Immaculate Perception

The stance of immaculate perception is a false one. Immaculate perception describes a pure and untainted perception, one that has no bias. Bias is acquired with experiences and teachings, both of which create expectancy, which taints perception with bias. One may argue that a newborn baby has immaculate perception, a clean slate with no expectations or sense conditioning. However, this point cannot be proved because where is the division between the experiences of the mother and the baby, or is there even a division between the two? Does the baby's formation count as an experience? With no clear answers to these questions how can immaculate perception occur in reality? This question leads to another one. What is reality and how does it relate to perception? Reality is the truth that we try to ultimately reach through perception as we sort through our sense datum. Yet, this truth can vary between people. The conclusion or truth that people search for through perception analysis can be determined by one's own needs and expectations. Though two creatures may be exposed to identical stimuli and sense datum their inferences achieved through perception will vary greatly because each has a tainted or biased perception. For example, a human and a dog are both put in a forest where they are lost and must find their way home. The person will rely highly on sight to sort through the wilderness and arrive home safely because he has conditioned himself to rely heavily on the sense of sight while, the dog may rely on scent more so then sight to track his way home. Both have perception that has been flawed or somewhat polluted. Both the human and dog are exposed to the same stimuli yet they each perceive their situations differently. This is due to their biased perception, the human through previous experiences has conditioned himself to perceive his experiences mainly through sight while the dog has done the same but with smell, neither has an unprejudiced perception because both have been conditioned through experiences. Perception is controlled and created by experience. The goal of perceiving is to know your surroundings. However your surroundings control your experiences. Therefore perceiving is a way of analyzing your experiences. But if this is true then there is no such thing as immaculate perception. Every individual's experiences are each unique. The way in which they are accepted or rejected depends on cultural conditioning as well as previous experiences. With this bias no one can claim to have untouched or virgin perception because it has been trained to only acknowledge certain elements of the surrounding. For example, I have been trained to rely on sight to gain the bulk of my knowledge of my surroundings but a blind person would have trained their senses or perception tools very differently having no sight. Therefore each experience and the sense datum gained from it would be different. The stance of immaculate perception claims that since the act of perceiving has no bias each experience for every person results in the same knowledge. This is false because it is impossible for two beings to infer the same information from a protocol. In a world made of unique creatures it's impossible for immaculate perception to exist.

Why do good people suffer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Why do good people suffer - Research Paper Example Do we then simply have to accept things and tell ourselves, â€Å"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised† (Job 1:21)? Not exactly, for in every human being, there is a natural curiosity to know why things happen, and especially why bad things happen to good people. We may feel angry and bitter at the suffering that good people experience and at all the injustice around us, but the Book of Job and the Scriptures somehow shed light on the idea that these sufferings, especially those of good people, indeed have a spiritual basis. The reasons why good people suffer are mostly implied in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. One of the essential points that the book is trying to emphasize is that God’s will transcends innocence. In simple terms, it means that God will not spare someone from suffering simply because one claims to be innocent. This further means that despite one’s goodness and obedience to God and to His laws, bad things may still happen to him. Job himself actually claims innocence when he states that he has not committed sins like lust, lies, idolatry and adultery. Job also reiterates that he has not failed to help the needy and the poor and his slaves, and that he has not even treated his enemies in an unfair way (Job 31:1-40, New International Version Holy Bible). Nevertheless, Job experiences extreme suffering. All these imply one thing – that God’s will is above man’s innocence. In fact, because of this, Job assumes that God is cruel, where such assumption is evident in the lines â€Å"I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer† (Job 30:20), and, â€Å"You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me† (Job 30:21). Indeed, anyone who does not show compassion to the weak and innocent is viewed as cruel. Nevertheless, God remains above man’s innocence and man’s concept of sparing the innocent from suffering. The concept of innocence is actually one which is mostly misunderstood by the layman. Perhaps one reason for this is that man usually equates moral innocence with legal innocence. It is in this respect that man is mistaken. Good people suffer because â€Å"technically speaking there are no good [or innocent] people† (Slick). The apostle Paul echoes this in his Epistle to the Romans, where he says, â€Å"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God† (Rom. 3:23). This means that no one is spared from sin. Paul even calls himself â€Å"chief of sinners† (1 Tim. 1:15). Moreover, even Jesus Himself says, â€Å"Why do you call Me good?...No one is good except God alone† (Lk. 18:18). Furthermore, Job’s defense of himself by claiming that he has been a good man all along is actually not even plausible for everyone simply is a sinner, regardless of the good or the bad he has done. It is true that in terms of the law of the country or in terms of rules, it is clear who obeys it and who violates it. However, when it comes to the Scriptures, there are really no good people and that bad things just simply happen to them. What then is the effect of this sin? The apostle Paul describes the effects of sin on the Ephesians: â€Å"Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed† (Eph. 4:19). Thus, sin, according to Paul, leads to more sin. Moreover, sin can lead to various physiological problems such as â€Å"liver problems, diabetes, heart disease† as well as emotional problems like â€Å"guilt, low self-esteem [and] loss of self-respect† (Vandermark). Thus, sin leads to both emotional and physical suffering. Lastly, perhaps the worst effect of sin is stated by the apostle Paul in

Discussion questions week 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion questions week 2 - Essay Example The technique can be applied to different type of business data such as production, sales, inventories, investment, raw materials, employee needs, and development products (Mann, 1995). Time series analysis can be applied to forecast the revenue stream of a public company such as Starbucks. The raw data needed is the historic revenue of the company. The raw data concerning the revenues of Starbucks is illustrated below The consumer confidence index shows how people feel about the American economy. The index was set with a base in 1985 which represents the first year the index evaluated the consumer confidence in the economy. In May 2008 the index had a value of 57.2, while in October 1992 the index had a value of 54.6. Both these time period represent a position in time in which the country was facing recessionary forces. The value of the index states that people had more confidence in the economy in May 2008 than in October 1992. If the consumer index was 62.8 in April 2008, this would imply that the citizens of the United States suddenly lost major confidence in the state of the economy in a short period of time. There was a negative change of 5.6 in the index between April and May of

Article Critique Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Article Critique - Assignment Example In Keohane’s article entitled â€Å"Imaginary fiends,† he states that there is a discrepancy between the actual decrease in crime rates and the beliefs of the American public regarding crime. Keohane presents arguments that show how the public is both mentally and emotionally made to believe that â€Å"crime got worse in the United States in 2009† (2009). In his article, he presents facts that show how â€Å"we’ve come to believe what we believe† and how the public needs to â€Å"take some steps toward mending our relationship with reality† (Keohane, 2009). Warr’s article entitled â€Å"Fear of Crime in the United States: Avenues for Research and Policy† takes a similar route of argument as Keohane’s. Warr argues that people should know accurate information about the status of crimes because while â€Å"Fear†¦under many circumstances†¦is beneficial†¦under the wrong circumstances, [it] can unnecessarily con strain behavior, restrict freedom and personal opportunity, and threaten the foundation of communities† (Warr, 2000, p.482). ... His article shows the extent of his research regarding the topic. Similarly, Warr’s article utilizes ethos. Firstly, Warr is a known criminologist who has authored several books and articles regarding crime. His background alone can be qualified as valid argument in terms of credibility. Furthermore, his article boasts of extensive research, just like Keohane’s. He presents both quantitative and qualitative analyses coming from various credible government and non-government sources. The only issue, however, could be that Warr’s sophisticated presentation may be a bit hard to follow at first especially for those who are not familiar with the sociology of crime. Keohane uses pathos, or the appeal to the emotions as well. At the onset of the article, he immediately grasps the audience’s attention by saying, â€Å"The year 2009 was a grim one for many Americans†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Keohane, 2009). Immediately, he is able to communicate that his article is something that should interest his target audience --- the American public. He goes on to say that, â€Å"Citizens, though ground down and nerve-racked by the recession, still somehow resisted the urge to rob and kill one another†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Keohane, 2009). This appeals to the emotions because Keohane establishes agreement with an underlying value common among the audience, and at the same time, he paints a positive scenario of the audience. Warr’s article, on the same note, utilizes pathos, but this time by discussing the nature of â€Å"fear.† Fear is a strong emotion and every reader would understand what Warr wants to say in terms of fear of crime. He appeals to his audience’s emotions by making this emotion of fear as one of the main foundations of his argument. Logos, or the

Design in Context of Physical Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Design in Context of Physical Education - Essay Example Theories are developed based on instruction and learning techniques. Design knowledge is eventually consolidated in order to deliver required results. Resource design is closely knitted with enhancing capacity in context of educational innovation (Ashcroft and James, 1998). Design principles are shared amongst teachers so that they are able to resolve problems efficiently. System’s approach is an effective model in curriculum design. It is associated with learner’s abilities. In the initial stage behaviour of learner is analyzed and then content is sequenced accordingly. Achievement criteria are assessed in the final stage of the model. Principles of inclusive curriculum design is in terms of flexible teaching methods such as group work, e-learning, lectures, lab work, tutorials, etc. Inclusive curriculum design also needs to encompass flexible assessment methods and teaching materials. On the other hand, course materials and program requirements also should be available in given time frame. Resources can be adapted in two different ways such as transforming them into real time practice and designing curriculum based on such resources (Walklin, 1990). Physical education resources are a vital component to structure entire curriculum. This analysis highlights curriculum and resource design. Resource design mainly includes accessing all those resources which are productive for specialist area. Inclusive curriculum design has been evaluated in this study. This form of design is highly flexible and can incorporate required changes as and when required. Resource development can be facilitated through primary and secondary sources. These sources are usually web sources or consulting fitness experts. Appropriate information can be obtained from these sources which help in understanding key requirements. Web sources provide latest updates on fitness that might be applied in specialist area of physical education.

Gun- Carry Permits in New York City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gun- Carry Permits in New York City - Essay Example However, the real problem lies deeper than this. The dilemma is not merely limited to the possession of guns but extends to the social and economic sphere. Thus, a policy needs to be created not further restricting guns but on creating awareness and promoting responsibility when handling guns. The possession and transportation of arms in violation of the laws may result in a charge of Misdemeanor or felony filed against the person. The mandatory jail time for possession of a firearm is approximately a year or above. Despite these strict policies, the alarming increase in crime rate and in the number of school shootings remains the most disturbing factor. Beginning from the incident of Whitman in the tower of the University of Texas to S. H. Cho's firing in Virginia Tech; all such incidents point at the same thing. This is the easy access of guns and the confused psychological mindset. These gory events in the history of America are serious issues and must be treated as such. After Vi rginia Tech shootings, the people were able to ban the purchase of guns on the basis that Cho had acquired it. However, there are other opportunities that people can avail in order to possess a gun legally. This includes purchasing them at gun fairs without having to get their history checked. This makes for a serious drawback in the policies through which anyone can go and purchase a gun. A shocking fact observed here suggests that the severity of laws and policies does not seem to be playing a role in hampering crimes. Implementation of the written policies and action upon them is requisite to decline such acts. Prevalence of law and order along with practical implementation of the written word alone can put an end to such issues (School Shootings and Violence 2012). The tug of war between crime and the defense seems not only to be triggered by the wave of terrorism but it is constantly fanned by the raising racist sentiments which are a direct product of terrorism. Since 9/11 a g reat number of terrorist activities have been viewed in the US. At some places Muslims were killed by white racists and at some whites were killed by Muslim Racists thus continuing the blame game. Moreover the collapsing economy, relapse of the governmental infrastructure and the unrest created as a bi-product constantly boosts up the crime rate. Slums are increasing day by day; unemployment and an empty stomach are capable of a lot more than the guns can do. Some places of the posh NYC have become red zones due to the increasing accumulation of unemployed people turned into criminals. Some analysts have argued that it is not the total number of guns in circulation that increases gun violence, but the carrying of guns in high-risk places at a high risk time. Thus, equal economic opportunities must be ensured in order to cultivate a peaceful environment. Moreover, equality with respect to ethnicity and race will also encourage harmony (Sherman, Shaw, Rogan & National Institute of Jus tice 1995). It seems to be a natural phenomenon to release frustration whenever and wherever an outlet is found. In this relation numerous incidents have been reported. On March 8 2012 it was reported in the New York Times that â€Å"no one has been able to explain why a Spanish teacher who had been fired from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville fatally shot the head of the school and himself with an assault rifle.†

In recent years Essay Example for Free

In recent years Essay In recent years, the selective and mobility promoting function of education has become more important than its socialising function` Do you agree? Explain I agree with the opinion that in recent years, the selective and mobility promoting function of education has become more important than its socialising function. While both these functions retain their importance, the selective and mobility one has received greater prominence. In the US, education has always been a gateway to professional life and a vehicle for social mobility. In a sense, this is a great advantage of the US society compared to those with traditionally rigid social structures since promotion to upper classes through education opens the way for those from low-income families to move up in their socioeconomic status relatively quickly. With years, however, educational institutions became a tool for sorting school graduates into those who qualify for professional careers and those who do not. Reliance on standardised tests has turned the US system of education into an institution that selects those fitting into the standards and gives them chances for social mobility. At the same time, the socializing function has become less important. Modern adolescents still seek to make new friends, to have cheerful college years. Their professors remind them that socializing is also important for social mobility, prompting them to build a network of acquaintances that will later contribute to their career. Thus, even socializing has been turned into a vehicle for social mobility. Students increasingly view their educational experience as a step toward career progress rather than a chance to gain friends or broaden their world outlook. This is visible, for instance, in graduate students’ aspirations to get into top MBA programs that many see as a gateway to high-salaried executive world. The main advantage of the top programs as compared to the rest, in the eyes of a large part of student body, is that they have sifted through applicants at the beginning, chosen the best ones and sent them off to high posts in business organisations. Socializing takes a second place in these considerations because students are mostly interested in career ambitions and see education as a way to realize them.