Langer and Postman

Langer

1) Langer mentions "audible actions" in paragraph 13. What are they, and why are they important?

"Audible actions" are things people hear that shape them into the people they are to become. These are important because they involuntarily code the brain the perform in a certain way.

2) What is a phoneme, and how does it differ from lalling?

A phoneme is a sound that makes words different from one another. A lalling is the absence of phonemes in dialect, usually early staged children's. 

3) What does the term Gestalt mean in paragraph 6? 

Gestalt in paragraph 6 means it is a great achievement.

Postman

4) Postman says the metaphor is "an organ of perception" (para. 6). How can metaphor be an organ of perception?

When he says that metaphors are organs he means that they are the core being of speech in a visual sense. Without metaphors it would be difficult to express the full potential of perception in a situation.

5) Why does Postman raise the question of over and underachievers in schools?

Because he brings up the fact how a test in school doesn't determine how smart a child is. You can be smart in different ways it's just how you use it that determines if you're an over or underachiever. 

6) What territory do you map on a daily basis? What words help you map that territory?

MSU. And words that help me map that territory are the names of the buildings. 

Bacon and Darwin

Bacon:

1. Define the word idols in the sense that Bacon seems to use it. Is the word idol a good term to use for the idea that lies behind it?

Bacon defines the word "idols" as an error that develops in society. I feel like the term "idols" is both good and bad for Bacon's definition. It's a bad term because people look up to idols and they are more likely to do something good if there idol does it. But it is also a good term because if an idol dos something bad their fan will be more likely to follow in their footsteps. Having idols can also keep a fan from becoming who they really are.

2. Compare the importance of one idol with that of another. Is it possible to determine which is more likely to prevent the acquisition of true knowledge?

The tribal idol symbolizes our natural human errors and the idols of the cave represent our own errors that arise from our own minds. The theatre idols represent the false facts and learning that come from faulty education and philosophies and the idol of the marketplace represents errors that come from others. I believe the idols of the marketplace is more likely to prevent the acquisition of true knowledge because I see the marketplace idols as people who spread rumors and the quickest way information spreads in through people speaking to others.

3. Which of the idols are the results of social intercourse, and which are the results of individual reflection? Would a person be more likely to be free of the tyranny of the idols if he/she were restricted in society? Is it possible that a hermit would be completely free of the idols? Or would he become more free the more he socialized?

The idols of the marketplace and theatre are the results of social interaction and the tribal idols and the idols of the cave are the results of individual reflection. If a person were restricted in society they would be less likely to be free of the tyranny of the idols. Even if there was no false information or errors people would still have their own individual errors. A hermit would not be free of the idols, truthfully they would be more inclined to the idols and more ignorant. 

Darwin:

1. Define the phrase the survival of the fittest (the title of this chapter in a later edition of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection). Look for ways in which its implications can be fully understood. Look, also, for examples by which it can be illustrated.

Survival of the fittest means that only the strong will survive in the world. Those who are weak will be surpassed by the strong and more likely to die. For example, if in a liter of puppies the ones who will die are the ones who can't make it to the mother's milk for nourishment. 

2. Compare the breeding of animals with natural selection. Which is more directed? Which is more dominated by chance? Which is more efficient? Which is more important?

Natural selection is when organisms who are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The breeding of animals is when breeders pick out certain traits to produce an animal to their liking. Natural selection is more dominated by chance whereas breeding is more directed. Breeding is more efficient and more important than natural selection because it creates more animals who are more adapted to their environment.

3. How does cloning affect Darwin’s views? Is cloning likely to undo the beneficial work of natural selection?

I think cloning supports Darwin's views and is beneficial to him because natural selection is about the strong and with cloning you can clone a strong person and get another strong person.

4. How does human social policy affect the survival of the fittest? Are modern medicine and modern social welfare agencies causing humans to be less fit? 

Of course people think that the survival of the fittest is wrong and cruel. Also, I think modern medicine and modern social welfare does cause humans to be less fit. You see people who would rather spend the money to make them thin then to actual go to gym. 

Plato and Freud

Plato:

1. Consider the issue of what it is we know when we rely on our senses. Is sensory knowledge as unreliable as Plato thinks it is?

~ I believe our sensory knowledge is not as unreliable as Pluto says it is. We can use our sense of smell to detect when something is burning and treat the problem before it gets out of hand. We can use our sense of hearing to listen if someone is yelling for help. We can use our sight to see a forest fire and warn others. There are many uses for our senses that not only protect our life but helps enhance the learning experience. For example, if you're an auditory learning we use our sense of hearing to listen to a video or a presentation which helps us learn better.

2. Are we materialistic when we praise sense perception? What are the alternatives to any such materialism arising from overvaluing (or solely valuing) sense experience?

~ Truthfully, I don't know if we are materialistic when we praise sense perception. But, some alternatives could be using common sense or logical reasoning.

3. If we could perceive the world beneath sense experience, what would it be like?

~If we perceived a world beneath sense experience it would be very dull. It would pretty much be a world without emotions and the people would be machines.

4. I often ask my students to choose a sense that they do not already have and add it as a sixth sense that cannot be a merger of any of the five. It has to be new—not smelling, seeing, or hearing from a great distance. If nothing else, this exercise helps them begin to realize how hemmed in we are by our senses — particularly when I point out the ultimate similarity of touch, taste, and odor, three of the five senses that constitute virtually one sense with three “flavors.”

~The ability to sense when someone is good or bad would be my sixth sense.

Freud

1. Do you feel your dreams have a significance that would be useful to understand?

~Depends on what kind of dream that I have. Sometimes I believe I have a valuable dream that would be significant to understand, but there are also times when I know my dreams are just pointless.

2. What dreams most mystify you?

~Dreams that mystify me are dreams involving the people around me. Whether I know them or not.

3. Which dreams are frightening? Describe a recent frightening dream.

~Dreams that are frightening are the ones that play on my fears. A recent frightening dream I've had involved me being in the middle of nowhere getting chased by giant spiders. I hate spiders so that was definitely a scary dream to me.

4. Why do you think most people forget their dreams?

~I think most people forget their dreams because our mind is already racing through multiple things at once and it's hard for us to remember every single detail of the dream.

5. Is dreaming a mental activity?

~I do believe dreaming is a mental activity because there are dreams that incorporate our memories of people and our fears as well.

Woolf and Mead

Virginia Woolf
1) It is useful to point out that this essay was originally delivered to women students at two Oxford colleges. Ask your students to identify what evidence there is to suggest Woolf was aware of the nature of her audience.

Woolf knew the nature of her audience because she made many references about how the condition of women was different than of men during the elizabethan time. She spoke about how women were not as successful as men even if they had the same amount of talent in order to show the women of today that they should appreciate what they have. 

2) What do the chapter headings from Trevelyan’s History of England (para. 6) reveal about historians’ concerns?

The chapter headings reveal that there was never any mention of women in major events, especially middle class women. 

3) What would Woolf propose as the most important changes in society that would alter the situation most talented women find themselves in? Why does talent make a woman’s situation especially difficult?

Woolf would propose for society to let women have more time to explore their talents. A talented woman may have more difficulty because they are caught between following society and listen to what they have been told their whole life or go against society and be judge for exploring their talent.

M. Mead

1. What are the temperamental traits of women? Of men?

The temperamental traits of men and women depend on the society they grow up in. For most women are meant to have long hair, appear feminine and do the housework. For men they are supposed to have short hair, go to work, and dress in pants.  

2. What price does a society pay for restricting the opportunities of one sex or the other?

The price society pays for restricting the opportunities of one sex and not the other is that the one that is restricted feels lesser than the one that is not. Therefore, creating problems between the two sexs.

3. Given that our culture has standardized temperamental expectations for each sex, what price does the opposite sex pay for that standardization?

The price that the opposite sex pays for the standardization is that if they go against it they are judged and excluded from society for being different from that standardization.

4. Why should our modern industrialized society be concerned about the ways of “primitive” cultures?

Our modern industrialized society should be concerned about the ways of "primitive" culture because in those cultures they might still believe women cannot play a significant role in society and so they are expected to be the house wife. It is very limiting and causes women to feel like they are below men.

Wollstonecraft, Kozol, and Woodson

1) Define the phrase "pernicious effects" on the basis of what is stated in the essay.

Wollstonecraft addresses behavior and reputation and how they can undermine a woman's morality. Woman are taught very early to develop artificial behavior and to not exercise their minds. She also states that the discrimination women face is redundant. She argues how women can make their own money and support themselves. 

2) Is it possible to compare women with property on the basis of this essay?

Yes, it is possible to compare women with property on the basis of this essay.

3) Clarify in what way the “unnatural distinctions” affecting women in society cause them to behave as Wollstonecraft says they do. Do you feel it is a genuine cause-and-effect relationship?

Wollstonecraft observed how women were irrational and only concerned themselves with trivial things like fashion. She was extremely critical of the stereotypical femininity of women. She also observed how women manipulated men to their liking and so she referred to them as "capricious tyrants." However, she saw this as an act of poor education and not as the true nature of women. In her view, women do not behave rationally because they are not educated properly. And I also believe it is a genuine cause-and-effect relationship.

4)  Describe Diversity in Schools according to Kozol and what your definition would be.

Kozol believes diversity is over looked and not taught at school. He states how diversity is based on a student's wealth placement and race. My definition of diversity is when people are different based on race, ethics and religion.

5) What does Woodson mean by mis-education?

Mis-education as Woodson describes it is the false teaching of teachers when presenting African American history and when teaching African Americans. He believes they are supplying them with false and inaccurate information.

Montessori and Dewey

1) What is the basis of scientific pedagogy for Montessori? 

Montessori's basis of scientific pedagogy is centered around children based on scientific observations of the child from birth to adulthood.

2) How does school furniture affect the education of the child?

Montessori saw that it was essential for the children's successful development to have an environment all about them. She realized that children rely on the environment for the sensory impressions which they gained a sense of the world. And so she made all the furniture child-sized in order for it to be easily accessible to the child and make it feel like it belonged to them.

3) What effect does freedom have on the education of the child?

Freedom has a huge effect on the education of the child. Montessori wanted to create a learning environment that accommodated choice and so the child needed to have freedom. There are parts of the room where it was spacious enough for the children to do what they wanted to do and not be constricted. There are places where a student could be alone if they wanted to as well. Also in a Montessori classroom the children could work on a table or the floor so they could define their own work space. Montessori believed a child must be free to explore and follow their own natural impulses so they could develop their potential and increase their knowledge. 

1) What does Dewey seem to mean by the expression "thinking in education"?

Dewey believed that thinking is a critical aspect of education. He stresses that an important part of thinking is having experiences, such as hands on learning.

2) What conditions must exist for the student to use thinking in education?

IN order for students to use thinking in education the information and lessons need to be interesting and include hands on activities. The student also needs to use thinking and their cognitive and analytical skills to solve problems. 

3) What seems to be the best process of education, according to Dewey?

Dewey supports social and interactive processes in learning. These processes should contain constant activities and lessons that are interesting to the student. Critical thinking also needs to be involved so the brain is stimulated and the student uses problem solving skills and observation. The student should also test the solution they found in order to fully understand the meaning.

Adam Smith

1) How would you defend Smith’s views as expressed in this essay? In what sense is he right in establishing the “natural progress of opulence” as you observe it yourself? He describes the world as he knows it in his own time and then imagines how it might have become that way. How well does he satisfy your curiosity about the way in which nations grow rich?

Adam Smith is right because to bring wealth to a civilization, the country should hold more priority than the city since without the materials from the country. the town cannot thrive. He does a good job in satisfying my curiosity about the way a nation grows.

2. Smith places a great deal of faith in the value of land for maintaining wealth. Since most people today, including wealthy people, do not necessarily see their wealth in terms of land, what in our time might substitute for land? What would a wealthy person interpret as a secure or conservative capital investment?

In today's world people are not interested in investing in land they are more interested in investing in stock. By investing in stock a person can control the company's stock and make economic decisions for that company.

3. Argue in favor of or in opposition to Smith’s statement in paragraph 8: “According to the natural course of things, therefore, the greater part of the capital of every growing society is, first, directed to agriculture, afterwards to manufactures, and last of all to foreign commerce.” Because in the early 2000s the United States is in the midst of a “new economy,” this statement will need to be examined closely and augmented. How would you continue the “evolution” that Smith observed?

Smith is right when he states how the greater part of the capital is first directed towards agriculture because we depend on agriculture for food and for production. Without production our economy would be hurting. However, in today's world trade with foreign countries is a must have. Many things they produce are not at the same price and rate as the U.S. Foreign countries provide us with Petroleum, cars, helicopters, vehicle parts and many more so they are indeed an important part of our "evolution."

Galbraith & Reich

One of Galbraith’s most basic premises is that America is now an affluent society. Examine indetail the society that you know for the purposes of validating or contradicting that assertion. IsAmerica an affluent society? What are the signs of affluence? What qualifies as affluence? Whatare the results of affluence?

Galbraith states that an affluent society is one that "prevents parents from passing on poverty to their children." Using this concept,  America at times can be considered affluent, but in most cases we are not. There are thousands of people who are unemployed and homeless and our country is in debt. Not every parent can pass on wealth to their children and if they do not all the time will it keep their children out of poverty. 

Some signs of affluence could be the amount of money spent on skyscrapers and homes. What qualifies as affluence I believe is money and power. And the results of affluence are developed cities and technology, developed military force, and many other things.

To what extent is it the government’s responsibility to provide jobs to people who would otherwise not be able to get them? For example, should the government provide jobs for routine workers if their opportunities dry up? What arguments favor or oppose such a proposal?

The government does not take a very strong responsibility when it comes to providing people with jobs who cannot obtain them. And I believe it depends on the situation if the government should help or not. For example, there are so many veterans who are living on the streets because they cannot get a job and this is one of the cases where the government should get involved and do everything they can to help that person find work. Some people might argue in favor of the government becoming more involved because they are out of work and having trouble finding a new job. Some people might argue against the government getting involved because there are people out of work who did not work hard enough like others did and so people believe that those who don't work hard shouldn't get help when it comes to finding a job.

Blog 6

What is the economic condition of the bourgeois? What is the economic condition of the proletariat?

Bourgeois: Rooted in the ideas of feudal society and a symbol of oppression. Reflects the desires of a segment of the bourgeois to redress social grievances, in order to guarantee the continued existence of bourgeois society. Bourgeoisie believe that the best society is the society in which they have power; they want the proletariat to keep its weak role, but to stop hating the dominant bourgeoisie. They want the advantages of the social conditions generated by Modern Industry, without the struggles and dangers that necessarily accompany them. Considered upper class.

Proletariat: Believed to have developed the industry and the direct cause of mass production. Believed that it was the people in the Proletariat group's responsibility to form trade unions for their representation against the Bourgeois. Considered middle/lower class. Examples are "old workers, children, women, small tradespeople, and those with specialized skills."

How does the expanding world market for goods affect national identity?

Marx states that specialized jobs make the economy highly efficient. He believed that creating more of these jobs through unions would lead to an economic boom. He also states that "by improving the means of production and communication, the bourgeoisie has forced the world into its own mold."

What benefits does Marx expect communism to provide the proletariat?

Communism provides the proletariat by overthrowing the bourgeoisies. They don’t take away the workers or anyone’s freedom, only the bourgeoisie system. It brings proletariats closer to the same level as the bourgeoisies.

Carnegie ends his essay by saying that he thought that obeying the dictates of his Gospel of Wealth would someday solve the problem of the rich and the poor and bring “Peace on earth, among men Good-Will” (para. 24). Do you think that wealthy people should follow Carnegie’s example? Bill Gates, who recently quoted from Carnegie’s essay, has left his post at Microsoft and is devoting himself to giving away his wealth through his foundation. Do you feel such activity will “solve the problem of the Rich and the Poor” (para. 24)?

I believe that the Rich should follow Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth and Bill Gates example. But I do not believe that such activity will "solve the problem of the Rich and the Poor." Following their example will surely help to some degree but it is not the solution to solve this problem.

Aristotle

Aristotle

1) Aristotle would have responded positively to the signing of the constitution because he himself was in favored for a constitution as long as the politician maintained it. He also believed in the government having power over the states but with laws fair to both the government and the governed, where the people had a say.

Signing of the Constitution

2) There are many different "elements" of society represented in this painting. One being President George Washington who is the man on standing on the podium with his chest puffed out. The men behind him represent his cabinet because they are the closest to him. The men in front of the president sitting down (Benjamin Franklin) are representing officials like the senators and congressmen. And the big group of people in the back of the painting represent the governed who are trying to make their voices heard.

3) Aristotle would have assumed that the government was a democracy more than an oligarchy. The reason being is because the painting depicts different social elements with different views whereas if it was an oligarchy it would have depicted a small group of people who looked the same, where on the same level and had the same views.

4) The people who signed the constitution were at most just regular citizens ignored by the British government and who wanted to create a place where their voices were heard.

 Tocqueville

5) Aristotle had different views compared to Tocqueville when it came to rationality, therefore leading to different outlooks on morality and society. But they both believed the soul had "rational and non-rational parts."