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Post by damariselenes on Jun 7, 2015 23:29:13 GMT
Film Test #6
Code: 97ddd
1: What are the strongest arguments for the universe being a computational simulation?
• The strongest argument for the universe being a computational simulation is based on the ideology that it is possible for humans to create devices that have become more sophisticated over the years. In many years to come our computers, phones, and even our form of transportation will be completely different and be far beyond what we imagine. Along with all of these new adjustments it is also known that in the future we may have difficulty identifying what is real and what is not because of advancements in not only in movies but also in projection.
2: Do we read more or less today? Why? Explain your generational view on reading books
• The majority of the population on earth tends to read less and less as books as the years pass. We are going into an era where there are now ebooks where we can press command F and there will be a search box where you can type in key words to “skim” through the book a lot faster. As technology becomes greater we will be reading less and less everyday and the existence of a physical book will slowly go extinct.
3. What technology do you use most? Explain your attraction to it.
• The single most used piece of technology I use is my cell phone. I use my phone not only to communicate but to also use the internet check emails, plan my days, write down my to do list, and to carry all of my pictures and contacts. The very first thing I do in the mornings when I wake up is turn off the alarm on my phone and then I check the weather, my email, and messages from friends or family all on my phone which has come to be a convenience to many people including myself. Overall I use my phone when I need it or even when I don’t jut because I am bored.
Film Test 7
Code: 97dddef
1. Why is understanding quantum mechanics and its implications important for understanding how life evolves?
• It is important to understand quantum mechanics and its implications because of how close the connection is between quantum mechanics and the evolution of life. Quantum mechanics is found in every single part of our lives and it can be used to describe how something starts and how it evolves over time. Over time as we begin to master quantum mechanics it will give us a better understanding of the world in its entirety and help us figure out what is more likely and unlikely which is arguable that that is exactly what science is.
2. What is the Kirpal Statistic?
• Kirpal Statistic is explained by Lane when he explains the process in his book and says, “They meditated for some five minutes. I then proceeded to ask them about their experiences. [Kirpal Singh invariably did such a process directly after his initiation ceremonies; he also kept a running tally of how many saw stars and so on--something which I have called the "Kirpal Statistic".]” The Kirpal Statistic is the number outcome, of the number of people meditating who saw stars while they were being provided the necessary practiced instructions by Shabd for his yoga practice. Many of the people did claim to having an amazing experience, which Kirpal Singh claimed it was his success of exceptional abilities. But in reality these inner experiences were created by the person’s own mind. People often have experiences because we create them ourselves, not because of the spiritual powers of a gifted individual.
Film Test 8
Code 97ddddd
1. Provide a critical review of Sam Harris' viewpoint. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
• Sam Harris argues mostly about there being a science side to morality that this idea of human progression which he calls "human-flourishing" is driven by the human desire to reduce suffering and promote life instead. This claim argues that humans should be more empathetic towards other living things in this world. Another point that Sam Harris brings up is that in our society individuals and even cultures care about the less important things because humans experience a reality that is actually constructed from a persons brain and that culture changes the way the brain thinks and accepts things as natural and important. These are which the points that I agree with in Sam Harris’ argument on TED. This is because we do create moment where we put ourselves or our emotions first, for example eating meat. Sam would argue that we should be more aware and me more empathetic towards the animals and we should not eat them considering we have other alternatives.
Film test #9
Code 8763
1.
How can the reasoning that Professor Greene demonstrates throughout his lecture help us to think more realistically about "improbable" events in our own day to day lives?
• Professor Greene talks about the attainable and non-attainable knowledge, some theories can either be answered or unanswered but it is impossible to tell what will happen at the end. I think that the most important piece to take knowledge from Professor Greene's demonstration at TED was that Earths distance from the Sun is placed perfectly which makes it vital for life on earth. Professor Greene really opens your eyes about the possibilities throughout the universe and also what may actually be in space. We need to start asking more questions to bring us closer to the “right” question that will lead us to the right pathway to further investigate the situation. We also need to be able to identify the parts that are not relevant to the case to find the unlikely answers and the more likely answers.
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yarua
New Member
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Post by yarua on Jun 8, 2015 0:09:48 GMT
Test #6 Code: 97ddd
1) What are the strongest arguments for the universe being a computational simulation?
One of the arguments that people argue of the universe being a computational simulation is all the technology that we have. From the cell phones, computers, tablets, and the different apps and programming that each of them carry. We do not carry such things, but we do carry a brain that is connected to everything in our bodies. Whether it is the different neurons or the organs that it helps carry through, it is all connected.
2) Do we read more or less today? Why? Explain your generational view on reading books.
I believe that is true that our generation read less than how other generations used to. Since this is the era of technology, our generation is focused on the generation that is now technology. With technology, there are different apps that we could read like ibooks, amazon plus, and a lot more. This generation knows of the different materials that we could get from technology and I feel that reading is like a bore since we have different materials that could let us read without reading, such as audio tapes. We do not have to read but listen along to the different tapes.
3) What technology do you use most? Explain your attraction to it.
The technology that I use most would be my cell phone. With my cell phones, comes different apps such as social media or different games that I sometimes play if I am waiting for a class or just something to do. I contact people from social media or just call/text them from my phone since it is a way to communicate with others. I check emails, listen to music, and check the weather just to see what to wear for the next day.
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yarua
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by yarua on Jun 8, 2015 0:48:16 GMT
Test #7 Code: 97dddef
1) Why is understanding quantum mechanics and its implications important for understanding how life evolves?
I feel that it is important to understand quantum mechanics in a way because it does show some factors of how life is evolving. Quantum mechanics show the different ways that life was and could be based on how it is formed. It is mostly based on the person that we are getting the examples from. Learning the way of life shows that we have everything figured out, whether it is in the future or in the past, but it seems that life is all current. Quantum mechanics might be difficult to process but something that we have to learn to understand the way of life. It seems rather like difficult concept that people do not understand but knowing what it is, shows that there is more to life.
2) What is the Kirpal Statistic?
Kirpal Statistic is based on how we meditate and what we feel occurs to us. Based on the professor, who has told his students about this, he got rather the same results. That the different students either heard or see while it happens. I feel that Kirpal Statistic is something that we encounter through meditation that we are more focused and at peace that it happens without knowing it. It seems that it is a concept that we do not usually understand since most people do not do this usually unless it is a last resort to anything. Some people have encountered this Kirpal Statistic and some has not.
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yarua
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by yarua on Jun 8, 2015 1:52:02 GMT
Test #8 Code: 97ddddd
1) Provide a critical review of Sam Harris' viewpoint. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
Sam Harris has viewpoints between science and the morality of us human beings. He explains a concept called "human-flourishing" which is when people go through a desire that they would like to promote life or just lessen the suffering that has been caused. This shows that people are soon to be more concerned with others as in feeling what they are feeling or to feel more empathetic to the ones with different cultures. It shows that people that are more empathetic to others will let them be more opened to everyone. Either way, it shows that we need to accept others for who they are and wherever they came from. I agree with this point that Sam Harris discussed because some people are less empathetic nowadays rather than how it was before I believe. We should be cautious on everything that we say to others and be more accepting to others. As our professor once has explained, if we see an animal being killed in front of our eyes, there is a chance that we would not eat it in the end because of what we have witnessed.
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yarua
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by yarua on Jun 8, 2015 2:42:33 GMT
Test #9 Code: 8763
How can the reasoning that Professor Greene demonstrates throughout his lecture help us to think more realistically about "improbable" events in our own day to day lives?
Professor Greene talks of the different knowledge that we receive, attainable or non-attainable. There are different theories in the world and some has been answered and others are still unanswerable because of the complexity of the theory. His example of our planet and the distance we have from the sun, it shows his explanation of the life here on Earth. The video helps open our minds to possibilities that we are not aware of or what we usually are unsure of. Opening our minds helps us answer in a different way, but not of the different questions that are asked around, but of the path that we are to go. It helps us with everything that we may be unsure of or what we usually might not even answer because of our closed minds.
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Post by Julian Rodriguez on Jun 8, 2015 4:47:57 GMT
Provide a critical review of Sam Harris’ viewpoints. Agree or not. Explain? In the TED talk, Sam Harris brings about several ideas regarding the relationship between morality and science. He claims that science can provide answer as to why many people share the same morality and values that they do. Harris believes that every good or wrongful act that a person commits can be explained through science. I would have to disagree with Harris because I think that everyone’s actions are somehow influenced by an external forces but science can also play a role in the decision making. Our moral values come from the knowledge of others as we were being taught at a young age. Majority of the time we often refer back to those teachings when making a decision about certain actions that we make, in my opinion there is no correlation between science and moral values. Take for example all of the violence that is happening in today’s society. All of the actions cannot be explained by science because many of the defenses would say that they committed such acts possibly because of “self- defense.” Harris’ ideas of having a world that science explains every act that we do would be ideal because we can have explanations of why things occur the way they do and possibly prevent future harm to others. In response to leinnvergara's critical review of Sam Harris' expressed viewpoints in his lecture, "The Moral Landscape" I want to address the original poster's reference to the "external factors" that somehow influence everyone's actions, as well as there argument for the origin and nature of moral values. First, to the extent that there are external forces that affect our actions, I would argue that there are indeed some (i.e. financial, geographical, natural, societal). For instance, a person's financial stability might cause them to decide on pursuing, changing, or leaving a job or career. However, I would not go as far to say that these external forces are paranormal or otherwise supernatural. Second, in response to the claim that "moral values come from the knowledge of others as we were being taught at a young age," I would argue that this is true, to some extent. However, as we grow older and we become conscious of the moral values we were taught as children, we are then capable of analyzing the legitimacy and practicality of these moral values, and are then able to modify or improve them. If we are conscious of faulty moral values that we have been instilled to practice and still practice them against logical reason, then it is the individual who is at fault, not those who taught them. |
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Post by nadiag on Jun 8, 2015 6:10:49 GMT
Nadia Garcia
Phil 8
7th Film Test
Test Number: 97dddef
1) Why is understanding quantum mechanics and its implications important for understanding how life evolves?
It is important to understand quantum mechanics to understand how life evolves because it is basically what all living things consist of and it is what connects every living plant and animal in the world. By definition, quantum mechanics "explains the behavior of matter and its interactions with energy on the scale of atoms and subatomic particles." For example, any living thing around us contains energy of some kind, like leaf.
2) What is the Kirpal Statistic?
The term "Kirpal Statistic" then means that " the probable outcome that the majority of mediators, provided the necessary instruction in Shabd or Nad yoga practice, will see and hear something." Kirpal Singh was the founder of the most popular shabd yoga gurus who said he could give people a personal experience on their first day of meditation. However, the spiritual experience that Kirpal Signh was offering had to do with psychology rather than his claimed teachings. He would tell people to close their eyes, meditate and focus on seeing the "inner light" and hearing the "inner sound." Although this was all a psychological technique, there were people who claimed that they reached the inner experience of light and sound.
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cjoo
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by cjoo on Jun 8, 2015 7:09:37 GMT
Code: 97ddd
1. What are the strongest arguments for the universe being a computational simulation?
If you think about it, it seems absolutely bonkers. I mean The Matrix trilogy was excellent and it’s one of my favorite movies but to actually live in that type of world where we aren’t living in a world we think we are, is mind boggling to say the least. However, when we sleep our dreams can seem so realistic. Hypnotism has also proven to put one’s mind in a state where it believes the situation it is in is reality. There are instances where it is difficult in differentiating what is real and what isn’t but it just might be possible that this world we are living might simply be a dream, though I am 99.99% sure that it isn’t, but then again I have been wrong before.
2. Do we read more or less today? Why? Explain your generational view on reading books.
I feel that in today’s society we definitely read more because the world’s literacy rate has gone up. Education has become one of the most important factors in today’s world and it’s easier to have access to it than in the past. However I don’t think people are necessarily reading, they’re more likely to just see words on advertisements on TV and billboards. It’s more about “reading” entertainment than learning by reading. Whenever I am with my friends, most of them prefer to get their news through social media but more like a one sentence of a summary that’s sums up the topic of a headliner on the news. Plus there’s all this new technology like reading online (which personally hurts my eyes after some time). I think people stopped reading books because they see it as a thing of the past and relate it to school which is “so boring” and “not fun”. None of this is true! You just need to find a book that you can relate with.
3. What technology do you use the most? Explain your attraction to it.
I use my laptop the most. I think most would say their phones but for me I feel like my phone is something I just need for convenience to make calls and alert me of certain dates and time but other than that, I don’t really have a need or a strong attraction to it. My laptop on the other hand, I need it. I write my essays and do my homework on it. I do most of my work on my laptop. I don’t have cable, so I just watch everything via the internet. I find that it saves money than paying for cable when you can just watch everything for free online. Plus if I need to call someone, I can do it on my laptop too. I find that everything I do, whether it’s studying or playing it’s on my laptop. It’s attractive to me because I find that I can do so many things all at once on my bed or desk. It’s efficient, convenient, and portable. My cellphone can only do so much, but my laptop has yet to disappoint me.
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cjoo
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by cjoo on Jun 8, 2015 7:32:43 GMT
Code: 97dddef
Why is understanding quantum mechanics and its implications important for understanding how life evolves?
It is important to understand quantum mechanics because it is part of the answer as to how life evolves. With a firm grasp of knowledge of quantum mechanics we may able to unlock the evolution of our species and perhaps other species as well. I think the fact there is a branch of science like quantum mechanics not only shows our limited knowledge and how young our species is, but it’s also the key to finding out how we will continue to evolve. It will take a long time, we are such a young species that it will take another couple hundred or maybe even thousands of years. Hopefully with enough time, we will be able unlock the mystery. Ironically, “time is not a fundamental part of the universe”.
What is Kirpal Statistic?
The term comes from the guru Kirpal Singh. He and a group of other gurus were mediating when they saw the stars and a bunch of colors bursting in a vision. While in the trance some claimed to have seen their past lives and could show their vision to their devotees. Perhaps it is because I was watching the video in an outside view or maybe I am just a cynical skeptic but to me it was very doubtful that they could see their past lives. I mean some people do not believe in reincarnation so where was this vision of a past life coming from? Clearly the gurus were not the one’s projecting themselves onto their followers but it was through the follower’s beliefs that they were projecting onto themselves. I think it’s quite impressive because it seems like they can tap into the subconscious mind. However it definitely does not make sense that a higher power or the universe is sending a message.
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cjoo
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by cjoo on Jun 8, 2015 7:54:37 GMT
Code: 97ddddd
Provide a critical review of Sam Harris’ viewpoint. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
In the video, Sam Harris states that science and morality should be related instead of separated especially in this time and stage of humanity. However the issue is that the majority of people do not see science and morality coexisting because of the view that science deals with cold hard evidence while morality can sometimes be seen as a grey area (ironically). I agree with Harris’ viewpoint. Today we have the answers and solutions to so many of the questions and troubles that our ancestors struggled with and dedicated their lives to. I think the controversy with vaccination fits right in. Science has proven with vaccinations, children will be more likely to be immune to certain diseases and illnesses but some parents opt not to get their children vaccinated. Is it moral to let your child die? The chances of dying from a vaccination is very low but getting sick due to not getting a vaccination is very high. Harris also talks about religion and how it skewered the perspectives of certain religious groups and the way they view the world. All in all I agree with most of Harris’ viewpoint but the entirety of whether what is good or bad is always going to be a grey area and combining with scientific values may make it harder to figure out. Though I agree, I also have to say that the whole point of being human is to make mistakes and to learn from them. If a parent tells a child never to touch a boiling pot but the child is curious and ends up touching the pot, it learns from experience not to touch a boiling pot because it will burn him. The child learns through experience. Also I am not entirely sure whether science will end up being the stick or the carrot if paired with the question of morality.
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cjoo
New Member
Posts: 8
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Post by cjoo on Jun 8, 2015 8:07:47 GMT
Code: 8763
How can the reasoning that Professor Greene demonstrates throughout his lecture help us to think more realistically about “improbable” events in our own day to day lives?
Start by not jumping to ridiculous or even possible conclusions. It’s important to prepare oneself for the worst but constantly doing that is only going to make you miserable. Greene explains how sometime things happen for a reason and that not everything that seems improbably at first glance is actually improbable. It can turn out to be probable. Centuries ago people consulted with psychics, gypsies, priests, astrologers, and oracles in order to figure out the future. Greene states that the probability of an accident happening is in fact quite high. For example our life is a probability that came from the fact that our planet was merely the right temperature for life. We are here because of chance which can be argued that it was a probable accident.
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chris
New Member
Posts: 9 
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Post by chris on Jun 10, 2015 8:57:11 GMT
Chris Flores
Professor Lane
Philosophy 8 / Critical Thinking
5 April 2015
Code: 97ddd
Film Questions 6
1. What are the strongest arguments for the universe being a computational simulation?
One of the strongest arguments for the world being a computer simulation is that our minds can simulate multiple realities. That is, in essence, what our dreams are; a reality brought on by our minds simulating situations based on past experiences. Even the faces we see in our dreams can only be faces that we have seen before, even if we did not pay attention to them or even approach that person. If our own brains can simulate a realistic environment for us to play around in, then it is reasonable to suspect that we could still be in a simulated environment even while we are in the “waking world.”
2. Do we read more or less today? Why? Explain your generational view on reading books.
I would say that we actually read more today, but less of that reading comes from books. It is so easy for people to click on a terrible Buzzfeed article and read that all the way through. By comparison, a book seems daunting. But, after you have ready twenty or so of those articles, a task which is not at all hard to do, then you have already read the equivalent of a short novel. People have taken to posting long-form stories on popular forum sites like Reddit. In fact, one of those stories from Reddit is now a published novel. It may not seem like it, but we definitely read more today. The less fortunate part about this is that the information is often less useful, even when reading the news.
3. What technology do you use most? Explain your attraction to it.
The technology I use most is my desktop computer. I built it myself when I was fifteen, and have been keeping it clean and occasionally upgrading it as well. Aside from my sentimental attraction to it, it just makes everything so easy for me. I can do my homework on it, either using Microsoft Office or Google Documents. I can watch my favorite shows on it using Netflix or Hulu. I can read articles comfortably on it, thanks to the large screen. I can contact my friends via email, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, or some other type of interface. It is a machine that allows me to stay connected, get enjoyment, and get things done all in the same spot, and that is why it is my preferred technology
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chris
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by chris on Jun 10, 2015 8:57:23 GMT
Chris Flores
Professor Lane
Philosophy 8 / Critical Thinking
12 April 2015
Code: 97dddef
Film Questions 7
1. Why is understanding quantum mechanics and its implications important for the understanding of how life evolves?
Quantum mechanics has been agreed upon by scientists that connects all things, both living and nonliving. Everything in the known universe is subject to these laws. Understanding the laws for the environments around highly populated areas is a good way to get a better understanding of why and how life evolves the way that it does. Polar bears, for example, did not originally have white fur. Not all of them. It is just that the environment was more favorable to those that did have white fur, since they had a harder time being seen. As a result, all of the nonwhite polar bears died out. But, had the mechanics of their environment been different, then the outcome would have been different as well.
2. What is the Kirpal Statistic?
The Kirpal Statistic states that if one tells someone that they will see lights, hear sounds, or have visions after meditating and then initiating a certain practice, such as a touch on the forehead, then the person will indeed see lights, hear sounds, or have a vision. What this turns out to be is a psychological phenomenon rather than a spiritual one. Because the person is already expecting to experience any of those things, their expectations will trick their brain into thinking that the experiences are happening as the practices are being carried out. This is actually quite a common occurrence and can even happen outside of meditation practices. Often times, people claim to have seen Jesus or the Virgin Mary when they attend a Christian sermon, so the fact that people would have visions during meditation is not too outlandish.
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chris
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by chris on Jun 10, 2015 8:57:49 GMT
Chris Flores
Professor Lane
Philosophy 8 / Critical Thinking
19 April 2015
Code: 97ddddd
Film Questions 8
1. Provide a critical review of Sam Harris’ viewpoint. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
I agree with Sam Harris’ viewpoint. Though it is very possible for religion to provide an ethical basis for humanity that does not mean it is the only venue for it. Sam Harris claims that science gives us an understanding of human needs through biology, chemistry, and psychology. Psychology takes the most precedence in this case. Through extensive study of psychology, human emotional needs become apparent. What also becomes apparent is that it would be cruel to deny any human of the need to express these emotions. Harris brings up the example of how hostile people of a certain culture can sometimes be towards gay people. Psychologically, we understand that should a man be attracted to another man or a woman be attracted to another woman, then it would make them happy to express that attraction. Furthermore, we know that suppressing those sorts of emotions only leads to troubles down the road, as has been seen in many cases recently. In this way and many others, it is obvious that science can and does provide a moral basis, it just takes an understanding of human emotional needs.
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chris
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by chris on Jun 10, 2015 8:58:01 GMT
Chris Flores
Professor Lane
Philosophy 8 / Critical Thinking
26 April 2015
Code: 8763
Film Questions 9
1. How can the reasoning that Professor Greene demonstrates throughout his lecture help us to think more realistically about “improbable” events in our own day to day lives?
The reasoning that Professor Greene provides in his lecture asserts that there are more universes than we can possibly comprehend. The very fact that we exist in this universe which has exactly the right conditions to sustain our life is very improbably. By comparison, this would make other occurrences throughout our lives seem relatively tame. For example, thinking that license plates are trying to spell out some divine message is ludicrous. It is far more likely that one just happened to see them in the correct order. It is far more reasonable to suspect that this is due to chance when we consider that should the dark matter in our universe be off by 10^-124, then we would not exist at all because our environment simply would not be suitable for us. It took a wild amount of probability for us to even exist as we do today, individually. There is no event more improbable than the existence of humans in our current state.
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