Chapter 2 Question 3

One concept that I really enjoyed this week was the whole concept of empathy. This concept basically means that a person has a keen ability to interpret emotions of others. When empathy is used, it really helps one use more critical thinking. They want to channel into the person they are feeling empathy for, and critically think the way that the other person is thinking. I really know that I use empathy, which is really why it hits home with me. When I am with my friends, I can easily spot out that one of them are having an off day. So, I like to talk it out with them, interpret their emotions, and make an action plan off of what is wrong. For some reason it gives me a high, knowing that I helped another person with their problems. It is not only just with friends though, I can easily tell when people are not having a good day by both their actions and body language. This really helps with the whole concept of empathy, because being able to tell people's emotions is a huge part of it. 

Chapter 2 Question 2

From my prospective, Dawkins does not think that God and evolution mix. Dawkins contradicts all of Aquinas "5  Proofs of God" and makes the whole piece that Aquinas wrote sound like a mockery. I think that it is too much to mix religion and people- it is a battle that will never end. In both cases, sometimes people just have to agree to disagree. It is more psychological and spiritual to those who think that evolution and God mix together. These type of people like to put a name on the supernatural and everything that has happened and will happen. Those who don't like to put a name on evolution, are more scientific and logical thinkers. They need a science reason behind everything that happens, and will do everything they can to find a reason why. When you mix an emotional thinker with a scientific thinker, they will just fight. It will never work- a mutual decision will never be made. 

Chapter 2 Question 1

I truthfully think that one of my greatest strengths is having empathy for people. I can easily tap into others emotions and body language just by looking at them. It might sound weird, but I feel like I have a sixth sense. I can also easily tell when people are lying and when people are uncomfortable. Another thing I have is just good old logic. I can easily interpret situations and problems that might take others a little bit longer to comprehend. For a career choice, either psychology or business would probably be the best bet for me. Going along with the emotional reasoning, I can use that in order to work as a psychologist or a counsellor. With my logical reasoning, I can apply that into business and handle situations perfectly. Overall, I really enjoyed this section, because it really lets one think about jobs and how to find the right job by critical thinking. 

Thanks for reading,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 7 Question 2

Dr. Novello used cause-and-effect inductive reasoning to combat the smoking among children and teens problem. In order to fight against Camel, who in 1988 made ads and advertising that made smoking look good, Novello also used the same tactics. Novello used her forces to make campaigns and ads to show that smoking was in fact not a positive thing for the youth. In her mind, she thought that if she could take away and make her own ads that fought back to the problem, the youth would take on her side and figure out that cigarettes are in fact not a good thing. Also, she targeted education in order to teach children that smoking is not a good thing. But it really does show something in the end- the media, ads, and commercials can really effect how people perceive a product- even a harmful one. One thing is for sure though, Novello really made a difference in the smoking dilemma

Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

-Greek Guy

Chapter 7 Question 3

One concept that I liked this week and wanted to further explain is the concept of using Generalization. Generalization is making assumptions or a conclusion on a certain matter. I do this all the time. Is it always right? Heck no. Generalizations are actually usually wrong, at least in my case. I used to be really bad when I was younger. I would look at someone, evaluate how they look, talk, and review their actions. I would make snap generalizations on if I liked the person or not. This was such a bad thing to do. I really missed out on some wonderful people. I now always try to actually get to know a person and not make certain generalizations about them. Like the book says, generalizations are not necessarily true or false- and might even be a weak or strong argument. Anyways, in my case generalizations have never been the best for me, but they were really cool to learn about this week.

Thanks,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 7 Question 1

This week has been really hard for me. My dads cancer has woken up again, but I got to think of an inductive argument from it. My dad's cancer is lymphoma, and it is genetic. Therefore, it could be a possibility that I also might inherit the cancer. It is an inductive argument because I stated that it could be inherited to either my siblings or myself. It is not an 100% sure thing, but it is a possibility because it is genetic. I took two dependent premises and made a conclusion out of them. Truthfully, right now I am just going to go along with the treatment and hope for the best possible scenario. I am going to get tested to see if I have it also, but it isn't usually seen until adulthood. If you are reading this, do a little prayer, and if your not religious, maybe just a moment of silence. Thanks for reading!

Always,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 8 Question 3

 Pick one concept from the reading this week and discuss it in detail.

The one concept that really stuck with me, as I look back at this week, has to be the concept of "argument of elimination". It has really helped me think way more logically, without making snap judgments like I used to do. The concept is just eliminating out the possible situations, people, rules, ect. until only one logical answer remains. I recently went to a festival this last weekend and I lost my sister. She was not answering her phone, no one had seen her the last 30 minutes, and it was the end of the festival. I started to panic and then I thought logically. Let me get a search group to look for her. We looked in the kids area, nope. Looked in the bathrooms, nope. Looked in the church, nope. Looked at center stage, nope. My patience was running thin. But then, boom, I think wait a second....... the peta potties. And there she was. It has only taken me some time to think about it, but with "argument of elimination" I searched through all of the places until there was just one. 

Thanks for reading,

-Greek Guy

Chapter 8 Question 2

  Coming from a Christian himself, this is a very hard question for me to answer. I can go either way on this question. On one hand, I can say screw what the teachings say, the person on the death penalty deserved it. These people on death row have definitely done something wrong and certainly have hurt someone in there lifetime, therefore they should also be hurt and punished for their wrong doing. As much as my brain tells me this side, my soul tells me something different. My soul tells me that Jesus of Nazareth has definitely forewarned us about saving people. Even in the scriptures, Jesus clearly tells us to love one another, forgive, and not fill each other with hate. Therefore, in order to listen to something greater, we must save the people on death row and show them a world of tough love and repentance. I really don't know which way I would go, both ways work for me. I guess, in the end, its all depending on the situation. But for now, I am going to stand neutral on this subject. 

Peace to everyone,

-GreekGuy

Chapter 8 Question 1

After reading this chapter, I feel as if I have a further understanding on the art of reasoning. What Sherlock means, when he talk to Watson, is that too many people rely on opinions- and not actually on fact. I actually believe that people do this all the time. A current situation in my life, that has actually happened, goes very well with this chapter. Me and my friend recently got in a little argument. My friend went around telling a whole other story then what actually happened, and got my other friends to believe his version of the story. So of course, me being the short tempered man that I am, decided to reason with my friends. I got the guy who was spreading drama behind my back and the friends who believed him to come to coffee with me. During that time at coffee, I got the real story out of the guy spreading gossip, and my other friends saw who was telling the truth after all. I used the argument of elimination in order to let my friends decide who was telling the truth, and after getting my  friend caught up in his own words, I won that battle. Although, this whole situation in my life may not be completely easy to follow, it really helped me understand what Sherlock was saying, and I feel as if me and Sherlock have been in the same boat. 

Thanks for reading,

GreekGuy