Week #4- Question #2: The Existence of God

Thomas Aquinas, a catholic theologian and philosopher, thinks that there are five ways to prove the existence of God. The first is the argument from motion, which is everything is continually be effected by something before and the world is in motion. The second is from the nature of the efficient cause. The third way is taken from possibility and necessity. The fourth is taken from the gradation to be found in things. The fifth, and last component, is taken from the governance of the world.
I think that Aquinas would respond in a way that was defensive over Dawkins findings and would stick to the five ways in which he believes God can be proven. I think that both sides have strong stances and reasoning to back their arguments about proving the existence of God. Aquinas might try and pick apart, analyze and respond to Dawkins article just like he Dawkins did with his. A persons beliefs are major contributors to argumentation of reasoning because people tend to feel very strong about what they believe. When you feel as though you're right about something, it is hard to back down and open yourself to new ideas and accepting others ideas. But, I think that Dawkins and Aquinas would just have to agree to disagree because their ideas are so completely opposite.

Week #4- Question #3: Interesting Topic

The idea that stood out the most was the 'Dreams and Problem Solving' section. I like that they made dreams appear to be more then unconscious release of suppressed emotions and irrational impulses. The section stated that studies show dreams are now viewed as involving cerebral activity related to reason and problem solving. It goes on to say that dreaming can help solve problems, discover logical connection between seemingly unrelated things, and activate emotions. Some scientist say that you can even resolve complex problems without any deliberate conscious thought. I think this is amazing because this all happens while we are sleeping and not really aware of it. This means that when we are awake we could possibly be solving complex problems without even realizing it. I think dreams are amazing and these studies really relate to our everyday life.

Week #4- Question #1: Reasoning in Your Career

I think that the reasoning skills that I am best at are cause-and-effect reasoning, residue reasoning, and syllogistic reasoning. I have chosen nursing as my career path and I think that being able to reason is one of the most important parts of being a nurse. You have to be able to make quick decisions and thoroughly critically think before making each step. You have to use cause and effect reasoning because you have to be able to figure out what has happened to your patient, the cause, and what will be the effects the patient will endure in any situation. This is especially true in fast pace environments like the emergency room or the intensive care unit. Residue reasoning is also extremely important. As a nurse, I will have to be able to quickly remove anything that may not be logical in a situation including causes, medications, treatment, patients, drama, or anything that does not help the given situation. Again, as a nurse, this has to be a quick response that is instinctive. For syllogistic reasoning, a nurse has to be able to draw quick conclusions from premises. Everything a nurse has to do has to be a carefully thought out response that comes quickly. Reasoning as a whole has to come naturally to nurses.

Week of Sept. 10-16th Post #1

In my own opinion, generalization is one of the most interesting topics that we read about this week. This is something that we do every day when we use our crtical thinking skills. We observe a situation and make generalizations about how that will affect us. The definition of a generalization is: “drawing a conclusion about a certain characteristic of a population based in a sample from it.” I think that we use gereralization not only to critcal think but also as a way of organizing how we see our culture and other ones as well. We take a “characteristic of a sample” and insert our generalizations to make a “claim about characteristics of a whole population.” If we see an old person driving slowly, then we will make an assupmtion that all old people drive slowly. Making assumptions, or generalizations, is also a way that we stereotype our culture by race, sexual orientation, gender roles, etc. This can lead to racism, hate crimes, specific roles, miscommunications, and more. It can also create bonds between groups, produce sucessful families, a sense of pride, and more positive outcomes. It all depends on how you choose to view personal and cultural generaliztions.

Week #2 discussion

One of the topics from this weeks reading was labeled "Arguments Based on Mathematics." this was intriguing to me because I have never really thought about facts the are mathematically correct to be arguments. The definition of an argument based on mathematics is, that the conclusion will depend on mathematics or geometrical calculations. I think that these are the easiest types of arguments to recognize and use in our every day lives. We use critical thinking in this mathematical argumentative way during most issue in our lives. For example, I work in a children's department as the directors assistant and part of my job is creating crafts in which I do this type of reasoning. I will have to make an educated guess on how many kids we will have each week and have to give the appropriate supplies in order to assist the children's needs. I average the previous two weeks and use some logic based on the day and provide the right materials. We all can relate to this section, but I thought it was interesting that it is something we don't really think about. 

Discussion: Week #2

I think what Sherlock Holmes meant was that it is very easy to let you emotions drive your critical thinking. When trying to reason, we usually use assumptions and opinions in order to make other people understand how we feel. More then anything, I think we strive to make people get us. We want them to think and accept different situations that include reasoning, so the situation can turn into persuasion. The problem, Holmes states, is that we let embellishments and facts overlay in order to use our outcome as a picture, in which others understand our reasoning the way we want them to. 

If this is what Holmes meant, then I have plenty examples. The best example is how I do this in my own life. I have a grandmother who tells the ultimate embellished stories. Everything she says is dramatized and becomes a persuasion speech. A day going to the grocery store can somehow turn into a day in hell with the devil himself checking her out. I usually just roll my eyes and listen to her and I never realized how it would impact me. But, my boyfriend has started to tell me that I can embellish quite often. I will laugh it off and pretend like I don't, but he is right. I have started to use this type of opinionated reasoning just like my grandmother does. Be careful that this doesn't happen to you because it is very easy to be influenced like this and start using this in your every day life when you want to persuade instead of reason. 

A Concept Worth Blogging About: Week #1

One of the most valuable statements that I read from this weeks assignment was, "to accept communication at face value." This came from chapter two of The Essential Guide to Group Communication that is labeled "Participating in Small Group Communication." I found this chapter interesting because whole first section of the chapter is establishes the flaws in group settings and how to "avoid critical thinking traps."

Every time a professor decides that a project will be done in a group setting I flinch. I am a leader more then a follower, which usually is a downside when it comes to group projects because I naturally take charge and like to make sure everything gets done in the best way I think it can. I like to enforce communication and make sure that everyone does their job. In most cases, I end up doing more work, sometimes even another person's work. In most cases, I find myself shaking my head when it is all over. Usually, a professor will give an evaluation form in order to let the group vent about who didn't do anything. This is usually my time favorite time to unleash all of my vicious anger on those in my group who did little to no work by giving them all the lowest score possible. (I really give them a piece of my mind, except the whole thing where only the professor sees the results... well, I like to pretend that I really say all of it to their face.)

The greatest part about reading chapter two is I was able to find ways to deal with this exact issue. To accept all communication at face value would be to lift this heavy work load I associate with groups by stopping myself and thinking about what questions, comments and concerns can be displayed right from the start in order to delegate the work in a sound way to economize our time.

With the first group assignment beginning next week, I think I will be able to put this chapter into perspective and start putting this material into actions. I feel calm going into this project, and that is a whole heck of a lot better than flinching.

-Living the Dream

Standing Up For What You Believe In: Discussion Week #1

I have definitely had to face too many situations where if I stood my ground I would lose friends or a job. 

The greatest example of a situation like this in my life, would be when I worked as an assistant manager in a gym. The worst part of working in this gym was that the management was very judgmental. The management above me discriminated against people based on weight, race, sexual orientation and in many more places. They wanted skinny, white, healthy, muscular people to run n attend their gym.  The problem was that many people who worked with us, and who worked out there, didn't fit their description. 

They would make carry out actions for no reason, like writing people up for no reason, putting rules into place, and having meetings that would sometimes cross the line of discriminatory actions. 

After 6 months of being passive to their inappropriate behavior, I decided to stand up against them. I decided to sit the two owners down and tell them how I felt. I told them that they had created an environment of fear and judgement. The biggest problem with this was that this was making our members uncomfortable with working out their. Unfortunately, this meeting was held at the expense of losing my job. I ended up having to walk away from the meeting after they had called me fat and told me that I needed to be working out more and should seek a personal trainers advice. I felt disrespected and degraded by people who I was suppose to be able to trust. 

After I had the courage to leave, I received text messages from my employees telling me how much they loved me and were standing up for everything I had done and said. The entire staff left shortly after this meeting because when they confronted the owners about what had happened he lied to them. 

Although it cost me a job an financial stability, I was overwhelmed with peace about leaving and knew I had stood up for something I believed in. Shortly after, I found a job and a place that I feel like I can be myself. 

Karma will come. 

-Living the dream

Obama and Same-Sex Marriage: Discussion Week #1

Okay, where do I begin? President Obama's positions are clearly inconsistent. 

If you are not the President of the United States, when you feel something about a certain topic, then those ideas usually play out through your actions. For example, if you think same sex marriage is wrong, then you will probably vote No on Prop 8. This is elementary stuff and perspectives that we pick up in the earliest stages of life. But, when you are the President of the United States, everything you do has a motive behind the action.

When Obama publicly stated that he supports civil unions and equal rights for same-sex couples, then the common belief should be that he will be for legalizing it. WRONG! He is a politician and apparently opposes legalizing same-sex marriage. Sounds kind of funny right? For votes or for votes? Personally, I think it is solely or voting purposes and  always his main motive. 

However, I don't think that President Obama is trying to take away from people's rights. I think that he probably believes in equal rights and opportunity, no matter the sexual orientation. But, because of the nature of politics, sometimes ideas don't match up with their actions. 

Nava and Dawidoff's argument that "prohibiting same-sex marriage is a denial of the basic rights of gays and lesbians who wish to marry," is exactly what I think Obama would feel. Whether you agree with calling same-sex civil unions marriage or not, taking away the right for people to do what all other couples can do in marriage, would by nature, being taking away their right. So, just because Obama opposes legalizing same-sex marriage on a federal level, it does not necessarily mean that he really feels that way. I think that all of the technicalities of the government have limited him to be able to legalize it, therefore limiting him to act upon his ideas.