Week Two: Reason
1) One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week.
Reason is the power to think in such a way that we proceed from what we know to what we do not yet know, or more simply put, our ability to evaluate knowledge with evidence. Reason is thinking critically, and this critical thinking does not come naturally. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, examined reason and wrote many books on it. He said that reason works through either deduction or induction. Deduction is the power to draw conclusions from true statements. Induction is the process of making universal statements based on a limited experience. When reasoning, we should avoid the five common thinking errors. One type of error, non sequiturs, occurs when a conclusion does not follow logically from the premisses used to support it. During another common error, known as false and vague premisses, the statements used to make a conclusion are either false or vague. In an ad hominem, the person making the arguement attacks the thing is discussing. People also tend to beg the question, in which they argue to demonstrate that a point is true, but in the process assume that it is true. Lastly, people also use red herrings, an error in which the person, instead of sticking to his argument, says something that throws attention off the real issue. I am guilty of all of these, especially red herrings. I often lose sight of what it i am arguing for. While reasoning is important, we tend to not use it when making a decision. We usually make a decision based on past experiences, the influence of others, and present hopes of fears that can be both conscious and unconscious thoughts.
2) List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week.
a.)Perceiving is the first stage in the process of reasoning. It is through our senses that we take in reality. I have often thought about this. It fascinates me to know that without our senses we would have no way of understanding reality. And reality as we know it may not be true reality, since we may not perceive things accurately.
b.)Epistemology has really interested me. I like that there is a branch of philosphy that studies knowledge and logic. Since this course, I have tried to reflect on ways I have achieved knowledge.
c.) Selected Consciousness- People are concious of only a fraction of the data presented in our senses at any given moment. Our interests affects what we perceive. In that way we control how we view reality somewhat.
3) One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source.
MTV.com - Choose or Lose
4) One good question you should keep with you to ponder.
The brain seems to work so mechanically. How are we able to think up our own ideas? Could it be possible that we in fact do not have free will, but only think we do?
5) What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study?
I believe in "What the Bleep Do We Know?"'s teachings of thoughts affecting one's life. I need to step outside of myself more, look at the situation that i am in, and put myself in a better mood by going to a "happy place", however Happy Gilmore it may sound. I have recently tried imagining to be happy when I am frustrated. It actually helps me become happier and more at peace with myself. I think by imagining things that make me happy, I lose track of those which upset me. Once I attain happiness I feel no need to be angry again.