Midterm Examination

1. Name:  Mely Goodman

2. Complete List of Postings:

• Mysterium Tremendum Part 1 & 2
• Nietzsche's Myth of Eternal Recurrence
• How Did Socrates Die?
• Either / Or? : a primer on existentialism
• The Emergence of Rationality:  Wisdom in 56 seconds
• The Limits of Science
• The Life of Pythagoras
• Electric Surfing
• Eliminative Materialism 1-3
• The Elegant Universe
• The Fabric of Cosmos
• Darwin's DNA:  Why Science is Different than Religion
• Evolution Explained in Four Minutes
• On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type
• Evolution Trilogy

3.  List of Flipped Video Answers:

# 1 - Mysterium Tremendum:  If Wonder Has a Form, What is the Matter?

How can the conflict between religion and science be partially resolved by developing a better and richer understanding of the word "matter"?

Generally, the word "matter" is known to be an object that can in some instances be observed, but is made up of mass and takes up space. Religion can be defined as a set of practices and beliefs that says all things are created by a higher power; in my personal belief, that higher power is God. Science is defined as a study based on facts, observation, and experimentation. If we can keep an open mind and have an understanding that all things are in fact matter, including ourselves, whether we are beings of light, just a body or created by God, both religion and science can be satisfied thus partially resolving the conflict between the two. 

# 2 - Mysterium Tremendum PRESENTATION, part two:  SPIRCON

What is the Chandian Effect? How did Faqir Chand come to realize the secret behind religious visions?

The Chandian Effect designates two major factors in transpersonal encounters.  It is the overwhelming experience of certainty and the subject of projection of sacred forms, figures, scenes by the meditator without the conscious knowledge of the object and person that it is beheld at the center of the experience.   Faqir Chand came to realize the secret behind religious visions while he was at war in Iraq in 1919.  After becoming aware that his army was low on ammunition, he began to fear for his life.  It was at that moment that he had an apparition by Hazur Data Dayal Ji telling him not to fear the opposition for they just wanted to pick up their dead, to allow them to do that and not waste the little ammunition they had left. He advised his major and the major followed the directions of the apparition.  By morning his army received the ammunition they were waiting for. They no longer had fear and they now felt safe.  The war ended about three months later.  Upon returning to Baghdad the Sat Sangis began worshiping him because they claimed he, Faqir Chanda, had appeared before them in the battlefield while they felt in great danger and feared for their lives and gave them directions that would save their lives.  They indeed followed those directions their lives were saved.  Faqir Chanda was shocked being that at that same moment, he too was in fear of his own life and had no knowledge of what they were going through.  This made Faqir Chand have questions within himself as to who really appeared to the Sat Sangis.  He came to the realization that the secrets behind religious visions are the true knowledge of feelings, visions, and images seen within, the unreal impressions created by the mind in a state of being awake, dreaming, and in deep sleep modes of consciousness.

# 3 - The Limits of Science:  Illuminated Ideas in 56 Seconds

Do you think it may be possible to exceed our cranial limits? If not, why not? If so, how so?

Absolutely!!  It is one of those things, like many in philosophy, that we will never have a clear and definite answer.  I do, however, believe that it is impossible to stop learning or understanding.  Yes, our cranium only goes so far, but not our understanding and logic.  We can live an entire lifetime and never stop learning or understanding.  

How can anyone believe that there is a limit on our understanding?  Even when visiting Einstein's Limit of Light that says that we can only see so far with our telescopes within the parameters of relativity, it may be true that yes, you can only see so far, but that doesn't mean that the object(s) you're viewing necessarily end there.  For example, if you were to take a telescope and look into the sky, you'll only be able to see so far, but there is an entire universe beyond that that cannot be seen and its end cannot be determined.  With that being said, I do believe that it is possible to exceed our cranial limits.

# 4 - Where Are We?  The Vertigo of Place

Do we ultimately know where we are?

Just as the speaker says "...I had thought in terms of man's own limited dimension, I had presumed upon nature, that existence begins and ends is man's conception, not nature's".  In our early school age years, we have been taught our location by means of a globe, maps, and books as well as mankind's perception of "where we are", but ultimately, no, we do not know where we are.  

Much like the video describes, we live in a city within a state that lies on a country which is part of a planet that sits in this immense universe, but there is no clear and true answer as to where we really are.  What does our universe sit on?  Is there ever a concrete end and explanation to our location?  That has yet to be discovered.

# 5 - The Unknowable: Exploring the Mystery of Being

 I agree with most of this video lesson regarding the limits of knowledge.  It is just as the old saying goes, "you learn something new everyday." I don't think we will ever stop learning nor will we every know everything either.  This universe and our lives are full of a vast variety of unanswered questions and as new things arise and are discovered there will always be much to be studied and learned, the unknowable or gaps.  Gaps that will never be filled.  Some scientists believe that they have come up with an answer or solution to a specific subject, but have they really?  I don't believe so.  One true statement in this video is that we don't know what a single thing is, nor will we ever know it all.

# 6 - Is the Universe Really Made Out of Rubber Bands?  A Kid's Exploration of String Theory

Why is String Theory potentially scientific and not merely wishful thinking? What its Feynman's definition of science?

String theory hasn't been yet proven by science but it  is potentially scientific and not merely wishful thinking because it is open to being tested by scientists who have proposed a number of experiments to demonstrate if it is true or not.

Feynman's definition of science is that the way to look for a new law you take a guess first, then you compute the consequences of the guess to see what it implies and if it's right.  Then you compare those computation results to nature, compared directly with observation to see if it works.  He believes the key of science is:  If it disagrees with the experiment then it's wrong.

# 7 - Maya:  The Physics of Deception

How is the Indian concept of Maya helpful (in an analogous way) in understanding how deception works in neuroscience?

The Indian concept of Maya is helpful in understanding how deception works in neuroscience because things aren't always what they seem.  Our perception of when some things happen may be different than when they actually happen.  This is so because we have perceptual experiences when the sensory integration of our chemical senses and our visual, auditory, and kinesthetic systems occur.  The messages being sent to our internal brain processes from external sources are interpreted differently than what is really occurring.  I found it rather interesting to know that our brains are making decisions prior to us even being aware of what that decision will be.

This means that in reality we are and will always be living in the past.  Even if it is by seconds or minutes, by the time the messages of a specific occurrence being transmitted through our eyes and into our brain, it has already happened and has moved onto the next thing. This is where the deception occurs.  We think we are seeing a beautiful sunset happening right before our eyes, when in reality the initial process has already taken place moments before.  It is to say that any given event occurring at any given time, has already happened by the time we perceive it. It is a never ending cycle  that helps us understand how deception works in neuroscience.

# 8 - Death as a Black Hole:  Entering the Final Portal

What scares us most about death?

I think the thing that scares me most about death is fear of the unknown.  I will never know when, how, or where it will happen.  When I think of death, a lot of questions arise.  When will it happen?  How will it happen?  What will be the cause of my death, an accident, an illness, or will I die of natural causes?  What will become of my family?  We all know that death is inevitable, but are we accepting of it?  Is there a right way to prepare for it?  This is a terrifying subject that most people would rather not speak of and I think it's all due to just that...fear.

As far as death of others around us, it's still a series of questions.  What will I do without that person?  How do we overcome the loss?  I just lost my dad 2 1/2 months ago and the weeks and days leading up to his death were nothing but fear, uncertainty, and sorrow.  Up until the moment when a hospice nurse came to our home and said "He has less than 72 hours" there was no preparing ourselves, mentally, physically, and especially not emotionally.  All I can remember is fear and sorrow.

We all have a desire to live, see our children grow up, advance in our careers, and see what the future has in store for us.  We all want to enjoy our families and have as much time as possible with them.  Personally, I want to be here to take care of my family and make sure they are well.  I think the thought of all of that coming to an end brings on a sense of uncertainty, fear, and not being ready for it all to come to an end.

4. How much of the reading did you do?

• Mysterium Tremendum 
• Plato's Cave
• How Did Socrates Die?
• The Life of Pythagoras
• Spooky Physics
• Einstein vs Bohr
• Bohr vs. Einstein
• Darwin's DNA
• On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type
• Experiments in Plant Hybridization
• On the Origin of Species
• Molecular Structures of Nucleic Acids

5. How many of the films did you watch?

• The Flipped Video Lessons # 1 - 8
• Mysterium Tremendum part 1 & 2
• Either / Or
• The Myth of Eternal Recurrence
• The Limits of Science
• The Emergence of Rationality
• Electric Surfing
• Quantum Thinking
• Eliminative Materialism part 1-3
• Elegant Universe
• The Fabric of the Cosmos
• Evolution Trilogy
• Darwin's DNA
• Charles Darwin
• Evolution Explained in Four Minutes

6.  Why was Socrates sentenced to death?  Why was his philosophy considered "radical"?

Socrates was sentenced to death after being accused by a poet named Melitus of corrupting the youth and not worshiping and acknowledging the existence of the gods recognized by Athens, but rather invented and believed in new ones.  The charge against him stated that he would question everything and was wickedly exploring things under the earth and in the heavens, then taking this information and passing it on to others. Socrates believed that "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing" and that "The unexamined life is not worth living," as he stated himself.  His rationale inspired those who followed him to think for themselves and form their own opinions rather than believing in the recognized superstitions regarding the gods and following the rules of society.  This way of thinking went against what most of the city of Athens believed in. Athenians believed that humans both as individuals and as groups paid honors to the gods to thank them for blessings received and to receive blessings in return.  They would honor the gods with sacrifices, dances, prayers, processsions, festival of songs, and gifting to the gods' sanctuaries. The most important gods they believed in were Olympian gods such as Athena, Apollo, and Poseidon among others.

The term radical is defined as relating to or affecting the fundamental nature; going to the root or origin.  This was precisely the practices of Socrates.  He sought out the foundation of what was being discussed by asking question after question and in most cases a question was answered with another question thus there was never a real and definite answer.  Socrates's philosophy was considered radical because he critiqued and interrogated everything, especially  the concepts and values of Athenian morality and politics. He tested his views by approaching those that were considered wise men such as poets, statesmen, and artisans and question their wisdom.  He would then conclude that these previously thought to be wise men had limited knowledge and were not wise after all, in fact they knew nothing.  Although Socrates had a passion for wisdom and sought out the truth, he believed he himself knew nothing.

7.  Who won the Einstein-Bohr debate?  

The Einstein-Bohr debate pertained to the interpretation and validity of quantum theory.  Quantum theory is a theory of matter and energy based on the concept of quanta, especially quantum mechanics. Einstein was a realist when it came to science and his opinion of this theory was that it was an incomplete theory based on a principle of uncertainty which pointed to the variability of human measurement. Bohr was an idealist and believed in following the data and letting it determine whatever philosophical course it would follow. Bohr believed that God plays dice in the universe, while Einstein did not. The debate between the two went on for decade and finally in 1930, Einstein discussed a thought experiment that involved a measurement of mass of a box which discharged a photon, in an attempt to argue against consistency of the time-energy uncertainty relation.  Bohr surely won over Einstein by reasoning that Einstein's own general theory of relativity saves the consistency of quantum mechanics.  Einstein's box should have counteracted indeterminism and allow for a realistic interpretation for what takes place at the subatomic realm.  Bohr saw the fault in Einstein's box and used strategic reasoning was able to show why the device wouldn't work as predicted.  Although it was determined that Bohr won, some say that the debate is currently still going on.

8.  What is the thesis behind the movie Mysterium Tremendum?

The thesis behind the movie Mysterium Tremendum is the inability to find out who we really are, what we are really made of, and where we really are.  The video addresses the true meaning of matter by attempting to break down its contents down to the atoms, protons, neutrons, and electrons.  Beyond that it is described as being made of small things that contain littler things that jiggle.  I agree with the video and believe the confusion associated with this mystery exists due to a vast difference of opinions and beliefs. Solving this mystery requires an in depth investigation and break down of the presented facts and even then we reach a point where we can no longer move forward with testing and proving facts thus the mystery continues to remain unanswered. In comparison, we can take the human body and question the same.  What are we really made of?  What is our breakdown?  Will we find a true definite answer?  Absolutely not, because it doesn't exist, it is a matter of opinion.  Some may believe that we are living organisms that evolved from an earlier form, while others hold the belief that a supreme being, such as God, was the creator of all things, including man and woman.  Much like the M-theory, the unifying theory derived from string theory, it is untestable and a clear and complete answer does not exist. Therefore, we will never know who we really are, where we really came from, and where we really are.  It will always remain a mystery that only leaves us to form our own assumptions based on whether we take a scientific or religious approach.  Will we solely believe in observable, unreliable, and incomplete facts that are at a standstill due to lack of ability of continued testing or the belief in something greater than that, that is untouchable, unseen, and unheard.

9. What is eliminative materialism?

Eliminative materialism is a materialist position in the philosophy of mind.  It primarily states that people's common-sense understanding of the mind is incorrect and that certain kinds of mental states that most people believe in are non existent.  It is a method used to eliminate the beliefs that something is as a result of or created by a higher power, an inexplicable phenomena, and replacing it with scientifically tested and proven facts.  For example, it was once believed that spirits and gods caused diseases to make their presence be known.  Sacrifices and ritual chanting were some of the things done in order to satisfy the the spirits or gods in order to treat and get rid of the illnesses. This belief was replaced by the discovery that the little organisms called bacteria, initially discovered by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, had the ability to cause diseases by German doctor, Robert Koch in 1876.  It was also once believed that when Zeus, rain god, was displeased, he would throw rain, winds, lightnings, and thunderbolts to cause disaster to the mortals.  This too was later replaced by the discovery that lightning is electricity by Benjamin Franklin in 1752 using his famous kite flying experiment.  One of the examples shown in the video to point out the meaning of eliminative materialism, explain its purpose, and discredit the possibility that God did it, was to take the subject in question an test it using mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology, if all of these academic studies didn't provide solid proof, then it was okay to say that God did it.

10. What is the theory of evolution by natural selection and why is it so important in understanding how to do philosophy?

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, also referred to as "survival of the fittest," explains how species change through time, so much sometimes that new species are produced.  He defined it as the principle by which each slight variation of a trait, if useful, is preserved.  Evolution by natural selection has four requirements that must take place in order for natural selection to operate on a trait.   That trait must have heritable variation and must possess an advantage in the competition for resources since more individuals are produced in each generation that can survive.  There has to be variation in body size, hair color, facial markings, or voice properties. Inheritance of some traits are consistently passed on from parent to offspring some traits more pronounced than others.   Throughout the organisms life, their genomes interact with the environments to cause variations in traits.There must also be a high rate of population growth.  Each year there is more population than there are available resources and this leads to a high rate of mortality; differential survival and reproduction. 

Philosophy critically examines anything and everything, including itself and its methods.  Its practices are so to avoid being deceived, misled, or misinformed by illogical beliefs.  The theory of evolution by natural selection is important in how to do philosophy because it depicts a rational explanation and order of the evolution of all living organisms.  In philosophy, the idea that God is the creator of all things cannot be proven with observable and testable facts therefore it is non existing nor feasible. The theory of evolution lines out a specific order and facts of its process thus becoming a reliable source of information.

11. Why is physics important when doing philosophy?

Physics is defined as the branch of science developed out of philosophy that is concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy; the physical properties and phenomena of something.  There is a long history and connection between the two studies that complements one another.  Being knowledgeable in physics while practicing philosophy could be very beneficial to a philosopher because they are both among the most important fields of research. Physics manufactured the most profound and pervasive change in the understanding of nature due to the rise of relativity theory and quantum mechanics in 1935.  Both of these studies seek the understanding of the nature of reality and our knowledge of it. Albert Einstein agreed on the significance and educational value of methodology as well as history and philosophy of science.  Physics has always played a vital role in shaping ideas in modern philosophy.  The relationship between experiment and theory are scientific issues and also issues from the foundation of the philosophy of science.  Taking that into consideration, they are equally important for both fields.  

12. List any extra credit.

• Read:  Reasonable Logic
• Read:  The Metaphysics of Morality.
• Read:  Frisky Dirt

13.  Favorite Reading

On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type

14.  Favorite Movie

The Myth of Eternal Recurrence