I wrote the majority of these points down when I was preparing for my debate. I argued that reason was the best WOK for exactly these outcomes. However, when I began to talk about my point of view, I got nervous, I forgot what I was going to say, and there were pauses in my debate. I still managed to convey my point, but I got eliminated after the third round. This could have been due to my nervousness, but it could also have been an effect of the taste of the audience. Ali and Olivia used the strategy of humor to convey their points, and the audience could have made their choices based on that rather than actual evidence. However, there is no way to prove or know that such an action occurred. Anyway, it was a fun experience, and I am glad that I made it as far in the competion as I did.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Balloon Debate Self Reflection
Overall, my balloon debate did not go over exactly as I had planned. I was convinced that I could confidently share my reasons for staying in the balloon. I recalled what I could about Mahatma Gandhi. When the British were occupying India, Gandhi led a resistance group against them. However, the group committed no violence against the British, for the goal of these Indians was to show their foes that no matter what the English did to them, that the Indians would not stop protesting until their nation was once again their own. After a while, the British realized that they no longer had any control of their citizens and gave into the desires of the Indians. Gandhi accomplished this task through reason, for he reasoned with his followers not to use violence, and he used reason to convince his enemies to back off from his nation.
Friday, May 24, 2013
16th Man Reflection
1. If the black people in South Africa had resisted all of the demands of the white people, would the whites have had any power at all if they could not bend the blacks to their will?
2. The activity that I have chosen is the Chess Club. Chess, in some ways, is itself a sport, for it is a competition for the mind. When people play one another, all thoughts of anger and prejudice could be set aside. The players only care about the game, and what will happen to their pieces. When it comes to the Chess teams, the players would have to unite and support one another in order to win their games. Eventually, any bigotry between players would fade away for they would have bonded with one another with the support that they gave one another. Those memories would contain friendly experiences for these people, and the emotions that would be felt would be ones of admiration rather than hate. A new view of one another would be presented in the minds of the Chess players, and that is how the game could unite people like little else can (Inspired by Nelson Mandela).
3. OPTIONAL: The pre-apartheid flag seems to be derived from white European nations. It has the three stripes like the flag of France, even though there is an orange stripe. In the center of the flag is the a small version of the Union Jack, and a little farther to the right from that was a miniature flag of France. It clearly shows that South Africa was dominated by white Europeans. (http://www.thuto.org/ubh/images/za-1928flag.gif). The post Apartheid flag is all different colors, and one of those colors was black. This shows that the country is now united in these races, for all of these colors have combined to create one nation. (http://www.africa.com/images/maps/south_africa-lgflag.jpg).
Part II. On the pre-apartheid flag, the Europeans' emotions took over when they used their biases to create the flag. They wanted it to resemble their European home, and they did not want to involve the blacks in this decision. However, when blacks and whites managed to unite as one nation, the people reasoned that their flag should resemble as much. As a result, it seems that all different types of colors were put on the flag in order to show off this new state of unity.
2. The activity that I have chosen is the Chess Club. Chess, in some ways, is itself a sport, for it is a competition for the mind. When people play one another, all thoughts of anger and prejudice could be set aside. The players only care about the game, and what will happen to their pieces. When it comes to the Chess teams, the players would have to unite and support one another in order to win their games. Eventually, any bigotry between players would fade away for they would have bonded with one another with the support that they gave one another. Those memories would contain friendly experiences for these people, and the emotions that would be felt would be ones of admiration rather than hate. A new view of one another would be presented in the minds of the Chess players, and that is how the game could unite people like little else can (Inspired by Nelson Mandela).
3. OPTIONAL: The pre-apartheid flag seems to be derived from white European nations. It has the three stripes like the flag of France, even though there is an orange stripe. In the center of the flag is the a small version of the Union Jack, and a little farther to the right from that was a miniature flag of France. It clearly shows that South Africa was dominated by white Europeans. (http://www.thuto.org/ubh/images/za-1928flag.gif). The post Apartheid flag is all different colors, and one of those colors was black. This shows that the country is now united in these races, for all of these colors have combined to create one nation. (http://www.africa.com/images/maps/south_africa-lgflag.jpg).
Part II. On the pre-apartheid flag, the Europeans' emotions took over when they used their biases to create the flag. They wanted it to resemble their European home, and they did not want to involve the blacks in this decision. However, when blacks and whites managed to unite as one nation, the people reasoned that their flag should resemble as much. As a result, it seems that all different types of colors were put on the flag in order to show off this new state of unity.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Decision making: emotion v reason
1. Teen brains are not able to make long term decisions. The frontal lobe of an adult is connected to the rest of their brain, so they are able to use its full activity. In teens, however, the frontal lobe is not entirely connected, and they cannot think as far into the future as adult brains. Teens usually make decisions based on desire or emotion. This is due to the lack of fatty codeine called myelin on the part of the teenagers. Myelin is the energy source in which cells feed off from in order to help humans properly use their frontal lobes. There is more myelin in adult brains, which is why they are able to access their frontal lobe, and think through the consequences of their actions more easily than teenagers.
2. The role of the cerebellum in decision making is to coordinate the decisions that a human makes. The teens also use the cerebellum to smooth out intellectual processes. The teenager is stated to use it to coordinate past the complicated social life that they are experiencing, similar as to how the cerebellum is used to coordinate physical movements.
3. Babies can be born either good or evil. Parents use socialization to either create morality in a bad baby, or reinforce it in a good one. The parents can also enlighten the good baby by expanding its own morality with their teachings. The ideal implications of a Universal moral code on society is that everyone would have the same amount of morals. Everyone would be equally good, and they would treat each other as such, for no one would know any different. However, there are always going to be people who won't value that moral code and live life they way they wish to do so. Due to those choices, the Universe would most likely remain the same if there was a universal moral code.
4. When it comes to decision making, one knows when the benefits outweigh the costs when a greater goal can be achieved as a result. For example, when Martin Luther King Jr began his crusade to obtain Civil Rights for his people, he knew that things were going to get messy. The white people would go on a rage towards these black protesters Many people were going to get wounded, and some of them might even get killed. However, Martin realized that if the white people discovered that the threat of violence would not hinder the blacks from getting what they wanted, the whites might grant the blacks their freedom. As it turned out, the benefits outweighed the costs, and the Martin Luther King Jr's Civil Rights project was a success.
On a decision like this, it did matter whether or not the benefits outweighed the costs. The downside to these non violent protests was that the other side wouldn't hold back. The whites would hurt, imprison, and maybe even kill the black people. The risks involved were that the segregation laws would have stayed the same, and that those people who were injured or killed would have been so for nothing. There was also the risk that the Negros could quit out of fear, and the white people would gain even more power. However, the benefits towards such a decision were enormous. Everyone in the world is equal, and the white people needed to see as much. If they led these non violent protests, then the world would sympathize with them when they got attacked. The whites might realize the error of their ways and grant the Negros their rights. As a result, the costs and the benefits definitely would have mattered in a situation like that.
2. The role of the cerebellum in decision making is to coordinate the decisions that a human makes. The teens also use the cerebellum to smooth out intellectual processes. The teenager is stated to use it to coordinate past the complicated social life that they are experiencing, similar as to how the cerebellum is used to coordinate physical movements.
3. Babies can be born either good or evil. Parents use socialization to either create morality in a bad baby, or reinforce it in a good one. The parents can also enlighten the good baby by expanding its own morality with their teachings. The ideal implications of a Universal moral code on society is that everyone would have the same amount of morals. Everyone would be equally good, and they would treat each other as such, for no one would know any different. However, there are always going to be people who won't value that moral code and live life they way they wish to do so. Due to those choices, the Universe would most likely remain the same if there was a universal moral code.
4. When it comes to decision making, one knows when the benefits outweigh the costs when a greater goal can be achieved as a result. For example, when Martin Luther King Jr began his crusade to obtain Civil Rights for his people, he knew that things were going to get messy. The white people would go on a rage towards these black protesters Many people were going to get wounded, and some of them might even get killed. However, Martin realized that if the white people discovered that the threat of violence would not hinder the blacks from getting what they wanted, the whites might grant the blacks their freedom. As it turned out, the benefits outweighed the costs, and the Martin Luther King Jr's Civil Rights project was a success.
On a decision like this, it did matter whether or not the benefits outweighed the costs. The downside to these non violent protests was that the other side wouldn't hold back. The whites would hurt, imprison, and maybe even kill the black people. The risks involved were that the segregation laws would have stayed the same, and that those people who were injured or killed would have been so for nothing. There was also the risk that the Negros could quit out of fear, and the white people would gain even more power. However, the benefits towards such a decision were enormous. Everyone in the world is equal, and the white people needed to see as much. If they led these non violent protests, then the world would sympathize with them when they got attacked. The whites might realize the error of their ways and grant the Negros their rights. As a result, the costs and the benefits definitely would have mattered in a situation like that.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Emotion, memory, & reason
1. Memory connects to emotion, because it can influence a person's emotions. For example, when I first saw Star Wars, I thought that it was an awesome film series. Whenever, I was in the mood to relax and watch a movie, Star Wars always came to mind (and still does). I remembered how excited and adventurous that movie made me feel. As a result, I wanted to experience that feeling again, and I selected a Star Wars movie to watch (I usually pick Return of the Jedi). Emotions can connect to memory because our emotions can warp a memory to be different than it really was. When I was about nine years old, a kid pushed me down and my arm was broken as a result. The kid wasn't all that nice to me to begin with, so I pictured him as cocky and uncaring about what his actions had done to me. However, as time passed, my memory came flooding back, and I remembered that when I had fallen on the ground, he rushed over to me and asked if I was okay. I was so hurt and angry, which caused my emotions to warp my memory of this kid into something that he was not. That is how emotion and memory are connected.
2. I think high reason is when a human makes an educated choice to solve a problem. Somatic hypothesis is when human behavior is biased by emotions, mostly when it comes to decision making (http://neurorelay.com/2012/05/15/emotions-create-our-preferences-the-somatic-marker-hypothesis/ ).
I usually approach decision making based on morals and emotions. Whenever it comes to a make a moral choice, I picture myself choosing to do what appears to be the right choice, and I hope that I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. When it comes to minor decisions, such as choosing to do my homework at either six thirty or seven thirty, my emotions win out. I want to put it off, so I either read or play video games. Nevertheless, I would not make that choice unless I knew for sure that I would be able to complete my homework on time. When it comes to choosing between two separate things, I am extremely indecisive and it takes me forever to choose what I want to do. That is how I usually approach decision making.
2. I think high reason is when a human makes an educated choice to solve a problem. Somatic hypothesis is when human behavior is biased by emotions, mostly when it comes to decision making (http://neurorelay.com/2012/05/15/emotions-create-our-preferences-the-somatic-marker-hypothesis/ ).
I usually approach decision making based on morals and emotions. Whenever it comes to a make a moral choice, I picture myself choosing to do what appears to be the right choice, and I hope that I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. When it comes to minor decisions, such as choosing to do my homework at either six thirty or seven thirty, my emotions win out. I want to put it off, so I either read or play video games. Nevertheless, I would not make that choice unless I knew for sure that I would be able to complete my homework on time. When it comes to choosing between two separate things, I am extremely indecisive and it takes me forever to choose what I want to do. That is how I usually approach decision making.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Thoughts and questions on language
- I think that language is learned. Extract A claims that a child learns language without conscious effort, but that is not necessarily the case. When a baby grows up, it can't automatically speak the native tongue of its family. The baby's parents have to teach the baby words that relate to certain forms of communication, otherwise, the baby will not know how to speak the language. The parents are the teachers of the language. I think communication, on the other hand, is innate. Even when babies are really small, they always find some simple way to communicate their needs to their parents. It can come in the form of crying when babies are hungry or in pain, or it could come from laughter when a parent does something to make the baby happy. The reading I have used is Is Human Language Innate Or Learned? This is from the second reading packet known as Language. The page number I used is pg. 84.
- 1. Can the vocal sounds and movements of babies be considered a language?
- 2. Can babies form cogent thoughts if they do not have an established language to mentally express their opinions in their heads?
Monday, April 1, 2013
Proposal- Save a Language!
1. The name of the country I have chosen is Italy, the name of the language I have chosen is Walser, and the status of Walser is on the 6b scale (or threatened).
2. The Walsers are people who are descended from ancient Germans. They live in the higher areas of the alps at about 1,200 meters of altitude. The people of the Walser culture wear almost Scottish style clothing (without the plad manskirts) and fairly large hats that are sometimes tied to the bottom of their jaw. They are an independent, free, and hardworking society who till their lands and rely heavily on agriculture (http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html).
3. "Many historic cultural associations work today to keep and promote the Walser tradition making of Alagna an active center for the circulation of the history of the Walser people."This quote is from a website that has a page dedicated to telling the world about the Walser language and community. It tells about their struggles, their foundation, and their independence. The website wants the world to acknowledge the individuality of these people, and they want the Walser culture and language to be preserved (http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html).
4. "Many historic cultural associations work today to keep and promote the Walser tradition making of Alagna an active center for the circulation of the history of the Walser people."(http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html)
(http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/images/walser.jpg)
2. The Walsers are people who are descended from ancient Germans. They live in the higher areas of the alps at about 1,200 meters of altitude. The people of the Walser culture wear almost Scottish style clothing (without the plad manskirts) and fairly large hats that are sometimes tied to the bottom of their jaw. They are an independent, free, and hardworking society who till their lands and rely heavily on agriculture (http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html).
3. "Many historic cultural associations work today to keep and promote the Walser tradition making of Alagna an active center for the circulation of the history of the Walser people."This quote is from a website that has a page dedicated to telling the world about the Walser language and community. It tells about their struggles, their foundation, and their independence. The website wants the world to acknowledge the individuality of these people, and they want the Walser culture and language to be preserved (http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html).
4. "Many historic cultural associations work today to keep and promote the Walser tradition making of Alagna an active center for the circulation of the history of the Walser people."(http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/alagna_walser.html)
(http://www.tangoitalia.com/turismo/piemonte/images/walser.jpg)
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Investigation- Knowledge In Symbols
1. The cultural origin of calcinated gold is not listed in the description.
2. The knowledge portrayed by this symbol is that it stands for calcinated gold.
3. The symbol is not vague, and it is not very mysterious. It pretty much means what it says. However, it could relate to the emotion of greed, for someone would desire gold if they wished to make a lot of money off of selling it.
4. The problems of knowledge are that the description of the object is very short, and the origin of its naming is not listed. If there was more description to this symbol, and if it contained a greater origin, then we would know a lot more about it.
5. Here are some other images related to my own:
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