Thursday, March 19, 2020

Fabricating Humans essays

Fabricating Humans essays Cloning is unethical and is not needed in society. Many, if not all, religions agree with the ban of cloning human beings. It has also been argued that cloning would diminish individuality as well. Whether or not cloning is ethical, at this time cloning human beings should be, and is, banned. Humans have evolved since the beginning of time, getting smarter and adapting more to the environment in which they live. Humans have evolved so much that we now know how to make copies of our genes, the special codes that make up our physical strengths and weaknesses. It has been argued that cloning would help to rid disease and physical impurities which are unwanted. However, like humans diseases and viruses also evolve changing to the environment in order to stay alive longer. As rabbi Bernard King of Irvine, California asked, Can the cloning create a soul? (qtd in Rottenburg 225). Many religions believe that humans have an everlasting soul, which lives on after life. Scientists do not create a soul, God does. God gives life and he takes it away. Humans without souls would be used as nothing but slaves as stated by the Catholic priest Father Sanders (Rottenburg 225). Individuality would be abolished if the human genome was duplicated. The would be multitudes of identical or similar types of bodies, less distinct, less unique, and less sovereign (Rottenburg 230). The idea of a perfect human would be met, whether it is a blonde hair blue-eyed girl or a boy with a washboard stomach. People would become drones and would be produced in order to fill the needs that society sees fit. Clones would be told what they were, what they are, and what they will become. They will have no say in their life, they would be instructed what job they will do and would be made with the features needed to excel in it. Cloning would ruin some of the qualities of being alive. In addition, what woul ...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Pentaceratops - Facts and Figures

Pentaceratops - Facts and Figures Despite its impressive name (which means five-horned face), Pentaceratops really only had three genuine horns, two big ones over its eyes and a smaller one perched on the end of its snout. The two other protuberances were technically outgrowths of this dinosaurs cheekbones, rather than genuine horns, which probably didnt make much difference to any smaller dinosaurs that happened to get in Pentaceratops way. Name: Pentaceratops (Greek for five-horned face); pronounced PENT-ah-SER-ah-topsHabitat: Plains of western North AmericaHistorical Period: Late Cretaceous (75 million years ago)Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 2-3 tonsDiet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Enormous bony frill on its head; two large horns above eyes About Pentaceratops A classic ceratopsian (horned face) dinosaur, Pentaceratops was closely related to the more famous, and more accurately named, Triceratops, although its closest relative was the equally large Utahceratops. (Technically, all of these dinosaurs are chasmosaurine, rather than centrosaurine, ceratopsians, meaning they share more characteristics with Chasmosaurus than with Centrosaurus.) From the tip of its beak to the top of its bony frill, Pentaceratops possessed one of the largest heads of any dinosaur that ever lived- about 10 feet long, give or take a few inches (its impossible to say for sure, but this otherwise peaceful plant-eater may have been the inspiration for the huge-headed, human-munching queen in the 1986 movie Aliens.) Until the recent discovery of  the evocatively named Titanoceratops, which was diagnosed from an existing skull previously attributed to Pentaceratops, this five-horned dinosaur was the only ceratopsian known to have lived in the environs of New Mexico toward the end of the Cretaceous period, 75 million years ago. Other ceratopsians, such as Coahuilaceratops, have been discovered as far south as Mexico. Why did Pentaceratops have such a huge noggin? The most likely explanation is sexual selection: at some point in the evolution of this dinosaur, huge, ornate heads became attractive to females, giving big-headed males the edge during mating season. Pentaceratops males probably butted each other with their horns and frills for mating supremacy; particularly well-endowed males may also have been recognized as herd alphas. Its possible that the unique horns and frill of Pentaceratops aided with intra-herd recognition, so, for example, a Pentaceratops juvenile wouldnt accidentally wander off with a passing group of Chasmosaurus! Unlike some other horned, frilled dinosaurs, Pentaceratops has a fairly straightforward fossil history. The initial remains (a skull and a piece of hipbone) were discovered in 1921 by Charles H. Sternberg, who continued plying this same New Mexico location over the next couple of years until he had collected enough specimens for his fellow paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn to erect the genus Pentaceratops. For nearly a century after its discovery, there was only one named genus of Pentaceratops. P. sternbergii, until a second, northern-dwelling species, P. aquilonius, was named by Nicholas Longrich of Yale University.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Aging aircraft wiring problems and solutions Essay

Aging aircraft wiring problems and solutions - Essay Example Aging aircraft wiring has been a cause of significant threat to both invaluable human life and material. It is almost certain that a smart wiring alone will not be the solution to this problem considering the working conditions of an aircraft. Keeping this scenario in mind this paper is trying to consider a few of the most pressing safety problems in aviation today. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) later determined the cause of the TWA 800 accident to have been a wiring failure that led to an ignition spark in the fuel tank. The Swissair disaster is believed to have been caused by electrical arcing originating from an in-flight entertainment cable. These disasters provided the initial impetus to begin reshaping commercial wiring policies' (Kevin R. Wheeler and Dogan A. Timucin 2007).A TWA747, flight 800, heading for Paris and Rome with 230 from JFK international airport on the night of July 17, 1996, exploded shortly after take off and during initial climb out. The hug e aircraft was blown up killing all the passengers and crew aboard. One of the most extensive aircraft investigations in the history was initiated following the crash. After many findings the initial fear of a terrorist missile attack was vanished. Enormous efforts were vested on the recovery process along with the FBI and NTSB investigations. The search was supported by FAA, US Navy Boeing and hundreds of contractors. Finally, the remains of the aircraft were recovered from Atlantic. To the continuing frustration of conspiracy theorists, investigators determined that the aircraft was not downed by a bomb or missile, but rather fell victim to a much more insidious enemy - faulty wiring. Hot or chafed wire is believed to have ignited the fuel vapors in the empty center wing tank, creating a massive explosion and in-flight breakup of the aircraft. The similar incidents occurred in the aviation industry at regular intervals. Obviously the wire and connector fault detection and prognosis problem is difficult and each agency is doing the best that it can with the resources given (J.S. Barrett and M.A. Green 1994). Thus, developing the appropriate theoretical approach, using simulations and data collection for development and eventually leading to requirements definition for all aspects of the wiring fault detection problem seem to be a huge task. The terrific crashes remind us that the aircraft electrical system malfunctioning can lead to tragic eventualities in terms of human life and monetary loss. Wiring problems often lead to troubleshooting nightmares, and canceled missions. With miles of wire bundles running through barely accessible compartments, inspecting and repairing wiring problems can eat up your maintenance budget and resources in a very short time. To help maintenance managers address these types of issues, we investigated the tools and techniques that can be used to minimize down time and improve safety. Jim sparks (2004) felt that 'wiring in aircraft has been installed without much thought given to the overall life. The concept has been one of "fit and forget." Various failure modes and their severity may not have been considered during the design or modification process. Maintenance programs often did not address the impact of insulation breakdown and resulting arcing, nor was consideration given to the probability of splices

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Income Distribution in the U.S Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Income Distribution in the U.S - Essay Example It looks at the income that the rich and the poor are getting. It also critically looks at the factors that can lead to income distribution inequalities like taxing, technology and globalization. It helps in explaining various theories like human capital and economic discrimination. For this purpose, it helps an economy to come up with ways to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. It has been a global concern in fighting poverty. Even though poverty can not be fully eradicated it can be reduced. It is important to look at how factors of production are distributed within an economy. How easy it is for every individual to access these factors is another way to know how well the income is distributed within an economy (Richard, pp.345-450). It is important to look at the income distribution trends in America to find out how the gap between the rich and the poor can be reduced. Very many economists are interested in fighting the gap between the rich and the poor. The gross domestic product (GDP) has been refuted in telling if the citizens of a country are rich or poor. Many economists argue that a country can have a very high gross domestic product but it is only being produced by 10% of the citizens who are the elite and affluent people of the society. The Gini coefficient has been used by the American economists to tell if the country has equal distribution of income. It can simply be said that some professions are well paid but others earn very low wages (Richard, pp.345-450). It is notable that 1948 to 1968, the Gini coefficient reduced. When the Gini coefficient reduces then it means that the citizens’ income per citizen is increasing. Thus between those years the income inequality in America had reduced meaning that families were receiving more income than before. On the contrary, the Gini coefficient increased between 1968 and 1998, this meant that the

Saturday, January 25, 2020

How Individuals with Down Syndrome can Prosper in Life Essay -- Health

How Individuals with Down Syndrome can Prosper in Life Roger is a handsome blonde, blue-eyed boy but one can tell he is different from most other children.   His physical features are somewhat strange.   Roger's face is broader and his nasal bridge flatter than usual.   And his eyes, they appear to slant upward and have folds at the inner corners.   His mouth is small and the roof of his mouth is very narrow.   Not to mention his small ears which fold over a bit at the top.   Touching his hands they are tiny, his fingers shorter and his fifth finger seems to curve slightly inward.   These are all physical signs of a child with a disorder called Down syndrome, a chromosome disorder.   While there is no actual cure for Down syndrome I believe parents can give their children the opportunity to live longer, happier more capable lives than any prior generation of people with Down syndrome.   Children with Down syndrome have the potential to fit into society and lead normal lives by education, employment and support from a be tter-informed society.     Ã‚   One may ask why looking at a disorder like Down syndrome is important in relation to science.   This is because approximately three to five thousand children are born with Down syndrome each year.   And it is believed there are about two hundred and fifty thousand families in the United States who are affected by Down syndrome (Moss).   Down syndrome occurs when certain events occur during cell division to cause the wrong chromosome number as a result.   Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder characterized by the presence of an extra #21 chromosome.   Instead of having forty-six chromosomes in each of his/her cells, a person with Down syndrome has forty-seven.   It is believed that during cell ... ...nd make significant contributions to their communities every day (UPSIDE! Down Syndrome Society - Ramblings).   With education, employment, and support from a community an individual with Down syndrome can have a normal life and there is no limit to what he/she can accomplish. . Work Cited 1) Down Syndrome: For New Parents. 15 February 2004. 2) Kate Moss.   "Hearing and Vision Loss Associated with Down Syndrome." 15 February 2004.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3) Starr, Cecie. Basic Concepts in Biology.   United States: Thomson Learning, Inc., 2003. 4) Unger, Darlene. "Working in the community through supported Employment."   13 February  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2004. 5) "UPSIDE! Down Syndrome Society-Ramblings." 15 February 2004.  Ã‚     Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Friday, January 17, 2020

Feeding Monkeys Essay

In the short story,† Finding Prosperity by Feeding Monkeys†, by Harold Taw, Taw explains a moral about the importance of family, and how some people will break whatever rules to respect their family. Taw states that a Buddhist monk told his parents that he [Taw] would bring great prosperity to the family if he fed a monkey on his birthday every year for the rest of his life. Every year Taw made a point to feed a monkey on his birthday because he felt he had a right to protect his family. Early in his life, Taw and his dad â€Å"would go to the zoo early in the morning†¦ [and] when the coast was clear, [Taw] would throw†¦peanuts to the monkeys†. Together, Taw and his father would secretly go to the zoo every year until he was eighteen to guarantee the prosperity of his family. This proves that Taw was determined to keep his family safe. When Taw turned eighteen, he had to find different ways to feed the monkeys, since he was now an adult. One of the many ways he fed a monkey was that he went to a laboratory and had to â€Å"wear a biohazard suit† to feed a monkey. Taw demonstrates that even the tasks that seem the most impossible can be achieved. From these examples, it is easy to see that some people, such as Taw, with do whatever it takes to secure the safety of his or her family.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Explain Aristotles Understanding of the Four Causes Essay

a) Explain Aristotle’s understanding of the four causes. Unlike his teacher, Plato, Aristotle believed that the world could be explained by physical observation. This approach of using the five senses, cataloguing and categorising, is the foundation of scientific study. The approach is known as empiricism. Plato believed that we needed to look beyond the physical for an explanation of the universe in the guise of the World of Forms. Aristotle disagreed with this. Aristotle’s understanding of the four causes begins with the assumption that is present in all Greek philosophy, the notion of pre-existing matter. He observed the world around him and noticed that it was in a state of constant motion, a movement from potentiality to†¦show more content†¦Lastly in terms of his understanding of causation, the final cause of a thing or object was its purpose (telos). The purpose of the statue is aesthetic in that it is admired; the purpose of my laptop is to help me do my work well. Aristotle uses the example of health being the cause of walking, Why does one walk? he asks, that one may be healthy. This is perhaps the most important of all the causes. Yet his understanding does not end here. Once something has achieved a state of actuality it is also in a state of potentiality. In this sense we can see that Aristotle saw that the universe was moving constantly between ‘potentiality’ to ‘actuality’ back to †˜potentiality’ once again. This idea required Aristotle to explain things further still because in order for this theory to work it must explain everything in the universe, including the universe itself. It is the Prime Mover that finishes Aristotle’s understanding of the four causes. The Prime Mover becomes the efficient and final causes of the universe. Its ‘action’ in the universe is passive. It exists in a state of ‘pure actuality’ incapable of change, only contemplating its own existence. This is Aristotle’s god. Things are attracted towards the perfection found within its ‘pure actuality’. This is why the Prime Mover is known as the great attractor. Objects that move from potentialityShow MoreRelatedAristotle s Book 8 Of Metaphysics1160 Words   |  5 PagesMuch of Aristotle’s book 8 of Metaphysics attempts to argue for the First Cause. Aristotle’s argument still holds some merit today but it has greatly changed in form. Today, the argument is known as the cosmological argument. While the form is different the ultimate conclusion is the same: there is a First Cause which explains all subsequent motion and change. This First Cause is held to be an argument for the existence of a Supreme Being or God . While the overall argument is still pondered by philosophersRead MoreAristotle s Understanding Of The Four Causes1448 Words   |  6 Pagesa) Explain Aristotle’s understanding of the four causes Aristotle explains that anything which changes is subject to causes giving it potentiality. Potentiality means that something has a purpose to fulfil when it is enabled to, this potentiality becomes actuality when it achieves that purpose which Aristotle called ‘Telos’. Therefore in order to go from cause to effect an object must change and Aristotle understood this process in four different ways called the four causes. He understood that eachRead MorePlato s Theory Of Form1111 Words   |  5 PagesSocratic questioning to inquire about Plato’s theory of Form and its explanation of causality in comparison to Aristotle’s own theories of causality and being. Aristotle criticizes Plato’s theory of Form because it only accounted for a one-dimensional explanation of what things are made up of and what identifies them. Aristotle offers his own explanations of causality and being through his four causes and his categories of being in an attempt to rectify P lato’s perceived failures. In Metaphysics 1.3 andRead MoreThe Physics, Meaning, Lectures On Nature1712 Words   |  7 Pagescausation, place and time. In Physics II.3 Aristotle’s provides a general understanding of the four causes, these four causes seem to apply to everything that would require an explanation. He first introduces his theory of the four causes in Book II, Chapter 3 where he states, â€Å"knowledge is the object of our inquiry, and men do not think they know a thing till they have gasped the ‘why’ of it (which is to grasp its primary cause).† (Physics, 194b 18-21). Aristotle’s passion towards knowing about the worldRead MoreEssay about Aristotle vs Plato1665 Words   |  7 Pageshe built on his mentor’s metaphysical teachings of things like The Theory of Forms and his views on the soul. However, he also challenged them, introducing his own metaphysical ideas such as act and potency, hylemorphism, and the four causes. He used these ideas to explain his account of the soul and the immateriality of intellect. Prior to Aristotle, philosophers like Parmenides and Heraclitus argued about the existence of change. Aristotle used the terms act and potency to respond to ParmenidesRead MorePlato Vs. Aristotle On Observational And Deductive Reasoning1139 Words   |  5 Pagesisolate redness without a material medium. As a result, Aristotle greatly advocated observational inquisition. While Plato regards the physical world as deceitful, Aristotle believe that true knowledge exist in understanding the nature of physical â€Å"real† things. Due to Plato and Aristotle’s dissimilar notions of knowledge, they both have different notions as to the acquisition of that knowledge. Plato, believing that the corporal is inherently imperfect, asserts that true knowledge is attainableRead MoreOverview Of Plato And Platos Theory Of The Four Forms1896 Words   |  8 Pagestopic of many philosophical discussions. This debate has caused many philosophers to give potential answers to the problem, yet no one agrees on one idea. Of these potential answers, two well-known ones are Platos Theory of Forms and Aristotles Theory of the Four Causes.   Despite their common focus on knowledge, the two philosophers differ in their beliefs in how knowledge is obtained. Plato places a bigger emphasis on the soul being the source of true knowledge, while Aristotle argues that true knowledgeRead MoreThe Most Significant Of The Scientific Theories Have Made Considerable Progression1372 Words   |  6 Pagesvalleys are what provision the evo lution of theories. The most significant of the preceding times was the era of Aristotle the philosopher around three hundred B.C., who helped lend a foundation for the forthcoming generations. Later on during the years four hundred through one thousand B.C., when much of the world was in stagnation, mostly Europe, the Islamic Empire was able to build a thriving scientific focal point, allowing scientific theories and ideas to emanate from within. If not for these luminousRead MorePlato s View On Form1429 Words   |  6 Pagesuniversal form. Aristotle’s view on form is particular, it is an individual characteristic that helps the conformation of something. Aquinas’s view on form is in its essence itself it is connected with matter. This paper will show how each philosopher’s perspective of form connects with each other and resemble the f-ness on it. Plato’s view on form, is described with what a form contains. Form is divided into six characteristics which are: transcendent, pure, archetypes, ultimate real, causes and systematicallyRead MoreDifference in the Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle and Their Influence.1213 Words   |  5 Pageshis philosophy from that of Plato. Although, both Plato and Aristotle criticized their teacher’s works, they were also influenced by them. Both Plato and Aristotle developed their own modes of knowledge acquisition; Plato’s Platonic Idealism and Aristotle’s Analytic Empiricism. In this paper, my objective is to identify the differences in the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, which lead to the development of two contradictory modes of knowledge acquisition and their influence on succeeding thinkers