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26 Jun 2015, 03:23
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ESSAY QUESTION 1:
The human mind will always be superior to machines because machines are only tools of human minds.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.
RESPONSE 1:
The human mind will not always be superior to machines for a host of reasons. Superiority itself is a term which can mean many things, which will be discussed. In this case, the machines being considered are computer based, as these seem to relate most closely to the human mind, as opposed to a kitchen appliance or vehicle for example.
The first way in which machines are superior to the human mind is in terms of speed. For example if equations are entered into an Excel spreadsheet, when values are assigned, the results are returned almost immediately, with no error (as long as everything was entered correctly). This would take even the brightest mathmeticians a few seconds at least. Although it can be argued that a human had to input the equations, so must be superior; the speed and accuracy of the software which far outpars a human mind, shows it is more advanced in this case.
Another reason that machines are more superior to human minds is due to the fact that most machines are the product of collaboration of many human minds. For instance, usually more than one person is involved in the design and making of a software. The software has components of different people’s ideas and logic, therefore it is possibly more superior than any of the single human minds which contributed to its existence. This is often the case for high security software, where each programmer does not even know what the others are doing, in order to ensure safety and confidentiality of the software. In this case, it is apparent that the resulting software is more advanced than any one human, as it contains all the strengths from a range of different people. Therefore in a one to one comparison of machine versus human mind, the machine is more impressive in many ways.
Additionally, machines often do not have problems associated with human minds. For example, machines do not have emotional issues or feelings which distract from the task at hand. A computer programme works efficiently without needing sleep or food breaks, which may show it is superior in the fact that it is relentless. Humans are vulnerable to mental health problems and diseases, like depression or Alzheimers, which can greatly affect the working of the mind and sometimes have no cure. However machines are immune to these problems, and any issues can usually be repaired by programmers, or an alternative method found which bypasses the problem. It may be argued that the fact that machines do not have feelings mean they are lacking in a complexity which the human mind has, therefore being less superior. However it can be questioned whether having emotions and feelings makes humans more superior, or if it in fact makes us weaker and less efficient.
Although machines are tools of the human mind, this does not make them less superior. In fact the speed of machines, the fact that they are designed using many different aspects of different human minds, and that they do not have emotions or vulnerability to disease and mental health issues, mean that machines are actually superior to the human mind in many ways.
ESSAY QUESTION 2:
Nature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products, is opening its next franchise in the town of Plainsville. The store should prove to be very successful: Nature's Way franchises tend to be most profitable in areas where residents lead healthy lives, and clearly Plainsville is such an area. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs. The local health club has more members than ever, and the weight training and aerobics classes are always full. Finally, Plainsville's schoolchildren represent a new generation of potential customers: these schoolchildren are required to participate in a fitness-for-life program, which emphasizes the benefits of regular exercise at an early age.
Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
RESPONSE 2:
The argument assumes some things to be true, which if found to be wrong, may cause failure when the new franchise is opened in Plainsville. Claims made by merchants and the health club in Plainsville may have been interpreted wrongly, as well as the fitness-for-life programmes success being in question.
The first unstated assumption is that because the sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs, the residents of Plainsville are healthy. However this could be due to people from neighboring towns coming to buy the shoes and clothes from Plainsville due to a new big mall being erected or big sales occuring in Plainsville. There is no evidence that people of Plainsville are buying the clothes and shoes. However even if it was taken that the locals were buying the goods, there is an assumption being made that just because people buy fitness paraphernalia, they are therefore healthy. This may not be true at all, and more telling evidence, like the average weight of citizens, may be more appropriate. If this assumption proved unwarranted, it may be found that the citizens were not healthy and the franchise could fail.
Assuming that because the health club has more members than ever and the classes are always full, residents are healthy, is also flawed. The increase in members may be for other reasons apart from residents being healthy, for example there may be a new promotion on with cheap membership of a free trial month, where they joined the club but do not actually partake in exercise regularly. It is also not know how big the health club membership base is compared to the city. Having one successful health club does not mean the city is healthy, especially if only a small proportion of the city are members. The classes always being full may not necessarily mean healthy residents, if say, the classes have very few spaces in them. This would not reflect the health of the entire city. More information is needed as to the percentage of residents who are members of health club, and how often they partake in classes or fitness activities.
The final stated assumption is that the fitness-for-life programme will make children of Plainsville healthy. This is flawed because there is no evidence to support this claim. If it was found that the programme did not influence the children, the future of the franchise would be in danger of few customers. Some proof is needed that the programme is successful, and would work on the children on Plainsville. Additionally, even if the programme was to work, there is no telling if this will increase Nature’s Way’s sales. Children may find from the programme that healthy cooking with fresh foods is most important, and may not buy Nature’s Way’s products in the future.
There are some overarching problems with this argument: The assumption that the fitness shops increase in sales means more healthy residents is flawed, the health club having more members does not necessarily mean a fitter community and the fitness programme for children has no proof of success. Thereefore some more information is needed before Nature’s Way can make a intelligent choice about opening a new franchise in Plainsville.
Thank you!
The human mind will always be superior to machines because machines are only tools of human minds.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.
RESPONSE 1:
The human mind will not always be superior to machines for a host of reasons. Superiority itself is a term which can mean many things, which will be discussed. In this case, the machines being considered are computer based, as these seem to relate most closely to the human mind, as opposed to a kitchen appliance or vehicle for example.
The first way in which machines are superior to the human mind is in terms of speed. For example if equations are entered into an Excel spreadsheet, when values are assigned, the results are returned almost immediately, with no error (as long as everything was entered correctly). This would take even the brightest mathmeticians a few seconds at least. Although it can be argued that a human had to input the equations, so must be superior; the speed and accuracy of the software which far outpars a human mind, shows it is more advanced in this case.
Another reason that machines are more superior to human minds is due to the fact that most machines are the product of collaboration of many human minds. For instance, usually more than one person is involved in the design and making of a software. The software has components of different people’s ideas and logic, therefore it is possibly more superior than any of the single human minds which contributed to its existence. This is often the case for high security software, where each programmer does not even know what the others are doing, in order to ensure safety and confidentiality of the software. In this case, it is apparent that the resulting software is more advanced than any one human, as it contains all the strengths from a range of different people. Therefore in a one to one comparison of machine versus human mind, the machine is more impressive in many ways.
Additionally, machines often do not have problems associated with human minds. For example, machines do not have emotional issues or feelings which distract from the task at hand. A computer programme works efficiently without needing sleep or food breaks, which may show it is superior in the fact that it is relentless. Humans are vulnerable to mental health problems and diseases, like depression or Alzheimers, which can greatly affect the working of the mind and sometimes have no cure. However machines are immune to these problems, and any issues can usually be repaired by programmers, or an alternative method found which bypasses the problem. It may be argued that the fact that machines do not have feelings mean they are lacking in a complexity which the human mind has, therefore being less superior. However it can be questioned whether having emotions and feelings makes humans more superior, or if it in fact makes us weaker and less efficient.
Although machines are tools of the human mind, this does not make them less superior. In fact the speed of machines, the fact that they are designed using many different aspects of different human minds, and that they do not have emotions or vulnerability to disease and mental health issues, mean that machines are actually superior to the human mind in many ways.
ESSAY QUESTION 2:
Nature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products, is opening its next franchise in the town of Plainsville. The store should prove to be very successful: Nature's Way franchises tend to be most profitable in areas where residents lead healthy lives, and clearly Plainsville is such an area. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs. The local health club has more members than ever, and the weight training and aerobics classes are always full. Finally, Plainsville's schoolchildren represent a new generation of potential customers: these schoolchildren are required to participate in a fitness-for-life program, which emphasizes the benefits of regular exercise at an early age.
Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
RESPONSE 2:
The argument assumes some things to be true, which if found to be wrong, may cause failure when the new franchise is opened in Plainsville. Claims made by merchants and the health club in Plainsville may have been interpreted wrongly, as well as the fitness-for-life programmes success being in question.
The first unstated assumption is that because the sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs, the residents of Plainsville are healthy. However this could be due to people from neighboring towns coming to buy the shoes and clothes from Plainsville due to a new big mall being erected or big sales occuring in Plainsville. There is no evidence that people of Plainsville are buying the clothes and shoes. However even if it was taken that the locals were buying the goods, there is an assumption being made that just because people buy fitness paraphernalia, they are therefore healthy. This may not be true at all, and more telling evidence, like the average weight of citizens, may be more appropriate. If this assumption proved unwarranted, it may be found that the citizens were not healthy and the franchise could fail.
Assuming that because the health club has more members than ever and the classes are always full, residents are healthy, is also flawed. The increase in members may be for other reasons apart from residents being healthy, for example there may be a new promotion on with cheap membership of a free trial month, where they joined the club but do not actually partake in exercise regularly. It is also not know how big the health club membership base is compared to the city. Having one successful health club does not mean the city is healthy, especially if only a small proportion of the city are members. The classes always being full may not necessarily mean healthy residents, if say, the classes have very few spaces in them. This would not reflect the health of the entire city. More information is needed as to the percentage of residents who are members of health club, and how often they partake in classes or fitness activities.
The final stated assumption is that the fitness-for-life programme will make children of Plainsville healthy. This is flawed because there is no evidence to support this claim. If it was found that the programme did not influence the children, the future of the franchise would be in danger of few customers. Some proof is needed that the programme is successful, and would work on the children on Plainsville. Additionally, even if the programme was to work, there is no telling if this will increase Nature’s Way’s sales. Children may find from the programme that healthy cooking with fresh foods is most important, and may not buy Nature’s Way’s products in the future.
There are some overarching problems with this argument: The assumption that the fitness shops increase in sales means more healthy residents is flawed, the health club having more members does not necessarily mean a fitter community and the fitness programme for children has no proof of success. Thereefore some more information is needed before Nature’s Way can make a intelligent choice about opening a new franchise in Plainsville.
Thank you!
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