1. Be sure to place your entire midterm on your website and when you
are finished send a link of your test to your teacher directly at dlane@mtsac.edu (don't send
it to any other email address, except that)
2. Make sure that it is YOUR OWN work and that if you use other authors please be sure to
quote and/or cite the material appropriately. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and you will receive
an "F" automatically for the examination. 3. The test is due September 19th 2010
4. What is your real name? Reynaley Buenaventura
5. What is your "user" name? rbuenaventura
6. What is your email address that you use for this class? rbuenaventura1@student.mtsac.edu
7. Name and address for your website. The name of my blog is called Reynaley’s Thoughts http://reyn22.blogspot.com/
8. Have you done all the reading for the first four weeks? Most of it.
9. Have you watched each of the films that were required? Most of it.
10. Please place here all of the postings you have done for this class (you can copy and paste them) Thoughts on God 101
It’s quit interesting on how God can be compared to Charles Manson, because it would seem to be true. God has spoken to our ancestors, telling them to do these things that we would deem horrific. Yet, because God told them to do it, it can be excused and deemed acceptable. Is that all it would take to excuse all of our actions? To simply state that God told you to commit crimes, to go against the laws of the government and the laws of your elders? Many Christians try to convert other religions or nonbelievers into their religion, yet the only thing they have to offer is a God who is jealous and commands people to do what he says regardless of the consequence.
The government and law is supposed to protect the people, yet they turn their back on McWilliams because they think his way of coping with the nausea is unorthodox. They only see the use of marijuana as a means to get high because that is what it is commonly used for. Since they probably had no experience with the fact that medical marijuana is used for medicinal purposes, they blind themselves in order to keep their image and their jobs. In trying to set an example, they are only setting themselves up for murder. How can the public trust people like them to protect them when they themselves only care about themselves? They are no better than the God that told a few people on how to protect themselves when he smites Egypt. It only goes to show that you have to be well connected and well informed to live in this world.
Aldous Huxley part 1
Hearing Aldous Huxley's thoughts about overpopulation and over-organization deminishes our freedom is very insightful. Overpopulation will decrease our resources like he said which will cause chaos. The governments need for control will cause over-organization which will cause us to loose a bit of our freedom. Especially in this day, resources are becoming hard to find and money is close to impossible to hold on too. There are more people being born than we have money in circulation which will cause time and freedom to be limited.
Aldous Huxley brings up a good point about how Hitler brought terror using the radio as a way of brainwashing. Knowing how to manipulate technology so that his listeners would agree to everything he says. Aldous Huxley could be doing that very things during his interview. Everything he says, he gives out facts about it which make it believable. Knowing what part of human nature to target, will initiate them to listen and believe what he says. A human being strongest nature is fear, so by using that fear he can easily manipulate a person's way of thinking.
Aldous Huxley part 2
Aldous Huxley brings up the human's unconscious mind, if you can some how relay a message into a person's subconscious mind then that person will think the message as an original idea. It's the same concept portrayed in the movie Inception, trying to get into the very depth of a person's mind to plant a single thought and making sure it grew to become an idea from that person. If a someone can master deception and manipulation, then that someone can easily control the very thought of anyone.
When Huxley targets advertisements as a way to send subliminal messages, understanding how the human mind works can establish what an advertiser needs to do. Especially when using all the senses, which will send a message to the brain to command the body or other functions to want or do something in particular. For instance, when you walk into a store you familiarize yourself to it's particular smell. That smell could be telling your brain to be relax and make you feel comfortable, initially making you want to spend more money than intended. Politician's make sure to know how to properly manipulate the voters by targeting what they want, telling them what they want to hear.
Francis Fukuyama
Professor Fukuyama brings up a good point about the reason why we have history. Science is a very strong basis to proving or disproving theories. Whatever direction science leads us to, it's going to be the right direction because it's a fact. You cannot simply say that it's wrong just because you believe it to be. It's what's stable just like history, you cannot rewrite history just like you cannot make the outcome of an experiment turn out the way you want it to without altering it. As science advances so does technology and since technology is connected to almost everything, history is made everyday.
How did Socrates die?
I applaud on how Socrates held his thoughts and ideas together when speaking about his friend Euthyphro's problem with his father. Bringing him insight on how his father and family are assessing the situation. Although I don't agree what Socrates is suggesting that his friend should be protecting his father instead of taking him to court, but I do like how he opens his friends eyes to another way to view the situation. I found it interesting on how he brought up the Gods and the wars they have with each other. All thought we may never really know what goes on in Mount Olympus, but can be certain that no one really knows on what the Gods really view as good and bad.
When Socrates was in court and he had to defend himself by cross examination, I applaud him on questioning Meletus trying to get him make a mistake or to not know how to reply to something. Trying his hardest to prove him wrong, but Socrates was always good with throwing out questions to confuse someone. Although in the end all, of his thoughts and answers only lead him to his death.
Expert Lecture Owen Gingerich
There has always been a war between science and religion, especially arguing the fact whether or not the universe was created by God or the Big Bang Theory. Many people say that science and religion could never coexist together, yet there are many people out there who are trying to bring peace to the two. Owen Gingerich states that people say that there is no alternate universe and this is how the universe has to be, then there is still just a single design or designer. Regardless if the design or the designer is God or science, it is still a believe system that everyone defends because it is their belief.
I'm not a religious person but I see it as that since God created everything, then he would have to create science. So why isn't it possible for God to use science to create the universe? Of course many scientist would have many ways to disprove it, but they are all about facts and statistics that faith is nothing more than an unseen theory that cannot be proved by their methods. Science is their religion and they have their beliefs, fighting over who is right and who is wrong is just like any argument with any other religion.
Respons to Lisa Randall
Not many people really think about other dimensions because they don't really try to see beyond what's in front of them Lisa Randall says that throughout the years, people have thought there to be 5 dimensions and now it is believed that there are 10. That gravity differs in certain areas causing more dimensions to be a possibility. She brings up a point that when a hose is stretched across a football field and when you look from aerial view, it would seem to be one dimensional. If you were to stand on the football field, you would quickly realize that there is more dimensions to it. This example could be a way to see other dimensions, but the trick is finding the right way to look at things in order to see the other dimensions.
You have to be able to open your mind to the possibilities to other dimensions because it affects our lives and our way of thinking about everything. Think about all the weird things that we witness almost everyday that we brush off as our eyes playing tricks. What if we actually catch a glimpse of something that scientist and theorist have been trying to prove. If we realize all these possibilities and keep our eyes open, would we be able to see these dimensions and realize it? Or would we be too afraid to even acknowledge what we just saw?
11. Why does Lisa Randall believe that there may be many more dimensions than we presently know in current physics? Is there any evidence at this stage for her beliefs?
- Lisa Randall beliefs that there are many more dimensions because since the 1970’s, there has been on going thoughts about how gravity is weaker in some places. Like the gravity between two particles, the particles seem to be stronger than gravity. The question of why is gravity weaker then the other forces lead her to believe in more dimensions in this world.
- The fact that gravity is supposed to known as the strongest force on earth, yet many things defy it everyday. Like the simple push and pull of a magnet, they can defy gravity as long as the particles continue to push and pull each other.
12. What are Pythagoras' philosophical views in a nutshell?
- Pythagoras’ views are derived from a mathematical perspective. He believed that everything could be solved by numbers that numbers where in everything around us. His views on religion and science were blended together, to give a rational thought to the divine. It was complicated and very looked down on, but now it “opens doors” for everyone.
13. Do you think science and religion are compatible? Be sure to explain your answer by GIVING
THE EXPLANATIONS given by philosophers who side with your position from the Socratic Universe (cite and quote when appropriate).
- I’m not a religious person but I am spiritual and have an open mind to everything. Throughout the years, people have argued about religion and science. Religious people are angry at scientist for trying to prove their beliefs to be wrong when it should be left up to faith in it. Then you have the fanatic religious people who believe in what they believe and listen to no one else’s thoughts. I believe that God partook in the creation of the universe and used science as a means to create it. If God created everything, then why couldn’t he be the creator of science and the belief in it? Aristotle stated that not everything can be proven. If we ask that everything be proven, then nothing would ever get proven, since we can demand a new proof for each answer we can give. But if not everything can be proven, then there must be some propositions that don’t need to be proven. Science and religion are compatible with each other than we know.
14. Why was Socrates put on trial? How did Socrates defend his position?
- Socrates was put on trial because Meletus accuses Socrates of creating his own gods and corrupting the youth of Athens.
- Socrates didn’t really defend himself, he just used a method by questioning his accuser to see if Meletus would reveal a flaw in his accusation or in his logic. Of course he only angered him and Socrates continued to question him. He also questioned the their outlook on what is good and what makes the law good. When Meletus calls him an Atheist, Socrates replies that he has to believe in some god because he cannot believe in human beings without believing in something greater.
15. Give a brief history of philosophy using just 300 words (no more). You may use an outline format, but be sure to cram as many "factoids" (facts) as possible (key names, ideas, dates, etc.). Remember, it must be your own words and not merely a series of quotes.
- Philosophy is divided into four different main philosophies: Western, Eastern, Abrahamic, and African. Western philosophy began in the Greek cities where Socrates, who did his best to question everyone with theories and to spread his teachings, was known. In 399 BC, Socrates was tried and executed for his teachings and piousness. Socrates’ student Plato, whose writings made himself known and respected, helped to build the western culture. Aristotle, Plato’s student, made an impact in Philosophy by being logical in his theories, making them possible to prove. With this, Christianity was concerned because people would be able to put Aristotle’s idea with the existence of God. In the 18th century, the time of “Enlightenment” arose with Sir Isaac Newton, where science would be thrown in. Eastern philosophy came from Asian countries but mainly in India and China. There have been many types of philosophy school started in the countries, oldest one goes back to 8th century BC. Abrahamic philosophy is made up of many philosophical schools from the study and commentary of Abraham, from the Old Testament. This religious way of philosophy has brought up many questions and caused people to question philosophers such as Muhammad. Then there is African philosophy but between the 585 BC and 20th century, many smaller forms of philosophy emerged, died, and emerged once again to influence another form of philosophy.
16. Explain the big bang and the inflationary universe. Why is it important to know astronomy in order to do philosophy?
- I understand that the universe before the big bang was extremely high in temperature and the atoms and electrons were ripped away from each other, and the density of the universe contributed to the big bang. The inflationary universe revolves around the “false vacuum”, which is about density and energy of matter rising. How the universe is slowly expanding and that it will continue to expand over time. If someone is going to talk philosophy about the universe, then that person needs to understand astronomy to know what they are talking about. To be able to give concrete support about their thoughts, especially when it comes to creating a theory.
17. How do Heisenberg's views on philosophy and science DIFFER from Einstein's? How are they similar?
- Heisenberg's view on philosphy and science differ because Einstien took in mind that dogmatic realism as the basis for natural science. Heisenberg believes that quantum theory is the very example of explaining nature with simple mathematical laws.
- Their ideas are similar because they both believe that dogmatic realism has a play in how to explain natural science and mathematical laws.
18. What is meme theory and do you find it plausible? Explain your reasoning.
- Meme theory is information held in one person’s memory that can be copied to another person’s memory. I think it is plausible because it wasn’t stated that it had to be passed on identically in any way. If you were to tell someone of an event that was worth remembering, then I’m sure that person would be able to recall the even when it is brought up again. It may not be exact, but the both of them would be able to tell it the right way. It’s human nature to try to picture a story in the mind so you get a better understanding on what’s going on.
19. Why is understanding biological evolution so important in understanding human thought and behavior. Be sure to cite Wilson and Dawkins and Darwin when appropriate.
- Wilson introduced sociobiology, which is understanding our social behavior which is shaped by natural selection. This helps us to understand ourselves and our families in the past on what we will inherit biologically and who we may become. We also need to be able to understand human behavior, to understand ourselves and the ones around us to why we act a certain way. To look at Darwinism to understand why certain species, or people, tend to not survive for long or to just disappear. Understanding on how this works, gives us a better chance at surviving. To know how a human mind, can help predict their behavior and give us a better way to help if it is needed.
20. In one of the films you were required to see, the narrator argued that fundamentalism was a mental disease. Why? Do you agree or disagree and please detail your rejoinder.
- I agree that it is a problem because people are afraid to leave things up for chance, people are afraid of the unknown and would feel a lot better knowing that God is in control of what is happening. I believe that God only plays a part in starting someone’s birth and he just leaves it all to chance, to society and to evolution to see how things turn out. Evolution is part of life, and life is what God created. We adapt and evolve to what this world has to offer, like the narrator says, when we understand evolution is when we understand what goes on around us. Mother Nature is cruel, but so is the life God as given us. Everything is a test and our choices are our own, He is just there to judge us in the end.
21. Where do you think Owen Gingerich "parts company" (fundamentally disagrees with) Edward O. Wilson? Who do you think is more persuasive in their reasoning about religion, Owen or
Edward? Explain.
- The Edward O. Wilson video seems to not be working so I cannot answer this question fully but I would probably agree with Wilson because when I watched the video of Gingerich, he wasn’t very certain of what he was saying. It seemed like he was unsure of himself or just saying the things that came to mind. Sometimes I wouldn’t really be able to understand what he meant so I would have to play it back again.
22. What does Francis Fukuyama mean by the "end of history." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
- I think what Fukuyama means by the “end of history” is that things will end with politics. That history isn’t what it used to be and that we need to revive it. I disagree with that because no matter how much history has changed in the future or how history has been looked at, it’s still history and I do believe that history is made everyday. Even things end in a political standard, that’s something that can be taken account for and always remembered.
23. Explain Nicholas of Cusa's philosophy of "unknowingness."
- His philosophy is that sometimes it’s better to not know anything because sometimes knowing can be the cause of all you problems. Not knowing something doesn’t make you ignorant, it just makes you liable to learn more. The more you prevent yourself from doing something, the more likely it is to happen. If you just let things be and not interfere, then things may got the right way. You will know what it is you have to know when you are meant to know. Don’t force it or else a lot of things will go wrong, or you may end up knowing too much. Everything happens for a reason.
24. According to Nietzsche, how did we actually "kill" God? Think before you leap on this one.
- It’s not the actually thought of killing Him, it’s the thought of killing the belief that people have in Him. Since science is a religion that requires truth, fact, and credibility and any other religion involving a Higher Power is all about not what’s in front of you, but what’s in your heart. All of this tends to clash together since all the followers want to prove that they are right. The more science develops, and then more they are disproving everyone’s belief in God. The key to killing anyone in the worse may imaginable is to kill the belief people have in them, which will eventually kill the memory of their existence.
25. In the movie, Little Things that Jiggle, physics is explained by a series of slogans. Why, then, is physics important in the study of philosophy? Substantiate your answer.
- Physics is the study of energy, force, matter and motion, and how they relate to one another. Philosophy is to study the basic concept of truth, existence, reality, and freedom. Within all of the slogans used in the film, they all integrate physics and philosophy in it and all of it makes sense. Our minds are always wondering about things and physics is there to help give us an answer. In the film they showed the H bomb, no one would have ever thought that would be possible and the ones who did, made it possible with physics. Near the end of the film, when a man ask his friend if we would ever reach the stars, moon, and planets. All those lingering thoughts of “what ifs” and “will we” can be solved or eventually be solved by physics.
26. How do you explain the following line, "To have freedom OF religion one must also have freedom FROM religion."
- To me, that means to have a freedom of religion you must be able to open yourself to all kinds of religion to understand it. You cannot just settle on one religion because it is what you grew up knowing, you have to not be afraid to give it all a try, to try and understand people’s different point of view. To have a variety of religious understandings, give you the freedom of thought on what all the different religion mean. It’s all about having an open mind and being willing to experience it all. To better broaden your thoughts and you faith.
27. Why does Dawkins believe that believing in God is delusional?
- He believes that believing in God is delusional because he does not believe in thing he cannot touch and see. The thought in believing something because of faith is not something he can comprehend. If there is no way to prove His existence then He clearly does not exist. Without proof, there is no certainty and that is what he looks for.
28. Can science offer a sense of mystery comparable to what certain religions offer?
- Science can offer more mystery compared to religion because science is full of unexplained theories and ideas that have yet to be tested. Everyday is a mystery that is waiting to be solved, which only causes more mystery because you do not the outcome. It could either be good, bad, or leading to a new idea. With religion, the only mystery is what the day may have for you or what God has planned for you in the future. It’s the same idea and principle. Science, it’s different every waking moment.
29. How does an understanding of cellular automata suggest a "new kind of science".... according to Stephen Wolfram.
- According to Stephen Wolfram that cellular automata suggest a “new kind of science” by way of showing us that something simple can become quit complex. With the program he created, he showed that he would input a simple rule and things would come out into a pattern. Although, the further he went with the rule, the more complicated and random things got but in the end, there was a split in the triangle of between pattern and randomness.
30. What were the key turning points in Darwin's life?
- One of the key turning points of Darwin’s life I would think is when his father neglected to continue to explore his interest; Darwin decided to take it upon himself to finish what his father started. Another possible turning point is when they were meant to land in the Canary Island, but since the recent outbreak of cholera, they were forced to land at St. Jago. This is where he first began his work as a naturalist collecting samples, encountering jungles, volcano hills, and seeing compressed seashell above sea level. Another turning point is when he met the native people of the tip of South America. He was amazed on how they build their homes and how the lived.
31. What is spooky physics? And who do you think won the Einstein/Bohr debate? Explain your reasoning.
- Spooky physics is just quantum physics because of all the things that occur that relate to quantum physics. It just what Einstein refers to riding on a beam of light. I agree with what Einstein has been proving and disproving, but I would think that Bohr won the debate because of the things he as proved and progressed with. He has more things to stay and more theories to try out. The fact that he’s an idealist helped him out with the arguments instead of Einstein’s resistance towards it.
32. What is evolutionary philosophy and how can it best explain the emergence of self-reflective awareness?
- Evolutionary philosophy is a solid foundation to build a meaningful philosophy about the human life. With self-reflective awareness, you will be able to know what goes on in your life and how to make it batter. You are your own therapist making things better for you. You can take yourself away, analyze the problem and give out a reasonable solution to it. To be able to know what it is you really are doing, to understand your own actions, and be in total control of yourself without having to reply on someone to tell you or correct you.
33. Give a review of the 3 required magazines listed above that you were required to read.
- I really enjoyed Nicholas of Cusa’s “Unknowing” because I have always had thoughts about all the things that I know and don’t know. I always think about if I knew a certain thing, how would I react and will that reaction cause problems or solve it? I like things like that, to make you rethink what you’re used to.
- Spooky physics was something interesting too even though it was hard to follow at times since I’m not really into physics. But the ideas that they had are really interesting to think about.
- How did Socrates die? Even though it was a bit confusing and long, I managed to get the gist of if and I really love how Socrates just turns it around and interrogates his accuser. Trying to get him to slip up or prove that he has no idea what he’s talking about. Even though it ended tragically, at least he said what he wanted to say.
DOUBLE EXTRA CREDIT: Take your favorite movie that you saw listed on
the syllabus and give your own interpretation of its meaning (200
words minimum).
