Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Value of Science Response
The Value of Science
Science is a very important subject in this world. It provides knowledge to many topics and enables us, as humans to accomplish feats such as flight, and atomic power. Although this science assists us to perform tasks, many will argue that this subject wastes valuable time from intelligent scientists, who should by studying problems of social causes that would immediately benefit us as a community. Richard Feynman writes his work “The Value of Science” to address this issue. Feynman believes that, although the time of the scientists may be put to use in solving social problems, they are not any better than any other person; as such problems do not have formulas. Since scientists can be put to greater use in the field of science, the question arises: What value does science hold?
In many cases, there are good and bad outcomes of anything. Feynman believes that science is merely a tool that enables us to do good or evil as well. He quotes from a Buddhist religion: “To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates to hell”. This illustrates the entirety of Feynman’s thoughts. To enforce this idea, Feynman provides examples such as that the study medicine is able to help people to rid sicknesses, yet there are those that still use that science for creating poison for warfare. This is agreeable; there are many examples that can be listed. One in which is common for many is the computer. Developed for science the tool is used today for both work (good) and theft (evil). The thought process that follows that creation of the idea will determine where it is to be used.
Feynman also mentions that there are other applications from science, such as social worldviews that are influenced and created from science. One of which he says is that the fact that the world views the applications of science over the idea itself. This can be arguable to an extent, as there are people that would be more interested in the idea. Such would be scientists that look at these ideas as a base model for future ideas.
The article is straightforward for the length it runs, as the ideas are explained clearly. There are no surprises that occur in this article as the logic is sound. Reading this article has humoured and provided a better understanding on the topic for myself, which again, proves that there is value in such science. This would lead me to believe that I am not the only one that enjoys such readings. The process of the enlightenment that the science creates is one that is enjoyed by many, and thankfully, there are those to write such pieces. Science has a very high value; it plays a role in determining the way the people live, their morals and enlightenment, making this subject one of the most prized.
Questions:
Discuss topic in science which has generated controversy within the general society. NOT GENETICS.
If such forks in the path of thinking that lead to outcomes of good and bad exist, does a method of reducing and/or eliminating the possibilities of such thinking exist?
Expand on a worldview that is created or influenced by science.
Science is a very important subject in this world. It provides knowledge to many topics and enables us, as humans to accomplish feats such as flight, and atomic power. Although this science assists us to perform tasks, many will argue that this subject wastes valuable time from intelligent scientists, who should by studying problems of social causes that would immediately benefit us as a community. Richard Feynman writes his work “The Value of Science” to address this issue. Feynman believes that, although the time of the scientists may be put to use in solving social problems, they are not any better than any other person; as such problems do not have formulas. Since scientists can be put to greater use in the field of science, the question arises: What value does science hold?
In many cases, there are good and bad outcomes of anything. Feynman believes that science is merely a tool that enables us to do good or evil as well. He quotes from a Buddhist religion: “To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates to hell”. This illustrates the entirety of Feynman’s thoughts. To enforce this idea, Feynman provides examples such as that the study medicine is able to help people to rid sicknesses, yet there are those that still use that science for creating poison for warfare. This is agreeable; there are many examples that can be listed. One in which is common for many is the computer. Developed for science the tool is used today for both work (good) and theft (evil). The thought process that follows that creation of the idea will determine where it is to be used.
Feynman also mentions that there are other applications from science, such as social worldviews that are influenced and created from science. One of which he says is that the fact that the world views the applications of science over the idea itself. This can be arguable to an extent, as there are people that would be more interested in the idea. Such would be scientists that look at these ideas as a base model for future ideas.
The article is straightforward for the length it runs, as the ideas are explained clearly. There are no surprises that occur in this article as the logic is sound. Reading this article has humoured and provided a better understanding on the topic for myself, which again, proves that there is value in such science. This would lead me to believe that I am not the only one that enjoys such readings. The process of the enlightenment that the science creates is one that is enjoyed by many, and thankfully, there are those to write such pieces. Science has a very high value; it plays a role in determining the way the people live, their morals and enlightenment, making this subject one of the most prized.
Questions:
Discuss topic in science which has generated controversy within the general society. NOT GENETICS.
If such forks in the path of thinking that lead to outcomes of good and bad exist, does a method of reducing and/or eliminating the possibilities of such thinking exist?
Expand on a worldview that is created or influenced by science.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Oryx and Crake Questions #1
Oryx and Crake includes many details that seem futuristic, but are in fact already apparent in our world. What parallels were you able to draw between the items in the world of the novel and those in your own?
The author describes many of the items in the novel as very advanced. Unknowing to some, these technologies already exist today. The predominant “technology” that is described in the book is the genetic modification of animals to change their behaviour and to benefit humans by growing organs. Modification and merging of genes are capable of being performed today, one of the most notable being glowing cats where a cat had bioluminescent genes inserted into them. The computer games are quite viable today, as we see that they are mainly adaptations of board games to an electronic media. The websites shown with topics relating to mature matter are also present in this current day, yet they are frowned upon. Many of the technologies used in the novel are available today and this contributes to one of the factors of dystopian fiction: the ability for all the events to happen in the current day.
These "Glow in the dark" cats are a demonstration of the genetic modification available today
In the world of Oryx and Crake, almost everything is for sale, and a great deal of power is now in the hands of large corporations and their private security forces. There are already more private police in North America than there are public ones. What are the advantages of such a system? What are the dangers?
Private police forces are existent today such as they are in Oryx and Crake. In the novel, these police forces act in a manner that security personnel of corporations would today. There are advantages to the system of privately owned police forces such as these forces have fewer restrictions set upon them, as some of the policies are created by the employer to better suit the environment that they may be working within. Moreover they are usually paid by performance and not regulated rate, lowering the chance of corruption within the force and creating competition to other forces and improving the economy. Lastly, if the force is smaller than a conventional public force, they may have more funding per person and that would allow for better equipment to be utilized. There are disadvantages to this scheme as well: Each privately owned force will have different policies which may lead to bad practices and poor training. Additionally, because they have policies set by a corporation, they may use radical actions such as violence against other citizens. The systems of public and private police forces are present in the world today and have their pros and cons. They are sometimes more suited for some situations and less for others.
The author describes many of the items in the novel as very advanced. Unknowing to some, these technologies already exist today. The predominant “technology” that is described in the book is the genetic modification of animals to change their behaviour and to benefit humans by growing organs. Modification and merging of genes are capable of being performed today, one of the most notable being glowing cats where a cat had bioluminescent genes inserted into them. The computer games are quite viable today, as we see that they are mainly adaptations of board games to an electronic media. The websites shown with topics relating to mature matter are also present in this current day, yet they are frowned upon. Many of the technologies used in the novel are available today and this contributes to one of the factors of dystopian fiction: the ability for all the events to happen in the current day.
These "Glow in the dark" cats are a demonstration of the genetic modification available today
In the world of Oryx and Crake, almost everything is for sale, and a great deal of power is now in the hands of large corporations and their private security forces. There are already more private police in North America than there are public ones. What are the advantages of such a system? What are the dangers?
Private police forces are existent today such as they are in Oryx and Crake. In the novel, these police forces act in a manner that security personnel of corporations would today. There are advantages to the system of privately owned police forces such as these forces have fewer restrictions set upon them, as some of the policies are created by the employer to better suit the environment that they may be working within. Moreover they are usually paid by performance and not regulated rate, lowering the chance of corruption within the force and creating competition to other forces and improving the economy. Lastly, if the force is smaller than a conventional public force, they may have more funding per person and that would allow for better equipment to be utilized. There are disadvantages to this scheme as well: Each privately owned force will have different policies which may lead to bad practices and poor training. Additionally, because they have policies set by a corporation, they may use radical actions such as violence against other citizens. The systems of public and private police forces are present in the world today and have their pros and cons. They are sometimes more suited for some situations and less for others.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Oryx and Crake Notes
English 20
Oryx & Crake
Basic Plot
-Snowman was Jimmy
-Parents worked in "compounds"
-Parents worked OrganInc (Genetic growth industry)
-Something happened to make all that disappear
-"Apocalyptic" future
-Disease wiped out population
-"neo" people had skin that could stop harmful rays.
Elements of Dystopian Fiction
-Families lived in "perfect" "compounds"
-Lived in castle-like compounds
-corporate controlled
-Government is corporations
-Advanced medical science
-Looks like normal technology, maybe faster computers etc.
Oryx & Crake
Basic Plot
-Snowman was Jimmy
-Parents worked in "compounds"
-Parents worked OrganInc (Genetic growth industry)
-Something happened to make all that disappear
-"Apocalyptic" future
-Disease wiped out population
-"neo" people had skin that could stop harmful rays.
Elements of Dystopian Fiction
-Families lived in "perfect" "compounds"
-Lived in castle-like compounds
-corporate controlled
-Government is corporations
-Advanced medical science
-Looks like normal technology, maybe faster computers etc.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Blog Response - Chapters 22-30
What is the battle between the Bellipotent and the Athieste symbolic of? Who wins and why?
This battle is symbolic of the battle between Claggart and Billy. The French ship represented Claggart and the Bellipotent representing Billy. While the French ship looses, the Bellipotent sustains a heavy loss as well. This is almost a repeat of the event that occurred within the Bellipotent when Claggart accuses Billy of mutiny. The latter punched the former and Claggart died due to that. Even though Billy “won” in the short term, he was hanged later for that incident. In the battle of the ships, the same happens: the Bellipotent wins, yet Captain Vere dies some time later due to a bullet wound fired during the battle. The victory was a close one, and can also be considered a loss, as they lost a crew member of high standing, which symbolizes Billy’s death.
Describe what you think happened in the compartment as Captain Vere told Billy of the court’s decision. Base your response as accurately as possible on the characterizations of the two so far.
After the court made the decision of the punishment of Billy Budd, Captain Vere announced the results to Billy in the makeshift “jail” compartment. I think that the captain told the direct result to the condemned, as he follows procedures and is a straight-to-the-point type. At that point, I would think that Billy would be slightly shocked at the decision of his death, and the captain would continue, but not in such a formal tone. He would probably use a one-on-one type of conversation to tell Billy why the court came to that decision and I would think that Billy would accept it because he looks up to the captain as making the right choices.
The battle of the ships represents the long drawn out battle between Billy and Claggart. Ship battles usually only end when one ship has been damaged to the extent where it can no longer operate. Claggart was killed (no longer able to continue battle)
This battle is symbolic of the battle between Claggart and Billy. The French ship represented Claggart and the Bellipotent representing Billy. While the French ship looses, the Bellipotent sustains a heavy loss as well. This is almost a repeat of the event that occurred within the Bellipotent when Claggart accuses Billy of mutiny. The latter punched the former and Claggart died due to that. Even though Billy “won” in the short term, he was hanged later for that incident. In the battle of the ships, the same happens: the Bellipotent wins, yet Captain Vere dies some time later due to a bullet wound fired during the battle. The victory was a close one, and can also be considered a loss, as they lost a crew member of high standing, which symbolizes Billy’s death.
Describe what you think happened in the compartment as Captain Vere told Billy of the court’s decision. Base your response as accurately as possible on the characterizations of the two so far.
After the court made the decision of the punishment of Billy Budd, Captain Vere announced the results to Billy in the makeshift “jail” compartment. I think that the captain told the direct result to the condemned, as he follows procedures and is a straight-to-the-point type. At that point, I would think that Billy would be slightly shocked at the decision of his death, and the captain would continue, but not in such a formal tone. He would probably use a one-on-one type of conversation to tell Billy why the court came to that decision and I would think that Billy would accept it because he looks up to the captain as making the right choices.
The battle of the ships represents the long drawn out battle between Billy and Claggart. Ship battles usually only end when one ship has been damaged to the extent where it can no longer operate. Claggart was killed (no longer able to continue battle)
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