Friday, December 20, 2019

Descartes Meditations On First Philosophy - 1536 Words

â€Å"What therefore did I formerly think I was? A man, of course. But what is a man?† (Descartes 340). This question that Descartes addresses in Meditations on First Philosophy is important because it outlines his core philosophical view in his work. His philosophy primarily focuses on dualism, which is the concept that there is another world that exists with ideal forms and is separate from the world of perception. The part of dualism that Descartes focuses his work on is the distinction between the soul and the body. His perception of what makes up a person is that the soul and the body are two separate entities. More specifically, he believes that the body only exists as a consequence of the soul. These ideologies are applicable to the advancement and understanding of life today because although people naturally evolve through time, the essence of an individual remains the same; every person is born with a soul that thinks and a physical body with a head, neck, trunk, arms , hands, legs and feet. Therefore, through Descartes’ reasoning in his work, he was able to address the question of dualism and clearly illustrate that there exists a difference between the soul and the body. His ideas still remain relevant because he did not rely on principles of his time to draw conclusions, allowing scientists to utilize his work as a foundation for research to help better understand the world. Before examining Descartes’s efforts to allow society to understand the distinction betweenShow MoreRelatedDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy807 Words   |  4 PagesConner Ruhl Professor Copley Philosophy 1000C 4 May 2015 Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy Rene Descartes was the first great philosopher of the modern era, He had a new approach which was focused on scientific and mathematical truths. Descartes came to reject the scholastic tradition, one of which he was educated, due to his pursuit of mathematical and scientific truth. Much of Descartes work was done to secure advancement of human knowledge through the use of the natural sciencesRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1079 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes argues for the ideas and philosophical beliefs behind skepticism. In his writings, he describes the fallibility and importance of the body of man and through extension the senses with which we observe the world. This paper will first show that within Descartes’ writings the body is an extension of the mind. Secondly, this paper will prove that the senses are a false form of understanding which leads to the deception of the mind. FinallyR ead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1318 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophical Questions November 2, 2017 Cogito Ergo Sum Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy and his questioning of our existence in reality is a question which philosophers have tackled throughout time. Cogito ergo sum or I think therefore I am, a phrase brought about by Descartes is the backbone of his whole philosophy of our existence in reality. As long as we are thinking things, we exist. When we look at this approach to our existence we must first deny that any sensory data that we receive is believableRead MoreDescartes Meditations Of First Philosophy857 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Joao Philosophy- 201 Mr. Jurkiewicz 4 March 2016 Descartes’ - Meditation #2 Rene Descartes was a French philosopher born in 1596. He is considered by many the father of modern philosophy and continues to have tremendous influence in the philosophical world to this day. The book, Meditations of First Philosophy, consist of six meditations and describes one meditation per day for six days. In meditation two, he claims that we have better knowledge of our own minds than of the physicalRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1264 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy is a first-person record of Descartes’ descent into the bowels of disbelief, in order to eradicate all flawed belief from his life. In his first meditation, Descartes explains his argument for universal doubt, which leads him to doubt every truth he has ever established. Even the veracity of his sense perception is doubtful, as he renders those perceptions useless by arguing that in dreams, sense perceptions create the wildest of fantasies that can not beRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1712 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) contains six Meditations. In the first two of these Descartes addresses doubt and certainty. By the end of the second Meditation Descartes establishes the possibility of certainty by concluding that he is a â€Å"thinking thing† and that this is beyond doubt. Having established the possibility of certainty, Descartes attempts to prove the existence of God. The argument he presents in the Third Meditation for the existence of God has been nicknamed theRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1080 Words   |  5 PagesRene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, God is not mentioned until the third meditation. Descartes point of view on God simply claims his existence through the act of being. According to his claim, God must, essentially, exist as well as being an outcome of His own creation. Descartes was greatly i nterested in the idea that God’s being promoted an external force that controlled all beings that supported his presence. Descartes declarations, presented in his Meditations on First PhilosophyRead MoreDescartes Meditation On First Philosophy943 Words   |  4 Pages In the third meditation of Descartes Meditation on First Philosophy, Descartes argues that his idea of God must have come from God himself. One can also wonder whether that very own argument could also apply when Descartes has an idea of the Evil Demon. In this paper, I will argue that Descartes would not think that his having an idea of the Evil Demon proves that the Evil Demon exists. In his paper, Descartes was trying to find the source of his idea of God in order to prove that GodRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1961 Words   |  8 PagesIn Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, I will be considering if Descartes resolution to the â€Å"dreaming argument† seems acceptable to trust. The First Meditation is where the â€Å"dreaming argument† is first mentioned and then gets resolved later in the Sixth Meditation and the Objections and Replies. I will be touching on the idea that our experiences could be dreaming experiences based on personal experiences and thoughts I have had regarding this topic. Then I will go on to explain how it isRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy922 Words   |  4 PagesIn Rene Descartes’ excerpt, Meditations on First Philosophy, he proclaims, â€Å"It is beyond question that I shall reach the truth if I think hard enough about the things that I perfectly understand, ke eping them separate from all the other matters in which my thoughts are more confused and obscure† ( §104). When Descartes made this statement in his fourth meditation, what was he conjecturing by the term â€Å"perfect?† According to the standard interpretation, perfect encompasses all required or desirable

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The History of Thanksgiving Essay Example For Students

The History of Thanksgiving Essay THANKSGIVING The purpose of Thanksgiving in Canada is different from the Americans. But even though the reasons for giving thanks are different, many of the customs are the same. Canadian Thanksgiving was originally started to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest. This was when there were lots of farmers that grew crops. Now we give thanks for everything we appreciate. Some farming families still give thanks for a good crop. Harvest celebrations have been around a long time. Ever since the very first harvest, about 2000 years ago, people have given thanks for a prosperous bounty. The first formal Thanksgiving was in the year 1578. A man named Martin Frobisher had given thanks for surviving his journey from England. He also gave thanks for a place that is now called Newfoundland. The celebration at Thanksgiving was also brought to Nova Scotia when Americans began to settle there. At the same time French settlers were arriving and were also having feasts of thanks. In 1879, Canadian parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. The date of Thanksgiving has changed several times until January 31st, 1957, when parliament proclaimed that the second Monday in October be a day of general Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed. A big part of Thanksgiving is a Thanksgiving feast. The feast usually consists of potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, peas, gravy, stuffing, salads, buns and lots of other great food. The main part of the feast is usually the turkey. Other families might have ham, roast beef, duck or chicken. The dessert that is most likely to follow the feast is pumpkin pie. Other people may choose different desserts and food depending on their customs and beliefs for which they choose to give thanks. Lets not forget the biggest and most important reason for this holiday giving THANKS! People usually give thanks for everything they have. Their jobs, health, families or just being alive are just a few of the things that people give thanks for. Thanksgiving is a time when people can create their own customs and traditions because everyone is thankful for different things. The cornucopia has become a traditional symbol of this holiday because it is commonly shown filled with grain, vegetables and fruit, t he staple food that settlers would give thanks for. During Thanksgiving, my family spends time together and we have fun. We go to places and give thanks to God for having each other in our lives. We give thanks for our health, our home, our food and especially each other. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the pumpkin pie after a big turkey dinner with all the fixings. Thanksgiving is the perfect time for me to appreciate all that I have. My family farms so we always give thanks for a good harvest. Where we come from the community celebrates Thanksgiving all together with a tradition call Fowl Supper. The entire community enjoys food prepared by the local families in the basement of the local church. To those people who created this wonderful holiday..Thank-you for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Cultural Misconceptions free essay sample

Many cultures are often misunderstood by the rest of society. This lack of understanding by society at large of specific cultures often leads to misconceptions about a given society. These generalizations apply to all types of cultures and they also apply to societies understanding of the Hype movement. The Hype movement is a culture with many aspects yet there are many misunderstandings regarding this culture that have been used to crack down on Hype behavior.Like generalizations ND stereotypes of other cultures, the misunderstandings about Hype culture are not completely unfounded, but are exaggerated. As a person surrounded by and participating in the hype movement I submit that it Is not many of the things that it is perceived to be and that It is in fact a culture and way of life. The millings about the hype movement range from the vague, Like I dont understand what the point Is, to the specific, It promotes a culture of death (Muhammad). We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Misconceptions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While all these views present evidence to support their claims, these are to Hype what stereotypes are to other ethnicities.Although hype is not about the promotion of a specific ethnic identity, these misconceptions about those in the hype present the same forms of disrespect and discrimination stereotypes present to ethnic identity. One common misconception about the hype movement, even in its birthplace, the bay area, is what is it, what is its purpose? When speaking to classmates this was often what I heard from those who knew of the hype movement but not what it was. When I explored deeper by asking what was meant by the question what is Its purpose, a common response was l Just dont understand why they have to Jump on top of cars and stuff. This statement shows how confused some people are about the hype movement. While these people observe Hype people Jumping on cars they do not understand why, quite possibly because they have not taken the time to get to know the culture. Asking why Hype people jump on cars is like asking why Chinese Americans dragon dance, it is something that once you take the time to understand the culture you come to understand. Another scathing misconception is that the Hype movement promotes a culture of death (Muhammad).The Hype movement is a subculture of hip-hop culture. Much like people once thought it was a passing fad, so is the case with the Hype movement. Yet David Muhammad, executive director of The Mentoring Center, claims that hip-hop culture has denigrated into an embarrassing bastion of filth- promoting violence, drugs, irresponsible sex, excessive materialism, and delinquent behavior. (Muhammad). He goes on to state that this Is now a culture of death and the hype movement Is no different from the culture of death he claims hip-hop has degenerated Into.He argues that there is a deliberate attempt by rappers to promote a Chilies whizzing (using the drug ecstasy), smoking purr (marijuana), and sipping boo (Robinson cough syrup with codeine) (Muhammad). Again this claim is also a generalization. While most in the movement probably use drugs and there and overt references and promotion of drug use in hype music, there are scores of people living the hype life who use no drugs at all. More importantly though is the fact the hype dancing, while inspired by the way you dance while intoxicated, does not require intoxication.This critique is much like those leveled against hippy culture in the sixties, yet no one loud argue that it was a culture of death (Muhammad), especially after seeing how many of the people who lived that lifestyle became very successful in later years. This is one of the aims of the hype movement as well, to help its followers be successful later in life. One observer notes that the movement promotes entrepreneurship and artistic creativity (Arnold). While music is a big part of the culture it is not Just in terms of the sale of hype music where entrepreneurs are inspired either.There is hype dress so someone might be inspired to open a clothing store or start designing clothing; there are even hype energy drinks. The hype movement is culture, more importantly it is youth culture and while many of its customs are rooted in traditional African A merican culture it is not ethnically exclusive. It is something that is primarily designed as a means of expression for people aged 16-30 but often has followers outside of those demographics( my brothers only 14 and hes Hype and the leading musician of the Hype movement is near 40).Hype culture covers many aspects of life including familial relations to celebrations and even language. In the hype movement family has a looser definition than what society at large would consider family. Many of the followers of the hype movement were born or raised during Americas crack epidemic and as a result hype is more inclusive of blended families and informal adoption like a friend of the family living with the immediate family and being introduced as a brother. Also, in the hype movement many males address each other as cue which is slang for cousin.Hype celebrations include dancing and music much like other cultures but the ways in which people celebrate are much different. One major difference in hype celebrations is that no special occa sion is needed to celebrate. These spontaneous celebrations often take the shape of sideshows, a huge gathering that has no specific location, where people of all ages and races come to meet the opposite sex, listen to music, ride around (Asia). Sideshows originated during the crack epidemic in east Oakland and where part of the car culture that was dominant during the era.Now a part of the hype movement the sideshow is still all of these things and more. You will find people do car and motorcycle stunts playing loud music from the speaker system that is an unspoken requirement, having the irresponsible sex(Muhammad), that David Muhammad is o against, dancing, using drugs, and Just having a good time. Although sideshow activity has been criminality in recent years it still continues in spite of the consequences, much like the aspects of Native American culture that where criminality such as the use of peyote.Dancing at sideshows is unique to the hype movement, it is called going dumb or going stupid and is bes t described as fast paced and aggressive. It almost always includes shacking dreadlocks and in recent dancing on cars and if your vehicle is found lacking by hype standards in some way oh have to pay what is known as town taxes, having your roof or hood caved in by exuberant people Jumping on it. Hype culture also has unspoken rules governing male- female relations, what kind of cars to drive, how to dress and do your hair and what forms of behavior are acceptable.Hype culture even has its own language. The way hype people speak is often in self created slang terms that are understood by other followers who share a common background in some way. Many of the words used by the followers are part of a highly developed code of speaking developed to throw off those who would want to use what is being said against you. The term hype is in fact a part of this language; it is a combination of hyper and fly.The hype movement is an intricate, ever expanding universe of its own that is hard to understand and if it is understood, hard to explain. Yet that is the mystique of the movement and what makes it unique. It is a culture that is set up to help the youth of the inner city express how it is they live and yet it is hard to understand, much like those very youth. There are more pieces to the puzzle that is the hype movement. There is hype royalty, such as the founder of the movement Mac Deer, ambassador of the bay E-40, and Prince of the city Mistake F. Cultural Misconceptions free essay sample Like generalizations and stereotypes of other cultures, the misunderstandings about Hype culture are not completely unfounded, but are exaggerated. As a person surrounded by and participating in the hype movement submit that it is not many of the things that it is perceived to be and that it is in fact a culture and way of life. The misgivings about the hype movement range from the vague, like l dont understand what the point is, to the specific, it promotes a culture of death (Muhammad).While all these views present evidence to support their claims, these are to Hype what stereotypes are to other ethnicities. Although hype is not about the promotion of a specific ethnic identity, these conceptions about those in the hype present the same forms of disrespect and discrimination stereotypes present to ethnic identity. One common misconception about the hype movement, even in its birthplace, the bay area, is what is it, what is its purpose? When speaking to classmates this was often what I heard from those who knew of the hype movement but not what it was. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Misconceptions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When explored deeper by asking what was meant by the question what is its purpose, a common response was I just dont understand why they have to jump on top of cars and stuff. This statement shows how confused some people are about the hype movement. While these people observe Hype people jumping on cars they do not understand why, quite possibly because they have not taken the time to get to know the culture. Asking why Hype people jump on cars is like asking why Chinese Americans dragon dance, it is something that once you take the time to understand the culture you come to understand.Another scathing misconception is that the Hype movement promotes a culture of death (Muhammad). The Hype movement is a subculture of hip-hop culture. Much like people once thought it was a passing fad, so is the case with the Hype movement. Yet David Muhammad, executive director of The Mentoring Center, claims that hip-hop culture has denigrated into an embarrassing bastion Of filth- promoting violence, drugs, irresponsible sex, excessive materialism, and delinquent behavior. (Muhammad).He goes on to state that this is now a culture of death and the hype movement is no different from the culture of death he claims hip-hop has degenerated into. He argues that there is a deliberate attempt by rappers to promote a Chilies movementGoing dumb or stupid, which is quite literal, is a way you dance while ethicize (using the rug ecstasy), smoking purr (marijuana), and sipping boo (Robinson cough syrup with codeine) (Muhammad). Again this claim is also a generalization. While most in the movement probably use drugs and there and overt references and promotion of drug use in hype music, there are scores of people living the hype life who use no drugs at all. More importantly though is the fact the hype dancing, while inspired by the way you dance while intoxicated, does not require intoxication. This critique is much like those leveled against hippy culture in the sixties, yet no one would argue that it was culture of death (Muhammad), especially after seeing how many of the people who lived that lifestyle became very successful in later years.This is one of the aims of the hype movement as well, to help its followers be successful later in life. One observer notes that the movement promotes entrepreneurship and artistic creativity (Arnold). While music is a big part Of the culture it is not just in terms of the sale of hype music where entrepreneurs are inspired either. There is hype dress so someone might be inspired to open a clothing store or sta rt designing clothing; there are even hype energy drinks. The hype movement is culture, more importantly it is youth culture and while many of its customs are rooted in traditional African American culture it is not ethnically exclusive. It is something that is primarily designed as a means of expression for people aged 16-30 but often has followers outside of those demographics( my brothers only 14 and hes Hype and the leading musician of the Hype movement is near 40). Hype culture covers many aspects of life including familial relations to celebrations and even language.In the hype movement family has a looser definition than what society at large would consider family. Many of the followers of the hype movement were born or raised during Americas crack epidemic and as a result hype is more inclusive of blended families and informal adoption like a friend of the family living with the immediate family and being introduced as a brother. Also, in the hype movement many males address each other as cue which is slang for cousin.Hype celebrati ons include dancing and music much like other cultures but the ways in which people celebrate are much different. One major difference in hype celebrations is that no special occasion is needed to celebrate. These spontaneous celebrations often take the shape of dioxides, a huge gathering that has no specific location, where people of all ages and races come to meet the opposite sex, listen to music, ride around! ) (Axis). Sideshows originated during the crack epidemic in east Oakland and where part of the car culture that was dominant during the era.Now a part of the hype movement the sideshow is still all of these things and more. You will find people do car and motorcycle stunts playing loud music from the speaker system that is an unspoken requirement, having the irresponsible that David Muhammad is so against, dancing, using drugs, and just having a good time. Although sideshow activity has been criminality in recent years it still continues in spite of the consequences, much like the aspects of Native American culture that where criminality such as the use of peyote.Dancing at sideshows is unique to the hype movement, it is called going dumb or going stupid and is best described as fast paced and aggressive. It almost always includes shacking dreadlocks and in recent years has taken on more and more difficulty. This form of dancing often can lead to dancing on cars and if your vehicle is found lacking by hype standards in some way you have to pay what is known as town taxes, having our roof or hood caved in by exuberant people jumping on it.Hype culture also has unspoken rules governing male- female relations, what kind of cars to drive, how to dress and do your hair and what forms of behavior are acceptable. Hype culture even has its own language. The way hype people speak is often in self created slang terms that are understood by other followers who share a common background in some way. Many of the words used by the followers are part of a highly developed code of speaking developed to throw off those who would want to use what is being said against you. The term hype is in fact a part of this language; it is a combination of hyper and fly.