Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ethics and Commercialization
Jimmy describes the past society as one that is controlled by corporations. Large medical companies had built “compounds” in which their staff lived in. Similar to cities, but were much more: they were highly advanced, taking the best minds from the best schools. Examples of such “compounds” are OrganInc, AnooYoo and RejoovenEsense, all puns on words. These companies create and sell organs (in the case of OrganInc) or improvements to the human body (companies such as RejoovenEsense): a commercialization of the body. A major question which arises from the selling of such goods: Is the trade of such items ethical? In my personal opinion, I believe this to be as ethical as buying your groceries. When you buy an apple, which is harvested from a tree, is it killing the tree? Selling organs is ethical in my views, as it is not ending the life of an organism, and is beneficial to the humans in general. In today’s society, there are transplants, where donors give to the less fortunate; is that unethical? It is not seen by the general public as unethical. The unethical thoughts from this process are from underground trades from the black market. In the futuristic world given in Margaret Atwood’s book, all these sales are legal. Therefore, the commercialization of the human body is completely ethical.
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
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