CLAA05H3 Lecture 4: Lecture 4 of the course

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ceruleanmule652

15 Dec 2010

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Myth can be defined as a traditional story . With a plotline and characters like other stories. Set in the distant past, but sometimes in actual places. Not something untrue as myth is often used today. Different versions of the same myth can coexist. Include creation myths (theogonies, cosmogonies,etc. ) and other aetiologies of the natural world. Gods may be natural elements and/or real personalities with human weakness. Myth is separate from religious belief and ritual. Concern the great deeds of human heroes of the past, although gods can still play a part. Heroes are often semi-divine, and are members of royalty or the nobility. Ancient people believed in such legends as we regard history, helping to explain the past. There is usually a kernel of truth behind the legends. Many heroes ay have once been real kings. Main characters are ordinary people, not gods or heroes. Focus on entertainment, but also justify social / cultural traditions. www. notesolution. com.

Related Questions

What exactly was Hooker's response to Darwin's, Origin of Species? Thank you for your help. I need help deciphering what his opinions truly were.

Hooker, J. D. 1859. [Review of] On the origin of species. Gardeners' Chronicle (31 December): 1052. Part 1.

From the above expressions it will be inferred that we have risen from the perusal of Mr. DARWIN'S book much impressed with its importance, and have moreover found it to be so dependent on the phenomena of horticultural operations, for its facts and results, and so full of experiments that may be repeated and discussed by intelligent gardeners, and of ideas that may sooner fructify in their minds than in those of any other class of naturalists, that we shall be doing them (and we hope also science) a service by dwelling in some detail upon its contents. Thus much we may premise, that it is a book teeming with deep thoughts on numberless simple and complex phenomena of life; that its premises in almost all cases appear to be correct; that its reasoning is apparently close and sound, its style clear, and we need hardly add its subject and manner equally attractive and agreeable; it is also a perfectly ingenuous book, bold in expressions as in thought where the author adduces what he considers clear evidence in his favour, frank in the statement of objections to the hypotheses or conclusions founded on its facts and reasonings; and uniformly courteous to antagonistic doctrines. In fine, whatever may be thought of Mr. DARWIN'S ultimate conclusions, it cannot be denied that it would be difficult in the whole range of the literature of science to find a book so exclusively devoted to the development of theoretical inquiries, which at the same time is throughout so full of conscientious care, so fair in argument, and so considerate in tone. . . . Hitherto most [naturalists] have, as we have already observed, contented themselves with the hypothesis that they were independently created, and the minority have clung to the only other explanation hitherto conceived, that they have all been created by variation from a single first-created living organism, or a few such. Now it must be borne in mind that both these views are mere hypotheses in a scientific point of view; neither has any inherent or prescriptive right to a preference in the mind of the impartial inquirer; but the most superficial observation will show that the hypothesis of original creations is incapable of absolute proof, except the operation be witnessed by credible naturalists, and can only be supported by facts that are either not conclusive against the opposite doctrine, or may be regarded as equally favourable to it; and this hypothesis is hence placed at a disadvantage in comparison with that of the creation of species by variation, which takes its stand on the familiar fact that species do depart from the likeness of their progenitors, both in a wild and domestic state. On the other hand the hypothesis of creation by variation labours under the disadvantage of being founded upon a series of phenomena, the action of each of which individually, as explained by Mr. DARWIN, would appear to prevent the possibility of species retaining their characters for any length of time, and it therefore appears at first sight opposed to the undisputed fact, that many hundreds of animals and plants have transmitted their characters unchanged (or nearly so) through countless generations, and covered, even within the historic period, many square miles of country each with millions of its exact counterpart. To explain this anomaly and to raise this hypothesis of creations by variation to the rank of a scientific theory, is the object of Mr. DARWIN'S book, and to do this he has endeavoured to invent and prove such an intelligible rationale of the operation of variation, as will account for many species having been developed from a few in strict adaptation to existing conditions, and to show good cause how these apparently fleeting changelings may by the operation of natural laws be so far fixed as to reconcile both the naturalist and the common observer to the idea, that what in all his experience are immutable forms of life may have once worn another guise. The hypothesis itself is a very old one; it was, as all the world knows, strongly advocated by LAMARCK, and later still by the author of the "Vestiges of the Natural History of the Creation," but neither of these authors were able to suggest even a plausible method according to which Nature might have proceeded in producing suitable varieties, getting rid of intermediate forms, and giving a temporary stability to such as are recognised as species by all observers. Mr. DARWIN has been more successful, though whether completely so or not the future alone can show. We shall proceed to examine his method in another article.

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Question 1

Evolutionary algorithms are used:

In engineering, to arrive at solutions by going through many permutations of possible solutions and allowing them to evolve.

A genetic feature of complex organisms.

A process undergone by the human brain, which is similar to evolution by natural selection.

Another term used for a computer algorithm in general.

Question 2

Human literature and languages can be studied using methods similar to those used for constructing phylogenies because:

There is no other way of studying these things.

Languages evolve roughly along the lines of species, with mutations (changes in words and pronunciation), descent with modification (languages becoming more different along the way), and branching of languages (languages giving rise to other languages that are similar to them).

Because literature and languages are constructed by organisms (human beings), so what applies to one must apply to the other.

Languages undergo a process of word swapping, which is analogous to horizontal gene transfer.

Question 3

The degree to which horizontal gene transfer occurs in eukaryotes is:

Something upon which the entire validity of evolutionary biology hinges.

A mystery that may or may not disprove evolution, but we simply don't know enough about it at this point.

Something that would overthrow the notion that this phenomenon is important in bacteria.

An interesting and potentially important aspect of biology with relevance for how evolution occurs, but not something that would call it into question one way or the other.

Question 4

Learning about the history of scientific theories and the reasons for why they are initially accepted or rejected is important mostly because:

It makes for exciting story telling, and this is very much needed to get people interested in science.

It teaches us about the process of science as it actually occurs, which is somewhat different to the idealized notion of a purely objective undertaking.

It tells us which theories are definitely true or false.

It tells us that science is actually a totally subjective process that tries to present itself as objective. In reality, personal subjective factors are the only relevant factors that really matter in science.

mauvemammoth554

In personal Health:

1. Conflict resolution is inevitable whenever people live or work together. The goal of conflict resolution is to settle differences peacefully and creatively. Think back to a recent disagreement. How did you communicate your feelings to the other person involved? After reading the strategies for conflict resolution, what would you do differently?

2. Discussing/studying the functions of our reproductive systems (sexual anatomy) can be embarrassing for some students. Do you think students of this generation are more or less comfortable than their parents' generation when discussing such issues? Did either of your parents explain the menstrual cycle to you? If not, why do think they may have been uncomfortable doing so? Describe how the level of discomfort is changing in this current generation of college students?

3. It is sometimes difficult to express ourselves because of the boundaries established by gender role stereotypes (generalizations about how males and females should express themselves). List characteristics that you associate with being male. Now female. How do you think society/media has influenced your perceptions regarding the characteristics you chose? Now, suppose your son decides he wants to become a dancer. How would you feel about this? Would you willingly enroll him in dance classes, or try to discourage him? What role do you think society has played on your attitudes regarding gender role stereotyping?

4. The environment in which a child grows up has a tremendous impact on his/her psychological and social development. Think back to your childhood and list your family's strengths and weaknesses. Now list what you believe are the essential characteristics of a healthy "family" environment? How did your family compare? What can you do as a current or future parent to ensure that your child is raised in a healthy environment?

CLAA05H3 Lecture 4: Lecture 4 of the course

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