The speaker Mahzarin Bianji talked about "unconscious awareness" which is how humans do things without actually knowing. To demonstrate this Bianji presented certain "bugs" that people are concern about. These "bugs" as she mentioned are constantly seen in test or surveys around the world. Some of them consist of questions like: What's the highest cause of death? Give three or four reasons why you love your partner. Write down your last numbers of your social security, estimate the number of doctors that live in NY and then add them up.
After watching this film it simply states that things don't always appear to be what they really are. That your brain can easily be tricked into thinking you are right about something when if fact it has been proven to be wrong. This is in fact the hardest thing to make people realize. That is basically why Bianji provides these examples to show that science works exactly the same way.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Week #4 Reading- Eckankar
This reading is simply about how Dr. Lane persisted on discovering the truth behind Eckankar. He begins his journey by interviewing Dodie Bellamy who was a member of this particular cult for ten years. Dodie claims that after reading several of Dr. Lane article's he was clearly aware of how his leader Twichell was taking other people's work and making them his own.
I really like reading this article. One thing that I enjoyed the most is the thrive that Dr. Lane projects to reveal the truth about cults. Its good to have people like this that take there time to investigate these religious movements. This also leads me to my next point which is people should take their time to research their religious beliefs before they begin to worship anything. A perfect example was given to us by Dodie Bellamy. It took him ten years of his life to realize that the person whom he worship was indeed a phony.
I really like reading this article. One thing that I enjoyed the most is the thrive that Dr. Lane projects to reveal the truth about cults. Its good to have people like this that take there time to investigate these religious movements. This also leads me to my next point which is people should take their time to research their religious beliefs before they begin to worship anything. A perfect example was given to us by Dodie Bellamy. It took him ten years of his life to realize that the person whom he worship was indeed a phony.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Week #6 Philosophy in 5 min-Survival of the Sufficient
This film is basically talking about how people remain alive or existent. Darwin explanation for this is because of natural selection. He states that we are an exact copy of our parents DNA. Therefore we can take the DNA and design characteristics of our own children. This will occur depending of who has the dominant gene it may be either mom or dad. Darwin also goes on to talk about how deception plays a role in natural selection. He beliefs that deception is influenced by others which are your friends, relatives, parents, teachers, priests, rabbis, lovers, ex's, food, environment, and everything else that is around you. Darwin thinks that deception is done so in order to keep everyone alive and happy.
To me what Darwin is trying to say is that life is given to us by our parents DNA. That god does not provide actual evidence such as science to prove he is the one that gives us life. He also states that deception is like a disease it takes over people. It makes people believe in things that are not true. He thinks that in order to stop deception people need to think for themselves and not let others influence them.
To me what Darwin is trying to say is that life is given to us by our parents DNA. That god does not provide actual evidence such as science to prove he is the one that gives us life. He also states that deception is like a disease it takes over people. It makes people believe in things that are not true. He thinks that in order to stop deception people need to think for themselves and not let others influence them.
Week #6 Philosophy in 5 min- Java Philosophy
This film was also very interesting to watch. It talked about the way we should live our life. A quote that Jean Paul Sartue says it all 'Everything has been figured out, except how to live. This is so true. We know about science, religion, weather, health, automobiles, fashion etc...but have no clue on how to live in this world.
I personally believe that this film is trying to convey to people that they should live their life anyway that it makes them happy. That anything that people do in this world good or bad will always be regretted at a later time. That sometimes people feel certain circumstances are not letting them move forward but never give up just keep living your life the way you want to. The reason is because time moves very quickly and by the time you know it old age will come. Then you will be like Dean Swift who claims that " in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, on his old age he was himself an inmate," ( S.K.)
I personally believe that this film is trying to convey to people that they should live their life anyway that it makes them happy. That anything that people do in this world good or bad will always be regretted at a later time. That sometimes people feel certain circumstances are not letting them move forward but never give up just keep living your life the way you want to. The reason is because time moves very quickly and by the time you know it old age will come. Then you will be like Dean Swift who claims that " in his youth he built an asylum for the insane, on his old age he was himself an inmate," ( S.K.)
Week #6 Lecture- James Watson DNA and the Brain
At the beginning this film played with my mind. I didn't know if I needed to analyze the picture as when we analyze a similar film called Nicholas De Casa. Then minutes later James Watson appeared in the conference room to talk about DNA in the brain. He began his presentation by explaining the structure of DNA. To explain this he gave a little bit of history on how Frances and himself found the double helix. Therefore because of this great discovery the double helix can answer many questions about genetics. An example mentioned would be how scientist can now prove using a gene if you are smart because you have a great teacher or because of your genes. Isn't that amazing?
This film was very interesting to watch. James Watson also caught my attention when he mentioned two other points in his lecture. The first one was when he talked about how his partner Rosary was autistic. He claims that she was the first one to see the double helix but couldn't see it clearly. Therefore we can see that even people with special needs are able to make discoveries. The second point Watson made was to always claim you don't know things and that way people will always come and help you. He even states that it's good to talk to your competition. That way you can see what they are thinking and what their theory consist of. Then you can make your conclusion and together you can solve the problem.
This film was very interesting to watch. James Watson also caught my attention when he mentioned two other points in his lecture. The first one was when he talked about how his partner Rosary was autistic. He claims that she was the first one to see the double helix but couldn't see it clearly. Therefore we can see that even people with special needs are able to make discoveries. The second point Watson made was to always claim you don't know things and that way people will always come and help you. He even states that it's good to talk to your competition. That way you can see what they are thinking and what their theory consist of. Then you can make your conclusion and together you can solve the problem.
Week #5 Philosophy in 5 min- Faqir Chand's Revelation
This short film talks about Baba Faqir Chad a Master who talked about Gurus. He felt that these Gurus gained power by people's ignorance. This causes the Gurus to obtain attention, devotion and glory. Therefore he feels people just worship anybody or anything in life. That is why Faqir believes that we are the once who determine our destiny. We don't need a guru to show us what we need to do.
After I finished watching this film I realize how people will always try to look for a higher being or soul in all the wrong places. This also demonstrated how people need to be more skeptical and demand factual evidence regarding these Gurus. I just think people should devote their time and effort on something more important than a Guru.
After I finished watching this film I realize how people will always try to look for a higher being or soul in all the wrong places. This also demonstrated how people need to be more skeptical and demand factual evidence regarding these Gurus. I just think people should devote their time and effort on something more important than a Guru.
Week #5 Philosophy in 5 min- Flame On!
In this film it talks about homosexuality. It gives a brief explanation on how in the past people didn't approve of people that where gay. A great example was given by Marcel Poust who was a ranging homosexual that argued that he wasn't gay. There where plenty more mentioned in the film but most of them didn't realize that it would change in the future. In today's society homosexuals or lesbians are now allowed to get married.
I truly don't have a problem with homosexuals or lesbians. I feel they are just as human as we are and they need to be happy as well. Although I still believe that some people today still have a hard time digesting these issues but I am glad that for the most part we as a society have made some progress. You never know maybe one of these days society might allowed is to say the Pledge of Allegiance in the classrooms again.
I truly don't have a problem with homosexuals or lesbians. I feel they are just as human as we are and they need to be happy as well. Although I still believe that some people today still have a hard time digesting these issues but I am glad that for the most part we as a society have made some progress. You never know maybe one of these days society might allowed is to say the Pledge of Allegiance in the classrooms again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)