Comments for Philosophy 101D http://eripsa.org/phil101d UIUC Spring 2007 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:04:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 Comment on If you are still paying attention by John Creger http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-950 Sat, 05 May 2007 19:22:25 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-950 I don’t understand how he will take these research methods to explain how our brains function during emotional states. Considering the patterns displayed on the screen were the signals sent from the monkey’s brain to its arm, telling it when to move the joystick to hit a moving object on a screen. Unless one's arm moves in one particular motion every time one gets sad about something, I don’t see how this study can open the flood gates to explain how our brain functions during emotional states by admitting dots on a monitor. I don’t understand how he will take these research methods to explain how our brains function during emotional states. Considering the patterns displayed on the screen were the signals sent from the monkey’s brain to its arm, telling it when to move the joystick to hit a moving object on a screen. Unless one’s arm moves in one particular motion every time one gets sad about something, I don’t see how this study can open the flood gates to explain how our brain functions during emotional states by admitting dots on a monitor.

]]> Comment on If you are still paying attention by Ryan Riordan http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-949 Fri, 04 May 2007 21:14:00 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-949 That was pretty amazing. I had no idea that they could actually read our minds let alone the fact that you can control certain technologies through the use of only your mind. It reminds me a little bit of Dr. Xavier from X-Men in that he can control anything with his mind. Maybe one day we will be at that level through the help of technology. That was pretty amazing. I had no idea that they could actually read our minds let alone the fact that you can control certain technologies through the use of only your mind. It reminds me a little bit of Dr. Xavier from X-Men in that he can control anything with his mind. Maybe one day we will be at that level through the help of technology.

]]> Comment on If you are still paying attention by Jennifer Crabill http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-948 Fri, 04 May 2007 01:12:12 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/30/if-you-are-still-paying-attention/#comment-948 Wow, very weird. I don't know how I feel about implanting electrodes into a monkey and making it play a game (how did they make the monkey stay put for an extended amount of time?), but the research is very interesting. After viewing the earlier video, though, about the blind woman who had electrodes implanted in her brain to attain vision, this reserach is a little less amazing. Nicolelis seems like quite the genius, regardless! Wow, very weird. I don’t know how I feel about implanting electrodes into a monkey and making it play a game (how did they make the monkey stay put for an extended amount of time?), but the research is very interesting. After viewing the earlier video, though, about the blind woman who had electrodes implanted in her brain to attain vision, this reserach is a little less amazing. Nicolelis seems like quite the genius, regardless!

]]> Comment on Wikipedia is the sh*t by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/wikipedia-is-the-sht/#comment-947 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:34:59 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/wikipedia-is-the-sht/#comment-947 Can I just say that I love your utilization of the * in the title of this post. I have to say that I, too, believe that wikipedia is the sh*t, and I'm glad that we are allowed to freely express ourselves in a more informal setting on this website. I think that like wikipedia becomes more and more refined as its users contribute more information, I think my understanding of the material is that must better because I can have so much more interaction about it with my classmates. Can I just say that I love your utilization of the * in the title of this post.

I have to say that I, too, believe that wikipedia is the sh*t, and I’m glad that we are allowed to freely express ourselves in a more informal setting on this website.

I think that like wikipedia becomes more and more refined as its users contribute more information, I think my understanding of the material is that must better because I can have so much more interaction about it with my classmates.

]]> Comment on Please Enlighten Me by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/please-enlighten-me/#comment-946 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:32:07 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/please-enlighten-me/#comment-946 I agree with Adam Domanico's comment. I think it's so interesting how we are talking about technology now when we've been inventing it for the entirety of human existence. I truly believe this quality about us, the determination to invent, is part of what makes us different from other species. It's only now that we're realizing exactly how good we are at it. I know today's technology has exceeded my wildest expectations. I agree with Adam Domanico’s comment. I think it’s so interesting how we are talking about technology now when we’ve been inventing it for the entirety of human existence. I truly believe this quality about us, the determination to invent, is part of what makes us different from other species. It’s only now that we’re realizing exactly how good we are at it. I know today’s technology has exceeded my wildest expectations.

]]> Comment on Wikipedia and Dreyfus by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/wikipedia-and-dreyfus/#comment-945 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:29:34 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/wikipedia-and-dreyfus/#comment-945 I think there is likely little difference between wikipedia and a "credible" source. Like we learned in class wikipedia is actually quite reliable. The only thing that makes wikipedia so "unscholarly" is because it is new and unestablished. I bet in a few years it could be considered a more scholarly source when academia realizes the internet can provide authoritative information I think there is likely little difference between wikipedia and a “credible” source. Like we learned in class wikipedia is actually quite reliable.

The only thing that makes wikipedia so “unscholarly” is because it is new and unestablished. I bet in a few years it could be considered a more scholarly source when academia realizes the internet can provide authoritative information

]]> Comment on Information Overload by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/information-overload/#comment-944 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:26:01 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/19/information-overload/#comment-944 I think there is a lot of validity to Dreyfus' concept of information overload. I remember a study that was done that proves that all the scrolling bars across the screens of CNN and other news channels raises people's anxiety. The more information that's being thrown at us, the more intimidating life becomes. I think there is a lot of validity to Dreyfus’ concept of information overload. I remember a study that was done that proves that all the scrolling bars across the screens of CNN and other news channels raises people’s anxiety. The more information that’s being thrown at us, the more intimidating life becomes.

]]> Comment on How to stop worrying and love the internet by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/26/how-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-internet/#comment-943 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:24:06 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/26/how-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-internet/#comment-943 In response to Erica's comment, it's quite insulting to say that journalists are just like citizen journalists. Journalism is a trained profession that does require us to follow a certain code of ethics. Saying that we're really all citizen journalists because the internet allows us to read other's writing is like saying everyone is a physicican because there are a lot of books written about medicine. Journalists are trained to search for facts and their careers rely on their reputation. The average person has virtually nothing to lose for falsifying information. In response to Erica’s comment, it’s quite insulting to say that journalists are just like citizen journalists. Journalism is a trained profession that does require us to follow a certain code of ethics. Saying that we’re really all citizen journalists because the internet allows us to read other’s writing is like saying everyone is a physicican because there are a lot of books written about medicine. Journalists are trained to search for facts and their careers rely on their reputation. The average person has virtually nothing to lose for falsifying information.

]]> Comment on How to stop worrying and love the internet by Stehpanie Prather http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/26/how-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-internet/#comment-942 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:20:32 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/26/how-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-internet/#comment-942 In response to Jaren's comment about citizen reporting on the Internet, I'm a journalism major and we discuss much of these issues in my journalism classes. So much can be fabricated on the internet, that trusting an average person brings a great amount of skepticism that might not have been there. For this reason I think the Internet can give the average person too much power in influencing public opinion if they were using false information. In response to Jaren’s comment about citizen reporting on the Internet, I’m a journalism major and we discuss much of these issues in my journalism classes. So much can be fabricated on the internet, that trusting an average person brings a great amount of skepticism that might not have been there. For this reason I think the Internet can give the average person too much power in influencing public opinion if they were using false information.

]]> Comment on Disagreeing with Dreyfus by Jaren Gaddi http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/17/disagreeing-with-dreyfus/#comment-941 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:11:23 +0000 http://eripsa.org/phil101d/2007/04/17/disagreeing-with-dreyfus/#comment-941 I do agree with Dreyfus on some issues such as distance learning and disembodiment, but I do have a hard time believing that the internet's information overload will cause public inaction. I do agree that the internet does cause some people to be detached from the things they say and do - but not everyone is like that. The internet allows us to get the information we need in order to act. There are people out there who will voice their opinions and are willing to act on them as well. Given the right conditions, I agree that the internet may lead to action rather than cause inaction. I do agree with Dreyfus on some issues such as distance learning and disembodiment, but I do have a hard time believing that the internet’s information overload will cause public inaction. I do agree that the internet does cause some people to be detached from the things they say and do - but not everyone is like that. The internet allows us to get the information we need in order to act. There are people out there who will voice their opinions and are willing to act on them as well. Given the right conditions, I agree that the internet may lead to action rather than cause inaction.

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