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| Anonymous | Extra Credit- Manuel Lugo | 0 | Friday, 9:21 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Friday, 9:21 PM EST
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The topics i enjoyed the most in this class as the dilemma of freedom vs. determinism. this topic was one that i could relate to a bit more from personal experiences and it made alot of sense to me. I found it interesting to see that there are alot of different views of how we live everyday life and the actions we do. However, i found determinism to be a little to "wild" for me, especially hard-determinism. To believe that everything we do does not have an impact on the events that are to come just doesnt go with me. Freedom caught my attention more. i think that what we do everyday will be the resulting factors in the outcome of life and other events, instead of just believing that other factors will decide our future. For example, i think that me doing this extra credit will hopefully get me a better grade! I dont think that other factors will get me a better grade. However, if you feel like giving me an A+ please do so! Anyways, i found many of these topics new and informational, overall i enjoyed the class.
a little something on determinism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LvI0-Sykkk |
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit - Nolan McDonagh | 0 | Dec 17 2009, 1:56 AM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 17 2009, 1:56 AM EST
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I thought the Ship of Theseus paradox was the most interesting thing I studied in this philosophy class. I found this to really catch my attention during the thought experiment because of the fact that it is a question you can answer although not with much conviction. Luckily there is a name for these oh so unsolvable questions; paradoxes. Logic has always been interesting to me and paradoxes are great for using it. The overall question this paradox is asking is, "If you replace every piece of an object gradually piece by piece, as needed over time is it still the same object or would the old parts be the object and the newly constructed parts be a new entity? There are many ways to think of this paradox, this is mine; The new construct would take the place of the old one and the old parts would be junked, yet the object still would have has the same name. Like the life cycle there is a need for renewal of old parts, nothing is unlimited. Although many different questions could be asked I will give you a chance to think of your own:) after I give my best answer for the for aforementioned question; I believe that the new construct would inherit the title or name of the previous, such things ships or possibly cars as well as socks. The ship keeps the name thus replacing and becoming the object and the old parts are just junk. All in all philosophy has been an inspiring and thought provoking class and have enjoyed not just this point, but many others as well.
The paradox: http://clpccd.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_934509_1%26url%3D |
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit--Julie Hernandez | 0 | Dec 15 2009, 8:26 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 15 2009, 8:26 PM EST
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My favorite concept covered in class this semester is the argument over free will or determinism. It interests me the most because it plays into my mindset of “everything happens for a reason” and really makes me think whether or not that’s a logical thought at all. I’ve never been one to revel in religious ideas, but by thinking of things in this way I believe I fall into that mistakenly. By taking a step back and thinking to myself, am I predestined to make certain decisions based on my environment and influences growing up? Or do I have the ability to disregard those influences and decide for myself with no strings attached? Based on my common knowledge, I am forced to side with determinism because it would seem obvious that all decisions a person makes are influenced by morals instilled in them all throughout life. However, I am also forced to side with free will on the basis that just because a person should and is expected to make one decision, doesn’t necessarily mean they will.
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| Anonymous | Favorite Topic - Aizza Pecson | 0 | Dec 15 2009, 6:37 AM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 15 2009, 6:37 AM EST
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My favorite topic this clas is Love. I like this topic because everybody can relate to it and is experiencing it at one point in their lives. Also, before I have a hard time defining love to other people since it is something that is beyond what words can explain and its very abstract. But after learning Nozick's definition of love, I have now a concrete definition of its meaning. As he defines love is the unity of two I's that becomes a We. He also adds that in love, the welfare of one person depends on the hands of the other person in he relation and vice versa. So as a concrete example, we can see couples together forming a new entity as a "We" instead of seeing they as two I's.
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit | 0 | Dec 13 2009, 3:58 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 13 2009, 3:58 PM EST
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My favorite point of this class was doing my thought experiment on The Ship Of Theseus and Locke’s Socks. It’s the paradox of originality. It really makes you think, wonder, and question so much more than just the concepts themselves. Which one is original, the ship that was sailed on with replaced parts, or the first parts of the ship that were saved? And if a sock has a hole and you mend it, is it still the original sock? This made me realize that sometimes there’s no right answer, and that some things just don’t matter. We’re constantly changing and moving that originality is different at each moment. It was because of this thought experiment that I started seeing beauty in this and as well as other strange places throughout this class. I just like how philosophy in general has these great concepts that you wouldn’t necessarily think of or find in everyday life, and throughout this course I’ve grown to love all the concepts more and more.
Link from class: http://philwiki.wetpaint.com/page/Ship+Of+Theseus+and+Locke%27s+Socks And more links: http://www.lisashea.com/lisabase/philosophy/art2832.html http://ship_of_theseus.totallyexplained.com/ Enjoy : ) |
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit | 1 | Dec 11 2009, 5:19 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 9 2009, 2:08 PM EST
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My favorite point covered in Philosophy was chapter 8 of Nozick’s Examined Life, Love’s Bond. I found this to be one of the more relatable subjects because I am in love. My well being is definitely tied to that of my boyfriend Josh’s. I enjoyed learning about the general phenomenon of love and what it takes to be in a we. Usually when you're in a relationship, and not taking philosophy, you never really stop to think about what is actually going on between you and that other person. After reading this chapter I was way more aware. I also liked how it separated friend love and romantic love. The last quote was really eye catching. "In love, we metamorphose. (pg. 86)" I left a couple links, hope they're informative!
-Natalie Slivka http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/bertolivier/2009/05/12/three-philosophical-accounts-of-love/ http://www.helium.com/knowledge/20475-distinguishing-love-vs-passion
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit | 0 | Dec 11 2009, 5:18 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 11 2009, 5:18 PM EST
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One subject in philosophy which really caught my eye was freedom vs determinism. I felt that this was a very interesting topic because it compared two opposing views. I was able to look at both views through much research and was able to side with the one that best met my beliefs. Freedom is the side that I chose because I feel that we are each in control of our own significant lives. Everyone's life is different and we each have the potential to change or improve our lives. I do not really believe in fate. I feel that it is a gray area in philosophy. I feel like determinism says that everything happens for a reason. I refuse to believe that we do not have control over our lives and that we always will have free will and choice. I think that we each create our own destiny through our own choices and actions. This is something that I really found interesting and it was something I think is easy to voice an opinion about. It was interesting to see both sides through the discussion board even though I believe in freedom and free will. All and all it was an excellent topic.
I found some very good links with good background and analysis of the topics: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976805152 http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/determin.htm |
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| Anonymous | extra credit | 0 | Dec 10 2009, 6:55 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 10 2009, 6:55 PM EST
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To me one of the most fun and interesting topics we have covered was through a discussion board. The question of whether we are determined or are free really intrigued me. The idea that someone could actually not have control over their own fate and destiny really made me think. It went against everything I had ever believed and everything I know. I was always taught that life is what you make it. And after reading the ideas from the helpful information and websites from Abrol, it really made me think and question what I have always believed. Now me personally, I didn’t truly buy into the ideas of determinism, however, I am not shutting them out. I believe anything is possible and the idea of determinism will always be in the back of my head that it is a real possibility. I feel that’s the one thing I have really taken from philosophy; is to have an open minded about things and to allow the opinions and ideas of other people and other teachings to be allowed into your mind and to be able to at the least understand their viewpoints. When you do this you truly open you mind to other ideas and other possibilities in this world and in your brain. Another reason I was really into the idea of determinism vs. freedom is because everyone in the class gave great feedback and it was nice to see everyone’s different point of view and thoughts. After taking the side of freedom, I looked back and read through the papers after the fact. What I found was that I’m not sure anymore if I believe in freedom or determinism they are both ideas. I found a pretty good website that offers some insight into the dilemma of freewill versus determinism, which offers some pretty interesting information and quotes from various philosophers.
http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Free-Will-Determinism.htm |
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| Anonymous | Extra Credit: Thought Experiment #1 | 0 | Dec 6 2009, 11:35 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 6 2009, 11:35 PM EST
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I think that the most interesting philosophical discussion that I had in this class was my research for the first thought experiment that we did in class, mine was The Trolley Problem.
It is something that I've thought about several times before, and I loved the opportunity to simply sit down and reason it out in my head. The difficulty of such a situation aside, I came to the conclusion that choosing to save more lives is always the preferred path, and to "let somebody die" is as damaging as murdering them with your own hands. The setup of the thought experiment forced me to look at all of the available ways and viewpoints in the situation, and this was the sort of thing that I've always loved about philosophy. I thought that all of the thought experiments make people look into their own meanings and views in life, and it definitely was the best part of this semester's class. |
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| Anonymous | Phil Extra Credit/ Nozick | 0 | Dec 5 2009, 10:38 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 5 2009, 10:38 PM EST
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My favorite philosophy points were the three we covered in the study of Nozick. I agreed with most of his points made regarding love, emotions, and happiness. It was extremely insightful and his points were well analyzed and well thought out. Nozick’s reading on love brought up some important points that got me thinking: Do you love the person or the person’s qualities?How can the qualities that are possessed by a person not define them as a person? Would a person who possesses certain qualities not be the same person if they lost those qualities? I love Nozicks definition of love as “when the well being of one person is intimately bound up with the well being of another. You don’t just feel bad for them when bad things happen, you feel like they happened to you.” That has been true love in my experience. I really enjoyed the way Nozick set up the risks, boundaries, guidelines, and self changes that come along with love and I found it very helpful. As for Nozick’s thoughts on happiness, I found it interesting that we care about more than just the total amount of happiness in life, but about the direction of the happiness. I enjoyed and agreed with the three kinds of happiness Nozick points out; happy with your life as a whole, being happy that something is the case, and feeling that your life is good now.I feel you would want to strive for happiness as a whole. That is achieved by setting standards for your happiness, and then evaluating your life to see if you measure up to those standards. So what I got out of it is happiness is what you make it! What I enjoyed the most regarding Nozick and emotions was that you should and are held accountable for your emotions and reactions to those emotions. I also really enjoyed his thought that belief plus a feeling is an emotion and that an emotion can be false. I just love all of Nozicks points. I learned so much from him and he has given me so much insight on life.
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| Anonymous | Socrates | 0 | Dec 5 2009, 5:44 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 5 2009, 5:44 PM EST
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I found it interesting reading about Socrates. His method of asking questions and approaching others that claimed to be wise. I like the fact that he realized you knowledgeable when you acknowledge that you don't know everything. This is so true! In life there are many cultures and many ways of doing things. I think we should be open to new experiences and others beliefs. Things in one culture are not better over another just different. The fact that Socrates was so interested in ethical and political problems. I believe we should all care in this and be interested and always stive for more. Something that Socrates said really made me laugh..."What pleases the gods may not always please others. What pleases Zeus does not always please his wife, Hera" (Voices of Wisdom P. 44).
When the Oracle at Delphi proclaimed Socrates as the wisest man in Athens, Socrates was perplexed. I just find all of this writing fascinating and very "real". I can relate...I believe we should always strive for more and continue to ask questions, to acknowledge that we have more to learn. |
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| Anonymous | Xtra Credit | 0 | Dec 2 2009, 11:59 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 2 2009, 11:59 PM EST
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The most interesting topic we have covered was the Allegory of Platos Cave. I have always herd of the story, but I never have analyzed it in this point of view. I never knew there was so much more depth and symbolism in the story. The aspect of the shadows, sun, shapes, and fire are all basic elements found in everyday human life. It was an inspiring story. There are millions of interpretations of the story, but I have discovered that there are multiple ways to answer a question. They dont need to be right .
Something I got that was really important was, be a radical. Society is always striving for unity and conformity. I would rather step into the light and experience the world in a different way than my neighbors. I also learned that Society can be unforgiving to ideas. But your own ideas that you are willing to die for will live forever. I feel a very passionate theme to believe in what is in your heart. I live with the morals to live life to the fullest, go big or go home, and die for what is in your heart. -Esther Kim |
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| Anonymous | Phil Extra Credit | 0 | Dec 2 2009, 7:00 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 2 2009, 7:00 PM EST
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Here is my report of what i spoke about:
I couldn't send an email of this... One of my favorate points in our philosphy class would have to be Nietzsche. I think he is very pursuasive in the way he argues that mankind should look above ourselfs to a higher form of man, not just a higher form of g-d. He says that man should look to a higher, improved version of himself; the person who is above man, dominant. One other thing I think is interesting is the "will to power", which is kind of the over man's power he holds to gain dominance in humanity. Master morality is the person who wants to strive to become that higher being, the dominant. Whereas, the slave morality is the person who looks up to others and is weak. Now i think when we look at this from our point of view we think the master morality as someone who is evil and slave morality as someone who is good. If someone is weak, and looks up to a higher form of being, they don't want to be the higher being, but strive to become closer to. Whereas, the evil person wants to be dominant. Slave revolt of reality, where the good people where the strong, non fearful, and the bad were the subservient, weak. All of a sudden the slave revolt of reality happens, and the strong and the noble are bad, and the weak and subservient are good. It was a recreation of morals. He thinks that spiritual people want to seem more powerful; and changed their position. Samuel Moss |
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| Anonymous | Philosophical topic of interest | 1 | Dec 2 2009, 2:11 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 2 2009, 1:40 AM EST
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I refuse to talk because I hate public speaking and recording an audio of myself for people to listen to is close enough. So I will take the latter and type rather than talk.
Through out this course there have been many topics that have impacted me. One that struck great interest was, "why am I myself rather than someone else?" This question made me think long and hard to decide who and what exactly it was that influenced or forced me to become the person that I am today. Before this class I had never thought twice about what has made me the person I am so it was quite enlightening to sit and brainstorm reasons why I am who I am. I drew the conclusion that my mom (unique, I know) has shaped me the most. She has influenced me not only because of the concepts about her that I idolize, but also because of the traits that she has that I despise. I make a point not to follow in many of her footsteps, and consequently she indirectly effects who I am. After thinking about this question I often find myself looking at my peers and family members and friends and wondering what it was that made them the who they are. Looking at some of my friends I can see that much of their personality is a result of their parents. I find it a common pattern that parents play an outstanding role in the development of their children, in good ways and bad ways. I have also observed that economical status and financial situations effect human character in more ways that one. All in all this has been a question with open ended answers that has caused me to think harder about each person that has had an impact on my life. -Shelby Henry
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| Anonymous | Thoughts | 0 | Dec 1 2009, 3:36 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 1 2009, 3:36 PM EST
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So first off the only reason I am writing this and not talking is because I have an awful cold and have no voice and I'm assuming you guys don't want to hear my raspy coughing filled voice. For me, I think my favorite thing I studied was the Freedom or Determinism topic. My mom and I had always gotten into conversations about that type of subject and I was so happy that it actually appeared in one of my classes. I've always felt that your life is already planned out for you, from the moment you are born till the day that you die. Now that doesn't mean that every little thing you do is planned for you, just major events that help build you into the person that you become. I don't believe that this takes away your freedom because I believe that this all comes from God, whoever he may be to you, and I know that God would not take anyones freedom from them. Now let me explain a little more into my thoughts. Lets say you get into a car accident and it could in some way effect you for the rest of your life. Thats what I mean with the determinism because if that was your choice would you have really have done that to yourself? I hope that all makes sense to everyone. Here are a few links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determinism http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/determin.htm |
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| arete | This is where you leave typed responses! | 0 | Nov 30 2009, 1:24 PM EST by arete | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 30 2009, 1:24 PM EST
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give us your thoughts, and thoughts about your thoughts, and links that link to your thoughts!
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| Anonymous | Prisoner Dilemma: Part 3 Conclusion JIngyi Huang | 0 | Oct 5 2009, 11:35 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 5 2009, 11:35 PM EDT
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If I were placed in the same situation as Tanya or Cinque, I would like to confess, because it would help me to release from my mind and make me to feel better, and this is a kind of moral right. But if Tanya or Cinque is my friend, I would think more about them and remain silent. I believe the police will find out the truth, and I will get satisfied because I had not betrayed my friends.
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| Anonymous | Prisoner Dilemma: Part 2 Result Jingyi Huang | 0 | Oct 5 2009, 11:33 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 5 2009, 11:33 PM EDT
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If the one who I cooperated with doesn’t my friend, I will choose confess to get parole. In this situation I will just care about my self because we are all criminals, and no one will be release as innocent. This is not considered as unscrupulous, because if we know what moral right is, we would not rob the bank, and this is a kind of action I know what I did is wrong, and I want to return to the right moral track. Although this looks like I’m a selfish person, this isn’t wrong. I made something wrong and I confess that, this actually is the morals return. Why the police arrests people who violated the law, because it can prevent they do this again. In my opinion, the moral right is depends on the law.
In another situation, if the one who I cooperated with is my friend. I might have to remain silent. I just want to give a simple example to explain why I choose this. At 1937-1945, during the most chaotic time in China, all Chinese were resisting Japanese's aggression. When Communist party’s member had been arrested, they would not say any thing to Japanese soldiers even they had been maltreated, because they all have one goal. They think about others more than themselves, because if they said something to Japanese, their comrades will be arrested or killed. In this situation, remain silent is the best way to protect your friends, at least you will not make your friends in trouble or get punishment because of you. And I would like to spend more jail life to let my mind comfort because I didn’t make my friends in trouble. |
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| Anonymous | Prisoner Dilemma: Part 1 Set Up Jingyi Huang | 0 | Oct 5 2009, 11:32 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 5 2009, 11:32 PM EDT
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In my opinion, I will choose confess if I think about myself only. Confession is the best choice when you made mistakes, even it can’t retrieve what I did, but the one who confesses will get release from his mind. It means that he knows what he did was wrong, and it’s the best way to get pardon.
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| Anonymous | Something About Mary | 2 | Sep 27 2009, 3:03 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Jan 16 2009, 12:23 AM EST
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Hypothesis:When Mary leaves the room and her black and white world she will get a huge shock. She will also learn a lot. I expect she will be happy. There is a big difference in the sensations from a black and white versus a color world.
Set Up: When I was thinking about this I tried to come up with other examples. Things we think about then do. My idea was to compare how I felt and thought about something before I experienced it and after. Experiment: Examples like flying in a plane, driving a car, going to college, shooting a rifle, jumping out of a helicopter. For all of these things the experience is very different from the theoretical knowledge. Therefore there must be two different kinds of knowledge. The kind that comes from experience and a kind that comes from studying theory. We learn and remember the experience kind of knowledge more easily. At least I do. Experiment Results: We are only able to personally experience a limited amount because life is short. To learn most we must learn from other peoples experience and from studying theories as they summarize the learning and experiences of many other people. The fact that we learn something different implies that the mind and the brain do not operate with experience and theory as interchangeable. We are not made just by our experiences but they are certainly very important. More important than our theoretical learning.
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