self awareness in primates Fact or Fiction Essay

Abstract The author focuses on determining whether primates are capable of self-awareness. An article is reviewed and evaluated encompassing different points of view and theories. Learned recognition and self-awareness is compared and discussed. Self-awareness in Primates: Fact or Fiction Learning is quot;a change in behavior due to experiencequot; (Chance, 2003, p. 36). Learning allows an organism to modify its behavior to suit a particular situation. It is a mechanism by which one copes with the ever-changing environment. Anything an organism does that can be measured is behavior (Chance, 2003). Organisms change their behavior to fit environmental changes; this is a learning process, it provides a means to modify†¦show more content†¦The ape first acquires language through comprehension and then through expression. This is the same course taken for a child. The acquisition of language structures by apes suggests that they are competent for reasoning. They are capable of experiencing among others, pain, happiness, and sorrow thus, they can experience various dimensions of being, that is, awareness. Wynne (1999) however, believes otherwise. He discredits animals of having consciousness, which is evidenced as possessing language, self-awareness and theory of mind. He notes that Terrace of Columbia University thought that a chimpanzee could learn sign language by simply exposing him to a community of people using it. Learning did not occur unless Terrace paired the learning with treats. Skinner, as noted by Chance (2003), advocated that quot;verbal behavior is to be understood in terms of functional relationships between it and environmental eventsquot; (p.230). Terraces chimpanzee was only performing and learning those signs, which offered rewards. Wynne (1999) also discredits Gallups work that used the mirror test to observe evidence of self awareness, claiming that some people cannot recognize themselves in a mirror but are aware of themselves, as is the case with the blind. In addition, autistic people can recognize themselves in a mirror but have a hard time being self-aware. As for theory of mind, the understanding that otherShow MoreRelatedAnimal Rights Vs. 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Descriptive Essay - Original Writing - 1067 Words

C:UsersAlexMusic Journal (hidden folder)Excerpt3.mp3 †¦. Well things did not go as expected. Lily’s murderer got away before I can even put a scratch in him. Agh! I was going to make him suffer and then he decides to up and leave on me! *sigh* I might as well leave my twin with a boon for his troubles. I don’t like this though. I want someone to pay. I want to avenge Lily but my only chance slipped from my hands. Now Lily is dead. Her killer on the loose. As†¦.As much as I want to, I don’t think I have the time and energy to go after him. It might be just as my twin said, â€Å"When you go to a new domain, you can lie about your past† rewriting history. His real name might not even be Bersi for all I know. *thump as Alex rests her head on the desk* And with my current condition, I can’t do much of anything in terms of tracking him down. I can ask my twin to do it but it will most likely take him long, and that’s just for information. If he gets info that is. 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What the Bible Says About Gambling Free Essays

What Does the Bible Say About Gambling? Surprisingly, the Bible contains no specific command to avoid gambling. However, the Bible does contain timeless principles for living a life pleasing to God and is filled with wisdom to deal with every situation, including gambling. Answer: Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we read about people casting lots when a decision had to be made. We will write a custom essay sample on What the Bible Says About Gambling or any similar topic only for you Order Now In most instances, this was simply a way of determining something impartially: Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions. Joshua 18:10, NIV) Casting lots was common among many ancient cultures. Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments at his crucifixion: â€Å"Let’s not tear it,† they said to one another. â€Å"Let’s decide by lot who will get it. † This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, â€Å"They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. † So this is what the soldiers did. (John 19:24, NIV) Does the Bible Mention Gambling? Although the words â€Å"gambling† and â€Å"gamble† do not appear in the Bible, we cannot assume that an activity is not a sin simply because it is not mentioned. Looking at pornography on the Internet and using illegal drugs are not mentioned either, but both violate God’s laws. While casinos and lotteries promise thrills and excitement, obviously people gamble to try to win money. Scripture gives very specific instructions about what our attitude should be toward money: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV) â€Å"No servant can serve two masters. [Jesus said. ] Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. † (Luke 16:13, NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV) Gambling is a way to bypass work, but the Bible counsels us to persevere and work hard: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, NIV) One of the key principles in the Bible is that people should be wise stewards of everything God gives them, including their time, talent and treasure. Gamblers may believe they earn their money with their own labor and may spend it as they please, yet God gives people the talent and health to carry out their jobs, and their very life is a gift from him as well. Wise stewardship of extra money calls believers to invest it in the Lord’s work or to save it for an emergency, rather than lose it in games in which the odds are stacked against the player. Gamblers covet more money, but they may also covet the things money can buy, such as cars, boats, houses, expensive jewelry and clothing. The Bible forbids a covetous attitude in the Tenth Commandment: â€Å"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. † (Exodus 20:17, NIV) Gambling also has the potential to turn into an addiction, like drugs or alcohol. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 2 million U. S. adults are pathological gamblers and another 4 to 6 million are problem gamblers. This addiction can destroy the stability of the family, lead to job loss, and cause a person to lose control of their life: †¦for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Peter 2:19) Some argue that gambling is nothing more than entertainment, no more immoral than going to a movie or concert. People who attend movies or concerts expect only entertainment in return, however, not money. They are not tempted to keep spending until they â€Å"break even. † Finally, gambling provides a sense of false hope. Participants place their hope in winning, often against astronom ical odds, instead of placing their hope in God. Throughout the Bible, we are constantly reminded that our hope is in God alone, not money, power, or position: Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5, NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV) Some Christians believe that church raffles, bingos and the like to raise funds for Christian education and ministries are harmless fun, a form of donation involving a game. Their logic is that, as with alcohol, an adult should act responsibly. In those circumstances, it seems unlikely someone would lose a large amount of money. God’s Word is No Gamble Every leisure activity is not a sin, but all sin is not clearly listed in the Bible. Added to that, God doesn’t just want us not to sin, but he gives us an even higher goal. The Bible encourages us to consider our activities in this way: â€Å"Everything is permissible for me†Ã¢â‚¬â€but not everything is beneficial. â€Å"Everything is permissible for me†Ã¢â‚¬â€but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV) This verse appears again in 1 Corinthians 10:23, with the addition of this idea: â€Å"Everything is permissible†Ã¢â‚¬â€but not everything is constructive. † When an activity is not distinctly described as sin in the Bible, we can ask ourselves these questions: â€Å"Is this activity beneficial for me or will it become my master? Will partic ipation in this activity be constructive or destructive to my Christian life and witness? † The Bible does not explicitly say, â€Å"Thou shalt not play blackjack. † Yet by gaining a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures we have a trustworthy guide for determining what pleases and displeases God. How to cite What the Bible Says About Gambling, Papers

Ivan Essay Example For Students

Ivan Essay The book, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn is a book with many hidden themes and symbols. This book based on a day in a Stalinist labor camp through the eyes of the main character Shukhov. Solzhenitsyn does a great job of showing how brutal these camps were. The way these ideas and visualizations are expressed is what makes this a great book. With Themes and symbols throughout this story, Solzhenitsyn captures the unjust treatment of these captives. Through the daily routines of Shukhov, Solzhenitsyn expresses the struggle for dignity, individuality and meaning that these captives faced. One of the main points I believe that Solzhenitsyn was trying to display in his book was the battle for human dignity. In this prison they try to strip all self esteem from the inmates. They are treated as if they were animals and most of the inmates after time began to act like inmates. Shukhov was an exception to the rule. He refused to let the labor camp strip him of his self pride and dignity. When most would act like the animals they were treated as, Shukhov would resist and act as a civil human being. A great example of this is when the inmates go eat. Then Shukhov took his cap off his shaved head however cold it was, he would never eat with it on. (pg 16) While other inmates rushed to eat there food and threw bones onto the floor, Shukhov remained extremely well mannered in the way he went about eating his meal just as he did before he entered the prison. While others give into the animalistic ways of the prison, Shukhov remains constant and dignified and Solzhenitsyn shows th is as a way for Shukhov to segregate himself from the prison. Another everyday activity that takes place for Shukhov is the placing of his spoon in his boot after each meal he has. To Shukhov, something as simple as his spoon is extremely important. The spoon he keeps in his boot is something that he has that no other inmate has. To Shukhov the spoon represents eccentricity. The spoon is something that is unique to Shukhov and in a way it represents him. A spoon is a tool used to nourish oneself and to Shukhov, taking care of himself physically and spiritually is important to him. A simple spoon is one extremely important part of Shukhovs wellbeing in the concentration camp. One of the biggest symbols in the book was bread. Bread was nourishing to the inmates physically throughout the entire story. Bread was what they wanted and what they needed to be happy. At the end of the story bread was what brought not only physical peace to Shukhov by curving his hunger but it also brought spiritual peace to him when he gave the little bread he had to Alyoshka. After giving his bread away Shukhov became peaceful with his surroundings. Shukhov went to sleep and was happy. Hed had a lot of luck today. Shukhov finally understood what Alyoshka meant when he referred to the Lords Prayer and his suggestion to daily bread. Shukhov spiritually received his daily bread for the first time and found peace with himself. Solzhenitsyn main intent in describing the daily life of this specific inmate was to uncover the themes and symbols that the inmates used to get by in everyday life. Without things like Shukhovs spoon or daily bread many of these prisoners would not have been able to survive.