Critical Thinking Blog #8

During the semester, I enjoyed my science and humanities classes very much.  I have learned about the process of why science is important, as well as gained knowledge about evolutionary psychology. Towards the end, I discovered the science fiction around the story of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and through science, the story of creation and romance can still come together. As it is the end of the semester, I could say that I am both a science and a humanities person since I think they need one another and by utilizing science, it is a means to end, to achieve something greater that humans always seek, whether it is power, truth or love. Overall, learning about science is optimistic and it is exciting because it opens your mind to new ideas. I enjoyed learning about the history of science and humanities through the course packet and by reading each course assignment, I understand the link that that science and humanities has to one another and often, the two are more inter-dependent than we realize.  They both tell a story of how my science and humanities was created and today, certain scientific theories are still relevant to our modern society like Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and will continue to inspire the future generations to further explore the mysteries of the world around us.

Critical Thinking Blog Assignment # 7

Einstein and his discoveries on the scientific rule for time amaze me, including reading “Einstein Dreams,” about living within the moment.  In our society we tend to worry about the past and the future more often than we think about the present moment. When learning about time, time is based on the moment and life is unpredictable. We base happiness from our past and what we believe can happen in the the future rather than focusing the happiness that exits in the present. In the book, “Einstein Dreams,” the example in the book states, “Consider a world in which cause and effect are erratic” (29). It is true how life is unpredictable and how people focus on the past and the future, which none can be controlled or those moments replaced. In fact, we can only control the time during the present moment.  It is amazing how Einstein has opened my eyes to view life by understanding the scientific rule for time and learning to live and appreciate what happens in the present.

Understanding the overall ideals outlined in chapter, 3 May 1905,  I see that life should be more open and “Consider a world in which cause and effect are erratic.” Einstein has inspired the world to focus on the present moment because it can determine our past and future. If people can live a life as an artist, just maybe people can find true happiness by living a life that is unpredictable. For example, in the book “Einstein Dreams,” a young lady sits at a garden daily without searching for a lover. The young lady was just enjoying the beauty of nature until one day she meets a man without searching for love and now lives a fairytale dream. This example proves that the beauty of life is erratic. Also, one sees that by living within the moment it can be the best way to enjoy time as it is and there is no regret by living within the present.

Assignment #6

In my research paper, I want to explore Evolutionary Psychology and everyday life, specifically the theme of Altruism and Cooperation being critical to our success as a society, and where the theory of Darwinism is so pervasive. In the book “Living with Our Genes “by Dean Hamer and Peter Copeland it is about the psychology of “emotional instinct and the genetic roots of personality.” Chapter one explains the “mental, emotional, social and physical character” of a person and the behavior of that person is taught and learned by the parent’s actions. Your behavior determines how you interact with others, the way you socialize, the rules you believe in, and the emotion you express. These traits determine the person you are in a community. Personality is the link to the selfish gene and it is why people are influenced to behave a certain way. Personality is what makes a society and certain habits impact human behavior.

 In “Living with Our Genes “by Dean Hamer and Peter Copeland explains that our inherent genes are based on the merger of two people, our parents and in some capacity, we have inherent traits from them that can impact our personalities. Nonetheless, people can also learn from anyone they surround themselves with and can learn social norms from the rules that are directed from the behavioral patterns that are influenced in groups and a culture.

The second research paper I examined, “In the Exaggerated moral claim of evolutionary psychologist” by Moses L. Pava, the article explains how people are built to think logically and use their intuition to make a decision to choose the best course of action. This ability to make such a choice is known to be a deliberate act, which allows a person to think carefully before making an irrational decision. Therefore, people have a natural instinct to look after themselves. In the article, it gives an example of a trolley and five men. “Assume you realized a lever that you can pull that would change the direction of the trolley to another track, where there is only one man working on the other track. What would you do?” Sadly, logically your actions would save the five men rather saving just one. 

Blog #5

Assignment #4

        As we talk about robots and how they are soon to be more intergraded into human society, I find this idea of how robots will be utilized to have some positives, but also somewhat threatening.  By having robots, I believe it can help our society create an efficient way of living by using its technology and changing the way people work in a community.  For example, in the movie iRobot, the film show a society complete dependent on robots in their daily lives. The robot helps people with not only with daily chores around the house, but are also trusted caretakers that watch over children while their parents are at work, and much like today’s undocumented immigrants, these robots have also taken jobs that our communities despise.                                                          

   However, while we do not the sophisticated level of artificial intelligence as demonstrated in the movie, people today are highly dependent on technology more than ever and that dependency continues to grow. Within the 21st century alone, cell phones have evolved from a simple means of telephonic communication to a “must have” device because of their ability to gain access to email, social media, news, bank accounts and information with a tap on a screen or push of a button.

 Society as a whole does seem to draw more advantages than disadvantages from the use of current technology as seen with many companies who leverage new technologies to work more efficiently, such as using robots to improve production quality and increase quantity while reducing the need for costly labor.  Another example in the business field is how technology such as video conferencing can help reduce the cost of employee travel by eliminating the need for a majority of face-to-face meetings. However, for many of the working class jobs such as the toll booth operators or the New York City token booth operators, their jobs are at risk due to new technologies that can simply replace them.  Nonetheless, to offset the replaced workers, new technology also helps create new jobs that may transition the ‘working class’ to support the maintenance of the new industries. Thus, while there are some drawbacks, the benefits seem to outweigh the consequences.                                                                                         

       As seen in the movie iRobot, despite the  fact that the robots turn on the humans and pose a threat to their safety including their children, once the industry ‘fixes’ the issues with the ‘older models’ people still use them without a second thought. In comparison to our dependency on technology today, I see how our society will continue to use technology despite any potential threats. In seeing the stories of social media issues like sex-offenders preying on underage children to the ease of your identity being stolen on the internet, people will continue to integrate new technologies into their daily lives not only because industries provide it, but because people will demand it.

Milestone #1: Topic Write-up and Works Cited Page

                  Milestone #1: Topic Write-up and Works Cited Page

       In my research paper, I want to explore Evolutionary Psychology and everyday life,specifically the theme of Altruism and Cooperation being critical to our success as a society, where the theory of Darwinism is so pervasive.  I believe that certain habits impact human behavior in our daily life and that these are taught to us in a society rather than being born into a culture that instills these habits. Thus, I want to explore what makes people act in a more altruistic manner which is fundamentally against Darwin’s theory of ‘survival of the fittest,’ while other examples, such as the ‘Selfish Gene’ by Richard Dawkins, shows that many people are inherently hard wired to think of themselves first in life and death situations.
   Given that there are natural examples in every society that can help demonstrate both Altruism and the more self-centered Darwinian theory, I believe I would like to explore the possibility that a culture can have an impact on its’ members and thus, influencing them to be more Altruistic. However, given that such Altruistic behavior benefits a society as a whole and ultimately the individuals that belong to it, by creating a society that protects its’ members, there could be an argument that Darwinism is still a factor in this motivation.
    Nonetheless, I would like to explore the driving factors behind Altruism and Cooperation and how it may impact the fundamental theory of Darwinism, especially if there is ultimately a link to a behavior that is created by a society, for example Altruism and Cooperation or if there is a genetic coding that can prove Darwinism is not the only way of human survival. Rather, if altruism and Cooperation can be proven to be more beneficial to a society and its’ continuation, will be interesting to discover.

 

 

LIB 200: Does 'Popular Science' Today Awe Us, Inspire Us, or Threaten Us?

 Today science has influences people from all around the world and it is the reason for many ideas, theories, and possibilities for the future. It is fascinating how science has evolved and created the progress of civilization creating today’s future for new scientific possibilities. People are inspired to use science to create a futurama atmosphere in the hopes of one day creating the ideal society or learning the origins of our universe.

  The television series, “Doctor Who” is an example how science has inspired people to view our future and uses digital effects such as a time travel to explore not only earth from the past to the future, but also different words and dimensions. Throughout all the journeys the main character, ‘The Doctor,’ experiences, the one theme that is consistent is that of always helping people in need and doing what is right even if it means sacrificing one’s self. The series combines imaginary ideas of the existence of a  multitude of alien beings with expanded scientific theories of black holes, relativity and time-space continuums with a mix of human history which is usually portrayed as the most vulnerable and in constant need of protection.  The focus of the human experience is at the heart of this show and no matter the scenario, saving humanity is of utmost importance since we are portrayed as unique beings driven by feelings, especially love, kindness and hope.

Even though the time traveling is not scientifically accurate in our modern day, I believe science can actually eventually evolve into make time traveling a possibility in the future. I feel this way since even 30 years ago, if you described an iPhone, the wide use of the internet and even social media like Facebook, people would think you were talking of a future society or advanced alien technology. Thinking of how technology continues to expand at such a fast pace where in a span of 100 years, societies go from just discovering electricity to being able to use a phone to video conference someone via an iPhone app (i.e. FaceTime) from across the globe, our level of advancement is awe-inspiring. I strongly believe that there are so many possibilities that will continue to inspire science and technology to make the science fiction today a reality for us tomorrow.