Experiments of Plant Hybridization

Charles Darwin's research was incomplete  until Greg Mendel provided the missing piece to it. Growing up, Charles was well off. But when it came to academics he was just ordinary. His father raised him on his own after his mom passed when he was eight, and was sent to medical school because his father wanted him to be become a doctor, even though Charles wasn't interested in pursuing this career. He was then sent to Christ's College two years later. Charles was interested in natural science and as a result, he went on the HMS Beagle as a naturalist making an extraordinary discovery after his voyage. He discovered a pattern but couldn't recognized why it was happening. He noticed that organisms changed throughout the years. Heredity was the answer to Charles' question, and Mendel was the one who recognized why species and organisms changed throughout the years and had a common ancestor. He researched pea plants to show genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring. Mendel didn't publish his findings and his work wasn't discovered until the 1920s. Charles and Mendel's findings combined together shows significant evidence for the theory of evolution.

On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type

Humans are a race that has unfolded from natural selection that keeps continuing to evolve. Our race has adapted to multiple types of conditions that's occurred throughout the years. For survival, a group of species should be reproduced. The beings that have survived in those group of species are the ones that will advance and move on to the best and suitable environments for them. An organism must attract another organism for it to be able to reproduce, though each being has their own perspective on what the word attractive means and has their own taste. Psychology studies have proven that the most attractive people are the ones that are considered average looking. If physical attraction's most important was physical attraction, the species that would survive would be the ones that look the most average looking.

Bohr/Einstein Debate Over Quantum Theory

Bohr on the other hand understood Einstein's unwillingness to accept probability as a solution to quantum theory. I'm leaning towards Einstein instead of Bohr, even though I thought Einstein's unwillingness to grasp Bohr's concept made him look a bit arrogant. Bohr's philosophy of quantum theory is more of the transitional phrase than the answer, whereas Einstein couldn't accept that quantum theory is not an absolute answer but various probably answers. He hoped that someone would find the solution to his answer. Although I think Einstein was being a bit arrogant with Bohr, I think he had a point for not wanting to accept it because it was based on probability being a possible answer. All in all the winner of the debate is uncertain, even though Bohr got Einstein to consider his quantum theory.

Spooky Physics

The physics that gives us a sense of weirdness and difficulty of understanding is called Spooky Physics. It's the physics that goes far beyond our capability of understanding. In this case, The spooky physics brought up Heisenberg are the quantum physics which also the main topic of Einstein and Bohr's debate. As a result of the weirdness of quantum theory, it's difficult to determine whether or not there's a winner of the debate.

Although it takes a long time to grasp its concept but I think is vital to modern physics is quantum mechanics. Its content is complicated to understand and learn but from reading the passage I can see why Einstein believed that quantum mechanics was not yet complete and some things were still missing. However, he failed to prove in his experiments that quantum mechanics is incomplete. 

Pythagoras

Pythagoras' wisdom and advice on friendship is agreeable and true. A person should not let arguments and disagreements affect their relationship to the point where it's going to have to end. Pythagoras also stated that friendships should not be affected by other peoples' variations and uncertainty. I think this is one of the keys to real friendships and relationships because people tend to forget and look down on others based on their misfortune. In order for a relationship or friendship to work out, a person should not judge others based on wealth, appearance, or anything that can be fixed or be compromised but rather look past all of that. Pythagoras' advice for youth about focusing and giving more importance to learning and obtaining knowledge is also another thing I agree upon. There is so much the universe has to offer to learn, and education is crucial and has been in order for a better and successful life. His wisdoms and beliefs can still be used and taught up until today.

Socrates

I thought Plato's book about Socrates was pretty interesting. Socrates' statement on philosophy, that philosophy itself is nothing but a preparation for and meditation on death. It's intriguing to think that one should be in tuned with ones self before dying. Philosophy draws off the mind from bodily things to the contemplation of virtue as oppose to death just separating the soul from the body.  I think that Euthyphro would be just as bad as his father was if he did not act on what he thought was unjust. His father claims that he didn't kill the serf because he didn't do anything to him but just leave him chained until he heard news from the divine on what he should do to the serf. In my opinion, not doing anything to save a person is just as bad as scheming to end his or her life. I think the main problem with people is that they always say how it's not their fault because they didn't do anything, which is exactly why it's their fault for not acting upon it. Euthyphro's father could have fed the serf or have given him water while he was waiting for the news but he chose not to. Socrates states that the question is not "Should the guilty go unpunished?" but rather "Is he or she guilty in the first place?" Euthyphro's father thinks he should not be guilty but I think he should be convicted for the crime he committed.

Einstein/Bohr Debate Over Quantum Theory

Einstein wanted proof that everything has to have a reasoning in which he understood, and as he was arguing with the fact of probability and spent a good amount attempting to prove probability shouldn't have a function with physical state, but still have value at the end of an equation. He had a hard time understanding the concept of things occurring couldn't be predicted and that only probability was the answer. He admitted in a letter for Bohr that his attitude was unreasonable and that Bohr's statistical approach were in some ways valid, but still couldn't accept that probability would give him the absolute value. 

The Genius of Charles Darwin

The video I thought was very relatable. Coming from a religious family I can see how it makes more sense to believe the bible than evolution. It was fascinating when most of the students answered the same question when it comes on who or what to believe. The idea that a person believes what they first know and understand and what they are brought up to doesn't seem to be logical, yet that's how most people are. Even though as much as I can relate to the answers of people and god, I think Darwin's fascination and wanting to know things based on facts and real evidence seems to be the better choice when it comes down to it.

Evolution Trilogy

This video states that instead of natural selection, there is natural editing, that there is no final edition, but rather new imprints. I think this statement is true, because things are constantly changing day by day even if one does not realize it. Although I don't think there's that much difference with survival of the fittest and survival of the sufficient. If a person is sufficient enough to meet his or her needs in order to survive, wouldn't he or she be selected as one of the fittest? Also, the video claims that if you remain you have been edited. I think constantly being edited by the people and places that surround us is true. Our thoughts and views towards a certain thing or person can be changed easily if one is open enough to embrace opinions of others.

Electric Surfing

The universe is made up of billions of atoms which are composed of protons, positively charged particles, and electrons, negatively charged particles. These particles although opposite from one another attract each other and aim to have equilibrium. When it is not in a state of equilibrium it tries to restore its balance, which evidently happens around us and even within ourselves.

Darwin's DNA

Science is testable and has solid facts and evidences to prove something of the matter, and its explanations grows as we discover new facts. But even if we're constantly finding new things, we still have yet to completely understand the universe and how things work. There's still so much to discover that will take years to analyze. Religion on the other hand, doesn't necessarily have a proof of evidence. Although not all religions are the same, some base their facts on stories passed instead of logical thinking or having solid proof of what a person is telling another.

The Elegant Universe

I find it hard to believe the possibility of the string theory having other dimensions or that the universe is in cosmic symphony in harmony with each other. If scientists are assuming that everything is made of the same thing, how are they going to prove it? Their evidence should be based on real facts and solid proof in order for people to believe their theory even though string theory is the most recent theory that unifies the explanation of the universe.

Eliminative Materialism 1-3

Part One:
I don't think it's perfectly okay to blame God for something that a scientist cannot explain. The fact that not everyone believes in a god, or believes in the same god makes the "joke" illogical and unnecessary. Also, one can argue for proof of evidence if a god really does exist or not.

Part Two:
Replacing mythic pasts with new and more accurate terminology throughout the years from having a better understanding of our surroundings makes sense. Though I didn't think it was necessary to eliminate gods whose stories have been passed on generation from generation. Replacing certain things with a more precise explanation based on real facts and observations is more useful than depending on myths that can be illogical and not useful when it comes to understanding how our body functions or how our mind works.

Part Three:
As the video stated, "materialistic explanation changes over time.", we've been looking for logical explanations that explains the changes that occur in our body, our mind, and even in society. I think it's puzzling how we accepted our ways of thinking to be constantly changed except for the way we think about ourselves, and the fact that it didn't come from a neuro scientific understanding but rather from myths instead.

Quantum Thinking

Nobody knows what a bit of matter is actually doing. What we examine alters invariably, and although our scientific instruments can study them up close, we're not really studying matter in its truest of forms because it reacts and changes to a different form when we use our scientific materials to try to understand it more. I find this video intriguing because no one can explain what matter in its true form is doing, or what the purpose is. A microscope can only zoom in to a certain extent. Matter can be broken up to pieces and we still would not be able to analyze it further because of the alternating reaction it does due to it not being examined in its natural form.

The Emergence of Rationality

Because of the emergence of rationality, we have the technological advances we have today. Anaxagoras' statement towards the sun and being banished because of it got people thinking differently and started to question more. Through time people came up with more logical and reasonable answers about life that they got based on facts instead of illogical explanations. 

The Limits of Science

The video states that "The limits of our skull are the limits of our understanding.", in which I think is true. Although there is so much to learn, our brain can only hold and take in information to a certain point. We're not able to know every single thing the world or universe has to offer because our skull has a capacity we can't exceed.

The Myth of Eternal Recurrence

Having the choice to live the same life over and over again with both the joys and pains that a person has lived through is a hard decision to make. Being able to go through the joys we've already experienced excites us because there would have been plenty of those encounters in a person's life. But, having to go through the pains that we've felt over and over seems frightening and unpleasant. However, the common phrase "no pain no gain" can comfort a person with making the choice. Change is the only thing permanent in this world, meaning that even though a person will have to relive the pain he or she has experienced, it will not last forever. The thought of living life repeatedly to some people may seem crazy, for some people do not like to have a set schedule, but to others, it can be a sense of reassurance and security.

Either/Or

Soren Kierkegaard's statement of "There are two possible situations - one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it - you will regret both.", makes sense because the majority of people are afraid to make choices. Whether it be from something simple as choosing what color to paint your room or something big as choosing the person you want to marry. People sometimes are so afraid to make a choice that they end up not doing anything about it, and it can ultimately lead to regret and remorse. But ironically, there are also situations to where people have made a choice and ended up regretting it as well. Ultimately, by being too afraid to make a choice or attempt to do anything, a person can have the regret of not knowing what could have happened.

#8 What scares us most about death?

There are many factors as to what's scary about death. The uncertainty of death and what will happen to us afterwards can be frightening to imagine. Nobody knows what happens when we die, if we go to another place or get reincarnated, or if there's actually a next step that we take after dying. I think what scares us most about death is that we don't know when we're going to die and if we have lived our lives to the fullest to be welcome and embrace death instead of running away from it. 

#7 How is the Indian concept of Maya helpful (in an analogous way) in understanding how deception works in neuroscience?

The concept of maya refers to magic, or illusion, or simply "not that".  As the video stated, "Maya betrays its real origin and thus tricks us at each turn into believing something about an event that is not true." The Indian concept of Maya is helpful in understanding how deception works in neuroscience because they both have similarities and both interact with one another. For example in the dark we make false assumptions in which our mind plays a trick and deceives us, because we see things the way we want them too as oppose to seeing them the way they actually are.

#6 Why is String Theory potentially scientific and not merely wishful thinking? What its Feynman's definition of science?

String Theory is potentially scientific and not merely wishful thinking because of the fact that it is open to being experimented or tested. All objects in the universe are made up of strings and membranes that cannot be seen due to its molecular size. Feynman's definition of science is the "belief in the ignorance of experts." He states that by breaking pieces of matter we can unlock its secret and see how matter moves around.

#4 Do we ultimately know where we are?

In a way we know where we are. If someone was to ask what city we live in, what street our house is on, or even which continent we're at we are able to answer those questions easily. But as the video stated, it is more complicated than that. We may know simple questions such as our residency but ultimately we don't know where we are in terms of the universe and galaxy.

#3 Do you think it may be possible to exceed our cranial limits? If not, why not? If so, how so?

I don't think it's possible to exceed our cranial limits. I think there's a limit in everything including the capacity of our brain. We're only using a small part of our brain yet we tend to be overwhelmed with the knowledge we take in every day as it is. A good point the video brought out is that the limits of our skull are the limits to our understanding. There's only so much that our brain can endure. With that being said, I don't think that it's possible to exceed our cranial limits.

#2 What is the Chandian Effect? How did Faqir Chand come to realize the secret behind religious visions?

The Chandian Effect is the visual representation of a person's subconscious during meditation. Faqir Chand came to realize the secret behind religious visions when he came home from war and was worshipped by soldiers instead of worshipping his guru. They claim he gave them salvation in the battlefield when death was all they could think about although his guru was the one who instructed Faqir of what to do. In a way the soldiers made Faqir their god because he saved their lives. Faqir realized that their vision towards him accounts from their imagination.

#1 How can the conflict between religion and science be partially resolved by developing a better and richer understanding of the word "matter"?

The conflict between science and religion from misunderstanding the word matter is that people don't grasp it's concept and tends to think that matter is just one thing, when in fact matter is anything but that. It can be partially resolved by having an open and broad perspective to what matter is scientifically and religiously. As the video stated, matter has an "outdated definition that has caused unnecessary confusion." Matter has different aspects that should not cause friction between anything or anyone.