Essay Help

Hey all,

I need your help in trying to narrow/finalize my thesis for the final written assignment…..it was originally “good education standards are a product of any dominant civilization” and I was going to support this with historical examples. But I think this thesis is too broad…and I should narrow it down to something specific like “the USA-USSR rivalry and its relevance to how different standards of education affect technology/scientific advancement in both countries…” ? If you guys have any other ideas I would really appreciate it!

Thanks !

DB Week 04/19: Science Fiction & Socialism

Ok, this is more of a "ground-testing" of my final written assignment, which focuses on the socialist tint of the plot, characters and action in most SF seen today. I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some pre-draft thoughts from you guys, since I really hadn't finalized my thesis until middle of last week.

You may answer any (or all) of the questions below. If there's something related to this, but not covered in the questions below, please don't hesitate to air your opinions.

1. Does the extensive relationship between science and power spill over into the dynamic between science fiction and power?

2. Is there an ideal power structure advocated in SF genre? If so, of what kind is it: bureaucratic, aristocratic, socialist, capitalist, utopian or dystopian?

3. Is SF merely an outlet for futuristic technological speculations, or is the main purpose of SF to air your political/social views in an unbiased context?

4. What do you think ultimately resolves the conflict set up in works of SF? New technology, luck, act of God, change in power structure, protagonist's actions (bravery, sacrifice, maturity, etc.) [note: these are not mutually exclusive]. Are these really very different to other forms of fiction?

It would help if you'd post something before Friday (when my draft is due). I know I'm asking a little more than usual, but this is after all, the final DB week... so let's sign off with a flourish!

Star Trek: Episode viewed on Monday

In the Star Trek episode viewed in class on Monday how does Spock’s supposed character as a Vulcan compare to what his actions say about him? Why do you think Spock admitted guilt towards the end and asked to be arrested?

Science Power and Societal Perceptions

So as you all know we recently just finished (or if your like me your still working on) thhe second written assignment which if you decided to follow the prompt had something to do with science and power. As I was reading through my comments etc on my rough draft Something that Hasan suggested on mine was to discuss the way scientific knowledge affects our perception of other people/societies. Although I did not end up including this in my essay for lack of sufficient research time (thanks to my procrastinating self) I thought it was a really interesting idea and thought that maybe you all would like to discuss it here. So.......how does science affect our perception of other cultures?

Discussion Blog Week 3/15

We have read Basalla and MecLeod's articles about development of colonial science throughout the history. Basalla gives us a clear three-phase progress while MecLod argues that it involes politics. I just want to ask for everyone: which one do you think is more accurate in interperating the colonial science in the colonial period of the world and which one can be applied to current countries? Do you think it is the political factor or the economic factor that encourages the colonical science to develop?

Discussion Blog Week 3/8

So here is a question I now pose to everyone, we've talked about what makes good science fiction, we've talked about science and power and almost everything related to that. However, I am wondering whether or not you guys have any recommendations to me as far as science fiction goes. In terms of books or movie or tv shows it doesn't matter.

To actually post a question, however, I was wondering whether or not you all read into the scripts of shows or movies or in between the lines of text in order to find out a hidden meaning. If you don't normally do this...do you not enjoy doing it or have you not found anything that is intriguing enough?

I know for myself that I don't personally like reading into a story...but if its something that has an in depth plot line that I need to consider certain characteristics to understand the story then I will do so. Let me know your thoughts/if you have any questions

Discussion Post 5

Well we've all been reading and discussing about a whole lot of science-fiction (in-class and on this blog), both colonial sci-fi and modern, that is post-colonial sci-fi.

So let me ask you, what do you think makes good science fiction? Here I'm talking about books, movies, shows, etc. basically any science fiction artifact. How do we judge the quality of that artifact? By the realistic possibility of it happening? By the philosophical/scientific questions it raises? By the technology it depicts? By the depth of its plot and characters, like any other form of fiction? Or something else?

Here's a few snippets from really extraordinary science fiction I'm aware of, just to get you all thinking on what I consider great science fiction.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (book)

Courtesy: www.littlebrown.co.uk

2. Star Trek (franchise)

Courtesy: Paramount Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment

3. Jules Verne (author)

(Image in public domain - copyright expired)

Mid-semester Presentation: Current Ideas

As you all know, we've been discussing a lot on "Scientists Playing God" as the topic of our mid-semester group presentation. Just thought I'd post some of the ideas that were floating around today, in case anyone missed it...

Scientists by nature are taking on certain roles that were historically/traditionally attributed to God. As science advances, scientists use their knowledge to affect changes that would otherwise have not taken place.

Historical examples:

1. Ability to control events/situations: Meteorologists are able to predict well in advance the arrival of a hurricane, snowstorm, etc and thereby save hundreds of lives which would otherwise have been lost to, one could argue, the 'wrath of God'.

2. The atom bomb was designed for one purpose: to kill by the millions. This prerogative that the scientist takes, the choice of killing at least hundreds of thousands by the push of a button, has elevated him/her to a God-like pedestal. This is very different from mass genocide/murder: the scientist never actually designs these devices with the sole evil intent of killing people - to the scientist, it's a higher ideal.

3. Cloning. Just as there is power to take life, there is a power to create life too. Though highly controversial and pretty much unlawful to date, it's possible to clone a human and create life without the traditional method of combining the male & female gametes or whatever.

4. Stem-cell research: we are almost reaching an age where the span of one's life is becoming a pure choice, rather than an act of God. Failing organs can be harvested and transplanted, impairments easily remedied through artificial limbs/grafting etc. and even cryogenics can theoretically let you live forever.

We can clearly see that as scientists expand the realm of the possible, they are taking over aspects of God. Some of this may be reflected in what Aaron termed "the God-complex".

Examples from Popular Fiction/Movies, etc:

The Island (2004 film starring Ewan McGregor), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Sunshine (2007 Danny Boyle film), Jurassic Park, Gattica, Moon, etc.

So, by friday we should have a functional visual as well as a clear idea of what we'll cover. Feel free to add/say anything you like on this thread.

Are science and power related to dominant empires?

Q: What trends can be established between advances in science/technology and large, powerful empires (ie superpowers) throughout human history? Try to be specific and if possible give some historical examples.

A: Any dominant empire throughout history must possess three general “types of power” classified as: economic, militaristic and political. All three definitions of power are in-part defined by the never-ending quest for an explanation of everything that occurs in the universe through rigorous and systematic methods (science) and it being a driving force for the advancement of technology. A classic example is the rivalry between the USSR and the US during the latter half of the twentieth century often referred to as the “cold war,” where the advancement of technology in warfare determined who could exert greater powers in a region of interest.

Science, Power, and Society

So, I am currently reading this interesting book. Its called Under The Dome by Stephen King. Its about a small town in Maine called Chester's Mill that is suddenly encapsulated by this dome thing, no one can come in and no one can come out, but the barrier is completely invisible. They are completely seperated from the rest of the world, besides use of cell phones and internet. Also, sound passes through the dome as well. But anyway, what I find interesting is the different elements of power in this novel. You have a guy who is extremely power thirsty named Jim Rennie who isn't exactly book smart he's really just a car salesman whose really good at blackmailing people and scaring them into doing what he wants, there is another guy named Dale Barbara who is good at buying his time and calculating his next move in order to undermine Jim Rennies power, and finally there are these strange creatures that put the Dome there in the first place with their super advance technology and sit around and laugh at all of the inhabitants while riots and murder become the norm in a once small town. So it begs the question, who really holds the power in this situation? The people with the science, the man who takes advantage of people and situations, or the man who can use his logic and reasoning to calculate the best way to gain power for himself. How is power defined by society? Does science necessarily equal power? Why is the term knowledge equals power so widely accepted? Do you think this statement is accurate? How does the objectivity/subjectivity of science tie into this issue? What does the value placed on knowledge say about our society? And finally, What other books have ya'll read that highlights different veiws on this issue? These were just somethings I was wondering about while I was reading this book. It was just an example so feel free to use your own. I wanted to get ya'lls opinions. One book that I can think of that has a pretty similar concept as The Lost World & Under the Dome is Fahrenheit 451. Ok....I have finished writing my novel of a blog now...sooo...comments? Ideas?

Discussion Blog #2

Hello everyone. As we talked about the subjectivity of science in class last week, together with the article "We Are All Scientists" by T. H. Huxley, I want to discuss the science education in college today. Does science education today satisfy what the mass population's need? Is there any subjectivity we can find in science class? What do you think the science class should be?

Post 1

My question for everyone is this: As was brought up in class many times there is a doppelganger of Challenger. Who is the king of the ape people, my question is whether or not, first off, he or challenger is the actual doppelganger. Secondly, because he may have been the more 'savage' side, how does this reflect upon Challenger's original behavior towards Malone at the beginning of the novel, and maybe...somehow, Challenger left a piece of himself behind after his first exposition? maybe thats a bit out of nowhere but I'm just wondering. And maybe later in the novel we'll learn that somehow Challenger has actually killed a part of himself along with the king.