Argument Analysis Essay 2

Argument Analysis Essay 2 Argument Analysis Essay 2 Bryant & Stratton College Buffalo Campus PHIL 310: Logic and Reasoning Winter 2015 W 6:20pm-9:00pm Brandon Rudroff Argument Analysis Essay 2 PHIL 310 Course Outcomes Assessed 2. Relate the importance of basic logical concepts such as validity, soundness and consistency to reasoning practice. 3. Apply analytical and thinking skills through syllogistic, symbolic and informal logic scenarios. 5. Translate, formalize and evaluate simple arguments in categorical and propositional form. 6. Combine theory and practice to communicate logical arguments orally and in written form. 7. Construct and defend arguments for ones’ self. 8. Critically assess the argument of others. For this final essay, you will provide a critical analysis of the inherent value of logic and reasoning (for life) as well as its contributory (utility) value for your own specific expected career, future educational interests, or life interests. To help support your findings, make connections to topics discussed in class, use references from the textbook, and locate research from reliable sources to help validate and enhance your perspective. To provide some structure to your completion of the assignment, please follow these directions: Introductory Paragraph: Introduce the reader to the paper topic and include a sentence or more that summarizes your main point (thesis) that you will defend in the paper. While this assignment is reflective in nature, it should still have a clear position that you will defend. Body paragraphs: Be sure to address the following: Describe the roles of your expected career, future educational interests, or life interests. Explore the underlying reasons for these decisions. Use logical and reasoning concepts discussed in class this term and reference these concepts from the textbook and class notes. Explore the value of logic and reasoning in relationship to fulfilling these roles in your expected career, future educational interests, or life interests. To help support your ideas, make connections to topics discussed in class, use references from the textbook, and locate research from reliable sources to help validate and enhance your perspective. Explore the value of logic and reasoning in relationship to the happy life in general. To help support your ideas, make connections to topics discussed in class, use references from the textbook, and locate research from reliable sources to help validate and enhance your perspective. You

Plato’s Metaphysics

Plato’s Metaphysics Plato’s Metaphysics Platos metaphysics was based on the ideas, which were taken from within and applied to the outer world, while Aristotle used the ideas from the surrounding world to apply them within. Thus, Plato believed in a dualistic reality (there are mental and physical things), and Aristotle claimed that only an imminent reality exists. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed that forms could not exist separately but only in an object itself. This explains why these philosophers differently determine what is true and false. Aristotle claims that something is true if he has seen it and knows it. Plato, on the contrary, uses intuition and common sense to prove something true or false. Rationalism argues that a person is born already with knowledge, i.e. knowledge is inherent, and learning stems from intuition. Empiricists, on the contrary, claim that one can know something exclusively on the basis of direct sense experience. Following Rationalists, who are concerned with absolute universal truths, one can assert that the mind is the single source of knowledge. Empiricists reject this principle and make use of the postulate that a person is born with the mind as blank as a slate, i.e. without any knowledge or experience. Therefore, only human sensual experiences can serve as a background for knowledge. Platos belief in reincarnation may affect his understanding the nature of human happiness in the following way. He may believe that happiness is a fluid notion, just like his Forms, which implies that a person can achieve happiness not in earthly but next life, or has already achieved it in previous lives. Aristotles materialistic view on reality may make him believe that happiness is the ultimate goal of human earthly existence, i.e. people should achieve happiness till the end of their life. Aristotles rejection of afterlife does not make happiness a permanent state (as in Platos case) but defines it within the frames of earthly life. Platos low opinion of democracy seems rather reasonable. The point is that poor citizens prevail in a state, and they dislike being deceived by rich rulers. Falsely, the poor believe that they know what they need, but these needs are illusory - lust after power and sensual pleasures. The masses, which are uneducated and ignorant about the essence of the soul, cannot realize what true needs imply. According to Plato, the poor, unless educated into arts and philosophy, are incapable of distinguishing true needs from illusory ones and electing a good ruler. Only a philosopher as a ruler can satisfy citizens true needs, which lead to wisdom and spiritual growth. It seems to me that Plato implicitly rejected slavery in any form since it contradicted his notion of justice. Platos just society consists of three classes, with each class performing its role. However, in a just city, every person should do exclusively what he or she is good at and not interfere in other peoples business. According to Plato, only this condition can contribute to the perfect pursuance of ones duties. If there were slaves in Platos just society, they would interfere in their masters business, which would prevent the latter from appropriate pursuing their duties on their own. Gods existence is so important for Descartes philosophy because it convinces him that other distinct things also exist. For Descartes, God cannot be a deceiver because He is a perfectly good and impeccable being. Descartes faculty to judge can come only from God, and if he uses it properly, he cannot mistake. Since God does not deceive, Descartes stresses that if he perceives something as a clear and distinct truth, it will be so under any conditions, even if he forgets the arguments that led him to that inference. Besides, God is also the source of human free will which is infinite since its scope is wider than the scope of human finite intellect. Descartes continues Platos tradition of rational perception of the world Rationalists are concerned with absolute universal truths and assert that the mind is the single source of knowledge. Likewise, Plato is concerned with the eternal and perfect Forms that shape reality. Both Plato and Descartes believe that knowledge exists in the human mind before a person is born. For Plato, perfection and true knowledge is hidden in the Forms, which, in turn, exist separately from material objects. This implies that all a person should do is to reach out to Forms. Like Descartes, Plato argues that the outside world can be understood by means of reasoning. The phrase epistemological detour implies one of the means of discovering a metaphysical truth through an indirect epistemological investigation into what can be known about some phenomenon rather than a direct inquiry about its essence. The epistemological detour emphasizes the role of the mind and primary knowledge in cognition. This can be explained by the fact that rationalists believe in the infinite abilities of the human mind and that the world can be perceived rationally. Taking into consideration the epistemological detour, it becomes clear why rationalists reject the supernatural since the latter lacks reasonable evidence and cannot be convincing enough.

A Journal opinion article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

A Journal opinion article - Essay Example The first three months of the year experienced decline in spending by domestic household in the United States as reported by the commerce department. The decline in consumption dropped from the estimated 3.6 percent to 2.6percent as the CNBC reported. The commerce department reported massive decline spending in crucial sectors, notably the service sector based on the report by CNBC, consumers decreased their spending in legal services, health care and more so in personal care. One of the major causes of the consumption decline could have been the new taxation law. The increase in the social security tax at the beginning of the year could have limited the extent to which households spend within the first quarter. The tax increase lowered directly the amount of income that households would take home at end of the day. After taxation, consumers were left with only meager income; these consumers choose to concentrate on basic commodities only (Morrissey 1). As opposed to earlier projecti ons that had showed increase in the amount export for first quarter, the latest report indicated otherwise. The department of commence statistics indicated that export decreased indeed to 1.1percent while imports also declined to 0.4 percent. The decrease in export translated to limited foreign currency at the disposal of the government for the country to trade with other countries. Consequently, the fall in imports resulted to decrease in foreign revenue. Both reductions in export and import negative effects on the country’s gross domestic product and contributed to the drop in the figure that had been projected for the first quarter to be 2.4percent (Morrissey 1). Amid concerns that the government was cutting its spending, consumers could have become more reserved in their spending. Government spending cut could lead to increase in the prices of commodities that had been earlier subsidized. A decrease in government’s spending could also result to households paying fo r basic services that were being catered for by the state prior to cut in spending. Vis a Vis the speculation of the government cutting its spending motivated a decline in consumption by consumers that further led to drop in the GDP of the first quarter. However, according to the wall street journal, the cut in governments spending which took effect in first month of the first quarter led to direct deduction of 0.9 percent off the growth rate (BBC 1). Due to economical globalization of the world, there existed unprecedented events all over the world that were bound to destabilize the projected GDP by department of commerce. Economic instability in states such as china and European countries could have contributed to gravitation of the united states GDP to 1.8 percent. With globalization, no single economy can exist in solitary in the 21st century. Hence, through globalization, the myriad of macroeconomics factors derailing the Chinese economy and euro zone states such as Greece adve rsely influenced the bilateral trade between these countries. The decrease in the annual economic growth of china triggered the decline in trade between the two countries. On the other hand, the worsening conditions of euro zone states such as Greece continued to shift trade further away from the European countries causing down surge in the amount of investments by Americans in the oversees (BBC 1). Though the department of com

Fire in vestegation proposel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fire in vestegation proposel - Essay Example The objectives of the study are: 1) review techniques and approaches used in the investigation of fires in facilities; 2) develop an approach for the investigation of fire in facilities; and 3) recommend good practices for the investigation of fire in facilities. According to Burgoyne (1982), fire investigations are conducted in various circumstances for various purposes. However, the sole objective is to determine the cause of fire. Fire investigation is best conducted like a scientific research project, where a hypothesis is formed and refined in steps. The process involves the collection of evidence. These results in conclusion that is in closest conformity with the evidence ascertained, and expressed in a report that is well constructed. Often, practical considerations may lead to curtailing of the process. However, the different sources and kinds of evidence require balanced attention. According to Kobes et al. (2010), a critical aspect of safety in a building is the possibility of safe escape in the event of a fire. Fire safety facilities must enable independent and adequate fire response performances by the occupants of the building. Practically, legal measures do not always provide support for people in burning buildings. This has necessitated the understanding of how individuals behave in the event of fire, and fire evacuation becomes essential. This enables bringing fire safety measures in line with occupants needs in the event of fire. Critical factors that determine occupants’ fire response performances include characteristics of fire; human beings; and buildings. Psychonomics has a significant influence on occupants’ fire response performances. The traditional approach to fire safety must be supplemented by scientific knowledge from the field. Critical factors that determine fire response performance include fire response performance; danger factor of fire; the human factor; and the

Marijuana research paper Essay Example for Free

Marijuana research paper Essay In today’s society there are a list of many banned drugs which in coincidence are the five most used drugs by most individuals. These drugs are methamphetmine, cocaine heroine, ecstasy and marijuana, out of all five of these drugs one that I believe to be the most scrutinized is marijuana, known also as cannabis. I believe this drug is the most harmless illegal substance in the world, especially when compared to its counterparts. Marijuana not only has the least negative side effects to your body but it is also the only drug that is used in a social, musical, medical and cultural manner. The most popular of all recreational drugs, Cannabis, or Marijuana, Grass, Hemp, Weed, Pot, Hash, Dope or a variety of regional names has been cultivated for thousands of years. Derived in various forms from the Cannabis plants, Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Sativa, is native to central Asia but its cultivation and use is global. It is a Psychoactive and a Psychedelic. It can be smoked as leaves or flower buds, it can be ground down to isolate the crystallized sap and then pressed into a solid, or the resin extracted by collection via contact with the sticky plant parts.(http://listverse.com) This excerpt from listverse.com explains why marijuana use is so commonly used not only in America but across the globe. What makes this drug adorn by many of it users are also the proclaimed â€Å"negative† side effects, constant smoking or overdosing on marijuana results in â€Å"being forgetful, over sleeping, not getting things done, concentration difficulties, neglecting work or duties, loss of balance or dizziness, problems with performing tasks, and nausea (Hammersley, R. and V. Leon, 2006).† These side effects may not be looked too as negative by on the user, especially when compared to its counterparts. An overdose of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroine will almost always lead to â€Å"seizures, coma, and loss of a life† (http://mental-health.emedtv.com) Marijuana is acclaimed by many of its users as the â€Å"ultimate stress reliever† and what better place relieve stress than at college, a place where for four to five days out of the week students are overwhelmed with the stresses that come from the many classes they take. This explains why college is a perfect example of marijuana being used in a social setting where one can obtain the drug in a calm environment with little authority from parents or the police. Through my college experience I have met students who enter college deciding they will never smoke a day in their life, I have also met students who admit they were peer pressured into at least trying the substance and I have met students who have said they tried marijuana out of straight curiosity. In an interview held with a female Old Westbury student, who’s name is preferred not to be mentioned, I asked the student â€Å"how long have you been smoking marijuana?† student replied â€Å"I would consider myself a newcomer to smoking pot, I started this semester.† I then asked â€Å"why did you choose marijuana out of all illegal drugs to use?† she replied â€Å" I honestly choose marijuana because all of my friends were doing it, I saw after smoking many of them would go from uptight to calm and funny, not having a care in the world, I wanted to feel for myself what the â€Å"hype† was and depending on how I reacted to pot would determine if I would continue smoking or not†. My last question before ending the interview was the big one, â€Å"Do you still continue to smoke marijuana†, with a smirk on her face she said â€Å"yes I do, not often like my friends but on Thursday after a long week of homework and classes I smoke one to ease my mind and forget about my tough week, plus it puts me to bed (laughing)†. Marijuana use has and still continues to be a cultivating driving force in the music industry, specifically hip hop. During the 80’s and 90’s many of the great hip hop legends; Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Notorious Biggie Smalls all have been known for there outstanding musical abilities but also for their public habit of smoking or as the street term calls it â€Å"getting high.† Many individuals look at these artist and automatically assume ignorance when in fact when under the influence of marijuana these artist have said some of the most prolific lines in hip hop. Tupac Shakur is quoted saying I believe that everything that you do bad comes back to you. So everything that I do that’s bad, I’m going to suffer from it. But in my mind, I believe what I’m doing is right. So I feel like I’m going to heaven. This quote spoke meant allot to me and Im sure to many young adults that are just like me who live a life of violence and chaos. Often as teenagers we feel that since we are not living the supposedly â€Å"Godly† way that includes attending church regularly, helping other and praying at night that we ourselves don’t hold a place in heaven, that we are the scums of the earth. Lines such as these mentally help us make it through our days and allow us to understand that they are other people out there who are going or have went through our daily struggles. Hearing words like that from your icon, you can only imagine the relief that boy’s and girl’s feel knowing someone who made it out a bad situation was going through exactly what you were, simple words can really make an outstanding difference to an individual. Marijuana in the music industry is not only used through the rappers who say the lyrics but it is used also by the producer’s who come up with the beat and flow, the core of the song that sometimes allows you to feel the music in a way that no rapper may be able to get across. Famous producers such Pharell and rap mogul Dr. Dre are both Grammy winners who make their music while under the influence, the drug puts them in a calming place were their mind can roam and listen to each instruments and bring them together in harmony, yes this task can be done sober but these two producers have made some of the beast beats in the world, it only goes to show once again marijuana is not as self destruction drug as it rivals cocaine or heroine . Medical Cannabis refers to the use of the drug cannabis as a physician-recommended herbal therapy, most notably as an antiemetic. Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for approximately 4,000 years. Writings from ancient India confirm that its psychoactive properties were recognized, and doctors used it for a variety of illnesses and ailments. These included a whole host of gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia,  headaches and as a pain reliever frequently used in childbirth.In the 1970s, a synthetic version of THC, the primary active ingredient in cannabis, was synthesized to make the drug Marinol. (Why Is Smoking Cigarettes Bad For You? | LIVESTRONG.COM) Marijuana is yet again used as a beneficial part of our society but instead of the individual users who use it for leisure or to have fun, marijuana is used for the sick and impaired. Known by its correct term as medical marijuana, the drug is used to relieve muscle spams, chronic pain,glaucoma, weight loss(in smoking marijuana one of the few side effect is called â€Å"the munches† during this time the user will crave to want food. People who dont often eat will more than likely have a good portion plate of food or a snack) Aids and Cancer. Having a grandmother who was prescribed marijuana for her excessive swollen feet conditon I personally saw the positive effects the drug had her. Marijuana allowed my grandmother to relax and focus less attention on her feet, being under the influence put my grandmother in a happy place where her pain no longer bothered her as much as it would if she was sober. What she always enjoyed about marijuana was that she could smoke it, coming from the Caribbean’s smoking marijuana was a normal thing, something she had grown accustomed too. She much rather smoke instead of swallowing pills, being old fashioned she thought the side effects of pills would be detrimental to her health. Smoking marijuana has had an impact on the lives of those who suffer from depression and low self esteem. Joan Bello, author of The Benefits of Marijuana: Physical, Psychological Spiritual, is quoted saying; Marijuana will not tolerate repression. Tranquilizers and depressants relax the body and release tension, but the state of mind associated with these drugs is unconsciousness whereby we escape rather than resolve our dilemmas. Alcoholism is an extreme need of both the body and personality sometimes to release the nervousness that has accumulated and continues to build up to an unbearable degree. It serves the same function for the collective personality for the society, as well A culture in which alcohol and tranquilizers are the prevalent form of release prefers not to witness  internal confusion and actually choose to act without conscious participation, maintaining a semi-numb condition. Mr. Bello not only speaks about the positive of marijuana use but he also speaks on how smoking puts you at a better state than one of its many counterparts alcohol, who when under the influence liquor individuals tend to act angry or in rage, marijuana users are always put in a calm statement, which is reason to why after smoking one side effect the user may feel is tiredness. Marijuana usage has not been secluded too only America, it has made a huge cultural impact on the tropical island community, specifically Jamaica. Jamaicans have a subset group of people on the island that participate in a religion known as Rastafri, as Catholics partake in the Eucharist and Muslims participate in Ramadan, the Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use of marijuana, avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of ones hair in dreadlocks, and vegetarianism. Rastafrains look at marijuana as the hold plant and have scriptures in the bible to prove that they aren’t making it up, Psalm 104:14: He causeth the grass for the cattle and herb for the service of man.† The marijuana or as they call it gangja is also used for social and medical purposes. Marijuana is used primarily during the two main Rastafari rituals: reasonings and nyabingi. The reasoning is an informal gathering at which a small group of Rastas smoke ganja and engage in discussion. The ritual begins when one person lights the pipe, or chalice, and recites a short prayer while all other participants bow their heads. The pipe is then passed around the circle until all of the people have smoked. The reasoning ends when the participants depart one by one. Rasta’s do not condone any other drug beside marijuana because it is the only God given plant, it is not tainted with any human contact unlike alcohol methamphetamine cocaine or heroine. These rastas normally live long healthy lives, which only proves that the drug does not do serious damage to your body. So far they are eighteen legalized marijuana states in the United states. Regardless what the majority may say I believe marijuana has made a positive impact on the world. \. The amount of deaths that occur from smoking cigarets or drinking alcohol is in the millions and yet it is still being used, marijuana has had zero deaths in its history. The next time you see someone high or in the act of smoking think about the pros and cons and then make your decision.

From the Depths of My Soul :: Personal Narrative essay about myself

From the Depths of My Soul    ``Songs my father taught me'' should be the title of everything I play. His teachings took place from my first breath to his last. They are profoundly present in every moment that I am with the guitar. He taught me to love her, to care for her and to give myself to her.    Many times I went to sleep listening to him playing classical guitar, or woke up to the sound of a Bach gavotte! While walking in the old part of town, he would call my attention to the moonlight illuminating the narrow streets, or smell the flowers perfuming the old city, and then tell me``This is the Fandanguillo of Turina!''    I saw my father under persecution by the republicans and later decorated with honors by the democrats. I saw my father in poverty and I saw him financially successful. One thing remained untouched - his love of music, his love of the guitar. He practiced with the same devotion when there was no sight or hope of a successful career as he did later when success did come. The collection of music I play in homage to him was an essential part of the repertoire he always kept with him and gave to my brothers and me so that through our love of it we could search for beauty and that unattainable perfection that is the guiding light of all the great servants of music.    My father was a genius; he is an immortal man. I always wanted to believe in immortality. I always wanted to believe in eternal life, and intellectually I did. But in my heart, I had my doubts. In the last moments that my father and I spent together, he took these doubts away. He taught me that indeed there is a God. He taught me that there is eternal life, and we made a pact that we would soon be together, reunited, and in full recognition of each other.    My father taught me many things. When he was alive we had the most beautiful and most perfect love affair that two people could have. My father was the greatest guitarist known to me, and everything in me is only an offspring of that magnificent tree of music that he was. And everything that passes from me to future generations will be an offshoot of that beautiful root that was completely ingrained in the earth of music.

The Only Crime Is Pride

â€Å"The only crime is pride† is a true statement. Multitudes of people take much pride in numerous things some being: their job, family, political views, hometowns even in their favorite sports team. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the protagonist, Antigone, wants to give her brother Polynecies the same honorable burial given to her other brother Eteocles. Creon, The ruler of Thebes, makes it very obvious to all the citizens that they are not to attempt to bury his nephew or they will be stoned to death.Antigone deliberately defies her uncle Creon to get her wish and receives punishment as she should for breaking the laws. Subsequent to the sentry bringing Antigone in for her illegal actions, Creon’s niece does not deny anything saying that she had to do it. The ruler of Thebes was appalled that she would ever commit such a crime. This discovery prompts the Choragos to say, â€Å"Like father, like daughter: both headstrong, deaf to reason! She has never learned to yield. † Showing that pride clouds her judgment and directly goes against her uncle and his laws to give Polynecies the honorable burial he deserved.Antigone knew that this crime was punishable by death but her pride would not let her oversee leaving her dead brother unburied like many of the other soldiers and open for the birds and dogs to eat. Oedipus’ daughter was so involved in doing the right thing that she to take her own life in the process. She says, â€Å"If I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not. † This further exemplifies that she cares more about the pride of her family rather than her own life.Had Antigone obeyed the laws put in place by her uncle, she would not have been forced to die. Instead she could have gone on living a noble life in the city of Thebes. Creon’s pride effects many of the decisions that he makes as a ruler. His dignity makes all the decisions very biased, including in scene 3 when he is arguing with his son Haimon. His son tells him that, â€Å"In flood time you can see how some trees bend and because they bend, even their twigs are safe, while stubborn trees are town up roots, and all. He, is telling Creon if he insists with being so stubborn with sticking to what his pride tells him to do; he will corrupt himself and many other who are in his life. Although Creon’s son is much younger he is wiser than his father even if Creon would never admit it. The king of Thebes was told many times that since Antigone is his family that he should not punish his niece, another reason people tell him he should release her is that she is a female. Despite these reasons Creon says that he would look weak to the citizens of Thebes if a girl was able to get away with such a felony.His level of self-esteem would also diminish if he had let Antigone get away with this illegal act. Haimon is not the only one who tells Creon he needs to change his way. The blind prop het Teiresias tells Creon, â€Å"Think: all men make mistakes, But a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, And repairs the evil: The only Crime is pride. † Creon's pride made Antigone's punishment for doing what she believed was right much more severe than necessary. He had to follow through with his decree so he would not look weak in front of the people he governed.Tragically, because of his pride, both Antigone and his own son, Haimon, died needlessly. Is one's pride more important than human life? In society today pride corrupts people in every country and over every: gender, race, religion. Most crimes are committed because people take too much pride for things; and because of this take fierce actions. In Libya angered civilians took matters into their own hands after a movie was made mocking their god Mohammed. They were very proud of their religion and to see it mocked in a movie upset them.Aggressors attacked and killed 4 Libyan ambassadors for the United States. Another example is the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot. It was a public disturbance that broke out in downtown Vancouver, British Colombia Canada on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. The riots happened immediately after the conclusion of the Boston Bruins’ win over the Vancouver Canucks in game seven of the Stanley Cup. The Vancouver fans were outraged since they had a lot of pride in their team. They were so upset that they stormed the streets flipping over cars, setting stores on fire, and vandalizing property.The prideful fans minds were clouded and made rash decisions; not thinking about what they were doing and acting out of instinct. Harper Lee's book To Kill a Mockingbird also exemplifies people making decisions with clouded minds. Once word gets out that Atticus will be representing Tom Robinson in court people begin to bully Jem and Scout. Since Jem is older he understands that he must not let his pride get in the way and keeps composure until finally he snaps, terr orizing Mrs.Duboses’ garden ripping out all the flowers. Scout’s self-worth also clouds her mind, beating up many classmates that even thought to bring up that her dad was a bad man. â€Å"The only crime is pride. † Accurately displays that pride makes humans act with clouded judgment making them do things they would not normally do; the same way Antigone and Creon acted throughout Sophocles play, Antigone, and the same way it effects millions of people in today’s world.