Present your perspective on the issue below, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views."Patriotic reverence for the history of a nation often does more to impede than to encourage progress." • • • • • • • Love and support for one's country is a good thing. Must be understood that no country is perfect and it can become better. In this way, patriotism can impede progress. Patriotism can be taken too far, if Americans only purchased American cars, this would allow american car companies to become more anticompetative. American manufacturers need competition to stay strong. Patriotism can be confused with nationalism. This might encourage people to become more close minded towards those not associated with a country's history - creates xenophobia. Politicians can take advantage of patriotism by calling those who do not support certain efforts anti-patriotic, can lead to "witch hunts". Patriotism is hard to define. It is ambiguous as to which actions support a country and can be therefore consider to be patriotic. To some, patriotism has connotations of self-sacrifice, implying that the individual should place the interests of the community above their personal interests, and in extreme cases their lives and the lives of other individuals, perceived to be members of a different community. In wartime, patriotism as so understood is assumed to be the main driving force for participation in military operations, certainly if it is voluntary. In this context patriotism is seen as an explanation for the apparent suspension of the instinct for self-preservation, which implies that all humans would avoid a battlefield. ——————————————— "Government should never censor the artistic works or historical displays that a museum wishes to exhibit." • • • Government should not censor artistic works as such behavior boarders on thought control and impinges on freedom of speech. Censoring indirectly implies that some works of art are sponsored while others are not. There are other competing factors, people will ultimately be making the censorship decision and it is difficult to apply completely unbiased judgment. Works of art with religious context such as those depicting the crucifixion of Jesus may be seen as offensive to non-Christians in the sense that a human is shown suffering due to brutal punishment. All art requires some level of understanding and socio-historical context. The proper role of government is not to monitor works of art, there are more important issues which deserve attention. What is even more problematic is who decides which arts should even be displayed. Some people may find works such as the Mona Lisa more enjoyable while others prefer works which may seem to be purely pornographic. • • ——————————————— "Government should preserve publicly owned wilderness areas in their natural state, even though these areas are often extremely remote and thus accessible to only a few people." • • • The reader is supplying a universal statement that should be obeyed always. I do not think the matter is quite so simple. Preserving some areas of land may be more expensive than preserving other areas of equal area. A cost benefit analysis must be run to determine benefits vs. costs. Preserving some areas of land may provide jobs near areas which have high unemployment or reduce pollution in areas which have high industrial output. Other factors for land preservation need to be considered. Preserving wilderness that is accessible to many people is preferable so that people are able to enjoy the preserved wilderness, through hiking or camping in it. However, areas which are not remote could be better candidates for public recreational reasons. Wilderness accessible to only a few people are typically preserved anyway. Although there are some political figures who suggest that wilderness should be exploited partially because few people are affected -- GW Bush and drilling in the Artic Wildlife Preserve. Also need to consider how the preservation decision will benefit specific species of wildlife. • • • ——————————————— "In any field of endeavor, it is impossible to make a significant contribution without first being strongly influenced by past achievements within that field." • • • • Author's viewpoint goes too far. In some fields of an endeavor it is possible to make a significant contribution without being strongly influenced by past achievements. One example is art and music. These are fields which depend highly on creative talent. Too much knowledge about past achievements and artistic theory encourages conformity. In classical music (without words) and art, there may be very little which requires understanding in order to appreciate. However, architecture is an example of art which does benefit from both creativity and practicality. Therefore, some knowledge about architectural techniques and space planning will prove to be beneficial, but still may not be essential. There will still likely be a tradeoff between creativity and conformity however. Other examples such as physics and medicine are built upon the foundations of past inventors, theorists, and experimentalists. Engineering is completely centered around the application of science discovered by others. Contributions in some fields of academic endeavor favor knowledge about past achievements while other areas may benefit from ignorance about past achievements which may only encourage conformity. • • ——————————————— "Government funding of the arts threatens the integrity of the arts." • • • Government funding of the arts can threaten the integrity of the arts if the government supports certain art themes over others. Artists enjoy expressing artistic creativity, however their creativity could be severely limited if they were only allowed to produce arts with specific types of themes. Art is often used to express ideas, government funding for the arts translates into certain ideas being expressed over others. • During World War II, US government made posters to support general themes of signing up for the military and to encourage people to support crop rationing through "victory gardens". It seems acceptable to pay artists to create these posters. However, Soviet Russia forced all artists to create art with specific political messages, usually endorsing communist ideals and spreading communist propaganda. The question of who decides which works of art to support must also be addressed. Congressmen and legislators will support their own quirky notions of art, subject to religious overtones while it would be foolish to have people vote on which artwork to support, because even through voting, some preliminary options need to be established to vote on. • ——————————————— "Young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition." • • • • Many people occupy themselves by seeking the instant gratification that comes with fame and recognition. In reality though, few people seeking fame or recognition rarely become famous. The wealthiest person in the US, Bill Gates, was not motivated exclusively by fame and recognition, but instead was motivated by learning about computers at a very young age. The most successful scientists such as Einstein and Steven Hawkings are not associated with the pursuit of fame and recognition. There certainly is evidence that people seek fame and recognition. Many students devote more time to sports than academics. Shows such as American Idol certainly appeal to the dreams and desires of a specific audience. Fame and recognition are really just for people who do not feel fulfilled and are unsure about how to attain fulfillment. Fame and recognition are also questionable ends. Many celebrities who have attained their dreams of becoming famous and recognized miss the privacy they once had and go to extreme lengths and inconveniences to avoid being recognized. • • ——————————————— "In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important discoveries." • • • It is hard to see how this claim could possibly be true since the expert knows more than the beginner. Whatever the case may be, there are other more important factors such as intelligence and motivation which will determine the overall success of an individual. Some Hollywood movies such as Happy Gilmore and Big illustrate examples of a beginner entering a new field and becoming incredibly successful overnight. In Happy Gilmore, the star of the film experienced difficulties with his hockey career and randomly stumbled upon golf. He was discovered by a retired golfer and with practice, became very successful at golfing. Big illustrated a similar situation, a child who wanted to grow up and attain the freedoms enjoyed by adults magically achieved his wish and became a successful lawyer. However, these examples are not realistic and based more on fantasy than real-life examples. • • • In the academic world, it is the experts rather than the beginners who are performing research. Granted, some of these beginners will go onto become experts, it is hard to see how they are more likely than their teachers to make important discoveries. ——————————————— "Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customs and ethics." • • • Technologies do not determine ethics as technology and science in itself is not an ethical matter. It is the politics of how these technologies are managed and funded which determine the ethics. Consider stem cell research and nuclear technologies. The science behind splitting atoms or altering the genetic makeup of an organism is in many cases not controversial. Chemotherapy uses nuclear technology to eradicate cancer. Many food sources are genetically engineered for enhanced efficiency and have been for decades. These areas do not receive much philosophical or political interest. Certain extensions of stem cell and nuclear technologies are very controversial - there are fears, perhaps not completely justified, of some people developing a genetic master race of elite people or a genetic underclass of slaves. There are concerns of how nuclear weapons will be managed. But in both cases, technology itself does not determine social customs and ethics. It the concerns of how technologies will be used that influence ethics. Social customs is a different matter than ethics. Some social customs seek to regulate cell phone usage in movie theaters and at other public events. However, again, it is not the technology or the cell phone which invented these conventions, it is instead the preferences of the majority which are satisfied. Ultimately, technologies are just applications of science to solve a given problem. Medical technologies have been developed such as vaccines to fight infectious diseases. Some of these cures were discovered accidentally such as Henry Flemming's discovery of penicillin. However, it was the doctors and practitioners who decided to use these cures to prevent people from dying that decided the ethics. Technology in itself has no ethical content, how the technology is used by humans relates to ethics and social customs. • • • • ——————————————— "Leaders are created primarily by the demands that are placed upon them." • • Many leaders are created by the demands placed upon them. New York mayor Rudolph Gulliani is an example of someone who lead effectively during a time of national crisis. His legacy and reputation will be remembered more by most people from his actions during the short time after September 11th compared to the rest of his political career. Other examples in politics such as Abraham Lincoln support the idea that effective leaders are illustrated in times of crisis. However, I would argue that the characteristics of a great leader were formed in these leaders discussed above much earlier than the time of crisis. The crisis only tested their abilities and allowed them to demonstrate their leadership qualities. All accomplishments of the time cannot be attributed completely to one leader, but also • • • the people supporting the leader. • If the above statement were true, then anyone could become a better leader in the business world by simply placing higher demands on them. However, this is more likely to only increase stress which will adversely affect management performance. For example, an assembly plant manager may not become a better leader by being told to produce more products given the same resources held at present. ——————————————— "College students should be encouraged to pursue subjects that interest them rather than seek programs that promise entry into the job market." • • Statement neglects the fact that some students pursue subjects which interest them and also promise entry into the job market. Some of the fields in engineering which have the best job prospects upon graduation -availability of jobs and starting salary - are very difficult majors, highly competitive requiring lots of time. Computer science at my former university was the most difficult major to gain entry into, high GPA requirement and lowest acceptance rate of all majors on campus. Since these majors are so difficult, students will most likely need to be interested in the field in order to stay competitive. It is doubtful that relying only on job opportunities after college will provide sufficient motivation for most students to stay competitive in these fields. The author is also placing high stress on pursuing subjects which are most interesting -- which I think is generally good advice. But what if the applicant desires to retire as early as possible. If the applicant really desires such a goal, then the applicant would be best suited to pursue a program of study which will enable him or her to do that. Another example would be someone who wants to provide a high income to support his or her family. There are other competing interests and only so much time in life to accomplish goals. Priorities must be made. • • • • ——————————————— "Most people think that their deeply held values are the result of rational choice, but reason often has little to do with the way people form values." • • • • • • • Values are developed through experience. Someone who suffered through an economic depression will tend to value employment and avoid over-consumption. Someone who survived a war will most likely realize the need for peaceful conflict resolution. Someone who suffered through cancer will most likely realize the need for cancer research. Hard to define morality and values, most generally accepted to be those principles which maximize happiness and minimize suffering. Values could be based on self-interest and may change over time. In order for values to be consistent, they must be reasonable, even if they were not born explicitly through reason. • After suffering through an illness, some may place more value in helping others. The value of helping others can also be derived through reason, no human is completely independent and at some point in their lives, they will require assistance from others. Old age even makes independent people dependent on others. So helping others is a simple value that can be rationally derived or born out of experience. It is hard to determine how values originate. • ——————————————— "In any academic area or professional field, it is just as important to recognize the limits of our knowledge and understanding as it is to acquire new facts and information." 1. Pros: 1. Medical professionals, lawyers, and business people must deal with risks and uncertainties 1. Learning how to accommodate these limitations is just as important as risk itself 2. Risk and uncertainty can often not be obviated by any amount of knowledge 1. Gathering more financial knowledge may only lead to more confusion 2. Cons: 1. How can we know the limits of knowledge until we have thoroughly tested the limits through empirical observation? 2. Opposed to scientific method – we can only know what we observe 1. Example: physics, better understanding of the nature of matter through increased precision of measurement 3. Two levels of understanding – the facts we gather from experiments vs. understanding what these facts mean 4. In professional sports -- a "professional field", it is more important to gain a thorough understanding of the rules and techniques regarding a given sport than it is to determine the limits of knowledge and understanding, which do not exist as the game has already been defined and there are no areas of ambiguity in the rules. Although some calls of violations to the rules of the game may be questioned, the rules of the game are perfectly defined. 5. Conclusion: A more precise definition of knowledge is needed. ——————————————— "The concept of 'individual responsibility' is a necessary fiction. Although societies must hold individuals accountable for their own actions, people's behavior is largely determined by forces not of their own making." 1. Moral accountability and human equality depend on the existence of some form of individual responsibility. 1. Lack of accountability results in lawless society 1. Exception for psychos 2. Too much forgiveness, too much tolerance of bad behavior 2. We are faced with many choices, some are undesirable Conclusion: There may be evidence to support scientific determinism. economics and social studies 3. Default to the more humanist free will theory 4. irrational fears of creating a master race 1. Genetic dispositions do exist – some are more inclined than others towards certain behavior 1. Understand oneself. Many fear genetic engineering. 1. and other forms of subjective intellectual development 2.3. Personal view – set a minimum requirement of classes for a degree. True education is more than career preparation. tenacity." 1. In other types of jobs. individual competition. ——————————————— "Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student's field of study because acquiring knowledge of various academic disciplines is the best way to become truly educated. Teamwork requires cooperation. 4. until then assume free will out of convenience." 1. Computer scientists and researches must collaborate to reach their common goals 3. language study. Managers stress cooperation and whatever it takes to get a project completed on time. Some may assert that no student can be truly educated without literature. Businesses involved with production of products using complex processes 2. Some jobs depend on the ability of co-workers to corporate 1. research labs 3. and the physical world better 2. Political science needs history. Students must not overextend themselves – jack of all trades. which motivates people much more than individual competition does. media. society better. Entrepreneurship and sales – people competitive by nature . ——————————————— "People work more productively in teams than individually. Salespeople 2. Most college freshman are unsure of what to major in. The best approach depends on the job 2. Need to obtain mastery of field 1. Mastery of any field requires knowledge in others 2. master of none 4. grant electives to be taken within the major or elsewhere – let the student decide. communications 3. Computer engineering tied into other fields. and ambition are keys to productivity 1. Manhattan Project. Anthropologist needs chemistry and geology 4. fine arts. Deterministic view of the world – today's actions influence tomorrow's decisions 1. should be exposed to many fields 5. Lawyers 4. but different problems. but I question who determines how much benefit a given program can bring and how accurately the results of such research can be predicted. Employees who are looking to enhance their careers are concerned about performance reviews and work to achieve greater results than their peers. • • • ——————————————— . competition will allow more work to get done. Politics intervenes in some areas where it the issues would be best left to the judicial system. Overall productivity depends on willingness to cooperate. 5. Politics can make decisions which can drastically change an individual's life. As consumers. the husband ordered doctors to disconnect her feeding tube so that she would eventually die due to lack of nutrition. Cooperation is more crucial for organization's long-term productivity than individual competition 1. when city planning decides to build a new highway. partners. Entrepreneurs rely on cooperation of their subordinates. possibly for worse. and colleagues 5. the current land owners who own land where the road is to be constructed are forced to give up their land for what may be minimal or inadequate compensation for the sake of convenience to the benefit of the rest of society. Deals with which programs are funded and by how much – based on the expected results of such research and the amount by which society benefits. in some areas where employees are working on similar. The Florida governor soon became involved and the issue became political. Although their aims might be questionable.3." • • • Political decisions and activities do affect all aspects of people's lives. For example." • Judging art by standards supports conformity and can stifle creativity. In the interest of having inexpensive products. we certainly emphasize competition. This seems logical. During a recent trial over the assisted suicide of a Floridan resident who went into coma. ambition can motivate. so can common sense of mission. they have a responsibility to establish standards by which works of art can be judged. Competition among sales people can turn into jealousy and unethical behavior 2. ——————————————— "Although. ——————————————— "It is unfortunate but true that political decisions and activities affect all aspects of people's lives. It has been frequently questioned as to what role politics should play in such a matter. 4. Politics deals with how resources are collected and how resources are distributed. critics who write about the arts tend to deny the existence of any objective standards for evaluating works of art. but gives other people some convenience. 3. Popular films. or political—the only way to succeed is to take a practical. Pragmatic 1. point of view. Seems that politicians just want to achieve or stay in power 2. Popular culture is available outside classroom 2." 1. Academic discipline will serve idealistic student well later in life 2. whereas idealistic views tend to be superseded by simpler. Politics 1. business."Colleges and universities should offer more courses on popular music. Ghandi and Martin King . Cons: 1. music. Pros: 1. idealistic in the sense of a vision which seeks to make the firm more meaningful to the community. Paul McCartney have made a lasting contribution from rather recent pop. John Lennon. and television because contemporary culture has much greater relevance for students than do arts and literature of the past. Sense of mission about one's fascination motivates more participation in classroom 3. more immediate options. Business 1. Students who pursue paths which interest them are more likely to have a meaningful education. Students considered as pragmatic tend not to pursue education for its own sake 2. Need yardstick for measuring art. In every age. Pragmatic behavior guarantees survival. Focus is on optimizing GPA and survive current term 2. Academics 1. some worthwhile art emerges 1. Idealists incite the masses and catalyze revolution 1. Conclusion: Literature and art of the past is more important – need cultural perspective ——————————————— "In any realm of life—whether academic. requires study of the classics as a reference 4. 2. 3. film. social. Without a dream or vision – idealist leadership – company can be lost 3. advertising. rather than an idealistic. Idealistic 1. Pop culture mirrors society's values and impulses 2. and art provides a person with common ground for interacting with other people. 2. Business world shares both – pragmatic in the sense of getting things done." 1. Historical perspective allows us to more fully appreciate art of today 3. Studying current popular culture at the expense of past culture can undermine the function of education 2. beliefs. Educators do attempt to determine how the ideals of certain classes of people were formed and how they differed from the ideals held by people of different socioeconomic classes. and values held by people in the past. beliefs.3. but it does not aim to rewrite the past. Educators do attempt to determine the beliefs of people in the past and reasons for why people adopted these given beliefs. An educational environment without grades would promote more genuine intellectual development. Conclusion: Idealism is a requirement for long-term success —————————————— "The pressure to achieve high grades in school seriously limits the quality of learning. Student encouraged by the courage and tenacity of history's great explorers 2." • Education serves to provide facts and meaning behind the facts primarily. Studying stories of courage can provide motivation in daily life 2. grades facilitate learning because it is difficult or impossible to do well on a test without understanding the material. and values people held in the past. Without grades. In some countries. which is what the word "revising" suggests. Grades serve as an indicator to judge students applying for jobs and later schooling. education is a process that involves revising the ideas. grades mean much more than they do in the US. Education does serve to explain why people might have held certain beliefs and ideals. some students would not study at all and would eventually become burdens to society. History provides inspiration 1." ——————————————— "For better or worse. With no measure of progress. Innumerable lessons for living . Education does not serve to revise ideas. they will most likely do well on exams. especially among students who take pride in their GPAs and compete against each other for the highest score on a test. If a student is dedicated to really understanding something. Grades can facilitate learning. Even students who are motivated only by grades still learn much about their field of interest. Author goes too far to claim that it seriously limits the quality of learning. In this sense. there is no standard for academic progress. • • ——————————————— "The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives." 1." • • • • • Pressure to achieve high grades in school can create stress for most students which is counterproductive to learning and unhealthy. • ——————————————— "Governments should provide funding for artists so that the arts can flourish and be available to all people. Grades in other countries can determine the quality of education that a student receives. Bullshit about how inventions have improved everyday tasks 1. Other influences are present. guide. Critical analysis and skepticism 2. Creating reflective ideals 4. Study of history allows us to be more human. Mainstream media 1. Conclusion: History can inspire. More significant factors in society which favor thought control 1. Historical appreciation of inventions which facilitate everyday tasks 2. 1. Mainstream is more dominant 3. Young students taught not to question authority. College education affords students cultural perspective and a capacity for understanding opposing viewpoints 1. Addressing and legislating moral issues 1. Appreciate freedoms present in daily lives 5. Grade school and even high school education involves cultural indoctrination 1. Conclusion: Speaker might be correct with respect to high school and lower. sponsored by legislators and those in power." 1. inform. but not college. 2. Distinguish between mainstream and alternative media 1. Mirror culture's ideas and values 2. Promotes memorization and learning of facts 2. Emphasis is desirable to an extent 1. and nuture. Such influences are minor especially in public university systems 3. Value-clarification and perspective 1." • Best governments protect the fundamental rights of its citizens.1. . System of laws – judicial decisions carry the weight of law. Avoiding mistakes of past 1. Prohibition 3. think critically for themselves 2. ——————————————— "The true strength of a country is best demonstrated by the willingness of its government to tolerate challenges from it's own citizens. College curriculum is influenced by benefactors 1. What does this mean? Should “being more human” be an objective we should strive for??? ——————————————— "It is primarily through formal education that a culture tries to perpetuate the ideas it favors and discredit the ideas it fears. Government must therefore be concerned primarily with protecting the rights of its citizens. government must address and if necessary respond to injustices brought up by its people if it is to remain stable. Also. the violators knew that they were not acting ethically. • • . Sometimes challenges to a government's constitution can literally divide a nation. A government united around a common cause can hold people together and become stable. but instead embraced its freedoms as a source of strength. it is unclear that an ethics class will make people more ethical. even though divided by North and South together. During the 1960s MLK challenged the United States constitution in regards to the status of African-American rights. toleration is not necessarily a desired trait as toleration implies that nothing is changed. eventually the American people caused officials in government to reform for equality and uphold fundamental rights to freedom already enjoyed by the majority of Americans. The Civil War is such an example where several Americans died over the issue of slavery. citizens will oppose those individuals who challenge their rights through radical challenges to government. due to finite time and financial resource constraints. For example. • • • • ——————————————— "All students should be required to take at least one course in ethics. a country cannot simply tolerate challenges that affect the rights of other citizens. For this reason. As Abraham Lincoln once stated. I would argue that a countries ability to remain resolute in its principles during a trial or time of struggle is the most effective indicator for the strength of a country. Although some of these demonstrations erupted into civil disobedience and riots. However. ethics is less relevant in the profession. 2001 in America. It is true that there will occasionally be challenges from radical citizens who join or form cults such as the KKK or Heaven's Gate. However. Other examples include Nazi Germany where its people remained firm in their goal amongst horrible atrocities where rotting bodies were thrown in the streets. he realized that perhaps the only thread that held America.to preserve or abolish slavery." • • Author places a high value on ethics. There have also been ethical concerns in government such as Watergate and the recent admission by the Secretary of Defense that phone calls are being monitored as part of a Homeland Security effort.• • If the fundamental rights of citizens are being protected. at least in the short term. Consider September 11th. Since no government is perfect. was unity around a common mission -. "A house divided cannot stand". America was not overcome by panic and turmoil as some terrorists had anticipated. In some fields of academic pursuit. Rather. I agree that there are benefits to taking a course in ethics. I am willing to submit that in the cases of the most serious ethical violations. The true strength of a country is demonstrated by its ability to remain true to its beliefs when being tested. other classes may more closely align with the student's intellectual goals. However. even if taking the course means a decreased emphasis on academic subjects. The author may be advising that more students take a course in ethics due to an increase in corporate financial fraud in recent history. the radical views that these people seek to spread will never take hold if the government provides the fundamental rights to which its citizens are entitled. but this does not mean that the writer cannot invest as much time into the e-mail compared to a paper letter.there have been proportionally fewer cases of ethical violations by symphony violinists compared to people in investment banking. E-mail conversations however can be less polite than face-to-face conversations if the people communicating do not know each other. The transmission time of an electronic mail may be instant. an e-mail address may be no more personal than a license plate number. Another form of emerging computer communications is the instant messenger. • • • • ——————————————— "In many countries it is now possible to turn on the television and view government at work. but it still lacks the personal connection similar to e-mail." 1. Instant messenger applications allow for a real-time conversation. So more thoughtful sentences can be arranged compared to telephone communication where the two parties understand each other word-by-word instead of phraseby-phrase. the more society will benefit. There is still something more personal to hearing another person's voice or seeing their handwriting on a piece of paper than receiving snippets of text exchanged through cyberspace. but there are other equally-valuable courses as well and the net overall benefit of taking such a course over all other options remains to be proven. The encouraged "impulsiveness" of a computer communications medium varies widely from email to real-time voice conversation. but that some careers have had fewer ethical issues than others. an e-mail to a stranger may be no more thoughtful than a conversation with a telemarketer. etc—that are televised." • • Instant communication systems may encourage people to form hasty opinions and give quick replies. where the two chatting parties can send short messages to each other. And lacking the human connection. Instant messengering therefore allows more thoughtful conversation than an informal talk. well-reasoned points of view. Archival functions . Watching these proceedings can help people understand the issues that affect their lives. • Author goes too far by insisting that all students take a class in ethics. This is similar to how many drivers on the road are especially rude to each other and would act differently if they realized that the person they were honking at was actually their neighbor or co-worker. but not necessarily more thoughtful or well-reasoned. The more kinds of government proceedings—trials. but each fragment of text is not revealed until the user selects to send it. More personal. I will admit that it is a valuable course. but the amount of deliberation one invests into a reply is completely up to the user. ——————————————— "Instant communication systems encourage people to form hasty opinions and give quick replies rather than take the time to develop thoughtful. So some computer communication channels allow for more thoughtful conversation compared to face-to-face meetings. This is not to say that violinists are more ethical on average. Benefits of access to government proceedings via television 1. debates. meetings. E-mail allows more time for a thoughtful response compared to a face-to-face meeting or phone conversation in which the replies must be given immediately for effective communication. Similar to driving in public. Allow for remote viewing 3. Diet pills. exploring history is . 4. Ads may help people feel better temporarily. ——————————————— "The purpose of many advertisements is to make consumers want to buy a product so that they will 'be like' the person in the ad. but not long-term. Cons: 1. 1. 1. televised coverage pertains more to marketing as a public relations event 3. Successful people may allow unsuccessful people to feel pathetic about their accomplishments. Genuinely successful people would not attribute these items as contributing to their success. Most ads portray a model whose life is enhanced by a given product. Budweiser frogs 2. Watching government proceedings as a substitute for active involvement 3. May cause health troubles 3. Viewer cannot voice opinions 2. cosmetics 1. Deodorant commercials. 1.1. etc. Possible to view governments of other cities. Practice of suggesting a product will help one become more like the model in the product is probably effective. commercials dealing with impending indigestional events. Some ads do the opposite to suggest that their product will help one not be like the model in the ad. but does not make the consumer feel better. actually makes consumer feel worse for failure. ——————————————— "When we concern ourselves with the study of history. inadequacies. Conclusion: Overall helpful as long as people do not become too lazy. 1. we become storytellers. True business of government may take place behind closed doors. Luxury cars and clothing 1. 2. nations at work 4. they are probably effective for some product types 3. Convey body language and other clues 2. Because we can never know the past directly but must construct it by interpreting evidence. There are exceptions. Since these ads still exist." 1. Television proceedings can be useful supplements 2. Watching television is a passive experience 1. old people with bladder problems. Related to socioeconomic status 1. This practice is effective because it not only sells products but also helps people feel better about themselves. Conclusion: This advertising works. etc. Creative writing and arts do require some cognitive ability 2. Conclusion: Historians interpret. Historians are not granted artistic license 1. Differentiation between historian." ——————————————— "Some educational systems emphasize the development of students' capacity for reasoning and logical thinking. archivist. Helps create fuller understanding of history 4. mathematics 2. and journalist 1.more of a creative enterprise than it is an objective pursuit. consensus." 1. All historians are storytellers. Justice. Archivist and journalist are responsible for preserving fact and evidence to the historian 2. Emotions invite irrational thought 1. social science also should not rely on emotions 1. Reason and logic are better deterrents to war and tyranny 4. history. but students would benefit more from an education that also taught them to explore their own emotions. equality 3. Historian pieces together facts provided to construct history 1. Reason = communication. and compromise 3. Talk shows show that culture puts too much emphasis on emotions 3. Physical sciences. Suggestion of “storytelling” goes too far 2. Cannot add stuff to the story 5. Speaker is suggesting that we can only know what we experience first-hand 1. Poly sci. Emotions are subjective 4. but they can't make stuff up. Historians will disagree over causes for the same event 1. Historian must interpret 3. ——————————————— "The worldwide distribution of television programs and advertisements is seriously diminishing the differences among cultures. Emotions has little place in the educational system 1. Too much emphasis on reason and logic may be harmful to the arts 1. Social problems are best solved through cause and effect logic 2. fairness." 1. Must allow for interpretations to achieve differing viewpoints 1. Conclusion: The discerning man walks among the common man as among animals ——————————————— . Cons: 1. occupation 1. May be able to one day genetically engineer better people 1. economic growth 9. poverty. Clubs and close groups – signs and rituals 3. ——————————————— "It is through the use of logic and of precise. more defined by marriage. Adults tend to be less reliant on social clubs. When older people retire. Comfort of living has improved with technology 6. a need for these clubs reemerge 3. we have no reference points to indicate how far we have advanced . Some technologies contribute to suffering – nuclear weapons. Computers handle mundane and routine work so humans can focus on bigger things 8. likes and dislikes 2. Without such tools. human nature remains. Acceptance. careful measurement that we become aware of our progress. Information overload – stealing time away from other things 10. Technology cannot change the condition of humanity. Humans are social animals."It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves. Jobs resulting from manufacturing growth. Ghandi 7. children find that they relate more closely to some people than others 1. children begin to understand what they have in common with other kids 1. Computer design allows for greater design efficiency 1. Gender separation 2. Social clubs in high school and college 3. but the overall condition of humanity is no better. Conclusion: Lifestyle has improved. Later in development. violence. and poverty are still with us. Until then we have to rely on people who bear these negative traits mentioned above to alleviate problems of human nature 3. Socialization nurtures childhood mental and psychological development 1. In daycare. Conclusions: Loners are unusual. Technological innovations have taken place. Many technological advances have helped alleviate human suffering 4. due to human nature 2. War. Humans are possessed by a need to belong to a social group of some sort 4. chem warfare 5. No technological solution to enduring problems of war. Shift could be due to a lack of time to participate in leisure clubs 2. environmental pollution 2. and violence. SOCIAL PROGRESS – MLK. ——————————————— "Humanity has made little real progress over the past century or so." 1. behavior." 1. Science 1.or retreated. Video conferencing benefits learning. Political party ownership of legislature? 8. politics. Conclusion: Speaker's assertion applies in many areas. Assess macroeconomic progress 2. New drugs 6. Objective measurement can be used to: 1. but not all. enabling people to participate remotely 2. Students can advance their understanding of humanity by being exposed to other systems of government. and the sciences—will benefit greatly from international influences. and cultures 2. Between increased economic activity – mostly going to firms outside of the country 7. Some areas cannot be quantified. Objective data may not provide a good indicator of progress 1. the arts. Useful for physical well-being 1. Increase in welfare recipients – more compassionate society or failure of educational system? 2. Students benefit from international influences 1. raises are no good if they cannot keep up with cost of living 3. How do we measure political and legal progress? 3. Emotional and psychological well-being cannot be measured 4. Otherwise. Cars depreciate fast 2. body weight 3." 1. Between lower unemployment rate – more jobs. Politics and law are subjective. Computer technology 3. but of lower grade 2. Additional “logic” is needed to distinguish – determining sectors of progress 1. Some measurements need more examination 1." 1. religion. Personal finance 2. there is no doubt that every aspect of society—including education. Exceptions 1. Physical discomfort cannot be measured 5. More lenient gun laws? Anti-abortion laws? 4. blood pressure 2. Useful insight can occur from anyone anywhere . ——————————————— "With the growth of global networks in such areas as economics and communication. 3. Astronomers can transmit data around the world to brainstorm together. etc. genetics 1. Conclusion: Education and science may benefit. Global culture could render most art more or less the same 2. Arts and politics may be better off separated. Soviets tried this in the 1920 2. Too much globalization and sharing ideas could result is loss of cultural identity – the author thinks this is an important sociological and psychological need 4. Steven Hawkings – sociology 4. Some separation needed to preserve diversity 3. Who decides which areas of research to fund? 1. Pooling economic resources – fight cancer. medical technology. but rather the ideas and discoveries that are encountered on the way to the goal." ——————————————— "When research priorities are being set for science. No significant scientific accomplishments resulted during that time / govt. industry. Europe's countries are becoming economically interdependent – suggesting unified monetary system 1. Cutting edge research with unknown results often proves most useful 2. Researchers are best at what they are interested in 1. remotely 3. the social sciences. Waste of talent to deprive one of his/her motivation 2. Biotechnology. Political differences may cause one country to pull out and disrupt the financial system 2.2. education. Global networking renders security systems more vulnerable 2. or any other area. They destroyed impeding forces to their research selective agenda 3. Hard to predict which research avenues will lead to the greatest contribution to society 1. "In any field of endeavor—the sciences.—it is not the attainment of a goal that matters. Politics 1. Hard to predict long term needs . Arts 1. Demoting these would be foolish considering the immediate benefits 2. and profound should continue to be a high priority 1. more beneficial than working independently 3. the humanities. Scientific research whose societal benefits are immediate. predictable. the most important question to consider is: How many people's lives will be improved if the results are successful?" 1. Humans mess up the planet and it is our duty to somewhat compensate the animals for our virus-like traits. Attempts to legislate morality end up failing 1. 3. If we know what steps are needed to prevent a breed of animals from going extinct and we can take those steps. History has helped us learn the effectiveness of addressing certain social issues. Different methods of dealing with the mentally ill. No justification for this standard 2." 1. 2. Conclusion: Studying the past is of some value – helps show the futility of legislating morality. Cons: 1. Racial prejudice has always been with us 5. especially at a great cost in money and jobs. Thus. there is no justification for society to make extraordinary efforts. Humans can eradicate species for our own survival.then we probably should. 2. There are no solutions to today's social problems. Prohibition 2. Can't do much about social problems 1. More money and jobs it would cost to save a certain species. animals depend on each other for survival 2." 1. Tough on crime approach does not work 4. Pros: 1.. Let the weaker die off to make room for the stronger. the lower the . to save endangered species. processes. all have tradeoffs 6. Crime and violence might always exist 1. Thousands of animals go extinct every year due to human and non-human factors 1. Humans favor animals with human-like traits 1. many species have become extinct as a result of natural. only alternate ways of coping with them. ——————————————— "So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present. Beyond our ability to save them all 2. particularly moral ones. on a societal level 2. Which standards dictate which species are worth saving and which are not? 1. Let selfishness be the deciding factor 1. Federal government attempts to regulate porn 3. Conclusion: Speaker goes too far by concluding that some areas are not worth pursuing. ——————————————— "At various times in the geological past. rather than human.5. Keep the animal kingdom in balance. Live and let die – it's the Darwin way. ——————————————— "The past is no predictor of the future. ——————————————— "We owe almost all our knowledge not to people who have agreed. but at expanding human progress – making human life better – reduce suffering in the world by making it safer. instead of making more leisure time available. but to people who have disagreed. instant communication.nuclear technology brought cheap energy as well as destructive weapons. This certainly viewed as science fiction back in the 1900s. the way they talk. Today we can fly across the country in a matter of hours. crime can always be expected to be with us . Overall though. More fastfood. but more work to be done." • • • Ultimately speaker is correct Some trends based on human nature can be expected to extend into the future. few thought flight was possible and it took several days to cross the country. Technology should not be aimed at promoting leisure time. under-race. We use additional free time gained by increased efficiency to complete more work 3." ——————————————— "It is possible to identify a person's politics within a very short time of meeting him or her. Employers expectations are higher – expectations rise with technology 4. imperfect society. Conclusion: Difficult to make choices about what lives and dies. we went from the first manned flight on an Atlantic beach to the first human walking on the moon. In 1900. their friends. more childless professionals 2. though. So justify some level of animal exploitation by human self interest. Technology requires our time and attention to learn 5. greed. Technology can be expected to both help and challenge society . Genetic engineering looks to alleviate a lot of genetic and medical problems. has become more threatening over time through improved weapons. Ironically. what they eat—reflects their political beliefs. could lead to a super-race. faster transportation-all of these recent developments are designed to save time. In about 60 years.imperfect people." 1. Everything about people—their clothes. 6. these developments have contributed to a pace of human affairs that is more rushed and more frantic than ever before. Leisure is not the most noble aim." ——————————————— "Instant foods. Conclusion: More efficiency. Technology has enhanced our efficiency 1. Humans are more pressed for time 1. Worked more in the 1960s compared to today 2. many things cannot be predicted. • • .priority 3. Poverty. War has always been with us. Some people's goals and accomplishments are undesirable to other people. Example being that the earth is the center of the universe 4. however. ——————————————— "Society's external rewards are no measure of true success. True success can be measured only in relation to the goals one sets for oneself. We ignore. Wishes and desires yield to fact – scientific evidence. Inclination. We would like to be immortal 3. Historical facts are subject to interpretation and therefore error 3. mind-reading. or the dictates of our passions.denial 1. quantifiable data 2. Conclusion: Facts are stubborn things. misunderstand. . ——————————————— "It is often asserted that the purpose of education is to free the mind and the spirit. and overlook facts to some extent. Psychic. • • ——————————————— "Facts are stubborn things. our memory may deceive 2. formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free. etc. They cannot be altered by our wishes.• Ultimately. Many theories were based on personal desires 1. We cannot know that which we did not experience first hand 1. Approaches are unscientific 2. Many millionaires spend less money during the course of their life compared to more financially mediocre people. Historical facts can still be edited by inventing versions that suit our inclinations 3. Some people seek fulfillment through scientific research while others seek to become the next white trash pop star. Some people are fulfilled by great athletic ability. our inclinations. some people are fulfilled by great social or engineering accomplishments. Hard to distinguish between scientific fact and theory 1. and passion cannot alter fact. 2. some people are fulfilled by religion and their ideas of the afterlife. We engage in self-deception to cover the facts ." • • True success is fulfillment." 1. desire. And even then. nothing can predict the distant future. People become fulfilled through different pathways. Science 1. In reality." • The benefit of a formal education is to empower people to think for him or herself while becoming more aware of the surrounding world. What are societies external rewards? Fame or recognition? Some people may not want these and would prefer to have their private lives. ." • • Technology has enhanced our productivity. 1. Technology has enabled humans to be more connected. Too much reason and logic may stifle creativity. • • • • • ——————————————— "Technology is a necessary but not always a positive force in modern life. air conditioning -these were all "state-of-the-art" at some point in time. organ transplants. But for every seemingly arbitrary setup there is a theory underlying its organization (periodic table). For example.filtered water. Aircraft vs. but with less personal thought and consideration Instant Messenger. both the good and the bad. Unfortunately.pacemakers. Political beliefs can be challenged in the same way. may question some of the beliefs which he or she had previous relied on. Children without sufficient opportunities for healthy interaction may become anti-social 1. one is simply becoming more rational. train for business trips. Consider air pollution caused by automobiles. cancer therapies. personal face-to-face meeting or visit. we have not yet learned how to raise children who can help bring about a better society.even things taken for granted by mainstream people would be consider luxuries by Amish -. Technology is considered essential for quality of life -. Some technology has negative side effects which were not considered at time of invention / adoption. but in reality. 2. May help children grow up to be good leaders.• Formal education is useful for dispelling false beliefs and causing one to question existing beliefs and prejudices. So by removing beliefs which developed uncritically. Some technology can be used for bad purposes. 2. Some elements of education may encourage conformity of thinking -. Main flaw with the statement above is that it will always be true – we will always be able to bring about a “better” society because it will never be perfect. Socialization is not the most important factor. In regards to spirit. weapons of mass destruction. The the seemingly less-practical teaching of facts prepares students for real-world application." 1. Medical technology saves lives . a Christian after examining the details of Darwin's theory or after encountering scientific knowledge about how the universe was formed. education can seem to stifle previous beliefs which one might have considered to be a form of freedom. Students studying in the US can speak with family thousands of miles away whenever desired. All elementary math theorems can be proven.there may seem to be little room for questioning mathematical rules or the organization of the periodic table. e-mail vs. education can seem like thought-control. Some technology allows for more contact. School playground is a good example where children learn about social behavior. Tolerant and respectful members of society. • • • • • ——————————————— "How children are socialized today determines the destiny of society. etc. If we define it in terms of characteristics of tolerance." 1.art blows ——————————————— "The university community consists of three different worlds—the sciences.. Yes. More sympathetic to the rights of “x” 3. Theodore Roosevelt – physical hardships overcome by intellectual curiosity and will to succeed. Attitudes and ideas of the prevailing culture .. ancient pyramids and cathedrals rise upward toward the stars 2. Physicists design the optical • .. the humanities. Peacekeeping through international committees 3. Courage from inner convictions despite privileged background and promising career – Mahatma Ghandi 2. Most important architecture of the Renaissance period to honor deities.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society. and the social sciences. Increasing international cooperation 1. and the social sciences. rarely is there meaningful interaction among the sciences. Castles display bruit strength 3. Soviet-US space exploration missions 2. Conclusion: Other factors are more important than socialization in determining success in life. 1. we have achieved a better society over the past century. hope I don't get this question. and tolerant one. literature. respectful. Define better as more civilized. Because each world operates on its own assumptions and has its own special habits of thinking. focus on afterlife 1. Civil engineers may be called in to help with the excavation. Better society is a vague term. Martin Luther King's contribution as a result of religious upbringing 3. music.ahh. No specialization exercises completely in isolation. Theologians may be accessed to determine the significance of religious thoughts deciphered through scrolls.1. More recent emphasis on public health and environmental protection 2. Sky-scrappers for industrial and technological progress 2. Addressing public health care problems 5. 3.. ——————————————— "The arts (painting. Scientific advancement requires the participation of multiple disciplines. the humanities. Linguists will assist in the analysis of hieroglyphics. Archeologists studying ancient remains rely on biochemistry and medical experts for interpretation of bone fragments. there is an impulse to transcend human condition 1. Third parties stressing individual freedoms 4. Electrical and mechanical engineers work on space probes and satellites. In public architecture." • • There are examples of meaningful discourse shared between schools of thought. apparatus of an advanced telescope. Computer scientists might be brought in to help with data analysis.maybe not in all respects. annoying cell phones going off in movie theaters. Folding@Home. Some people such as transhumanists believe the future will be a better place. Many parents try to steer their children through a specific path in life and recommend or perhaps firmly advocate certain professions over others based on income or recognition. • ——————————————— "The problems of modern society have led many people to complain: 'We live in terrible times. Society will never be perfect. social science studies often requires the processing of large amounts of data. I have no idea what it means. Sometimes it is the end rather than the means which are supported. Some people -. But overall. Scientists will turn to philosophers and political scientists for learning about how new discoveries and inventions will change humanity and the way we view life. • • And of course. the "Statement we live in terrible times" is just a reflection on transitory feelings. but the use for such skills are rarely advised. Legislators needed to supply funds to support. They believe that technology will overcome many if not all of the problems we face today. no one today would prefer to live in any other time. Some people may not prefer to life today rather than at other times. on the same day they might have appreciated the beautiful weather. given the choice.the Amish and gothic people may prefer the times of the past over present. Financal specialists and accountants will be brought in to finance the project. Politics – Would you vote for a politician that you can't trust? Science and ethics – Fabricating research to promote an agenda or fuel interest in a specific scientific endeavor.all examples of CS + science projects. • • • ——————————————— "Students should be encouraged to realize that mental agility and rhetorical skill must be accompanied by sincerity and the true conviction of their own beliefs." • • • • This question was intentionally vague. Many people seemed depressed after September 11th. Seti -. Beauty is all around. etc. Many students are pushed to excel in academics and become successful professionals. How these talents are used deserves more consideration. Biochemistry students at my former university developed a joint program with computer scientists to develop a computational biology application. Schools may provide more motivation for students if they can also provide opportunities to use these talents -. some real- • • . Life seems more comfortable today given technology improves the quality of life -. we don't fear being eaten alive by tigers on a daily basis. But had it not been for that one event. People who complain that we are living in terrible times might base most of their decision on recent events or current emotion. It is mostly technology and beliefs which separate the society of today from the society of the past." • • Society is not perfect.' Yet. global warming. These skills are means to an end. Schools work to improve the mental agility and rhetorical skills of students. but not an end itself.internships. some choices are beyond our control even though they seem ingrained as part of our personality or free will 1." 1. appealing choices are more limited 4. Common sense dictates the human free will 1. Suddenly a 30 minute commute turns into a 2 hour commute with no heat or air conditioning. These do not rule out determinism. very rare. People always have choices. Monarchs have used determinism to justify ruling order – caste system 1. but the alternative is more attractive so believe 3.world experience may allow the student to see relevance. Solitary confinement and mental or physical deficiency are only possible exceptions 2. Technology can go further to completely eliminate vehicle emissions . Developing nations may not be able to afford the new technology.medical technology. Some environmental problems such as the proper disposal of nuclear waste are harder to solve through technology. One must feel fulfilled.automobile vs. Catalytic converters reduce emissions and most cities now require regular vehicle checkup." • • Realize why technology embraces technology: technology solves problems. • Realizing real-world applications for these developed talents will contribute to a sense of true conviction in one's beliefs. Loss of choice limited to coma or death 3. This will never happen. cleaner cars are only cleaner because they are equipped with more or newer technology. Genetics / genetic engineering 2. This technology comes at a premium cost. Some feel that life's circumstances leave them with no choice 1. legislation and efforts involving the international community must be exercised to reduce such environmental threats. One solution to problems resulting from the use of technology would be to simply abandon the technology and go back to what humans were doing before. ——————————————— • • • "The absence of choice is a circumstance that is very. ——————————————— "While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology. Some international effort will be required to reduce pollution in these countries. horse. Lack of choice implies predestination 5. Or it can save time .fuel cell. Technology can be used to reduce or eliminate technology. Technology can save lives . Actions based on physical and genetic makeup 1. Genetic engineering raises questions of equality . In some cases. This is a hard question because it is poorly defined. Moral accountability depends on this claim 2. society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems. Bullshit. Under strict determinism. Since the 70s there has been a huge push by government and environmentalists to reduce automobile pollution. Also. in politics. that personal also develops his or her problem solving and learning skills. but it did not involve the exchange of one problem for another.learning how to use a computer. Such knowledge could motivate the user to pursue other related endeavors. One may claim that the user is only wasting time to solve a problem that should not need to be solved. Conclusion: Free will may be somewhat repudiated. In this case. First real ghettos were formed. They realize the benefits that a computer can provide. A business or personal need for data processing could have been met. Exodus from rural areas to cities. Relying too much on technology can create problems if technology fails. ——————————————— "What we call progress is a matter of exchanging one problem for another. It is true that these diseases can be fatal and may seem like the person does not benefit at all. This could be viewed as exchanging one problem for another. some problems are • • • • • . a challenge is subjective. Some problems may best be viewed as opportunities for progress rather than problems lacking any potential benefit. If they live. but provides inspiration for other people. However such a disease may force the victim to evaluate his or her life. Another person can be presented with the same circumstance -. 4. Assume that the computer user learns how to use a computer and obtains a productivity or entertainment value from such knowledge. In learning how to use the computer. But in the view of either party. we have choices which may be influenced by personal and circumstantial biases. In this sense. Even horrible diseases such as cancer can be seen as a problem or a challenge. the user. Finally. consider Lance Armstrong. However. Another example can become apparent if we revisit the case of the computer user above. Atomic energy / atomic bomb. it is common practice to engage in "log-rolling" which is the practice of providing enough incentives for other members of the legislative committee to vote for a given law. from his or her experience has gained knowledge about how to more efficiently operate a useful tool. But the view of a problem vs. Some diseases have strengthened individuals. the computer may become infected with a virus or spyware. but in the process. the user still has an opportunity for personal growth. however. Progress often involves the introduction of new problems. His triumph was not only personal. but can see the challenge as an opportunity for personal growth. the new tool becomes infected and broken. Some people could view learning how to use a computer as simply a problem. But ultimately. then certainly it must be a great relief to have resolved such a moral conflict. However.whatever is easiest to believe. progress was made. Several people have confessed to committing crimes as they lay on their hospital beds uncertain of whether they will live or die. Sacrifices or concessions made in regards to other items off of the agenda will be included to promote the current cause. The computer user can learn about different operating systems and select an operating system which is more immune from such attacks. The point of all the examples above is that some problems provide an opportunity for personal advancement or progress. but they do not wish to invest the time and energy necessary to achieve the benefits." • • • • Industrial revolution – trading productivity for increased pollution and poverty. However. but they provide the foundation for string theory 2. Men after working a long day in the factories would often stop by the saloon and engage in excessive drinking. Government and politics 1. String theory – both quantum and wave theory are inadequate. Most ideas of morality are based on principles of freedom and happiness optimization. but discovery and uncertainty usually lead to mistakes. Wave theory vs. It is mutually agreed that most people want to avoid chaos. Career paths 2." • • Morality is not supposed to be relative -. There is a tendency to redefine morality as morality is never clear and absolute. Conclusions: Mistakes are not absolutely necessary for success. There is no 100% absolute reason as to why it is wrong to kill someone else. Morality based on justice and fairness is better defined. morality is not absolute.traded for others. ——————————————— "Every new generation needs to redefine 'right' and 'wrong' in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time. but morality should never be relative to a time or period. Prohibition tired to impose morality on everyone . Morality is also based on ideas of not inflicting harm on others. Knowledge can be gained. Example of the above is prohibition. Such a movement was based common sterotypes of drinking. spending time away from home.. and wasting money. People point out mistakes of those in power 3. ——————————————— "Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress. There are several theories on morality ranging from philosophical to religious natural law. However. The laws of morality should be consistent with no time- • • • • . Becoming social – awkward social encounters 3. such an action can be supported as immoral because if everyone were to participate in random killing. chaos would erupt. Prohibition 2. Some ideas of morality have though. Personal experience 1. Scientific progress – trial and error 1. suggesting that morality is at least to some degree arbitrary and based on ideas of overall "happiness optimization". Quantum theory – Recognizing inconsistencies and trying to disprove 1. The rules of justice and fairness never change.including those who did not need to be imposed upon. We learn how to walk by falling 2. gambling.it has no bearing on time.." 1. Jurists and legislators must question the fairness of laws and verdicts 3. Relationships 4. Conclusion: Must also account for personal. Animal Rights 2. They are often discontent with their accomplishment no matter how great. Einstein's breakthroughs only required him to address further questions. Slavery 4. Welfare – Anti-Darwinian. Artists and musicians claim their greatest work has yet to arrive 3. but the fact is that personal economic success requires conformity. Neither has a significant advantage . political. Great achievers are by nature ambitious and have high standards required for satisfaction. Achievements can result in discontent at the societal level – hard to predict 1. promotes self-entitled lazy people 2. pollution. and hindsight perspectives. and individual achievements have often resulted in the greatest discontent.dependence. another loses 1. Automobile – false sense of economic status. Manhattan project 2. one country benefits. etc. dependence on the Middle East. 2. ——————————————— "Most people recognize the benefits of individuality. Politics in reference to imperialism – Enslaving other countries. Popular investments tend to be over-priced 2. Great athletes try to break their own records 2. Apparently beneficial products turn out to have consequences 1. Otherwise. political. Work 1. Child proteges who achieved fame early in life often suffer psychological discontent for failing to live up to their earlier success later in life 4. those who claim that morality is relative wish to define morality themselves. Iraq War. Some ideas which seemed great at the time might be painful to bear later 1. Those who invest in areas with more risk stand to reap higher returns 1. Investing 1. • Views on what is right or wrong may vary from person to person. Assembly-lines – alienating factory workers from their work 3. 2. which he was unsuccessful at solving. dependence. ——————————————— "What society has thought to be its greatest social. but remember that not everyone has a consistent system of morality free from prejudice and personal desires." 1." 1. Social Security – Those who contribute the most benefit the least 5. 1. Non-conformists favor consumer industries. . insurance – not industries for the non-conformist 1." 1. Police acquittal – beating of Rodney King 2. Citizens are called to question the relevance and fairness of laws 1. 1992 LA Riots 1. . Free merchandise 2. peaceful protest 2. These challenges do not require masses of people 2. death 2. Laws will fail to evolve otherwise 3. Must be respectful of the law. Apple – Steve Jobs 2. King 2. Rioters questioned the authority of the legal system 1. Heavily regulated – requires people who can deal with systems of regulation 2. Passive acceptance quells innovation and discovery 2. People have a duty to question authority 1. Conclusion: Non-conformists are better investors in the long run. Resulted in increased racial tensions. etc. Some societal harm may result 1. Space and Time 3. finance. property damage. Earth as center of universe 2. Non-conformists may see more opportunities. but the rules of the game are the same 4. Conclusion: Well-being is enhanced by questioning authority. conformists favor more traditional industry. Ghandi. ——————————————— "The well-being of a society is enhanced when many of its people question authority. Challenges must remain peaceful. due to protest 1. death. Consumer-industries where product differentiation and creativity matters. Scientific challenges in face of authority 1. Questioning authority is also necessary for scientific progress 1. The well-being of society depends on challenges to authority 1. Property damage.com commerce 3. Health-care. Darwinian evolution 3. nonconformists have the advantage 1. Ted Turner with new television format 3. Progress in human and animal rights depends on this 1.2. music. Art critic's judgment is limited by narrow confines of old parameters for evaluation 4. Rap music promotes the view of women as sex objects. Challenge the fairness of social conventions which embrace underlying beliefs contrary to one's morality – blacks ride at the back of bus – social convention. films. Firm commitment to an idea requires the utmost confidence in it . music. not art 4. Creative impulse 2. Burning witches at the stake Social roles of women • • ——————————————— "People who are the most deeply committed to an idea or policy are the most critical of it. films. ——————————————— "A crucial test of character is whether one is able to adapt to changing social conventions without sacrificing one's principles. True appreciation occurs at the moment we encounter art 3. Artist's spirit 2. paintings. but also preserving respect.* who gives society something of lasting value.* Criticism tends to undermine and constrain the artist's creativity." 1. etc. etc. Critics can detract from the experience 2. such as novels. one must not uphold for sake of one's own principles. Critics can help us understand and interpret art 1. not the critic. paintings." *those who evaluate works of art. Better served by docents and teachers 2. None of the functions of the critic are of lasting value ——————————————— "It is the artist. Shakespeare was criticized as barbaric for not conforming to neo-classical principles of unity 2. 1. Critic can provide feedback for artists 1.——————————————— "Artists should pay little attention to their critics." *a person who evaluates works of art. such as novels. Art focusing on integrating criticism becomes craft. It's all subjective ultimately 3. True art is the product of an artist's passion 1. Critic's evaluation can show us which art is worth our time 1." • • • Head towards giving more rights to women. Beethoven's music was initially rejected by critics 3. Architectural style may be structurally unsafe 3. but acknowledged equally compelling. Tradition yields to utilitarianism 1. US laws inherited from English principles of equality. forms. ——————————————— . Conclusion: History is build upon. Did not support the use of nuclear weapons in actual war 2. George Washington – all the world's denizens “should abhor war wherever they find it” 1. Many individuals firmly committed to a cause and criticism or restriction of the idea 1. Edward Teller – supported nuclear energy development. competing theory of quantum mechanics 1. Washington played a key role in revolutionary war 2. One cannot have firm confidence if one recognizes flaws 2. Rock and Roll relies on common elements of classic music – twelve-note scale. Latin 2. and elements are based on symmetry. Advocate for peaceful and productive applications 2. and justice 3. Modernization as a variation on tradition – modernism derived from tradition 1. and harmony 2. fairness. Old historic architecture may be leveled to make room for downtown parking lot 2. One must choose between them. Modernization departs from tradition 1. Modern designs.1. Conclusion: Speaker's claim must be tested on case-by-case basis. Many people advocated certain causes. Hitler 4. committed to the idea of gaining military superiority over other countries 1. balance. Bridges 5. Martin Luther King 3. but never criticized any part of them 1. Modernization does not reject tradition 2." 1. similar melodies 4. Suzan B. but rarely shunned. ——————————————— "Tradition and modernization are incompatible. Not all cases support. Individuals most firmly committed to an idea are often the most knowledgeable 2. Einstein – recognized mathematical soundness in theory of relativity. Spent rest of life trying to reconcile 3. Anthony 2. Modern English language is derived from many other languages and traditions – Greek. rhythmic meters. not a good idea to have people too close to natural geysers which spew boiling water tens of feet into the air. It is logical that if more people spent time outdoors in the environment." • • • • • • • Attracting tourists to the wilderness is a good way to encourage support for environmental concerns Many people are unaware of how the environment is changing because they do not see these changes on a daily basis.war. tourism will soon become obsolete. Television has likely sparked an interest in viewing other places – the Travel channel . No decline in tourism noted.the application of stem cell research can have noble aims. Social idealism can lead to trouble in the sense of revolt or civil disobedience -. These areas must be easily accessible. people can now become familiar with a great many places that they have never visited."Many people admire idealism. they may try to turn it into a resort. pollution Some areas and natural parks reserved for wild animals may not be safe for people -. As a result. But it is hard to attract tourists to environmentally sensitive areas without disturbing the surroundings. but funding requires public support Many ideal goals such as social reform would have to be sacrificed if only practical goals are to be pursued." 1. With tourists usually come litter.bears have attacked campers before. but it usually leads to disappointment or trouble. crime. • • ——————————————— "The most practical and effective way to protect wilderness areas is to attract more tourists to these areas through environmentally sensitive projects. People often have a habit of interfering with the environment. then they are likely to gain a deeper connection to what lies beyond they everyday surroundings.Civil War was social reform. roads would need to be developed would would require sacrificing valuable land area for new highway. but to make them accessible. If people really like the area. lack of resources To state that idealism usually leads to disappointment or trouble is a gross generalization Idealism should be encouraged rather than discouraged for the sake of being practical Accomplishing practical goals may often be easier than ideal goals -. • • ——————————————— "Because of television and worldwide computer connections.ideal goals often require other people to subscribe -. Televisions have been around for a long time. Some environmentally-sensitive projects can be beneficial." • • • • • Idealism is often difficult to obtain Elements of the human condition have always been present . With roads come the cars and with cars. 1. but attracting people to an area which is to be preserved is questionable. advertising. television is used by parents to keep their kids occupied 3. Internet price competition facilitates travel 1. ——————————————— "High-speed electronic communications media. Enhances communication with people of other cultures 5. Today. but only being there provides satisfaction. provided they stay within the law. Television provides only one-way communication 1. Computers are interactive by design 1." 1. Purpose of the computer is not solely to obtain information about other cultures and places 1. movies 1. Email provides for distracting e-mails – info. such as electronic mail and television. Not thoughtful and reflective communication 3. Email used to avoid face-to-face encounters 4. Web provides a useful source of information with efficient retrieval 1. Conclusion: Computers tend to inhibit meaningful conversation. service of television is to generate profit through ads 2. Written conversation requires more thought than verbal 3. E-mail facilitates relationships as it is easier than talking face to face 2. A photograph of the Swiss Alps is not the same as being there 3. . online shopping 3.2. distance learning 2. is to make as much money as possible for their companies. tend to prevent meaningful and thoughtful communication. Placing too much responsibility on businesses will lower profits and consequently limit jobs as well as make products more expensive. Conclusion: Internet may provide interest. Overload 1. Web may turn out to be like the television 1. Teleconferencing competes 6." 1. Business travel might decline 1. Humans like to inhabit other places 4. Television used to be more of a social event – families would watch a show and then discuss what they thought of it 2. ——————————————— "The only responsibility of corporate executives. May be just like TV. People need to get away from routine surroundings– dinner. Porn. Content has degraded with time. Tourism is about the sensory experience 2. Conclusion: By maximizing profit. Skepticism is most important for physical sciences 1. Architectural styles are constantly being redefined and improved upon 4. Conclusion: Progress is made out of skepticism ——————————————— "Both parents and communities must be involved in the local schools. Privacy invasions." 1. Law students must question the fairness of existing laws 3. businesses serve not only itself.1. Might be counter productive when it comes to memorizing facts 5. New technology is often ahead of laws which serve to regulate it 1. Society may be worse off overall 2. Students must challenged established styles 2. May pose harm to consumers 1. Businesses owe their existence to society. Labor exploitation over seas 3." . ——————————————— "Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. Businesses enter into a social contract with community – should not harm community 4. By affirming that profit maximization within legal bounds is most ethical behavior. Musicians such as Charlie Parker challenged conventional thought about harmony and melody 3. Arts 1. Wealthier stock holders increase the wealth of the economy 3. but also community and most importantly. Education is too important to leave solely to a group of professional educators. Scientific progress comes about through scientific inquiry 2. Fashon 4. we provide incentive for new individuals to enter the marketplace and deliver competitive products 1. Nations's laws do not extend beyond its boarder 1." ——————————————— "Contemporary society offers so many ways of learning that reading books is no longer very important. Internet commerce is mostly unregulated 2. Sociology and political science students must challenge the status quo 1. government. Copernicus challenged the assumption that the earth was the center of universe 2. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively. intellectual property violations 2. Otherwise oppression goes unchecked 2. ——————————————— The arts (music. Difference between observation and interpretation 1. Subjective interpretation of time and space led to false assumptions 2. Car accident 2. Francis Bacon – all truths must be based on empirical observation 2. 1. dance. Police brutality 3. Observation can be objective given sensory inputs of similar quality 1." ——————————————— "The human mind will always be superior to machines because machines are only tools of human minds. visual arts. 2.) are vitally important to students' education and should therefore receive as much emphasis as mathematics. reading and other mainstream subjects. Cannot think of a machine that is not a tool. Much faster at number crunching . Humans create machines to carry out specific functions. it is always guided by the observer's expectations or desires. Video Games 2. etc. Controversial sports play 2." 1. our lives are controlled by the society in which we live. Einstein proved otherwise 1." ——————————————— "There is no such thing as purely objective observation. Conclusion: Observation is confused with interpretation. Certain parts of the machine are superior 1. Interpretation is the subjective processing of objective reality. time and space were assumed to be linear – mathematically.——————————————— "Choice is an illusion. Toys 2. Interpretation can be influenced by desires 1. 1. science. These machines would not exist if human minds had not created them. A jury rarely arrives at a complete verdict even though they witnessed the same trial 1. Machines are tools of human minds. Human kind as the center of the universe 1. Before Einstein. Galileo exposed the biased nature of this claim 3. Experience shows that we often disagree about observations 1." 1. Even to entertain us. All observation is subjective. In reality. Conclusion: Superiority depends on what is valued. no emotional response 4. Political 1. Honda Robot 2. At what level does a machine cease being a machine? ——————————————— "The most essential quality of an effective leader is the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives. Stubborn adherence to objectives may gain short-term power. many websites have the user enter words in a picture to prevent computer “bots” from creating accounts 3. current machines cannot cope with ambiguous information 2. Computer may become more like humans in terms of awareness and comprehension 4. Other parts are not superior 1. Pattern recognition is very poor. do not engage in independent thought 3. Effective political leadership involved with means a person uses to build and maintain power 2. With greater accuracy 2. There can be some tolerated opposition to personal objectives. Social leaders such as King and Ghandi must remain true to what they believe 2. but could ultimately lead to a loss of power 1. Advancement in artificial intelligence – computers are becoming more human like 1. but too much opposition will result in loss of power 3. Any leader who is quickly and easily influenced by shifts in popular opinion will accomplish little. Social Leadership 1.1. it is no longer possible for a society to regard any woman or man as a hero. Media is for-profit 1. People prefer to hear about the misfortunes of others rather than accomplishments ." 1. The reputation of anyone who is subjected to media scrutiny will eventually be diminished. Increased intellect – Computer beat world's greatest chess player at his own game 3. They cannot be hypocrites otherwise they would lose support ——————————————— "In this age of intensive media coverage. Other duties may include not inflicting intentional harm on employees or community 3. Effective leadership is that which achieves the goals of profit maximization 2." 1. purely logical. Business leadership 1. Take steps to alleviate society's problems 2. " ——————————————— "Most people live. Media gives public what they want 2. People relying on mainstream media are dumb so they cannot see beyond this flawed assumption 3. Movie Big – young boy becomes high-powered marketing executive due to his insights 2. in a very restricted circle. Need to understand how language is used 3. Thus. developed highly specific methods for transporting people through space. Students of the arts need to learn techniques that they can use to apply to their arts 2. In cases of damage award.2. People who lack experience are free to imagine what is possible and thus can approach a task without constraints of established habits and attitudes. Children can provide insights and valuable approaches to adult problems 1. Do not take the assertion too far 1. Mark Twain needed to experience life in order to achieve inspirations . not star-gazing 4. Science fiction writer Jules Verne. Publishers exploit this. Thomas Edison continued to invent until old age 4. Some celebrities have won lawsuits against publications for libel 1. Jules Verne though of these methods a century earlier before they were developed by engineers after research 3. Many exceptions 1. However." ——————————————— "Sometimes imagination is a more valuable asset than experience. Most scientific breakthroughts come about after long and hard research. the conditions in which people find themselves have been largely established long before people become aware of them. Creative writing is not completely arbitrary 1. whether physically or morally. People presume that all heros have some sort of character flaw 1. They make use of a very limited portion of the resources available to them until they face a great problem or crisis. Mozart to McCartney 2. the reputation is never completely untarnished 4. the concept of personal responsibility is much more complicated and unrealistic than is often assumed. Conclusion: People who rely on mainstream media are stupid. Later accomplishments generally tend to build on earlier ones 5. Most gifted composers are young and inexperienced 1. Once tarnished." 1. ——————————————— "One often hears about the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives. few people can regain their reputation 1. Duke Ellington continued to create great compositions late in his life 2. ——————————————— "In any given field. Technology has made society more vulnerable – Year 2K issue. technology complicates everyday living. ——————————————— .need to be noticed and admired despite shortness 2. once can only disprove it being a leader who genuinely is not motivated by the desire to be different – hard to disprove. ——————————————— "Over the past century.1. making them feel more remote to their creations. computer network security is often compromised. cell phone. the leading voices come from people who are motivated not by conviction but by the desire to present opinions and ideas that differ from those held by the majority. New theories were derived mathematically and not sought for the sake of just being different 5. a drive to be noticed can be the primary motivation 1. 4. but experience is usually required for any scientific or literature breakthough. Bob Dylan. Since it deals with the motivation of leaders. Computers are becoming more userfriendly." • • • • • • Technology has mostly been used to make people's lives more comfortable . but no direct evidence conclusively in support. Comics would not exist without experiencing life 6. Picasso and Warhol who deviated from established ideas of art composition 2. but are still difficult and frustrating if valuable data is lost. The arts 1. Napolean and Mussolini's insatiable lust for power as “short-man's complex” . Technology can allow people to live longer and in some cases save lives -. Ghandi 2. Many other political leaders are driven instead by what they believe 1. Conclusion: Assertion is somewhat unfalsifiable.smoke detector. Conclusion: Imagination can serve as an important catalyst. GPS Technology associated with the assembly line has separated factory workers from their products. the most significant contribution of technology has been to make people's lives more comfortable. Martin King 3. Phone and e-mail solicitation. In terms of political power.air conditioning In some cases. Facilitates identity theft. Some presidential historians describe Clinton as being more driven to be great than to accomplish anything specifically great 2. Physical progress – Innovation and progress results from challenging conventional theories 1." 1. Newton and Einstein did not subscribe to the scientific assumptions of their time 2. Nirvana – Driven by creative urges rather than just to be different. " 1. Geologists need to determine source and age of materials such as tools and weapons to affirm the anthropologist's conclusions regarding trade. Political leaders may need to be dishonest 1. Biochemists and other experts in the field will need to validate cultural anthropologist's comments about cause of death. Complete honesty is not a useful virtue for a politician. Some politicians are just clever at avoiding the truth – can be misleading. A politician may attack another on the grounds of being anti-”x” due to one isolated event – voting against a bill for whatever other reason 3." 1. Careful to distinguish between lies and political rhetoric 1. Completely forthrightness is a sign of vulnerability and naivete 1. life expectancy 2. Linguist needed to interpret hieroglyphics and writings 4."It is impossible for an effective political leader to tell the truth all the time. lifestyle. Certain types of leadership require honesty – socio political leadership – Gandhi and King 3. Hard to assess full impact of economic theory – requires that the critical person be knowledgeable about all impacts of economic policy 1. Most effective presidents are motivated by ideals 1. but will most likely fail ultimately 1. Some politicians need to pander to some groups in order to gain support – part of the game 2. mobility. Lying is not a long-term strategy. 3. High standard for one's own personal integrity is a prerequisite for moral leadership 3. Lying is just part of the game 1. but not illegal 2. Astrologers needed as ancient people determined city building placement by stars 2. Lowering interest rates cannot only be evaluated based on cheaper housing rates . Need to win elections – the politicians which get elected tell the people what they want to hear. Richard Nixon – motivated by ambition 2. Lying is not a long-term strategy in politics ——————————————— "Critical judgment of work in any given field has little value unless it comes from someone who is an expert in that field. not what they need to hear 1. Ronald Reagan – effective because he believed in his core principles 2. etc. Expert critical judgment needed in context of social-science fields 1. Opponents will take advantage of this 2. may work in the short term. Cultural anthropology – merits of a person's findings must be validated by members of other fields 1. " 1. Health science 2. Public policy decisions can be judged by experts outside the field based on the reasons for and against the decision. or scientists. Inside physical sciences. Only other scientists have the knowledge to judge formulas and theories 2. 1. and political leaders by way of their achievements promote these aims 1. Regurgitate arguments above 2. Scientists. Successful political leadership needs to endure. ——————————————— "The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of its rulers. Conclusion: Social sciences – no area operates in a vacuum. public health. need for peer-review. Politicians must engage in certain behaviors to gain political positions 1. General welfare should be enhanced 1. Some ideas come to mind: education. Regurgitate arguments above 3. 1. Philosophical inquiry regarding new technologies is more open to interpretation. Observations related to astrophysics require special instruments for validation. ——————————————— "Those who treat politics and morality as though they were separate realms fail to understand either the one or the other. security against military invasions. cultural richness. Socioeconomic impact is more open. Politics is a game – must use the tools of game to stay competitive 1. artists. Immoral behavior not a long-term solution 2. any politician who fails to exercise moral leadership loses the game." 1. No litmus test for measuring “general welfare” 1. Nixon. Technology . Hitler and Stalin lost their leadership to to immoral means with which they wielded their power 2. Ultimately.3. but it is an advantage to have background of philosophical knowledge 2. artists. freedom. only experts in the field have access to these tools with knowledge of how to use them 4. but the general welfare of all its people. Quality of work outside socioeconomic impact can be judged only be experts in the field 5. Work of researchers in physical sciences need to be judged by peer-review 1. other measures of quality of life 2. holding the legal system in contempt 3. Game of politics comes with some amount of dis ingenuousness which might be associated with private morality. Political morality differs from private morality 1. Also need military and diplomats 2. cars 4. attacks upon the accepted wisdom of the time. Conclusion: Pursue one's areas of interest. communication 3. lifts human spirit. To force people to focus their talents on other areas could be a waste 2. do not worry about society. Achievements rarely only benefit one nation exclusively. help us appreciate our own humanity 5. incites creativity and imagination 1. Opposing view would argue that intellectual inquiry in some areas particularly the arts and humanities equates to little more than intellectual fantasy 1. Art – provides inspiration. Spur us on to greater accomplishments. Green house gases 3. Speaker insists that there are palpable benefits to cultivating the arts 5. ——————————————— "Important truths begin as outrageous. or at least uncomfortable. intellectual oppression 1. ." • Many people want to view the world a certain way. Many ways to demote public welfare through misuse of scientific accomplishments 1. Political rulers must not exploit citizens 2. To adopt the speaker's view would be to sanction certain intellectual pursuits while proscribing others – thought control. ——————————————— "People who pursue their own intellectual interests for purely personal reasons are more likely to benefit the rest of the world than are people who try to act for the public good. Chemicals in our food. Unusual avenues of personal interest often lead to greatest benefits to society 1. Study in the humanities is supposed to help us learn what is best for society 3. We are motivated to pursue those activities in which we excel. even if their views lie outside of reality. Regurgitate arguments above 3. Nation is not great merely by achievements of individuals 1.1." 1. Conclusion: General welfare is the end product of scientific accomplishment. air --> cancer 2. Rehash arguments above 4. Travel. Must appreciate artistic and scientific accomplishments 3. Speaker claims that there exists a nexus between certain areas of intellectual inquiry and societal benefit 2. Nuclear warfare 3. 1. Engineering – safer buildings. water. Regurgitate arguments above 2. rhythm. Einstein was truly original 4. Quantum theory allows for multiple dimensions and the existence of the same body of matter to locate two distinct regions of space at the same time. Einstein's theories on the relationship between space and time were not easily accepted even though they could be supported by mathematical proof and empirical observation. Engineering – all build upon science – the semiconductor 2. Theology . New laws built upon traditional principles – constitution 2. great advances in science are made by putting together current theories and ideas in new ways 1. Share form. Science 1.many Americans who became acclimated to the use of slavery as a source of free labor had difficulty allowing their slaves to go free under democratic principles. English language built on Greek and Latin 2. it means putting old ideas together in new ways. Art – New ideas and trends are adaptations of prior art 1. ——————————————— "Originality does not mean thinking something that was never thought before. US Law based on traditional English common-laws of equity and justice 1. This type of art rarely lasts due to lack in presence of classical conventions 2. ideas of what harmonies are pleasing to the ear 3. Some modern art seeks to be truly original by abandoning as much convention as possible 1. need to communicate ideas based on symbols and words – language is arbitrary 3. In other cases. Originality as variation or synthesis of existing ideas . String theory – built upon ideas of wave and quantum theory .linguistics and law 1. 12-note scale. Social reform . Rock and roll music based on classical music 1. Symmetry." 1. Einstein's thoughts on the relationship between time and space – completely counter to our subjective notions from which classical physics was derived 3.Darwin's theory of evolution which states that humans evolved rather than were created caused much dissent as it challenged other people's desires for how things should be as well as biblical sources from which other beliefs were based. balance and harmony are the foundation for new art forms 1. No such thing as purely modern language.• • • • • Copernicus caused much unrest by suggesting that the sun and not the earth is the center of the solar system. Would have delayed geological progress 2. Literal translation of the bible – from creationism to evolution – a radical departure from previous ideas about the origins of earth 1. 1. Framers recognized that social and economic problems as well as standards of equity and fairness change overtime 3. Not an issue seen by original patent law 5. Statement overlooks synergistic relationships between individual effort and teamwork. Conclusion: Originality embraces what came before. ——————————————— "It is always an individual who is the impetus for innovation. Laws need to be modified over time to keep up.5. Scientific innovation 1. especially with respect to scientific contributions 1. Marital property rights – example 1. Vision and commitment of key individuals from which innovative products grow 2. It used to be the case that most scientific breakthroughs came about through specific people . the details may be worked out by a team. Progressive states have adopted more egalitarian property rights systems 1. but true innovation results from the enterprise and unique perception of an individual. Consistency is required to comprehend legal obligations 1. These are being modified to reflect personal contributions during the marriage 4. Husbands used to own all property acquired during the marriage as well as property brought into the marriage 2. Consistency in legal environment is also required for expansion and interstate commerce 2. ——————————————— "Laws should not be rigid or fixed. Apple recovered after bringing jobs back 3. Constitution allows for legal discretion at the state level 2. Apple Computer 1. Napster – intellectual property 1. Laws too rigid can be unfair 1. and places. Instead." 1. Company hit the shits after firing Jobs 2. Others were just following marching orders 2. Evolved over time to become more fair 1. times. Business 1. Conclusion: Nation's founders intended for fairness. they should be flexible enough to take account of various circumstances. CEOs would agree that their goals could not be carried out without other people." 1. Businesses need well-defined rights and responsibilities in order to thrive 2. especially religious arts such as that of Madonna and the child are intended to reassure through the messages of Christian redemption and salvation 1. and other . Science can conflict with beliefs 5. other times they upset 2. Focusing on the crucifixion and apocalyptic notions of judgment and damnation 2. Even Edison relied on numerous breakthroughs achieved by others who came before him." 1. Time is relative to space and motion 4. jealousies. who want to believe that behavior can be learned and people are free from low-level biases 6. we see the same world as before. Insert fictitious example of artwork here 3. Sometimes discoveries seem to reassure. Many examples of art depicting peaceful natural scenes such as waterfalls and beaches 2. Jobs and Wozniak 2. Exceptions such as Hewlett and Packard. Most other cases involve trial-and-error research through teams at universities or in research labs 3. Sun is the center of the universe 2. but with different eyes. ——————————————— "The study of an academic discipline alters the way we perceive the world. Other things may serve to upset: 1. If he was placed in history 2000 years ago. Science suggests that behavior traits are functions of individual brain structure. the purpose of art is to upset. History teaches us about flaws of other humans 1. criminology. Some art. determined at birth 1. television. Demagogues often fail under the weight of their own prejudices. Function of science is to discover truths about or world and universe 1." 1.1. Conclusion: Major scientific breakthroughs rarely occur by people operating in isolation today. Therein lies the value of each. After studying the discipline. Conclusion: Speaker generalizes and misses the point of science. Unifying explanations of physics seem to reassure 3. Humans evolved from primates 3. phonograph independently 2. ——————————————— "The function of science is to reassure. Edison invented the light bulb. May upset people in fields such as psychology. Some art from the renaissance is intended to upset 1. Scientific innovation today requires huge capital and extensive teams of researchers 1. it would be unlikely that he would have made a light bulb without a means to establish a vacuum 3. 1. these laws give away to more lenient laws 2. Physician-assisted suicide 5. Laws and restrictions to inhibit freedom may now seem justified given competing interests 2. See flaws on ideologies taken by pure faith 1. Prohibition 3. Transform the way we see our own culture 5. Appreciates aspects of culture as providing for works of literature – Mark Twain 1. Life along Mississippi not seen as mundane. Legislation morality for morality's sake does not work 2. ——————————————— "It is possible to pass laws that control or place limits on people's behavior. Seek to appreciate what art reveals about our culture and humanity 2. Conclusion: Education allows us to understand the world in more depth. Gay marriages 4. but legislation cannot reform human nature. Also allows us to understand subjective and changeable nature of our own perceptions. Law student learns that laws are changing according to society's preferences 3. Deeper appreciation for cultural traditions 1." 1. Medical use of pot 6. religious denominations. A philosophy student learns logical fallacies of popular political parties. People will find ways to circumvent such laws. Sees how it serves our psychological need to belong 2. Many solutions by public policy makers are band-aid fixes 2. and social extremists 3. Laws cannot change what is in people's hearts and minds. Study of Shakespeare's works King Lear and Hamlet demonstrate a tragically-flawed hero and the arbitrariness by which we distinguish between hero and villain 2. Education helps us see our own culture through different eyes 1. but adventure 2. Seek to understand art beyond colors and shapes 3.character flaws 2. Banning substances by making them illegal does not prevent people from using them . Education allows us to re-examine ideas previously rejected. Morality laws which impinge upon freedom of choice do not work in a democratic society 1. Exposure to different customs and religious belief systems student can understand the cultural and philosophical traditions in which they are rooted 4. Enhances knowledge about the composition and characteristics of film and music enhances appreciation 6. Transforms how to interpret the world -> moving from emotional to intellectual 1. not in best interest of society 1. and art 1. One's background and training can strongly influence how one interprets historical events involving human affairs. A student of economics may see British imperialism as a strategy to gain control over distribution of goods and resources 3. But these are reactions and do not involve the analysis of data 2. Optimism vs. affirmative action 2. Businesses will act on their own financial interests. All good statistics have controls or baselines with which to compare new results 3." ——————————————— "The way students and scholars interpret the materials they work with in their academic fields is more a matter of personality than of training. Personality traits such as mood. Short-term sacrifices prevent adoption. Conclusion: Freedom is more important than morality for morality's sake. Theology student may see it as an attempt to force beliefs onto others . Banning drugs only leads to types of more desperate behavior to obtain them illegally 2. Many companies exploit underage or underprivileged workers to enhance profits 4. temperament have little bearing on the analysis of data 1. statistical data. Optimistic researcher after an unsuccessful search could look search as eliminating a possibility and bringing us closer to the remaining truths. or events and see different things. Cost outweighs benefits 3. Technology can completely remove pollution from automobiles 1. data.1. 2. Tobacco and alcoholic beverages 3. Different interpretations come about when people with different personalities look at exactly the same objects. but certainty. outlook. 3. Pessimistic researcher would disagree 4." 1. Legislating moral behavior is not practical. ——————————————— "What most human beings really want to attain is not knowledge. pessimism has some bearing on interpretation 2. although this is more due to the consumer than businesses. A student of political science may see British imperialism as one nation's quest for power 2. facts. Gaining real knowledge requires taking risks and keeping the mind open—but most people prefer to be reassured rather than to learn the complex and often unsettling truth about anything. Environment. Behavior of business should be controlled 1." ——————————————— "Many problems of modern society cannot be solved by laws and the legal system because moral behavior cannot be legislated. Bats navigate by sonar 2. Art theory – see art as containing foundational elements such as brush stroke techniques ——————————————— "It is dangerous to trust only intelligence. air. Theology student – expression of grace and thankfulness in life 3." 1. Business student – try to determine success in economy 2. Education may influence the interpretation of statistical data 1. Knowledge of the universe 1. Advances in technology have given us a more precise view of matter 3. Training and educational background has a profound role in the interpretation of art 1. then came the quark 1. We can explain and predict chemical reactions 2. electrons. Different conclusions can be drawn on an increasing crime rate 5. Sociology or anthropology student may see it as a way of imposing one nation's culture onto another 4. From our knowledge we have a more accurate understanding of matter 1. and earth 2. things do not become more comprehensible. but more complex and more mysterious. Knowledge of sonar illustrates the complexity of minds 2. String theory leads belief to a more fundamental and universal unit of matter 4. After learning about protons." ——————————————— "As we acquire more knowledge. Ancestors had a very simple view of matter – ancient philosophers tended to embrace simple theories about the composition of matter such as matter being composed of fire.4. and neutrons. New technology enables us to learn more about the universe 2. Adds another mystery to what existed before time and the universe 3. water. which were at one time believed to be fundamental elements of all matter. String theory also reconciles differences between quantum and wave theories 3. Each discovery reveals that matter is more complex than originally thought . Some systems are very complex 1. Using sonar they can determine how far away prey or other objects are 1. Meaning of art is subjective and highly personal 1. Art history – see work as product of previous works 4. Can also determine what the other species is and where it is moving 3. Atomic physics 1. Helps us understand our place in the universe 3. Without ever having the chance to make these theories due to “insufficient data” nothing will ever get accomplished 6.4. String theory leads to the existence of additional dimensions which lead us further from everyday experience 5. By theorizing before collecting data. A theory conjured up without data amounts to little more than the theorist's desires 1. 7. academia. Scandal increased the level of scrutiny and accountability of public officials 2. Watergate scandal – called attention to sleezy campaign tactics 1. but also possible that it won't 4. Anyone with a clear view of the horizon and sense some curvature 1. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could. but problems need to be solved urgently. Impossible to theorize without some data 1. Conclusion: Be careful of theories not backed up with data." 1. Must acknowledge that no amount of data will ever be enough. Clinton-Gore fundraising scandal sparked a renewed call for campaign-finance reform 1. Theory that earth is center of the universe – theory formed w/o data 2. Government forms agencies to collect data and think tanks to interpret the data. Scandals can distract us from community or societal problems 1. Chancellor of private university was expelled for using university funds for private residence 1. Theory based completely on fantasy could be based on some empirical data. Raised consideration about banning all private campaign contributions 2. the theorist runs the risk of interpreting that data in such a way that it supports the original theory 1. or other areas—can be useful. 5. ——————————————— "It is a grave mistake to theorize before one has data. Conclusion: New knowledge often opens up more questions than it answers. 1. A theory conjured up too early could bias data collecting process 1. No way to determine when a sufficient amount of data has been gathered to formulate a theory. Scandal received media attention. but nothing positive resulted . We form theories to make the world a better place. postponing something too long might translate into a missed opportunity ——————————————— "Scandals—whether in politics. Theory that the earth is flat 2." 1. Scandals can serve to call our attention to problems that society would otherwise neglect. Curvature was interpreted as a convex portion of an otherwise flat surface 3. Science 1. functionality 2. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world. Chemical research – devoted towards the biggest problems – highly practical 1. highly impractical – health risk. Exception being Viagra 5. several of the people involved were hurt emotionally 4. Mostly practical – engineering applications focus on transferring science into product 1. Most political figures seem driven by desire to get elected over sense of mission 2. ——————————————— "It is easy to welcome innovation and accept new ideas. Impractical – cosmetic surgery.1. Grade schoolers learning computer skills 2. Clinton sex scandal called our attention to certain issues of federal law 1." 1. cost. Music and films is motivated by demographics and marketing 3. ——————————————— "Practicality is now our great idol. . Improved communication systems 2. Diverted attention from other worthy causes – protesting and campus safety 3." 1. new ideas are often easily accepted. Conclusion: Practicality holds true for all the above. More students are majoring in technical jobs to avoid waiting tables 4. except maybe for science. Publishing is driven to deliver viable products to marketplace – self help books 4. Diplomatic and legal negations – log rolling – aimed at preserving practical party needs 3. Those who control mass media are interested in profit 3. not pragmatists – counter point 4. Practicality is stressed in grade school education 1. Raised debate about powers and duties while in office 2. Financial harm to tax payer. Art 1. is accepting the way these new ideas are put into practice. Politics 1. however. Scandal served to distract us from more important things 4. which all powers and talents must serve. What most people find difficult. expense 3. MBA is most popular grad school choice 2. In politics and law. Conclusion: The overall cost/benefit of a scandal must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Middle school cutting art education 3. Idealists sway the masses. Court rulings regarding executive privileges will serve as precedents in the future 3. Art in architecture is driven by safety. to change it. Genetic engineering – wealthy people develop the Master Race 5. but faces stronger resistance when it comes to applying the innovation. Internet developed for education rather than commercialization 3. not innovation themselves 1. Student's environment does not need to change 3. they became easier to put in practice 1. Students who fail to embrace new technologies will fall behind their peers 2. Business executives – Most successful are those who impart a maximum benefit to society . teaching models change 2. no need to change environment. Gay and lesbians face opposition from religious people 2. Exploring space 2. 3. Researcher's job is to innovate – more related to discovery than reform 1. Status quo gives people an idea of rights they can expect as well as their duties under the law 2. Once ideas above were accepted. No need to change environment in which they operate 3. Lawyers and doctors must keep up with changing field – professional competency 2. Adaptation required for scholastic success 1. involves an ability to survive in a new environment and. ——————————————— "Success. Scientific application is readily embraced. Key ingredients for academic success are the student's innate abilities and the effort a student exerts. Time spent advancing a profession in one area might be better spent keeping up with changes in others – general practitioner 4.1. Legal reform. Personal rights supported by civil rights leaders threatened the status quo – caused unrest 3." 1. Scientific breakthroughs do meet some opposition – alternative energy. Reasons for opposition are related to potential application. 1. Conclusion: Power and security afforded by status quo impedes initial acceptance. Manhattan project 1. Environment as well as curricula change – campus changes. Claim is more compelling for business and scientific research 1. whether academic or professional. eventually. Sociologists and psychologists claim that Internet may serve to alienate people 2. medical research may best be left to others 4. Genetic engineering 4. Needed to be supported by three branches of govt. Edward Teller foresaw the benefits of atomic energy 2. Professional Success 1. even cruel—when one considers all the potential uses of such money. it is because these works no longer answer the needs of the present. Government funding requires tax dollars – less capital left over for private funding 3. Does art help us become a more charitable society? 3. Rote technical knowledge does not enable a student to determine which goals in life are worth pursuing." 1. Make us less self-centered and more people-centered 2. clothing. changed the way music is sold. Internet age venture capitalists – changed the way business and commerce was done – eBay 2. Art is supposed to put us in touch with our humanity 1. Counter argument – helping others may enable them to depend on society 5. the use of public resources to support the arts is inappropriate—and. Who decides where resources are allocated? 2." ——————————————— "As long as people in a society are hungry or out of work or lack the basic skills needed to survive. ——————————————— "Education should be equally devoted to enriching the personal lives of students and to training students to be productive workers. Art helps breed socialism and awareness of others." 1. sociology. These needs are more fundamental than the arts and therefore arts should be funded by use of public money as a secondary priority 2. Dell Computers – selling computers over the Internet changed the way people purchase computers today. Canadian government sponsors the Canadian film industry 1.1. Provides incentives for American film makers to film in Canada – brings money into the local economy 4. Funding art is not an essential function of government 1. ——————————————— "If people disregard the great works of the past. and history allow students to develop value system and give them deeper insight as to how they should apply their talents in the working world . Apple – iTunes. Private funding is available – PBS still operates off of private donations 3. Conclusion: Any individual must adapt to new environments to survive at life. Public resources creates job for artists. Cultural enrichment pales in comparison compared to food. Philosophy. perhaps. 3. and shelter 1. Conclusion: Art is not just for the elite at museums and symphonies. Provides jobs for film-makers 2. ethically or morally acceptable 1. 5. Idealists are better served to stay clear of short term thinking 1. Conclusion: Talk about well-roundedness. Specific knowledge and skills needed for jobs are changing more rapidly 1. sociology. Parties seek to subdue each other. Leave spiritual and religion to the parents 1. Reasonable consensus and political ideal need not be mutually exclusive 1. ——————————————— "Success in any realm of life comes more often from taking chances or risks than from careful and cautious planning.2. Learning about different religions can promote tolerance 5. Politicians must get elected – need to consensus 2. tolerance." ——————————————— "It is not the headline-making political events but the seldom-reported social transformations that have the most lasting significance. Technical knowledge does not help us get along with other people 4. Educators to enrich student's lives in ways that will serve for any walk of life 3. All ideals require a certain measure of justice to be accepted by the masses 3. but not to such an extent that a stronger 3rd party comes along 3. World peace – achieving a consensus is like achieving the actual ideal 2." 1." ——————————————— "The goal of politics should not be the pursuit of an ideal. could simply be good at negotiating 1. Waste to focus on specific knowledge and skills 2. Achieving a consensus sounds nice. but rather the search for common ground and reasonable consensus. Stalin. but learning to be cooperative. In cases of ideals which did not contain justice – Hitler. Could be focused on survival rather than pursuing a cause . Idealists sway the masses and incite protest 2. history – able to appreciate viewpoints of others 1. these leaders eventually failed due to lack of consensus 4." ——————————————— "The best preparation for life or a career is not learning to be competitive. Helps build more-rounded students – particularly anthropology. and compassion. A successful politician may just appeal to the masses. but it is an illusion – not in touch with the nature of politics – denies the nature of politicians 1. Ideals have to do with justice and fairness 1. Politics involves a tug-of-war between different agendas 2. 5. Conclusion: Some good. Information overload – Internet 2. Genetics – Ability to develop the super-virus. Created great advances in medicine and physics 2. Foreign business investments become less attractive by comparison 2. 5. Steals time from family and friends 3. artists. Developing nations become forced to comply with same energy conservation policies that were invoked by the behavior of the developed nation. and may threaten or damage the quality of life. Universal access to information 4. Digital Automation 1. ——————————————— "Technology creates more problems than it solves. People use technology even though they know it is bad for the world 1. AI running out of control – Matrix." 1. Assembly line – loss of pride in one's job – alienation between worker and finished product 2. Consider developed countries taking natural resources from developing nations 1. Free Porn! 3. Economic pursuits are interwoven with those of other nations 1. Mechanical automation 1. Saves architects. Drug traffiking provides economic boost to rogue nation at the expense of social and . 3. 2. Humans use cars which damage the environment because they are too lazy to adopt lessharmful alternatives 6. Conclusion: Politicians are not consensus seekers. economic growth 2." 1. Economic growth in US attracts investors from other countries 1. and musicians time with new possibilities 3. Technology threatens human life 1. created jobs. some bad. nuclear weapons 2. Pros: Cheaper goods. Space Odessey 2001. ——————————————— "The material progress and well-being of one country are necessarily connected to the material progress and well-being of all other countries. humans not inclined by nature to consensus. new industries. Brave New World 3. Politics should be about ideals. Developing nation cannot afford to make sacrifices that the developed nation did not have to make. Digital technology 1. 1. embracing the insecurities which are derived from not meeting the unrealistic ideal favored by advertisers and for-profit media. Middle East nations depend on oil-consuming nations such as the US 3. A greater appreciation for individual differences and acceptance is required to solve this problem. 2. Clear-cutting rain forests 1. There are really only two types of lifestyles. Modern society does not so much resemble this dichotomy and further change is occurring. one for males and one for females. The primary education system also seems to encourage conformity. art is one subject that many students are forced to study in grade school. an ideal which is difficult or unhealthy for most people to obtain. It must be understood that people are fulfilled in different ways. The fashion industry has been criticized for only showing one ideal of beauty. Students are expected to be interested in course material which may or may not be interesting with no alternative study options to suit the child's interest. 4. People are expected to look and act a given way. 5." 1. A type of lifestyle for one person may be seen as limiting or desolate to another. For example. 1. However. conformity seems to be more prevalent. Need for communal and fair action to stop environmental threats. Software piracy and pharmaceutical copying (patent violation) 6. It would be unusual for a person of a given tribe not to reproduce. Nuclear and biochemical weapons 2. Global warming 2.economic problems for the consumer nations 2. society should show greater appreciation of individual differences. Environmental consequences shared 1. Most members of society are expected to conform to a type of career. hunting or farming and provide for their families. People rely on each other for goods rather than inefficiently attempt to become completely independent. Individual differences are what make people unique. In societies where people are more independent of each other. Conclusion: Trade and economic synergistic benefits seem to outweigh the downsides of a global economy. Computer connectivity – Internet espionage 4. Uniqueness is required due to our specialized economy. Society seems to encourage conformity in regards to media and fashion. Animal extinction 5. and labor forces in other nations depend on supply and economic stability delivered by their neighbors. Trade barriers disappear resulting in economic synergy between nations 2. Nations trade raw materials. One nation's progress can spell trouble for other nations 1. 3. the student is . ——————————————— "Instead of encouraging conformity. 2. An appreciation for art is probably beneficial as it encourages creativity and appreciation for other people's points of artistic view. Many successful dot-com startups such as amazon. 4. 3. Many counter examples exist of creativity occurring through groups of people. 1. just made up that fact.com were founded by a group of entrepreneurs rather than individuals. Child psychologists agree that young students need to be presented with a curriculum which encourages their intellectual growth.given no choice of alternative. People do not live forever. Society admires sports heros. Einstein used mathematical formulas which were derived from other scientists. (This might not actually be true. 3. make-up your own evidence. a set of ideas—not to prepare them for a specific job. Einstein's ideas became popular even though some could not be completely proven at the time. and certainly 18th Century classical piano composers are among the most notable." 1. ——————————————— "Truly innovative ideas do not arise from groups of people. but because he was able to convince other scientists that his theories were logically and mathematically sound. a standard. the members force each other to compromise and. classical music developed by famous composers shared musical properties in common with composers who preceded. otherwise they will not grow to their fullest potential." 1. . In both the examples above. the most effective political leaders must often yield to public opinion and abandon principle for the sake of compromise. The works of Einstein." ——————————————— "The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines." ——————————————— "The purpose of education should be to provide students with a value system. Many original ideas do arise from individuals working alone. but from individuals. When in doubt. and it is usually acquired through solitude. Most original ideas arise from individuals working alone. but instead by a group of people. Classical music became popular because many people accepted the composer's styles and tastes. 2. rather than through interaction with others. creative ideas tend to be weakened and made more conventional." • Similar question above ——————————————— "Unlike great thinkers and great artists.) ——————————————— "The most elusive knowledge is self-knowledge. When groups try to be creative. Ideas must ultimately be accepted by others. It required the efforts of a group of people to make human flight possible – to develop a flying machine. The apple iPod and iTunes concept was not developed by one person. Individual differences must be considered in the area of learning. as a result. Steven Hawkings. perhaps the individual would be more interested in studying other subjects such as math or computer science. 2. Social heros share common characteristics and force society to reflect on it's character and in doing so.1. Promoter of Social causes – incites society to meaningful political change 1. Many of Einstein's theories were developed without any empirical evidence and even seemed to contract empirical experience. facing defeat and emerging victorious 1. Other athletes fight for social causes 1. Does this mean that they have no merit? 6. Medical advances are often learned indirectly through experience. fortitude. understanding of microscopic events is absent as they cannot be experienced directly. Does society bear these traits. and strength 4. Mark McGuire – Disadvantaged children 3. 2. 4. since it is impossible to experience an event such as the second world war. The actual knowledge is derived from the computer. Military Hero – becomes a hero through courage in battle. no. Conclusion: Author's view is too narrow-minded and not compatible with abstract qualities present in the real world. These traits only show that we admire courage. the solution is found indirectly through computational analysis and statistics. Conclusion: Most cultural heros serve as an example for what we would like to become or be like. 2. This theory does not apply to the sciences. Lance Armstrong 2. Magic Johnson – AIDS research 3. These heros do reflect the character of the hero's society 2. Statistical correlations are discovered and then they are analyzed for a possible cure. 3. Some accomplished athletes are considered heros because they overcame significant hurdles 1. Ultimately. According to the author. these theories had to gather empirical evidence in order to be supported. Mohammad Ali – racial 2. we fail to emulate. Philosophical concepts are also abstract and one cannot experience them directly. I would challenge this a bit further and question if it is really the attention most people seek rather than the merit of truly being a hero. Although the evidence is presented in experience. According to the author. This throws all knowledge of history into doubt." 1. does that mean that the person living today can learn nothing from it? 5. change how society thinks and operates 5. The author is arguing that only first-hand knowledge is acceptable. ——————————————— "We learn through direct experience. to accept a theory without experiencing it is to learn nothing at all. John McCain – continued to serve country after years of torture 3. Theories were based purely on mathematics. . America has little cultural identity of its own anymore 1. The Internet is full of information. Each maintains some outward demonstration of its distinctiveness in order to establish and maintain a unique cultural identity 3. Amish. People act impulsively because time is a limited resource. Indeed. instead they should stop to think of the possible consequences of what they might do. but also improve the quality of their lives as they can perform more fulfilling and financially rewarding occupations. Need for peer review or reliable sources. 4. 3. European intruders 2." 1." 1. 4. Preserving cultural traditions is not the only reason for ceremonies . Governments do not have forever to decide the possible consequences of a given action. As a whole. impulsive chess players are not very good. societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are. Urban African Americans. Many tribes – need to inform the world about distinctness 2. but not all of it is true. We have become a patchwork quilt of many subcultures 2. People do not live forever and problems need to be solved sooner rather than later. Hasidic Jews 2. Information cannot substitute for abilities such as problem solving. Learning is not necessarily enhanced by adding additional information. ——————————————— "Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. ——————————————— "People are too quick to take action. Native Americans. Author is speaking the obvious and his statement will certainly be true in some cases where people act impulsively. Digital access to information provided the technology and medium to transmit it will have a beneficial overall affect on life-long learning. American has become a melting pot of many sub cultures 1. People can not complete degrees over the Internet enabling them not only to learn more. Author's claim does not hold in all cases. 2. 2. Reason for maintaining these traditions lies in their struggle against assimilation 1.——————————————— "As societies all over the world have more and more access to new information. Native American tribes – stories of heritage 1. Too much information without organization can be a bad thing. Some problems require immediate resolution. One purpose of ritual and ceremony in today's society is to preserve cultural identity 1. Without them. the effects on lifelong learning can only be positive. People often act impulsively and frequently in society when they become impatient – road rage." 1. Need some agency to regulate the accuracy of the information. 3. Over-consumption. Hasidic Jews – dress. History of opposing theories . one that values comfort and convenience over healthy environment 2. Traditional clothing – values tradition over modernization 4. 3. Habits. Although in some cases. You can tell much about a society's ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people. Conclusion: Unfair generalization. Society where members are free to dress however they want emphasizes individual freedom and cultural diversity 2. act is often bred of necessity. Certain aspects of the outward appearance of a culture's people do inform us of their ideas." 1. Way people look. Primitive cultures still engage in these rituals for this purpose 4. Scientific Method is a call for progress through opposition 1. and act reveals their attitudes and interests. Isolated cultures still participate in ceremony 2. dress. ——————————————— "Progress is best made through discussion among people who have contrasting points of view. dress. not because they admire work ethic. African Americans 5. Conclusion: To prevent assimilation. vocational choices. people behave depending on their restrictions. ——————————————— "The way people look. Some actions do not reveal attitudes and interests – some people work two jobs out of financial necessity. Distinction between free and oppressed societies 1. and lifestyles of a culture often provide accurate signals about its values 1.1. and values. Society whose members behave kindly is one which values human dignity 1. ways of dressing." 1. Society with many fat people might place high value on indulgence and low value on physical health 2. and public behaviors place low value on individual freedom 1. 1. Amish culture – dress and lifestyle 2. Society where members share similar rituals. Both can serve a spiritual function as well. work and environmental factors could be more dominate 2. Not the only reason. dietary habits 3. Hateful society places low value on respect and tolerance 3. Ceremonies rooted in superstition and spiritual belief 3. many would otherwise prefer individuality if not for their oppressors 4. rituals. ritual and ceremony may be used. Ritual and ceremony are not the only or primary means of preserving cultural identity 1. attitudes. Culture where people wear cheap clothing may be more practical 3. Quantum theory 1. Human rights 1. Graduates with a degree in the liberal arts often abandon their chosen field – low employment 2. Nurture debate – Are human tendencies hard-wired in us? 1. Many student go into computer science 1. Legislators and jurists who uphold and defend legal precedent must face opposition from those who question the fairness 4. Hardly anyone is free to choose a career based on his or her natural talents or interest in a particular kind of work. most are interested in the content.1. Soviet Refusenik (yes. political opposition would go unchecked 3. Without opposition. Comes from challenging the status quo 2. Psychologists vs. I checked the spelling on this) movement of the 1920s 1. Leads to string theory 2. People of diverse academic paths rarely have trouble finding a job. 3. The above is somewhat of a generalization – computer science is difficult and those who are able to be successful at computer science might be able to make more money in another field. Imposed suppression of opposition stagnates scientific development 1. Would the same amount of students have applied w/o the supply of jobs and financial rewards? 4." 1. Leads to further debate in areas of criminal punishment and childhood development 3. No significant advances in knowledge ——————————————— "Most people choose a career on the basis of such pragmatic considerations as the needs of the economy. Job opportunities 2. Certain areas of scientific inquiry were quashed. Opposing theories in biology and child psychology 1. . Evidence seems to support speaker's claim 1. Nurture debate will continue to motivate progress in the social realm 3. Money is not the only driving factor. Wave vs. Scientists who were engaged in research that the state viewed as a threat disappeared 3. Nature vs. and the salary they can expect to make. Nature vs. Research seems to indicate that behavior is significantly a function of neurological wiring 1.J. the relative ease of finding a job. Simpson trial. research facilities were destroyed 2. Applications for law schools spiked during civil rights movements and during the O. Soviet government tried to control direction of scientific research and also distorted the outcomes 1. psychiatrists 2. Overall. Providing food and shelter for an innocent child 1. In these circumstances. 3. 2. that may be alleviated in the future. Corporations in light of the people they employ and the resources they occupy must always do what is best for the future of the company and the individuals supported by the company. Preparing for a marathon 1." 1. Steal to pay for food 2. but instead do whatever is necessary to keep the stock prices high until they retire. the student may reason that they will be able to easily pay off these debts with they high income they expect to achieve. the policy decision would be short-sighted. Training could interfere with work 2. Run cost/benefit analysis 1. Social people can thrive as counselors and school teachers 3. or by an individual person-must take into account future conditions more than present conditions. A genius who sacrifices his/her financial stability and research preferences towards art to pursue more societally-meaningful cancer research. In situations of uncertainty. 4. Employ child in sweatshop . then any means taken to attain it is justifiable. Otherwise." 1. 3. 2. a student may be willing to go into debt in order to get an advanced degree knowing that he or she will have heavy debts to pay once out of college. ——————————————— "If a goal is worthy. Injury could result from training 3. In the event of a natural disaster. For example. Some problems may exist in the present.1. Attaining goal could inspire others 2. equal emphasis is placed on the present and the future. it is necessary to place greater emphasis on the present than the future. a country may utilize all of its fuel reserves under the assumption that they will be replenished after the emergency. Paramedics may allocate all of their blood reserves to save an injured person under the assumption that they will not encounter another injured person on the way to the hospital. People who enjoy travel can work in the travel industry ——————————————— "Any decision-whether made by government. Some risks need to be taken otherwise people will be unnecessarily constrained by their circumstances. I agree with the author of the point above. These selfish actions have been demonstrated in numerous corporate scandals in recent history. However. Animal lover – can work near animals at the zoo or as veterinarians. many people in upper management may decide not to do what is in the best interest of the company. They must also consider the consequences of being unable to achieve their desired degree. by a corporation. Policy decisions must include more consideration regarding how the decision will affect people in the future. In the corporate world. Unless certain talents are nurtured at an early age. these talents are likely to remain undeveloped." ——————————————— "Society should identify those children who have special talents and abilities and begin training them at an early age so that they can eventually excel in their areas of ability. Would lead to economic disparity . Need to determine which talents are worth pursuing 2.. 2.then again. Statement assumes that talented children are the ones to contribute most greatly to society 1.undemocratic 4.. Child musically gifted needs access to musical instruments 2. Cost – resources which could have gone to other programs ——————————————— "Too much emphasis has been placed on the need for students to challenge the assertions of others. those talents can remain forever dormant 1. One's best talent may not be what one truly desires to do – forced occupation 3. some could go under leading to economic paralysis and unemployment. Statement implies that certain children receive special attention at the expense of other children 1. Splits children into two fractions – talented elitists and all others. Some talented people misuse their talents in ways that harm society 5. the ability to achieve social harmony— should be a major goal in every school. ——————————————— "The bombardment of visual images in contemporary society has the effect of making people less able . At the expense of forcing all businesses to comply. Psychologist would say both cases lead to childhood trouble later – having high expectations vs. Child linguistically gifted. having low self-esteem 2. No one to make these choices 3.3. needs access to other languages 2. Otherwise." 1. for security 1. Humanity opinion – people should not be valued based on their talents. In fact. Intervention of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait – benefit for oil. Leaving decisions to legislators is too subjective 4. Motivation plays a key factor in one's overall potency 2. Competing objectives 1. animals and humans are able to co-exist 1. Could make the unchosen feel inferior 1. Moral dilemma involved 4. the ability to compromise and work with others—that is. Parents will not always agree in regards to how their child is being developed 3. Important discoveries are sought out purposefully 1. printing press 2. Geographical. or a song—to have merit. Might be able to appreciate deeper qualities of the music such as rhythm. Searching for trade route to West Indies. History geologists stumble upon important artifacts in quest to understand earth's structure 2. anthropological support 1. Focusing on theory. but this may not actually enhance the experience. ——————————————— "In order for any work of art—whether film. literature." 1. Shareholders pressure drug companies to avoid random pursuits 3. Contention overstates serendipity 1." 1. 2. Biologists discover new therapies through directed research 3. scientific. Semiconductor. Most scientific work builds upon the research and discoveries of others. What is the to understand? 3. Art has little to do with cognitive understanding 1. Listening to music is an encounter – to be taken at face value. Flemming accidentally discovered penicillin 3. 4. Astronomers use more powerful telescopes to discover new planets 2. Creations are engineered based on existing scientific knowledge 1. Scientific discovery today is becoming increasingly more planned and “scientific” 1. sculpture." ——————————————— "Most important discoveries or creations are accidental: it is usually while seeking the answer to one question that we come across the answer to another. ——————————————— "In order to produce successful original work. one may overlook more interesting . it must be understandable to most people. internal combustion engine. Discovery often happens when we are search for something else 1." 1. Some creations were not foreseen --> ARPANET was a data communications system which later became the Internet – intended to share data among engineers at different universities --> lead to Napster 2. scholars and scientist must first study the successful work of others to learn what contributions remain to be made. Too much exposure to the work of others may stifle creativity and impose conformity. Conclusion: Important discoveries are more driven today by purpose than serendipity. 2. There is no sense in reinventing the wheel.to focus clearly and extensively on a single issue over a long period of time. The objective of music is not to challenge the listener's understanding of musical theory. Columbus discovered a new continent 2. 4. As a result. 3. 5. In contexts of painting and sculpture. Conclusion: Need to feel art rather than “understand” it. Only by challenging us do paintings and sculpture have merit – art is supposed to be creative. 2. Now that these concepts are more easily accessible. 2. Final objective of literature is to move the reader emotionally and spiritually. Information available on the Internet may actually inspire new thoughts. the artist must use words with meaning in order for the reader to understand the plot. They feel unable to compete with—much less contribute to—the quantity of information that is now available electronically. 2. not to inform. People can share philosophical views and other opinions through online message boards and develop new thoughts though dialogue in ways that is not possible without an electronic information organizational system. If what speaker said is to be true. the distance between fields of specialization has become so vast that specialists in different areas are rarely able to influence each other. 1. We must know what the artist is trying to convey 1. words describe imagery or relate to emotions – hard to understand cognitively. the speaker is essentially saying that if you cannot understand what it is supposed to represent. Artist cannot make up words or use obscure words – no more useful beyond the alliterative or onomatopoeic impact. In regards to narrative or prose. people can think and contribute remotely. Too much information can cause information overload and may become unproductive. People can take advantage of information available to stimulate creativity and thought. In some cases though. Having lots of data available will not necessarily make one feel unable to contribute. the most valuable work around is would imitate mundane scenes and objects. 2. People are not forced to use computers." 1. 3. people are less likely than ever to think deeply or originally. throw it out. 4. 1. ——————————————— "Now that computer technology has made possible the rapid accessing of large amounts of factual information. not conforming. Philosophical concepts can inspire deep thinking. ——————————————— "The increase in knowledge is forcing people to specialize. The amount of possible knowledge is infinite and one's contribution is still unlimited. 1. Good plot is pointless if reader is left emotionally unaffected.parts. Speakers claim does have some merit in regards to lyrical works 1. People have access to computers and information technology." ——————————————— . Humans resist moral choices being forced onto them – a mistake to legislate morality. Desires. ——————————————— "Learning for learning's sake is an outdated concept. Students should have some idea of their history as well as an understanding of philosophy with which they can evaluate values and discern moral inconsistencies and logical fallacies. 3. it has little to do with school or college. Conclusion: History teaches us about human nature. Learning about the mistakes of past societies will help us avoid them." 1. 4. we can learn about our basic human nature. Crime and violence have always exist. Helps us formulate values and beliefs through the thinking of other people. 3. therefore they must always exist. See ways how religion and belief systems have evolved overtime. Social problems arise from human nature. we can deal more effectively with our social problems. 1. an interest in preserving artifacts and literature. Through studying history. Learning about one's roots – self identity. ——————————————— . 1. Part of education requires the discipline and motivation to learn. Learning should be directed towards enabling the student to self-learn." 1. animals. faults 2. Through this knowledge. 3." 1. they are here to stay. environment have evolved over time. In this way. 1. Society's treatment towards women. 2. Understand our own beliefs better. 1. History can be inspiring – full of inspirational people. the student can pursue his or her own interests. Not everyone has the same goal. It is beneficial to appreciate differences between people of different time periods. Part of developing this discipline and motivation is to understand how knowledge can be beneficial. 2. Learning should also teach students essential qualities about the world without brainwashing them. motives. education must serve an ulterior purpose and be directed toward clear goals. 5. Conflicts between belief and governments. 1."The chief benefit of the study of history is to break down the illusion that people in one period of time are significantly different from people who lived at any other time in history. highlights mistakes to avoid. Those governments which oppress individual in an attempt to further empower those in power have always eventually fallen. Inspires us for great achievement. Ultimately education is a personal matter. Many students do not complete college because they do not apply themselves and immediately fail. 2. 4. ——————————————— "Education is primarily a personal matter. One must be self-motivated and understand the value of education if it is be truly achieved. Today. We have solved the many health problems and improved the standard of living – problems left are most challenging 1. Overlook accomplishment 2. justified. Stopping aging. if ever. already known. Fear and mistrust result in social prejudice . Instead. a consumer targeting a given investment sector may pick the weaker of the competing companies 3. 1. we overlook the distinction 2. 3. 1. Over consumption. Finding similarities between things can often be unfair 1. Without evaluating an individual company on its own merits." 1. ——————————————— "People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. a thing should be considered on its own terms. Interpersonal differences in heterosexual relationships stem from gender differences 3." 1. Militarily. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience. replacing human limbs. By focusing on similarities between big cities. even between very different things. over population 2. Schools tend to group students based on exams. 1." ——————————————— "People often look for similarities. oppression 3. we should avoid the tendency to compare it to something else. Politically 3. Neither are really more complex 2. Growing scarcity of natural resources 2. World's nations are growing increasingly interdependent 1. Discrimination. and even when it is unhelpful or harmful to do so. colonizing other worlds 4. Economic. No way of conveying knowledge without grouping or comparing a new experience or object to something like it. Stereotyping individuals is dangerous. 2. Looking too closely for difference can bring up false distinctions. but these standardized exams often overlook certain unique abilities which need to be nurtured along with cognitive ability. Environmental challenges – involving the entire world 3. Humans face universal and timeless problems 1."Censorship is rarely. The learning process is based on grouping similarities. Conclusion: Humans must look for similarities to learn and communicate. Problems today are different and in some ways more complex than those of previous society. Looking too hard for differences can be bad as well 4. Employers should not permit harassment 6. 1. Conclusion: Both praise and castigation are necessary and should be fairly distributed. Positive reinforcement is critical in the development self-esteem 2. Over monitoring employees could turn to be unproductive 4. any academic field needs to be led by truly independent thinkers who are willing to ignore established boundaries and challenge long-standing assumptions. bottom-up. Parents should not ignore behavior which places their children in jeopardy 5. We rely on ancient teachings – problems have not grown any more complex over human history 6. Praising good actions is good advice. top down approach may be better as it gives an overall view of the system and then allows for greater detail to be explored. Individual need for positive reinforcement varies 2. Teachers should not rebuke or punish students for faulty reasoning 3. Similar analogues for employers and parents 2. Excessive praise can be patronizing or taken to be insincere 1. Teachers should critique student's work to help them learn 7. or parent—is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones. Accidentally broken plate does not deserve scolding – could inhibit childhood curiosity 2. Two approaches for studying – top-down vs. War and crime stem from male aggressive instinct and desire for power (wow. In regards to systems. we still face the same problems. ——————————————— "The best way to learn a new subject or skill is to study small segments or details in great depth rather than to start by trying to develop a sense of the whole. biological system (bottom-up). 1. The existence of God 1. I am surprised the guy wrote that) 5. Some people learn best by studying in detail and then considering the bigger picture. that was blatantly sexist.4. Administer even-handedly 3. employer. Avoid creating a teacher's pet 3. Some intellectual struggles seem to be never ending 1." 1. . Sometimes we make mistakes 1." 1." ——————————————— "The best way to teach—whether as an educator. Conclusion: Overall. Example: the Internet (top-down) vs. others focus on the bigger picture and then go into detail. ——————————————— "To remain vigorous. Therefore.or become extremely successful 4. 3. Students should do homework 3. 'Moderation in most things. Some cases people like to follow directions 1. waste time. Students should be ultimate decision makers regarding choice of major 1. Increased vulnerability to heart disease and other ailments 2. but ultimately it is your call to follow the advice or not 2. Students should be allowed to pursue course work that most interests them 3. Conclusion: Don't baby students too much ——————————————— " 'Moderation in all things' is ill-considered advice. body. Rebuttal: These lazy students will stay away from classes which more motivated and aggressive students will want to take – i.. Rather. Don't use drugs. colleges should eliminate as many choices as possible in order to offer students clear direction. Language students need to follow the lead of their teachers 4. Overexercise is bad. Chem students should follow instructions and procedures when setting up lab equipment 2. Must strike balance between. Otherwise. This is moderation. Creative and scientific work often involves a large amount of single-minded focus . Psychological burnout 3. Colleges which require a well-rounded curriculum will produce informed students 2.——————————————— "College students—and people in general—prefer to follow directions rather than make their own decisions. 1. Students need to learn these life lessons anyway 5. mind. Members of football team following coach's advice 2.' since many areas of human concern require or at least profit from intense focus. and spirit. In some situations." 1. So is eating too much or too little. Intellectual food chain 2. 1." 1. bad results.e. one should say. The doctor may advice. Moderation in all things allows us to sample more of what life and the world have to offer. Several Japanese men who work 100 hours a week or more die. Some students will be slackers 1. Balance core requirements and electives 4. 2. damage equipment 3.. Work is often associated with stress 1. Yielding to another's advice is still a personal decision 1. 2. students should be advised 1. Computers are useful for some tasks such as repetitive memorization related. 6. Preference for constraining our freedom of choice stems from our desire to protect and preserve that freedom 3. Another example in life – dating . Bullies enjoy restricting the freedom of others 3. Conclusion: Sometimes the work life balance must go out the window in order to achieve one's goal. Videos and television used as surrogates for teaching. 1. Humans prefer freedom of choice. ——————————————— "The purpose of education should be to create an academic environment that is separate from the outside world. more like babysitting. Teachers must use their time for planning or helping other students. Moderation calls us to question our goals. Certain activities are most effective when in group settings 4. Best learning happens in a 1:1 setting – teacher recognizes feedback from student. little indication that learning is happening. 2. frees up time for the teacher to engage in 1:1 contact w/ other students 7. Learning is passive. teacher can help student resolve social problems 6.5. ——————————————— "Most people prefer restrictions and regulations to absolute freedom of choice. Must choose interactive sources 3. and the Internet seem to offer schools improved methods for instructing students." 1. Look at the neighborhood playground. the play ground bully prevails 2. Efforts to restrict this freedom ultimately fail. Without any rules for behavior. equipment could fail 5." 1. Moderation in athletics breeds mediocrity. otherwise this is a waste of time. Conclusion: Technology should never substitute or become the focus of the learning. This kind of environment is ideal because it allows students to focus on important ideas without being held back by practical concerns. Technology start-up companies tend to require long periods of sustained concentration. these technologies all too often distract from real learning. 2. Not enough personal contact. example a language lesson 1. 1." ——————————————— "Although innovations such as video. Athletic performance requires intensity to stay competitive 1. Reasonable restraints on freedom are needed to protect it and avoid anarchy 2. even when no adults are around. children follow certain rules 1. 1. although they would probably deny such a preference. New technologies to be learned. computers. Aggressiveness breeds excellence and victory. Employment relationships 3. Undue loyalty towards political parties ——————————————— "Encouraging young people to believe that they can accomplish great things if they try hard enough is both misleading and potentially harmful." ——————————————— "Computers and video technology can make facsimiles of original works such as paintings and historical documents available to everyone. 2." . There are rules for operating vehicles 2. for the sake of their autonomy 3. Misguided or overextended loyalty can be destructive 1. Loyalty as a virtue depends on its extent and application. Conclusion: Reasonable constraints are necessary for operation ——————————————— "Most people are taught that loyalty is a virtue. or to any institution—is all too often a destructive rather than a positive force. Undue loyalty towards social cliques can result in condescending attitudes displayed towards outsiders or even worse. behavioral conflict 2. Teens agree to enter exclusive relationships. Employment contracts 1.1. But loyalty—whether to one's friends. Self-inflicting job constraints are usually born out of economic necessity. Undue loyalty towards a company can result in dealings which compromise public safety in the financial interest of the parent company 5. Selling property and making public statements about others 3. Stable governments require loyalty 2. Undue loyalty can hold abusive relationships together 3. All laws in a democratic society are ultimately the people's preference 1. later in life people marry 2." 1. The great advantage of this new technology is that it will enable anyone—not just scholars—to conduct in-depth research without having access to the original works. Undue loyalty towards one's country – fine line between patriotism and irrational jingoism 1. Many employees fail to advance their careers due to undue loyalty towards one's company 6. Sexual relationships require loyalty. Undue loyalty to college alma maters can lead to job discrimination 4. People who become self employed must constrain themselves in their contracts and customers and in how they use their time. These rules provide a sense of safety from injury 5. not because people enjoy being overworked 4. to one's school or place of employment. 1. any piece of information referred to as a 'fact' should be mistrusted since it may well be proven false in the future. Builds a sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm for winning a battle 2. the most objective evaluators of a person's greatness are people who belong to a later time. and behavior 3. Prince and Micheal Jackson ——————————————— "Much of the information that people assume is 'factual' actually turns out to be inaccurate. health 2. Entrepreneurial business people who thrive on innovation feel frustrated by a business which requires conformity 5. Too much structure quells creativity 2. Some people perform best in groups where their roles are clearly cut out 1. regardless of the expense to humans ." ——————————————— "An individual's greatness cannot be judged objectively by his or her contemporaries. Certain industries are more tailored to the conformist 1. Thus. accounting. was renowned for his eccentric manner of speech." 1. Thelonius Monk. Tend to go out of their way to avoid established norms 2." ——————————————— "Societies should try to save every plant and animal species. a pioneer in Bebop. Frank Lloyd Write used to wear a cape and top hat while carrying a cane as a student 4. Artists and musicians find such an environment stiflingly 3. Finance. dress. creative legal tactic may win a battle." ——————————————— "Although it is easy to respond positively to the work of another person or group. Those who work most effectively within constraints of established practice thrive the most 1. Cleaver idea for securing a deal. Nonconformity in battle would be chaotic 3. it is far more worthwhile to give negative feedback. Conformity does not necessarily suppress energy – depends on the person 1. but these are same strategies held by conformists playing the same game 4. Our most creative people are highly eccentric in their personal appearance 1.——————————————— "Conformity almost always leads to a deadening of individual creativity and energy. insurance. Military is bound by rules of conformity 1. Some people are nonconformists by nature 1. Energy comes from a sense of common mission within a group 2. legal. it is hard to determine whether art or science has contributed more. Consider Einstein who unintentionally contributed to the development of atomic weapons and energy. the food chain." • • • One reason might be that great thinkers deal with very abstract material." • • The statement reflects a personal prejudice with no evidence for support. but his theories about the universe may seem trivial to most people. even when they claim to admire them. Huamns need to do more to protect the environment and should allocate enough land for natural habitats so that food chain is not disturbed -." • • • • • • I agree that plants and animals should be preserved as much as possible. Artistic accomplishments are good for improving mood and perhaps outlook on life. This is not always the case. freedom. I find it to be a bit of a stretch personally. however. equality. Scientific accomplishments have done more good than artistic accomplishments in terms of curing diseases and alleviating the suffering in humans. Ultimately. some scientific accomplishments such as nuclear energy have been abused and have inflicted harm on society. but once we have the answer. Tied into culture and could enhance creativity. In terms of values such as fairness.stop chopping down the rain forests. and financial well-being. One can theorize about how the universe was born. time. ——————————————— "The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments. Humans view themselves as more valuable than animals and plants. Destruction of plants and animals happen naturally. Steven Hawkings is a great speaker who most people admire.depends on what the viewer values. humans will exploit animals and plants for their own financial benefit. Even • . Determining the value of a civilization is completely subjective -. We have placed ourselves at the top of the food chain through intellectual rather than physical accomplishment.in effort. outside of human influence -. science itself is not to blame for those cases when it is abused. Many people only appreciate the end result of great thinker's contributions. • • • • • ——————————————— "Most societies do not take their greatest thinkers seriously. does it really matter? Some may argue that astrology and cosmology are very distant from everyday problems and concerns. Humans are responsible for the application of science. but it is most prudent to preserve the natural food chain structure. although many would make that claim. Emphasis should be on maintaining the natural food chain otherwise human food sources will be in danger.forest fires. and peace. especially by those who were in conflict with the proposed causes. 1. • ——————————————— "We can usually learn much more from people whose views we share than from people whose views contradict our own.those industries which innovate rather than invent -.drug discovery is a very risky process. AIDS and regulating treatment costs Energy systems would be better off working together to best balance energy supply vs. Vice-versa.drug design. Disagreement can cause stress and inhibit learning. • Several great thinkers were taken seriously. When most people outside of the scientific field think of Einstein. disagreement can cause stress and inhibit learning.no competition Some industries would be better off with a more collaborative approach . Ghandi's principles of civil disobedience and hunger strikes proved to be very effective and other demonstraters have adopted his strategies. Disagreement with others can be counterproductive to learning. corporate America." 1. ——————————————— "Competition is ultimately more beneficial than detrimental to society. energy systems Drug design . Pacific • . 1.make the same product.car industries. computer industries Examples exist of very inefficient bureaucracies such as the DMV and public traffic systems (stop lights could be smarter. Radio talk shows 2. but only better -. I cannot think of one revolutionary idealist who was not also one of history's greatest thinkers. 5. over sixty years after dropping the atomic bomb there is still controversy about its justification. 2." • • • • Competition can be good in most industries -. 2. Results of research are very unknown until the research has actually been completed. Any other example where people vie only to have their opinions heard 3. Einstein invested much more energy into causes other than nuclear technology. Only works if both parties are willing to listen. but people primarily remember or prehaps admire him for his more practical contributions. better synchronized) most notably -. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King were taken very seriously at the time. Some areas of the country are more suitable for generating energy than others. but based on need. labor union. Decisions to build energy plants should not be hampered by economic politics. Factory owners vs.today. they remember him as being associated with nuclear technology rather than his theories of relativity and his 20year attempt to discover a unifying theory of matter. Environmental activists vs. Might be better to subsidizing drug discovery in exchange for assigning companies to designated causes: cancer. 4. Primarily through debate that human knowledge advances. Teenagers listening to parents regarding rational. Politicians 3. demand. non-scientists bring meaning. I agree that all research should be started with a specific objective in mind. Pros: 1.Northwest with an abundant supply of hydroelectric power supplies cheaper energy compared to the midwest which relies on coal. 1. Tools for observation such as telescopes. linguists. Fundamental skills and knowledge – productive members of society 2. Scientists make it possible. ——————————————— "It is more important to allocate money for immediate. solve those problems first which have the highest benefit/cost ratio. 2. Core needed for college foundation-. Solutions to long-term research may encompass band-aid solutions to short-term problems. • ——————————————— "No field of study can advance significantly unless outsiders bring their knowledge and experience to that field of study. geologists. Instead of dividing up problems into short-term and long-term problems. Author is simply selfish by contending that only research which may benefit him/her should be pursued. open-ness to viewpoints 2. 3." 1. 3. ——————————————— "A nation should require all its students to study the same national curriculum until they enter college rather than allow schools in different parts of the nation to determine which academic courses to offer. Knowledge about the universe and space. Basis for inclusion 1. lobbyists 2. money should be spent wisely and not in an aimless pursuit of trivial knowledge." 1. Cons: 1. Facilitate dissemination of dogma . Linguists interpret hieroglyphics and extrapolate from found fragments. existing social problems than to spend it on long-term research that might help future generations. Financial backing from business leaders and project managers. 2. Cultural anthropoligists knowledge of ancient civilization interpreted through help by biochemsits. Government influence. Core values for democratic objectives – tolerance." • • • • Long-term research may pay off more in the long run than solving short-term problems. Since tax payers ultimately support all research.needed level of pre-recs for freshman class 3. 1. Manned and unmanned space probes designed by engineers. Youth inherited the culture of the middle and older-aged population. • ——————————————— "The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records. police misconduct 2. Reflecting a person's state of mind 3. Full knowledge might not be in public's best interest 2.1." • • • • How does one define contemporary culture? Contemporary culture in regards to law and politics are shaped more by middle-aged people than youth. cultural depravity ——————————————— "The most effective way to understand contemporary culture is to analyze the trends of its youth. for political leaders to withhold information from the public. No use for documenting quantitative things – damage done in riot ——————————————— "It is often necessary. Not good for 1. Video good for documenting facts – riots. but also economic level and social class is highly tied into culture. even desirable. Censorship 3. A better understanding of contemporary culture goes beyond the surface of what exists and seeks to determine how cultural mores and values were established. legal matters relating to contacts 2. Example of California edu system – learn about ethnic groups represented in population 4. Middle-aged people tend to shape the economy more than youths. Conclusion – insurance for core knowledge vs. super bowl." 1. Video provides more objective and accurate record 2. Vital for legal things – traffic violations. Real Estate brochure 4. More to document – read between the lines 3. Natural events – hurricane 3. dramatic things 1. "Culture of the youth" is a gross generalization. Not all youth participate and share the same culture. Prohibit inclusion of texts with local or regional significance 1. Ethnic origin contributes." 1. Contrary: political freedom to withhold information may = demagoguery and undermine democratic philosophy . Withholding information may be necessary for obtaining and staying in power 4. Napolean. master of none. Scholars ideas do reach only a very narrow audience. Results from this area can affect the entire population. Politicians do need to become educated. Health. their ideas will have little use. there are many specializations inside electrical engineering which are highly diverse and have very little in common with each other. Rockefellar 3. Until scholars can reach a wider audience. 1. Most people do not have the time to become concerned / involved in these highly specialized areas -. Rich people fund culture in regards to fine arts. Big cities have more foreign people than small cities – could be assisting cultures of other nations. opinions. Large cities do not serve as breeding grounds for culture 4." 1. cannot be unbiased. Ted Turner." • • • • • • Scholars cannot widen their audience. Nixon and watergate ——————————————— "Academic disciplines have become so specialized in recent years that scholars' ideas reach only a narrow audience. Need to be forthright with citizens – Hitler. Consider electrical engineering. need to limit scope in order to accomplish anything at all. Some exceptions. • • ——————————————— "Governments must ensure that their major cities receive the financial support they need in order to thrive. lobbyists 2. Bill Gates. safety more important 2. people outside the field of genetic engineering need to become aware of benefits and consequences of genetic engineering and stem cell therapy. Academic disciples have become so specialized for a reason.we only have so much time on this earth -. Subsidizing cultural traditions not role of govt. because it is primarily in cities that a nation's cultural traditions are preserved and generated.3. Govt.need to specialize or nothing will get done. Pros: . Jack of all trades. The reason is that no one can become an expert in all fields. the audience reached is the audience that benefits. nuclear reactor leak 6. but in practical applications. ——————————————— "All nations should help support the development of a global university designed to engage students in the process of solving the world's most persistent social problems. Personal matters should be kept secret 5. Threaten safety – y2k malfunction. Carnegie." 1. Current academic disciples deal with very complicated problems. Some products from political science and law studies are applicable to the entire population. If internal characteristics is to mean genetics ." • • • • Author's contention could be problematic. Is author suggesting that something such as murder can be justified by the murderer's temporary situation and environment? At what point to attitudes translate into actions? How do attitudes differ from beliefs? What the author says does have merit. Cons: 1. Open-mindedness 5. Ex. Certain academic interests could be forced over others 1. I would agree to this claim. Global nature of problems – global warming 2." 1. then the author would be claiming that a person's attitudes which eventually translate into actions is influence by their immediate situation and surroundings. crime and murder rates are higher in more economically desperate areas. If author means that attitudes are shaped more by immediate situation than the individuals beliefs and morals which have been established by experience and reasoning. Author needs to better define what he or she means by "internal characteristics". Soviet distortion of research results 2. 3.1. The governments of countries in which these languages are spoken should act to prevent such languages from becoming extinct. But does this desperation partially justify those desperate actions which result? • • ——————————————— "Many of the world's lesser-known languages are being lost as fewer and fewer people speak them.then people are determine more by their environment and experience than by genetics. Are internal characteristics interpreted as genetics or rather the person's sense of ethics responsibility. Pros 1. No group of people has a logical advantage 3. Intellectual talent focused on issues under direction of university ——————————————— "People's attitudes are determined more by their immediate situation or surroundings than by any internal characteristic. dignity and self-worth? A bit of a stretch.. political problems 4. Language is tied into culture 2. Need to decide on which problems are worthwile 2. Would bring diverse cultural and educational perspectives 2. Most nations are interested only in their own success.. People in Europe maintain distinct languages despite closeness in terms of location . Pride. Myriad of political and administrative issues 1. Justice system is based on the belief that people act according to their moral system with minimal influence from situation and surroundings. Overly diversified could impede communication 2. There may be some benefit to reading thes • ——————————————— "The stability of a society depends on how it responds to the extremes of human behavior. May provide a favorable form of entertainment to the author. Examples of dictatorships which benefited the rulers greatly at the expense of the masses ultimately failed -. French Canadians maintain French as native language and blacks invented ebonics 4. Why preserve something that will die anyway? ——————————————— "It is necessary for everyone to read poetry. Radical racist and extremist groups have been unable to gain power because they fundamentally • • • • .1. mythology and other types of imaginative literature. There are more important problems that need to be solved – not role of government 5. Some imaginative literature such as science fiction has predicted inventions such as Jetpropelled aircraft and holographic images. novels. then they will work to resist those who undermine the government which gives them benefit." • • • • Author is supposing a benefit to reading these specific types of literature which is not given. but due to their imaginative nature. Requires time and effort to maintain more than one language 3. A better society works to avoid causes of extreme human behavior. Even in democratic stable governments. Teleportation still remains fantasy -. but not practical. Language barriers breed distrust and misunderstanding 4. If the majority of the people in a society have the fundamental human rights protected and are educated.were highly unstable -. Revolution results when government does not provide its citizens with fundamental human rights. Author goes too far by claiming that everyone *needs* to read such works. So a stable government has natural mechanisms which reduce the extremes of human behavior by ensuring that fundamental human rights and needs are protected. and medical professionals. The author is simply trying to impose their preferences on others. radical groups opposed to freedom such as the KKK still exist. Cons 1. lawyers. These types of literature may benefit creative thinking. Distinct languages can impede communication 2.because the majority of people's needs were not being met.imaginative. but there are other forms of entertainment and leisure activities. productive benefit cannot be realized by judges." • • • • Stable society must withstand. but not necessarily tolerate extremes of human behavior. Preserve distinct ideas that only language can convey 2. Only when ideas are tested can they gain strength . Cons 1. in fact.scientific method is based on this. Pros 1. Less pollution --> more expensive products 4." 1. they actually prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals. even more importantly. . Allow access to employment and ability to live remotely 3. Laws seen as way to balance competing interests ——————————————— "Only by being forced to defend an idea against the doubts and contrasting views of others does one really discover the value of that idea. Rely on cars instead of exercise. can be abused by drunk people 5. Teenagers and sense of independence 2. to disobey and resist unjust laws. Disobeying laws have unintended consequences – evade taxes – higher taxes. wave theory debate. Philosophical and theological debates can strengthen or change a person's beliefs.work to reduce rather than increase human rights. "There are two types of laws: just and unjust. ——————————————— "Although many people think that the luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life are entirely harmless." • • • • Only the fact that we exist can be proven with certainty. Conclusion – some dependence can increase independence.abortion 3. Quantum theory vs. become too dependent 2. more enforcement 5. Symbols of status – undermine financial stability for image 3." 1. Fairness of a law is subjective based on persons personal interest 1. The BMW M3 4. Hard on environment. Stereotype – people who avoid cars spend more time growing their own food or with their families 3. Automobiles serve to enhance our independence 2. but the reason for the dependence matters. Confusion of power automobile with powerful person 4. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and. Fairness depends on personal value system . Classification is binary – everything seen as either good or bad 2. Allowing one to disobey on basis of morality allows for illegal activity – blow up an abortion clinic 6. world being flat. then society could be improved by increasing the work week by one day.putting themselves in direct conflict with those who benefit under the status quo." • • • • • View is contradictory society is composed of individuals -. Those who are really in earnest about reforming a government.agist." • • • • This is true because reform requires one to challenge the status quo -.a reformer who sought to change government faced opposition from those who benefited from free labor and racist exploitation. sun being at the center of universe . MLK faced physical threats and violence from racist white oppressors. it must put its own overall success before the well-being of its individual citizens.even more difficult to determine how age influences the benefit.their well-being determines how well society thrives Difficult to determine "thrive" -." • • • • • • • • Reasons for support: Children will eventually grow into adults.• Ideas which were not questioned are based on desires and prejudices of individuals. ——————————————— "Reform is seldom brought about by people who are concerned with their own reputation and social standing. Famous reformers such as Ghandi and MLK faced strong opposition. or any other institution must be willing to be viewed with disdain by the rest of the world. Reasons against: At what age do "children" become "adults"? Author proposes to support one group of people over another -. ——————————————— "If a society is to thrive. He was eventually shot for his beliefs.is it measured by happiness or financial output? If so. But people would feel over-worked. ——————————————— "National governments should devote more of their social programs and services to children than to adults. Ghandi had to use hunger strikes . These were based on what seemed preferential or intuitive to the author. Abraham Lincoln . Each individual's level of well-being determines how much they contribute back to society Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Children will live in society longer than current adults. This view is ageist though. Were not challenged because to challenge these beliefs would be to challenge beliefs held by those in power. an educational system. Helping children over adults may help society benefit for longer. . Difficult to determine the long-term benefit of various social programs -.inflicting harm on himself in order to get his message across. What requires real effort and courage is to .technology makes available many pieces of factual information. but it does not understand the information that it is retrieving. • Attempts to find a better approach to finding information – assembled by experts rather than a relevance database – dmoz. Generalization -. Expert adjusts level of information to the level of user's understanding.certainly cannot hold true in all cases.very few are against campaign finance reform. Solving detailed problems requires detailed information. ——————————————— "People in positions of power are most effective when they exercise caution and restraint in the use of that power. celebrities. As a result. No one really opposed the reform that occurred after the Watergate scandal. Speaker goes too far by using the word "always" -.org. then there would be no unique attitudes – all would be inherited from others.better to have too specific. not a few individuals. teachers.we mirror the "popular" image. Popular activists such as MLK and Ghandi certainly did not mirror society. Hard to define the personality of society "as a whole" . We are a product of our environment. If this is true. Yet it is always society as a whole that defines us and our attitudes.which characteristics dominate." • • • • • • • People miss the big picture. friends. ——————————————— "Many people believe that a few individuals or small groups (family. people have become so preoccupied with bits of fragmented information that they pay too little attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives. Fault . Certain individuals definitely have more influence than others. ——————————————— "Contemporary technology makes available many small pieces of factual information. It is up to the user to interpret such facts. for example) have caused them to think and behave in the way they do. People receive inspiration from inspirational people -. Learning from a computer is not as easy as talking to an expert.technology is good at retrieving information based off of keywords." • • • • • • • Idea is based on conformity -.not the masses.people have distinct and opposing personalities -. Web searches can yield information that is too general or too specific . Fundamentally wrong.• • It is not necessary however that all reform must be viewed with disdain -." ——————————————— "Anyone can make things bigger and more complex. Students who have learned only facts have learned very little. earth = center of the universe 5. 4. trends. It takes courage to bring forth revolutionary new products 2. Memorizing can equate to trivia." ——————————————— "No one can possibly achieve success in the world by conforming to conventional practices and conventional ways of thinking. In such situations. sheer exertion 5.move in the opposite direction—in other words.needed to test hypothesis. Takes considerable effort and courage on the part of legislators to deliver simpler tax codes at the expense of risking special-interest support 2. unbridled ambition ——————————————— "Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past. Conclusion: Practice should depend on what facilitates learning the most. Cons 1. Conceptual framework provides significance to facts 3. Conclusion unfairly generalizes 2. No reason why memorizing cannot come first as long as process does not stop there 2. to make things as simple as possible. Use of time saving gadgets to enable more productivity and save time 4. ex. Companies deliver increasingly complex products to stay ahead 1. IRS – considerable federal effort has been applied to make tax codes more complex 1. Effort = reflection and restraint vs. but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. Periodic table 2. Empirical observations – facts . ——————————————— . etc. modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served. more destinations 3." 1. Takes courage to forgo near-term products and produce something of lasting significance 3. formulate theory. Flat earth theory. lacks real-world problem solving 3. Concept conjured with little data reflects the conjures prejudices and desires 1. Pros 1." ——————————————— "Students should memorize facts only after they have studied the ideas. Sometimes you need to understand definitions to understand concepts 3. and concepts that help explain those facts. Courage = courageous character and conviction vs. Rote memorization teaches very little." 1. More mobility we have. distraction from more important issues 3. ——————————————— "The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people's efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time. Celebrities 1. Money can be wasted on research – objectives must be defined to prevent waste 1." 1. Tech can help us plan and communicate more efficiently. supply and demand." 1. politicians. Clinton 1. 3. People like to see famous people suffer/struggle. Two breadwinners vs." 1. Research must explore uncharted territory 2. Give public what they want. aids research and poverty . Computers allow us to work away from the office 4. watch for misuse of power 3. Health. Most people want the attention associated with fame. Technology can be difficult and time consuming to learn 4."Public figures such as actors. Cannot know results of research until research is completed 1. Reagan's “Star Wars” defense initiative vs. Duty as public servants legitimizes. freedom ——————————————— "Money spent on research is almost always a good investment. and athletes should expect people to be interested in their private lives. When they seek a public role. they should expect that they will lose at least some of their privacy. Why should leisure time be maximized? 2. safety. 1. to some extent. one 2. education. More important things should be pursued than leisure 1. Media is a corporation driven by profit. 2. Technological advancement has diminished leisure time since the 60s 1. 2. Politicians 1. Society bears voyeuristic people who seek to live more interesting lives vicariously through other people. makes them seem more like themselves. scrutiny of private life 2. More time spent working 3. 3. even when the results of that research are controversial. Waste of public money on private matter. Marketing 1." ——————————————— "Creating an appealing image has become more important in contemporary society than is the reality or truth behind that image. products must be differentiated through advertising 2. it is more harmful to compromise one's beliefs than to adhere to them. Mozart – evidenced by large commissions paid by European monarchs . not by their contemporaries." 1. String Theory – will it unify wave and quantum theory? 2." ——————————————— "No matter what the situation. Gore vs. Accomplishments of others may be based on another's contribution 1. Such concentration is necessary in today's increasingly work-oriented society. J. Researcher cannot solve problems which stem from human nature 4. Longterm – values and accomplishments dominate over image 7. Nuclear energy 5. Mark Twain 2. entry-level teachers in mathematics and in the arts should receive the same pay. Politics 1. Bush 5. Some research designated to solve problems actually exacerbate suffering 1. Artistic greatness can be recognized immediately 1. Finite resources – invest with objectives weighed against other uses of financial assistance ——————————————— "A school or college should pay its teachers at the same rate in all disciplines. Cigarettes – Marlboro 6. Music industry 4. For example. Image in the automotive world.F. courses ranging from the arts and the humanities to the physical and biological sciences—colleges and universities should allow students to enroll only in those courses that will help prepare them for jobs in their chosen fields. Conclusion – Better products and ideas require less marketing ——————————————— "Instead of requiring students to take courses in a variety of disciplines—that is. math specialists earn a much higher salary on average than do specialists in the arts. Publishers rely more on their brands than on the content of their books 3. 1. In the physical sciences. even if outside of school. Nixon. theories must be tested over time.3." 1.K vs. regardless of differences in salaries for related fields in the world outside of school." ——————————————— "The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them. In a few cases. but in science takes more time. 2. College offers more than simply more intellectual challenge compared to high school.3. Conclusion: Utilize both television and books. Books are more portable 3. Carries claim that non-fiction works which cannot be transferred to television carries less weight. 4. no indication that learning is taking place 2. ——————————————— "In most societies. musicals 3. To • . Compare topics available at library vs. People can learn as much by watching television as they can by reading books. which develops students in ways other than strictly academic. Bill Gates – Helped restore Americans to a technological powerhouse 4. Artists may find that the college atmosphere and didactic teaching methods stifle creativity rather than foster it. Some business achievements are recognized immediately 1. For conveying events and experiences." 1. Television serves the lowest common denominator and is dominated by media corporations 1. books favor the expression of ideas and knowledge. 6. Henry Ford – Made cheap cars for common person 2. ballets. reading books is not as important as it once was. it is likely that some actually would. However. Television is passive. ——————————————— "The intellectual benefits of attending a university or college are vastly overrated: most people could learn more by studying and reading on their own for four years than by pursuing a university or college degree. Sports athelets often plan to defer college until after their athletic careers. video has an advantage 1." ——————————————— "In the age of television. College is also a social experience. video can be a more effective way of learning. Some people may learn more by studying or reading for four years. Frank Lloyd Wright 3. channels on television. Riots. Cons: 1. Current events favor television. competition generally has more of a negative than a positive effect. Books allow for readers to cross-reference 5. College may not be the best use of time for every person. Television is more limited than books." • • The author is saying that college is a waste of time compared to other uses. the speaker's statement goes too far. considering all the people who exist. Conclusion: greatness can be recognized immediately in some fields. Sensational and dramatic 4. • Because the college experience is a social experience. the college system is designed to keep students studying efficiently and provides measurable benchmarks of performance and progress in terms of examinations. Steven Hawkings – research in social studies 3. However. Many students feel rushed and do not have adequate time to completely absorb the material that they are learning before being tested. Research cannot be predicted before it has begun. A person will best be able to apply his or her talents if the person is doing what he or she truly enjoys. many students find it challenging to accomplish both their academic and social goals. . Loss of genuine interest or motivation 4. some semesters can be challenging and students feel over-loaded. however unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem. Who is to decide which areas of academic inquiry are worthwhile? 2. it is difficult to enjoy something if it provides no fulfillment.suggest that the college experience can be obtained through studying and reading in isolation indicates that the speaker may not fully understand all that the college experience encompasses. We are motivated to pursue those activities at which we are inclined to excel. 2. • • ——————————————— "Scholars and researchers should not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution to the larger society. but the habit is certainly not healthy or sustainable. it is challenging to engage with enthusiastic experts of a given academic field. Trying to balance school. I would suggest that the college learning system is not perfect. However. Valuable social interaction may often interfere with academic studies. Fulfillment is near the top of the pyramid of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. from personal experience and discussions with others. Academic pressure and grades can place too much emphasis on getting the right answer rather than learning. Students perform best in those courses which interest and challenge them the most. It is more important that they pursue their individual interests. It may not be as important as food or shelter. 3. One student I know took a Calculus examination which included material originally taught the day before his examination. social life. but not fulfilling are sexual pleasures and video games. since students are in a competitive environment and grades provide motivation for keeping up with the pace of the class. The closest analogy to something which can be enjoyable. Research in fields of physics and chemistry were requirements for the birth of atomic physics. 1." 1. It may taste good at first. but it is a requirement for a healthy and happy human. Also. However. Could waste talent by mandating areas of study. social life. they chose their work according to what they enjoyed and what interested them. However. living off of these pleasures alone is like trying to live off of a diet consisting of only candy. and meaningful research without going to college. How effective would Albert Enstein or Edward Teller be as artists or jazz musicians? Maybe they would be successful. People simply invest more attention and practice into those areas which are most relevant. Reading and studying on one's own provides very little indicator of personal development and academic progress. However. and possibly part time jobs can be difficult and force students to sacrifice some needs such as sleep and adequate preparation for their courses. shift the burden of making difficult choices to authority outside ourselves. Some members may only engage passively. Idiosyncratic or unusual fields may lead to the greatest benefits 5. Realization that we are mortal – try to search for evidence in the afterlife. . Non-mainstream areas of inquiry address certain human needs which science cannot. 1." • • • • Working in groups is not always beneficial. Pro: Knowledge can be shared. So the group can only progress when everyone understands the current concept.4. 7. Thinking through things takes longer as everyone must understand. Form connections beyond the grave through psychic experiments. one cannot realize how alternative paths would compare in terms of overall benefit. 6. Claims above are unfalsifiable – they cannot be proved or disproved with empirical evidence. fortune-telling. Fields are not based on logic. Following the advice of a tarot card. 3. Stubborn adherence to self-righteous arrogance and irrational beliefs may become destructive once the deception is unmasked by reason and logic. Some fields of intellectual contribution are hard to measure – arts and humanities. can cause conformity in thought." 1. 9. All members of the group may not provide the same effort. ——————————————— "Because learning is not a solitary activity but one that requires collaboration among people. multiple sources of knowledge and viewpoints. 7. and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science. but overall they probably do more harm than good. I am not convinced that peer-review actually works. Allow for charlatans and others to dupe those who do not rely on reason. But many would claim that there is a larger societal benefit. Some solace might be afforded. 8. 4. Conclusion: These pursuits promote irrational behavior. 2. Life is filled with difficult choices. students of all ages will benefit academically if they work frequently in groups. Areas of inquiry may help relieve a burden. 5. These may be seen by many as fields of intellectual fantasy. 10. multiple minds. ——————————————— "Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology. and can promote self-deception which could become injurious. The Mona Lisa was painted by one painter for a reason. Professors rarely criticize each other. Peer-review prevents professors at public universities from squandering money on personal intellectual fantasies 6. no one wants enemies. Conclusion: Foster individual talents and prevent waste of public funds by peer-review. but otherwise not useful to society. " 1. In the real world. Different definitions for success 1. Some research efforts such as the Manhattan project were performed to achieve specific goals. Cutting edge research becomes a matter of defense. both academic and industrial. Business leaders will maximize profits in the long term by minimizing social and environmental harm 3. To fall behind in biotechnological knowledge relative to other • ." • Full consequences of research cannot be predicted until well-after the research has begun. Unethical behavior might help one to gain office. Personal moral foibles are less related to political leadership 1.• • • The claim that students of all ages will benefit needs further consideration. ——————————————— "Government should not fund any scientific research whose consequences. Learning can be a solitary activity. promoting education 3. either medical or ethical. Atomic energy research could be used to destroy other nations or it could be used to bring about safer and more effective anti-cancer treatments. 2. people work in groups. Making safe products. People can self-teach. Most research today has multiple applications. consider the possible implications of not pursuing cutting edge research. Some areas of knowledge may be viewed as dangerous. a public official must maintain the highest ethical and moral standards. There are ethical and religious implications such as using aborted embryos for stem cell research. Some children are hyperactive and impulsive. Business 1. more critical assessment – enhancing society. could disrupt group dynamics. 4. Successful leadership is one which maximizes profits. Stalin and Hitler 3. ——————————————— "To be an effective leader. protecting the environment 2. Business leadership must strike a balance between profit maximization and delivering societal benefits. but beyond these concerns. Kennedy 2. Public morality and successful leadership are more closely connected 1. vs. High standards for one's own public morality are prerequisites for successful social-spiritual leadership. Conclusion: Political and social-spiritual leadership requires adherence to high standards of public morality. Political 1. Research is often done in groups involving students of multiple disciples – computational microbiology. 5. are unclear. but will be a downfall eventually. the countries which do develop these technologies and hold protective patents will have a significant economic advantage. Politicians have a moral responsibility to lead. but rather the electoral college determines the next president.a purely hypothetical question. As people are living longer. more money is being invested into drugs which allow people to live longer and healthier. but military technologies are specifically developed for the purpose of killing and seem to have much greater moral implications due to the nature of how they bring about death and destruction -." • Government officials were elected by people based on their political campaign claims and ethical background. Rule by the strict majority is no different than mob rule. A country which does not consider all possibilities leaves itself open to exploitation. Example. people will support those officials who most closely adhere to their desires and self-interest. it is best to pursue research and become knowledgeable about possible threats. So in this sense. But consider what would happen if a country bans research in an area such as life-extension due to ethical concerns about people living forever and becoming too powerful -. For example. sports. • Another reason for pursuing cutting-edge research is to stay economically competitive relative to other countries. I admit. To lead is to do what is best for the people being represented. ——————————————— "Government officials should rely on their own judgment rather than unquestioningly carrying out the will of the people whom they serve. Research can be viewed the same way. Stem cell research could likely gain more support by next president. Officials need to show some conviction of beliefs and adhere to their own moral principles. and other areas attribute their success to a well-developed sense of competition. the high concentration of senior citizens does not justify cutting the needs of a minority. But if there are a number of people who desire such technologies. I am willing to submit that military technology will extend into other areas of technology as biological and computational warfare emerge. the theory is that it is safer than closed-source software because there are more people to look for flaws. industry. the will of the people will ultimately succeed over any shortterm efforts by an elected official to do otherwise. Since software is open-source and can be analyzed by anyone. A similar argument is made for open-source software. • • • • ——————————————— "While some leaders in government. All people are biased by self-interest and competing objectives. a society can better prepare its young people for leadership .often uncontrollably. Biotechnological research seems to be gaining most of the media attention lately. Bush's veto to stop stem cell research. Since we do not know of other areas which require defense. too many senior citizens in a given area may push for cheaper prescription drugs at the cost of cutting educational funding. then political figures would not serve any purpose and increased political efficiency could be attained by following polls and popularity indicators directly. There is a reason that people do not directly vote for a president. If their only role was to carry out the majority opinions. But the majority of voters support these technologies and the research into these technologies because they are protective of their own safety and well-being. Government ultimately exists to serve the people. Ultimately. In this hypothetical situation.competing countries could leave a nation vulnerable to biological attacks. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few. Fairness and justice can give way to emotions 1. Reduce harmful emissions and consumption of finite resources 3. Some problems can only be solved through cooperative international efforts 1. Through history there is almost always a key individual who provides the necessary impetus for what otherwise might be a group effort . Competition minded people tend to focus on thwarting the competition 4. Conclusion: speaker is correct ——————————————— "The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. A thriving economy depends on a competitive business environment 1. Demagogues and despots 4. daytime talk shows 3. stability 2. Creative writing requires cognitive ability to understand language 5. economy. Hate crimes and gang warfare 2. ——————————————— "Society does not place enough emphasis on the intellect—that is. Weapon disarm 2. Jewish Holocaust and holy wars 3." 1.by instilling in them a sense of cooperation. Some may argue that this would diminish artistic creativity 1. A driven leader does not have to forsake cooperative efforts within the company 2. Emphasize compassion and empathy 2. Sabotage or go elsewhere 3. on reasoning and other cognitive skills." 1. but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten. Conclusion: Survival in today's world often depends on corporation. De-emphasis on intellect encourages: 1. Art students must learn theories and techniques 2. Cons 1. Too much emphasis on cognitive intellect over emotions can result in depression or illness 1. Learning about key historical figures inspires us to achieve great things 2. Peace." 1. Subordinates might resent leaders who do not seek their input 1. Effective leadership depends on corporation 1. Imaginary works can provide a more memorable stories 1." 1. all faculty should be required to spend time working outside the academic world in professions relevant to the courses they teach. but by masses 1. Imaginative works can provide point of view and imagery 4. In some cases. In some fields. ——————————————— "In order to improve the quality of instruction at the college and university level. plays. their creations have a more lasting significance. Factual accounts provide a frame of reference needed to understand and appreciate imaginative works 3. Fictional works set in historical periods lose much of their meaning without prior factual accounts. Because the creators of fiction shape and focus reality rather than report on it literally. Bill Gates 3. Schindler's List. ——————————————— "Imaginative works such as novels. Citizen Kane. if not King. Values concerning human life reflect biases of political leaders 5. the professor's work involves practical work of the kind outside academia 1. Ghandi 1. fairy tales. Long term social trends are often instigated not by key individuals. then eventually most probably someone else 4." 1. if not Ghandi. Factual accounts are more objective. 2. Depends on academic area 2. Pros 1. and legends present a more accurate and meaningful picture of human experience than do factual accounts. Gutenburg's printing press. However. Stories which tell what life must have been like are more likely to stick in our minds 2. Although social movements depended on the masses. Artists 2. a leader provided the spark for the change. there is no professional work outside academia – humanities. but not more meaningful 1. Faculty can come to class with fresh insights and a contagious excitement about the subject . Social motivators – King. maybe things will change in the future. Titanic 5. films. Arguably.1. Fictional works rely on historical settings of the time 2. Performing arts professor demonstrating techniques and styles 4. Henry Ford. Conclusion: Science and politics are being conducted increasingly by groups people. philosophy 3. some religious leaders provide prevailing attitudes about sexual morality 2. Example – sociology professor who joined a cult undercover 5." • Education encourages people to understand rather than to challenge the status quo. Successful individuals learn to grow and overcome challenges rather than pursue things less challenging. for example. Students have unique talents and abilities and those fields of study which best allow the student to demonstrate his or her talents will be rewarding. and therefore does little to promote social harmony. faculty can enrich their careers with real world experience ——————————————— "Education will be truly effective only when it is specifically designed to meet the individual needs and interests of each student. Additionally. For example. • • • ——————————————— "Education encourages students to question and criticize. Can address more specific questions about the field. Practical experience can boost a professor's credibility in the area 4. Life is not a bowl of cherries and sometimes it is the challenging. 5. The same can be said of medicine and law. but a truly successful student has endured and even expanded intellectually under less desirable subject matter. 1. one student may not be very interested in one particular course that is required in his or her major. 3. In order to grow the most. such practice would not be very productive. a person must be challenged. one cannot realistically expect all parts of education to be fulfilling and intellectually enjoyable. They can stay informed about demands of work as a professional and help advise students. For example. Education may not always meet the needs and interests of the student. I agree with this statement. A student can be successful in a course of study even if it is not as interesting as other courses if the student can engage him or her self to learn and grow the most under the circumstances.1. In the same way. but often this challenge can be rewarding in itself." • Generally. Conclusion: When applicable. Allow professor to see potential areas of research based on problems facing industry. education can be viewed similar to physical exercise. A student may find calculus boring. They can bring real world account of theories and principles to how applicability – motivating effect 2. However. in . A body builder could make his or her work easier by simply lifting the lightest weights available or training for the shortest amount of time. but not necessarily interesting events which shape and broaden our character. Both of these professions require a broad range of courses and it would be unrealistic to expect all course matter to be equally relevant and interesting for a given individual. Finally. Interesting courses are preferable of course. One learns the most when they are challenged. However. but understands that it is just a step in the path to a more fulfilling application. education is designed to increase one's intellectual abilities and knowledge through challenge. fundamental courses from other disciplines such as mathematics and physical sciences must be mastered. A student usually becomes more involved in his or her education when the subject matter is found to be interesting. in order to master the field of engineering. The reality is that resources are finite and compromises must be made. However. but it cannot be rationally claimed that the intent of education is to encourage criticism or challenging the status quo for its own sake. Some students may not be ready for this challenge and it is easier to squander someone else's money over one's • . fully financed by the government. blowing up an abortion clinic to express one's feelings on abortion will certainly get attention and would do little to promote social harmony. • Education can provide one with the knowledge and reasoning to evaluate and challenge social conventions. Some courses of study such as philosophy and history do make the student well-aware of social exploitations of the past. Indeed. one may uncover injustices and social concerns. social injustice is like a form of cancer. science now tells us that simple and convenient views. as history demonstrates. but does not promote criticism or the questioning of authority directly. We cannot be right about everything. However. • • ——————————————— "College and university education should be free for all students. Finally. So overall. have made mistakes in the past. A few individuals may view protests and criticism of the status quo as efforts to undermine social harmony. this view equates to forced tolerance." • Everything should be made free. For example. as much more weight is given to examinations rather than participation in class. but it is best addressed as early as possible before its habits of injustice become ingrained and accepted. democracy is no better than a scientific theory. The problem may not be easy to fix. A student could perhaps become more aware or more cautious of social exploit ions in present time as a consequence. College demands some level of intellectual maturity upon entering. However. This would likely result in higher taxes. However. many slave owners before the Civil War would have preferred to maintain the status quo. However. So education trains attaining knowledge. so will democracy. ultimately. However. even though they may be accepted by a large number of people.the course of understanding. although the theory was preferable to those in power at the time of Copernicus. A student must be willing to take more responsibility for his or her studies. Not all students are ready for college. It would be convenient if we could accept simple theories for everything. due to desires humans had at the time to believe that the human race was at the center of God's creation. a college education is more likely to increase salaries and therefore the overall negative financial burden to the government could be moot. just as scientific knowledge has developed through questioning and criticism under the sincere efforts to create better theories and explanations. can be incorrect. the most popular social leaders in the past have demonstrated rational and effective means for catalyzing change. Peaceful protests and civil disobedience have been effective nonviolent means which address and ultimately correct social problems and ultimately serve to promote social harmony. those who question the status quo in cases where it promotes injustice are doing society a favor by working to correct these problems before they become worse. Because democracy is government run by imperfect people who. Some ways of addressing a problem can be destructive and counter-productive. Social injustices can be addressed in a variety of ways. However. Once one has discovered a social injustice. so will society grow under questioning. it is likely that we humans will also continue to make mistakes in the future. the next logical step is to address it. such as the belief that the earth lies at the center of the universe. Just as scientific theories have evolved over time. such acts of violence are not rational nor the product of a rational person. Some people may object to this opportunity for preference. and so knowledge about events in the past can not be directly and beneficially applied to the present. In this view." An alternative view is that the forces of history are too great to be changed by human deliberation." Historians often claim that the study of history teaches valuable lessons with regard to past successes and failures of leaders. the movers and shakers of this world are usually too self-involved to stop to look at the big picture. and indeed many. but only up to a point? European governments such as Hungary do offer free education. reads: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In turn. it may wish to reconsider how it allocates funding. • For the same reason that it is easier to squander someone else's money over one's own resources. but only to academically qualified students. Some restrictions would need to be placed in order to make the program feasible. Such contrasts with regard to "history's value" serve as examples of history as an outlet for intellectual debate. and the effects of factors such as trade and technology. I certainly would have stayed in college and taken many more courses if I did not have to pay the financial burden. Hungry also has restrictions put in place to prevent "professional scholars" or people who attend college their entire lives and thus remain an elected drain on government financial resources for the sake of their own intellectual interests. Who determines how much money is allocated to each person and to what school that person is allowed to attend? What is the basis for making such a decision? A possible public concern is that certain students could be allowed to attend more expensive colleges if they agree to pursue specific fields of study. From history we may learn factors that result in the rise and fall of nation-states or civilizations." This was famously paraphrased by the British statesman. One of the most famous quotations about history and the value of studying history. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel remarked in his Philosophy of History that "What history and experience teach us is this: that people and government never have learned anything from history or acted on principles deduced from it. Colleges range in financial expense. consider that many students do not know what they want to major in upon entering college. If the government has the intention that a college degree will bring in more money for government programs and operation in the form of taxes. George Santayana." The German Philosopher. military strategy and tactics. Would some restriction be placed on how much funding can be allocated for each person? Is college free. who said "The one thing we have learned from history is that we don't learn from history. both in and outside of academia. by Spanish philosopher. forms of government. . and other recurring themes in the human story. economic. even if people do change the course of history. Yet another view is that history does not repeat itself because of the uniqueness of any given historical event. However. economic systems. Winston Churchill. the strengths and weaknesses of various political. and social systems. this can be seen as cultivating further intellectual interest. or that. would argue that at least part of history's value lies simply in its ability to provoke such discussion.own. the specific combination of factors at any moment in time can never be repeated. • • ——————————————— "History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today. Knowledge about how technologies have been applied in the past seems to offer caution in regards to regulating emerging technologies. Consequently. Knowledge of facts can contribute to a high GPA. Internet commerce emerged instantly in the mid 1990's with the birth of the Internet.• Decisions are best made logically. As soon as we acquired the means to produce efficient energy though nuclear power. The past teaches us lessons which still have application today. Nuclear weapons was an application of knowledge of nuclear physics. Unfortunately. Often times. . but all the knowledge can be discarded after the final examination unless the student masters the meaning behind the knowledge. ultimate consequences have remained too often unforeseen. • • • • ——————————————— "Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education. The fall of the World Trade Center also reminds us of the intolerance religion can encourage. In a similar manner. it is possible to escape tax codes by purchasing over the Internet. If everyone behaved according to logic. In retrospect. it is because people by nature make mistakes do not always behave according to logic that history has its place in education as tool which allows us to learn from our mistakes and also about our humanity. I suggested earlier that best made logically. but what good is a high GPA is nothing besides facts and application are learned? The true aim of education is to enable one to learn and grow independently. 10 years later. For better or worse. the application of new technologies out paces regulation. However. People do not like to be told how they should behave and attempts to legislate morality have so far failed. The primary focus of education should be to obtain knowledge. we immediately gained the ability to destroy millions of people with a single weapon. Nuclear weapons lead to the destruction of a large number of people and ultimately the Cold War. making something illegal often has the effect of only raising the value of the illegal substance as people engage in more desperate attempts to acquire it. history would have no value outside of entertainment. Another aspect of the prohibition on alcohol as mentioned above relates to morality. Consider the appearance of nuclear technology." • Achieving high grades should not be the primary focus of education. The prohibition on sales of alcoholic beverages proved to be unpopular as people who relied on these substances found more violent and dangerous ways of acquiring their recreational supports. similar to the Christian Crusades in Europe. The sinking of the titanic or the fall of the World Trade Center on September 11th cause us to re-evaluate our standards for safety in engineering. High grades can be obtained though diligent study. we also became feared by other nations because of this technology and seems that this fear resulted in the Cold War. history can only show us problems with the human condition as well as practices which do not work. could a scientist researching nuclear technology back in the early 1900s have predicted the cold way 60 years later though logic? We can now appreciate how throughout history. people desire liberty and wish to be free to do whatever they desire. Attempts to legislate morality by banning homosexual marriage or abortion have seemed to be unsuccessful. Similar to banning fireworks. the war on drugs has remained unsuccessful as peer pressure and the will to overcome reality proves to be more powerful than attempts to curb recreational drug usage. History does provide information about social practices which have failed. Knowledge about the past can help people make important decisions today. Laws of taxation could not keep up and even today. failing to give attention to these growing problems would allow them to spiral out of control in the not-so-distant future. the student may find more traction by viewing the course as an intellectual challenge or mind game rather than a required course which must be taken in order to earn a degree. However. Competition for high grades can actually be productive assuming that a student is forced to take a given class and does not enjoy the course material. but they do serve a purpose. In such an unideal case. history. However. from my experience. governments focusing only on the immediate problems are likely to end up in an undesirable situation. Perhaps competition is the best motivator for this type of test. However. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to send a probe to Mars only to watch it malfunction upon landing seems to be an utterly worthless waste of tax revenue. space exploration enabled the technology to develop communications satellites which are relevant in applications from GPS to broadcasting.• However. For example. but it was mostly motivated for political reasons and the huge amounts of funding that went into that event might have been better spent on advancing research into medical problems such as cancer more relevant to humans today. In engineering. Since resources are limited. many students would squander their academic years on other activities outside of learning if they had absolutely no benchmark for their progress. I agree that sending Neil Armstrong to walk on the mood and install an American flag while most of American watched is an inspiring event for all humans since it illustrates human accomplishment." • It would be foolish for government to focus on only the immediate problems of today. One example of anticipating a problem of the future that probably should not have gained funding or consideration is space exploration. but especially beyond the first year. Unless a student is motivated by a desire to learn. It is easier to pass off problems to others or defer paying a growing expense until later. • • ——————————————— "Governments should focus more on solving the immediate problems of today rather than trying to solve the anticipated problems of the future. A counter argument to the above view is that research and the benefits and consequences of research cannot be predicted. Grades are not ideal. College exams that I have taken in history require the student to look beyond the facts and dates and discern meaning and significance behind historical events. required much more than knowledge of facts. and likely other fields. Need some mechanism to keep unmotivated students responsible for their intellectual development. physical education which is a required high school class is largely graded based on physical fitness testing. For example. to gain a high GPA requires more than just memorizing facts. • • . Performing well on examinations required application and a deep understanding of how knowledge learned can be applied to solve problems. Failing to install fiscal responsibility in government spending will certainly harm future generations of a given country if not one's own generation. students are likely to perform best when they are interested in the material rather than treating learning as a game. It is the problem solving that is the emphasis on exams. Not focusing on reality. achieving a high GPA is not an easy task. I can only speak from personal experience in regards to my area of specialization within electrical engineering. At some levels of education this certainly hold true. these resources must be invested wisely. But just as people get into financial debt out of poor planning. attaining a high GPA will therefore be difficult. performing well on exams through all years of college. To do so would be to ignore global warming and allow weapons of mass destruction to go unregulated. Government has invested money poorly into some programs and not provided enough funding for others. solving the most critical problems first can provide benefits of increased productivity when addressing other problems." • The rapid pace of life does not necessarily cause more problems. Another case where direct experience is superior to books is in regards to training. thousands of hours of non-commercial flight training and experience are required. For example. Consider fighting in a war. databases far superior to their paper equivalent. Also mostly absent from books is emotion. Solving some problems will have a trickle-down effect that will accelerate progress in regards to solving other problems. investing in the development of computing technology (mostly for space exploration and military applications) in the mid 20th century accelerated engineering efforts in other areas. • Finally. the benefits and consequences of research can not be completely predicted. Actually being present in the war gives a much more vivid impression of the violence and fear present as well as the environmental setting in which the war was taking place. It would be a bit awkward if during takeoff. In many other areas. Even if the pilot was joking." • • It is difficult to compare direct experience with knowledge gained from a text book. direct experience cannot even compensate for the knowledge obtained in books. How can quantum mechanics or molecular biology be taught through direct experience? • • • ——————————————— "The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves. If people were perfectly logical and did not need to rely on actual experience. he or she could likely be sued for causing stress. then you know how to operate a motor vehicle.Just as nuclear physics delivered both good and bad applications -. The DMV would simply assume that if you can pass the written examination. they are both very different and have their own benefits and disadvantages. However. Direct experience can convey more information about setting compared to a description of the event in a book or newspaper. In terms of dramatic historical events.nuclear energy and weapons of mass destruction. Good reporting attempts to bring the reader into the story by descriptive details. People are ultimately in control over how they allocate their time. the driver's test would only consist of a written examination. it seems that much more is lost in textbooks compared to direct experience. but then casually reassures all passengers that he or she has read about the mechanics of flying from a copious amount of textbook sources. It is hard to describe what wars were like 2000 or 4000 years ago because both the surroundings and technologies available are too remote from everyday experience. in order to become a professional airline pilot. Faster computers has allowed for innumerable benefits ranging from increased communication. the pilot admits that he or she is just about to embark upon his or her first flight. Many people such as the Amish enjoy a slow and relaxed pace of life. and has accelerated applications ranging from drug research to automobile design. Similarly. people can understand other people through their facial expressions and body language better than they can understand others through descriptive narratives. ——————————————— "The depth of knowledge to be gained from books is much richer and broader than what can be learned from direct experience. Curing cancer and other diseases will allow people to live longer and therefore contribute more to society. . in absence of references found outside everyday experiences. the reader remains mostly lost and remains on imagination. but highly productive life. especially female celebrities attain their popularity and attention by promoting themselves as sex objects. • . Although how a person markets him or herself is a personal decision. technology can result in more trouble than solution. role models have a bad influence and people would be better off if they acted independently. The aim of technology is to automate those areas of life and save time. The earth still rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun at the same rate as it did a century ago. This is one sense of rapid pace of modern life causing more problems than it solves. Many people admire celebrities for their fame and they attention they acquire. Ghandi. or Susan B. consider that in one day it is possible to go from one coast of America to the other and back. The problem lies in the combination of the two elements. Often. but saving time cannot be logically claimed to promote an increasingly busy life. All three of these figures serve as role models of character and courage. Instead of copying others. Often their professional life competes against their family time. One can enjoy a busy. the allocation of time is a personal decision. People today enjoy the same number of hours in a day as people had 200 years ago. However. Indeed. This can be viewed as a problem even though both the issue of finding employment and the desire to have a family have both been independently solved. but are not forced on humanity. Ultimately. these technologies were designed to save people time. History is full of inspirations stories of role models and leaders who are remembered for their ability to remain resolute in their beliefs. insecure teens are likely to emulate their behavior in hopes of acquiring the same attention. But these choices must be evaluated on a personal basis as life is not “one-size-fits-all”. role models can serve as inspirational figures and can encourage good behavior. • • ——————————————— "Too much emphasis is placed on role models. Another example of increased complexity designed to mitigate the effects of a busy life exists in regards to technology. however. Life today may seem increasingly rapid due to more possibilities that exist today compared to hundreds of years ago. Many celebrities. Saving time can allow one to engage in an increasingly busy life. Technology is developed with the intent of simplifying life. In other respects. people have opted to live busier lives in hopes of accomplishing and experiencing more out of life. Whether this is a mistake or a benefit depends on how the individual desires to spend his or her time."Role models can have both healthy and unhealthy influences. We have removed limitations that were not present a hundred years ago or even ten years ago. • Many celebrities can serve as unhealthy influences. Tabloids frequently exploit the immature and contemptuous behavior of celebrities to sell media. For example. It is true that many professionals have difficulty balancing all aspects of their lives. Promoting these role models would certainly have a positive influence. these options are present. The removal of these limitations provides humans with more options and consequently more complexity. Consider many social activists such as Martin Luther King. people should learn to think and act independently and thus make the choices that are best for them. that there is not enough time to enjoy both and compromises must be made. One can travel to any spot on the world in under 24 hours. However. Some people such as parents and teachers are expected to role model good behavior. It therefore seems that the author of the above assertion is confusing a complex life with a life burdened with problems. but this problem is not an essential part of life and can be solved through creative effort. Anthony. Humanity has chosen these options as preferable to alternatives. In this respect.• It is not true that someone who engages in a busy lifestyle is creating more problems for him or herself. in the corporate world. It is might be true that the people at the top of the organization are most informed about current events. However. some celebrities protested the Vietnam War. Hollywood celebrities are famous for promoting social causes where other celebrities of that group may not take the same stance. whether or not that individual truly represents the views of the entire group. Media is also driven to produce dramatic stories as these stories attract the most attention. but it would be biased for a news organization to suggest that the protest of one person represented the views of all celebrities. Such views are likely to polarize groups of people. In terms of behavior we adopt traits and outlooks from other people. Other employees might feel that the layoffs were a result of poor management and funding projects which were poorly researched. Another example would be interviewing a black social figure about the justice of affirmative action or reparations for slavery. but they are also the least forthcoming and present facts in a tainted light. ——————————————— "The media—and society in general—mistakenly expect an individual to speak for a particular group. It is likely that other celebrities shared a similar view. it was likely to be influenced from another source. executives will speak to the press about layoffs necessarily for the company to survive. I am willing to submit that no personal quality is original and no matter how independent we think our behavior is. However. but also people within an organization. Which I do not reject such behavior. The executives will suggest that layoffs are necessary due to a poor business climate or recession.• Finally. This is not necessarily bad as there are many behavioral influences. The pope may speak about sexual misconduct on the part of priests in the church in a way suggesting that the problem has been resolved and will never happen again. the employees of the company might not share the same view regarding the cause of the layoffs. For example. People on the lower rungs of the corporate ladder are also given a chance to express their views. it is clear that these people are subscribing to an image of independence which did not originate in themselves. Media often selects controversial people to represent causes. The speaker's assertion is true. even if we are not aware of our own influences. In the example above. Some people dress in Gothic clothing and try to persuade the rest of society that they are truly independent by failing to adopt cultural norms. For example. • • • ——————————————— . it is unlikely that all members of the church will share this optimism. A representative from the academic world may speak positively about new breakthroughs in genetic engineering. There are many cases where media speaks with heads of organizations to get the most informed opinion regarding recent events. professional journalists frequently interview not only the leaders of an organization." • In many cases. since members of the academic community have various backgrounds and theological beliefs. not every may subscribe to the message. it would be rare for the news media to give only the view points of executives. individuals are expected to speak for a certain group and the views of the individual do not necessarily represent those of the group. but it is impossible to summarize completely all the diverse views of a particular group without interviewing every person in the group or forming a consensus. Even social activists quote other social activists who came before them. However. While the executives will tell the public that the layoffs are necessarily. Great leaders are inspired and shaped by other great leaders. the reason for establishing a prize for recognition is missed. • • • ——————————————— "The widespread idea that people should make self-improvement a primary goal in their lives is problematic because it assumes that people are intrinsically deficient. Winning the Noble Prize is very difficult. One must then ask. but to call attention to inspirational people and characteristics that can be emulated by everyone regardless of profession or education. Since the origin of scientific or social revolution is difficult to pin-point. there are no role models. The true responsibility for a large cause is difficult to determine. At this point. So no scientist or inventor can be truly original. it is better to seek continuous improvement. Life is full of competing objectives. People can always live healthier lives. his contribution can still be attributed to genetic or environmental factors. but not the primary reward."High-profile awards such as the Nobel Prize are actually damaging to society because they suggest that only a few people deserve such recognition. not specifically the people who achieved these great accomplishments. The author is asserting that since the Nobel Prize does not recognize everyone. Those who succeeded in winning the prize were motivated by a will to develop technology which improves the human race rather than pursue fame. but only off of the progress of scientists who came before. The Nobel Prize serves to highlight noble characteristics." • It is healthy to encourage self-improvement as people are not perfect and will never be perfect. all scientists make progress. it is unfair to give recognition to some. why not offer generic awards? Why must awards be given to recognize specific people? Why not recognize that a cure for cancer was discovered rather than acknowledge specifically those people who were partly involved? However. who does deserve recognition? Is the winner of the Nobel Prize exclusively responsible for the cause he or she is associated with? Were there also not others who contributed? How can the true winners of the prize be determined? They cannot. There is never enough time to do • . consider how effective an award would be if it was awarded generally. People can become more successful professionally by investing more time into their work. Prizes serve to recognize great accomplishments. but only vague instances in history where great problems were somehow mysteriously overcome through organized efforts." • Winning the Nobel Prize is a side-effect of a great accomplishment. However. not to one person. The understanding that the Noble Prize is damaging because only a few people deserve recognition is a misunderstanding of the intentions of the Nobel Prize. If motivated only by the will to win the Nobel Prize. If one can develop a technology or change society in such a way that great benefit is derived from the invention. one will most likely fail. People would have no one to look to for inspiration. then the inventor will have no trouble being recognized. Even if the scientist developed an abstract theory with no traceable origin. the Nobel Prize serves as more of a special award to recognize accomplishment and was actually founded to recognize humans who sacrificed part of themselves for a mission or noble cause. Without recognizing specific people. rather than give up the quest for perfection simply because perfection is not an obtainable goal. So the prize is actually to recognize accomplishment and dedication rather than a specific individual. Therefore. but not to all who deserve recognition. The Nobel Prize is not the most significant form of recognition. People can become better parents by spending more time with their children. but to all people. Christians celebrate Christmas and Jews celebrate Hanuka." • • To obtain success. one must compare the traditions and rituals of one culture against another. People are . If everyone participated in the same traditions and rituals. Weight loss commercials continuously play off the ideal that lighter people are happier. So popular values are continuously changing as fast as the latest diet plan. but not know how to make the best of it is in some sense unsuccessful. What popular culture values is least likely to be a healthy trait that someone should strive for through self-improvement. In one sense. Since a culture is an organization or group of traditions and customs. So at such a point. to appreciate the uniqueness of a given culture. one does not need another culture to serve as a reference. • • • • ——————————————— "Many people know how to attain success. but without any specific function as being encompassed as part of a culture. financial success may only lead to a thirst for more financial success. But without other cultures for comparison. However. but the culture would not be unique without other cultures to reference.everything. A deeper sense of culture can be obtained by comparing one's own culture with the culture of others. Determining how one should improve needs further questioning and introspection. unrealistic goals may be set and failing to meet these unrealistic goals can be taken as a disappointment. weight. Both Christians and Jews have their own unique beliefs which gives them a sense of well-being and belonging to a particular group. There is a healthy body weight range for every person established by their physical prosperities such as height. In other cultures of the past. • Another negative aspect of self-improvement lies in determining what actually needs to be improved. However. Any tradition or ritual common to a group of people can be viewed as a characteristic of the defined culture. perhaps this could be a perceived connection with the supernatural. A qualified medical doctor can give recommendations about how a person can live a more healthy life. gender and genetics. Success in school may only lead to a desire to achieve an even higher GPA. Perhaps compromise and balance is the best solution for a busy life. if too much emphasis is placed on self-improvement. But they can also appreciate the common characteristics that religious tradition provides. For example. in some cases. usually through improving diet and exercise. it could still be argued that these traditions are common to all humanity and therefore the culture of humanity. ——————————————— "To truly understand your own culture—no matter how you define it—requires personal knowledge of at least one other culture. but also sharing common characteristics with people of other cultures. Usually there are some benchmarks. one that is distinctly different from your own. However. pop culture and media influences will mislead one into believing unhealthy misleading information such as losing weight will make a person happier by giving them more opportunities." • Cultures incorporate many different customs and traditions. one cannot claim that his or her culture is unique. Financial success is relatively easy to acquire given proper education and motivation. one can appreciate his or her culture in view of the behavior that is performed repeatedly. but few know how to make the best use of it. Appreciating other cultures can provide humans with a sense of belonging to a particular group of people. weight was regarded as a sign of affluence and prosperity. So following inspiration rather than what one naturally happens to be the best at is most probable to lead to a successful and satisfying professional life. However. This is a case of achieving success. With too much data and not enough time to analyze it. Technology such as computers and calculators might allow humans to avoid performing lower-level math completely. An athlete is likely to consider athletic accomplishment as greater than academic. People can perform statistical analysis on large amounts of data with computer technology that can allow them to draw their own conclusions and look for correlations which would otherwise require statisticians and large amounts of time to perform the math manually. technology can better allow people to think for themselves. even for the most overall successful people. Success is a subjective definition. Also. but not knowing how to become more successful through personal growth. by relegating this simple arithmetic to computers. Perhaps the greatest definition of a successful person is one who can look back on their lives and see success when other people who society considers "more successful" in some way cannot." ——————————————— "As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems. the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate. One will eventually reach a point of diminishing returns where time and effort can reap greater returns in another area of life. A scientist is likely to consider academic accomplishment as a greater success compared to athletic success. However. it is often those areas which inspire the most interest where one truly succeeds. lose the ability to think for themselves.competitive and often do not know when to stop. to state that other people do not know how to make the best use of their success presumes that one knows other people's subjective definitions of success. and groups. However. humans can focus on more • • . Due to resource constraints and physical limitations. If one is naturally good at everything. pursuing only what one perceives to be his or her greatest comparative advantage could lead one down a path to a boring career. • Another example of achieving success is in regards to academic success. then nothing stands out as one's greatest comparative advantage. technology has prevented humans from becoming more independent." • • In some cases. People become dependent on cars. Overall. Spread of technologies such as the Internet can allow humans to access more data as well as ideas. Often times the most successful students encounter the most difficulty with respect to choosing a career path. individuals. The best use of success will surly provide the most fulfillment. the speaker's statement still holds true. Technology allows humans to attack more complex problems. To some degree. Likewise. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. • • ——————————————— "People have been so encouraged by society to focus on apparent differences that they fail to see meaningful similarities among ideas. people jump to conclusions and in this sense. Success means different things to different people. the speaker's assertion is not falsifiable. having too much data can cause information overload. one can always look back on the most recent day and realize that they had wasted time or money. may try to make a profit off of their previous progress. he still had theories which were inconsistent with other theories which he was not able to reconcile. Ex. if any. However. Many students will not take kindly to being forced to engage in public service. well-rounded education. no matter how valuable their contributions might be. Upon applying electricity to one side of the pen. Someone can be correct or develop a revolutional theory that turns out to be correct. People make mistakes.important problems and higher-level math. Experts are influenced by bias and preferences just as non-experts. a dietary expert may try to sell his or her own brand of dietary supplements which are not effective." • • Author is effectively stating that experts should be immune to skepticism. ——————————————— "Colleges should require students to engage in public-service activities in order to assure that each student receives a balanced. A dog was put in a metal pen separated by a barrier. Other ways to receive a well-rounded education. Some experts. It seems that some restrictions on . Stem cell research. after realizing that they have nothing more to contribute. The research was intended to translate across to humans in undesirable situations. ——————————————— "People make the mistake of treating experts with suspicion and mistrust. Eventually. such as situations of domestic abuse where a partner will often endure suffering because they feel that there is no way to escape. restrictions on scientific research and development" • • Reducing restrictions on scientific research and development may increase the rate of progress in any given scientific field. Defining what constitutes as public service may prove to be difficult. it seems that the research could have been conducted as an exercise in reasoning rather than involving the suffering of innocent animals. however it is still possible that they could submit "wrong answers" even in their same field of expertise. the dog just stayed in the one area of the pen. By reducing restrictions. Einstein contributed much to science. but would repeatedly fail and be shocked by a higher voltage. Only a finite amount of time. • • • • ——————————————— "Government should place few. some research which causes humans or animals to needlessly suffer may result. but given credit based off of past contributions. Some students may contribute more to society and learn more by working in a lab rather than working directly with people in a soup kitchen. No one can be an expert in all areas of life." • • • • Public service can enhance a student's overall education. but at the end of his life. public service may not offer the most bang for the buck. One experiment tried to assess the response of continuously shocking dogs. For example. Overall effect could actually make students resentful and less appreciative. the dog would try to jump over the barrier. Contributions and knowledge in one area cannot translate to knowledge in other areas. research are necessary to prevent needless suffering of humans and animals. • The problem with the above situation is who is to determine if the benefits of some research outweighs the cost. Since the benefits and costs of some research are usually unknown until after the research has been completed, it seems difficult to judge the ethical implications of research before it has occurred. Additionally, should humans be allowed to determine what behavior is ethical and what behavior is not? Testing on animals is much more easily tolerated than testing on humans. Animals such as mice and rats are subjected to cosmetic testing such as exposure to shampoos on the eyes and other sensitive organs to determine safety for humans. All commercial drugs establish a lethal dosage, LD50, a dosage whereby half of the animals tested die from overdose. In research, animals are valued much less than humans out of convenience. However, is it ethical for humans to decide whether testing on animals is ethical? Are we not biased as a group? • ——————————————— "In any profession—business, politics, education, government—those in power should step down after five years. The surest path to success for any enterprise is revitalization through new leadership." • • It is true that changing leaders every few years could bring in new thought and perspective. However, this is not the surest path to success. In business, the best process is to reward good progress and investigate the factors leading to poor performance. If the factors leading to poor performance are determined to be due to the leader rather than to other factors within the corporation, then the leader should be replaced. In many corporations, CEOs do not last long before being replaced or deciding to voluntarily retire. Since it usually takes most of one's career to become a leader of a corporation, leaders usually do not stay in the higher ranks for long. Politics and government are very competitive. Not every president is even able to serve past four years in office. Politicians are constantly battling for office with aggressive and personal campaign tactics. The reputation of many politicians are smeared by other political hopefuls who are willing to say anything to get elected. Since politics can often be a popularity contest, politicians usually fail to remain in office for long periods of time. Also, consider if a perfect ruler was to get elected. Should someone who does an excellent job of ruling be thrown from office just for the sake of change? In regards to education, the argument above, relative to the other three areas, makes the most sense. Again, similar to the other areas, productivity can be lost by forcing leaders to change every five years simply for the sake of change. It takes time for the new leaders to learn how to lead effectively. Also, in academia, how would the leaders be elected? I have spoken with a few professors who held higher governing roles in their educational institutions who have grown to prefer research over politics as they look for ways to get back into teaching and research. Not everyone wants to be a leader, and forcing leadership roles to change often could force some individuals to lead, even if they do not desire to lead. Main points: forcing change for the sake of change does not make sense. Will take some time for new leaders to adjust – lost productivity. • • • ——————————————— "Spending time alone makes one a better companion to others." • • Spending time alone most likely makes one a better companion for others. It is widely accepted that some time alone is healthy. It may be difficult to think about personal matters when others are near. Often, a walk alone at night can be most productive for relieving stress and contemplating the direction of one's life. Reducing stress in one's life will make one more amiable towards others. Spending time alone also allows one to experience the absence of others. One is able to "feel the silence" and realize how others contribute to one's life. Imagine waking up one day and finding all people gone, vanished. This would certainly be a stressful situation. Imagine the feeling of loneliness. One would desire the company of even people he or she considered annoying. Could one survive without others, alone? The world would certainly be a scary place without others. Spending time alone also allows others to appreciate the absence of the subject. In some cases, spending too much time alone does not make one a better companion for others. Humans are social beings, we need and desire the company of others, even though we sometimes think that we do not. Often times on a crowded freeway, one can act impulsively and resort to road rage when feeling trapped. However, ultimately the subject would desire to be surrounded by too many people rather than too few. Situations of solitary confinement can be a form of torture. If one was forced to be stranded on a desert island, who would not prefer to have a friend? Too much isolation is unhealthy. • • • ——————————————— "One can best understand the most important characteristics of a society by studying its major cities." • • Author is claiming that major cities display the most important characteristics of a society. Who decides which characteristics are important and which are not? Major cities are composed to many people who hold diverse beliefs, values, and education. Many of these beliefs and values will be in conflict. For example, what is the beliefs and values of New York City? This question is hard to answer. One could illogically reason that New York City values adultery based on shows such as Sex and the City which are based in New York. However, such reasoning is clearly wrong. This example illustrates that it is illogical to infer about the characteristics held by the people of New York City based on one viewpoint. Major cities serve as a melting pot and therefore embody the characteristics in terms of beliefs and values of many people. Major cities are not examples of homogeneous mixtures. Speaker above seems to be confusing population with importance. Smaller cities are likely to be more unique as most major cities seem to share many characteristics. Contrast Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and Sun Valley, Idaho. Consider which place is least like the others in terms of lifestyle and the way inhabitants live. In the major cities, people tend to rely more on public transportation and are used to living in smaller apartments. It is true that there is much diversity among the lifestyles of people in all of those places, however, there are also common characteristics which make life in the big city much different than life in more rural areas. Many movies such as City Slickers involve this theme. However, can the author claim that the characteristics and lifestyles enjoyed by people in the major cities are more important than those in rural areas? Many national days of significance have rural rather than metropolitan origins. Consider Ground Hog's Day, this day has more significance to rural areas rather than major cities because • • it was formed as a superstitious predictor of the beginning of harvest. As another example, perhaps one of the most-watched American sports, football, has rural rather than metropolitan origins. It seems that rural America has contributed many important characteristics to American society. • Argument attempts to generalize very diverse circumstances. ——————————————— "In most professions and academic fields, imagination is more important than knowledge." • Imagination in itself in the absence of knowledge is not important. Knowledge guides imagination. Without any knowledge, one can imagine truths which conform to the individuals desires and prejudices. Consider the belief that the earth is the center of the universe. This belief required more imagination than knowledge. In some areas of science, assuming that knowledge is not the limiting factor in achieving a worthwhile accomplishment, imagination and creativity can lead to extraordinary innovations and theories. Einstein had to have quite an imagination to entertain the idea that space and time are related quantities, however, his speculation was founded in mathematics rather than pure imagination. In areas of engineering, creativity and imagination may prove more rewarding than further technical knowledge. It required imagination and creativity for Thomas Edison to apply his knowledge of materials to invent a phonograph. He was inspired by the idea that sound could be produced by a machine. This initial concept required imagination. Perhaps one area where imagination and knowledge need to be equally balanced for most optimal results is in regards to the area of venture capitalism. The investors need to realize the potential for the business that they are considering to fund. Imagination is required to an extent to see the potential benefits and costs of a new business in the future. However, this forecasting requires quantitative knowledge about factors such as how similar businesses are performing in a related field as well as marketing surveys and statistics performed to assess demand for a new business. In other areas such as psychology and medical professions, imagination can be incredibly dangerous. It can allow one to think of correlations between environmental conditions and human behavior for example, however, relying on imagination before knowledge is a dangerous practice that is likely to have negative consequences. One cannot allow one's will to outrun the intellect. In other conservative fields such as law and insurance, imagination appears to be completely subordinate to knowledge. • • • • ——————————————— "The most effective way to communicate an idea or value to large groups of people is through the use of images, not language." • It is difficult to convey complex ideas through images. Although images may be useful for conveying dramatic emotions such as love or hate, they generally are not useful for conversation or explaining ideas and concepts. One exception to this rule is sign language. Sign language is a valid language which is capable of conveying complex concepts. However, sign language, although based on visible images, is still a language and is useless unless both the speaker and the listener understand the language. Images are rarely helpful in teaching complex material. Although some academic fields, most • rely on images to convey content. given enough time. but how would the lost person know that the native is really able to understand? All images require some interpretation. about the relationship between space and time. The foundation of Microsoft. his • . It is true that sometimes a picture can be worth a thousand words. images cannot be used exclusively to teach the abstract ideas behind quantitative fields such as mathematics and computer science. Steven Hawkings has developed his own models about the origins of the universe. It is true that these scientific accomplishments were built on the foundation of scientific knowledge assembled by previous scientists. • Outside of academic fields. there is no way to be certain that concepts are expressed accurately.notably art. How could one express their situation using only images? What image expresses that one is lost? Eventually. later named "DOS". but later realized financial success through using what other people have developed. becoming lost." • • Speaker's claim goes too far. and not able to communicate with any of the natives. will likely be remembered more easily by the user. In the business world. In some cases. because images lack definitions which can be referenced (such as a dictionary). how can images be used to ask questions? Imagine visiting another country. How does one determine which contributions are important and which contributions are unimportant? Many important contributions were made by those who developed their own new ideas. Also. founded in mathematics. It is hard to describe the benefits and costs of an ethical system or philosophical outlook using only images. the company Bill Gates founded. especially when it can not be accepted that everyone who is relevant to the danger understands the same language. is a piece of software known as "DiskOS". consider warning labels on machinery or water heaters. Additionally. it is likely that Bill Gates played a small role in actual software development. however the accomplishments of many famous scientists were not coordinated with others. For example. But throughout Microsoft's history. and for this reason. one may be able to successfully express the concept. • ——————————————— "The people who make important contributions to society are generally not those who develop their own new ideas. but those who are most gifted at perceiving and coordinating the talents and skills of others. Many other contributions delivered by scientists are novel and conceived by one person rather than through a group of people. it seems that the most successful business leaders are experts at perceiving and coordinating the talents and skills of others. Einstein developed his own ideas. Initially. The warning label on a typical lawnmower sold in America has a description in English and possibly a few other languages warning of possible dangers which may be encountered when using the product. they will understand the image immediately and most likely become aware of the dangers faster than by reading the paragraph below the image. but it is also true that a thousand pictures cannot convey the content in a few sentences. above the description is a picture of someone being injured by using the device improperly. Bill Gates is a good example of someone who had a genuine interest in computers from childhood. Most people would agree that these are some of the greatest scientific accomplishments of recent history. the image due to its shocking content. Even if one speaks English. images may be the best way to express warning or danger. Copernicus developed his own ideas about the configuration and dynamics of our solar system. Many people opposed his radical ideas which contradicted the status quo and religious thoughts that the earth was the center of the universe. DOS was purchased from IBM and Bill hired and worked with friends to found a company centered around further developing an operating system. But these above examples certainly do not represent the experience of all profound thinkers and artists. It seems that this concept holds true for most large companies today. although not always favorable. Motzart was recognized as an outstanding pianist during the course of his life and was invited to play at royal events. to apply their talents and skills most effectively. his studies in nuclear theory were not intended to be used by others as a means for creating weapons of mass destruction.primary role as a business leader involved managing others rather than developing his own new ideas. a philosopher. ——————————————— "Truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists are always out of step with their time and their society. who had an original concept for developing a clothing company. separate goals. Policies can be adjusted to stimulate trade and economic growth which lead to the creation of new jobs and allow the greatest number of people to find satisfying employment. • Politics serves as a perfect example of the speaker's claim. The above quote also requires more definition. the statement is not falsifiable. usually in the form of new jobs. For example. A good president knows how to achieve an optimal level of productivity by adjusting policies which create opportunities for others. So all famous thinkers and artists are out of step with their time because they will be further appreciated after their death. Also. Motzart and Socrates have received much more attention after their death compared to when they were alive." • It is true that some profound thinkers and highly creative artists are out of step with their time and society. but the original idea never would have taken flight had it not been for his business sense of coordinating the talents and skills of others. Which people is the speaker referring to by his or her notion of "truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists"? What does it take to become a truly profound thinker? The statement is subjective and therefore likely to be interpreted differently among various people. was ultimately killed for only questioning the prevailing system of ethics and contesting the status quo. It can always be said that any profound thinker or highly creative artist is out of step with his or her time because a thinker or artist will always be further appreciated after their death. Instead of pursuing self-centered. Socrates. The statement that "truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists are always out of step with their time and society is ambiguous". However. Good politicians know how to coordinate the talents and skills of their citizens most effectively. people need to understand that satisfaction comes from working for the greater good of the family. Steven Hawkings is another example of a current astronomer whose theories have shaped our understanding regarding the formation of the universe. the . perhaps the most famous classical pianist were not appreciated fully until well after his death. most people feared Copernicus's theories and he was not fully appreciated for his scientific accomplishments until well after his death. he was still recognized during his life time as a prime contributor of science. Einstein was recognized early in his life as a genius and lived to see the extent of many of his accomplishments. However. • • ——————————————— "People today are too individualistic. The accomplishments of Beethoven. this fact aside. A similar example can be understood from Nike founder Phil Knight. Copernicus was scientifically correct that the earth was not at the center of the universe and encouraged skepticism towards existing religious dogma that prevailed over scientific thought. General Motors ran a series of ads describing their own charitable donations of automobiles to the New York City fire department. These possessions only affirm their false sense of pride. Although. I do not believe that the bracelets were intended to be worn as "fashionable" or simply to display the fact that one cares about others. In exchange for a donation. society is better served by charitable works. There are many examples. people will become more tolerant of others and appreciate unique qualities rather than fear differences." • • This statement is a generalization and does not apply to everyone. People. There are too many examples of adults who realize that there are some things they will never be able to again experience. running a series of ads highlighting what a company has done for some victims is like publically patting oneself on the back. but not completely isolated from personal benefit. However. cultural clashes. The company should be recognized for their contribution which helps the victims of 9/11. the community. I would agree that the author is correct in promoting works which at least help others over personal indulgences which promote a false sense of pride and security. if GM was truly altruistic. or society as a whole for purely selfish reasons. like companies can engage in seemingly altruistic works. they will gain some reward from their publicized donation as many people viewing the ad are likely to think higher of GM. Such as assumption seems incredibly naive." • It seems true that by emphasizing the interconnectedness of human beings. In exchange for the contributions. Many companies donate to natural disaster relief funds or medical causes. Instead of expensively pursuing the elements of false pride. the donating companies also receive positive publicity. However. but most commonly involve the loss of qualities such as youth and its associated abilities that they once enjoyed. regardless of the contributor's motivations. After 9/11. Surely. However. However. . However. and other forms of conflict. one receives a yellow "Livestrong" bracelet which is worn to call attention to the cause and hopefully encourage other people to donate to the cause as well.community. they could have spared the national advertising and instead donated more automobiles to the cause they were literally promoting. speaker goes too far in assuming that such knowledge would be so effective as to eliminate all forms of conflict. these adults would most likely find more fulfillment in helping others. A personal extension of the above example is the exchange of clothing which advertises one's contribution to charity. These adults who realize their loss therefore seek to compensate through affirming their socio-economic status by acquiring expensive possessions. Author needs to realize that works which may appear to be altruistic may be done for selfish intentions. or society as a whole. Overall. One can pursue activities such as working for the greater good of the family. • • • ——————————————— "Schools should be required to teach the essential interconnectedness of all human beings and thus help eliminate wars. Lance Armstrong launched his own Livestrong organization to help promote cancer research. it is likely that many who donated to the cause would not have except for the fact that they received a symbol which could be worn to show other people that the subject is a charitable person. but not purely for altruistic reasons. Many people do pursue self-centered goals. the speaker's suggestion may contain some logical faults. students will realize that violence and aggression are not optimal means of conflict resolution for either party. it cannot be true for all individuals of society. in light of the previous argument. The approach suggested by the speaker seems a bit too dogmatic. So I agree that there is some truth to the speaker's first claim. policy makers have better knowledge of current events and the impact certain policies will have to various segments of the population. simplistic. The role of education is to give students the intellectual platform which enables them to more effectively resolve conflicts or become more tolerant human beings. In fact. Adding new subjects to be covered will require that coverage of existing subjects be reduced or dropped. By teaching other subjects such as philosophy or economics. Otherwise." • • The speaker's assertion consists of two primary assumptions. Other forms of evil are embedded into one's religion. It is probably true that overall. Finally. However. the speaker is asserting that government experts and politicians are better informed in regards to policy matters than the general public. Teaching other subjects can allow students to realize for themselves how to properly resolve conflicts as well as appreciate diversity. Some individuals. it makes sense that those who have the best judgment make the decisions. Even if people realized the essential interconnectedness of all human beings. The suggested solution above is too simple. The role of education is not to eliminate all forms of conflict. The speakers argument primarily falls apart under his assumption that politicians have better judgment and perspective than the general public. it is hard to see how teaching interconnectedness and diversity can overcome these fundamental beliefs. policy makers may have better knowledge regarding how policies will affect some individuals in society better than those individuals who do not concern themselves with politics. Second. especially those involved with a segment . which must be paid for by the taxpayers. as demonstrated by the perennial conflict taking place in the Middle East. they therefore have better judgment and perspective than members of the general public. this knowledge would still be competing against other personal or societal objectives such as the selfish desire to accumulate as much wealth as possible.• There is only a limited amount of time and resources available to schools. I would even go so far as to agree with the speaker that overall. who are more informed and thus have better judgment and perspective than do members of the general public. extra resources would need to be added to cover the additional content. When one's religion can serve as the justification for the killing of non-believers. Public policy is a complex matter and since politicians are focused exclusively on this matter. it seems reasonable that they will be more informed than members of the public who do not devote their professional careers to public policy. CIA members have access to information which is locked away from the public. There is no simple solution which can overcome this complex epidemic. because of this better knowledge. but there are common misinterpretations in which people frequently give their life to embrace. Conflict has always existed and seems part of the human condition. I do not mean to imply that some religions are evil. First. The school day may need to be expanded to make room for the proposed subject. • • ——————————————— "Major policy decisions should always be left to politicians and other government experts. and can be achieved by other methods of intellectual development. Politicians such as the president do have secret knowledge that is hidden from the general public. Having access to more knowledge does provide one with the ability to make more sound judgments. the danger is that policy makers are not unbiased. Governments where members of the general public have no role in policy matters usually prove to be ephemeral as they seek to serve those in power rather than the general public. However. often intelligence can more than compensate for a lack of knowledge. Finally. in regards to the speaker's ultimate argument. First. does not mean that politicians take all knowledge that they possess into consideration when considering policy. but certainly is not true for all voters. The speaker's second assertion is more troublesome. Additionally. Just because politicians have access to more knowledge. . They are heavily influenced by lobbyists and even their own personal desires. judgment and perspective is based on knowledge and intelligence.• • • of current events such as homosexual rights or abortion are likely to be more knowledgeable on that specific issue than some politicians who must focus on a broader range of policy. They are therefore more likely to pass laws which will benefit themselves more than others. Overall. there is a need for checks and balances in government. I do grant that politicians are likely more aware of public policy than the average voter.