Direct Experience and False Memories

The concept that caught my attention in chapter 4 was the direct experience and false memories section. The reason it was interesting to me was because it explains how are minds altars our memories. It is said, “our memories are not stable.” Our memories usually become inaccurate or false. A lot of people tend to get false memory syndrome, which is when you recall events that never happened. The way you speak can alter someone’s memory. The way you ask a question can determine the way it will be answered. The wording plays a major part in a question to how the person will answer. Most people do not realize they are altering their memory because they just answer by what sounds right to them. An example of a question would be: How many people jumped the girl? And how many people did she fight? When asking these questions if you use the word jumped someone is guaranteed to have false memories on how many people really did fight.

UFO's

Did you no that more than half of Canadians and Americans believe that there are UFO’s and about 14 percent claimed that they have seen at least one UFO? Three Scientist have done research to explain weather or not UFO’s really exist. The scientist are Edward Condon, J. Allen Hynek and Royston Paynter. They all agree that UFO’s are nonexistent and that people’s way of thinking is the explanation of the sightings. In Condon study he states that after doing several hours of research they do not have adequate evidence for the government to worry. He also believes that “UFO reports are not going to advance science.” Condon also believes that if there are other scientists that can find adequate evidence and a clear picture of UFO’s exist then there will be a more accurate study. Both Hynek and Paynter believe there maybe a possibility that UFO’s exist. Hynek says that there maybe a very small percent of sightings of alien spacecraft’s. He also believes that it has not been studied systematic manner and that the authorities have ignored all the phenomena. Royston Paynter is skeptical but believes that there is a possibility that UFO’s exist and he also believes that there needs to be physical evidence. He states that there is no physical evidence. The argument that I would most agree with would be Hynek because he explains how there is not enough information collected from other countries besides America. If scientist collects information from all countries there will be a more adequate explanation on whether or not there are real UFO sightings.

Knowledge and Wisdom

I believe that most people think that knowledge and wisdom are the same things, but they are definitely two different things. The definition for wisdom is “the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.” While the definition for knowledge is a tad bit different. Knowledge is “the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning.” (Dictionary Catlin software, LLC). I believe in college we are acquiring both knowledge and wisdom because we gain knowledge in class through our readings and our lectures. Wisdom is considered to be life experiences and events you go through which cannot be found online or in books. I am gaining wisdom through my life experiences in college and knowledge through researching, and textbooks. Wisdom plays a major role in our lives because without wisdom we would not learn from our mistakes. With knowledge we need this because we cannot expand our minds and we will not be very intelligent.

Concept Rhetorical Devices

The rhetorical devices concept really caught my attention because before I read the chapter I had no idea what rhetorical devices were. After reading the chapter I understood that rhetorical devices were emotive language. The rhetorical devices are euphemism, dysphemism, hyperbole, and sarcasm. A euphemism is used to replace a negative term that is associated with a positive term. Dysphemism is a phrase that is used to produce a negative effect. A hyperbole is used to overstate the facts and distort them. Sarcasm is used by those who trying to insult or taunt someone. Lying is part of the rhetorical devices.   Lying is used to mislead. Lying is a deception and is not always deliberate. We use rhetorical devices everyday although most of us do not realize it. Sarcasm is the device I find myself using often because I have a smart mouth. Sometimes I am overly sarcastic but most people are used to it.

Rhetorical devices

This past week I have used a few rhetorical devices such as sarcasm, euphemism and lie. When I was with my friend I used Euphemism to persuade her to go somewhere I knew she didn’t want to go. “Euphemism is a replacement of a term that has negative association by neutral or positive term.” (Page 83) I use euphemism almost everyday. The second device I found myself using is Sarcasm which is used to ridicule and insult. I am a very sarcastic person and sometimes I can go over board. When my friend was asking a question she new the answer to I replied with a little sarcasm. I am not a liar but I did use the Rhetorical device of lying. I hate being questioned about whom I am with and where I am going from my parents especially because I have not lived with them for almost 4 years. Instead of me answering their questions correctly I told them the opposite of what they wanted to hear. A lie is used to mislead someone.

Sally Ride

Sally ride was the first woman astronaut to go to space. The ways that Ride exemplifies her critical thinking skills is by distinctly enunciating and developing strategies to meet her goals. In the textbook it states that the characteristics of a good critical thinker is having analytical skills, communication skills, being well informed and having good research techniques. You also have to be flexible and be able to tolerate ambiguity, be open-minded and be a good problem solver. When Sally was in college she knew that to be successful she needed to work on her communication skills so she focused on her writing and listening skills. Ride’s communication skill was so good that she got to participate as Capcom for the first and second shuttle flights. Ride is a great critical thinker she proved it because she evaluated her skills. After reading page 7 in chapter one Ride exemplifies all the characteristics of a good critical thinker.