...knowing where my moon and star align. I love knowing who or what I would be based on the characteristics of my zodiac sign. One of my favorite zodiac blogs is zodiac signs by Crystal Melbourne, a professional astrologer. I look at her Tumblr blog daily and sometimes multiple times during the day. It wasn’t until two weeks ago when I joined this class that I thought about how it can be categorized as a discourse community. A discourse community is a group of people that share a set of beliefs and understandings. In this essay, that we all as a class are required to write, I will be dissecting the different parts of this Tumblr blog that make it a discourse community. Before going too far into the rhetorical situation of this blog, I will give a little bit of background for those newbies out there who have no clue what astrology or a horoscope is. I will also give you some of the important language that will be found throughout this essay. First off, astrology is the study of the positions and relationships of the sun, moon, stars, and planets in order to judge their influence on human actions. A horoscope is a diagram of the heavens, showing the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac, for use in calculating births, foretelling events in a person’s life, etc. Zodiac is an imaginary belt of the heavens, extending about 8° on each side of the ecliptic, within which are the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and principal planets. It contains twelve constellations...
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...The example which is going to be discussed within this essay is astrology and how horoscopes, star signs and other concepts within this affect our lives today and how people respond to them. The meaning of astrology is ‘’the ancient art or science of divining fate and future of human beings from indications and positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies’’ (Encyclopaedia Britannia, vol. 2, p. 575, 1956). Psychology helps to analyse why people check their horoscopes, why they believe in it and how they respond. The birth of psychology was when the Babylonians, they created an astrological chart which meant they could then predict when the seasons would come and also when meteor showers, comets, solar and lunar eclipses occur. Later on...
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...Is Astrology Considered Science Philosophy Essay At the first instance, one tends to agree with the contention of the author that astrology is not science because the astrological predictions suffer from deficiencies such as (i) they are not supported by sound and verified scientific research, for e.g., statistical studies, (ii) they are not based upon collected data and carefully controlled objective observations, (iii) they are not based upon falsifiable predictions, which are tested and re-tested, by independent observers and researchers, etc. Hence, astrology does not qualify as a study based on scientific theory because it is neither logically consistent internally (all its predictions must be consistent with each other) nor logically consistent externally (unless there are good reasons, it must be consistent with theories which are already known to be valid). Nevertheless, it may be appreciated that lots of theories in various disciplines don't make common sense either. For instance, Einstein and many other contemporary scientists had proposed all kinds of absurd and seemingly ridiculous ideas such as space is curved, that time is really a fourth dimension and not separate from space, that looking at something alters its position, etc. etc. These ideas also don't make common sense, and sound like the objects of science fiction, but they are taken seriously by scientists not as science fiction but as valid and serious scientific theories. In short, it is not necessary...
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...Indian Society Why is India a great startup ecosystem ? There is a joke about India saying that « India is about the ABC’s » A, B & C standing for Astrology, Bollywood and Cricket. It is time for the jokers to stop underrating India and to make the S of ABC’s stands for Start-ups. India is the third biggest startup ecosystem in the world. In the past few years, the Indian startup ecosystem has been driven by factors like massive funding, growing domestic activities and cutting edge technology. The figures are impressive : 3,100 startups in 2014, a projection of more than 11,500 by 2020. Between 2010 and 2014, the infusion of VC and PE went from $13 million to $1,818 million. Angel investment has also multiplied 8 times from $4.2 million to $32.2 million. It’s a new paradigm for indian economy. It is changing the way the markets are working today in India. 1) Internet allowed a new access to knowledge : We must underline that the Online Courses platform Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/) has more of 75% of its customers in developing countries such as India. Among those 75%, 50% are less than 18 years old. What does this mean for indian economy ? There are currently a lot of indian young people following lectures of top teachers from Harvard and other IVY League schools. In other words, millions of youngsters are getting new skills everyday on the Internet, but those skills do not have a big impact on their employability because they don’t receive diplomas...
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...method of observing natural events and conditions so that we can discover facts about them and to formulate laws based on these observations. Another way of defining science is to say that it is the philosophy that the natural world can be known through human reason and that nature is rational, ordered and regular. When things seem irrational in human eyes, the scientific answer is to say that we don’t have enough data to solve the problem. Also, science has several branches under it such as biology, physics, geology, and astronomy, to name a few. Modern science has been evolving since the foundation was laid by the first scientists ways back then. It wasn’t always highly regarded; it emerged from the darkness of mysticism, alchemy, astrology, and better yet, sorcery. Metaphysics was the first attempt to give rational explanations for natural phenomena. Overall any field was used to try to give an explanation to unanswered questions, some people agree with these “answers” and some people don’t. Ancient civilizations practiced what we now refer to as applied science and mathematics. The discoveries made during these times were sought for practical uses. Counting could’ve been the fundamental beginning of recording information. (Isenhour, 2013) Babylonians, Egyptians and other ancient civilizations practiced astronomy and engineering. Astronomy was and is still useful for the prediction of seasons and defining times for planting and harvesting. Geometry was used to construct...
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...Chapter Fifteen The Roman Empire at its Zenith (to 235 CE) In retrospect we can see that a decline of the Roman empire began in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180), when the Germanic barbarians along the Rhine and especially the Danube discovered that the Romans were not well equipped to fight wars on two fronts. When the emperor, that is, was preoccupied with a war against the Parthians in Mesopotamia, the Roman frontier along and beyond the Danube was poorly defended, and the barbarians could make raids deep into the Roman provinces. Despite the danger of wars on two fronts, the Roman empire was able to manage well enough from the 160s until 235, when the decline became precipitous, and brought with it radical economic, cultural and religious changes. This chapter, therefore, will look at the empire in its relatively golden period, from the first century until the death of Alexander Severus, the last of the Severi, in 235. The classes This was a stratified, hierarchical society in all ways. In civic status the top of the pyramid was the emperor, followed by Roman provincial governors, senators and other officials, then by the local gentry, and next by the rank and file of Roman citizens. Of all the free men in the empire, only about a third ranked as Roman citizens. Right behind the Romans were the Hellenes (in the Greek-speaking eastern provinces the Hellenes were enrolled as such in the municipal census), then came Judaeans, and finally the other barbarians. So in...
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...HISTORY Name Class Date During the early Middle Ages, magic was seen as a science that was practical and required certain intensive study and skills. Magic was, therefore, part of the culture, and there were professional magicians who were found all over even in king’s courts. The magicians even could take apprentices. They were a significant part of the society. As the European society became more self-conscious and articulate, the notion that magic was a science began to fade and was linked with heresy and other negative thoughts like sorcery. The society came to reject the notion of safe and learned magic. There was even a purge to get rid of all magicians that were in England. If one were caught, practicing magic, spiritual and temporal punishments was accorded to them. The magician became to be treated and known as the latter day witches. The book looks into the complex that came from the transformation from the magician, to the witch and the various laws that came into effect during the Medieval times about the two. The book aids us in placing our understanding of medieval magic that was later known as witchcraft. Although heresy was part of the bad image that magic was furnished with hearsay, another was the long-standing Christian teachings that were about magic especially the learned magic that was rampant during the time. This led to later developments of magic turning into witchcraft. The earlier magic was tied to the culture and the way a people...
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...YEAR 10 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ASSESSMENT TASK ANCIENT RELIGIONS Religions of Ancient Mesopotamia George Pauls 10K Ms. Delalande (Note: Ms Delanlande instructed that essay format was permitted and an extension was granted in regards to my absence.) George Pauls 10K Year 10 Religious Education Assessment Task Ancient Religions – Religions of Ancient Mesopotamia Many religions around the world in modern time are still believed and followed by a large portion of the world’s population with the predominant religions being Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Many Religions have simply come to a halt and ceased to be believed and followed such as the religions in Ancient Egypt and Ancients Greece. One of the lesser known and arguably the oldest ancient religion of our world was the ancient religion on Mesopotamia, which did follow some key concepts from the other foreign ancient religions in which there were multiple gods, goddesses and other deities and supreme beings. It is believed to have originated over fifty centuries ago. Mesopotamia is known more commonly known as Iraq, situated within the Middle East. The religion of Ancient Mesopotamia consists of numerous components. The God Anu (Below) The God Anu (Below) The Mesopotamian religion was followed by Sumerians and Akkadians (Assyrians/Babylonians) who lived in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian religion was basically perceived as a form of paganism with over 2100 deities which associated with a specific region, city or state within...
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...The results that were compiled dichotomized the world we live in, by differentiating what is fact and fiction, true and untrue, scientific or unscientific. But the fact remains that, science has not until today, believe it or not, answered all our questions about the universe, for instance, scientists still can’t figure out how many planets exist in our galaxy, how many species of animals there are and surprisingly, how to beat solitaire. Extrasensory Perception is a process whereby the reception of information is gathered with the mind, in contrast with gaining information through the recognized physical senses, touch, sound, smell, taste, and sight. Also known as the sixth sense and no, M. Night Shyamalan did not put me up to this! This essay will dive into the ongoing debate regarding the authenticity of extrasensory perception. The shortcomings of the scientific method and the theory of evolution will be reflected upon in support of ESP, while the lack of quantitative conclusions and the nature of man will be used to discredit the viability of ESP’s. Clearly, the scientific method is a powerful tool, but it does have its limitations. These limitations are based on the fact that a hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable and that experiments and observations be repeatable. This places certain topics beyond the reach of the scientific method. Science struggles with both proving and refuting the existence of god or any other supernatural entity. Intelligent...
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...meditation, contemplation, and fasting to produce the attitude necessary for what is believed to be a direct encounter with the spiritual realm (Bouyer, 1981). Typically, mystics, theistic or not, see their mystical experience as part of a larger undertaking aimed at human transformation (Teresa of Avila, Life, Chapter 19) and not as the terminus of their efforts. Mysticism has been an intimate part of human society, as a still-unexplainable part of nature, the divine forces over God’s existences, as well as the supernatural, that has allured and guided many to look as far as into the future for answers and as close as deep into themselves and an exploration of the unconscious mind. The many tools of Mysticism, like the Tarot, numerology, astrology, and dreams, are all used to provide insights into a "deeper consciousness" and a "higher plane of existence," which when properly interpreted could very well shed light into the murkiest situation. In today's societies, Mysticism continues to intrigue, appeal to, entertain and aid people across cultures that force us to question the existence of God and Man and develop a sense of understanding for Man’s relationship to God. Mysticism has made significant changes in reshaping the mines of people towards nature and God and plays a major role in many societies but has impact more so the western world. A favorite distinction of Western philosophers is between theistic experiences, which are purportedly of God, and non-theistic ones. Non-theistic...
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...integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy”. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of any human development. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, was developed from Jung's theory of psychological types. Jung saw the human psyche as "by nature religious" and made this religiousness the focus of his explorations.]Jung is one of the best known contemporary contributors to dream analysis and symbolisation. Through research, I have discovered Jung was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult see him a mystic person, even though he wanted to be seen as a man of science. One of Jung’s greatest contributions to psychology is his theory of personality types. Jung found that different people...
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...Geography 101 University of Mississippi FAll 2010 Final exam: essay questions Please prepare a typed answer to each of the two essay questions below. Your answers are due in class on the day of the scheduled final exam. Each essay question is worth 30 points on the exam (total of 60 points). Answers for EACH question should be at least 500 to 750 words (2-3 pages). NOTE: you may not use the same example for different essay questions. Please be diverse in the examples that you use to illustrate your answers. Be sure that you address ALL parts of each question. Format Each answer should be in the form of a typed, double-spaced document (12-point Times/Times Roman font) with margins no greater than 1 inch. Please include a title page (one for both answers is fine) and a complete and proper list of the sources (bibliography or references cited) that you used on a separate page. You should also include in-text citations for these sources as appropriate (any recognized academic format, such as MLA, is acceptable; for examples of MLA citation and bibliography formatting see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/). Indicate the source of specific data in the body of your answer where appropriate. Please do not repeat the questions in your answer. Please do your own work. Copying from another student’s work (past or present) or any other form of academic fraud will result in failure in the course and additional...
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...someone has yet to discover or observe. Why should the notion of having more than one universe than our own be any more valid than other scientific idiosyncrasies? As it turns out, the existence of parallel universes was not readily acceptable to physicists either. However, Eternal Inflations theory, String theory; which predicts the possibility of the existence of more than trillions of universes within multiverse as well as there being more than three dimensions that us humans perceive, echo the existence of multiverse which caused physicists to pay more attention to this notion. An American philosopher named William James used the term “multiverse”, to explain a theoretical, unseen but moral and just universe different from ours, in his essay “Is Life Worth Living?” published in 1895 2. However since then, physicists have used the term to refer...
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...Novel Project Choices Choose two, and make a binder or other container for them. Make sure your project has a table of contents. Cut and paste the instructions for each project at the beginning of that project. See rubric for grading procedures. 1. Character astrology signs. After reading brief descriptions of astrology or sun signs, figure out which signs you think three of the main characters/people from the book were born under. Tell who the three characters/people are, a brief summary of what they do in the book, and the sign that you think fits them. Write an explanation of why you think they fit the sign. As you are explaining why they fit that sign, be sure to recap events from the book to support your thinking—drawing on their actions, attitudes, and thoughts from the book. Here are a couple of links to websites you might want to use as you research different astrology signs: http://www.starlightastrology.com/signsindex.htm http://www.astrology-online.com/persn.htm 2. Heroes and superheroes. Pick a character/person from the book you read. First, describe the character/person--who is she, what did she do in the book, what are her beliefs, etc. Then, select two or three people your character/person would think of as a hero or superhero. Describe the characteristics of that hero or superhero and why those characteristics would be important to...
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...A majority of people are very familiar with the word “science”. There is no doubt that science plays a crucial role in our life. However, it seems that not everyone can distinguish science correctly from non-science and pseudo-science. The following essay will present the differences between science, pseudo-science and non-science first, and then discuss three possible responses to the question that what we should do when there is a clash between scientific explanation and non-scientific explanation. The brief discussion related to the correct non-scientific explanation will present finally. There are some differences between science, pseudo-science and non-science. The goal of science is to discover what there is in the world and explain why it is and how it is (Hammerton, 2010, p.1). Science is helpful to answer some of these questions by presenting what the cause and impacts of different actions (Hammerton, 2010, p. 3). One of the significant characters of science is the construction of theories. Scientists usually want to explain the results of observation and experiment in terms of general theory rather than simply recording the results (Okasha, 2002, p. 2). Physics, biology, geology and psychology are within the domain of science (Hammerton, 2010, p. 1). However, some questions would be better explained by philosophy rather than science, such as evaluative questions, non-empirical questions, normative questions and questions related to personal experiences (Hammerton...
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