PHILOSOPHY FINAL EXAM PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PHILOSOPHY FINAL EXAM PAPER - Essay Example One hand writes â€Å"red.† The other writes â€Å"blue†. The left brain is able to enunciate â€Å"I see red.† The verbal component is important, because Parfit’s definition of identity is that identity exists because we talk about it, we name it. So the split-brain, Parfit says, represents two streams of consciousness. Both hemispheres are conscious as long as they are intact. Parfit then says this dual consciousness equals two people in the same body. Then he says that in the sense that identity is a named collection of objects (memories, thoughts, emotions) there are no identities here, because the original person has been split in two. I believe that consciousness equals identity, but more on that later. Stairs posits the Ego Theory, where the existence of the ego explains the existence of the person. Parfit’s shallow definition of personal identity as a named collection of parts is put to the test. Stairs wants Parfit to look at the complexity of the collection: â€Å"we do make a distinction†¦between mere assemblages and things that have a coherence or unity†¦From the mere fact that a thing is compound, it simply does not follow that its existence as a thing is merely nominal† (Stairs). ... Parfit says that a person is a long series of experiences, thoughts and feelings. Memory is â€Å"a causal relation that ties together the items in the series† (Stairs). In Bundle Theory, this group or series of feelings has certain facts that can describe them, as well as describe the causal relationships between them (Stairs). Parfit does an â€Å"either or† or false dilemma argument between Ego Theory and Bundle Theory, stating: â€Å"Either P or Q Not--P Therefore, Q Either the Ego Theory or the Bundle Theory is correct The Ego Theory is not correct Therefore, the Bundle Theory is correct.† (Stairs). Is the premise true? No. It is a false dilemma: Either A or B. No alternate explanations are provided, even though they may exist. The form of the argument is correct, but the initial premise is false. The argument is invalid. Stairs disagrees with Parfit in the example of identity as memory: â€Å"The process that led from your experience to my memory [of you t elling me about your experience] is not the right sort to bring two events into the series that composes a life† (Stairs). My memory of your story of your experience is not the same as your experience, or your memory of your experience. I can’t get past the idea that the identity does not survive, yet something survives. Here are some arguments. On page 5: In hoping for both to survive, I would be preferring death (for one half--my addition) to survival. Definition of terms: survival=one half survives. I=ego presupposing my existence=me. If survival is possible for me if one half survives and If survival is impossible for me if both halves survive Then I would hope for one half to survive. Wishing for both to survive implies a death wish until survival

American National Govenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American National Govenment - Essay Example In political realms, immigration reform refers to changes in recurrent immigration policy of a country. Immigration reforms in political sense can involve promoted, open immigration and also eliminated immigration which can also be reduced. The immigration regime existing was designed in 1952 to 1965 with the primary goal of allowing nuclear and extended family reunification and the secondary goals of permitting humanitarian admissions and necessary labor inflows. Today’s reform system differs from the one of decades ago because of changing technology, dwindling costs of beyond border travelling and many years of past migratory flows which have made these flows more complicated and hard to deal with. Border protection, anti-terrorism and illegal immigration Control Act of 2005 was passed by the House of Representatives. The US senate passed the comprehensive immigration reform act of 2006 but neither bill was made law because their differences could not be resolved in the conf erence committee. The issues to address in the bills were; to fix border enforcement, enforcement of interior such as doing away with visa overstays, people being prevented from working with no work permit, a committee being created to be in charge of adopting the number of visas available to economic times that fluctuates (Smith & Edmonston, 1997). A number of changes are recommended in the immigration reforms. First, a change to the temporary admissions and legal permanent systems to encourage the recruitment and retention of the immigrants best able to add value to the United States national interests in immigration. Secondly, Institutional and regulatory structure change governing the integration and employment of immigrants within the US to make sure that immigrants make the largest possible contribution while reducing possible costs of movement. Others include increase adoption of immigration as foreign policy tool, and changes to the immigration control policies. According to Smith and Edmonston (1997), effective reform must require those living in the US without permission to register, be good pay masters of tax, have knowledge of English, background checks be completed and earn the full rights of a true citizen. Eventually, the country benefits from increased and expanded tax base, a fully functional rule of law, a less vulnerable workforce to exploitation and a level playing field for all workers. A tough and fair immigration reform will most likely restore order and control at the border. Additionally, I believe immigration reform is preferred because it greatly improves the US GDP by at least 0.84 percent. The increase in GDP due to immigration, in addition to benefiting the citizens throughout the country, will be vital among the labor-intensive sectors such as construction, electronic equipment and textiles industries. Furthermore, comprehensive immigration reforms increases wages for all workers and improves their working conditions. The Cap-n-T rade legislation (climate change reform) is almost the only way to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. Cap-n-trade is targeted at reducing carbon dioxide emissions at a politically determined level among the users and producers of oil, natural gas and coal. Primarily the legislation seeks to impose a switch among users to alternative, less