Monday, April 27, 2009
Book Day!!!
Once again a favorite part of this term has come: Book Day! Due to our partnership with the Boulder Book Store, the Book Club is graced with the delivery of a box of books every so often. I love these days. I mean, what's more exciting than a box of free books? The last time we received a box of books, I picked up nine books. Consider that each book costs approximately $15. That's $15*9=$135. That's quite the savings. :D So today I practically skipped my way to Mayville's so that I could peruse the newest box. With my perfect timing, I arrived right on cue as Chris and Mayville arrived at the door with the books, meaning I didn't have to carry any haha. It seems that we had a large collection of romance-style books this time around. I really didn't feel like any romance books, so I only picked up one book of that style. Three of the books that I picked up were about the supernatural, two about vampires. In fact, one of my pick-ups today was the third installment in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series that I have been rather impatient to read. Great series, light-hearted with just enough seriousness to give the story real meaning. I can't wait to read this new addition. I picked up another, unrelated novel, and the last book I picked up was a short ethics book. I am interested to see if any of the "wisdom" held within its pages actually proves to be wisdom at all. We shall soon find out. Other than those, I still have about three or four books that I still need to read and review. All of my book reviews can be read on http://achsbookclub.blogspot.com/
The Layers of Life
Life as we perceive is not easy to decipher. I realize this more and more every day. I am finding that the Great Conundrum we call Life contains many layers. And, like the tumultuous seas, these layers rise and fall, overlapping one another at different times in our lives. At times these overlays are quiet and subtle, sliding like the tides on the beaches at dawn. At others, the layers crash and break, cascading over one another in violent roars. Our boat is tossed and turned, floundering in the sea of Life. This is the face of Life, I believe. The great blue vastness, reflecting the world we perceive. Yet, underneath the vast expanse, this reflective mirror, is teeming with conflict, resolution, ideas, virtues, past, present, possibilities of the future, and so much more that words cannot begin to describe.
So how do we deal with this coean? Do we take it as a foamy tyrant or a calming friend? What are the layers and how do we classify them? Most importantly, how do we control the layers of our lives to ensure the fullness of our experiences?
Much of this cannot be answered simply. In fact, many of these questions do not require an answer. They simply need an understanding, a conceptual visualization of why we perceive things as they are. This understanding is what guides us in our actions, our thoughts, our very characters. Whilst we all know that "ignorance is bliss", I truly believe knowledge and understanding are the keys to all that we do.
So how do we deal with this coean? Do we take it as a foamy tyrant or a calming friend? What are the layers and how do we classify them? Most importantly, how do we control the layers of our lives to ensure the fullness of our experiences?
Much of this cannot be answered simply. In fact, many of these questions do not require an answer. They simply need an understanding, a conceptual visualization of why we perceive things as they are. This understanding is what guides us in our actions, our thoughts, our very characters. Whilst we all know that "ignorance is bliss", I truly believe knowledge and understanding are the keys to all that we do.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Facts are usless, prove it.....HUH? ~.`
So the blog topic is as thus: If facts themselves never prove or disprove anything, what else is involved in the proof of a statement? OKAY. So let's rewind a bit here. Facts. What are they, how do we see them, how are they used?
What is a fact? One edition of Webster's Dictionary defines fact as "thing known to be true; deed; reality." Dictionary.com defines fact as: 1.something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.
2.something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.
3.a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: Scientists gather facts about plant growth.
4.something said to be true or supposed to have happened: The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.
Now I particularly want to look at number 3. "A truth known by actual experience or observation." As we've discussed in class, experience is based entirely on perspective of the individual. Therefore, facts themselves must be subjective to the experience of the observer. For example, a man looking from one side of a two-way mirror is going to see nothing but his reflection. This leads the man to take as fact that it is a mirror. The person on the other side, however, is subject to a different facet of reality. She sees the man on the other side, leading her to assume that the "mirror" is in fact transparent and is more of a window. The perspectives of the two individuals in this case dictates what they view as fact. Fact is not just based on perception. Facts change as time changes. Take for instance a recent occurrence in my own life. On December 18, my sister-in-law was pregnant. As of ten o'clock that night, however, her pregnancy was no longer a fact. She had delivered the baby, and the facts changed. She went from being pregnant to having been pregnant. Facts are not the concrete, immovable things they are so commonly believed to be. Facts are as subject to the perceptions and whims of the observer as anything else.
So we return to the question of what else is involved in the proof of a statement? Well this begs the question: proof of what? Are you attempting to convince someone that what you believe to be true should be true in their eyes as well? Our class has already discussed the ramifications of "truth" and its associated deceptiveness and slyness. In the most basic of descriptions, truth itself is subject to the experience and perception of its observer. So this almost equates to a run-around statement. How can we prove something that is subject to perception using our very sense of perception itself? The answer is simple: there is no spoon. The answer does not lie within the actual proving of the statement. Success is achieved when both participants of the proof are aware of the statement and its implied associations. Each participant is then left with the choice of making his or her own belief of the statement and what it means to them. Their perceptions dictate its meaning and it is therefore unlikely that they will come to a complete agreement on the matter.
Perception is the very tool of the human mind. Truth, fact, belief, all are dependent on the perception of the viewer. So what is perception?
Definition according to one edition of Webster's Dictionary: SEE PERCEIVE. Of course, it does. Okay, over to perceive then. Definition: obtain knowledge of through senses; observe; understand.
According to Dictionary.com: the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
The common thread? The senses. Observation. All of these factors are linked to the observer and their experiences on the matter. While my mother may see her curtains as fuscha (as what?), I only see them as being pink, given my color blind status (and complete lack of understanding as to what in the world fuscha even is).
In essence, all that can be accomplished by trying to "prove" something to someone else is the confusion associated with wondering why your compatriot, who you thought to be so sane and knowledgeable just moments before, is completely and utterly off their rocker. :D
This blog is cross-posted on http://doorstoknowledgeibblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/facts-are-usless-prove-ithuh.html
What is a fact? One edition of Webster's Dictionary defines fact as "thing known to be true; deed; reality." Dictionary.com defines fact as: 1.something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.
2.something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.
3.a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: Scientists gather facts about plant growth.
4.something said to be true or supposed to have happened: The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.
Now I particularly want to look at number 3. "A truth known by actual experience or observation." As we've discussed in class, experience is based entirely on perspective of the individual. Therefore, facts themselves must be subjective to the experience of the observer. For example, a man looking from one side of a two-way mirror is going to see nothing but his reflection. This leads the man to take as fact that it is a mirror. The person on the other side, however, is subject to a different facet of reality. She sees the man on the other side, leading her to assume that the "mirror" is in fact transparent and is more of a window. The perspectives of the two individuals in this case dictates what they view as fact. Fact is not just based on perception. Facts change as time changes. Take for instance a recent occurrence in my own life. On December 18, my sister-in-law was pregnant. As of ten o'clock that night, however, her pregnancy was no longer a fact. She had delivered the baby, and the facts changed. She went from being pregnant to having been pregnant. Facts are not the concrete, immovable things they are so commonly believed to be. Facts are as subject to the perceptions and whims of the observer as anything else.
So we return to the question of what else is involved in the proof of a statement? Well this begs the question: proof of what? Are you attempting to convince someone that what you believe to be true should be true in their eyes as well? Our class has already discussed the ramifications of "truth" and its associated deceptiveness and slyness. In the most basic of descriptions, truth itself is subject to the experience and perception of its observer. So this almost equates to a run-around statement. How can we prove something that is subject to perception using our very sense of perception itself? The answer is simple: there is no spoon. The answer does not lie within the actual proving of the statement. Success is achieved when both participants of the proof are aware of the statement and its implied associations. Each participant is then left with the choice of making his or her own belief of the statement and what it means to them. Their perceptions dictate its meaning and it is therefore unlikely that they will come to a complete agreement on the matter.
Perception is the very tool of the human mind. Truth, fact, belief, all are dependent on the perception of the viewer. So what is perception?
Definition according to one edition of Webster's Dictionary: SEE PERCEIVE. Of course, it does. Okay, over to perceive then. Definition: obtain knowledge of through senses; observe; understand.
According to Dictionary.com: the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
The common thread? The senses. Observation. All of these factors are linked to the observer and their experiences on the matter. While my mother may see her curtains as fuscha (as what?), I only see them as being pink, given my color blind status (and complete lack of understanding as to what in the world fuscha even is).
In essence, all that can be accomplished by trying to "prove" something to someone else is the confusion associated with wondering why your compatriot, who you thought to be so sane and knowledgeable just moments before, is completely and utterly off their rocker. :D
This blog is cross-posted on http://doorstoknowledgeibblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/facts-are-usless-prove-ithuh.html
The Search for Moral Laws and Norms
This week's blog topic is as follows: “Our technologies establish the truth of many of our scientific laws.” Is there any comparable means of establishing moral rules and norms?
So of course the first task at hand is to make sure we understand the topic itself. The way I see it, the first quote states that the technologies we use on a daily basis (such as computers, cranes, even elevators) demonstrate the truth in many of the proposed scientific laws (such as gravity and Newton's laws of motion). These technologies show us each time they are in operation that we do know enough about the natural laws of the physical universe to construct tools in it that follow our rules and do what they are intended.
So the next part is the question itself. Just as technology demonstrates our understanding and operation of our scientific laws, do we have a comparable means for the finding/demonstrating moral rules and norms? Just as we can prove by dropping an apple that gravity exists (albeit the part about how it exists, i.e. as either a force of attraction, a result of curved space-time, or some other function is irrelevant in this case), can we provide a solid 'fact' that morals exist by a predetermined set of rules and guidelines? What are morals anyhow? After much discussion in class, we have come to the conclusion that morals are a person's personal sense of how to determine right and wrong. If that is so, then how can there be moral norms? Norms are things that we do during an 'ordinary' day that tends to be more routine than anything else. For example, my dad always wears pants. If he decided to wear shorts one day, no matter what the weather, it would be outside his norm. But as you can see by this example, norms are very specific and particular to the individual. What may be a norm for me, may be completely abnormal for someone else. It's all circumstantial.
Moral rules are another area that is difficult to say has an established set of boundaries. What can be considered a 'rule'? These are, once again, a personal phenomenon generated by personal values and beliefs. In essence, morals are our personal values and beliefs. So we can't really have an established set of moral rules and norms. That would be similar to comparing the rules of a corporate business whose intent and purpose is to construct buildings to the rules of a business whose intent and purpose is to restore nature reserves. The rules and norms are going to be vastly different. Even in the same field of profession, these rules vary. JC Penny's and Macy's are both department stores, but they have different selection process for merchandise and probably for different rules for their employees as well. The core of the business is the same, but that doesn't make them the same. The same concept can be applied to the establishment of moral laws and norms. Everyone has some set of moral laws and norms. The cores of these laws and norms are same in the essence that they are all their to govern our actions and beliefs. That does not, however, mean they are the same from individual to individual.
This blog is cross-posted from http://doorstoknowledgeibblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/search-for-moral-laws-and-norms.html
So of course the first task at hand is to make sure we understand the topic itself. The way I see it, the first quote states that the technologies we use on a daily basis (such as computers, cranes, even elevators) demonstrate the truth in many of the proposed scientific laws (such as gravity and Newton's laws of motion). These technologies show us each time they are in operation that we do know enough about the natural laws of the physical universe to construct tools in it that follow our rules and do what they are intended.
So the next part is the question itself. Just as technology demonstrates our understanding and operation of our scientific laws, do we have a comparable means for the finding/demonstrating moral rules and norms? Just as we can prove by dropping an apple that gravity exists (albeit the part about how it exists, i.e. as either a force of attraction, a result of curved space-time, or some other function is irrelevant in this case), can we provide a solid 'fact' that morals exist by a predetermined set of rules and guidelines? What are morals anyhow? After much discussion in class, we have come to the conclusion that morals are a person's personal sense of how to determine right and wrong. If that is so, then how can there be moral norms? Norms are things that we do during an 'ordinary' day that tends to be more routine than anything else. For example, my dad always wears pants. If he decided to wear shorts one day, no matter what the weather, it would be outside his norm. But as you can see by this example, norms are very specific and particular to the individual. What may be a norm for me, may be completely abnormal for someone else. It's all circumstantial.
Moral rules are another area that is difficult to say has an established set of boundaries. What can be considered a 'rule'? These are, once again, a personal phenomenon generated by personal values and beliefs. In essence, morals are our personal values and beliefs. So we can't really have an established set of moral rules and norms. That would be similar to comparing the rules of a corporate business whose intent and purpose is to construct buildings to the rules of a business whose intent and purpose is to restore nature reserves. The rules and norms are going to be vastly different. Even in the same field of profession, these rules vary. JC Penny's and Macy's are both department stores, but they have different selection process for merchandise and probably for different rules for their employees as well. The core of the business is the same, but that doesn't make them the same. The same concept can be applied to the establishment of moral laws and norms. Everyone has some set of moral laws and norms. The cores of these laws and norms are same in the essence that they are all their to govern our actions and beliefs. That does not, however, mean they are the same from individual to individual.
This blog is cross-posted from http://doorstoknowledgeibblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/search-for-moral-laws-and-norms.html
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Possums
So, I was asked by a very special person to blog a little about possums. So I'm going to do just that. So first, for those of you just starting in your exploration of our beautiful, natural world, what is a possum? A possum is a furry little creature that is nocturnal and has the funniest defense weapon in all of the animal kingdom, in my opinion. For those of you that don't know what a possum looks like, here you go:
mad possum,
baby possums,
scared possum,
and of course, happy possum!!
So yeah, those are possums. I know, I know, not the cutest things on the planet, but each creature holds its own unique beauty. Well, I certainly hope so at least. So anyway, the funny defense weapon. All animals have something to protect themselves from predators. Rattlesnakes rattle their tales, cobras open their hoods, stinkbugs stink (duh?), and some insects just taste bad. Possums, on the other paw, have one of the most unusual talents in that degree. What does a possum do when it is threatened? It plays dead. Yes, like a dog, but much, much better. So all those cartoons about ladies fainting when they are scared by a mouse, actually depict possums. Ha ha. I know I am probably the only one laughing, but what else is new? Given their od' de natural, possums pull of the "I'm dead" trick pretty well. I mean, who wants to eat a stinky piece of dead possum?
Possums are not the most lovable of creatures, but they do appear in some of our movies. Take for instance the two possum brothers in the animated film Ice Age II: The Meltdown. They are two mischievous little brothers who hang out with a mammoth. Strange company, huh? Possums also make a rather overly-dramatic appearance in Over the Hedge, another animated film. A father possum and daughter possum help the Raccoon to steal food from the humans.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Oops
okay, so I just posted the update below this, but for some reason it just came up with the date of October 23. It would be December 4. Stupid computer calendar, doesn't even know what day it is, sheesh.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Updates
Wow, it's been a long time since I've last updated. And people have been bugging me to update it, Mayville particularly. So, uh, yeah, here goes.
Things have been really crazy for me lately. I'm talking like super-hectic crazy, man (Whoa!-man ;] ). First things first though. My classes this term are fun, but busy. I still have English first period and that class is pretty much the same. Second period is the best class ever though. I finally joined Mayville's Epistemology class. Oh my gosh, EPIC. This class has everything you need to get the brain working and pumping, churning out crazy thoughts and ideas. The conversations in this class are absolutely AMAZING. Next is my World Civilizations class. That class is way too easy and not really all that interesting, but I need my history/social studies credits, so blah. Fourth period is now my cooking class, however. That class is awesome. Today we made chicken tetrazzini. It was so delicious, which is ironic considering it had mushrooms, onions, and water chestnuts in it, none of which I am particularly fond of. My last two classes are the same and they are operating pretty much the same as they were last term.
Next comes my after-school activities. The climbing team is really suffering at the moment. It really kind of sucks. I have watched this team grow since my freshman year. This team was a family then. It's just a bunch of kids getting together after school now. We took a two-week hiatus period before the beginning of term two, but we haven't had a real team meeting since then. I sincererly hope the team can pull it together and be the team I know it can be. Seeing as I am now president of the book club, my Wednesdays are no longer free, every other week at least. But I'm not complaining. We just got fifty new books from Boulder Bookstore to read and review. FIFTY. And what's even better is that for every two reviews we do, we get a $10 gift certificate to the Boulder Bookstore. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! For a bookworm like me, that's like Christmas at...well, Christmas time. <.<>The Graveyard Book. A marvelous and fantastic read for anybody who likes Gaiman's work. We are all reading individual books at the moment, the ones we got from Boulder Bookstore. I picked up three books: Caught Between the Pages, and The Chronicles of Vladmir Todd (books one and two). I also have National Honors Society meetings every first Wednesday of the month. This Saturday, in fact, we are going to clean some folk's homes. It should be fun, lots of shoveling ahead though. I've also been wanting to help a friend with her Amnesty Club, but with so little time as it is to get all my stuff done, I haven't been able to yet. Oh well, I guess we can't do everything, now can we?
Next is my current stuff at the house. With Christmas coming up, the family and I spent Thanksgiving weekend putting up the inside decorations (complete with hanging bear lights and Christmas tree) and most of the outside lights. Some of them are not working again but this happens every year, so you'd figure we'd be use to it. Also with the winter months coming up, I see a bit of cutting and gathering large chunks of firewood in the near future. My only comfort in this is that I won't be cold when sitting directly in front of the fire and not in the igloo temperature of the rest of our house. Mom does not always understand that fifty degrees is only warm to her and penguins, NO ONE ELSE.
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