Psychological Continuity Of Personal Identity Philosophy Essay

Psychological Continuity Of Personal Identity Philosophy Essay In this chapter I describe my position with regards to personal identity over time. I describe the limits of acceptable psychological change, and discuss which elements of the psyche are essential to our survival. I also attempt to address whether psychological change has a physical cause or not. The Psychological Criterion for Identity Sydney Shoemaker suggested the theory of psychological continuity as an improvement upon memory continuity. While losing our memories would certainly be a huge loss, it could be possible for people to maintain the same psychological life despite this. But what do we mean when we speak of psychological life? This encompasses more than just memories, including beliefs, passions, and tendencies. Clearly, our mentality changes greatly during the course of our lifetime. This theory, then, allows for a similar transition as Lockes memory criterion. As long as I am psychologically connected to my past self, I am still the same person as I was. Criticisms of this position But what about almost complete personality changes? For example, people who have lived lives of terrible sins may experience a religious conversion and change almost every aspect of their lives totally willingly. Does this mean they are literally no longer the same person they used to be? Marya Schechtman claims that if people change their beliefs, they must have empathic access to their old beliefs. This does not simply entail having a good memory of those beliefs, but being able to recall them with the same passion as when they were fervently held. Schechtman states that they must look upon their old beliefs favourably and still give them some weight in the decisions they make today. However, many people dismiss their old beliefs and do not wish to give them any weight at all, because they no longer see these old beliefs as relevant to their current decisions. Schechtman gives the example of a party girl who mellows after becoming a mother, to the point that she views her younger days with embarrassment and even disdain. According to Schechtman, this woman is not the same person as she was as a teenager. But it seems that maturity, and the changes in belief which come with it, are inevitable. For example, children tend to have a very self-centred approach to life and only behave in their own interests. Yet as they mature they gain a greater understanding of manners and courtesy, and are able to put others before themselves when necessary. If we must give weight to our old opinions, as Schechtman claims, we must all give the selfish child within us an opportunity to disregard the feelings of others. It seems that giving all our previous beliefs some consideration results in us giving weight to a lot of contradictory views. More importantly, Schechtmans attempt to keep a link open to our old selves results in us behaving a manner which is untrue to our new selves. I, however, believe what is more important is that the changes a person undergoes as they grow older and presumably wiser, are voluntary changes. As long as the changes are not somehow imposed upon the individual, perhaps as a result of brainwashing or conditioning, the changes a person goes through should not cause them to become an entirely new person. [I believe that change in identity over time is unavoidable, unless one lives in a box from birth. The first few years of our life are spent developing an identity. After that, most of our life is spent learning and trying new things which challenge that identity. Sometimes we integrate our new knowledge (not just factual, but also societal and emotional) into the identity we have at the time, and sometimes our old beliefs are pushed aside and replaced by this new information.] I believe that the Ship of Theseus is an appropriate analogy for the development and changes which occur in ones identity. The usual type of development which occurs in our identities is a gradual one, where new knowledge is integrated alongside the knowledge we already had. If, however, we were to dismiss all of our previous passions, dispositions, beliefs and opinions at once, it is difficult to defend the position that we are still the same person as we were before. It seems the only way we could defend this position is with the criterion of bodily continuity, which we have already seen is not that helpful. From this we can conclude that what is needed for us to retain our identity over time is for the changes to be gradual and voluntary. Some may claim that any psychological changes we undergo must have a physical cause. This has not yet been confirmed by science, though. Many psychological disorders which may affect our identity do have physical symptoms on the brain. But it is impossible to determine causality in these cases. For example, people with depression have lower levels of serotonin(?) than people who are mentally healthy. However we cannot determine whether this is the cause of the depression or the result of it. So we cannot tell whether it is brain continuity or psychological continuity which is the real issue here. But regardless of whether or not psychological change has a physical cause, it seems the brain is still needed to encapsulate our psychology. As we discovered from the chapter on bodily continuity, our DNA is an important aspect to the continuity of our selves. This means that our psychology in a robot would not really be us. Look at: What Matters For Psychological  Continuity Defining psychological continuity in terms of style of thought which, though possibly a result of past experiences, do not depend upon our memories of them. Amnesiacs often demonstrate the same styles of thought as they had shown prior to their loss of memory. It is also possible that we regularly forget bits of information and later reform those memories in the same way as before. http://bookstove.com/non-fiction/on-psychological-continuity/ But what if the personality change is not total? What if there remains one tenuous psychological link to our past self, while everything else is lost. How many psychological links must there be in order for our identity to live on? During the course of our lifetime the majority of our psychology changes, so majority isnt good enough. Refers again to Ship of Theseus- perhaps if the change is gradual enough its okay. Problem tends to occur when the change is a majority one and sudden. What if memories were downloaded to a robot? This would still be you according to psychological continuity. Again, suggests that the physical body is needed to encapsulate and verify the mental element (although this is dangerously Cartesian. But to be fair, the only person who objects to that is Ryle, who isnt all that great). Ultimate challenge: what is psychology if not, essentially, the brain? Cannot defend an argument based on a mysterious immaterial mind, but may have to resort to this until neuroscience is able to explain the location of each element of the personality. Similarly, cause and effect cannot be established. Is the change in personality a result of a change in the brain, which seems to suggest it would be involuntary, or does our intentional change or development of personality cause our brain to work differently? Parfit describes a scenario where a scientist attaches a number of switches to a mans brain. As each switch is flicked, they cause the man to become slightly more psychologically like Napoleon. After half the switches have been flicked, the mans psychology is half his own and half Napoleons. Once all the switches have been flicked, his psychology is completely identical to Napoleons. Williams argues that, as each change caused by the switch is so slight, changes in identity are subject to the same problem as Sorites problem and the heap paradox. This is because each change is so slight that we are inclined to say that individually they do not change the mans identity. But if no switch changes his identity, we must conclude that when all the switches have been flicked he is still the same man he was, despite having none of the same tendencies or memories. Parfit suggests that we are simply mistaken in our belief that the question Will I die when the next switch is flicked must have an answer. He argues that it is absurd to believe that there is a sharp borderline which is so incremental that we could never really know the location of it. Therefore, he concludes, it is far more sensible to adopt a reductionist view of personal identity. Which is? However, I argue that the sharp borderline which exists can be knows quite easily. While many may claim that we lose our identity somewhere around the 50% mark, where the majority of our psychology becomes more similar to that of someone elses, I claim the distinction is much sooner. I believe that our identity is lost as soon as the scientist flips the first switch. Although the effects are minimal, our psychology has been artificially altered into something which is not the same as us. The fact that we allow this tampering simply because the effects are minimal is what lures us into the heap of the paradox.

Production Of Olive Oil Essay -- Foods Process Essays

Production Of Olive Oil INTRODUCTION Olive oil is a pale yellow to greenish oil extracted from the fruit of the European olive tree (Olea europaea L.), which originated in the Mediterranean area. The olive is originally native to the eastern Mediterranean region but the cultivated form is now grown throughout that area and in other parts of the world with Mediterranean-type climates. It hardens at refrigerator temperatures - around 10 degrees F. Today a market certainly exists for olive oil, since the U.S. imports about 35 million gallons each year. Interest in the health aspects of olive oil is expanding and increasing demand each year. Demand has increased over 20% each year for the last 5 years. California produces about 300,000 gallons of oil each year about half of that is sold each year as the gourmet treat classified as extra-virgin and sold from $10 to $40 per half-liter. Among global producers, Spain leads with more than 40% of world production, followed by Italy and Greece. Much of the Spanish crop is exported to Italy, where it is both consumed and repackaged for sale abroad as Italian olive oil. Different Grades Of Olive Oil Extra-virgin olive oil comes from the first pressing of the olives, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-virgin olive oil. Virgin olive oil with an acidity less than 2%, and judged to have a good taste. There can be no refined oil in virgin olive oil. Olive oil is a blend of virgin oil and refined virgin oil, containing at most 1% acidity. It commonly lacks a strong flavor. Olive-pomace oil is a blend of refined olive-pomace oil and possibly some virgin oil. It is fit for consumption, but it may not be c... ...etting a person or place apart for special work It is used in the ordination of priests and bishops, in the consecration of altars and churches, and, traditionally, in the anointing of monarchs at their coronation. To this day, Eastern Orthodox Christians use oil lamps in their churches and home prayer corners. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. http://www .wikipedia.org 2. http://www.olivetree.eat- online.net/frameoliveoil.htm 3. http://www.oliflix.com/eng/enviroment.htm 4. http://www.oliveoilsource.com/olive_recipes_.htm 5. Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2002.  © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. 6. Tous, J. and L. Ferguson. 1996. Mediterranean fruits, Progress in new crops. In: J. Janick (ed.), ASHS Press, Arlington, VA. p. 416-430 7. www.sfc.ucdavis.edu/research/olive.html 8. www.ucm.es/info/improliv/allgem.htm 9. http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/o1/oliveoil.asp

Reading Body Language in Poker Essay

Body language is a part of nonverbal language. It includes things like stance, gestures, facial expressions, and even small things that are barely perceptible like a brief shrug of the shoulder or nod of the head. We frequently communicate both bodily and verbally and an estimated 70% of what we communicate may be nonverbal. There have been hundreds of books on body language but not many in poker. So this is a small attempt to put information that I have learnt while learning to read people at a poker table. I started by straight away applying the basic body language reads to a poker table like when a person leans in; it is sign of confidence, hence it translated that the player most likely has good cards. Another classic example is when a person rubs his hands after seeing his cards; this is sign that he is so excited to see the card that he can’t wait to play their cards. In short, a poker table is much like real world scenarios like class room, office, college, etc. When a player at a poker table gives away body language information, it is called a tell. So reading a player for tells is crucial for poker player’s game. Below is the order in which I read people at a poker table: 1. Feet and Legs (Most reliable) 2. Arms and Hands 3. Mouth 4. Eyes 5. Pacifying Behaviours (Least Reliable) Nice Legs! This is the most honest part of the body and can give loads of information. Most people while reading a person start from the top and scan towards the bottom. But believe me the other way round works much better and is far more reliable. Most people go to great lengths to hide what is on their faces but rarely do they focus on their legs. Legs carry so much information that it is relied upon by most pros and ignored by most amateurs in poker. Below are some of the common tells that you can spot at a poker table: * If a person has pointed his feet forward and after he receives his cards turns it away, it is clear sign of disengagement and he no longer wants to be involved in the hand. * If a person is constantly wiggling and bouncing his legs and then suddenly stops and pays attention, this is a sign that the person is about to bluff. * If a person’s feet go from flat to raised position – resting feet flat to raised heels/toes forward means that the person is ready to act. * When a person interlocks his feet, this is sign of nervousness. This means that the person is holding weak or marginal cards. * A variation of the above is after a person bets (a big bet) he wraps his legs around the legs of the chairs or table, it may suggest that he is bluffing. They are restraining themselves because they think other will detect his bluff. * When a player moves his feet positioned in front of his chair to under the chair indicates signs of weakness or bluffing. Let’s Get Our Hands Dirty Hands are an intimate part of poker. They are constantly moving and interacting with the chips and cards on the table, and sometimes even with players. Hands can reveal a lot of information. * Interlacing fingers behind the head is a very strong sign that the player is confident. So if you deciding to bluff don’t try it on this player. * When a player does a hand steeple, this is also another high confidence tell. * Interlacing of fingers and hand wringing is a sign of low confidence. * When a person looks at his cards and his hands tremble or reaching for chips and his hands are trembling, is a sign that he has great cards or as in poker we call it monsters. His hands got scared of the monster! Lips Don’t Lie Mouth are a great reading tool for tells in poker but as you come from the feet to the face, the tells get that much less reliable because players will be a lot more conscious of their tells when it comes to their face. The tells listed below are some of the classic tells in poker however one should tread cautiously when one is applying in a real game. * When a person smiles pulling his lips and there is no movement around his eyes is a classic tell of dishonesty (fake smile). Remember it is very difficult to pull off a full smile when you are unhappy so when you see a full smile with the corners of the eyes involved you can be sure he is honest about his representations on the table. * When a person presses his lips together is an indicator of high stress and low confidence. * Nail biting is another sign of low confidence. * Lip biting is a good indicator of stress and concern. * A subtle tell of lips are lip withdrawal; they indicate that stress is settling in slowly. * Lip licking and biting of objects like pen or chips are signs of pacifying when there is concern. * Tongue jetting out is another tell which indicates that the player got away with something. Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul Eyes are very good barometer of our feelings because we have very little control over them. I rely on eyes as an indicator often in my game. Here are some fool proof tells that I have used before: * When a player blocks his eyes either by closing his lids or blocking it with his fingers or palm or object, it is a sign that he does not want to see what’s coming. * This tell might take some used to getting used to but watching the eyes for dilation or constriction is 100% method to get the information out of your opponent. Remember when we like something our eyes dilate and when we don’t like something it constricts. So if a player is dissatisfied with his cards, his pupils will constrict. * Squinting of eyes indicate high concern. * Lowering of eyebrows is a sign of low confidence. * Arching of eyebrows is a good indication of positive feelings. Pacifying Behaviours These are the least reliable because most of the pacifying behaviours are just indicators of soothing oneself or discomfort at the maximum. Pacifying behaviours are done by players who are bluffing or players who are not. Hence, it must not be used in isolation and using them with other tells is the right way to go. * Touching the neck in the front and the back, exhaling through puffed cheeks and touching the face, forehead rubbing and earlobe pulling, air ventilating to the neck are good signs distress and pacifying. * Women will check the dimple on the neck when they are highly stressed or are fearful. Playing with a necklace or any neck jewelry is indicative of the same. Men will adjust their tie knots. Common Mistakes while Reading People 1. Not establishing baselines This is the most common mistake people do while reading people. Baselines are crucial in the field of body language. A person who usually bites his nails or bites his lips on a poker table will probably do the same, hence, must not be mistaken for weak hand or stress setting or low confidence. Hence, before reading any person a baseline must be established. 2. Reading tells in isolation Another mistake people do reading tells in isolation. You cannot expect a tell to occur in a person nor can you read a tell in isolation like biting lips. It should be congruent with what’s happening on the table and in reaction to what others are doing. In other words, you must ask yourself what was the motivation behind him giving away a particular tell. 3. Reading is not an exact science One of the essential skills in poker is reading your opponent but there are other aspects to the game like game theory, probability which has to be taken to account. Reading should always be used as one of your tools in making your decisions at a poker table. REFERENCES 1. Body Language: How to Read Others Thoughts by Their Gestures. Allan Pease. 1988. Sheldon Press 2. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-body-language.htm 3. Body Language. Julius Fast (1971). Pocket Books. 4. Unmasking the Face: A Guide to recognizing emotions from Facial Expressions. Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Freisen (2003). 5. Secret of No Limit Holdem: An ultimate guide to all-in texas hold’em poker. Howard Lederer. 6. Read’em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent’s Guide to Decoding Poker Tells. Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins.

Biography of John Hay, Author and Influential American Diplomat

John Hay was an American diplomat who, as a young man, came to prominence serving as a private secretary to President Abraham Lincoln. Besides his work in government, Hay also made his mark as a writer, co-authoring an extensive biography of Lincoln and also writing fiction and poetry. As a respected figure in late 19th century Republican politics, he became close with William McKinley during his 1896 presidential campaign. He served as McKinley’s ambassador to Great Britain and later as the secretary of state in the McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt administrations. In foreign affairs, Hay is best remembered for his advocacy of the Open Door policy regarding China. Fast Facts: John Hay Full Name: John Milton HayBorn: October 8, 1838 in Salem, IndianaDied: July 1, 1905 in Newbury, New HampshireParents: Dr. Charles Hay and Helen (Leonard) HaySpouse: Clara StoneChildren: Helen, Adelbert Barnes, Alice Evelyn, and Clarence Leonard HayEducation: Brown UniversityInteresting Fact: As a young man, Hay worked as President Abraham Lincolns private secretary and close confidante. Early Life John Hay was born October 8, 1838, in Salem, Indiana. He was well educated and attended Brown University. In 1859 he settled in Springfield, Illinois, where he was to study in a law office that happened to be next door to a local lawyer with political ambitions, Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln won the election of 1860, Hay took a job as one of Lincoln’s secretaries (along with John Nicolay). The team of Hay and Nicolay spent countless hours with Lincoln during his presidency. After Lincoln’s assassination, Hay moved on to diplomatic posts in Paris, Vienna, and Madrid. A studio portrait of President Abraham Lincoln with his two personal secretaries John G. Nicolay and John Hay (standing). Historical  / Getty Images In 1870 Hay returned to the United States and settled in Boston, where he became active in a circle of intellectual and political figures associated with the Republican Party. He took on a job writing editorials for the New York Tribune, whose editor, Horace Greeley, had been a supporter (though occasionally a critic) of Lincoln. Along with John Nicolay, Hay wrote a comprehensive biography of Lincoln, which eventually ran to ten volumes. The Lincoln biography, completed in 1890, was the standard biography of Lincoln for decades (before Carl Sandburg’s version was published). McKinley Administration Hay became friendly with Ohio politician William McKinley in the 1880s, and supported his run for the presidency in 1896. After McKinley’s victory, Hay was nominated to be the American ambassador to Great Britain. While serving in London, he supported America’s entry into the Spanish-American War. He also supported American annexation of the Philippines. Hay believed American possession of the Philippines would balance the political power in the Pacific exerted by Russia and Japan. Following the end of the Spanish-American War, McKinley appointed Hay secretary of state. Hay remained in the post following McKinley’s assassination in 1901, and became secretary of state under the new president, Theodore Roosevelt. Working for Roosevelt, Hay presided over two major accomplishments: the Open Door policy and the treaty that enabled the United States to build the Panama Canal. The Open Door Policy Hay had become alarmed over events in China. The Asian nation was being partitioned by foreign powers, and it appeared the United States would be excluded from conducting any trade with the Chinese. Hay wanted to take action. In consultation with Asian experts, he drafted a diplomatic letter which became known as The Open Door Note. Hay sent the letter to the imperial nations—Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and Japan. The letter proposed that all nations would have equal trading rights with China. Japan opposed the policy, but the other nations went along with it, and the United States was thus able to trade freely with China. Government officials gathered around the desk of Secretary of State John Hay as he signs a document. Library of Congress / Getty Images The policy was considered a brilliant move by Hay, as it ensured American trading rights in China even though the U.S. government had no way to enforce the policy. The triumph was soon seen to be limited, as the Boxer Rebellion erupted in China in early 1900. In the aftermath of the rebellion, after American troops joined with other nations to march on Beijing, Hay sent a second Open Door Note. In that message, he again encouraged free trade and open markets. The other nations went along with Hay’s proposal for a second time. Hays initiative effectively transformed American foreign policy in general, putting the focus on open markets and free trade as the world entered the 20th century. The Panama Canal Hay was an advocate for building a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the isthmus of Panama. In 1903 he tried to strike a deal with Colombia (which controlled Panama) for a 99-year lease on property through which the canal could be built. Colombia rejected Hay’s deal, but in November 1903, urged on by Hay and Roosevelt, Panama revolted and declared itself a sovereign nation. Hay then signed the treaty with the new nation of Panama, and work on the canal began in 1904. Hay began to suffer ill health, and while on vacation in New Hampshire he died of a heart ailment on July 1, 1905. His funeral in Cleveland, Ohio, was attended by President Lincoln’s son Robert Todd Lincoln, and President Theodore Roosevelt. Sources: John Hay. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 7, Gale, 2004, pp. 215-216. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Hay, John 1838–1905. Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, edited by Amanda D. Sams, vol. 158, Gale, 2007, pp. 172-175. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Hay, John Milton. Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk, vol. 1, Gale, 1999, pp. 425-426. Gale Virtual Reference Library.