Patterns in Macroevolution Fossils Trace of any organism that lived in the past 99% extinct, used as evidence for evolution Law of Succession: resemblance between living and fossil forms in the same region Relative Dating Fossils formed in sedimentary rock in which the sediments form layers that differ in colour, thickness and composition Principle of…
Properties The speed of light is measured through the equation: v = λ f. However, it turns out that when light is reflected off a surface its speed stays the same. This was first proven by Sir Isaac Newton. Under the assumption of perfectly elastic collision, the laws of reflection follow from the laws of…
Hume’s empiricism asserts no idea without a corresponding sense impression. Therefore we cannot have a concept of something we’ve never experienced before. For example: I have an idea/concept of an apple in virtue of the fact that I’ve perceived an apple many times before. Do we have an idea of an enduring self? “[F]rom what…
What is the essential difference between belief, knowledge or true understanding? How can it be defined, what are its origins, and how is it attained? These questions are addressed in the subject of epistemology, the theory of knowledge. Much of the framework for developments in epistemology comes from the classical Greek thinkers, primarily Plato. Plato…
Substance can be most directly defined as what something is. Man is a substance, a horse is a substance and a rock is a substance. Going in depth of the substance one is introduce to secondary substance which is when something is in essence, for example man, has certain attributes to accentuate a man’s individuality.…
“Why does Plato compare ordinary human existence to that of chained prisoners in a cave?” The Allegory of the Cave is an allegory to evaluate a journey from darkness to light as the mind moves toward the Forms. The “cave” is considered the world of the five senses meaning we acquire our opinions through the…
As millions of tons of organic compounds find their way into the water systems of the world, the environmental problems that result are colossal. This negligence might not affect the environment directly, but they have long term effects. Some of these problems include: Heavy metal accumulates in lakes and ponds nearby an industry, and this…
In Aristotle’s previous extract, he explained the notion of the soul as a separate entity distinct from the body. This troubled Christian philosophers-theologians for they wanted to re-unite Aristotle’s philosophy with the doctrines of the church. In the “Summa Theologiae” one can see that there are pieces of Aristotelian philosophy like the description of the…
There are two Platonic ideas that Aristotle places pressure on in this extract. The first is that knowledge is superior to mere opinion and that there is a more abstract level of rational justification. The second and more skeptical element of thought is both about the notion of innate sources of knowledge and also the…
British philosopher, Gilbert Ryle attacks the whole notion of a split between the public, observable world of matter, and the ‘private’ inner theatre of the mind. Ryle states that our mind acts with our bodies, while our mind is incarnated by our body. However, our mind is not totally hidden with the body and we…
Descartes spans the gap between classical philosophy and modern philosophy; this movement is from wonder to doubt. A rough dividing line for these periods is 1600. Descartes was no fool – he belongs in the pantheon of the greatest mathematicians ever to live. He invented the Cartesian plane, and his thinking is in-line with a…
How can one measure the deadliest of the seven sins? The seven deadly sins, wrath, sloth, lust, pride, avarice, gluttony, and envy are often explored by authors in attempt to examine the nature of man. When put in certain situations one may be forced to make decisions based upon their favored personal outcome. Wrath closely…
Canadian subsidies are the main reason why the Canadian softwood lumber producers and American softwood lumber producers are butting heads. Canadian lumber industries are able to sell their products at such a low price because of the negligence from the provincial and federal governments. The argument made by the American producers is that the fees…
In William Shakespeare’s, King Lear, the concept of justice is a theme that many characters struggle with. There is a prominent emphasis on the question of whether there is moral righteousness in the world which would demand that every crime committed must have an equally appropriate punishment. However, is justice served when some characters crimes…
Orwell’s 1984 and the comparable Kesey’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, are dominated with controlling institutions that hold complete power over their societies. Whether it is a government party called Big Brother that enforces totalitarianism or a psychiatric hospital that places emphasis on destroying the patient’s basic human needs such as laughing. Both of…
There are two ideas on the origin: Infolding of the plasma membrane Part of the plasma membrane infolded until it was inside the cell – now the cell contained a membrane bound organelle Would take a very long time Endosymbiosis Mutually benefiting relationship brought about by one prokaryote cell becoming the host of another (one…
Christopher Columbus had first discovered that the world is round. Thomas L. Friedman believes otherwise, metaphorically speaking, of course. One must wonder, even as a metaphor, how can the world, in its massive spherical form, be compared to a mere playground? In his book, The World is Flat (Release 3.0), he explains why the world…
Teenage pregnancy is the harsh reality that many young adolescents are forced to deal with when they engage in sexual activity. With low levels of maturity and an underdeveloped understanding of responsibility, teens are ill prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions. In recent years the media has portrayed teenage pregnancy as just…
Mary Magdalene, from the town of Magdala located on the western Sea of Galilee, is portrayed by society as a prostitute and the ultimate opposite of the Virgin Mary.[1] However, this depiction of her has been proven by the Catholic Church to be false. Not only is Mary Magdalene a well known biblical figure in…
In the novel 1984 written by George Orwell betrayal is a recurring theme that is highlighted throughout the novel. Betrayal is the act of using treachery or disloyalty to expose someone’s true feelings. Betrayal is prevalent in the society of Oceania through government manipulation and through the acts of the characters, O’Brien and Julia, who…
