1.) Lenina dislikes the guide because she is put-off by never having smelled an unbathed person
2.) Lenina, just as Siddhartha, was terrified and confused over the aged and sick man because it was something they had never seen before.
3.) Bernard's reaction was nowhere near the reaction of Lenina, as his was much milder.
4.) Linda was the girl that was with the Director and was presumed dead after having gotten lost.
5.) Linda does not like how unclean everything is; the lack of soma; how they mend their clothes. She does not like the change between her "normal" society and this one.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Brave New World Chpt. 6
1.) Lenina thinks it odd for Bernard to not like golf and want to spend time talking with her. Bernard also refused a dosage of Soma, which is something unheard of to most people.
2.) "Everybody's happy nowadays"; "A gramme is always better than a damn"
3.) Fanny blames the alcohol in his surrogate.
4.) Bernard was uncomfortable because he realized he did the same thing as the Director
5.) Bernard is elated that he was threatened with being sent to Iceland because it makes him feel different from everyone else, even though he completely recognizes it as a threat.
6.) The Warden describes it as a terrible place, all wild and savage. Massive inbreeding is occurring due to the fact that children are still being born.
2.) "Everybody's happy nowadays"; "A gramme is always better than a damn"
3.) Fanny blames the alcohol in his surrogate.
4.) Bernard was uncomfortable because he realized he did the same thing as the Director
5.) Bernard is elated that he was threatened with being sent to Iceland because it makes him feel different from everyone else, even though he completely recognizes it as a threat.
6.) The Warden describes it as a terrible place, all wild and savage. Massive inbreeding is occurring due to the fact that children are still being born.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Brave New World Chpt. 5
1. What would Michael Pollan (Remember? The Omnivore's Dilemma) say about the first paragraph in Chapter 5?
Cows are the replacement for corn. The hormones in the milk are used to make a myriad of different things, just as corn is used to make almost everything.
2. Do you see any similarities with World State views death as compared to the Hindus? How does Lenina's remembrance of hypopedia compare with Plato's Republic?
Both Hindus and the World State practice cremation and the concept of a use after death. Hindus believe that they are reborn, while the World state uses the cremated people to grow plants.
3. What do you think of Lenina's and Henry night out on the town?
The night on the town seemed very out of character for Huxley to mention seeing as it is something that occurs in modern life and slightly out of topic in the dystopian sense.
4. Why do you think Huxley uses the word "pneumatic" to refer to some female characters?
Some of the characters are referred to as pneumatic because they appear unattractive.
5. What is Solitary Service and what are Bernard's feelings towards it?
The Solitary Service is a group of men and women who try to become "one". The allusions to church as incredibly heavy even with the strawberry soma being the wine. Bernard hates the group and can't seem to join.
Cows are the replacement for corn. The hormones in the milk are used to make a myriad of different things, just as corn is used to make almost everything.
2. Do you see any similarities with World State views death as compared to the Hindus? How does Lenina's remembrance of hypopedia compare with Plato's Republic?
Both Hindus and the World State practice cremation and the concept of a use after death. Hindus believe that they are reborn, while the World state uses the cremated people to grow plants.
3. What do you think of Lenina's and Henry night out on the town?
The night on the town seemed very out of character for Huxley to mention seeing as it is something that occurs in modern life and slightly out of topic in the dystopian sense.
4. Why do you think Huxley uses the word "pneumatic" to refer to some female characters?
Some of the characters are referred to as pneumatic because they appear unattractive.
5. What is Solitary Service and what are Bernard's feelings towards it?
The Solitary Service is a group of men and women who try to become "one". The allusions to church as incredibly heavy even with the strawberry soma being the wine. Bernard hates the group and can't seem to join.
Abel Chp. 13
1.) History is being constantly rewritten because our interests keep changing. At one time, we could focus on kings, and the next time on the peasants.
2.) A historian is influenced by changing interests, changing conceptual apparatus, changing historical segments, a personal equation or a change in audience.
3.) The "Baconian fallacy" is the statement that all history is nothing but facts. Carr would disagree completely arguing that history is more a record of certain perceptions of the historian.
4.) A historian infers meaning from his data, while a geologist does the opposite.
5.) I'd agree with the statement because it was left up to us to decide what was and wasn't important.
6.) Future historians will decide what happened in an event based on how they perceived an event to occur, just as historians have done in modern times.
7.) "The grand sweep of events which we call the historical process is made up of an indefinitely large number of components which do not form a completely inter-related set. A historical pluralism denies that every event is related to every other event."
8.) Columbus's discovery in America is something that has been argued over, along with the Russian winter of 1812, being a mild one.
9.) Neither physics nor history can have anything that can be considered "true". The object of both is to try to remove as many problems of perception.
10.)
a) We may begin with Ecclesiastes
b) A second group of philosophies of history may be called functional because of the way in which they isolate and stress certain factors.
c.) The idea of progress as a philosophy of history is relatively new
d.) History is a great drama of sin and redemption, according to the Christian view.
e.) Organismic theories consider society to be a kind of living thing.
11.) On a small scale, historical inevitability is quite real, seeing as humans are prone to violence, but on a large scale, such as war, too many variables are left unchecked to blame historical inevitability only.
12.) It is impossible to prove if any historian is telling the truth.
13.) There is a distinct difference between literature and history, but at one point in the 18th century, the line was heavily blurred as novelists called their books "histories". Lepore would agree that even with the line blurred, there is a way to separate the two.
14.) The Shaper told stories that would change based on where he was. He would alter the story to best fit his location. The footnote also deals with the same topic, showing how stories can change based on location.
2.) A historian is influenced by changing interests, changing conceptual apparatus, changing historical segments, a personal equation or a change in audience.
3.) The "Baconian fallacy" is the statement that all history is nothing but facts. Carr would disagree completely arguing that history is more a record of certain perceptions of the historian.
4.) A historian infers meaning from his data, while a geologist does the opposite.
5.) I'd agree with the statement because it was left up to us to decide what was and wasn't important.
6.) Future historians will decide what happened in an event based on how they perceived an event to occur, just as historians have done in modern times.
7.) "The grand sweep of events which we call the historical process is made up of an indefinitely large number of components which do not form a completely inter-related set. A historical pluralism denies that every event is related to every other event."
8.) Columbus's discovery in America is something that has been argued over, along with the Russian winter of 1812, being a mild one.
9.) Neither physics nor history can have anything that can be considered "true". The object of both is to try to remove as many problems of perception.
10.)
a) We may begin with Ecclesiastes
b) A second group of philosophies of history may be called functional because of the way in which they isolate and stress certain factors.
c.) The idea of progress as a philosophy of history is relatively new
d.) History is a great drama of sin and redemption, according to the Christian view.
e.) Organismic theories consider society to be a kind of living thing.
11.) On a small scale, historical inevitability is quite real, seeing as humans are prone to violence, but on a large scale, such as war, too many variables are left unchecked to blame historical inevitability only.
12.) It is impossible to prove if any historian is telling the truth.
13.) There is a distinct difference between literature and history, but at one point in the 18th century, the line was heavily blurred as novelists called their books "histories". Lepore would agree that even with the line blurred, there is a way to separate the two.
14.) The Shaper told stories that would change based on where he was. He would alter the story to best fit his location. The footnote also deals with the same topic, showing how stories can change based on location.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On the Nature of Life
As I sat in my sickly bedridden state yesterday, I had ample time to consider the very nature as to why we are all here. Are we here by the divine creation by a more intelligent being or are we nothing more than an arrangement of amino acids and atomic structures. After much thought, and in truth, quite a bit of cough syrup, I have come to the conclusion that it is neither. We are nothing more than the fleeting day-dreams of a giant magic super beetle. This pale blue dot and everyone one it, all day-dreams. Everyone you know, love, ever will know, and everyone that has ever lived, all were nothing more than the firings of a beetle's neurons.
I sat for most of the day wondering what to do with this incredible revelation. Should I alert just the media, or extend it as far as the heads of the world's governments? While looking up the number to reach the local chapter for the Department of State, I had a sudden change of thought. Maybe, just maybe, the knowledge was in itself the reward...or maybe I've had too much Nyquil.
I sat for most of the day wondering what to do with this incredible revelation. Should I alert just the media, or extend it as far as the heads of the world's governments? While looking up the number to reach the local chapter for the Department of State, I had a sudden change of thought. Maybe, just maybe, the knowledge was in itself the reward...or maybe I've had too much Nyquil.
Giant Magic Super Beetle (Artist Rendition)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Brave New World 4
Part 1
1. What puzzles Lenina about Bernard Marx's behavior?
1. What puzzles Lenina about Bernard Marx's behavior?
He seems to feel that what they're talking about should be talked about in private. This goes against the belief that everyone belongs to everyone and no one really has secrets in World State. He's acting almost as if he and Lenina are becoming a monogamous couple.
2. Please provide examples of Lenina using what she learned from hypnopaedia.
She says things like, "I'm glad I'm not a Gamma." and "What a hideous color Khaki is". These are basically word for word what she learned from hypnopaedia which proves that hypnopaedia works for moral learning.
3. Where are Lenina and Henry going?
Lenina and Henry fly off in a plane on a date to play Obstacle Golf.
Part 2:
1. What makes Bernard Marx distressed? Why?
Part 2:
1. What makes Bernard Marx distressed? Why?
Bernard is distressed because he sees the Epsilons and they remind him of his physical deformities and they make him feel bad about himself and make him think that he should be in a lower caste.
2. Where does Helmholtz Watson work? What is his job?
He works in the College of Emotional Engineering as a lecturer in the department of English.
3. What does Bernard have in common with Helmholtz Watson?
They both don't fit in exactly where they should. Watson is far more intellectual than most people and Bernard has the physical deformities that separate him from the rest of the Alphas.
4. What is troubling Helmholtz?
He's beginning to question if there is more to life than what they are taught in the World State. He feels like there's something inside of him that needs to be exposed.
Brave New World 3
Please read Chapter 3 of Brave New World and answer the following question. Answers must be posted by November 1 to receive full credit.
In Chapter 3, we begin to learn about how the World State. Please explain how the following areas are different in the World State as compared to our world in 2009.
A) Sex, Monogamy & Romance - Everyone belongs to everyone else. There is rarely any monogamy. In fact, if you stay with a person too long you're not doing the right thing.
B) Sports - Sports must be complicated and require a lot of equipment that must be purchased to support the materialistic ideas of World State.
C) Entertainment - For entertainment, they go to the "Feely's" and watch and feel movies.
D) Parenthood - Parenthood is utterly disgusting to them. Babies are raised by the state. The idea of having a monogamous couple raising you is unsatisfying to them.
E) Materialism - They believe in buying new things rather than fixing old ones in order to support their economy.
F) Religion - They don't really practice religion. They idolize Henry T. Ford because he created the assembly line.
G) Intoxicants - They've created a drug that has all the good effects of drugs and alcohol without the after effects. It's called Somma and everyone is on it.
Finally, to the best of your ability, provide a brief history (a paragraph) of how the World State came to be.
In Chapter 3, we begin to learn about how the World State. Please explain how the following areas are different in the World State as compared to our world in 2009.
A) Sex, Monogamy & Romance - Everyone belongs to everyone else. There is rarely any monogamy. In fact, if you stay with a person too long you're not doing the right thing.
B) Sports - Sports must be complicated and require a lot of equipment that must be purchased to support the materialistic ideas of World State.
C) Entertainment - For entertainment, they go to the "Feely's" and watch and feel movies.
D) Parenthood - Parenthood is utterly disgusting to them. Babies are raised by the state. The idea of having a monogamous couple raising you is unsatisfying to them.
E) Materialism - They believe in buying new things rather than fixing old ones in order to support their economy.
F) Religion - They don't really practice religion. They idolize Henry T. Ford because he created the assembly line.
G) Intoxicants - They've created a drug that has all the good effects of drugs and alcohol without the after effects. It's called Somma and everyone is on it.
Finally, to the best of your ability, provide a brief history (a paragraph) of how the World State came to be.
Brave New World 2
1. How do babies sent to the Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Rooms develop an "instinctive hatred of books and flowers?" Why were Deltas exposed to such treatment?
Babies in the Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Rooms develop their hatred of books and flowers by being allowed to look at them and play with them and then having a nurse press a button which then blows up said books and flowers and also shocks the babies. This makes them associate flowers and books with explosions and pain from a young age. Deltas are exposed to such treatment so that they won't want to spend time in nature but they'll spend their time playing games that require the large setups that contribute to the idea of materialism in the World State.
2. What is a State Conditioning Center? Does it remind you of anything from Plato's Republic?
A State Conditioning Center is a place where children are raised from infancy to adulthood by nurses and doctors rather than parents. This resembles the cave of Plato's Republic.
3. What is hypnopaedia? Why wasn't it used for Science? What was it used for? Does it remind you of anything from Plato's Republic?
Hypnopaedia is the idea of sleep teaching. It couldn't be used for science because science must be understood and what was happening was that people would learn a scientific fact but they couldn't answer questions about it because they didn't really understand the material. It works for teach moral lessons though. The children in the State Conditioning Centers would listen to a recording over and over again about their caste and the other castes and why it was good to be part of their caste.
3. How does the Caste system work in the World State? What are the similarities and differences between this and the Hindu Caste system?
The Caste system in the World State consists of five levels of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon with Alpha being the highest. Each caste has their own characteristics and duties. It's similar to the Hindu caste system in the way its set up and the way the higher castes regard the lower castes.
4. What does the Director mean when he says, "Not so much like drops of water....rather, drops of liquid sealing wax."?
He means that eventually all the facts that are being taught to the children will collect together and cover their minds fulfilling the World State's goal of conditioning and brainwashing the people.
Babies in the Neo-Pavlovian Conditioning Rooms develop their hatred of books and flowers by being allowed to look at them and play with them and then having a nurse press a button which then blows up said books and flowers and also shocks the babies. This makes them associate flowers and books with explosions and pain from a young age. Deltas are exposed to such treatment so that they won't want to spend time in nature but they'll spend their time playing games that require the large setups that contribute to the idea of materialism in the World State.
2. What is a State Conditioning Center? Does it remind you of anything from Plato's Republic?
A State Conditioning Center is a place where children are raised from infancy to adulthood by nurses and doctors rather than parents. This resembles the cave of Plato's Republic.
3. What is hypnopaedia? Why wasn't it used for Science? What was it used for? Does it remind you of anything from Plato's Republic?
Hypnopaedia is the idea of sleep teaching. It couldn't be used for science because science must be understood and what was happening was that people would learn a scientific fact but they couldn't answer questions about it because they didn't really understand the material. It works for teach moral lessons though. The children in the State Conditioning Centers would listen to a recording over and over again about their caste and the other castes and why it was good to be part of their caste.
3. How does the Caste system work in the World State? What are the similarities and differences between this and the Hindu Caste system?
The Caste system in the World State consists of five levels of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon with Alpha being the highest. Each caste has their own characteristics and duties. It's similar to the Hindu caste system in the way its set up and the way the higher castes regard the lower castes.
4. What does the Director mean when he says, "Not so much like drops of water....rather, drops of liquid sealing wax."?
He means that eventually all the facts that are being taught to the children will collect together and cover their minds fulfilling the World State's goal of conditioning and brainwashing the people.
Brave New World 1
1. What is the World State's Motto?
The motto of the World State is "Community, Identity, Stability"
2. Please describe Bokanovsky's Process. Why does The Director call it the "major instrument of social stability?"
Bokanovsky's Process is the process by which one egg is split into many, many other identical eggs which in turn make many identical embryos which turn into many identical adults. The Director calls it the "major instrument of social stability" because it allows factories and other institutions to be staffed by identical employees who have the ability to work the exact same producing the exact same products.
3. Why did the doctor wish to keep the Epsilon "embryo below par?"
The doctor wishes to keep the Epsilon embryo below par because they are the lowest group in the social hierarchy of the World State so by keeping the embryo below par, it assures that the adult will be dumb and deformed which is exactly how the World State wants its epsilons.
4. What does Mr. Foster mean when he says: "We condition them to thrive in heat...that is the secret of happiness of virtue - liking what you've got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny."? How does this connect to what is happening in Rack 10?
Mr. Foster means that the World State wishes to make sure that all their people are happy in the level of the caste they are in. If one is not happy with their social destiny, they might question it and try to break out. Another reason might be that if one isn't happy doing what they are supposed to do, they wouldn't do their job properly throwing off the the Stability of the World State. It connects to Rack 10 because in Rack 10 the embryos are being conditioned to work in the conditions of their future jobs being exposed to chemicals to become used to them.
The motto of the World State is "Community, Identity, Stability"
2. Please describe Bokanovsky's Process. Why does The Director call it the "major instrument of social stability?"
Bokanovsky's Process is the process by which one egg is split into many, many other identical eggs which in turn make many identical embryos which turn into many identical adults. The Director calls it the "major instrument of social stability" because it allows factories and other institutions to be staffed by identical employees who have the ability to work the exact same producing the exact same products.
3. Why did the doctor wish to keep the Epsilon "embryo below par?"
The doctor wishes to keep the Epsilon embryo below par because they are the lowest group in the social hierarchy of the World State so by keeping the embryo below par, it assures that the adult will be dumb and deformed which is exactly how the World State wants its epsilons.
4. What does Mr. Foster mean when he says: "We condition them to thrive in heat...that is the secret of happiness of virtue - liking what you've got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny."? How does this connect to what is happening in Rack 10?
Mr. Foster means that the World State wishes to make sure that all their people are happy in the level of the caste they are in. If one is not happy with their social destiny, they might question it and try to break out. Another reason might be that if one isn't happy doing what they are supposed to do, they wouldn't do their job properly throwing off the the Stability of the World State. It connects to Rack 10 because in Rack 10 the embryos are being conditioned to work in the conditions of their future jobs being exposed to chemicals to become used to them.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
On the Nature of History
The checks lab is comparable to how history is formed based on the educated judgments of the historians and the facts they choose to ignore. Not every piece of information is relevant and we assume a stance of knowledge by authority to allow the historian to judge what is important and what is not. As a group we decided that the animals on the checks were irrelevant and had no impact on the story. We used our own personal biases to deem something as not important, which can lead to conflict.
Monday, November 2, 2009
In Class outline
“We see and understand things not as they are but as we are.” Discuss this claim in relation to at least two ways of knowing.
▼ ❑ Perception
▼ ❑ Problems of Perception
▼ ❑ Biological limits
• ❑ senses only extend so far
▼ ❑ Bauby
▼ ❑ biological limits were either altered or removed outright
• ❑ Bauby was forced to change his perception of the world
▼ ❑ Memory
▼ ❑ Degradation
▼ ❑ Roswell Memory Failure
• ❑ severe memory degradation after only one month
▼ ❑ Harding Effect
▼ ❑ Looks vs. Qualifications
▼ ❑ Nixon vs. Kennedy debates
• ❑ People who saw the debate thought Kennedy did better; people who heard it thought Nixon did better
▼ ❑ Warren G. Harding election
• ❑ Harding was tall and handsome, but unqualified.
▼ ❑ Reason
▼ ❑ Fallacies
▼ ❑ act as the rules as to how we interpret the outside signals
▼ ❑ False Dilema
• ❑ only two options exist: Enron; either a good employee or a bad one
▼ ❑ Circular reasoning
• ❑ self supporting argument; Jesus is the son of god, the bible said so; bible never wrong because jesus is the son of god.
• ❑ must be valid, but not necessarily true
▼ ❑ Perception
▼ ❑ Problems of Perception
▼ ❑ Biological limits
• ❑ senses only extend so far
▼ ❑ Bauby
▼ ❑ biological limits were either altered or removed outright
• ❑ Bauby was forced to change his perception of the world
▼ ❑ Memory
▼ ❑ Degradation
▼ ❑ Roswell Memory Failure
• ❑ severe memory degradation after only one month
▼ ❑ Harding Effect
▼ ❑ Looks vs. Qualifications
▼ ❑ Nixon vs. Kennedy debates
• ❑ People who saw the debate thought Kennedy did better; people who heard it thought Nixon did better
▼ ❑ Warren G. Harding election
• ❑ Harding was tall and handsome, but unqualified.
▼ ❑ Reason
▼ ❑ Fallacies
▼ ❑ act as the rules as to how we interpret the outside signals
▼ ❑ False Dilema
• ❑ only two options exist: Enron; either a good employee or a bad one
▼ ❑ Circular reasoning
• ❑ self supporting argument; Jesus is the son of god, the bible said so; bible never wrong because jesus is the son of god.
• ❑ must be valid, but not necessarily true
Monday, October 5, 2009
Group 4 Reflection
1.) Our original hypothesis was to located any invasive species and test for the conditions that affect them. We then located a specific spot on the satellite image where there was a drastic change in foliage. We then decided to test as to why there was such a drastic change.
2.) We had a few issues with the equipment. We underestimated the amount of samples we planned to take and therefore didn't bring enough plastic bags to hold things. We tried to find distilled water for the instrument cleaning, but the best we could do was spring water from a bottle. We had two versions of a dissolved oxygen sensor. The most technical and accurate one proved much to difficult to be used in the field, so we went with a less accurate one, but we did note this in our reflections.
3.) Working within a group was really helpful in terms of being able to bounce ideas and hypotheses off of one another. Because we needed to test a lot of control factors, having more than one person run tests at one time really sped up the process. Having each one of us be under a different scientific discipline was useful to help understand all the factors that can effect an environment.
4.) With any test, certain margins of error exist. It is crucial to take the limitations of the equipment into account when calculating something. I believe our data to be pretty reliable because we did take into account the limitation of our equipment and tried our best to moderate it. We did run a number of test sites and our data held a solid correlation.
2.) We had a few issues with the equipment. We underestimated the amount of samples we planned to take and therefore didn't bring enough plastic bags to hold things. We tried to find distilled water for the instrument cleaning, but the best we could do was spring water from a bottle. We had two versions of a dissolved oxygen sensor. The most technical and accurate one proved much to difficult to be used in the field, so we went with a less accurate one, but we did note this in our reflections.
3.) Working within a group was really helpful in terms of being able to bounce ideas and hypotheses off of one another. Because we needed to test a lot of control factors, having more than one person run tests at one time really sped up the process. Having each one of us be under a different scientific discipline was useful to help understand all the factors that can effect an environment.
4.) With any test, certain margins of error exist. It is crucial to take the limitations of the equipment into account when calculating something. I believe our data to be pretty reliable because we did take into account the limitation of our equipment and tried our best to moderate it. We did run a number of test sites and our data held a solid correlation.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Justification
1.) It was fair for The Independent to use the word "monster" in the description of Karadzic due to the horrific description of the death camps run for the Muslims in Croatia and Serbia. The use of memory gives way to the death camps run by the Nazis. The journalist were allowed to 'tour' the death camps, so the use of empirical knowledge aids with the title of "monster"
2.) The title of monster is already empirically and memory justified. It is justified by authority because The Independent is claiming to be a reliable news source and one would assume that prior research had been done. A reason syllogism can be made to describe Karadzic as a monster:
War crimes are committed by monsters.
Kradzic is a war criminal
Therefore, Karadzic is a monster
3.) Monster means a lack of any sort of characteristics that make someone human; (e.g. compassion, love, sympathy, mercy, etc.) A monster is a person who is inhumanly cruel or wicked.
While Karadzic may have started with nationalistic intentions but the crimes committed against humanity are unforgivable.
2.) The title of monster is already empirically and memory justified. It is justified by authority because The Independent is claiming to be a reliable news source and one would assume that prior research had been done. A reason syllogism can be made to describe Karadzic as a monster:
War crimes are committed by monsters.
Kradzic is a war criminal
Therefore, Karadzic is a monster
3.) Monster means a lack of any sort of characteristics that make someone human; (e.g. compassion, love, sympathy, mercy, etc.) A monster is a person who is inhumanly cruel or wicked.
While Karadzic may have started with nationalistic intentions but the crimes committed against humanity are unforgivable.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Defining A Monster
The Independent refers to Karadzic as a monster based on reports gathered from both sides. While this alone is not enough to define a 'monster' in and of itself, the sheer number of the reports must be seriously considered. The Independent uses Knowledge by Authority regarding the reports coming out of Serbia at the time. Karadzic is described as a monster much in the way most people would describe Hitler as a monster. Neither one was directly causing the violence, but terrible atrocities were committed under the orders of both, and neither did anything to stop it. The reports filed by the journalists that were 'invited' into the prisons were recorded in a way to blend both emotional imagery and factual reporting. This could have led to the distortion of some details, but the sheer number of similar reports would have overcome that.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Mr. Andre Reflection
Apart from using logic symbols and equations to explain syllogisms, the language of logic seemed to have little practical application. The riddles were very helpful in showing how paradigms cause people to limit their way of thinking. Never having heard the Spider and Black Deer story, I can't comment on it.
Senior Reflection
Doing the extended essay over the summer seems like a good idea. The E.E. seems to be too difficult to fit in anywhere else, and summer is the best time. Apart from the generic "Do your work" mantra, the utilization of the summer seemed like the only useful piece of advice. It shall be heeded.
Enron #2
1.) The S.P.E. (Special Purpose Entities) gives company owned contracts to a subsidiary of the company which allows the company to borrow from the banks without having to pay interest.
2.) If the assets given to the SPEs didn't make money, Enron could pay the SPEs back with Enron stock, essentially getting money without having to give collateral.
3.) The information does count as a mystery because Enron's list of SPEs was public information and included in Enron's annual report.
4.) Downloaded is a reference to public knowledge, but scrounged up gives the impression of massive amounts of digging and having to find hidden information.
5.) Enron being the largest company of its type at the time, had thousands upon thousands of papers of financial documents so sorting and analyze them all would take years. Andrew Fastow was the CFO of Enron as was largely responsible for all the actions the company took.
6.) Information changes purpose and value over time
7.) By understanding that the situation was a mystery, if forced them to value all information given in oder to deduce the existence of the Nazi rockets.
8.) The detection of prostate cancer is preventative and therefore requires all the information one can get. Treatment however is very different. It requires specific problems to be addressed.
9.) Spies used to be required because of the secrecy shared between he two countries, but now that everything is public that IA on both sides can't even begin to process it all.
10.) Inman believes that we need people who understand the culture of a country to gather information as they would be more privy to the subtle nuances that someone not from that culture would not be able to pick up on.
2.) If the assets given to the SPEs didn't make money, Enron could pay the SPEs back with Enron stock, essentially getting money without having to give collateral.
3.) The information does count as a mystery because Enron's list of SPEs was public information and included in Enron's annual report.
4.) Downloaded is a reference to public knowledge, but scrounged up gives the impression of massive amounts of digging and having to find hidden information.
5.) Enron being the largest company of its type at the time, had thousands upon thousands of papers of financial documents so sorting and analyze them all would take years. Andrew Fastow was the CFO of Enron as was largely responsible for all the actions the company took.
6.) Information changes purpose and value over time
7.) By understanding that the situation was a mystery, if forced them to value all information given in oder to deduce the existence of the Nazi rockets.
8.) The detection of prostate cancer is preventative and therefore requires all the information one can get. Treatment however is very different. It requires specific problems to be addressed.
9.) Spies used to be required because of the secrecy shared between he two countries, but now that everything is public that IA on both sides can't even begin to process it all.
10.) Inman believes that we need people who understand the culture of a country to gather information as they would be more privy to the subtle nuances that someone not from that culture would not be able to pick up on.
Enron #1
1.) Skilling was being brought up on charges of fraud. Beliveaux asked if Skilling was willing to live off of $1600 a month. This was used to show that Enron had no only damaged its shareholders, but employees as well.
2.) Petrocelli asked if the judge would reduce the sentence by a few months so that Skilling didn't have to go to a maximum security prison with violent offenders. The judge denied his request.
3.)A puzzle has information missing (i.e. a piece) but a mystery, all the information is present.
4.) A lack of information can be found, but since a mystery requires analysis, which is subjective.
5.) As is with most corporate scandals, someone always lies about something, so Enron was expected to be no different, but as it turns out all information was available, it was just a matter of asking Enron for the records.
6.)Mark to Market accounting lists future contract purchases as real tangible money.
7.) The money can either be listed as actually existing, or as what the company is projecting to make. Weil was asked to find out if Enron actually had money.
8.) Defaulted loans arose when high-risk customers were given sub-prime mortgages, thus showing how ineffective mark to market accounting can be.
9.)All the financial records proved that Enron had no physical money and that all the funds they had were projected 10 years into the future.
10.) Chanos job was to bet on the losses of companies and saw that Enron was showing signs of failing.
11.) McLean was a writer for Fortune Magazine who first investigated Enron's money problem.
12.) Watergate was a puzzle because Deep Throat was the missing piece of information that Woodward and Bernstein needed.
13.)No because he investigated and discovered the information himself, he wasn't missing a piece of information that he couldn't get himself.
14.) The officials didn't seem to mind the connection between a candidate for president from an oil family and the other being an environmentalist. Somehow that didn't raise any eyebrows to anyone.
15.) The officials at Enron completely cooperated with the investigation and all the information was given to Weil when he asked for it, so no information was technically missing, all that had to be done was it needed to be analyzed.
2.) Petrocelli asked if the judge would reduce the sentence by a few months so that Skilling didn't have to go to a maximum security prison with violent offenders. The judge denied his request.
3.)A puzzle has information missing (i.e. a piece) but a mystery, all the information is present.
4.) A lack of information can be found, but since a mystery requires analysis, which is subjective.
5.) As is with most corporate scandals, someone always lies about something, so Enron was expected to be no different, but as it turns out all information was available, it was just a matter of asking Enron for the records.
6.)Mark to Market accounting lists future contract purchases as real tangible money.
7.) The money can either be listed as actually existing, or as what the company is projecting to make. Weil was asked to find out if Enron actually had money.
8.) Defaulted loans arose when high-risk customers were given sub-prime mortgages, thus showing how ineffective mark to market accounting can be.
9.)All the financial records proved that Enron had no physical money and that all the funds they had were projected 10 years into the future.
10.) Chanos job was to bet on the losses of companies and saw that Enron was showing signs of failing.
11.) McLean was a writer for Fortune Magazine who first investigated Enron's money problem.
12.) Watergate was a puzzle because Deep Throat was the missing piece of information that Woodward and Bernstein needed.
13.)No because he investigated and discovered the information himself, he wasn't missing a piece of information that he couldn't get himself.
14.) The officials didn't seem to mind the connection between a candidate for president from an oil family and the other being an environmentalist. Somehow that didn't raise any eyebrows to anyone.
15.) The officials at Enron completely cooperated with the investigation and all the information was given to Weil when he asked for it, so no information was technically missing, all that had to be done was it needed to be analyzed.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Genie 2
1. What was so significant about Chomsky's argument?
Chomsky says that words need to be put in a certain order for them to have logical meaning and coherence
2. What do you make of Chomsky's bird argument on p. 36?
Chomskey's argument is valid because for most organisms, the first few moments of life serve as a basis for judging the rest of the life. Anything that happens in childhood will be considered the norm.
3. Do you agree with Chomsky's claim about the island at the end of Chapter 7? Please explain your answer.
The child couldn't create language by himself because language is the transfer of information and it is difficult to transfer anything if there is no one else to converse with.
4. In Chapter 10, why were Genie's observers pleased to see her hitting other children?
Her hitting was seen as a sign that she realized there were other things in her environment
5. Describe how Genie's language was developing.
Genie couldn't talk, but she understood commands given to her.
6. After reading Chapter 11, what are the primary differences between the reading and the film?
Victor had a much greater opportunity for his animal instincts to take over. Genie was alone in a house and therefore couldn't rely on those instinct which resulted in a lower ability of understanding.
7. How did the film, Wild Child impact the symposium members? What is meant by: "all of us saw in the movie what we were prepared to see to confirm to our own biases."?
If a person was convinced that language was innate, then they would only pick up on evidence that supported their claim.
8. What do you think of Dr. Elkind's quote on p. 59? How do you feel about Dr. Freedman's suggestion on p. 59-61
9. Why was it important for Itard to teach Victor to "imagine the needs of others (p. 73)"? Does CAS do this? Why or why not?
Victor needed to imagine the needs of others because that's the only way to reverse the animalistic nature he had developed. CAS does not do this because no one does CAS because they have sympathy for others, they do it because it is required for diploma.
10. After reading Chapter 14, do you agree that Truffaut's film ending was too optimistic?
Seeing as Victor never fully learned language, not only is the ending optimistic, but just plain inaccurate.
Chomsky says that words need to be put in a certain order for them to have logical meaning and coherence
2. What do you make of Chomsky's bird argument on p. 36?
Chomskey's argument is valid because for most organisms, the first few moments of life serve as a basis for judging the rest of the life. Anything that happens in childhood will be considered the norm.
3. Do you agree with Chomsky's claim about the island at the end of Chapter 7? Please explain your answer.
The child couldn't create language by himself because language is the transfer of information and it is difficult to transfer anything if there is no one else to converse with.
4. In Chapter 10, why were Genie's observers pleased to see her hitting other children?
Her hitting was seen as a sign that she realized there were other things in her environment
5. Describe how Genie's language was developing.
Genie couldn't talk, but she understood commands given to her.
6. After reading Chapter 11, what are the primary differences between the reading and the film?
Victor had a much greater opportunity for his animal instincts to take over. Genie was alone in a house and therefore couldn't rely on those instinct which resulted in a lower ability of understanding.
7. How did the film, Wild Child impact the symposium members? What is meant by: "all of us saw in the movie what we were prepared to see to confirm to our own biases."?
If a person was convinced that language was innate, then they would only pick up on evidence that supported their claim.
8. What do you think of Dr. Elkind's quote on p. 59? How do you feel about Dr. Freedman's suggestion on p. 59-61
9. Why was it important for Itard to teach Victor to "imagine the needs of others (p. 73)"? Does CAS do this? Why or why not?
Victor needed to imagine the needs of others because that's the only way to reverse the animalistic nature he had developed. CAS does not do this because no one does CAS because they have sympathy for others, they do it because it is required for diploma.
10. After reading Chapter 14, do you agree that Truffaut's film ending was too optimistic?
Seeing as Victor never fully learned language, not only is the ending optimistic, but just plain inaccurate.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
This Child Commentary
Why does Dr. Itard want Victor to speak?
Our song is written from the view of Dr. Itard. In the second verse, we mention that he wants to teach Victor so that he can prove that language can be learned. This goes against what the other doctor thinks about how language is inherent.
How does Dr. Itard hope to teach Victor:
Perception - In the second verse we make a reference to dumping hot and cold water on Victor to see if he can tell the difference. Dr. Itard hoped that he'd be able to show Victor the difference.
Language - In the third verse, we talk directly about the letters made of wood and how Dr. Itard hope Victor would learn how to spell and make words and eventually talk but all he did was memorize.
Reason - In verse four, we talk about how Dr. Itard tried to teach Victor reason by making him ask for his milk.
Emotion - Near the end of the song, we talk about how Dr. Itard locks Victor in a closet and he finally cries which shows Dr. Itard that he feels emotion.
Our song is written from the view of Dr. Itard. In the second verse, we mention that he wants to teach Victor so that he can prove that language can be learned. This goes against what the other doctor thinks about how language is inherent.
How does Dr. Itard hope to teach Victor:
Perception - In the second verse we make a reference to dumping hot and cold water on Victor to see if he can tell the difference. Dr. Itard hoped that he'd be able to show Victor the difference.
Language - In the third verse, we talk directly about the letters made of wood and how Dr. Itard hope Victor would learn how to spell and make words and eventually talk but all he did was memorize.
Reason - In verse four, we talk about how Dr. Itard tried to teach Victor reason by making him ask for his milk.
Emotion - Near the end of the song, we talk about how Dr. Itard locks Victor in a closet and he finally cries which shows Dr. Itard that he feels emotion.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Abel Chpt 7
1.) How do Mill and Frege disagree with Russell about grammatical sentences and meaning?
Mill and Frege believe that sentence should have the same meaning as the collective meaning of the words, while Russel showed that there can be meaningless sentences made up of meaningful words.
2.) Abel provides 8 distinguishing features of meaning. Please provide your own example for each.
a.) Indication - "Smoke means fire"
b.) Cause - "What does this white flag mean?"
c.) Effect - "This means you will fail the quarter"
d.) Intention - "I meant to post all my blogs on time"
e.) Explanation - "What does 'degeneracy' mean?"
f.) Purpose - "Pacifism is meaningless."
g.) Implication - "If the light turns red, I'm speeding up."
h.) Significance - "Does life have any meaning without death?"
3.) Why does Abel believe that science and metaphysics is involved in the discussion of linguistic meaning?
Abel states that we can talk meaningfully about the world only if we take into account what the world is like.
4.) Aristotle provided 10 categories that defined “the range of applicability of a term.”(p. 65). Please provide your own example for each.
i.) Substance - "Bob Dylan is a human being"
ii.) Quantity - "He is 180cm tall"
iii.) Quality - "He is talented"
iv.) Relation - "He is the father of Jakob Dylan"
v.) Place - "He is in California"
vi.) Time - "He is there always"
vii.) Action - "He is singing"
viii.) Passion - "He is protesting"
ix.) Position - "He is surrounded by his fans"
x.) State - "He is newly shaven."
5.) How does Abel differentiate between Reference and Naming?
Reference is how language affects a word, while naming is the direct application of a word to a thing.
6.) On page 66, Abel explains the historical significance of naming. Can you think of any examples he left out? Is there any contemporary example of which Abel would not be aware?
When the cyclops asks Odysseus what his name is, he replies "I am Nobody" His giving of a false name is what angered the gods.
7.) What is the main function of naming? What doesn’t it do?
Naming serves as a a tag to identify something. A name can not describe something.
8.) What is the difference between sense and reference?
A sense is the mental picture evoked when the name is said. A reference is the description of an otherwise unknown name.
9.) How does Abel differentiate between Connotation and Denotation? What about Intension and Extension?
Connotation is the specific meaning of the word while Denotation is all the things that can be designated with the word. Intension is what one had in mind when the word was said. Extension is all the things that fit the definition of the word.
10.) What does Abel mean when he says: “Though meanings require words, they are not identical to words.” (p. 68)?
Words can either refer to things or our thoughts on things because they have both sense and reference.
11.) What is the connection between names and descriptions? Do you agree with Abel that we use ‘linguistic symbols to organize experience” (p. 69)?
People have to organize their words in specific ways to convey their exact ideas. Names can be used as description based on the actions of the original owner of the name (e.g. another Stalin)
12.) Why is referential opacity a problem? Be sure to mention his specific examples.
Certain phrases while meaning the same thing can not replace each other logically.
"Mark Twain" is the pen name of Samuel Clemens.
"Mark Twain" is the pen name of Mark Twain.
13.) What is the problem of creating a “subsistent entity”? (p. 70)
It does not actually exist, but because it can be referenced it is in a way real.
14.) How does Russell differentiate between “descriptive phrases and names” (p.70)?
one has reference but no sense, the other has sense, but no reference.
15.) What is the connection between language and Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description?
One must be acquainted with the subtleties of a language (slang) and they can not be taught but the language over all can be described to another person in the form of classes and lessons.
16.) What is a word? What is an icon? What is an index?
A word is an organized set of letters standing for an idea, an icon is something that is meant to look like something else (photos). and index is a reference to what's to come (smoke to fire)
17.) Why is it important for philosophers to “clarify thought by clarifying language”? Why are Scientists offenders” (p. 72)?
A philosophers goal is to use language and its variant forms to describe the world, while a scientist ignores language and uses numbers which are universal to everyone. Scientists use words with only reference and no actual sense.
18.) What does Abel mean when he says “Just as meanings are not the same things as words, so meanings are not the same things as operations or methods or uses” (p. 73)?
Both meaning and words need each other yet are completely independent of one another.
Mill and Frege believe that sentence should have the same meaning as the collective meaning of the words, while Russel showed that there can be meaningless sentences made up of meaningful words.
2.) Abel provides 8 distinguishing features of meaning. Please provide your own example for each.
a.) Indication - "Smoke means fire"
b.) Cause - "What does this white flag mean?"
c.) Effect - "This means you will fail the quarter"
d.) Intention - "I meant to post all my blogs on time"
e.) Explanation - "What does 'degeneracy' mean?"
f.) Purpose - "Pacifism is meaningless."
g.) Implication - "If the light turns red, I'm speeding up."
h.) Significance - "Does life have any meaning without death?"
3.) Why does Abel believe that science and metaphysics is involved in the discussion of linguistic meaning?
Abel states that we can talk meaningfully about the world only if we take into account what the world is like.
4.) Aristotle provided 10 categories that defined “the range of applicability of a term.”(p. 65). Please provide your own example for each.
i.) Substance - "Bob Dylan is a human being"
ii.) Quantity - "He is 180cm tall"
iii.) Quality - "He is talented"
iv.) Relation - "He is the father of Jakob Dylan"
v.) Place - "He is in California"
vi.) Time - "He is there always"
vii.) Action - "He is singing"
viii.) Passion - "He is protesting"
ix.) Position - "He is surrounded by his fans"
x.) State - "He is newly shaven."
5.) How does Abel differentiate between Reference and Naming?
Reference is how language affects a word, while naming is the direct application of a word to a thing.
6.) On page 66, Abel explains the historical significance of naming. Can you think of any examples he left out? Is there any contemporary example of which Abel would not be aware?
When the cyclops asks Odysseus what his name is, he replies "I am Nobody" His giving of a false name is what angered the gods.
7.) What is the main function of naming? What doesn’t it do?
Naming serves as a a tag to identify something. A name can not describe something.
8.) What is the difference between sense and reference?
A sense is the mental picture evoked when the name is said. A reference is the description of an otherwise unknown name.
9.) How does Abel differentiate between Connotation and Denotation? What about Intension and Extension?
Connotation is the specific meaning of the word while Denotation is all the things that can be designated with the word. Intension is what one had in mind when the word was said. Extension is all the things that fit the definition of the word.
10.) What does Abel mean when he says: “Though meanings require words, they are not identical to words.” (p. 68)?
Words can either refer to things or our thoughts on things because they have both sense and reference.
11.) What is the connection between names and descriptions? Do you agree with Abel that we use ‘linguistic symbols to organize experience” (p. 69)?
People have to organize their words in specific ways to convey their exact ideas. Names can be used as description based on the actions of the original owner of the name (e.g. another Stalin)
12.) Why is referential opacity a problem? Be sure to mention his specific examples.
Certain phrases while meaning the same thing can not replace each other logically.
"Mark Twain" is the pen name of Samuel Clemens.
"Mark Twain" is the pen name of Mark Twain.
13.) What is the problem of creating a “subsistent entity”? (p. 70)
It does not actually exist, but because it can be referenced it is in a way real.
14.) How does Russell differentiate between “descriptive phrases and names” (p.70)?
one has reference but no sense, the other has sense, but no reference.
15.) What is the connection between language and Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description?
One must be acquainted with the subtleties of a language (slang) and they can not be taught but the language over all can be described to another person in the form of classes and lessons.
16.) What is a word? What is an icon? What is an index?
A word is an organized set of letters standing for an idea, an icon is something that is meant to look like something else (photos). and index is a reference to what's to come (smoke to fire)
17.) Why is it important for philosophers to “clarify thought by clarifying language”? Why are Scientists offenders” (p. 72)?
A philosophers goal is to use language and its variant forms to describe the world, while a scientist ignores language and uses numbers which are universal to everyone. Scientists use words with only reference and no actual sense.
18.) What does Abel mean when he says “Just as meanings are not the same things as words, so meanings are not the same things as operations or methods or uses” (p. 73)?
Both meaning and words need each other yet are completely independent of one another.
This Child
Lyrics to This Child based off This Year by The Mountain Goats
He was found in the woods in France
No parents, no voice and no home
This wild child had no pants
His hair had never seen a comb
I brought him to my house to teach him to speak
To prove to them that language could be learned
He was barbaric and uncivilized but far from weak
And nothing could cause him to be burned
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I made letters out of wood to teach him to spell
All he did was memorize
My patience ran dry as well
All he could do was organize
I wanted to teach this boy to reason
By asking for milk and by using his words
With broken wooden saucers
If only I knew if he heard
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
He responded to words with an O sound
Victor was the name that I gave him
He finally had a name of his own
His new life could now start to begin
Victor soon became a bit too much to handle
I thought some time in the closet might do the trick
When Victor came out, there were tears in his eyes
He finally showed us he felt emotions
There might actually be hope for this boy yet
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me.
He was found in the woods in France
No parents, no voice and no home
This wild child had no pants
His hair had never seen a comb
I brought him to my house to teach him to speak
To prove to them that language could be learned
He was barbaric and uncivilized but far from weak
And nothing could cause him to be burned
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I made letters out of wood to teach him to spell
All he did was memorize
My patience ran dry as well
All he could do was organize
I wanted to teach this boy to reason
By asking for milk and by using his words
With broken wooden saucers
If only I knew if he heard
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
He responded to words with an O sound
Victor was the name that I gave him
He finally had a name of his own
His new life could now start to begin
Victor soon became a bit too much to handle
I thought some time in the closet might do the trick
When Victor came out, there were tears in his eyes
He finally showed us he felt emotions
There might actually be hope for this boy yet
I am going to teach this child if it kills me
I am going to teach this child if it kills me.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Genie
1.) Psamtik had two babies isolated in hopes of seeing if they developed language naturally, which they of course did not. Psamtik's experiment did not meet enough of the requirements to be called scientifically valid.
2.) Abel mentions the connection be between metaphysics and linguistics. Certain things can not be fully understood, but the questions remain, they just surpass science at the time.
3.) Linguistics is in now way related to Astronomy. The movement and location of stars is irrelevant to the formation and evolution of the human language.
4.) The social worker feared the girl was severely autistic because of of the main symptoms of autism is the inability to speak and the awkward way of holding one's body up.
5.) Language was originally thought to be theological and too complex to study. Then the general understanding shifted to believe it was biological, but because it could not be coded to a specific gene or chromosome, it was thought to be psychological because the brain is very poorly understood by modern science.
2.) Abel mentions the connection be between metaphysics and linguistics. Certain things can not be fully understood, but the questions remain, they just surpass science at the time.
3.) Linguistics is in now way related to Astronomy. The movement and location of stars is irrelevant to the formation and evolution of the human language.
4.) The social worker feared the girl was severely autistic because of of the main symptoms of autism is the inability to speak and the awkward way of holding one's body up.
5.) Language was originally thought to be theological and too complex to study. Then the general understanding shifted to believe it was biological, but because it could not be coded to a specific gene or chromosome, it was thought to be psychological because the brain is very poorly understood by modern science.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saving The Eyak Language
Arguments for Single Language:
-A slight decrease in misunderstandings of languages
-no tax money would have to go towards ESL courses and programs
-a vast amount of ink can be saved seeing as french and spanish directions would not have to be printed on shampoo bottles.
-Ideas that were once isolated from most other countries are not relatively available.
Arguments against a single language:
-Forcing people to do stuff never usually works out
-mass opposition
-MASS DEATH OF CULTURE AND INDIVIDUALITY
-can't remove dialects
-there will always be misunderstandings due to the fact that colloquial language is subjective to geography, which is how different languages evolved in the first place.
b.) A dying language can not be saved by purely teaching it to children. The people of a culture have to want to save the language. Saving languages is quite an expensive process. Dying languages can be preserved, (e.g. Latin) but without people actively speaking the language, it can never be rebuilt to its former glory of a full language.
c.) The "International Mother Language Day" seems rather counter-productive to the IB's goal of exposing students to the world around them. It can be assumed that students speak their mother tongues at home and in the majority of their schooling, so a special day needed to enforce that has little to any purpose.
-A slight decrease in misunderstandings of languages
-no tax money would have to go towards ESL courses and programs
-a vast amount of ink can be saved seeing as french and spanish directions would not have to be printed on shampoo bottles.
-Ideas that were once isolated from most other countries are not relatively available.
Arguments against a single language:
-Forcing people to do stuff never usually works out
-mass opposition
-MASS DEATH OF CULTURE AND INDIVIDUALITY
-can't remove dialects
-there will always be misunderstandings due to the fact that colloquial language is subjective to geography, which is how different languages evolved in the first place.
b.) A dying language can not be saved by purely teaching it to children. The people of a culture have to want to save the language. Saving languages is quite an expensive process. Dying languages can be preserved, (e.g. Latin) but without people actively speaking the language, it can never be rebuilt to its former glory of a full language.
c.) The "International Mother Language Day" seems rather counter-productive to the IB's goal of exposing students to the world around them. It can be assumed that students speak their mother tongues at home and in the majority of their schooling, so a special day needed to enforce that has little to any purpose.
Earth VS. Eyeth
a.) The primary argument of the Deaf students was that Gallaudet, being a school for the deaf should have a deaf president, just as most black universities had a black president.
b.) The students thought that a deaf president would be better suited towards attending to the needs of the deaf community and would better understand and preserve Deaf Culture. A President who grew up hearing could never begin to understand the minds of the deaf students as evident in the anecdote of the woman who, during the fire alarm, said "How can you understand me in all this noise?"
c.) Spending too much time in either Earth or Eyeth is the isolation. While deaf people identify themselves as being deaf and naturally gravitating towards each other to form a community, this formation excludes people who are not deaf. This causes a problem when deaf people demand to be treated just like everyone else, when they naturally cut themselves off from the hearing world.
d.) While the school board must have considered all the candidates qualified, the students wanted a deaf Gallaudet president that was best suited for their goals and needs. The students were right in demanding a deaf president because any other president would not be best qualified for the school.
b.) The students thought that a deaf president would be better suited towards attending to the needs of the deaf community and would better understand and preserve Deaf Culture. A President who grew up hearing could never begin to understand the minds of the deaf students as evident in the anecdote of the woman who, during the fire alarm, said "How can you understand me in all this noise?"
c.) Spending too much time in either Earth or Eyeth is the isolation. While deaf people identify themselves as being deaf and naturally gravitating towards each other to form a community, this formation excludes people who are not deaf. This causes a problem when deaf people demand to be treated just like everyone else, when they naturally cut themselves off from the hearing world.
d.) While the school board must have considered all the candidates qualified, the students wanted a deaf Gallaudet president that was best suited for their goals and needs. The students were right in demanding a deaf president because any other president would not be best qualified for the school.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Language Definitions
Theories of Meaning
2. Definition Theory
words are their definition.
allows you to identify the meaning of the word by using other words.
3. Denotation Theory
difference between meaningful word and meaningless
France (non-meaning) to the country, which has meaning
4. Image Theory
the mental image that comes to mind for that word.
Problems with Language
5. Vagueness
a lack of clear explanation associated with the word; word may have more than one meaning
6. Ambiguity
a lack of clear explanation associated with the word and many definitions may be applicable.
7. Secondary Meaning (i.e. Denotation, Connotation and Euphemisms)
the emotion that surrounds a word (got sick : vomit)
8. Metaphor
a comparison using an outside situation to describe a presently unrelated one
9. Irony
the difference between what is said and what is expected
Problems with Translation
10. Untranslatable Words
certain words have no translation and can only be learned through experiences in connection with them.
11. Idioms
phrases that make no literal sense, but are in connection to an event or an emotional connection.
12. Labels
ways used to identify groups of people to make conversation and memory easier
13. Stereotypes
labels that are generally negative in nature
14. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Language determines how we think
Emotionally Laden Language
15. Emotive Meaning
used in conjunction with euphemisms because words carry emotion
16. Weasel Words
words whose definitions can be shifted depending on the situation
17. Grammar
an organized set of rules that show how language is constructed
18. Revealing and Concealing
language can be used to reveal information or conceal it depending on how it is used, by means of vagueness and how many meanings a words may have
2. Definition Theory
words are their definition.
allows you to identify the meaning of the word by using other words.
3. Denotation Theory
difference between meaningful word and meaningless
France (non-meaning) to the country, which has meaning
4. Image Theory
the mental image that comes to mind for that word.
Problems with Language
5. Vagueness
a lack of clear explanation associated with the word; word may have more than one meaning
6. Ambiguity
a lack of clear explanation associated with the word and many definitions may be applicable.
7. Secondary Meaning (i.e. Denotation, Connotation and Euphemisms)
the emotion that surrounds a word (got sick : vomit)
8. Metaphor
a comparison using an outside situation to describe a presently unrelated one
9. Irony
the difference between what is said and what is expected
Problems with Translation
10. Untranslatable Words
certain words have no translation and can only be learned through experiences in connection with them.
11. Idioms
phrases that make no literal sense, but are in connection to an event or an emotional connection.
12. Labels
ways used to identify groups of people to make conversation and memory easier
13. Stereotypes
labels that are generally negative in nature
14. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Language determines how we think
Emotionally Laden Language
15. Emotive Meaning
used in conjunction with euphemisms because words carry emotion
16. Weasel Words
words whose definitions can be shifted depending on the situation
17. Grammar
an organized set of rules that show how language is constructed
18. Revealing and Concealing
language can be used to reveal information or conceal it depending on how it is used, by means of vagueness and how many meanings a words may have
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)