Blog 13

Bacon & Darwin

"Idols":

The idea that I get from Bacon about the word, "Idols" is that it is a sense of error. It is our wrongdoings that we develop in our society from someone such as ourselves, past relatives/ancestors, or from a random stranger in public. These idols are created/distorted through our mind.  I think that Bacon should not have used the word, "Idol" to describe something that can be perceived as wrong. When one thinks of an idol, they think of a person that he/she looks up to and aspires to be like. This is practically the exact opposite.

From One Idol to Another:

I believe that the most inaccurate knowledge comes from the Idols of the Marketplace because it is spread through direct human word. So, in a sense, the Idols of the Marketplace is like a giant gossip circle where everyone just spreads around rumors, or distorts the reality of something because it doesn't sound as interesting as the member of the marketplace wants it to be. When attempting to determine which Idol is the most truthful, I would say that the credibility belongs to the Idols of the Tribe. I think that the Idols of the Tribe is sort of like our own personal beliefs. We all have our own facts and opinions that are going to change how we see/view certain things, but there is no giant factor that is behind this specific Idol.

Social Intercourse vs. Individual Reflection:

The idols that are a result from social intercourse are the Idols of the Marketplace and the Idols of the Tribe. Both of these are like a cause and effect of what can happen to the individual. For example, Idols of the Tribe are what we have instant beliefs on. It is something that we interpret from a certain situation in our own mind. A different idea about something before we have many different perspectives on the subject. The Idols that are a result of individual reflection include the Idols of the Theatre and the Idols of the Cave. The Idols of the Cave are an interpretation of all the things that he/she has learned and he/she alters his opinion/mindset through his personal devotion. The Idols of the Theater is a response to that. Because they have their own mindset on certain things, we perceive that any philosophy or theory is instantly correct, when in fact, even if what we learn is from a false audience, we believe it is credible based on past experience and our own intuition.

Sir Francis Bacon is best known for his ideas with the 4 Idols.

Survival of the Fittest:

According to Dictionary.com, the phrase, "Survival of the Fittest," is defined as the continued existence of organisms that are best adapted to their environment, with the extinction of others. Whereas Natural Selection is defined as the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.  An example of Natural Selection would be a creature like the Deer-Mouse. They're very popular in North America, but most specifically in Nebraska. Originally, their coats were a light-pale color, but because they have begun to become extinct, they have adapted to darker shades of fur in order to hide from their predators in darker soils and natural wildlife. An example of "Survival of the Fittest," can be best seen through the Dodo Bird. The Dodo Bird is a bird that could not fly, and was last seen in the late 1600's. Because this bird was not able to fly, and was very close to the ground, it had trouble escaping from predators. So, this bird demonstrates "Survival of the Fittest," through its lack of physical advancement. Since the Dodo bird, variations of the bird have been discovered, although they are not closely related. Many flightless birds nowadays have legs that are long and proportionate, allowing the bird to go as fast as they choose to escape from predators, which is something that the Dodo bird struggled with.

Breeding vs. Natural Selection:

Breeding and Natural Selection are quite different. In Natural Selection, everything is as direct as the name: Natural. There is no one forcing two certain animals to mate with one another, and  there's rarely any chance of hybrid animals out in natural wildlife. That being said, however, although breeding is more forced, it is not more common. There are millions of animals that exist through the process of Natural Selection. Heck, if some people don't believe in the Bible, Natural Selection is the idea of evolution through apes to humans! That being said, Natural Selection by far dominates any sort of breeding on this planet. I believe that it is more efficient to breed animals if you are looking for a certain kind, (ex. a certain dog breed to enter in a professional dog show) but I think that messing with the process of Natural Selection in other ways than that is considered morally wrong. It is more important that we keep the idea of Natural Selection alive, rather than the method of Breeding.

Cloning with Darwin's Views:

Cloning goes against Darwin's Views. Charles Darwin believes in the process of Natural Selection. So, when we as individuals try to alter that process, it is strictly going against that belief system. I remember reading about something in elementary school about the possible cloning of Walt Disney. Rumor is that they have his body, or at least his head/brain frozen in time. When he wakes up and they find out how to clone individuals or at least bring their brains back to life, Walt Disney is said to be one of the first individuals that they will bring back into this world. By cloning individuals, we are completely interfering with Darwin's process of Natural Selection, so I don't think he would be too fond of the idea if it were to actually happen, someday.

Human Social Policy:

Social policy refers to rules or guidelines that can affect a person's quality of life. Human Social Policy in today's society is no longer prominent. "Survival of the Fittest" is seen as a harsh and cruel punishment. For example, when there is a natural disaster, people and missionaries are willing to stop whatever they are doing to help the people that suffered in the area. So, the concept of survival of the fittest has sort of disappeared with the development of our society. Modern medicine and social welfare agencies are helping a few people in situations like this. I know that there are some negative feelings about welfare, but in the long run, they're just trying to make the world function at an equal and fair pace, so that it is able to catch up with the rest of the world. So, to conclude, this modern medicine and the many groups of social welfare are helping those in need, and are furthering proving that the concept of "Survival of the Fittest" is no longer a great concern, or problem for humans, today.

Charles Darwin is most known for his theory of Natural Selection, and how it differs from the perceived ideas of how we came to be alive through different religious groups.