Pinker to Ma

Both Steven Pinker and Yo-Yo Ma argue that the science as a whole can not stand alone without the help of many other sources of incorporation. Where in Ma’s essay “Necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education” he believes that the incorporation of arts and empathy must be used in the sciences or there will ultimately be a standstill in advances in the scientific fields. He shows this through quotes such as “values of collaboration, flexibility, imagination, and innovation- all skill sets needed in today’s world- is through the performing arts”. This shows us his believe that the idea of the science if rather than trying to distinguish themselves from the fields of art should all collaborate in order to advance the scientific fields. To be able to conceptualize the tough data and presentations of the sciences, arts are key in being able to turn that information into understandable meanings for the general public. On the other end, Steven Pinker in his essay “Science Is Not Your Enemy” argues that religion should be taken part alongside the sciences. He compares the sciences to religion with the quote “Just as reviled is the application of scientific reasoning to religion; many writers without a trace of a belief in God maintain that there is something unseemly about scientists weighing in on the biggest questions. With this he looks towards the religions in the sense that the information that is portrayed is truthful because “it is” and “it says so” and therefore that trend in some senses could be used in the sciences. Rather than having to argue and validate every single point of info and data that comes up in scientific research some of the info should just be what data was found and left there “as is”. These writers believe that the sciences is necessary in every day of life, but it can not be by itself, with the incorporation of many other ideas or arts the science as a whole could be improved.

Pinker to self

As Pinker states in his essay “Science Is Not Your Enemy”  how the use of religion should be incorporated into some of the sciences, I agree with his stand to a certain degree. He Starts off his essay with mentioning innovators in the field of the sciences such as “Descartes, Spinoza, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Leibniz, Kant, Smith” showing us his stand on who he believes the sciences have been formulated from. With the quote “I often long to travel back in time and offer them some bit of twenty-first-centuary freshman science that would fill a gap in their arguments or guide them around a stumbling block” shows us the advances that have came about from today’s development in the sciences due to the facts of continually looking into one thing over and over finding new and important information to the subject at hand. What Pinker is arguing with this point is that in a sense they are losing their credibility because they missed key points all over their original points they had brought up. I agree upon his argument as he continues through his essay that science should incorporate the teachings of religion. Religion has a concept that no matter what the information provided “is what it is” their is no further investigation and therefore the sciences should take that into consideration so that these founders of sciences have the ability to say their findings “is that and only that”.

Part 2:

John Lehrer’s main argument throughout his essay “the Future of Science.. is Art?” is almost depicted throughout the title. His main points of emphasis on his arguments had to do with the sciences and how they are at a standstill on developing new evidence and theories on figuring out the world we all live in. Because of this, Lehrer argues that the next step for the sciences to be incorporated with arts due to the fact that art reaches new aspects of the mind that sciences have not. He looks to science in a sense as the physical evidence towards what is being theorized or presented and uses art as the cognitive thinking you would endure with such presentation. I personally felt that throughout most of his essay that he was presenting what he thought to be evidence towards this idea but was never very supportive to the idea until the end. He at the beginning made me feel like he questioned if  science relied on art but, it was not towards the end of his essay where he boldly states science needs art.

Part 3:

the bridging principle- the neural event that would explain how the activity of our brain cells creates the subjective experience of consciousness(text). To summarize that the activity of our brain our neurological thoughts that when in use create our thoughts and are physical feelings and movements.

Synapse- the junction between two nerve cells which impulses pass by through diffusion of the neurotransmitter (dictionary). This is the space where our unconscious nerves about the event at stake are transferred across this “synapse” to the conscious processing part of our brain for movement to happen.

epiphenomenon- a secondary effect that arrises from but does not influence a process causally(dictionary). that when a stimulus or event happens the predicted outcome comes but also an unpredicted one in this sense but does not influence the results of what happens.

I feel through my annotation skills, that I am critically thinking more effectively, and also being able to question the author why a remark was made.

1. Surrounding Context

“Necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education” by Yo-Yo Ma was originally published on an online news blog site called the World-Post in January of 2014. This site was created from the Huffington post and the Berggruen Institute on Governance. Ma being a well known cellist and songwriter gave this paper a great deal of credibility just based on the name. In the bio he also gives off his creditability talking about graduating Harvard, and how he was a prodigy from the age of five as well as the awards he earned along the way. I feel they gave off a lot of world known people as well such as Elon Musk to almost make the paper seem like it should be read by all cause such impactful people were involved in the process.

2.  Circumstantial Context

My circumstances prior to and when reading the text was it was assigned through my professor as work. While reading, I should be able to critically analyze what Yo-Yo Ma is writing to better understand it for myself, and also to be able to discuss it amongst my peers in the classroom. I should be able to point out Ma’s claims and how he provides evidence to support it and also my own stand on what he is presenting through his text.

3. Intentional Context

Yo-Yo Ma is describing throughout his essay, that the idea of empathy should be accounted for in all forms of learning. He talks a great deal of how we as a society at times through education live in the “stem” education style which is according to Ma “science, technology, engineering, and math”. This is not sufficient in the eyes of Ma because he believes arts and mostly Empathy is necessary for a successful education.

Glossing

Sarabande- a stately court dance in the 17th and 18th century resembling the minuet. Dictionary

Lewd – obsolete vulgar acts or remarks. Dictionary

Virtuoso- one who excels in the technique of an art. Dictionary

After reading Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts”, I found it very relatable in relations to my first draft. One of the overlying idea she brings up is the point that no matter what most if not all writers have a horrid first draft. I agree with her point about first drafts of “putting everything down” in the same sense. Personally, my first draft at the beginning is very scattered at the start because I like to get all of my idea out on paper before formulating the paper. One point I feel I don’t agree with her argument that it will always be a “shitty first draft”. I disagree, because it may be weak at the start, but by the end iof the first draft you have formulated your claims towards your argument and is a great basis towards the final piece.

Based upon the thoughts and revisons by my peers, I feel my goal in stregthening this paper is providing a more solid thesis where the rest of my claims and arguments can articulate and connect back to the source. The steps I plan to take is to re-read my paper, consider the remarks made by peers, and create connections throughout my paper at a more solid stand. This includes reconstructing my paragraphs thoroughly and extensively by a) providing better explanations for my quotes, and b) narrowing my thesis to articulate my theme better. My biggest challenge will be altering my thesis to fit my arguments, not going too narrow that not all points connect, but not too broad that their is slight connection to the thesis. If challenged with a task too difficult to overcome, I will consolidate with the SASC program provided on campus. I feel that if another set of eyes looked at the challange at hand, their insight may help me discover new perspectives, and overcome this challenge. Another thing I could do is reach out to my classmates who originally reviewed my paper, and with my new perspective discuss new points of emphasis to target.

Communication amongst other individuals can impede as a difficult task; with meaning being lost in the transaction of words. A universal concept that aids in this dilemma is the use of metaphors. Metaphors, by definition, are phrases involving unorthodox methods of comparisons. In other words, it is the application of comparability between words and phrases. Physician Dhruv khullar however, suggests “they do more than explain similarities—they can invent them where they don’t exist, and blur the lines between the literal and the figurative” (khullar). Metaphors are widely understood to construed a universally accepted meaning (such examples include “a blanket of snow” or “the smell of fear”). Metaphors are considered “essential to how we understand ourselves and others” (Geary). According to James Geary, we use metaphors in daily encounters, with ourselves and others through all aspects of conversation and engagement with life “utter[ing] about six metaphors a minute” (Geary). Metaphors are concepts that are designed “for helping people conceive of solutions to problems” (Erard). With this in mind, it is reasonable to consider that metaphors impact our daily life and health immensely based on their connotation with the individual. The impact of a metaphor on individuals depend on the individuals themselves; the interpretation affects health through the words selected in the make of a metaphor. Identified by Polish physician Zbigniew Lipowski, “a framework for characterizing the meaning that patients ascribe to their illness” can effect mental wealth and well-being based on the “utility of each, depend[ing] on the [individuals] culture, values, experiences and preferences” (khullar). Through the works of Geary, Erard and Khullar, metaphors have been explained, applied and understood as to be essential in the everyday lives of individuals.

Metaphors play a role in the daily lives of every individual in society, whether it be through communication, or some sort of cultural influence, the use of metaphors will shape the thoughts and ideas of many. These metaphors can influence in both direct and indirect manners depending on the connection it makes to the viewers audience. These influences could be shown in our daily tasks such as the overall concept of sickness. Metaphors are used quite often with illness to give the person a hope, and motivation to overcome the illness if possible. Some metaphors however, could be taken in a different demeanor, whether the point the creator of the metaphor was trying to provide was misinterpreted or looked at as a more negative vibe than motivation.Although the use of metaphors can negatively affect society based on the understanding and usage of metaphor, there is evidence that shows metaphors play an influential role in our thoughts, perceptions, and even our daily tasks that we as society encounter, in which these metaphors guide us through depending on their meaning.

In Dhruv Khullar’s “The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors” the main concept he brings up is his ideas of medicine being compared to warfare or items having to do with combat. With such points of bringing up points such as patients with chronic illnesses and how they will “fight it together”. He brings up many points in that conceptualizing the idea of illness as a war that it caused “more harm than good”. He also talks about metaphors especially in the medical field are used for persuasion to make the patient emotionally stronger or losing hope to their self through the way they present these metaphors. He shows this through the incorporation of the work that polish physican Zbigniew Lipowski introduced, with his presentation of how he would have his patients view illness. They saw as a result if the patient looked at the illness in a negative way such as an “enemy”, were  they then more susceptible to higher depression and lower quality of life, whereas if looked  to it as a “fight” their attitude would be at more positive feel. Ultimately these metaphors were used to have a better commonality with patient to doctor and to help better understand the “war” ahead of them.

In my opinion after reading this essay I feel like Khullar brings up many good arguments but also many arguments I personally do not agree with. To me I feel like his whole idea behind this essay, was to kind of push away the idea of medicine connected to war and I feel like that was an aspect I do not agree with. These two things are so culturally influenced even today, I feel like trying to switch to a new concept would not work as powerful as these do currently. A personal connection that it made was when he talked about president Nixon “declaring war on cancer”. That connected to me because almost all aspects of society has seen this phrase whether it be “war”, “fighting”, or any sort of other term against cancer for a positive cause today. At home, their is an annual walk for “fighting breast cancer” and goes to show that these connections go beyond just the patient to doctor conversations where these metaphors may pop up. I do agree with his points that the use of metaphors are key in doctor to patient conversation. In my opinion it in a sense is almost necessary, so it gives both the patient and doctor more than just a provider and person in need, but rather it almost makes a bond they can both relate on. It also makes a tough situation such as hearing they have a chronic disease seem more attainable to get through. I as a patient if were faced with that would much rather hear phrases such as “you will fight through it” rather than “its going to be a tough one, we do not know how you will progress”. I feel a point he could have added were that metaphors in a sense can motivate to reach that end goal of possible healing. All in all, I feel like his essay was good for the points he had brought up, but I feel that I could not take his side in the argument.

Metaphorically Speaking:

“Metaphorical Thinking is essential to how we understand ourselves and others, how we communicate, learn, discover and invent.” I feel like this quote intertwines all three essays that we have read, in the sense that the authors are trying to show us the persuasion that metaphors use and how they connect to us in daily life from all aspects rather it be career or any sort of task a person happens, metaphors could be seen and used everywhere sometimes even without notice.

See Through Words

“So the right metaphor must speak to inclusion and community, and suggest some benefit such as health or opportunity, that’s more widely shared”. I feel that this quote almost could connect into Khullar’s essay how it talks of metaphors being used as a benefit to health as he described “fighting” the illness.

The Trouble  With Medicine’s Metaphors

“Metaphors are a fundamental mechanism through which our minds conceptualize the world around us, especially in the face of complexity” I feel this quote relates to the points that all three authors bring up that metaphors are supposed to relate to them, otherwise the metaphor itself would not be seen in the way the author hoped for, or it would not be understood at all, and defeats the”fundamental mechanism” he describes.

To me, reading Erard’s essay for the first time was quite confusing to follow as he jumped from idea to idea at times, but rereading and annotating a second time was quite impactful in learning and noticing new information and ideas.One thing I noticed while re-reading, was a quote I had originally marked, but it was not to this second time reading did it truly stand out to me. It was the paragraph when he had wrote about a department in charge of programs. Originally that paragraph was a blur and was quite confusing when I read it, because I truly do not think it connected, and stuck with me. What really caught my attention going through it a second time was his quote of “the right metaphor must speak to inclusion and community”. This made me react and ultimately gave a new look on metaphors in the sense that a good metaphor truly has to include most, if not all members of a community for success. That changed my believes, after the first read I felt like certain metaphors were only for certain people, and the rest it did not mean anything, but after thinking of that my mindset towards metaphors were changed.

The part of the text I had glossed was when Erard mentioned the book titled “Metaphors We Live By” written by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. Erard mentioned about this book that “pretty much every metaphor is inspired” by this book so I felt it may play a big role in his logics in his metaphors. I can say it helped glossing because when searching I found out the focus on this book was on cognitive learning and how metaphors affect it, and in relation to Erard’s essay there is almost a moment he says that with his mentions that metaphors should be used cognitively rather than emotionally. All in all, I feel like glossing the text is a great way to get more into the mind of the writer and their almost sort of get where some of the inspirations they write about may originate, or be closely related to.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphors_We_Live_By

In “See through words” by Michael Erard, we are enlightened with the idea of metaphors, as well as the designing of metaphors. Throughout this essay, there were quite a few points that stood out to me while reading.

One of the biggest remarks made was on page 5 of the essay, in which Erard talks about his brainstorm sessions with the quote, “a former colleague would always suggest sports metaphors. another guy always had a vehicle metaphor… I told him to buy a new car already”. This section of the essay really stuck out to me, and my interpretation from this is that the subject in the metaphor truly has a greater meaning if it is something the reader enjoys. Like as stated in the quote, one person always would write about sports that could be because, sports relay the most impactful information to them and as writers of these metaphors know they can portray the most successful results because of their interest in that category. Also the point about the man who writes about cars, it is a neat view to see how much daily life can affect your thoughts and ideas. If he would continuously brainstorm ideas of repairment he must be having some issues with his car and therefore the ideas he possessed were geared toward the car.

Another great point that was made was on page six of the essay, with the statement of “to design a metaphor, you have to go beyond what people say they like or don’t like”; and then goes into discussion about how those are emotional responses rather than cognitive, which is the goal of metaphors. I truly agree with this statement because, if we may think of a metaphor, the meaning does not require if we like it or not, but rather its the cognitive processing that gears us to like it or not. How does it relate to us, and how it can be applied to our daily lives are much more impactful questions that would be asked after analyzing a metaphor, rather than just the “I like or dislike” it. If we were to look at it in the form of an analogy, thinking emotionally would be considered “staying inside the box”, where as cognitive processing this would be “looking at the bigger picture” and pulling the true meaning that this metaphor has.

After going through the numerous amounts of features this website has to offer I feel that the eportfolio is going to be a great tool for not only English 110, but also for all other Classes.It is a very modern and neat way to keep all of your work in order, and also gives you credentials in the end that this is all your masterpiece. It will be a great tool if you use it to its full potential. I feel the only downside is if you become messy in this by not putting material in the right place. Overall this is going to be a great resource for us to use.