her'es my critical thinking & pre reading blog #2...since i have two accounts for different classes and posted them on the wrong one. oops.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Respond to the following prompt: This is always a tricky discussion, but Jacoby presents some sharp arguments about the debate between evolution and creationism. For this blog, create your own discussion about this debate. Where do you stand and why? What critical criteria have you used to consider this issue (if at all -- maybe it's the first time you've thought about it)? Where does this issue stand among the issues of the day?Here we go with creationism and evolution. Although Jacoby does argue her point very well, I am still unsure about how I feel about the situation. All in all, I am confused! Evolution seems to be the most logical explanation and arguments for evolution always seem to catch my attention. Evolution, in a Biology perspective, has to do with a change in inherited traits, or genes. This explanation is the reason for all of the life we have surrounding us from people to animals, etc... Creationism is more religious and has to deal with how things were created by a “god”. Even though evolution did seem persuasive with passing along information or genetics from person to person and so on, Creationism also has a strong argument in my eyes. Like I previously stated in my last blog, I am not too religious but some of my family members are. When I was younger I went to church and this explanation also seems logical to me. The main question that I have for both theories is this “If we are created from another being, whether it is a god like individual or from a biological perspective, who or what initially created that being?” It seems to be a constant confusing situation that I cannot seem to take a stand on yet.
Posted by valerie.e at 9:52 PM 0 comments

Sunday, February 8, 2009

pre reading blog #2
When i see the word pseudoscience i honestly don't know what to think. I know that the prefix "pseudo" means fake or unreal, but when the word science is added to the word, i get a negative definition in my head. There are so many different religions and studies in the world today that it is hard to take certain people or ideas seriously. Although i am not as religious as the rest of my family, i cannot agree with any certain situation completely. The argument between evolution and creation is another battle i cannot take a side on. Jacoby, as always, expresses her opinion and it is not always positive. I agree with some of her views, but others seem too far overdrawn for me. How are we supposed to believe something indefinitely when new theories are being proven or tested everyday?
Posted by valerie.e at 10:45 PM 0 comments

Critical Thinking Blog #1

I believe that critical thinking involves finding different ways to solve problems and improves ones skills through the thought process. I constantly use critical thinking within my criminal justice courses. In an investigation class I had to think of different situations and different reasons to explain the events I had seen in pictures. I’ve also had plenty of situations where I did not have to think critically. One of those situations was, as ironic as it may sound, was during work. There were certain days that were not busy at all and all I had to do was sit around. When I think of intellectualism, I think of a very educated answer. It has a positive connotation for me because it implies a higher level of thinking just at critical thinking does. When I think of logic and reason I also have a positive connotation. Logic and reason are both needed in critical thinking and problem solving. The basis of the answer which is reason and logic gives the correct reasoning for an answer.

Pre-Reading Blog #1

Here you are in college. How’s that working out for you? Consider your educational experience to this point. What are your impressions of education? What do you seek to gain from education? Have you enjoyed your educational experience through high school? Why or why not? Please end your blog with at least one good critical question (refer to "How to Develop a Critical Question").Define the following: Rationalism, Anti-Rationalism, Fundamentalism

College is going really well for me. I graduate in May, and will have two AA degrees. My current impressions on education vary from class to class. Each and every teacher i've had had a different style of teaching which gives me a different impression on education. Certain classes make education fun and make me eager to learn while others make me dread going to class and dread the education i'll be getting from it. I seek to gain the knowledge that will help further my career from the education i receive at school. Without knowledge for certain aspects of ones career, one cannot succeed. During high school i had a great educational experience. Being around all of my friends throughout the day helped make learning fun, and all of the school spirit activities took away from the stress of being a student. Education is an important part of today's lifestyle, without it where would we all end up and how different would our country be?

Rationalism: The principal or habit of accepting reason as the supreme authority of matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.

Anti-Rationalism: not accepting reason as the supreme authority.

Fundamentalism: Strict adherance to any set of basic ideas or principles.