Specific Traits of Evolution Theories, Socio-Economic and Gender Patterns of Society - Assignment Example

CRITICAL THINKING Answer The theory of human evolution focuses on the physical changes in humans with the passage of time leading to anatomically modern human beings. (Nelson & Jurmain, 1985:6) On the other hand, creationism lays stress upon the creation of humans and their life on earth. In addition, Theory of Intelligent Design looks for estimating the intellect and mental capabilities of some metaphysical power, which it has applied in the creation of man and the universe as well. While critically analyzing all the three theoretical frameworks, it appears crystal clear that both Creationism and Intelligent Design theories are inferior to the Evolution Theory. There are sound reasons behind this argument. One of the most imperative reasons behind the superiority of Evolution Theory over Creationism is this that the former defines and determines all the processes, both biological and intellectual, which has brought astounding changes in human life during the course of time, with sound proofs and scientific experiments. On the contrary, Creationism only focuses on the religious beliefs of human creation, which belong to the three Abrahamic religions i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam and are not acceptable for atheist, secular and non-Abrahamic religions. Moreover, both Creationism and Intelligent Design theories have been established on the foundations of speculation, where there are least probabilities of proving the validity of these theoretical frameworks. The second imperative cause of the superiority of the Evolution Theory over the Creationism and Intelligent Design theories is this that it describes and discusses comparatively vast scope and multiple aspects of human evolution. On the contrary, the other two theories, under discussion, provide minimum canvas of debate on which least scientific researches are possible. Hence, Evolution Theory not only draws out wide range of researches, but also proves many of the possibilities that could work in bringing changes in the universe and his own life and surroundings as well. Since man has always been curious to disclose and uncover the mysteries of the universe by exploring ins and outs of his own creation and knowing about the secrets of life since ever, it is his curiosity as well as struggle and longings for survival that he has successfully traveled from the world of primitive Paleolithic and Neolithic state into contemporary modern age of technological advancements and industrialization. The studies show the very fact that countless changes have been made, during the course of time, in mans biological and cultural structure, leading to his present physical appearance and environmental composition as well. The details of evolution process shows that existing animals and plants cannot have been separately created in their present form, but must have evolved from earlier forms by slow transformations. (Darwin, 1959; quoted in Huxley, 1872: X) Theories have been articulated and researches have been made to bring the realities of biological and cultural evolutions to the limelight. The study of evolutionary process has also got unabated projection with the passage of time. Charles Darwins theory revolutionized the views regarding biological human evolution in modern times and many of the future researchers and scholars followed the same while articulating their assumptions and making their analysis. Hence, the future theorists including Richard Dawkins and others widen the scope of Evolution Theory with the passage of time. Answer 2: Parapsychology is the very fascinating and remarkable branch of psychology that refers to the psychic studies including telepathy, mesmerism, reincarnation and precognition etc with special concentration on human soul. The subject focuses on exploring the hidden powers and secrets of human soul and tries to discover its activities even after death and its journey towards heavens. Parapsychology offers wide range of experimentation methodology during the conducting of research processes in order to obtain accurate results out of these experiments in order to gather information and analyzing the available data. Joseph Rhine is considered as the person who coined the term parapsychology and introduced its methods and experimentation processes. The discipline contains many projects in its fold, though none of them could win complete success. The USA applied parapsychology on army during the cold war era, and the American soldiers were especially trained in order to detect their companions scattered at different places and positions. In addition Rhine himself exercised his parapsychological abilities before the audience as well as helped in the cure of the patients. In addition, the methodology was also applied by the skeptic James Randi in his projects, (Project Alpha), but all these projects turned out to be failure. The main reason behind that all was that there are no specific rules and regulations of these projects. In addition, these techniques affect different individuals differently, according to their extrasensory perception of different people, which is different in each case, as the perception power of every man varies from the other. In addition, different performers contain different level of influencing upon others, so sometimes it gives extraordinary results, and sometimes turn out to be a complete fiasco. An essential part of Meta analysis, sheep goat effect is also a term of parapsychology, which aims to describe the difference between believers and non-believers while taking the test related to ESP and parapsychology. The analysis tries to prove the very reality that the individuals having belief in parapsychology give better performance in the parapsychological tests than those who do not believe in the validity of the psi. Hence, the researches admit the very fact that the power of belief certainly accelerates the rate of success in individuals. (Retrieved from www.parapsych.org) Answer 3: It has aptly been viewed that different human societies have established their own sets of belief as well as social norms, values, mores, traditions, taboos and laws. The political authorities bind the individuals to perform accordingly by following the blueprints of these beliefs, norms and laws. Faith in someone supernatural or metaphysical is also an essential part of the members of all societies, though the concept of Deity, human birth, death, evolution, existence, origin, universe, resurrection and life after death are quite divergent and some times appear as pole-apart from one another. “Man’s need for religion is greater than his need for any of the other necessities of life, because man needs to know what pleases Allah (God) and what angers Him; he needs to acts in his own interests and to ward off things that will harm him.” (Retrieved from www.englishforums.com) In the same way, renowned philosopher Aquinas also reiterates that the most essential element of human nature is blind faith in metaphysical power or God, though no words in any language can portray the attributes of God. (1985:72) Almost all human societies strongly believe in the traditional words and statements, and seldom argue regarding the validity of these statements. For example, the Hindu societies have faith in multiple gods and goddesses and seek their help at the hour of the need. Though they have been in constant and continuous interaction with the monotheist communities including Jews, Christians and Muslims, yet they are unable to challenge the multiplicity of the Deity. It is therefore, it is almost impossible for a society to falsify a statement that is related to its religious and cultural beliefs, though some political and social statements can be refuted, rejected and nullified with the passage of time for the welfare and uplift of the society. Thus, it looks crystal clear that validity of a statement is not judged on the basis of its followers. The case is particularly evident while describing spiritual and religious faiths. Answer 4: The famous propaganda model has been articulated by the renowned philosophers and theorists of twentieth century i.e. Edward S. Herman and Avram Noam Chomsky, which defines the significance of propaganda for the parties and nations. Chomsky views propaganda a very powerful tool for the projection of the ideas of the nation on the one hand, and combating with the threats at international level on the other. Chomsky vehemently stresses upon the amalgamation of falsehood and misrepresentation in the propaganda in order to show one’s country in a better military and strategic position. In addition, he considers the addition of some inaccurate news and communications highly beneficial ones for presenting one’s opinion in a sonorous way at international arena. Chomsky supports the very notion that a ruler or head of the government must take the bridles of the media in his own hands so that his policies and strategies could win applause and can seek public approval, which is extremely necessary in the days of both peace and war, though its importance multiplies to the great extent during the course of war. Chomsky also suggests some limitations and checks on the media, so that it could perform its duties in the best interests of both nation and the government. Having a critical appreciation of the theoretical framework presented by Chomsky, and applying it to the present day it becomes crystal clear that though democratic state of government offers a lot of freedom of thought and action, and condemn any type of limitations on the freedom of press, yet there must be some restrictions and moral obligations that could bind the press to observe decency and moral values for the best interest of the humanity at large. It has aptly been observed that the unlimited freedom of press has given a go to the wars between the nations on the one hand, and has accelerated the tensions between the social and political groups of society on the other. Hence, Chomsky is justified in proposing limitations on propaganda and communication in favor of the government for the best interest of the system and public. Answer 5: Post capitalism simply refers to an economic system that may take the replace capitalism in the future years to come. While examining the political, geographical, social and cultural aspects of different areas of the globe at large, one comes to know that various political authorities follow divergent economic systems in order to run the affairs of the countries. The most popular economic systems of contemporary times include Capitalism, Socialism, Participatory, Binary and Islamic system of economy. It has aptly been viewed that there is nothing permanent except change, which is applied not only in individual human life, but also it is the case with various economic systems. The fall of post colonialism is also expected in the wake of the full and unabated rise of this system. The economic recession of 1930 all over the globe and the European economic crisis of 1970s gave birth to the post capitalism, which adopted some ways and parts of Socialism and Participatory economic system. The growing financial upheaval and disturbances of the contemporary times have given birth to the idea of revolutionary changes in the Capitalistic system of economy. Some of the theorists take post capitalism as impossible, but the intellectual analysts and researchers consider it as a part of the change arrives in the lives of individuals and societies. While making a critical overview of the economic systems, the post capitalism theory appears to be very apposite and plausible one. The USA as well as the rest of the West undergoes grave financial turmoil, and unemployment, deterioration of industries, banks and financial institutions appear as the omens that will welcome an imperative change in the economic systems of the world. Answer 6: Colonialism refers to the lust of the big and powerful countries of the world to capture the wealth and resources of the strategically weak countries by bringing them under the subjugation and domination of the powerful ones. The 18th and 19th century scramble of the western powers for subjugating the Asian and African territories is a moot in point, where the European countries including Portugal, Denmark, England, France, Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Germany and Spain were at daggers drawn to conquer more and more land in order to rule over the poor Asian and African people by dint of their might and military superiority. Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, Balkan states and central and South African countries have been the western dominion countries, where the European nations had declared these countries as their colonies to rule over the helpless masses. Similarly, apartheid simply means the discriminative behavior and hatred of the majority community against the minor racial or ethnic groups or communities. Looking into the history of the world at large, it becomes evident that racial prejudice and hatred against the minorities have always been the part of every culture of the globe. The Africans have particularly been the target of the hatred and biased ness of the White Anglo Saxon Population (WASP) for the last four centuries. There was a time when discrimination on the basis of race, religion and ethnicity was the order of the day and the African blacks were looked down upon. Slavery was in vogue all over the globe, particularly in the USA and the European nations also brought the poor and helpless Africans for their services. Each and every type of pains and sufferings were inflicted upon the black slaves, who were unable to raise even a single voice of protest against their cruel and ruthless American and European masters. The blacks had to make a long and exhaustive struggle to win their freedom and rights on equal foundations. They produced protest literature, organized demonstrations, articulated social movements and arranged demonstrations for the protection of their rights. The literature produced by the African American writers and poets gave birth to the famous Harlem Renaissance Movement. The motive behind these writers was not mere expressing of their grief; rather, the aims of such writing material appeared as receiving additional gains out of the so-called miseries their previous generations suffered for decades. During nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the White Anglo Saxon Population (WASP) was reluctant to accept the equal status for Blacks at all. The writers played the most significant role in this regards. Great writers like Malcolm X, Margaret Drabble, Toni Morrison and others performed their ethical obligations in this regard. In the same way, genocide refers to the massacre of some specific community en mass and at a large scale. The Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915, Chinese genocide by the Japanese forces in 1937 and the Muslim genocide by the USA in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2002 onward are the worst examples of the genocide, where the dominant countries displayed the worst possible tyranny and exercised brutal cruelties upon the weak and feeble nations. The most apologetic and grief-stricken consequences of the brutal genocide include the poverty, illiteracy, worst health condition, absence of proper development and homelessness of the victim nations. The victim communities turn alien in their own homeland, from where they seek shelter and asylum in neighboring and remote countries as refugees. Their future generations are unable to get acquaintance with their origin where the roots and graves of their forefathers laid to eternal rest. Still a large proportion of the victims of genocide have settled in various countries and states of the globe. The genocide resulted in the death of Armenian society in the former Ottoman Empire, the flight of many Armenians across the border into Russian territory resulted in compressing part of the surviving Armenian population into the smaller section of historic Armenia. (Adalian, 1991: 11) There are so many similarities in colonialism, apartheid and genocide. All the three strive to suppress the weak and feeble communities; all the three look for gaining more and more power, pelf and possession over others; all the three concentrate on abhorring the frail and helpless stratum of society. The strong communities and groups, in all the three situations, apply the worst possible disliking and displeasure by negating the human rights of the weak strata. All the three differ from one another in some aspects. The basic motive behind the colonialism is seeking domination over the weak countries. The powerful militaries apply their armed forces for capturing the land and wealth of the weak nations. Hence, the powerful countries always impose colonialism in the land and territory of the weak nation. On the contrary, genocide can be committed on the land of the dominant and tyrant country and vice versa, as the USA has committed her condemnable genocide in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Similarly, apartheid is the usually the expression of hatred towards the minorities living in the same geographical location. Answer 7: Patriarchal system simply means the control of father or male head over the family, clan, tribe, class, community and government. It has often been found in an overwhelming majority of the societies that males always strive to gain dominance over females. The unequal distribution of powers has given birth to the notion feminism. Women also had to make hard efforts for winning equal rights for them. Famous feminist and social activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton in her remarkable “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution” submits that since Nature has created women quite equal to men and bestowed upon women all the faculties attributed to men, they should enjoy their position in society on the basis of equality, rather being suppressed and looked down upon by the dominating male stratum. Actually social groups have not only been divided into different classes in respect of socio-economic status and different occupations and professions, but also distribution of the individuals of a society is based on age, ethnicity, race, region, religion and gender too. Social inequalities are found in all fields of life and in all the institutions and organizations existing in a society. In this pretext the Feminist perspective theory came into existence. The idea of division of labor on the basis of gender gave birth to feminism. “Feminism is”, Macionis submits, “the advocacy of social equality for women and men, in opposition to patriarchy and sexism. The first wave of feminism in the United States-began in the 1840s as women opposed to slavery drew parallels between the suppression of African Americans and the oppression of women.” (2007:353) Men treat women very harshly in a patriarchic set up, though matriarchal system and female dominance from domestic to the national level also gives birth to so many social evils and problems, because it often becomes hard for women to control and regulate the individuals at the massive scale. Hence, males often display great level of responsibilities and care the members under his control. It is therefore men play the most vital role into the patriarchal system. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adalian, Rouben Paul The Armenian Genocide: Context and Legacy 1991 11 Aquinas, Thomas: Language about God. 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