Critical Thinking Blog #2

This is always a tricky discussion, but Jacoby presents some sharp arguments about the debate between evolution and creationism. For this blog, create your own discussion about this debate. Where do you stand and why? What critical criteria have you used to consider this issue (if at all -- maybe it's the first time you've thought about it)? Where does this issue stand among the issues of the day?

I am a believer of both evolution and creationism by intelligent design. As Genesis tells us, God created the heavens and the earth, then as the world has aged, it was evolved. We now have hundreds of types of dogs. I believe God created the dog, but didn't create every different type varying from the Great Dane to Chihuahua, or Gray Hound to Bull Dog. Dogs have evolved within the species and that is why they are all considered canines but not all look identical.

I recently watched an episode on evolution on the Discovery Channel. The scientist was trying to prove how we are an ancestor of a virus. That a virus is the cause of the Big Bang. I have to admit he had a strong argument, and I could see how he was lead to that conclusion. But when I take a step back and look at the big picture, we are too perfect of creatures to be just accidental. For those of us that have either been through or walked a pregnancy to birth cycle, it is hard to not believe in the amazing miracle He created.

This is definitely not my first time thinking on this subject and debating between the pros and cons of both sides. The subject is often brought up today, especially in the science field. I was told my first day of class in biology my sophomore year, that you better just through out any thoughts you may have on creationism. Well that is simply not fair.

Pre-Reading Blog #2

What do you think of when you see the word “pseudoscience”? How do you understand the argument between evolution and creation, as Jacoby presents it? Please end your blog with at least one good critical question.

"Pseudo" by definition in dictionary.com means:

1.	not actually but having the appearance of; pretended; false or spurious; sham.

2. almost, approaching, or trying to be

Pseudoscience means just that to me. Almost true, looks like it could be, but not quite right. The argument between evolution and creationism is always a tough one. I was born and raised in a Baptist family, and attended a private Christian school from kindergarten through 8th grade. I was raised to believe in the faith of Jesus and His teachings from the Bible. As I've grown older, and my education has expanded, I find it harder and harder to maintain that faith and believe that at one time was so strong. Jacoby, like others, point out the negative and pseudo scientific reasons that make me stop and think. It is a difficult subject for me to write on, and read about. If I was blind from birth, and told over and over again that the sky was blue, does that mean the sky is blue?

Critical Thinking Blog #1

I often use the process of critical thinking. In fact, sometimes I think about things too much. I think it can be described in a number of different ways, but I believe many of us (especially us girls) use it quite often. We can critically think while shopping, and deciding how those high heeled pumps would look. Or critically think about that woman who is wearing jeans two times too small for her. Or we can all critically think when watching the news, and try to determine what was going through the mind of that person that just committed a crime. Critical thinking is the process of taking something as we see it and asking questions such as when, where, how, and why. A very common scientific/religious critical thinking question is "evolution versus intelligent design". Of course this question and answer would also be followed by morals and family background.

Something I haven't critically thought about is the order my life will be in. This is what I mean, since I've been little it was a known thing to get up and go to school. After high school, I go to college. After college, I'll get a career. Career, then get married, and so on. This of course was my parents contribution (possibly a little brainwashing hehe) but that's the order of my operations. Not that anyone else is wrong if done out of order, just have mine planned that way.

"We often long for surefire, step-by-step procedures [to help us solve problems] and the more personally threatening a situation is, the more we want foolproof rules. But there are no rules that guarantee our thinking will be correct . . . The only way we can decide whether to follow certain rules is if we use our best reasoning to determine that those rules are reasonable, that they lead to reasonable results when followed." – Gerald Nosich, Learning to Think Things Through

The word intellectualism has a very positive connotation to it for me. When I think of intellectualism, I think of an answer being critically thought about, and answered with some intelligence. Logic and reason have basically the same meaning to me, and can be used in place of each other. Meaning making a sound judgment. These also have a positive connotation. All of these words make me think of answering a question or finding the answer to a question.

Pre-reading Blog #1

So, here I am in college. For the most part it's working out alright. I've been working full time since I turned 17, and have been paying off my schooling on my own. Something I'm proud of, yet has drug out the length of time it is taking me to graduate. Basically I should be a doctor by now. Kidding of course, but I'll be 23 this next weekend.

My impressions of education thus far is that it's a lot more work than I had expected. I am one of those students that don't get an "A" if I study. I have, unfortunately, become used to the fact that I am much more of a "B-C" student. Eventually, from my education I hope to gain that first job. That first job where I can promote and have lots of options with my future. I have no idea what I want to do in the future, but that first job will hopefully guide me in a certain direction of answers.

I loved high school. I was a cheerleader all four years, active in Student Government, was somewhat friendly with administration, just over-all had a great four years. I have come to realize my high school years were more of growing as a person, and college more as a student. Now if I could only learn to do both at the same time...?

Rationalism- the act of accepting something as it is, and as it is said to be.

Well if rationalism is accepting it, then anti-rationalism I suppose would be just the opposite. Not accepting something as is and as it is said to be. Challenging the concept of the idea.

Fundamentalism- having a set of ground rules or morals for oneself.