“This rubber tree won’t yield latex—the biologist blames the sapling, the geologist blames the soil, the contractor blames the unskilled laborer and the owner says it is fighting back at being controlled.” (Amitav Ghosh) If different Ways of Knowing or Areas of Knowledge yield contradictory statements about the world, on what basis do we choose among them? `
In everyday life there are choices that need to be made. Nothing can really be agreed upon for there are too many opinions to bring together. Just like the biologist, geologist, the contractor, and the owner all had their opinions about the rubber tree, so do the different areas of knowledge about the world. None of the ideas or statements are wrong or right; but are based on the individuals opinion. It depends on their surroundings and knowledge. The geologist thinks differently from the biologist and the contractor and the owner. They have different knowledge that another might not have and therefore they make their statement on what they know. On a regular basis we choose among contradictory statements. For example, the causes of global warming. Some say that its humans who caused it and others might say that it’s not. For a person that needs to decide on a side may be somewhat difficult. Different articles that are read about global-warming can be biased and really any article can be biased. If you watch a news report on TV, certain information can be left out. The different thoughts develop from the different knowledge possessed.
The knowledge gained is chosen, from the variety of knowledge exposed to, by filters. Filters are used to sort out different substances from others like the filters that are used to purify water. The filters construct the different thought and ways people think. They categorize the ideas of knowledge into two categories; true or false. The knowledge of what is true and what is false can be called beliefs. There are many filters within each individual that vary from person to person. The filters develop from many factors and include but are not limited to; gender, age, culture, religion, experience, race sexual orientation, and many others. Religion is the greatest factor. It can also imply not having a religion at all. It for binds in the thoughts expressed of certain topics and greatly when it comes to how morality is seen. The morale is often a huge issue in religions. A group of people, may judge a person’s actions based on what they believe are right. Gender and/or sexual orientation are another greatly affecting factor in the way a person thinks or reacts. For most females, they tend to respond in a very defensive manner compared to men who react in a more aggressive manner. The sexual orientation allows for a wider range of view in the emotional aspects considered of the opposite gender, unless you’re straight which can limit that point of view. Experience also has an input to the way someone views the world. Experience not only refers to just what you “have” experienced, but also to what you “might” experience, for say if you were in someone else’s shoes. Experience can be reflected upon for future experiences with a similar issue. They are there to learn from them especially from others. People who care about others try to help others by giving advice from their own previous experiences. Throughout life many experiences occur in which more knowledge is gained to be able to judge what the right decision in a particular situation.
On a daily bases choices are being made among contradictory statements. In the areas of knowledge opinions are brought up about a subject constantly. For instance, history is currently being made. History is said to be written by the winners, for they record what is most convenient for them. In different parts of the world history is viewed and has affected in different ways. Technology seems to be grasping every bit of information of the events occurring. Today technology is being used frequently to record events, but it is also a medium to find more information about our world. Although science has progressed, there are moral issues involved in some of the sciences practiced. There are issues about whether to continue stem cell research. There are questions asked like is it wrong to destroy an embryo in order to obtain the stem cells? At what stage is it considered to be existing? The contradictory statement and the benefits and disadvantages need to be considered to choose among the contradictory statements or come to an agreement.
To decide between contradicting ideas many factors need to be considered. One of the factors is, what is the others persons point of view and what influences their ideas/ thoughts? The opinion given is based like I said earlier on many factors that influence the thoughts all the time. What are the disadvantages or benefits? A variety of people may choose from opposing statements for convenience. It is also important to think about the benefit of other people as well. Can I trust what either side is saying? Based on my beliefs what do I think is true, (but remember all opinions are relative)? Beliefs are relevant that encourage the viewpoint of others to be considered as true or false. Even though there is no right or wrong way that is how ideas are categorized in each person’s mind, according to specific criteria created in every individual. Most of the time people are not open minded to other’s opinions. We choose not to take in account someone else’s ideas because we often believe our way is the only way. It deprives us from acquiring more knowledge. Having one’s ideas co-exist with someone else’s is something the majority of the people are just not open to.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Our senses tell us that a table, for example, is a solid object; science tells us that the table is
mostly empty space. Thus two sources of knowledge generate conflicting results. Can we
reconcile such conflicts?
Think about when you have sat down in a chair. Your senses tell you that it is a solid object. Nonetheless science tells us that it is mostly empty space. This creates a feeling of cognitive dissonance. It is a feeling where you know something is true but instead you want to believe the other. It is similar with these two conflicts, you know science can be right but you choose to believe your senses. The fact that empty space is sitting (you) on empty space is difficult to believe. As humans one doesn’t like to think of one’s self as nothing, merely empty space, non-existing. People deny the truth and choose to create their own realty. It could be that we are only empty space but people will prefer to live in the world they know. These two conflicting ideas may not be possible to be brought together for it depends on an individual’s opinion.
Our senses allow us to perceive objects. We can use the five senses sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch; however, these are the traditional senses. Science cannot really define sense therefore there can be many other senses. For instance, the feeling you know something is going to happen or the feeling someone is watching you. These senses do not have an explanation for how they function. Our senses are not trust worthy. Our sight can play tricks on us. Our sight perceives objects in different ways based on how we look at an object. For example, optical illusions are images visually perceived. The way we see things can be based on how we categorize and the depth of how we perceive it. A peculiar shade can look different when put in contrast with other diverse shades. Take a look at the Kanizsa triangle, the objects are arranged in a way that it creates the illusion of a triangle. This shows that our brain uses the information our sight has perceived in order to make sense out of it. Therefore maybe the chair or other object doesn’t really exist it could just be an image that our mind is creating before us. Touch is another important sense when determining the reality of an object or it seems that way. We rely on all five senses to determine reality. Perception is used to make automatic images from the information gained from our senses. In our dreams we are able to perceive smell, taste hearing, touch, and sight just like in reality. What we experience in a dream is not very different than reality so who is to say that we really aren’t all in the same dream. Therefore, what we perceive from our senses as a solid may not actually be real.
Science has constantly found out many new discoveries throughout the years. It has tried to discover what the mechanics of the world are and has developed theories on how some aspects function. We now know that objects are made of matter. If you now use your sense of touch to determine the object is there you can know that it’s solid because your hand doesn’t go through it.
At the physic level this may be true, but it may not be accounted for at the quantum level. A table, or other solid object, is matter and they are made up of atoms. Matter has been commonly defined to be anything that has mass and takes up volume. This definition doesn’t quite fit with quantum physics and many revisions have been made to the definition. Matter consists of properties interacting with each other. It consists of atoms which are made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons. The view on what an atom was had been different based on the reason of the various individuals. An example from Embracing Mind states different statements describing the atom and asks which is right. Statements like; a nucleus made of protons and neutrons with electrons orbiting it like planets, a fuzzy cloudlike nucleus, and the smallest component of the universe’ material, unbreakable particles God created to be the universe’s building blocks. The book explained that none of the statements are right or wrong because they fit the cultural, religious, and philosophical background of their times. The Greeks, the early scientists along with many other all had their own opinion on what the atom was. Now an opinion of the atom is that it’s mostly empty space therefore objects are empty space and they don’t exist. Theories that have been developed about the atom can be correct according to the laws that have been discovered. Because those laws have not been disproven yet cannot be assured they might not be some day in the future. There is many information of our world regarding science and the opinions change constantly as the information acquired changes as well.
The idea that the object is perceived by our senses and the idea that science says its mostly empty space cannot be brought together. One of the two ideas can be accepted, but they can’t both be accepted. They are both different from each other and contradict one another. The feeling that something else could be the truth besides what is known is frightening and thus is chosen not to be believed by the majority. People will deny what may be frightening to keep themselves contempt. What seems to be the reality, the object being perceived by the senses, can result being a dream. The knowledge that atoms are mostly empty space is used to come to the conclusion that therefore it doesn’t exist. It could be that we are only empty space but people will prefer to live in the world they know. Others might accept the reasoning that was made. These two conflicting ideas may not be possible to be brought together for it depends on an individual’s opinion.
mostly empty space. Thus two sources of knowledge generate conflicting results. Can we
reconcile such conflicts?
Think about when you have sat down in a chair. Your senses tell you that it is a solid object. Nonetheless science tells us that it is mostly empty space. This creates a feeling of cognitive dissonance. It is a feeling where you know something is true but instead you want to believe the other. It is similar with these two conflicts, you know science can be right but you choose to believe your senses. The fact that empty space is sitting (you) on empty space is difficult to believe. As humans one doesn’t like to think of one’s self as nothing, merely empty space, non-existing. People deny the truth and choose to create their own realty. It could be that we are only empty space but people will prefer to live in the world they know. These two conflicting ideas may not be possible to be brought together for it depends on an individual’s opinion.
Our senses allow us to perceive objects. We can use the five senses sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch; however, these are the traditional senses. Science cannot really define sense therefore there can be many other senses. For instance, the feeling you know something is going to happen or the feeling someone is watching you. These senses do not have an explanation for how they function. Our senses are not trust worthy. Our sight can play tricks on us. Our sight perceives objects in different ways based on how we look at an object. For example, optical illusions are images visually perceived. The way we see things can be based on how we categorize and the depth of how we perceive it. A peculiar shade can look different when put in contrast with other diverse shades. Take a look at the Kanizsa triangle, the objects are arranged in a way that it creates the illusion of a triangle. This shows that our brain uses the information our sight has perceived in order to make sense out of it. Therefore maybe the chair or other object doesn’t really exist it could just be an image that our mind is creating before us. Touch is another important sense when determining the reality of an object or it seems that way. We rely on all five senses to determine reality. Perception is used to make automatic images from the information gained from our senses. In our dreams we are able to perceive smell, taste hearing, touch, and sight just like in reality. What we experience in a dream is not very different than reality so who is to say that we really aren’t all in the same dream. Therefore, what we perceive from our senses as a solid may not actually be real.
Science has constantly found out many new discoveries throughout the years. It has tried to discover what the mechanics of the world are and has developed theories on how some aspects function. We now know that objects are made of matter. If you now use your sense of touch to determine the object is there you can know that it’s solid because your hand doesn’t go through it.
At the physic level this may be true, but it may not be accounted for at the quantum level. A table, or other solid object, is matter and they are made up of atoms. Matter has been commonly defined to be anything that has mass and takes up volume. This definition doesn’t quite fit with quantum physics and many revisions have been made to the definition. Matter consists of properties interacting with each other. It consists of atoms which are made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons. The view on what an atom was had been different based on the reason of the various individuals. An example from Embracing Mind states different statements describing the atom and asks which is right. Statements like; a nucleus made of protons and neutrons with electrons orbiting it like planets, a fuzzy cloudlike nucleus, and the smallest component of the universe’ material, unbreakable particles God created to be the universe’s building blocks. The book explained that none of the statements are right or wrong because they fit the cultural, religious, and philosophical background of their times. The Greeks, the early scientists along with many other all had their own opinion on what the atom was. Now an opinion of the atom is that it’s mostly empty space therefore objects are empty space and they don’t exist. Theories that have been developed about the atom can be correct according to the laws that have been discovered. Because those laws have not been disproven yet cannot be assured they might not be some day in the future. There is many information of our world regarding science and the opinions change constantly as the information acquired changes as well.
The idea that the object is perceived by our senses and the idea that science says its mostly empty space cannot be brought together. One of the two ideas can be accepted, but they can’t both be accepted. They are both different from each other and contradict one another. The feeling that something else could be the truth besides what is known is frightening and thus is chosen not to be believed by the majority. People will deny what may be frightening to keep themselves contempt. What seems to be the reality, the object being perceived by the senses, can result being a dream. The knowledge that atoms are mostly empty space is used to come to the conclusion that therefore it doesn’t exist. It could be that we are only empty space but people will prefer to live in the world they know. Others might accept the reasoning that was made. These two conflicting ideas may not be possible to be brought together for it depends on an individual’s opinion.
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