...Theory of Knowledge Essay Eric Sheldon 4-25-13 Kennewick High School “It is more important to discover new ways of thinking about what is already known than to discover new data or facts.” To what extent would you agree with this claim? Before one can agree or disagree with the above statement, a few terms must be defined. “New ways of thinking” is thinking from a point of view that has not been considered previously, or an unproven idea. For the purpose of this essay, “facts” and “data” will be defined as: a series of empirical evidence, or a proven idea. I think that new ways of thinking and the discovery of new data and facts are equally important. If no one ever thought differently than the currently accepted way of thinking, than nothing new would ever be discovered. They are each no more and no less important than one other because, one cannot exist without the other. If one cannot exist without the other than their symbiotic relationship makes both equally important. It could be argued that discovering new ways of thinking is more important than the discovery of new data and facts. Someone arguing this point may make the point that many useful inventions that we (humans) have today come from an inventor who dared to step outside the norm, and look at a problem differently. One example of an invention is the nuclear reactor. Nuclear power would not exist today if no one had considered fission as a source of energy. Someone who disagrees...
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...The Nuclear Revolution Joyce H. Davis Virginia College Online The Nuclear Revolution The unknown is daunting, even scary at times, causing hasty and irrational decisions. Lack of information and knowledge is the root of the reaction from society when one hears the word nuclear. At the present time, the United States is home to fewer than one hundred nuclear reactors. The cost of producing nuclear energy is comparable to the energy sources used today, and studies indicate that nuclear energy emits less greenhouse gases, gases that are a contributing factor to climate change and the deterioration of the ozone layer. Concerns arise about the safety of the workers and the public when it comes to the handling and the disposal of nuclear waste, but there have been no recorded deaths in the United States because of exposure to radiation from a commercial nuclear reactor. Precautions taken during the construction of nuclear power facilities helps to ensure the safety of the public in the wake of a catastrophic event. A new energy source is needed to address the issues pertaining to the energy crisis faced by society today. Nuclear energy is that source. Nuclear energy is a viable source of energy because the cost of producing it is low, because it emits less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, and because it poses no threat to the safety of its workers or the public. Because of the vast supply of uranium, costs involved with the production of nuclear energy are kept to a minimum;...
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...VIDEO ESSAY 1: THE MANHATTAN PROJECT Terry E. Reid History 314: Contemporary United States History 1945 to Present Dr. Gary Wray THE MANHATTAN PROJECT The Manhattan Project was the wartime effort to design and build the first atomic bombs. With the discovery of fission in 1939, it became clear to scientists that certain radioactive materials could be used to make a bomb with unprecent power. Once presented with this information, Franklin D. Roosevelt creating the Uranium Committee to investigate this possibility. The Manhattan Engineer District was the official name of the project commanded by Army General Leslie R. Groves. He was given almost unlimited powers to call upon the military, industrial, and scientific resources of the nation. While watching the video on the Manhattan Project, three things stood out to me: the research and development, the detonation of these bombs, and the ever lasting effects they would have on the world. The cost of the development and coordination for the Manhattan Project was $2-billion which was used to obtain sufficient amounts of the two necessary isotopes, uranium-235 and plutonium-239. The development and research was conducted mainly at 3 locations. At Oak Ridge, Tenn., the desired uranium-235 was separated from uranium-238 by a process called gaseous diffusion. At the Hanford installation, located in Washington State, huge nuclear reactors were built to transmute non-fissionable uranium-238 into plutonium-239...
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...very costly war that seemed as if it would not end. For the United States to end their assault on Japan during World War II, a nuclear bomb was dropped in Japan to force them to surrender. On August 6th, 1945, the U.S. military dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima killing over 150,000 people and (along with the later bombing of Nagasaki) effectively caused the Japanese to surrender. This tactic is highly polarized in the international community; on one side, it is considered to be justified and the only action for the United States to take, and on the other side, it is considered to be a barbaric act of terrorism perpetrated by the U.S. military. In the essay, Hiroshima by John Berger, the author correctly argues that the bombings were terroristic acts that are fundamentally evil; however, he is incorrect that they are unjustifiable. To diagnose whether the bombings were acts of terrorism, one must be able to understand the definition and criteria of one such act. A commonly accepted definition of terrorism is an act that includes the premeditated use of violence by an organized group against non-combatants to achieve political ends. Berger’s argument includes all the criteria in that definition so the bombing must be terrorist acts. Berger begins his argument by describing all the violence caused by the bombs. Throughout the essay, he quotes passages from Unforgettable Fire, a book containing drawings and descriptions from the survivors of Hiroshima, detailing...
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...Oil Alternatives Examine the changing importance of three energy alternatives to oil [20 Marks] 1200 words. Correct citations. Oil has been an important resource for humanity for centuries. It is easily accessible and efficient and over time has been extremely versatile in its uses. Today oil is used for fueling cars, cooking food, cosmetics, lubricants, paintings, organic chemistry, etc. For a long time oil has been the primary and main provider of energy, but due to increasing environmental effects, scarcity, and global inflation, it seems as if it will not last much longer. This essay will highlight the growing importance of three alternatives of oil that may rise to prominence in the future: algae biofuel, nuclear energy, and hydroelectric power. The first alternative that will be discussed is algae biofuel. In essence algae biofuels are the same as normal fuels except that the components of the fuel are organic and biological rather than fossil fuel based. Production is caused through a series of chemical reactions and is nontoxic and renewable. Algae sources can be re-replaced through more farming. The standard production method consists of planting lots of algae pods and letting them interact with the sun and bacteria to create oil. (Howstuffworks) Although this method releases a lot of CO2 it is all taken back again through growing more algae. This is of the many advantages of algae biofuel. Firstly its production yield far surpasses that of other variations...
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...The Atomic Bomb: A Necessity or a Desire Tanmay Bhanushali Year 10 Historical Paper “Great power imposes the obligation of exercising restraint” Leo Szilard - Hungarian-born Physicist and main scientist to oppose the atomic Bombings This was spoken in an interview titled “President Truman did not Understand”. This was between a US news reporter and Leo Szilard the key figure among the scientists opposing the use of the bomb. The interview was in August 15, 1960. Why was their so fierce Opposition? In what Way did Truman Not Understand? These answers lie in the depths of the controversy about the Atomic Bomb. Introduction The atomic bomb was a topic of major controversy but the main debate was about the necessity of the atomic bomb. Many say that the atomic bomb was dropped because it would save millions of American lives. However at that period the Japanese were also at the point of surrendering. Huge amounts of incendiary bombs were used in large-scale cities against japan. Many of the scientists in the Manhattan Project were disturbed about it. The incendiary bombs reduced much morale from the Japanese army and crippled the will power. However this small cripple made Japan even angrier because these incendiary bombs were used on innocent civilians and not the Japanese army. Many think that it was necessary to use the Atomic Bombs because Japan attacked America first and not the other way around. It is a fact that when Hitler attacked...
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...Oral Roberts University SUPERIORITY AND BLURRED LINES: An observation of the themes communicated in major DC Comics storylines Joshua Gallego Philosophy of Science HONR 102 Dr. Ken Weed/Dr. Samuel Thorpe March 13, 2014 Introduction Superheroes are part of an American upbringing. Stories of persons with capabilities that far exceed that of the human race are popular and appealing to our youth and even to many adults. Entertainment in general pervades the American culture, and this specific type of entertainment dealing with superheroes is of considerable size and has been a constant for several decades. Images of Superman, Captain America and many others are immediately recognized when seen. The entertainment value of these fictitious tales has caused the companies that own them to expand into creating computer games and producing movies, which has made them even more visible. It is considered weird if a person does not even know the basic story of these costumed figures. The adventures, stories, and even lives of these fictions have become a part of the American Psyche. Throughout the course of this semester, discussion in the Philosophy of Science class has led to topics such as the paradigms and presuppositions that we approach our world from and the metaphors that we use to communicate ideas and concepts. Such discussion has led to the asking of questions concerning things that we encounter in everyday circumstances. Questions like “What are the presuppositions...
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...English 1012, GW Essay Global warming, by definition is the increase in the Earth's ocean and near surface temperatures. In the last several decades, there have been numerous debates regarding global warming. The vast majority of the scientific community now agrees that global warming is caused by the increase in greenhouse gasses, but there is an ongoing debate on whether the increase is due to human activity or from natural sources, such as volcanoes and forest fires. The controversy gained a lot of public attention in 2005 when politician and former Vice President Al Gore created a documentary titled An Inconvenient Truth. The documentary was a compilation of scientific research, theories, and facts that served to blame human activity as the culprit of global warming. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) created the Kyoto Protocol in response to the threats associated with global warming (Hawkins 1). The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement among industrialized nations whom have pledged to reduce their annual emission of greenhouse gasses. The protocol currently consists of over 160 nations representing over 55% of the world's greenhouse gases. Ironically, the United States, the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases, accounts for 20.6% of the worlds greenhouse gases, and has not signed the protocol (Clemmit). Our nation's political leaders are at a debate on whether money should be spent in order to decelerate or prevent global warming. George W...
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...Andreas Balasis 4/25/15 Mark Zeigler Persuasive Essay 1 “According to news reporters, every year it’s getting warmer, these violent weather patterns, some say it’s just nature’s karma.” These lyrics from Tallahassee’s own, Dead Prez, go to show the immutable fact that “global warming” is applicable terminology for our current state of existence. I believe it is beyond our intellectual capacity to examine whether or not the weather is changing, because any rational person could do the research and understand that it is quite apparent. If Dead Prez isn’t credible enough, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal”. The only thing I can conceivable try to persuade people of, is that we are living within system a being ran by incomprehensibly short sighted and perceivably destructive people. This essay will examine the idiocracy of Republican leaders in Florida, the economic manipulation behind environmental destruction, and simple solutions to a simple problem. “I’m not scientist, man”. These are the words of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) He is also quoted saying, “I do not believe that human activity is causing the dramatic changes to our climate the way scientists are portraying it”. I think that’s pretty hysterical, given the fact that this man, who is not a scientist, was appointed a chair on the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. Any study of the...
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...argue that the radical social changes brought about by industrialisation have led to religion being undermined by scientific rational thought. For instance, many phenomena, such as earthquakes and diseases, are explained in terms of science rather than through religion. On the other hand, religious thoughts are still dominant in some aspects of life- for instance; many still reject the theory of evolution, or see evolution as guided or initiated by some divine force. Whether or not science has replaced religion as the main ideological influence in modern society is a question that requires answering in two elements. Are science and religion ideological? Although there are many who argue that religion is an ideology or contains ideological aspects, whether or not science is remains a controversial subject which requires criticisms of the objectivity. If science is not an ideology then the view given by the essay question is falsified. If both are ideological then we may proceed to assess the whether science has supplanted religion in this sense. The term “ideology” is difficult to define. Roughly, an ideology is a belief system or framework of ideas which present a partial or distorted view of reality. In this assessment, I wish to apply Manheim’s definitions of two types of ideology- an ideology which justifies current social order, and an ideology which presents a utopian view of how society should be ordered. This essay will follow the following pattern; first we will...
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...Patrick Zimmer Home | Projects | Music | Sitemap | Contact Genetic Engineering Essay Projects / Academic / Genetic Engineering Essay GENETIC ENGINEERING - The benefits and problems Genetic engineering is a powerful and potentially very dangerous tool. To alter the sequence of nucleotides of the DNA that code for the structure of a complex living organism, can have extremely ill effects although the potential benefits can be huge. Before advances in genetic applications, gene therapy was unheard of and genetic defects were always inherited, plaguing generations. Today genetic testing is widely available, such as prenatal karyotyping of chromosomes to check for genetic abnormalities. Genetic testing is also useful for families in which autosomal recessive disorders are known to exist, when these are planning to have children. In addition, genetic testing is available for people who might have inherited a genetic disorder which only becomes apparent later in life (for example Huntington's Disease). Individual choice decides whether a person would rather know if they are particularly vulnerable to certain diseases or more likely to die young. Knowing that your life may be short could inspire you to make the most of it while it could equally well cause severe depression. Today`s advances in gene therapy make it possible to even remove a faulty gene and replace it with a functioning gene in cells lacking this function. Though these techniques are available, they are still in...
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...2009 Award Winning Essays Organized by Supported by The Goi Peace Foundation UN ESC O Japan Airlines Foreword The International Essay Contest for Young People is one of the peace education programs organized by the Goi Peace Foundation. The annual contest, which started in the year 2000, is a UNESCO/Goi Peace Foundation joint program since 2007. The United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World" and 2005-2014 as the "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development." Not only should young people benefit from these global initiatives, but they should be empowered to play a leading role in them. Each year, the essay contest adopts a theme relevant to building a Culture of Peace and a sustainable future, such as "Respect for life," "Caring for our planet," "Learning to live together," and "The role of media and ICT in building a peaceful world." The theme of the 2009 International Essay Contest for Young People was "The role of science in building a better world." Scientific progress has brought many benefits to humanity, while some applications of science have had adverse impacts. Young people were invited to express their vision for the future of science, and the kind of studies or researches they wish to engage in. 4,506 essay entries were received from as many as 134 countries. This publication contains a total of 16 essays: First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize...
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... new technological advances were being discovered, people constantly debated about capitalism and communism, and the theory of “Social Darwinism” was being viciously applied. To summarize the novel, a Victorian scientist is determined to prove his theory that there is a fourth dimension, which is time. And like the other three dimensions (space), you can move forward and backward. To demonstrate this, he builds a time machine and travels to the future, where he encounters the Eloi, and describes them as pale and weak physically...
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...physics alongside with quantum mechanics. Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician who are commonly referred to as one of the most influential scientists of all time as well as a key figure in the scientific revolution. Newton formulated the laws of motion and the universal gravitation that dominated scientists’ view of the physical universe for over the next three centuries. He also has demonstrated that the motion of objects on the Earth and that the celestial bodies could be described by the same principles. When he was deriving Kepler’s laws of planetary motion from his mathematical description of gravity, Newton removed any of the people’s last doubts about the validity of the model of the cosmos that was heliocentric. Near the start of Albert Einstein’s career he was beginning to think that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanics with the laws of the electromagnetic field. While he was doing this it led him to his special theory of relativity. Thus he realized that the principle of relativity could also be extended to the gravitational fields, and this sparked his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 when he published a paper on the general theory of relativity. When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 Einstein was visiting the United States and he decided it would be best for him not go back to Germany, where he was a professor at the Berlin Academy of Sciences. Thus this made him settle in the U.S., and...
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...RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN GRADES 17 & 16 UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 1971 ENGLISH ESSAY Maximum marks: 100 C SS .C O M .P Note: Write an essay in ENGLISH on ONE of the following: 1. Man as part of a design infinitely vaster than himself. 2. Knowledge demands love as its complement. 3. The amusement mania. 4. The art of feature films made in Pakistan. 5. Art and Religion. 6. Education of freedom. 7. Brain-washing. 8. The lessons of the past. 9. Requisites for social progress in Pakistan. 10. How words change our lives? 11. Man is condemned to be free. 12. Leaders and followers. K Time allowed: 3 hours ENGLISH ESSAY EXAMINATION 1972 Maximum marks: 100 C SS .C O M .P Write an essay in English on One of the following: 1. Relevance of Islam to Science. 2. The sanctity of law. 3. Competitive results of planned economy? 4. The sick soul. 5. The strategy of political warfare. 6. “If’ in History. 7. Psychology and its social meaning. 8. Reverence for life. 9. International morality. 10. The divided self and the process of its unification. 11. Statesmen and Diplomatists. 12. The foundations of the feature. K Time allowed: 3 hours ENGLISH ESSAY EXAMINATION 1973 Time allowed: 3 hours Maximum marks: 100 1. (a) Make an outline for writing an Essay in English on One of the following subjects: (b) Write the Essay on the subject you have selected more or less on the basis of the Outline you have...
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