1. Write an introduction in which you address the question and put it into your own words.
2. State your own position with regard to the question.
3. Identify at least one counter argument (do this through the 'ways of knowing' and/or the 'areas of knowledge')
4. Return to and discuss your original position in light of your discussion during the essay
5. State your conclusions.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
How to conduct a séance
Instuctions from about.com
1. Assemble the participants. Gather the people who will participate. Some say the number of participants must be divisible by three. But this does not seem to be an absolute rule. No fewer than three people should attempt a séance.
2. Choose a medium. You might want to choose a medium among the participants. This could be a person who has had experience with séances or someone who tends to have psychic abilities.
3. Use a round or oval table. This helps create the symbolic circle believed necessary for the ritual.
3.Set the table. In the center of the table, place some kind of simple, natural aromatic food, such as bread or soup. This is believed to help attract the spirits who still seek physical nourishment.
4. Light candles. Also in the center of the table, place no fewer than three candles (or a number divisible by three) lit candles; the more candles, the better. Spirits still seek warmth and light.
5. Create some atmosphere. Dim the lights and eliminate any distractions, such as music and television.
6. Join hands. Seated around the table, the participants must all join hands in a circle.
7. Summon the spirit. The participants must speak these words together: "Our beloved [name of spirit], we bring you gifts from life into death. Commune with us, (name of spirit), and move among us."
8. Wait for a response. If none comes, repeat the chant until the spirit responds.
Communicate. If and when the spirit responds -- either by rapping or some other means, or through the medium - ask your questions.
9. Begin simply. Ask yes and no questions at first -- one rap for no, two raps for yes, for example.
10. Communicate directly. If a spirit chooses to speak through the medium, you may ask any kind of question.
11. Maintain control. If the séance seems to be getting out of hand, end the séance by breaking the circle of hands, extinguishing the candles and turning on the lights.
End the séance. When you're done with your questioning, thank the spirit for joining you and tell them to go in peace. Break the circle of hands and extinguish the candles.
Tips:
Don't allow participants who you don't think could handle a séance psychologically. Children, for example, must never participate.
What You Need:
table
food
candles
1. Assemble the participants. Gather the people who will participate. Some say the number of participants must be divisible by three. But this does not seem to be an absolute rule. No fewer than three people should attempt a séance.
2. Choose a medium. You might want to choose a medium among the participants. This could be a person who has had experience with séances or someone who tends to have psychic abilities.
3. Use a round or oval table. This helps create the symbolic circle believed necessary for the ritual.
3.Set the table. In the center of the table, place some kind of simple, natural aromatic food, such as bread or soup. This is believed to help attract the spirits who still seek physical nourishment.
4. Light candles. Also in the center of the table, place no fewer than three candles (or a number divisible by three) lit candles; the more candles, the better. Spirits still seek warmth and light.
5. Create some atmosphere. Dim the lights and eliminate any distractions, such as music and television.
6. Join hands. Seated around the table, the participants must all join hands in a circle.
7. Summon the spirit. The participants must speak these words together: "Our beloved [name of spirit], we bring you gifts from life into death. Commune with us, (name of spirit), and move among us."
8. Wait for a response. If none comes, repeat the chant until the spirit responds.
Communicate. If and when the spirit responds -- either by rapping or some other means, or through the medium - ask your questions.
9. Begin simply. Ask yes and no questions at first -- one rap for no, two raps for yes, for example.
10. Communicate directly. If a spirit chooses to speak through the medium, you may ask any kind of question.
11. Maintain control. If the séance seems to be getting out of hand, end the séance by breaking the circle of hands, extinguishing the candles and turning on the lights.
End the séance. When you're done with your questioning, thank the spirit for joining you and tell them to go in peace. Break the circle of hands and extinguish the candles.
Tips:
Don't allow participants who you don't think could handle a séance psychologically. Children, for example, must never participate.
What You Need:
table
food
candles
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Essay titles September 2008
“If the frog tells you that the crocodile is dead, do not doubt it.” What might this Ghanaian proverb suggest about who it is that provides the justification for a knowledge claim?
Does knowledge come from inside or outside?
What is the difference between “believe that” and “believe in”?
What is the difference between belief and knowledge?
Does knowledge come from inside or outside?
What is the difference between “believe that” and “believe in”?
What is the difference between belief and knowledge?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Known knowns
"The message is:
That there are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know. And each year we discover a few more of those unknown unknowns".
Donald Rumsfeld Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing
That there are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know. And each year we discover a few more of those unknown unknowns".
Donald Rumsfeld Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing
