Xeriscape Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Xeriscape - Essay Example Yesterday I interviewed a neighbor who has a green lawn in front of her house. My first question was to inquire whether she knew about xeriscape. Surprisingly, she had heard about it but did not have any idea of what it pertained. From her opinion, xeriscape was a garden with cactus and rocks over it. This is the reason she preferred green lawn to xeriscape. The argument used here is deductive reasoning based on the general statement. Some people still think that xeriscape must resemble either death valley with bone-dry and filled with cacti or ugly looking plant. This is not the case, but can be as refreshing as an oasis. Besides that, some of the native plants have unique and attractive color, which can make the entire garden appear beautiful and lively. In addition, the neighbor thought that the xeriscape would be complex to take care because of the plants planted around the yard as compared to green lawns, which do not have plants. Still, the argument in here is deductive reasoning based on faulty conclusion. In reality, green lawns are more complex to maintain and expensive than xeriscape. Even though the plants in xeriscape make it appear complex, it is ease it to maintain. This is because unlike green lawns, xeriscape does not require sprinkle system, grass cutting, and saves a lot of water. It is most applicable to those people with limited time to care for heir garden. More time is consumed in maintaining green lawns, as it requires grass cutting monthly to maintain its appearance. The sprinkle systems used in green lawns consume a lot of water. From the lady’s perception, xeriscape would not match with the Los Angeles climate. Surprisingly, from her idea that xeriscape resembles cactus, she thought that people would laugh at her, and criticize her of living in a desert where cactus are grown. The argument used in coming up with this thought is stereotype. Exhibited in real life, numerous plants can be planted

The Paradigm Debate Essay Example for Free

The Paradigm Debate Essay The heart of the debate between the quantitative and qualitative paradigms in research is based on the authenticity and correctness of the data gathered from each approach. I believe that the central debate is based on which paradigm best portrays what is real, what is scientific and what is valid. The endless debate of these two approaches will stay if not for the most part of the 21st century but a few more decades from now, since there has been slow development in the field of research methods (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach says that the rigors of science, the objectivity of the scientific approach and the use of statistics will generate the true picture of the problem as what the research had entailed to investigate. On the other hand, the qualitative approach says that human life cannot be thought of as variables, experiments or even number because it takes out the essence of the social interaction, the emotional and mental processes involved in the experience or the behavior. In the past, the distinction between what data or variables lend itself better to quantitative approach and which data should be examined using the qualitative approach was clear (Tashakkori Teddlie, 2003). But at the moment, the rising awareness of the qualitative approach as a valid research method and the quantitative approach becoming more cognizant of the less objective variables are in a battle to which approach will yield the most valid and truest result. In the past the quantitative approach was the only way to do research, the introduction of anthropology and ethnographic researches have widened the research methodology of various disciplines (Salomon, 1991).   With it was the start of the unending debate over which approach was most beneficial to the research. The idea however is a far cry from the present state of mixed methods approach, recognizing that each approach had its own merits, a different breed of research approach now utilizes the two paradigms and calls it mixed methods approach. As a student of psychology, I am inclined to favor the qualitative approach as it is more able to provide a deeper understanding and meaning of the variables being studied, it would make more sense to me to explore how bipolar construe friendships which can never be captured by the use of a quantitative friendship scale which offers less insight to the experiences and dynamics of friendships. However, the scientific part of me wants to believe in the wisdom of objectivity and science, I have been trained under the old school experimental and behavioral psychology which gave much importance to experimentation and control of variables. This would mean that my orientation towards research is that of the quantitative fervor. Choosing which side to favor is like asking me to choose between the devil and the deep blue see, each approach presents a different understanding of the variables under study and I am often reminded of the nature and nurture debate which predominated the developmental psychology field. Therefore, I would rather say that I support the quantitative approach because it has been around far enough to at least become more refined to provide better measures and control for the study of variables   which in the past have been questioned with regards to the validity and reliability of the results of the study (Adcock Collier, 2001). Moreover, the quantitative approach is the form mostly accepted by the scientific community and therefore is more established and more credible, although it does not mean that all quantitative researches are excellently written but that some may have sacrificed the integrity of the conduct of the research due to budget constraints or a poorly designed research method (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach has reached an almost cult like following and dissenters have naturally went to support the qualitative approach but whichever it is, I am convinced for now that the quantitative paradigm has more sense and purpose than qualitative approaches (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). References Adcock, R. Collier, D. (2001). Measurement validity: A shared standard for qualitative and quantitative research. American Political Science Review 95; 3: 529-546. Mahoney, J. Goertz, G.(2006). A tale of two cultures: Contrasting quantitative and qualitative research. Political Analysis 14: 227-249. Salomon, G. (1991). Transcending the qualitative-quantitative debate: The analytic and systemic approaches to educational research. Educational Researcher, 20, 10-18. Tashakkori, A. Teddlie, C. (2003). Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social Behavioral Research. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications.

Personal Identity Defining Yourself Philosophy Essay

Personal Identity Defining Yourself Philosophy Essay Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth Alan Watts. Personal Identity play its role as to define human with quality of its own which makes him or her a unique one. The identity of a person that is in question must be able to realize them, and he must be identified by other people. In short, what makes John unique from Felicia? Both internal (mind) and external (body) views are the two essential aspects that have to be differentiated by one. There are several general philosophical theories of this identity problem. Body theory, Soul theory and Conscious Theory will come to fit into the missing piece of the puzzle of personal identity. The body theory is one of the theories that define personal identity. It can be defined as when Person A has a personal identity if and only if they have the same body X. However, two problems can be found in this definition. Qualitatively, it is right to own the same body, but if changes happened to the body, can we still define that person as the same one? Everyones body is definitely different if we were to compare at the age of 60 and 4. Another problem popped out on the matter of body alteration. If Felicia becomes injured by a mine at war, and then her legs have to be amputated, is she not the same person, Felicia? Therefore, the definition of the theory is insufficient as the same body alteration is not accounted for. On the other hand, numerically, if a person lost his finger due to an accident, does that finger is counted as a different body? What if a scientist decided to use another persons DNA to clone another person with the exact same DNA? Two people with identical body surely cannot be the same person because they are still two different people with identical body. Both of them would be living totally different lives. Hence, in defining personal identity, the body theory by itself had failed to make it valid. The Soul theory will be the next common theory in defining personal identity. Similarly to the body theory: Person A has a personal identity if and only if they have the same soul. The idea became a lot more complicated when we are trying to define a rather controversial term soul. In the religion aspect, it is thought to be spirit of a person that passes through ones body into another realm (eg. Heaven or hell). However, it is still a mysterious phenomenon since there is no proof that can prove its existence. For instance, when a cloud changes to grayish puffy substance, we will still say, the cloud had turned gray. In short, we still recognized it as a cloud. It is just many souls in one body. Therefore, the soul theory is also not valid as it fails in that the definiens is insufficient to define personal identity.   The truest and most recognized philosophy theories about personal identity are the consciousness theory. However, this theory is interpreted differently in three ways: the experiential content, conscious self, and connected stream of consciousness theories. First on the list, the conscious self-theory: he or she is said to have personal identity if they have the same self-conscious. In another words, if there is a different conscious in two people, then both of them has personal identity. At first sight, it seems like a good theory to prove personal identity. It is analogous to Descartes cogito, I think therefore I am. Secondly, the consciousness of experiences theory is the common derivatives to the theory of consciousness. It is more easily known as the experiential content. This theory comes from the Lockes theory of having the mind blank, and accumulation from experiences. One is to have personal identity because only one person can experience at one finite space. We take twins f or instance. Although they have identical bodies, the moment they were born, they are already experiencing different moments. Therefore, both of them have personal identity because they experience different surroundings and see things in a different manner. The major problem is that we do not have the ability to remember every single experience in our life consciously. For instance, one can still tell another person what they have eaten three days ago but it is impossible for a person to tell another what they ate today after 10 years. In another example, one cannot be define as having different personal identity because they were drunk and acted like another person. In other words, because the human mind has failed to consciously remember every single moment of their lives, this theory eventually is invalid. The connected stream of consciousness will be the last theory about personal identity. With its definition of a persons identity is made out of a stream of connected conscious experiences, this theory eventually had solved the problem of human being unable to remember about their experience consciously. With this theory, we will still be the same person although we are unable to remember what we have done at the age of 4 when we are 60 years old. Generally with a finite mind, conscious is affiliated in a chronological pattern. In short, we will take the river as a metaphor. If you see a river flowing every day, you will not be looking at the same part of the river (representing body or experiences), however you will not be able to dispute that is not a river. Hence, let say the river is personal identity. This theory almost had it all right then. Thomas Reid which is also my preferred option to the idea of personal identity disagreed with Lockes memory theory by reducing it to absurdity. Lockes theory was criticized for a few irrelevancies. First of all, I strongly agree with what Reid hold on to. He thinks that personal identity should be determined with something that cannot be divided into parts indivisible but not by determining by operations. He, too, stated the main problem of Lockes is his ideas are of confusing proves of another thing with itself. Officer paradox was introduced by Reid at his attempt to Lockes theory to absurdity. Memory is the best evidence for identity, says Locke. If Felicia was able to remember what she had done, hence, she will be the same person with the same identity. But if Felicia happened to be a forgetful person, will that means she loses her personal identity? Reids idea can further support my point where he believes that to be able to prove something for its constituents and its existence, an evidence of a particular matter is relatively irrelevant. It was argued that if I were to believe the world is created, it does not mean that the creation of the world is valid. This argument is similar to someone who remember doing something but that does not mean he will the same person who did that something. I personally think that the memory and personal identity are both affiliated. They are related not in the sense of determining who a person is but they are related in a sense where one existed over time instead. Therefore, it was concluded by Reid that Lockes memory theory is a presup position of personal identity by memory rather than the creation of it. A U.S. author, James Baldwin once quoted, An identity seemed like it has arrived by the way when a person faces and uses his experience. Assuming that we will not be able to put everything into a complete puzzle, we are left with one choice. Pluck a rose, separate the petals one by one which each petals represents one idea. Whatever came out at the end, it is your call by your very own intuition. But for me, I would choose to go for Reids philosophical views about personal identity.

Julius Caesar: Marcus Brutus Mistakes :: Julius Caesar Essays

Julius Caesar: Brutus' Mistakes The theme I picked for Julius Caesar essay is the mistakes made by Brutus. According to Mr. Holtz Brutus was stupid and many mistakes. The first one was him even joining the Conspirators. The second was letting Anthony live and speak at the funeral. The final mistake was his battle plan. Every one does make mistakes sometimes, but mistakes Brutus made where plainly stupid. I feel the first mistake was Brutus joining the conspirators in the first place. His mine was easily manipulated by the conspirators. They gave him the justification he needed to kill Caesar, which was â€Å"its Good of Rome.† The assumption was that Caesar would eventually take the crown, which would never less destroyed Rome according to Brutus thoughts. By making this assumption and joining the other conspirators he set him self up for many problems for him and for Rome. This was one of the fatal mistakes made by Brutus. Brutus actually made two mistakes with Mark Antony. The first was letting Mark Antony live and the second was letting him speak alone at the funeral. When Cassius first suggested that they should kill Mark Antony, which they should of, but the noble Brutus said â€Å"Our course will seem to bloody.† That was not his only mistake with Mark Antony he also let him speak at Caesar funeral. He was warned by Cassius, but Brutus ignored him as usual. When Mark Antony spoke he got crowd on his side and they killed all the conspirators except for Brutus and Cassius (they excepted the angry mob and left Rome). This was some more trouble that was caused by Brutus. In the war Brutus makes another dumb decision. He wanted to go into Rome and take it over, but Cassius wanted them to wait for the army to come. Of course they follow Brutus decision and they are defeated. This was yet another bad decision by Brutus. This final decision he lost his life. I wonder some time who is worst Brutus stupidness or Cassius ignorance.

Jose Rizal Movie Review

Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda is an important person in the history of the Philippines and an icon that we can find in every history books in our country. We know him as the guy who dated a lot of women, he was short and not that physically attractive as others but he was more than that. Behind that minute physique of his, is a man that was full of courage and bravery. That same man was the one who wrote two of the most important literary works that somewhat defines us as a nation (Noli Me Tangere and El filibusterismo).He believes that education is the key to a brighter future. Rizal was just a normal person, just like a man that you can see at the streets everyday. He falls in love, values his family and behaves like an ordinary individual. What makes him exceptional is that he stands by what he think is right and he doesn’t just talk the talk but he walks the walk. The film enlightens us regarding the life story of our national hero, Jose Rizal. It uncovers his life from his childhood until his execution at the hands of the Spanish colonizers, who occupied Philippines for 333 years.We are also thrown into the world of Rizal's novels, thus we get a peep of how he viewed the Filipino society under the Spanish regime. The movie gives us an idea about how Jose Rizal, which is just an ordinary citizen like us, helped our country acquire independence. It showed us how hard it was for them to gain the freedom that we are enjoying right now. That behind every free man at the moment is equivalent to a man that was maltreated by the Spaniards before.It was a very heroic thing to do, sacrificing your own life and not having the assurance if all your sacrifices will be worth it in the end. Based on the ending of the film, I can say that Rizal did it out of love- love for his family and countrymen and that he did not regret giving up things which was important to him in order to help our country. I personally was indifferent about the life and work s of our national hero. However, after watching the film, it made me value more the sacrifices that he did for our motherland.The question that kept swarming on my mind was now answered. What makes Rizal better than the other brave people who also fought for the Philippines? What makes Rizal different? Possibly because Rizal fought for what he believes in a nonviolent and a diplomatic way. He did not fought in a bloody manner like what Andres Bonifacio did rather he used the skill that he was good at which is writing. His works provoke truly heartfelt nationalism. Sure he was a very good writer, poet, novelist, a octor, a warrior, a man who can speak different languages, a charmer, and a man that has his name written in all history books but most importantly he was man that we can really label as a true blooded Filipino. Today, things are not in an ideal situation which was opposite of what Rizal would have wanted. Nevertheless it’s not yet too late to work things out. All of us, especially the youth, just have to bring out the inner â€Å"Rizal† spirit that they have within. As what Rizal deems ‘youth are the tomorrow’s leader’.

Othello and Racism Essay

Held a captive and cannot escape the grips of racism, Othello must battle with this matter from day one till his call of death. Just because his skin tone is unusual from Venice and its citizens, makes Othello an outcast . Although born a black moor, Othello has all the great characteristics a man should have. Being courageous, honorable, intelligent and all the aspects a woman would want in a husband. He grew up to be a venetian military general who has risen to high position of power is viewed in two means. One, since Othello belongs to the military realm he hence deserves the respect and authority any other general should receive. Second view is highly different and because the race role is a huge issue, it essentially eliminates the first way people would view Othello. But this doesn’t stop Desdemona from falling in love with him and making him her husband. The color of Othello’s skin doesn’t bother Desdemona one bit which isn’t the case for the rest of the characters seen throughout the play. Before Othello’s name is even mentioned in the play, racial slurs are being said and the audience is being introduced to how Othello will be treated. In Act I Scene I, Rodrigo and Iago talk about â€Å"the moor†, â€Å"the thick-lips† and â€Å"the old black ram† . Small comments like these slowly bring out the characteristics that multiple characters share in this play. Iago and Rodrigo aren’t the only ones who have a problem with Othello; Desdemona’s father ,Brabantio, is in the same boat with Iago and Rodrigo. Brabantio is a self-important the Venetian Senator whose main priorities are his job and his daughter. If one of these main concerns aren’t necessarily going his way, then there could be a problem. Othello encounters this the hard way unfortunately. Brabantio hears news about how his daughter has gotten married but not to any regular guy, to a moor.