Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Comparative Analysis Of Inductivism And Falsificationism Environmental Sciences Essay

Comparative Analysis Of Inductivism And Falsificationism Environmental Sciences Essay There are two major concepts that tell us about the progress of science. Both have different views that how the science has progressed and is progressing. In this essay the introduction, detail comparison and advantages of one philosophy on the other is discussed. Falsifiability is a major concept. To prove any postulate as falsifiable, there should be any observation or there should be any experiment that disagrees with the postulate. For example, there is a common thinking of all that all crows are black. To violate this thinking we will have to show any crow that is not black and is of any other color. So, by showing the any example against the existing postulate that is proved by observation or experiment, the existing postulate can be rejected and this helps to progress in science. The school of thought that terms the falsifiability as a philosophical rule is known as Falsificationism. The approach of inductivism towards the science is that the progress of science is based on the empirical observations which are expressed in the form of theories. Moreover, the observations made should be large and should be repeated under the different conditions and any of the observation should not conflict with the results. Following these criteria, the final results are considered as true and are included in the science but there is a problem with this procedure because in some cases the number of observations can be made to a large number. For example, we cannot put our hand for the many time to conclude that fire burns. Due to the requirement of large number of observations and change of conditions, the process of inductivism contributes very slowly in the progress of science. Inductivist methodology assumes that the series of true statements yield a general universal statement. For example, if we say that this bull has four legs and then we say that bull has four legs and so on and concluding from this if we make a general and universal statement that all bull has four legs. But this universal statement can be falsified by showing a bull that is having less than four legs. Some scientists believe that science is developed by using the inductive approach. Falsificationists believe that science progresses by confronting with the problems and making the making the hypothesis or solution to the problem. If the proposed solution of the problem is correct one then it does not mean that theory itself is true but we can say it an improvement to the existing theory. We cannot say that the new theory is true but it is a improvement in the existing theories. Whenever a theory or hypothesis is falsified by observation or experiment and a new theory is proposed that replaces the existing one. Thus, falsification helps to make progress in science by violating the existing theories. It is very common and known to all that eyes are used to see the world. But if we consider this observation into our account then how bats are able see at night while they are having very small eyes. This was the little problem and for the search of the appropriate solution, bats were monitored in the close room that was full of obstacles while their eyes were covered by some way. But bats still flied well. The hypothesis that bats see with their eyes is rejected after the experiment and a new question rose how bats are flying in such environment. In response to this problem, the hypothesis proposed was that bats can use their ear to fly safely. For the verification of this proposed hypothesis, bats are again allowed to fly in the room which was full of obstacles. Again bats uses to fly perfectly. Hence again, the hypothesis that bats fly well by use of their ears was rejected and question was to search that how bats can fly and it was concluded finally that bats are sensing the echo es that are reflecting back after colliding with the obstacles. Based on the echoes, decisions are made to fly well. Hence the falsification of the problem and search for the new hypothesis is devoting in the progress of science. On the other hand the inductivistà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s approach is different than that of falsificationists. Inductivists believe that scientific knowledge is derived from given facts. They are giving a factual foundation to science. They also claim that there should be logical relationship between the theory and the observation statement that is confirming the theory and ignores the historical foundations. This result in an attitude of constantly seeking for the observations that confirms a theory more and more while in turn contributes less and less in the progress of science. Comparison of Falsificationiam and Inductivism Attribute Falsificationism Inductivism Facts and Results Recognizes that facts as well as theories are fallible. Uses Facts and results to give Science a factual and unproblematic Foundation. Seeks Only Constant Improvement in Science. For truths. Factual Basis Not a big problem Big problem Settle For progress For truth Advantages of falsificationism over inductivism : Indutivists believe that science is unproblematic but as we can see many cases where some facts after their experimental results are proved to be fallible. These facts are theory dependent. This approach where facts and theories are fallible is recognized by the falsificationists. The inductivist has to give the explanation of truth which can be a severe problem. On the other hand falsificationist works only for the constant improvement which is easy to do and does not create problem. There were no specific criteria for industivist that facts support the theories, so they had difficulty to explain such kind of circumstances. The falsificationists handle such kind of situation by conducting severe test which lead to support theories. The repetition of such test helps better to the falsificationist to support the theory which is not possible in the empirical approach where facts do not support the theory. If the experiment is carried out properly and the theory is proved to be right even after the successful performance of test, so the repetition of same experiment is not considered to be much severe. Falsificationist tests the unobservable knowledge and explores their novel consequences whereas the inductivist fails to explain that observable knowledge can ever be derived. On the whole, we can say that falsificationism has advantages over inductivism because testing a fact helps in improving a theory to its predecessor theory. Falsificationists believe that science is free of induction and in fact it is helping science for progress whereas inductivism works by seeking truth and is not contributing to progress in a rapid way.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Frame in the Movie Yellow Earth :: Movie Film Essays

Frame in the Movie Yellow Earth The movie, Yellow Earth, focuses on images that use mise en scene aesthetics. Bazin advocates the use of mise en scene rather than using montage. In mise en scene, the director takes account for everything that appears in the frame. The director also takes the effects in the onstage space of the frame. Some examples of effects in the frame are lighting, setting, costume, and character behavior. Even though mise en scene literally means, â€Å"placing of the scene†, contextually it means all the effects, actions, and settings in a frame prior to editing. Due to the lack of editing, mise en scene (in contrast to montage) usually presents a long shot to capture more of a realistic emotion. In mise en scene, the shot shows a close up of a character to show emotion. In mise en scene, unlike in montage, cause and effect take an important place in the same, lengthy shot. A reoccurring scene in the movie, the scene of Ciuqiao collecting water from the river, uses mise en scene effectively. The director of Yellow Earth, Chen Kaige, accurately portrays the perils of Ciuqiao’s life. Everyday Ciauqiao goes to the river to gather water for her family. A significant scene in the movie points out where Ciuqiao expresses her grievances by singing. As the sun gradually sets, the sky sullenly darkens. The sunset sky signifies the young girl’s feelings. The dark sky suggests that Ciuqiao feels sad and downtrodden; however, the pockets of sunlight may show that there is still hope for this young girl. Her singing everyday at the same time demonstrates even more significance in the movie. The river in the scene, gigantic and vigorous, seems to separate this young girl from the world in which she knows. With the visit from the soldier, Ciuqiao realizes that life is worth living beyond the Yellow Earth.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Their Eyes Were Watching God †Rebirth of Transcendentalism Essay

A century elapsed between the period of transcendentalism and the publication of Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. During this time, the philosophies of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau faded as the post-war era of social realism began to dominate American culture and American literature. Thus, Their Eyes, published in 1937, was scorned and criticized by many for not being â€Å"political or serious† enough. It was not until twenty years after Hurston’s death that people began to appreciate Hurston’s works, especially Their Eyes, as important literatures in the African American and the American feminist movements. With further analysis, although Their Eyes is a modern novel, it actually takes the readers back to the period of Thoreau and Emerson; Their Eyes Were Watching God possesses elements of transcendentalism – self-reliance, nonconformity, and the over-soul – as supported by the essays of transcendentalist thinkers. To begin, a fundamental idea of transcendentalism is self-reliance, which stresses a person’s own judgment and intuition. Janie, the protagonist of Their Eyes, shows self-reliance when she uses her own judgments for the struggles she faces. For example, as she realizes that her marriage with Jody is tumbling down, â€Å"she saw that it never was the flesh and blood figure of her dreams. Just something she had grabbed up to drape her dreams over. [†¦] She had an inside and an outside now and suddenly she knew how not to mix them† (Hurston, 72). Janie knows her goals and desires, both are which shattered by Jody, so she must now distinguish the difference between the lies and the truth of her dream. Together with courage, her intuition gives her the strength to speak up to Jody on his death bed. Moreover, when she finally finds the love of her life, she feels â€Å"a self-crushing love, [allowing] her soul [to] crawl from its hiding place† (Hurston, 128). She doesn’t hide her feelings but goes to pursue her lover, Tea Cake. She is strong-will and has control over her feelings and thoughts. Even Tea Cake encourages Janie to use her own mind, â€Å"‘Nobody else on earth kin hold uh candle tuh you, baby. You got de keys to de kingdom’† (Hurston, 109). As Emerson would say that Janie possesses transcendentalist ideals because, â€Å"[She has the] integrity of [her] own mind [†¦] What [she] must do is all that concerns [her], not what the people think† (Emerson, 80). Her past experiences and her present judgments lead Janie to maker her own path in the future. Only when Janie relies on herself and holds her â€Å"keys to de kingdom† does she find her happiness and reach her dream. Furthermore, another element of transcendentalism is nonconformity, or individualism, which stresses the importance of finding one’s identity instead of giving in to society. Emerson explains nonconformity as â€Å"the great man who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude (Emerson 80). Janie shows exactly this on the day she arrives back in Eatonville. Dressed in her blue satin dress, she confidently walks past the women and men, ignoring their hurtful gossips and leaving them in awe. Despite her solitude due to Tea Cake’s death, Janie welcomes her independence; she is perfectly at ease with herself. Moreover, Thoreau also writes about nonconformity; he writes, â€Å"The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right [†¦] They only can force me who obey a higher law than I† (Thoreau, 104). Janie shares Thoreau’s attitude when she stands up to both of her late husbands and declares what she believes is right. Logan tells her that she doesn’t belong anywhere but â€Å"‘It’s wherever Ah need yuh’† (Hurston, 31). This is probably the worst thing he can say to his newlywed; it’s hurtful, disparaging, and disrespectful. However, unlike all the other women, such as Nanny, during the time, Janie stands up for herself by yelling back at his wrongs so she can gain back her independence and dignity. As for Jody – a husband who makes her tie her hair back, denies her of speech and social interaction, and abuses her – Janie finally takes up the courage to tell the truth at his deathbed. â€Å"‘All dis bowin’ down, all dis obedience under yo’ voice—dat ain’t whut Ah rushed off down de road tuh find out about you’† (Hurston, 86). Jody has crushed her hopes and dreams and her image of love, and she’s not about to let him forget that. She would not obey; she has no obligation to obey. After Jody’s death, Janie is finally free. Even more, she feels no remorse and she doesn’t mourn because the lost of her husband gives her back her individuality. Last but not least, the over-soul is another focal point of transcendentalism; it connects God, Nature, and Man. Emerson writes in his essay, Over-soul, â€Å"We live in succession, in division, in parts, in particles. Meantime within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty, to which every part and particle is equally related; the eternal One† (Emerson, Over-soul). This over-soul connects the broken pieces of the universe together. Hurston’s Their Eyes contains many details that support the over-soul. For instance, in the beginning Janie â€Å"saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree form root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight† (Hurston, 11). This imagery of the bee and the flower symbolizes Janie’s dream. The bee and the flower coexisted in harmony, just like what Janie hopes her marriage will be. This is Janie’s innocent soul as depicted by nature. Later on however, as she’s forced into marrying a man she doesn’t love, she begins to know â€Å"the words of the trees and the wind. She often spoke to falling seeds and said, ‘Ah hope you fall on soft ground’ [†¦] Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman† (Hurston 25). As she begins to mature more, she also begins to understand the sound of nature. Nature and Janie’s souls appear to be one, united and growing together. She talks to the seeds, warning them, sympathizing with them of a world that can be disappointing and unfair. Finally, after she shoots her beloved Tea Cake in order to protect herself, Hurston writes that Janie â€Å"pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see† (Hurston, 193). Although it was a tragic and sudden death, Janie is in peace. The love of Tea Cake will not be forgotten because he will always be with her. Janie now understands the mysteries of nature and her world; she is ready for whatever that may come. Janie has learned and grown, most importantly, she has found her soul. All in all, a century later, Their Eyes Were Watching God leads to the rebirth of transcendentalist ideas, including but not limited to self-reliance, nonconformity, and the over-soul. Throughout her journey, Janie begins to identify herself as a self-reliant individual with a soul, all of which are transcendental characteristics. In the mid 1900s, because of the on going civil rights movements, an African American woman is the least expected person to posses all these traits. Even so, Janie Crawford becomes a prominent literature figure that gives people hopes and dreams, while fulfilling those of Emerson and Thoreau. Bibliography Emerson, Ralph Waldo. â€Å"From Self-Reliance. † The InterActive Reader Plus. Illinoise: McDougal Littell, 2003. 78-83. Print. Ferguson, Craig. â€Å"Ralph Waldo Emerson – â€Å"Within Man Is the Soul of the Whole; the Wise Silence; the Universal Beauty†Ã¢â‚¬  Transcendental MeditationBlog. N. p. , 27 Mar. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2013. . Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print. Thoreau, Hentry David. â€Å"From Civil Disobedience. † The InterActive Reader Plus. Illinoise: McDougal Littell, 2003. 90-105. Print.