| Topic: |
Science > Philosophy |
| User: |
"Jane Spinks" |
| Date: |
15 Dec 2004 12:56:04 PM |
| Object: |
Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
I've just started studying Humanities. I've got some philosophy
conclusions and I'm to come up with valid arguments. I've done them all
except one. It's probably mind bogglingly simple but I just can't get my
head around it. I'm very behind. I don't necessarily want someone to
tell me the answer but a clue to put me on the right track would be
great. And forgive me if I'm being really thick, but I'm trying to write
3 essays at once. This is it:
What goes up must come down.
Thanks.
Jane
gingerita@mywigmac.com
Please remove 'mywig' to reply.
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| User: "Home" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
15 Dec 2004 08:34:14 PM |
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"Jane Spinks" <gingerita@mywigmac.com> wrote in message
news:cpq1c4$qf9$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
What goes up must come down.
From philosophy: the assumption of the balance of all things in the
universe, earth/sky; water/fire/ ying/yang (cross cultural example) and of
course up/down.
From physics: Einstein said any motion is equivalent to any other motion.
That is, we can't know what direction we are going in, unless we have
external cues to orient to - he used the example of standing in an elevator
and trying to guess whether you are going up (gravity) or being swung around
on the end of a rope (centrifugal).
From the 60's: turn on, tune in, drop out (i.e. down) (which co-insides with
getting high).
Ken
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| User: "danti" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
16 Dec 2004 09:24:21 AM |
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"Jane Spinks" <gingerita@mywigmac.com> wrote in message
news:cpq1c4$qf9$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
I've just started studying Humanities. I've got some philosophy
conclusions and I'm to come up with valid arguments. I've done them
all except one. It's probably mind bogglingly simple but I just
can't get my head around it. I'm very behind. I don't necessarily
want someone to tell me the answer but a clue to put me on the right
track would be great. And forgive me if I'm being really thick, but
I'm trying to write 3 essays at once. This is it:
What goes up must come down.
....the statement of course only refers to an earthly event.....and so
true without factoring in probing space ships of course.........shoot
an arrow in the air, where it lands you may not know......but land it
does......(i can't believe i am answering this)
an essay?....perhaps the humanity professor should be shot in the air
and where he or she lands will determine the essay.... ;-)
Thanks.
Jane
gingerita@mywigmac.com
Please remove 'mywig' to reply.
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| User: "BS" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
15 Dec 2004 04:25:20 PM |
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"Jane Spinks" <gingerita@mywigmac.com> wrote in message
news:cpq1c4$qf9$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
I've just started studying Humanities. I've got some philosophy
conclusions and I'm to come up with valid arguments. I've done them all
except one. It's probably mind bogglingly simple but I just can't get my
head around it. I'm very behind. I don't necessarily want someone to tell
me the answer but a clue to put me on the right track would be great. And
forgive me if I'm being really thick, but I'm trying to write 3 essays at
once. This is it:
What goes up must come down.
You might try the approach that it is a false statement except when
considered within quite narrow parameters. Consider the various space
probes which have been launched. They certainly will never "come down" to
earth.
Another approach would be to question whether it is a meaningful statement
taken in isolation. It is meaningful only when the "what" is clearly
specified. A bit of vulgarity; I just made a fart; the resulting gasses
certainly have been going up (my nose is in its normal position - no
laughter please). Will they EVER come down (being lighter than air)?
BS
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| User: "Jane Spinks" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
16 Dec 2004 06:36:50 AM |
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BS wrote:
You might try the approach that it is a false statement except when
considered within quite narrow parameters. Consider the various space
probes which have been launched. They certainly will never "come down" to
earth.
Thanks for that - and the 'wind' info! Yeah, it's not a sound
conclusion. But I'm supposed to come up with the premises that arrive at
it. For example, take "all cows eat grass":
All herbivores eat grass
All cows are herbivores
Therefore all cows eat grass.
What I just can't figure is the two premises that lead to the conclusion
"What goes up must come down". They don't actually have to be true (i.e.
'sound').
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| User: "LookinBob" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
30 Dec 2004 12:52:13 AM |
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I would not call it a trick question, but perhaps the best answer is
that it is out of date, considering lessons of spacecraft.
---------------------------------------------
On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 12:36:50 +0000 (UTC), Jane Spinks
<gingerita@mywigmac.com> wrote:
BS wrote:
You might try the approach that it is a false statement except when
considered within quite narrow parameters. Consider the various space
probes which have been launched. They certainly will never "come down" to
earth.
Thanks for that - and the 'wind' info! Yeah, it's not a sound
conclusion. But I'm supposed to come up with the premises that arrive at
it. For example, take "all cows eat grass":
All herbivores eat grass
All cows are herbivores
Therefore all cows eat grass.
What I just can't figure is the two premises that lead to the conclusion
"What goes up must come down". They don't actually have to be true (i.e.
'sound').
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| User: "lightbulb" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
30 Dec 2004 09:15:25 AM |
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What I just can't figure is the two premises that lead to the conclusion
"What goes up must come down". They don't actually have to be true (i.e.
'sound').
If that is the case then you have room for a lot of license.
Gravity accelerates all objects to the ground at a rate of 9.81 m/ss.
All objects accelerated against gravity will eventually lose their momentum
and become subject to gravity's force.
Therefore, what goes up, must come down.
The state of being down is natural for all objects.
All objects will return to their natural state if moved.
Therefore, what goes up, must come down.
Any object that goes up will turn blue.
Any object that turns blue will come down.
Therefore, what goes up, must come down.
Mike
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
15 Dec 2004 11:51:59 PM |
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Jane Spinks wrote:
I've just started studying Humanities. I've got some philosophy
conclusions and I'm to come up with valid arguments. I've done them
all
except one. It's probably mind bogglingly simple but I just can't get
my
head around it. I'm very behind. I don't necessarily want someone to
tell me the answer but a clue to put me on the right track would be
great. And forgive me if I'm being really thick, but I'm trying to
write
3 essays at once. This is it:
What goes up must come down.
Don't try for good grades in philosophy. By writing what you think you
will learn more about philosophy than through looking up 'answers'.
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| User: "volyskier" |
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| Title: Re: Essay question is driving me mad. Please help! |
15 Dec 2004 02:51:20 PM |
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You might explore the notions of natural and logical consequences, how
we learn and the perceptions there of.
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