What is The Scientific Method and how it relates to the foundation of Western Culture
Floyd Wills
Environmental Studies
PHS 100A
Professor David Terrell
Warner Pacific College
June 2, 2011
According to The Science Buddies website (2011), “The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and conducting experiments”. The steps of the scientific method consist of:
• Observation- According to Withgott & Brenan (2011), “Advances in science usually begin with the observation of some phenomenon that the scientist wishes to explain” (p. 11). When Sir Isaac Newton observed an apple falling from a tree he began to think about a specific kind of motion. He understood that an object with greater matter exerted greater force, or pulled smaller objects to it. Newton’s observation of this naturally occurring event laid the foundations of his discovery of the universal law of gravitation.
• Questions- Questions are the starting point of learning. My four year old son, Spencer, asks me at least a hundred questions a day! He does this because he is curious about the world around him and wants to learn and interact with his environment. Like children, scientists are curious about the world in which they live. They ask questions like: how, what, when, who, which, why, or where?
• Hypothesis- A hypothesis is an educated guess about how something works. It must be stated in a way that can be easily measured and constructed in a way that can help you answer your original question.
• Predictions- Predictions of the outcome can be made based on your hypothesis. They are specific statements that can be directly tested.
• Test- You test your hypothesis by doing experiments. This process helps determine if your hypothesis is true or false. It is essential that the experiments you conduct are fair. This can be accomplished by making sure only one factor at time can be changed while keeping all other conditions the same.
• Results- At this stage, you analyze your data from the experiment and draw a conclusion. Once the experiments are complete, collect measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis still holds true or not. Many times scientists discover their hypothesis does not hold up and end up developing a new one based on their discoveries. Even if your hypothesis is true, you may want to test it again another way to confirm the results are accurate.
The scientific method directly relates to the foundation of western culture. Its introduction to the western world evolved over time. Elements of the scientific method was introduced by Aristotle and the Greek philosophers of old, but the primary source of the scientific process that resembles the one we use today was developed by Muslim scholars between the 10th and 14th centuries. Al-Haytham was a great Muslim scientist credited with founding the scientific method. Al-Haytham’s method consisted of: observation of the natural world, stating a definite problem, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experiments, access and analyze the results, interpret data, draw conclusions, and publish findings. His process laid the foundation for the scientific method adopted by western civilization.
The scientific method found its way into Europe at the beginning of the Renaissance period and helped bring Europe out of the Dark Ages. Roger Bacon (1214-1284) is credited as the first European scholar to promote inductive reasoning. Roger’s method consisted of: observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and verification. Later on, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and Descartes (1596-1650) continued to expand the west’s knowledge of the scientific method. Sir Isaac Newton further refined the method, and his process is the one we use today (Shuttleworth, 2009).
Science plays such a vital role in our daily life; from finding how we can maximize our natural resources to helping us live longer healthier lives, we owe thanks to a long line of great thinkers that stretch back through the centuries to the Middle East. It was these eastern and western pioneers who painstakingly developed and refined the scientific method in hopes that we would have a better understanding of the world in which we live in and to use this knowledge to make the world a better place.
References
Shuttleworth, M. (2009). Who Invented The Scientific Method? Retrieved June 1, 2011 from Experiment- Resources.com Web site: http://www.experiment-resources.com/who-invented-the-scientific-method.html
Withgott, J. & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment, The Science Behind The Stories. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education Inc.
(2011). Steps of the Scientific Method. Retrieved June 1, 2011 from Science Buddies Web site: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Curiosity and Reasoning by Pat Holzbach
Curiosity and Reasoning
Pat Holzbach
Environmental Studies, PHS 100A
Dr. David Terrell
Warner Pacific College
May 31, 2011
Curiosity and Reasoning
Western culture is based on reasoning, with a sprinkling of freedom and the pursuit of happiness, a dash of curiosity and imagination, and is rooted in faith in a higher power. The same is true of the scientific method.
A Brief History of the Scientific Method
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the works of Aristotle, who lived 350 B.C., re-emerged in Europe. According to Aristotle, knowledge was based on investigating “a question by a) examining what everyone else had said about the matter, b) making several observations, and finally, c) deriving either general or probable principles on the matter from both a and b.” This “empirical” manner of thinking was revolutionary at that time. (Hooker, 1996)
In the late thirteenth century, Roger Bacon developed a very early version of today’s scientific method. His trial and error experiments (or “controlled experiences”), were defined as: “if the experience of a natural phenomenon is controlled in a certain way, that experience will be identical to any repeated experience that is controlled in precisely the same way.” (Hooker, 1996)
When Galileo started peeking through a telescope in the seventeenth century, he discovered the heavens were much larger, much more amazing, that any of his peers ever dreamed. It challenged everything they knew, and enlarged their way of thinking. (Hooker, 1996) This independent thinking may be, at least somewhat, attributed to his father, who said:
“It appears to me that those who rely simply on the weight of authority to prove any assertion, without searching out the arguments to support it, act absurdly. I wish to question freely and to answer freely without any sort of adulation. That well becomes any who are sincere in the search for truth.”
(Fowler, no date) Obviously, Galileo was in search of truth.
In the seventeenth century, two ideas basic to the Scientific Revolution were: a) the idea that the universe, and everything in it, works according to laws of nature, established by a higher being; and b) the idea that the laws of nature are discoverable by means of reason. (The Scientific Revolution, 2011)
Isaac Newton was among those scientists who believed that it was God who set everything in motion, and that the universe could be explained through mathematics. (Hooker, 1996)
Today’s Scientific Method
Today’s scientific method is logic in action. Much the same way as a reasonable person may trouble-shoot an everyday problem, the scientific method walks through an observing-and-testing model, only with much more documentation. The typical steps are (Withgott, 2008):
1. Making observations: this initial step of observing recurs throughout the process;
2. Asking questions: this is where the freedom part is displayed—the freedom to question how things work, or how they might be different, or even better. We typically associate “freedom” with western cultures, although that isn’t always the case; but the freedom to think independently, although somewhat tempered by the church, was instrumental in spawning the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century.
3. Developing a hypothesis: the next step is to develop a hypothesis, an answer to the question, which must be tested. This can be an obvious answer, or it may be an out-of-the-box answer, which may require some imagination, some creativity that would stem from previous research or observations.
4. Making predictions: this is where the scientist may refer to one of the foundations of the Scientific Revolution (in the 17th century): the universe, and everything in it, works according to the laws of nature, established by a higher being. (The Scientific Revolution, 2011) Scientists of that century believed in a higher power.
5. Testing predictions: experimentation (as started by Roger Bacon) will then test the hypothesis and predictions previously made. When possible, scientists will often use a controlled experiment, where only one variable differs between two units being tested, the reasoning being that any difference in outcome is attributed to the single variable that is different.
6. Analyzing and interpreting results: documenting the results, recording the data—especially numerical data—strengthens the testing, and provides explanations that can then be reviewed and substantiated by peers.
Much of the groundwork for testing scientific theories, laid many years ago, is still applicable today. And scientists are still curious, thinking outside the box, searching for answers that will make their lives—and ours—richer, fuller and happier.
References
Fowler, M. (no date). Life of Galileo. Retrieved from http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/gal_life.htm, May 31, 2011.
Hooker, R. (1996). World Civilizations: The European enlightenment—the scientific revolution. Retrieved from http://public.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM, May 31, 2011.
The scientific revolution of the 17th century, and, the political revolutions of the 18th century. Retrived from http://classweb.gmu.edu/rcherubi/ancient/srfr.htm, May 31, 2011.
Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2008). Environment: The science behind the stories (4th ed.). New York. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Pat Holzbach
Environmental Studies, PHS 100A
Dr. David Terrell
Warner Pacific College
May 31, 2011
Curiosity and Reasoning
Western culture is based on reasoning, with a sprinkling of freedom and the pursuit of happiness, a dash of curiosity and imagination, and is rooted in faith in a higher power. The same is true of the scientific method.
A Brief History of the Scientific Method
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the works of Aristotle, who lived 350 B.C., re-emerged in Europe. According to Aristotle, knowledge was based on investigating “a question by a) examining what everyone else had said about the matter, b) making several observations, and finally, c) deriving either general or probable principles on the matter from both a and b.” This “empirical” manner of thinking was revolutionary at that time. (Hooker, 1996)
In the late thirteenth century, Roger Bacon developed a very early version of today’s scientific method. His trial and error experiments (or “controlled experiences”), were defined as: “if the experience of a natural phenomenon is controlled in a certain way, that experience will be identical to any repeated experience that is controlled in precisely the same way.” (Hooker, 1996)
When Galileo started peeking through a telescope in the seventeenth century, he discovered the heavens were much larger, much more amazing, that any of his peers ever dreamed. It challenged everything they knew, and enlarged their way of thinking. (Hooker, 1996) This independent thinking may be, at least somewhat, attributed to his father, who said:
“It appears to me that those who rely simply on the weight of authority to prove any assertion, without searching out the arguments to support it, act absurdly. I wish to question freely and to answer freely without any sort of adulation. That well becomes any who are sincere in the search for truth.”
(Fowler, no date) Obviously, Galileo was in search of truth.
In the seventeenth century, two ideas basic to the Scientific Revolution were: a) the idea that the universe, and everything in it, works according to laws of nature, established by a higher being; and b) the idea that the laws of nature are discoverable by means of reason. (The Scientific Revolution, 2011)
Isaac Newton was among those scientists who believed that it was God who set everything in motion, and that the universe could be explained through mathematics. (Hooker, 1996)
Today’s Scientific Method
Today’s scientific method is logic in action. Much the same way as a reasonable person may trouble-shoot an everyday problem, the scientific method walks through an observing-and-testing model, only with much more documentation. The typical steps are (Withgott, 2008):
1. Making observations: this initial step of observing recurs throughout the process;
2. Asking questions: this is where the freedom part is displayed—the freedom to question how things work, or how they might be different, or even better. We typically associate “freedom” with western cultures, although that isn’t always the case; but the freedom to think independently, although somewhat tempered by the church, was instrumental in spawning the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century.
3. Developing a hypothesis: the next step is to develop a hypothesis, an answer to the question, which must be tested. This can be an obvious answer, or it may be an out-of-the-box answer, which may require some imagination, some creativity that would stem from previous research or observations.
4. Making predictions: this is where the scientist may refer to one of the foundations of the Scientific Revolution (in the 17th century): the universe, and everything in it, works according to the laws of nature, established by a higher being. (The Scientific Revolution, 2011) Scientists of that century believed in a higher power.
5. Testing predictions: experimentation (as started by Roger Bacon) will then test the hypothesis and predictions previously made. When possible, scientists will often use a controlled experiment, where only one variable differs between two units being tested, the reasoning being that any difference in outcome is attributed to the single variable that is different.
6. Analyzing and interpreting results: documenting the results, recording the data—especially numerical data—strengthens the testing, and provides explanations that can then be reviewed and substantiated by peers.
Much of the groundwork for testing scientific theories, laid many years ago, is still applicable today. And scientists are still curious, thinking outside the box, searching for answers that will make their lives—and ours—richer, fuller and happier.
References
Fowler, M. (no date). Life of Galileo. Retrieved from http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/gal_life.htm, May 31, 2011.
Hooker, R. (1996). World Civilizations: The European enlightenment—the scientific revolution. Retrieved from http://public.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM, May 31, 2011.
The scientific revolution of the 17th century, and, the political revolutions of the 18th century. Retrived from http://classweb.gmu.edu/rcherubi/ancient/srfr.htm, May 31, 2011.
Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2008). Environment: The science behind the stories (4th ed.). New York. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Kenneth Sammy's view on Environmental Regulations
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
PHS 100A
WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE
03-16-2011
Kenneth Sammy
In an effort to save the world from bad human being the governments of Countries such like America, created the EPA, in this political bureaucrats the government appointed unelected specialists to come up with ideas to save the environment and the world at large. These appointed gods of the earth who themselves do not have a clue as to how the earth got here and in the least, do not know how the earth is sustained, believe deep down in their hearts that somehow they can save the earth. So they set about doing just that, creating a hell for all life forms on the earth especially the human race. They predict the end of the world if their policies are not followed to the letter, and impose on the population heavy burdens in order to carry out their futile attempt to save the earth. For those who do not agree with their mandates which they have created through regulations are now the enemies of the earth, and suddenly criminal are created and the freedom to live as God created are now in question. Heavy penalties are place on any individual who they perceive are in violation of their godless, goofy rules and regulation.
The New Age preachers of doom believing that the earth is their mother, now arm to the teeth with rules, regulations and fines are in a fixed position to save their precious mama. Their gospel promises a better life at minimal cost as long as everyone bow down and worship at the feet of mother earth. We who live on the earth have been crying out to these gods of the new age making the point that we want the freedom to tend the earth, so it can bring forth its bountiful harvests to sustain us. Our voices are not heard, life itself and the cost of living are causing many to be under nourish and in deep financial death, while the cost of saving the earth weighs heavily on regular humans.
The cost to regular humans behavior are burdensome for us all, while regular humans suffer and wither away these gods of the earth are laughing as the go to their house of worship “the banks” where they drool over how great they are. In the article below, the Heritage Foundation did an analyst regarding the true cost of the regulations imposed on the population and their finding confirms what regular humans already know.
“Most pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act are trace compounds like ozone or mercury that are typically measured in parts per billion, so these threshold levels are sensible to distinguish de minimis contributors from significant ones. But carbon dioxide is not a trace compound, thus, existing Clean Air Act thresholds are ill suited. Background levels alone account for 275 parts per million, and even relatively small usage of fossil fuels could reach these thresholds. Thus, even the kitchen in a restaurant, the heating system in an apartment or office building, or the activities associated with running a farm could cause these and other entities -- potentially more than a million buildings, 200,000 manufacturing operations, and 20,000 farms -- to face substantial and unprecedented requirements. Churches, hospitals, schools, and government buildings could also be subjected to these requirements”.
“This type of industrial-strength EPA red tape that imposes an average of $125,000 in costs and takes 866 hours to complete could now be imposed, for the first time, on a million or more entities beyond the large power plants and factories that have traditionally already been regulated in this manner. Even more significant than the administrative costs is that all of these entities would be required to install costly technologies and operate under certain restrictions, as determined by EPA bureaucrats”.
“In sum, a host of complicated and redundant regulations could be applied to nearly every product, nearly every business, and nearly every building in America that uses fossil fuels. The ANPR, if finalized in anything near its current form, would create an environmental regulatory scheme more costly and intrusive than all the others combined”.
The Costs of the ANPR
“Either through legislation or regulation, efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions will impose costs throughout the economy. For purposes of this analysis of the ANPR, the Heritage Foundation ignores the up-front administrative and compliance costs of imposing such an unprecedented crackdown both for regulated entities and for federal and state regulators. Heritage analysts instead assume the unlikely scenario of successful ANPR implementation and focus only on the cost of the rules in the form of higher energy costs”.
“The impact on the overall economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), is substantial. The cumulative GDP losses for 2010 to 2029 approach $7 trillion. Single-year losses exceed $600 billion in 2029, more than $5,000 per household. Job losses are expected to exceed 800,000 in some years, and exceed at least 500,000 from 2015 through 2026. Note that these are net job losses, after any jobs created by compliance with the regulations -- so-called green jobs -- are taken into account. Hardest-hit are manufacturing jobs, with losses approaching 3 million. Particularly vulnerable are jobs in durable manufacturing (28 percent job losses), machinery manufacturing (57 percent), textiles (27.6 percent), electrical equipment and appliances (22 percent), paper (36 percent), and plastics and rubber products (54 percent). It should be noted that since the EPA rule is unilateral and few other nations are likely to follow the U.S. lead, many of these manufacturing jobs will be outsourced overseas”.
In conclusion, the resent earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific is a tragedy whatever your position is on the environment, but for those of us who believe that God created the world, understands that He, at times remind us that he is still in control. No matter what the gods of this world says, and how much they insist that we do everything they say to save the earth, when the earth is good and ready to expand and grow, it will, without our help. A fire caused by lightening in a thick protected forested area would destroy trees, plants, animals, birds and reptiles, where would the gods of this world station themselves to protect the environment, the smoke will puff up into the atmosphere, and be the home for rain which will return to the earth and water the earth so it can produce new trees and shelter more animals. I remain on the Lord’s side on this issue. May “He” the creator and giver of all life, comfort the people of Japan during this period of history.
References
The Heritage Foundation: “The True Costs of EPA Global Warming Regulation” Published on November 24, 2008 by Ben Lieberman
www.masteringenvironmentalscience.com
Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2008). Environment: The Science Behind the Stories (4th
Ed.). New York. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN: 13: 978-0-321-71534--0
PHS 100A
WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE
03-16-2011
Kenneth Sammy
In an effort to save the world from bad human being the governments of Countries such like America, created the EPA, in this political bureaucrats the government appointed unelected specialists to come up with ideas to save the environment and the world at large. These appointed gods of the earth who themselves do not have a clue as to how the earth got here and in the least, do not know how the earth is sustained, believe deep down in their hearts that somehow they can save the earth. So they set about doing just that, creating a hell for all life forms on the earth especially the human race. They predict the end of the world if their policies are not followed to the letter, and impose on the population heavy burdens in order to carry out their futile attempt to save the earth. For those who do not agree with their mandates which they have created through regulations are now the enemies of the earth, and suddenly criminal are created and the freedom to live as God created are now in question. Heavy penalties are place on any individual who they perceive are in violation of their godless, goofy rules and regulation.
The New Age preachers of doom believing that the earth is their mother, now arm to the teeth with rules, regulations and fines are in a fixed position to save their precious mama. Their gospel promises a better life at minimal cost as long as everyone bow down and worship at the feet of mother earth. We who live on the earth have been crying out to these gods of the new age making the point that we want the freedom to tend the earth, so it can bring forth its bountiful harvests to sustain us. Our voices are not heard, life itself and the cost of living are causing many to be under nourish and in deep financial death, while the cost of saving the earth weighs heavily on regular humans.
The cost to regular humans behavior are burdensome for us all, while regular humans suffer and wither away these gods of the earth are laughing as the go to their house of worship “the banks” where they drool over how great they are. In the article below, the Heritage Foundation did an analyst regarding the true cost of the regulations imposed on the population and their finding confirms what regular humans already know.
“Most pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act are trace compounds like ozone or mercury that are typically measured in parts per billion, so these threshold levels are sensible to distinguish de minimis contributors from significant ones. But carbon dioxide is not a trace compound, thus, existing Clean Air Act thresholds are ill suited. Background levels alone account for 275 parts per million, and even relatively small usage of fossil fuels could reach these thresholds. Thus, even the kitchen in a restaurant, the heating system in an apartment or office building, or the activities associated with running a farm could cause these and other entities -- potentially more than a million buildings, 200,000 manufacturing operations, and 20,000 farms -- to face substantial and unprecedented requirements. Churches, hospitals, schools, and government buildings could also be subjected to these requirements”.
“This type of industrial-strength EPA red tape that imposes an average of $125,000 in costs and takes 866 hours to complete could now be imposed, for the first time, on a million or more entities beyond the large power plants and factories that have traditionally already been regulated in this manner. Even more significant than the administrative costs is that all of these entities would be required to install costly technologies and operate under certain restrictions, as determined by EPA bureaucrats”.
“In sum, a host of complicated and redundant regulations could be applied to nearly every product, nearly every business, and nearly every building in America that uses fossil fuels. The ANPR, if finalized in anything near its current form, would create an environmental regulatory scheme more costly and intrusive than all the others combined”.
The Costs of the ANPR
“Either through legislation or regulation, efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions will impose costs throughout the economy. For purposes of this analysis of the ANPR, the Heritage Foundation ignores the up-front administrative and compliance costs of imposing such an unprecedented crackdown both for regulated entities and for federal and state regulators. Heritage analysts instead assume the unlikely scenario of successful ANPR implementation and focus only on the cost of the rules in the form of higher energy costs”.
“The impact on the overall economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), is substantial. The cumulative GDP losses for 2010 to 2029 approach $7 trillion. Single-year losses exceed $600 billion in 2029, more than $5,000 per household. Job losses are expected to exceed 800,000 in some years, and exceed at least 500,000 from 2015 through 2026. Note that these are net job losses, after any jobs created by compliance with the regulations -- so-called green jobs -- are taken into account. Hardest-hit are manufacturing jobs, with losses approaching 3 million. Particularly vulnerable are jobs in durable manufacturing (28 percent job losses), machinery manufacturing (57 percent), textiles (27.6 percent), electrical equipment and appliances (22 percent), paper (36 percent), and plastics and rubber products (54 percent). It should be noted that since the EPA rule is unilateral and few other nations are likely to follow the U.S. lead, many of these manufacturing jobs will be outsourced overseas”.
In conclusion, the resent earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific is a tragedy whatever your position is on the environment, but for those of us who believe that God created the world, understands that He, at times remind us that he is still in control. No matter what the gods of this world says, and how much they insist that we do everything they say to save the earth, when the earth is good and ready to expand and grow, it will, without our help. A fire caused by lightening in a thick protected forested area would destroy trees, plants, animals, birds and reptiles, where would the gods of this world station themselves to protect the environment, the smoke will puff up into the atmosphere, and be the home for rain which will return to the earth and water the earth so it can produce new trees and shelter more animals. I remain on the Lord’s side on this issue. May “He” the creator and giver of all life, comfort the people of Japan during this period of history.
References
The Heritage Foundation: “The True Costs of EPA Global Warming Regulation” Published on November 24, 2008 by Ben Lieberman
www.masteringenvironmentalscience.com
Withgott, J., & Bennan, S. (2008). Environment: The Science Behind the Stories (4th
Ed.). New York. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN: 13: 978-0-321-71534--0
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Science and Western Culture by Kim Vess
Warner Pacific College
February 27,2011
Science Method is a formalized method for testing ideas with observations that involve
several assumptions and a more or less consistent series of interrelated steps (p.G-17). The
foundation of Western Culture is knowledge derived from reason. They both involve reality,
nature and human nature. The Western Culture can be referred to as advanced culture, because
its ideas and values promote the development and sustainment of advance civilization.
Scientific Method starts out asking a question about something someone observed. They
ask: How, When, What, Who, Which, Why and Where. The question needs to be about
something you can measure. The next thing you would have to do is write a hypothesis on the
subject, which is an educated guess. Next step would to test your hypothesis by doing
experiences. This takes several tests. A person needs to retest their experiment to make sure they
get the same results. They also need to make sure the tests are fair and consistent. The last step
would to analyze your data and draw a conclusion. If the test turns out true the person may want
to retest it in a different way to make sure it comes out the same. If the tests come out false then
a person would have to come up with another hypothesis and start over. At the end the person
will communicate their findings.
The Western Culture believes in science, they believe the truth is truth, ideals are ideals,
and values are values, and they don’t care where it comes from. Scientific method is founded by
William Whewells: who was from the Western Culture. The Western Culture was rediscovered
in Europe. This is where the foundation of Western Culture relates to the Scientific method. The
man responsible for the Scientific method is from the Western Culture. The Western Culture is
all for science, its continuing development led to the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, the
Ameican revolution, the Industrial revolution and what is considered today as Modern
civilization.
According to Western Culture global reason is reality- or fact-based thought and
perception. In technical terms, it is the faculty that enables humans to gain objective knowledge
by organizing information from their senses into concepts according to the laws of logic.
Reason is based on the view that reality—the world we live in—is real, absolute,
universal, objective, complete in itself, and exists independent of and prior to the thoughts,
hopes, desires and prayers of anyone and everyone. Reason presupposes that reality is orderly
and stable, governed by causality and is, therefore, knowable and intelligible to the human mind.
Secularism and science stem from this view of reality.
I would characterize the Western Culture as people who want facts and proof. This is
why they are all about science. Science proves if something is true or not. The Western
Culture considers them as free, prosperous, modern and peaceful and that is pro-human
life. The pro-human life culture ( The Western Culture) believes they recognize what humans
need to survive, that is the vales of reason, individualism, happiness, rights and capitalism.
Places where Western Culture dominates has a life expectancy that is longer than other nations
where Western Cultures doesn’t dominate.
In Conclusion Western Culture and Scientific Method relates because the founder of the
Scientific Method lived in a Western Culture. Because of the beliefs that the Western Culture
have, science is part of their beliefs. They believe in truth and science can prove the truth of a
subject.
References
WithGott, J. Brennan, S. (2011) Environment, The scene behind the stories. Library of Congress Cataloging -in- Publication data 4th edition.
Western Culture Global (2009) What is Reason. Retrieved February 25, 2011 http://westerncultureglobal.org/knowledge-reason.htm
Western Culture Global (2009) What is Western Culture? Retrieved February 25, 2011
http://westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html
Science Buddies (2011) Steps of the Scientific Method. Retrieved February 27, 2011
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project
February 27,2011
Science Method is a formalized method for testing ideas with observations that involve
several assumptions and a more or less consistent series of interrelated steps (p.G-17). The
foundation of Western Culture is knowledge derived from reason. They both involve reality,
nature and human nature. The Western Culture can be referred to as advanced culture, because
its ideas and values promote the development and sustainment of advance civilization.
Scientific Method starts out asking a question about something someone observed. They
ask: How, When, What, Who, Which, Why and Where. The question needs to be about
something you can measure. The next thing you would have to do is write a hypothesis on the
subject, which is an educated guess. Next step would to test your hypothesis by doing
experiences. This takes several tests. A person needs to retest their experiment to make sure they
get the same results. They also need to make sure the tests are fair and consistent. The last step
would to analyze your data and draw a conclusion. If the test turns out true the person may want
to retest it in a different way to make sure it comes out the same. If the tests come out false then
a person would have to come up with another hypothesis and start over. At the end the person
will communicate their findings.
The Western Culture believes in science, they believe the truth is truth, ideals are ideals,
and values are values, and they don’t care where it comes from. Scientific method is founded by
William Whewells: who was from the Western Culture. The Western Culture was rediscovered
in Europe. This is where the foundation of Western Culture relates to the Scientific method. The
man responsible for the Scientific method is from the Western Culture. The Western Culture is
all for science, its continuing development led to the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, the
Ameican revolution, the Industrial revolution and what is considered today as Modern
civilization.
According to Western Culture global reason is reality- or fact-based thought and
perception. In technical terms, it is the faculty that enables humans to gain objective knowledge
by organizing information from their senses into concepts according to the laws of logic.
Reason is based on the view that reality—the world we live in—is real, absolute,
universal, objective, complete in itself, and exists independent of and prior to the thoughts,
hopes, desires and prayers of anyone and everyone. Reason presupposes that reality is orderly
and stable, governed by causality and is, therefore, knowable and intelligible to the human mind.
Secularism and science stem from this view of reality.
I would characterize the Western Culture as people who want facts and proof. This is
why they are all about science. Science proves if something is true or not. The Western
Culture considers them as free, prosperous, modern and peaceful and that is pro-human
life. The pro-human life culture ( The Western Culture) believes they recognize what humans
need to survive, that is the vales of reason, individualism, happiness, rights and capitalism.
Places where Western Culture dominates has a life expectancy that is longer than other nations
where Western Cultures doesn’t dominate.
In Conclusion Western Culture and Scientific Method relates because the founder of the
Scientific Method lived in a Western Culture. Because of the beliefs that the Western Culture
have, science is part of their beliefs. They believe in truth and science can prove the truth of a
subject.
References
WithGott, J. Brennan, S. (2011) Environment, The scene behind the stories. Library of Congress Cataloging -in- Publication data 4th edition.
Western Culture Global (2009) What is Reason. Retrieved February 25, 2011 http://westerncultureglobal.org/knowledge-reason.htm
Western Culture Global (2009) What is Western Culture? Retrieved February 25, 2011
http://westerncultureglobal.org/what-is-western-culture.html
Science Buddies (2011) Steps of the Scientific Method. Retrieved February 27, 2011
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project
Friday, February 25, 2011
Heather Miles
Response Paper One
Love of Land
Earthkeeping
February 9, 2010
I walk out on the front porch of my mom and dad’s house and all I see is the neighboring farm land, cows grazing in the field, the surrounding trees and woods that shield the land we live on. I can see the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance and I can see my grandparents limestone house that was build in 1730. I can feel the cool breeze that flows from the mountains to the valley and I can smell the fresh cut grass. Life is good because it is quiet and I am free to roam, with space to spread out and be me. There is a huge oak tree sitting out front with a long rope tire swing attached to it. I love to swing on the tire. I feel free and safe swinging back and forth in the cool spring wind. I can run and scream and squeal with my sisters knowing that it is safe to do so.
I grew up with nature. My life was lived outdoors and the only time I came into the house was when my mother threatened to come out after me. I grew up with 400 acres of land. My grandpa, aka- paw-paw Bo, owns all the land. The land has been in his family for 8 generations. I would be the 10th generation. Land is very important to my family. “Land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts." (Gone with the Wind). That quote is what I have been raised on.
I want to try to explain how much land means to me, first, I am a southern farm girl. I was born and raised in the south. Us southerners have a pride for our possessions that is hard to explain, but the quote I used above explains that pride in better words then I could. Nature and my land go hand in hand. It is where I hid from my mom and dad when I was little and did something wrong. It is where I escaped to when I needed time alone. It was where I played civil war with my sisters. The land I grew up on means a lot to me.
I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, the James River and the Potomac River. I grew up with fresh spring water from my paw-paw’s water supply which is a medium sized waterfall that is on his property. I used to play in the water when I was little and when I got married we took tons of pictures over at the creek where the waterfall is. I grew up taking trips up to the mountains with friends and family. I also grew up with outside bbq’s with family and church family. My family hunts, so in the fall and winter someone is always out hunting. My dad always taught us that we use as much as we can of the animal we kill. We do not waste. Many times when we were financially unable to buy food my dad hunted to provide us with meat and planted a garden and canned for the winter. He never wasted. He gave away what he wasn’t going to use so that he never wasted the things that the land provided for us.
There was a time in my adolescents where I hated being around my parents. The woods behind my house provided a safe place to be alone and think. Even now when I go home I love to go walk in the woods and just experience Gods creation. The trees provide a beautiful wall that allows no outside noises in. Because I live in the country, I have a profound respect of the quietness it provides. The city is so different when it’s sounds and loudness. The woods at home were always so quiet minus the sounds of pure nature.
People don’t seem to understand how important country life is. It seems like the whole world is on an Urbanization kick. The country provides so much more for the soul that a city cannot. Quiet, peace, relationship and respect for the land and ownership of something more than just material. It’s living, breathing and producing. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. People’s views are blurred. No one wants to work the land to get it to do what it was meant to do, provide for people. I think people view land and something to build concrete buildings on and it is not meant for that. I think land is meant to be cared for and loved. I feel like if the government paid the farmers and the people more to work the land that we have that the world would be a better place and the United States could go back to being producers instead of consumers.
Leopold makes a valid point that people need to have land ethics. He talks about the Mississippi Valley and what if people took lessons from the Natives there. The Native Americans had land ethics and I think we could still change as a world if we took note of how natives treated their land.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A message from Jorge Melendez
Peace in Christ/Paz en Cristo,
In our society (culture), where instant gratification and extended credit thrive, we as a people have become inconveniently forgetful. Today, we can get most anything quickly if not instantly and because of this, we at times, forget the importance of patience and being consistent in our spiritual endeavors.
Sadly, this mentality of instant gratification and not thinking long term is so prevalent that it has influenced the “faith” of many people. Because of this I would like to remind you of Paul’s words found in Galatians 6:7-8,
7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
I understand how difficult faith can be and how easy the lack of faith is, especially when time is a factor. If today, you find yourself questioning any aspect of your faith, or you’re struggling with something, please hold on to prayer and don’t let go, don’t stop believing and don’t stop being faithful to God. It might seem that the instant gratification of your temptation is a much easier way to go but long term consequences heavily outweigh any short term gratification.
Brother/sister, I understand what it is to experience frustration, anger, impatience, sadness, etc. which is why I can also tell you that it will pass (Romans 5:3-5), just hold on to the LORD for he is faithful (Heb. 4:15). Don’t let go even thought it would seem that letting go would be easier. Prayer is the weapon of choice, use it with sincerity and don’t dismay.
This is why Paul reminded the Galatians of the importance of being faithful. For truly we cannot lie to God, he knows what we do and don’t do; he sees all and knows all. If you are struggling to stay spiritually alive, rely on the LORD he will give you strength in your weakest of days (2 Corinthians 12:10). But if you’re considering straying away from your faith please remember that for every action there is a reaction, therefore please hold on and don’t let go.
I would also suggest, if you are struggling, seek out consistently faithful and trustworthy believer(s) that can help you along the way with: prayer, fasting, and counsel. But make sure you pick wisely (Luke 6:39-40), for when it deals with something as important as spiritual counsel it must be from a good source.
I pray that all you do brings honor and glory to God and savior Jesus Christ.
Your brother in the faith,
Jorge Melendez
In our society (culture), where instant gratification and extended credit thrive, we as a people have become inconveniently forgetful. Today, we can get most anything quickly if not instantly and because of this, we at times, forget the importance of patience and being consistent in our spiritual endeavors.
Sadly, this mentality of instant gratification and not thinking long term is so prevalent that it has influenced the “faith” of many people. Because of this I would like to remind you of Paul’s words found in Galatians 6:7-8,
7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
I understand how difficult faith can be and how easy the lack of faith is, especially when time is a factor. If today, you find yourself questioning any aspect of your faith, or you’re struggling with something, please hold on to prayer and don’t let go, don’t stop believing and don’t stop being faithful to God. It might seem that the instant gratification of your temptation is a much easier way to go but long term consequences heavily outweigh any short term gratification.
Brother/sister, I understand what it is to experience frustration, anger, impatience, sadness, etc. which is why I can also tell you that it will pass (Romans 5:3-5), just hold on to the LORD for he is faithful (Heb. 4:15). Don’t let go even thought it would seem that letting go would be easier. Prayer is the weapon of choice, use it with sincerity and don’t dismay.
This is why Paul reminded the Galatians of the importance of being faithful. For truly we cannot lie to God, he knows what we do and don’t do; he sees all and knows all. If you are struggling to stay spiritually alive, rely on the LORD he will give you strength in your weakest of days (2 Corinthians 12:10). But if you’re considering straying away from your faith please remember that for every action there is a reaction, therefore please hold on and don’t let go.
I would also suggest, if you are struggling, seek out consistently faithful and trustworthy believer(s) that can help you along the way with: prayer, fasting, and counsel. But make sure you pick wisely (Luke 6:39-40), for when it deals with something as important as spiritual counsel it must be from a good source.
I pray that all you do brings honor and glory to God and savior Jesus Christ.
Your brother in the faith,
Jorge Melendez
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