Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Philosophy and ethics

Septimus and Clarissa: Contrasting Perspectives in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway

Introduction

Septimus and Clarissa, two central characters in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, embody contrasting perspectives on life and the world. Septimus, a World War I veteran, struggles with mental illness and withdraws from reality, while Clarissa, a member of high society, embraces the social world.

Septimus: The Tormented Mind

Septimus is haunted by the horrors he witnessed during the war. His mind is fragmented, and he experiences hallucinations and delusions. He refuses to face reality and retreats into his own world, where he finds solace in nature and art.

Clarissa: The Social Butterfly

In contrast to Septimus, Clarissa is deeply involved in the social... Continue reading "Septimus and Clarissa: Contrasting Perspectives in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway" »

Scientific and Architectural Prowess

Architectural Detail and Ingenuity

It is amazing to imagine the detail that the Mayans were able to create in their architecture with only primitive tools.

Advanced Calendar and Timekeeping

For the Mayans, science and religion were intrinsically linked. Time was extremely important, and their agriculture and religious ceremonies required a system that could accurately record time. That need for structure is probably the reason that the Mayans developed such an amazingly accurate calendar.

Mathematical and Astronomical Discoveries

Through their profound knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, they calculated the lunar cycle, predicted eclipses, and formulated a unique calendar system that was remarkably accurate.... Continue reading "Ancient Mayan Civilization: Innovations and Beliefs" »

Defining Stakeholders

A stakeholder is any individual or group of individuals who has a direct interest in a business because the actions of the business affect them directly.

Types of Stakeholders

Stakeholders can generally be categorized into two main types:

• Internal Stakeholders: Individuals or groups that work within the business.
• External Stakeholders: Individuals or groups that are outside the business.

Note: In practice, employees are considered internal stakeholders because they are part of the business. However, as members of society, they can also be viewed as external stakeholders due to broader societal impacts.

Internal Stakeholder Groups

These individuals and groups operate within the organization:

• Shareholders
• The CEO or Managing Director
• Senior

Prison and Punishment

Today, people have different ideas about prison and the punishment. They have many questions about whether the treatment given to prisoners is fair or unfair.

Advantages of Prisons

The main function of prisons is to separate normal people, whose behavior is good, from those who commit crimes. Another advantage is that criminals have a chance to rejoin society and become valuable citizens.

Disadvantages of Prisons

The biggest disadvantage is the lack of privacy, as prisoners live in small rooms with others. I believe the punishment should involve work for society, as staying in prison surrounded by criminals may not be helpful in returning to society as an ordinary person.

Proposed Changes

Prisons should provide more space, job... Continue reading "Prison and Underage Behavior: Advantages and Disadvantages" »

1. Not to Let One's Feelings Appear in One's Face

Context: Julia hurt her arm and Winston does not really know how to feel towards it, but he was watching how Julia's facial expression did not change was a matter of instinct especially because of the telescreen.

Significance: It shows how the party has so much control of how emotions are portrayed.

2. I Love You

Context: Winston is in his cubicle when he sees a paper on his desk, he assumes it's the thought police but it wasn't from them. When he reads the note he is shocked.

Significance: It shows how they are so numb to emotion and that when they're confronted with it, they don't know how to react.

3. Always Yell with the Crowd, That's What I Say

Context: Julia is talking to Winston when they meet... Continue reading "Emotion and Control in 1984: A Study of Party Influence" »

Ethical Debates: Use of Animals in Biomedical Research

This section addresses key ethical questions and counterarguments surrounding the use of animals in scientific experimentation.

Pause and Reflect on Animal Benefits

Explain how animals might benefit from research conducted on other animals. Does this fact strengthen the case for experimenting on animals?

Statement: If animals are tested, and positive results are gathered, and the animal does not suffer, the practice is generally considered acceptable.

Critique from Animal Rights Activists

What critique do animal rights activists offer in response to current practices?

Animal rights activists state that this practice involving animals is no longer necessary due to alternative testing methods.

Counterarguments

Ontological Argument

This argument was formulated by rationalist and idealist philosophers such as Saint Anselm of Canterbury and René Descartes. The ontological argument is an argument for God's existence based entirely on reason. It is based on ideas, not on realities. There is no need to search for physical evidence of God's existence.

• Everyone has an idea of God as the greatest conceivable being.
• It is greater to exist than not to exist.
• Therefore, God exists.

This is an a priori argument because it doesn't need experience. God's existence is proved before having any experience of Him.

The First Cause Argument

This argument is based on experience of the universe. The first cause argument is used by realist philosophers, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas.... Continue reading "Exploring Arguments for and Against God's Existence" »

Understanding Perception, Belief, and Knowledge

The Five Senses: Our Bridge to the World

My experience of the world comes to me through these five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. The process by which these senses make me aware of what occurs outside of my immediate world is called perceiving.

How Personality and Experience Shape Perception

Two primary factors contribute to the way we view the world, significantly impacting our biases: unique personalities and our past experiences. Perceiving and believing are essential elements in our lives.

Perceptions act like lenses that reflect our individual personality, ways of viewing everything, and experiences. These perceptions then form beliefs, which construct our knowledge about the... Continue reading "Decoding Perception: Bias, Knowledge, and Language Meaning" »

Six Arguments Against Cloning

Here are the counterarguments for these six points, in an effort to keep the arguments on both sides balanced.

1. Identity and Psychological Pressure

If a child was cloned from a person who was alive for a long time and then died, they would have expectations to live up to. They would probably live a very stressful life and might suffer from emotional problems, knowing that they were not an individual but a clone.

2. Health Problems and Premature Aging

A big problem with cloning is the fact that many health problems occur with most of the animals that were cloned. Dolly, the famous cloned sheep, suffered from premature arthritis and progressive lung disease. This was at the age of six while most sheep live up to the... Continue reading "Human Cloning Ethics, Risks, and Social Concerns" »