree with a certain way of living, as Socrates did, I can write or even teach a class about it. We have the right to make theories and pass our own judgments on anything we feel are necessary, it may be frowned upon but it’s not illegal.

I do applaud Socrates for accepting to die even though he knew it was unjust. Socrates responded with peace and took his last moments in honoring his friends. After drinking the poisonous hemlock mixture Socrates acted as if he wanted to make his last moments remember able, he placed his arms around his friends and continued to carry on a conversation as if they were just hanging out. The reason Socrates didn’t flee like his friends suggested was because he knew the importance of why he was being put to death and accepted it though he didn’t agree.

Midterm: MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM

MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM

The main reason there is a conflict have between science exploration in philosophy and religion is because of a misunderstanding of the term "matter."According to dictionary.com matter’s definition is the substance or substances of which any physical object consists or is composed: the matter of which the earth is made. I was so use to hearing matter’s definition in chemistry class but never really thought about where the term matter came from, I now understand why religion and science cannot come to an agreement about where matter came from.  The agreement with matter is that it is indeed anything that occupies space, any substance, and what our world is made of; The problem however is that we don’t necessarily know where we, meaning “matter” came from.

“It is almost an absurd prejudice to suppose that existence can only be physical. As a matter of fact, the only form of existence of which we have immediate knowledge is psychic [i.e. in the mind]. We might as well say, on the contrary, that physical existence is a mere inference, since we know of matter only in so far as we perceive psychic images mediated by the senses, Jung.” The quote by Jung sums what scientist think about our being perfectly, and that’s why there is such a big conflict with religion. According to the MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM video humans are considered nothing more than light and we are on this planet for no important purpose. The thought that we are just light beams projecting from earth and created by something other than God is seen as absurd in the religion theory. The reason I believe this problem will never be solved is because no matter how many theories we make on matter, whether a scientist or a theologian, we will never know the truth.

The video The Emergence of Rationality tells students to consider that fact that people are nothing but beams of light and what if we all are here on this earth as nothing. I however don't like the idea of being a beam light because it makes me of less value, I think of myself as a spirit to me it sounds better and gives off a more importance feeling. I do disagree about the human body being nothing and serving no purpose. Our human kind has created and done so much, but by saying that we serve no importance makes no sense. The human body is capable of doing some amazing things, maintaining body temperature, sending signals to other origins of the body, storing memory, dreaming, and even forming any imagination are important.

If we are put on this earth to do and be nothing why are we made different? We have so much detail on ourselves inside and out. We are different in look, actions, and how we perceive things. We are problem solvers; we come up with problems and try to fix them. We place ourselves in jobs to fix problem such as doctor, lawyers, teachers, firefighter, the list goes on but the point is I feel each and every one of use serves some important factor in our world.

Posts:
      

the shrinking man

        
       When first seeing the question "Do we ultimately know where we are?" I though of course and my response would be my current location diamond bar, California. After watching the video my answer immediately changed to "I don't know." I believe that know one really know the answer to where we really are. The person with the best answer will probably be the one who has traveled the furthest from earth.
       My best assumption to the where we are is somewhere in the universe next to the eight planets circling around the sun. I find it very difficult for anyone to ever know the exact location of where we are located and I don't think we'll ever discover it.
           

How did Socrates die? The life of Pythagoras

                  Socrates was know for studying and teach philosophy to children which caused problems amongst their parents. Socrates was put to death for teaching was he believed in using philosophy to determine how we should live. Socrates found it important that his students should worry more about the welfare of their souls rather than the well being of their career and families. Because of his teachings Socrates was put to trail where the jury was condemned guilty and wanted him put to death. During these times people who were on death row are put to death by drinking of the hemlock plant.
        Pythagoras was also a philosopher but he believe in the live of a person after death. Pythagoras taught that no occurrence happened by chance or luck, but rather to good men. He also taught about friendship, music and poetry, temperance and self control, as well as many other problems men faced back then. I felt that is was wrong for the Greeks to kill Socrates because of his teachings, they're where other philosophers during that time who weren't condemned to death for what they believed in.

Either /or

           In the video "either /or" the quote by Soren Kierkegaard about doing this or that, stood out to me. Soeren states that whether or not we do something really doesn't matter because we will end up regretting the both. Some people have the opportunity to make a life changing opportunity in their life and it got me thinking about what steps a person might take in making this decision. For instants why to people choose a certain career path, what college they want to attend or even why a person may choose to hurt or help someone. Once a person makes an important decision its usually to late to go back and I that's when a person can help but wounder what would happen if they chose to do something else.
            Another quote that seemed interesting was "Everything has been figured out, except how to live." I don't believe everything has necessarily been figured out, especially the question "where are we?" One thing that I do agree with is the fact that know one know the right way to live because we all have the freedom to live however we choose. I'm glad that we get to choose to live how we want, with the concept that we follow the law, because it allows us to have the freedom to make chocies.

The cranial limit

            I believe it is possible to exceed our cranial limits. For centuries scientist have studied the human mind trying to figure out the brain functions. One thing scientist have not figured out is the limits the brain can take in each human. I do know that most people don't use the grey matter part of their brain and can still have some pretty amazing talents. The function of the brain is to send signals through out the body, but what happens when a person is born without certain body parts. These people born with missing limbs can still function and some without the help of another person, the brain helps them to live life that suits them for their well being.
            I believe that anyone can exceed their cranial expectations when they have the will power and determination to go beyond their limit. I think about athletes striving to be the best, these people push themselves to train and become better each time they exercise. My coach always told me that pain is in the mind, meaning that we can always push ourselves a little further each time we think about quitting.

The Emergence of Rationality

            According to the video The Emergence of Rationality students are consider that fact that people are nothing but beams of light and what if we all are here on this earth as nothing. I however don't like the idea of being a beam light because it makes me of less value, I think of myself as a spirit to me it sounds better and gives off a more importance feeling. I do disagree about the human body being nothing  and serving no purpose. Our human kind has created and done so much, but by saying that we serve no importance makes no sense. The human body is capable of doing some amazing things, maintaining body temperature, sending signals to other origins of the body, storing memory, dreaming, and even forming any imagination are important.
            If we where put on this earth to do and be nothing why are we all made different, we have so much detail on ourselves inside and out. We are different in look, actions, and how we perceive things. We are problem solvers, we come up with problems and try to fix them. We place our selves in jobs to fix problem such as doctor, lawyers, teachers, firefighter, the list goes on but the point is I feel each and everyone of use serves some important factor in our world.

The Chandian Effect

            The cjandian effect recieved its name from Faqir chand, a guru, he was the first to speak about visinary manestfistations. The chandian effect desinates two major factors in transpersonal incounters, the overwlming of spiritual uncertity and the subject of projections of sacred forms figures seen by the meditatior without the concious knowlegde at the center of the experiance.
            I found this topic interesting, just imagine coming into a place where suddenly people begin to worship you. I've heard stories similar in a way that people have been greeted by spirits and where offered advice on how to better there lives. Its really interesting to hear that this story involved many people who had claimed that they where given advice from the same person and that this advice had saved their lives. Many religions pray to a higher source for help and guidance believing that that source with help them over come there problems.

Intelligent Reductionism
 

        “The video starts off with this statement: Eliminative materialism is reason writ large.” The problem is that we allow things that may not exist to change our way of thinking about almost everything except for ourselves. The question then becomes how we motivate ourselves. The video talks about humans becoming motivated through desire, motivation, love, anger, and free will. Motivation doesn’t occur through brain power but through our own conscious thoughts. The consciousness is said to come from a more ancient religious background.

       I agree with the fact that motivation comes from a conscious thought. I think of athletes, singers, mathematicians, scientist and what may motivate them. Kobe Bryant for example wants to be the best he can ne at doing what he loves, Basketball, he works hard every day training to become better. I feel the one thing most people can relate to when it comes to being motivated is success. I was kind of astonished to hear that people are motivated by anger because it’s shocking to think that someone one was motive to hurt somebody, but in reality it happens all the time.

"Well God Did It"

            The idea “Well God did it” comes from the thought that if something can’t be explained it’s the doing of God who created it. The process of finding the unknown starts with mathematics then goes to physics, chemistry, biology, sociology, then ending with sociology until it can be explain leaving the though it must be God. I agree with the statement about people finding any and every way they can explain how things work or are made so that the thought of the unknown doesn’t have to exist. Each method for finding a solution to a theory started with someone who desperately wanted to know the answer to an observation. There are many famous people such as Einstein or Plato who made it easier for people to take their theories and solve their own problems or questions that needed answer.

           I believe that some these scientist clashes with religion all the time because they don’t want to just come to a conclusion that God did it. There are theories such as evolution and the creation of our universe that have been formed by scientist just so there can be a solution that will leave them feeling satisfied that there is an answer. I guess a person might feel successful when they discover an answer to a question that no one has ever figured out, especially if you have followers that believe your answer. I feel that sometimes people make up answer when they cannot find the true answer because it may be impossible by anyone else to find.

Eletric Surfing

             The video starts off stating that protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative charge. The second lesson in the video explains that the positive charge of the protons is equal to the negative charge of the electrons, basically they attract to each other with in other fields. Next the atom is in balance if it has an equal number of protons and electrons. Nature’s law of balance involves the electron to roam free. The three factors of Nature’s Law of balance are pressure, current, and resistance.

             When electrons are moving it creates a current. Electricity travels in circuits but if a circuit is open the electrons can’t flow. The billions of atoms that help form the universe are composed of positive and negative charges are balanced in matter, by unbalancing these charges electric energy is formed. The erg to restore balance in Nature’s Law creates electric restoration. The restoration of an electric pressure creates a current.

Quantum Thinking

              Quantum thinking is about the idea that no one can really see what exactly a bit of matter is. As an example for quantum thinking the video explains that no one knows what an electron is doing. The video goes on speaking about how we cannot alter things that we do not necessarily know what they are. To my understanding know one knows how people come in to existence but everyone seems to have an answer. The Big Bang Theory, God, or other beliefs are ideas that people have come up with reasons for our existence but no one has proof.

               I think that most answers that can be explained come from the conscious thought. This video reminds me of the Unknown clip and how we cannot come up with the answer for everything. I think the reason why scientists are so interested in their job today is because they desperately want to know the answer for why things happen. When the unknown is discovered we start to create new things such as cars, ways to store electricity, or anything that can make life a bit easier. I find it fascinating that people can go out capture something they be observing for a while such as lighting that created the idea of a light bulb.

The Unknowable

              The clip the unknowable speaks about where things come from as well as how they function. The video gives certain examples about the unknowable such as whom or what is living us, beating our hearts, and who is firing our neurons. Many people give the answer to the question to be God or biochemistry. The video goes on talking about the unknown will remain unknown until someone goes out and creates forms a reason for their theory. The reason we have scientist today is so that they can prove why things happen.

              “Map will always have empty spaces because no one has discovered what they are yet.” My idea for why we exist and why we function is for one God created us; how we function I don’t necessarily know. The difference to between me and some scientist is that I’m ok with the unknown. I am a religious believer that God created all thing but do however believe in some of the things that scientist have discovered such as how the brain sends signals throughout the body. I like to think that everyone has their own view of things until someone comes across and convince them otherwise.

String Theory

              The string theory according to Seth was created to explain that the universe is made of loops of matter. The string theory is potentially scientific and not merely wishful thinking because scientists have used the scientific method to compose a theory. The scientific method is broken down into steps, starting with an observation a scientist would observe a subject or ask a question such as how is the universe made. Second the scientist formed a hypothesis about how the experiment will turn out such as the universe is made of trillions of rubber bands. Then you do an experiment like Seth did involving a golf ball that he broke up to find that it was compose of mini rubber bands. Seth broke down the rubbers bands until he could no longer see them by the naked eye. The final conclusion is that things are made up of smaller things that jiggle.

             Feynman's definition of science is explained by looking for a new law. The law is first guessed then you confuse the consequences of the guess to check what it may imply. The experiment should then be compared to the law to see if it works. Feynman says that if the guess disagrees with the experiment is wrong.