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Recommended: Epistemology
In the article, “Epistemic Disobedience, Independent Thought and De-Colonial Freedom”, Walter Mignolo talks about many different conceptual thoughts including those from other scholars. To start, Mignolo talks about how the world used to be based off of observations which a philosopher describes as ‘hubris of the zero point’ and some people classify the world in terms that they agree with and are to their advantage. However, today that way of seeing people is not defended and it raises concerns about racism and epistemology which revolves around the nature of knowledge and understanding. Furthermore, Mignolo talks about how first world peoples have knowledge and science in comparison to third world peoples who have culture and wisdom. Because
of this one can see as Mignolo states that there is a need for decolonization, removing oneself from their colonized minds, de-colonial knowledge, creating a knowledge system outside of strictly Western knowledge, and this is necessary to create non-colonial societies. In addition, Mignolo claims that geo-politics in knowledge works alongside geo-politics in knowing and the question is not who, what, why, when and where is knowledge produced but instead where is it generated and constructed? And also examines the different ways that ‘euro centered epistemology’ which is simply a western perspective of knowledge, is hidden within the education system and in certain disciplines and institutions. These areas where the Eurocentric ideas are harshly drilled into people, are finally recognizing the effects of westernization. For example as Mignolo mentions, the anthros that are located in non-european areas never realized that they were created and were not recognized or included in the humanitas which would resemble humans. Since this recognition of what the humanitas were classifying them as, they have engaged in epistemic disobedience and de-linking from Western ways, human ideals and specific, unrealistic promises.
John Knowles' best-known work, A Separate Peace, remains one of the most popular post-war novels about adolescence. Although set in World War II, the novel explores a crucial cultural theme of the '50s, the motivations of a young man making a troubled transition from childhood to adulthood. Like the novels Lord of the Flies and Catcher in the Rye, as well as the film Rebel Without a Cause, A Separate Peace dramatizes the challenge of growing up to be a truly individual adult in a conformist world.
Even a student that has been educated for only four weeks in anthropology can admit that their viewpoint has changed since acquiring their knowledge. Studying a foreign way of life and unfamiliar customs sheds light on the impact that one’s own culture has on their thoughts. Anthropology is valuable because it has the ability to remove the shock and misunderstanding that occurs when examining an alien worldview. The value of cultural relativism, the principle that one culture should not be judged by the standard of another culture, is illustrated in the comparison of Peace Corp volunteer Floyd Sandford’s African Odyssey and anthropologist Richard Lee’s Dobe Ju/’hoansi.
There are many events that have happened in our history that have helped shape our country into what it is today. One of those events that helped change our country was the Decleration of Independance. The Declaration of Independence was written on July 4th, 1776. And this document was written so we were separate from England and so we weren’t under their power anymore. It meant that we were going to become a self-governing country. This was the very first big step we took to become our own country. And if we hadn’t have separated from England we wouldn’t be the country we are today. This helped build our nation and bring us closer together so we were united as one. This is when we realized we could be something bigger than what we were.
1. Write a thematic statement for the essay “Self-Reliance”. Explain how Emerson's idea of Self-Reliance is different from and similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs and don't depend on others outside yourself). Emerson’s idea of self- reliance is different from similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs and don’t depend on others outside yourself) Emerson’s idea is similar because the words “self- reliant” is saying take care of your own.
A “Financial Crisis”, an “Economic disaster on a scale few nations have ever experienced”(1), the “Great Recession”, the “Lesser Depression”, the “Long Recession”, the “Global Recession of 2009”(2) and the “Financial Implosion”(3) are all expressions used to describe the economic situation the United States found itself in 2012. Louis Michael Seidman, a Harvard graduate and Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitution Law at Georgetown University Law Center, referred to it as “fiscal chaos”. It is Professor Seidman’s belief that the cause of this great chaos is the “archaic, idiosyncratic and downright evil provisions” of the Constitution. Seidman wrote an article in the New York Times entitled, “Let’s give up on the Constitution”, and argues, due to his personal philosophy, that the Constitution should be abandoned. (4) Seidman fails to acknowledge poor fiscal banking policy, lending to non-qualified borrowers, government bailout of private corporations or perhaps the repeal of the Glass Steagall Banking Act (5) as the sources contributing to the financial crisis. Instead, he places the entire blame on the founding fathers. In spite of Seidman’s ridiculous quibbles, the Constitution should be up held to maintain both the solidity and freedom the United States offers its citizens.
Civil Disobedience occurs when an individual or group of people are in violation of the law rather than a refusal of the system as a whole. There is evidence of civil disobedience dating back to the era after Jesus was born. Jesus followers broke the laws that went against their faith. An example of this is in Acts 4:19-20,”God told the church to preach the gospel, so they defied orders to keep quiet about Jesus,” In my opinion civil disobedience will always be needed in the world. The ability to identify with yourself and knowing right from wrong helps to explain my opinion. Often in society when civil
The philosophies of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson would work well in a society comprised only of highly intellectual, healthy individuals who were willing put forth the effort needed to thoroughly examine themselves and formulate their own opinions about every issue pertaining to them. Emerson said that all members of society should think for themselves and formulate their own opinions rather than conforming to a popular belief. Thoreau said that the best government was no government, and that people should always do what was just. A society that functioned under the ideals of Emerson and Thoreau would have no problems. No money would be needed, because all members of society would do what was right and help each other out. A farmer would give away his grain and in return would receive everything he needed from other members of society. No crimes would be committed because people would think through what they were about to do and realize that a better option existed. Realistically, such a society is not possible because humans constantly make mistakes, and since these ideals rest on the notion that all members of society will adhere to them, the philosophies are not practical. Because humans could never fully adhere to them, the philosophies of Emerson and Thoreau will never be adopted in society.
Oscar Wilde, an Irish author, once suggested that if one were to ever look at the discourse of history, they would find that disobedience is man’s original virtue, and through disobedience social progress is made. The study of history is the study of social progress. Social progressions are the changes that occur in society that progress or improve social, political, and economic structures. Social progress can be achieved in several ways, but just like Oscar Wilde, I believe that disobedience is a valuable human trait that just so happens to be a huge part in the progression our society has made and continues to make.
The essay “Seeing with the Native Eye” exemplifies an alternative paradigm. Schriver (2011) explains “in general, alternative paradigms are sets of interrelated and interlocking dimensions through which what and how we know about the world around us is created, communicated, and controlled” (Schriver, 2011). This analysis of the essay “Seeing with the Native Eye” will be applied with the concepts that are laid out in the book Human Behavior and the Social Environment. Concepts that will be highlighted are interpretive, intuitive, subjective, and qualitative.
In the Discourse on Colonialism, Cesaire illustrates a compelling relationship between colonized states and the proletariat class. He conveys that the proletariat socio-economic class allows for the possible unification of society against the powers of colonialism. Interestingly, the comparison reflects as these elements extend from constructed illusions to unequivocal creeds. By isolating and juxtaposing the two groups, Cesaire is able to elaborate on how he believes that race and class unite to dominate 'inferior subjects' in nations throughout the globe. Throughout the essay, Cesaire provides reasoning for the socially constructed experiences of those dictated by colonial imperialism, particularly Africans, and proletarian conflicts in Europe. In such a way, Cesaire suggests a critical course of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism and communism – fundamental themes in political and intellectual agenda, and in the declaration of the intellectuality in non-European societies.
Abortions have created many debates because it relates to ethical, moral, and legal issues throughout the world, because it is legal this topic is going viral. This issue leads to the question of the baby’s rights and the women’s rights. Abortion should NOT be legal anywhere because it not only takes away a human life, but can also affect your mental and emotional health, and it takes away a teenager’s/adult’s accountability.
This essay starts with definition of traditional epistemology, followed by an explanation of how class, gender, and race can affect what one can know. Traditional epistemology can be defined as all knowers, regardless of who you are or what your social situation is, are bound by the same cognitive norms. (lecture) Charles Mills however, in the article “Alternative Epistemologies”, argues that who you are and your social situation change your access to knowledge. He criticizes that traditional epistemology fails to consider how an individual’s social situation can affect what he can know. Those in non-dominant social groups have epistemic access especially for knowing about oppression. In this essay I will attempt to explain Mills argument
White ignorance is a product of the epistemology of ignorance, which systematically supported socially induced patterns of understanding that works to sustain systematic oppression and privilege. Due to this, white people learn the world wrong but this warped perception will in turn be validated by white epistemic authority and white ignorance will feel like knowledge to those who benefit from this system. Mills also makes the clarification that white ignorance does not exclusively focus on overtly racist uneducated individuals but also educated well-meaning individuals as well. White ignorance, is a pervasive form of ignorance that is linked to white supremacy, and in which race plays a crucial, casual role (Mills 20). In order to fully define the idea of white ignorance, Mills breaks its down into 10 criteria; First, white ignorance did not exist in ancient times, he asserts that race/whiteness is a social construct of modern times; thus it came about to justify the treatment of non-whites in modern times. Second, it must be able to be distinguished from general patterns of ignorance that could be prevalent among white people for white race does not play a crucial role. Third, it can often times be hard to categorize specific instances of non-knowing as white ignorance or not. Fourth, this form of ignorance must fully encompass both straightforward racist motivation and impersonal social structural causation. This means that there can be white racism without white domination of POC being established or white domination of POC without all white people being racist at that specific time and place. Shows that in both instances WI can manifest both directly and indirectly. (21) Fifth, white ignorance is not exclusive to white people...
It is an undisputable fact that the contribution of such prominent philosophers, writers, political and social activists as Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau in developing American statehood is tremendous. The literary works of both men can serve as a manifesto of national and personal liberation, a call for building a better society, where each citizen can live and work freely. Indeed, both Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasize the independence and freedom of an individual, but they do so in significantly different ways. These differences can be linked to their different worldview, life positions, philosophies, or interests. Nevertheless, this fact cannot detract from the obvious uniqueness and importance of Thoreau’s and Franklin’s literary heritage.
As a child, disobedience becomes an important part of our learning experience. We are frequently reminded of what is good and what is bad. We learn to continue doing what is accepted, and change what is frowned upon. In The Individual in the Chains of Illusion, Fromm tells why disobedience should be accepted rather than obedience. He believes obedience will be the cause of the human race ending. But how could being obedient ruin our society?