Metaphysics Ontology Dualism vs. Materialism - 2096 Words

METAPHYSICS: ONTOLOGY: DUALISM VS. MATERIALISM The original idea of the word philosophy was a love of wisdom (Cowan 2). Philosophy is meant to explore the big questions and try to find answers as best we can in the time we have been given. One of the areas of study in philosophy is metaphysics, which deals in the ideas of the nature of reality. We look at the world, and we assume that it is the way it appears to be. It is not. (Carreira 7). There is much to reality that can be discussed, debated, and disagreed upon. Within metaphysics is the realm of ontology, which poses the question what is there? (Cowan 146). Two of the major views in ontology are Dualism and Materialism, both of which deal with the nature of the†¦show more content†¦Logical positivism is the second presented obstacle to the study of metaphysics and much simpler than Kant s Copernican Revolution. Stared by Schlick and the Vienna Circle the viewpoint of logical positivism sought to set up science to a standing as a unique and privileged way o f knowing and get rid of speculative metaphysics (Cowan 150). They contended that knowledge was only gained through experience and theories were only worthwhile if they could be proven or disproven by experience (Kenny 799). This verification principle has undergone several changes and versions since its original development, but one of the most well-known defenders of the viewpoint, A.J. Ayer worded it this way: A proposition is meaningful fi and only if it is empirically verifiable in principle. (Cowan 151). In other words, an idea or concept is only meaningful if it can be proven or disproven, even if only in theory. Since the concepts and ideas put forth by metaphysics are not able to be proven or disproven, even in theory, they are seen by those holding the logical positivism view point as being completely meaningless. The view point of logical positivism however, has a fatal flaw built right into it s very definition and therefore can be disproven as an obstacle to metaphysi cs. The whole principle of logical positivism is that a concept is only of value if it can be proven or disproven by experience, even if it is only in theory.

Should Gay Marriage Be Legalized Essay - 1828 Words

Introduction What does it mean to be gay and why does society discriminate against those who are deemed to be gay? This paper establishes that being gay is primarily based on the supposition that one is either homosexual, transgender, lesbian, or bisexual. It also establishes that one of the primary reasons why gays are discriminated against within the society is religion; that some of the views held by different religious conclaves substantiate gay rejection by the society. On a more personal rather than institutional level, this paper also reveals that the culture of gay is also largely rebuked based on individual philosophies and moral standings which is precisely the min reason as to why hate crimes against gays have in the past found a substantive projection. In the American socio-cultural fabric, the emergence of gays has generated a continuous debate about gay marriage; essentially whether it should be legalized or not. The debate has pitted religion verses gay rights activist s who base their arguments on the equal rights protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution. In conclusion, this paper will elaborate on some of the some of the states that have inherently legalized gay marriage, the projection of the issue five years from today, and how society can assist in making the world a better place for gays. Background on Homosexuality For purposes of coherence, the word gay will be periodically interchanged with the phrase homosexual. ToShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage Should Be Legalized938 Words   |  4 Pages Gay marriage is in fact a controversial topic that many people feel strongly about. I believe that gay marriage should be legalized without being penalized by people who disagree with it. I will, within reason, explain to you why gay marriage should be legalized and argue against Karlee’s essay about why gay marriage shouldn’t be legalized. The first thing Karlee talks about in her opposing essay is, â€Å"Children of same-sex couples, biological or not, need both a mother and a father inRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized?1313 Words   |  6 PagesCredit – Should gay marriage be legalized? Marriage is considered to be the rite of passage from an religious point of view, it is considered as holy matrimony before the eyes of God. Attraction between individuals of the same sex has been a topic of debate. However, over the past few years gay individuals made a decision to our grievances of oppression despite receiving tremendous critics from the public. Initially, gay marriagesRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized?935 Words   |  4 PagesThere is a lot of controversy about gay marriage and whether or not it should be legalized in certain states that haven t yet legalized it. My opinion on this topic is that it should not be legalized for various reasons. My reasons on this have nothing to do with religion because religion shouldn’t have anything to do with their opinion; religion is a biased opinion because of its authenticity. Another thing that shouldn’t be considered is their opinio n that doesn’t have a reasoning behind it likeRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized?1705 Words   |  7 PagesPaper Option 1 Gay marriage has and still is a huge controversy in the United States. I will say though that the U.S. has come along way when it comes to same-sex marriage. As of November 20, 2014 gay marriage is now legal in thirty-five of the fifty U.S. states. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in May of two thousand and four. As of October ninth two-thousand and fourteen, only sixteen out of one hundred and ninety-four countries allow same sex marriage. By those oddsRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legalized1379 Words   |  6 PagesName: Tutor: Course: Date: Gay Marriages Marriage is considered as hypothetically speaking, a rite of passage whilst from the religious point of view, it is considered as holy matrimony before a supreme being. Attraction between individuals of the same sex has been a topic of debate since time immemorial. However, over the past few years gay individuals have opted to air grievances of oppression despite receiving tremendous critics from the public. Initially, gay marriages were unfathomable eventsRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legalized1280 Words   |  5 Pagescommunity and abides by the law should be afforded the rights of an American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Gay and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even if they are upstanding citizens. They are held at an unfair disadvantage solely because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must stop b ecause gay and lesbian couples are law-abidingRead More Should gay marriages be legalized? Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages Should same sex marriages be legal? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Same-sex marriages have been very controversial since becoming an issue in Canada regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Several people state that same-sex marriages should be legal, while others disagree, saying it should not be permitted. There have been many debates and inquiries about this issue for several years; the MP’s and Parliament will finally settle the problem within the next year or so. Many are in favourRead More Gay Marriage Should be Legalized Essays1696 Words   |  7 Pages There are numerous opinions and standing views on gay marriage. The argument regarding gay marriage should be legalized or not is extremely controversial. According to an article from the Human Rights Campaign, there is nothing wrong with allowing homosexuals to have the same rights as those who are heterosexual. Every individual person should be granted equal rights, regardless of sexuality. Gay marriage should be legalized in all states and coun tries, it has been held off for too long. MoreoverRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized?727 Words   |  3 Pages Everyone, regardless of gender orientation or sexual preference deserves equal rights, such as marriage, feeling comfortable with whom they are, and being treated like any other human being. Right now gay marriage is a hot topic in many states, however, what say should the government get in who you love and want to marry? Beyond a court room, research has been done on the idea of transgenderism and what causes people to be like that or if people are truly born in the wrong bodyRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized? Essay464 Words   |  2 PagesMarriage is defined as the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life. In the definition it says couple, with out indication of gender. In our society gay marriage is a hot topic. Previously legalizing gay marriage was out of the question, but as times has changed and more liberal politicians have gained office to reflect th e views of today’s society. One of the reasons that LGBT people fight for the right to marry because married couples receive more protections and advantages in

My Revelation free essay sample

â€Å"Whose footprints are these?† â€Å"What is this piece of paper that has baby footprints marked in ink with the name â€Å"Roopmathi† on the top?† My dad’s face froze, and my mom’s jaw dropped as they saw me holding the paper. I asked,â€Å"Who is Roopmathi and why do you have her footprints?† Waiting for their response, I could tell by their shocking facial expressions that this was no ordinary piece of paper with ordinary footprints. My dad finally revealed, â€Å"Roopmathi is you, Pravina.† My mom clarified by saying, â€Å"Those footprints are yours from the day we met you (February 14, 2000). We met you and two other babies and realized that you, the third baby, was our perfect match.† I asked my mom to explain what she means by â€Å"the day we met you.† She then dropped the bombshell, â€Å"Pravina, you were adopted.† Finding out I was adopted has caused me to question my identity when I travel to India annually. We will write a custom essay sample on My Revelation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As I watched little naked orphans running around the streets of India begging for money, I question what my life would have been like if I did not have parents who loved and cared for me. Would I be alone like one of these children on the streets? Not being alone, I was taken into care by my parents from a country of poverty to this land of opportunity in order to provide me a safer and better life. Also, throughout my academic career, my parents provided me with the best education. Would I have received the education I am receiving now if I wasn’t brought to America? I probably would not have been able to come face to face with a chalkboard or a pencil. Knowing that India’s educational system is not as advanced as the educational system in America, I realized when travelling there how important it is to take advantage of all the educational opportunities and activities approaching me. Lastly, every time I am in India, I always see people sleeping on the sidewalks with dust covering their bodies and faces, and I can see their bones protruding out of their skin from starvation. As I see them open their eyes, I try to picture what they are seeing as if I was the one living on the sidewalk stuck in rags with no food, water, or shelter. Putting myself into poor people’s shoes I see sitting, sleeping, or wandering India’s streets begging for food or shelter makes me question my survival without any daily necessities or without my parents. I realized how blessed for my parents and all the opportunities they have given me because that could have been me on the streets alone and vulnerable if they have not chosen me to be their daughter. Finding out how I came in contact with that familial love, I went from looking in the mirror everyday seeing a girl who was apathetic towards life and transforming into someone who exemplifies diversity as a way to accept who I am and to achieve my aspirations in life. My story of my upbringing has given me the ambition to challenge myself to discover my true potential in leadership through academics, tennis, and extracurriculars such as art and national honor societies. Therefore, out of my gratitude comes my determination to pursue all of the opportunities in my life that I would have not received if it were not for my parents’ connection with the third baby on February 14th, 2000.