Essay about Empiricist vs. Rationalist - 901 Words

Empiricist philosophers such as John Locke believe that knowledge must come from experience. Others philosophers such as Descartes believe that knowledge is innate; this way of thinking is used by rationalist. In this paper I will discuss the difference between Descartes rationalism in his essays The Meditations and Lockes empiricism in his essays An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. I will then lend my understanding as to what I believe as the ultimate source of knowledge. Locke discards the suggestion of innate ideas. Locke believes that if we always had innate ideas, it would be impossible for us not to perceive or be aware of them. He believes that if there were innate ideas then they would be universal ideas present†¦show more content†¦Descartes as a rationalist believes that knowledge comes from the mind alone. During the First Meditation, Descartes came to the conclusion that there must be some kind of evil deceiver that leads him to a state of doubt (Descartes 77). Descartes starts out with the fact that distant sensations are subject to doubt and uncertainty. He then goes on to try and cast doubt onto close sensations. Descartes starts off by stating that close sense perception must be certain because we are not crazy, and only a insane person would doubt what was right in front of them. Descartes then uses the dream argument to cast uncertainty on close sense perception because they are as lively, vivid and clear as reality is when we are awake (Descartes 76). Descartes then states that geometry and math are certain. For whether I am awake or sleeping, two and three added together always make five, and a square never has more than four sides; and it does not seem possible that truths so apparent can be suspected of any falsity or uncertainty (Descartes 98). Descartes comes to realize this certainty because math, geometry, and the simple sciences can be understood and proved through logic and reasoning. He then uses his Deceiver Argument to cast doubt on close sensations. He questions how we know for certain that God is good, and how we know thatShow MoreRelatedDescartes vs. Locke1175 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy Essay (Descartes vs. Locke) Socrates once said, â€Å"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.† Several philosophers contradicted Socrates’ outlook and believed that true knowledge was in fact attainable. This epistemological view however had several stances to it, as philosophers held different beliefs in regards to the derivation of true knowledge. Rationalists believed that the mind was the source of true knowledge, while in Empiricism, true knowledge derived from the senses. ReneRead MoreDescartes vs Locke Essay1191 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy Essay (Descartes vs. Locke) Socrates once said, â€Å"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.† Several philosophers contradicted Socrates’ outlook and believed that true knowledge was in fact attainable. This epistemological view however had several stances to it, as philosophers held different beliefs in regards to the derivation of true knowledge. Rationalists believed that the mind was the source of true knowledge, while in Empiricism, true knowledge derived from the senses. ReneRead More300 - Rationalism vs Empiricism - Summary and History2194 Words   |  9 PagesRationalism vs. Empiricism – History and Summary What is reality really like? A current running through much of the philosophical thinking around the time of Socrates and Plato was that there is a difference between how the world appears and how it is. Our senses reveal one layer of reality but it is our minds that penetrate deeper. The world of appearances is a world in flux but underneath there must be a stable reality. For there is much that is unchanging. We recognise kinds of things – badgersRead MoreRationalism Vs Empiricism : Rationalism Versus Empiricism1385 Words   |  6 PagesDodely Dolce â€Å"Rationalism vs Empiricism† Today in society, many people are free to follow whichever philosophical view that they feel is right for them. Each philosophical view has a different set of beliefs, and many philosophers went through great lengths to prove that the philosophical view of their choice was the best one. In this paper I will be talking about two philosophical theories. The first one is called Empiricism, and it was made famous by a philosopher named David Hume. EmpiricismRead MoreCartesian Rationalism Vs. Locke s Empiricism Essay1632 Words   |  7 PagesPhilosophy Name Institution INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY Cartesian rationalism vs. Locke’s empiricism Rene Descartes was a rationalist who believed that knowledge of the world can be gained by the exercise of pure reason, while empiricist like Locke believed that knowledge of the world came through senses. Descartes from his meditations deduced from intuitive first principles the existence of self, of God,Read MoreLocke’s Qualities vs. Berkeley’s Idealism754 Words   |  4 PagesLocke’s Qualities vs. Berkeley’s Idealism In the modern period of philosophy, around the 16th and 17th century, after the fall of Rome and the rise of the dark years, three major events had occurred. The first began with the scientific revolution, where many philosophers were becoming scientist, such as the philosopher of science Francis Bacon. The next event was the resurgence of skepticism, where one questions everything until they discover the truth. For instance, the philosopher famous forRead MoreEssay about Rationalism and Empiricism1486 Words   |  6 Pagesare most likely the two most famous and intriguing schools of philosophy. The two schools deal specifically with epistemology, or, the origin of knowledge. Although not completely opposite, they are often considered so, and are seen as the Jordan vs. Bird of the philosophy world. The origins of rationalism and empiricism can be traced back to the 17th century, when many important advancements were made in scientific fields such as astronomy and mechanics. The se advancements were most likelyRead MoreRationalism vs. Irrationalism1607 Words   |  7 PagesRationalism vs. Irrationalism Jane Evans was spending a week at the Crown Point Ward girls camp. She and her friends were laughing and enjoying the crisp night air. They giggled and talked of crushes on boys and gossiped all night about the notorious girls at school. But the fun stopped when a rat bit one of the girls. Screaming, squirming and frightened, they worried and stayed awake for the remainder of the night. Unable to sleep, they decided to go indoors, to avoid anotherRead MoreThe Principles Of Empiricism And The Spirit Behind It2295 Words   |  10 Pagesgave rise to. Locke, John, An Essay concerning human understanding, Everyman, 1961: Book 1, of Innate ideas, Book 2, chapter 1, of ideas in general and their original, Berkeley, George, A treatise concerning the principles of human knowledge. Empiricists endorse the idea that we have no source of knowledge in S or for the concepts we use in S other than sense experience. This radical way of thinking began in the 17th century, with John Locke often regarded as the â€Å"father of British empiricism† afterRead MoreThe Republicn and a Brief History of Philosphy1763 Words   |  7 PagesSecondary to that there is truth, this idea is one that the main character struggles with the most throughout the film. As the film opens we are introduced to each character and their current spouse. All seems to be well other than the normal husband vs. in law rivalry, some may say that portrayal of life seems reasonable. What we find out as the film progresses is that the problems within these couples goes deeper than the traditional family feud. The main character Judah is having an affair with

Personal Statement Physical Emergency - 1473 Words

Physical Emergency In the event of a physical emergency, there are many things that I must do to ensure that I will get the care I need. If I find myself in a situation that I need care immediately, I will call 911 or have someone call for me. I will have the ambulance take me to the Canton Beaumont Medical Center, and if I need to be transferred after that, I will have them take me to Beaumont Dearborn. If I can, I will also call my dad and let him know that I am hurt/going to the hospital. If I cannot physically make the call, I will have someone else call him for me or I will try to text him. He is the family member I should try to contact first because he is most likely to have his phone on him, and he can spread the word to other†¦show more content†¦If I cannot contact any of the previous people listed, I will call my therapist, Carol. She is a trained professional that can listen to my struggles and talk me through them. If I cannot contact Carol, I will call the Alco holics Anonymous hotline because I know for a fact that someone will answer. In addition to reaching out to other people, I will go to as many meetings as possible because I know that I never walk out of a meeting feeling worse than I did when I walked in. In the extremely unfortunate case that I relapse, I will be honest about my relapse with Nita, Clay, Carol, and my parents as soon as possible. I will go to even more meetings than I already do, pray, count on my friends/family for support, and stick with my Program. A relapse does not mean I am a failure, it means that what I was doing wasn’t working anymore and I need to make some adjustments in my life so I will not feel the need to drink/use again. Another psychological issue I need to prepare myself for is another spout of major depression. From experience, I know my depression manifests itself as fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, and a general sense of apathy. If I feel these things coming on, I will share them with my therapist, Carol. She will probably suggest I exercise, among other things, and I will listen. I will take what she says to heart because I knowShow MoreRelatedViolence Against Nurses in the Emergency Department782 Words   |  4 PagesViolence Against Nurses in the Emergency Department Kimberly L. Kirk Professional Nursing Practice of the Baccalaureate Nurse August 8, 2014 Violence against Nurses in the Emergency Department According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workplace violence is defined as â€Å"an act of aggression directed toward persons at work or on duty, ranging from offensive or threatening language to homicide† (Wolf, Delao Perhats, 2014, p.305). Workplace violenceRead MoreA Plan For Students And Staff With Special Needs Or Disabilities1306 Words   |  6 Pages5. Develop a Plan for Students and Staff with Special Needs or Disabilities My review of the crisis plan found that very little addressed children or staff with physical, sensory, motor, developmental, or mental challenges. This is something that definitely needs to be addressed when considering relocation or evacuation. For example, some of our students with disabilities have restricted mobility and use a wheelchair, and moving them to a nearby staging center or evacuation center will be difficultRead MoreEssay On Pay Day Loans1040 Words   |  5 Pagesscore. Who needs to apply for bad credit payday loans? Payday loans are short term loans that should be paid within the next 30 days. Due to their high interest rates, they are best suitable for people with emergency financial needs. In other countries, these loans are commonly known as emergency or advance loans hence their fast approval. How do I get my payday loan application approved? You have documents to prove that you are eligible for bad credit payday loans. However, you may have been unsuccessfullyRead MoreResearch Paper Proposal1331 Words   |  6 PagesBurnout among Nurses in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments: An empirical study of Pakistani Government Hospitals 1. Introduction Burnout is a pattern of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion in response to chronic job stressors. It is a disorder characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a low level of personal accomplishments, which primarily affects people who are dealing with other people in their work (Maslach, 1982). Burnout develops due to the persistentRead MoreCrisis Management Plan Essay1286 Words   |  6 Pagescontemplate, â€Å"How do I ready for a zombie apocalypse?† Even though zombies are hype, they effortlessly link within our imagination of disaster and emergency preparedness as seen in the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention advertising maneuver in 2011. The agency trusted it to be an excellent stimulus to get the public to pull together for an emergency. One must be prepared for terrorist/zombie attacks, natural disasters or pandemics. This paper will target the communication plan employed in a healthRead MoreOrganizing Functions of Management Essay1136 Words   |  5 Pageshowever is the second of the four functions. Organizing, grouped with planning, provides managers with control of all organizational aspects, the organizing function is said to be the most frustrating one. Collecting and arranging the financial, physical, informational, the human and other resources needed to reach goals, is what organizing consists of. Organizing activities include attracting people to the corporation, identifying job responsibilities, grouping jobs into work units, collectingRead MoreNursing1261 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Definition of Nursing April Vialpando Ms. Penne McPherson in partial fulfillment of NR444 Professional Role Development Regis University January 22, 2013 Personal Definition of Nursing The definition of nursing has many different meanings depending on whom you ask. To some a nurse is simply the person who brings you your medication and takes your vital signs. To others, including myself, it is someone who keeps you safe and watches over you while you are in a healthcare settingRead MoreEhrenreich s Nickel And Dimed, By Barbara Ehrenreich1284 Words   |  6 PagesAction In her novel, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich states the working poor should be categorized as a â€Å"state of emergency,† and while that may first appear as extreme title, it would certainly promote action in our society. This â€Å"call to action† is one of the main motivations behind Ehrenreich’s writing of this novel. If viewing the working poor as a state of emergency promotes society to take action, then so be it. It is clear from Ehrenreich’s novel that the life of the working poor isRead Moremiss1624 Words   |  7 Pagesand control measures in the safety statement. Employers must provide their employees the correct training to ensure their health and safety at work. The communication between employers and employees can be verbal, visual and written. Fire Safety A fire safety risk assessment should be carried out should included fire prevention, fire detection and warning, and emergency escape routes and assembly points. These should be all included in the safety statement. First Aid and Manual and PatientRead MoreThe Security Plan1468 Words   |  6 Pagesprograms on computers. Brief and conduct training for all employees on cyber threats and vulnerabilities, and have them sign course completion form. This training should be held semi-annually. | Internal threats from employees i.e. theft, breach of personal info | 10 | 9 | 19 | Research each employee’s background thoroughly before hiring them. Conduct team building and morale activities monthly for all employees and levels. Monitor each employee’s computer usage and make sure that all activities are

Enterprise System for Integrate Activities - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write about theEnterprise System for Integrate Activities. Answer: Summary of the Result The summary of my result of the test that I have taken will be explained in this section.I had to answer numerous multiple choice questions to derive the results. The screen shot my result and an analysis of it will be made on this part. In this ENFJ tool, there are the four dichotomies that has sixteen types and when they are put together they are represented by those four dichotomies. The type of the subject of the personality is ENFJ. I live in an external focused life where I deal with things that are primarily based on how I feel about the different external things. These external thing needs to fit in into my personal value system. The secondary mode of my living is internal that needs to take in things that are based on my intuition. I fall under this category and consider myself focused. I posses an excellent skill that is not easily found in others that is to care for people. I always try to find the best in others. I usually devote myself completely for others and for their betterment. Manipulating people is what is usually done in order to use the people and make them do whatever I want. My motivation is usually unselfish in nature that needs to be used for the other purposes. Through this ENFJ test, I understood that I do not like to spend time alone and have a difficult time when it comes to spending time alone. I tend to have deep and dark thoughts when I am alone and hence I avoid such situation. Hence, I ultimately tend to avoid such situations. The other side of the ENFJ is that I am a completely reserved person. This do not mean that I lack strong self beliefs but I tend to refrain myself from that tendency. On the other hand, I feel myself strong and succinct in expressing my thoughts and marking my opinions for others. This may be the reason I am loved by all and I am actually a well organized people. There should be no doubt in it. This ultimately suggests that I am primarily good at position when it comes to dealing with people. There may be difficulties in making proper good decisions and I face this several times. Ultimately, there is a need to judge based on the rules and the values in a particular situation and its proper understanding will help when the intuition might fail. In short, it can be said that I am quite charming, creative, warm and diverse that needs to be highly developed with rich insights. Therefore, there is no need for competition with the people of ENFJ who are quite caring and productive in nature (Pearson and DeFrank-Cole 2017). The results prove that the ENFJ people have a comparatively good performance in managing the different people in order to bring the performance can be maintained (Kim and Lee 2016). This will help in managing the performance of the humans so that a potential good leader can come out from it and can lead their followers well. My weakness and strengths through the ENFJ has been revealed that will eventually help me to redevelop them and make me handle my strengths in a better way. There is a need to handle those situations in a better way so that I eventually become a good and responsible leader. The outcome of the result showed that I am 6% in judging, which I feel I am not. I feel I should have scored more and my power for the judging is far ahead than this percentage. It is not that much true that I am an extrovert but here the percentage that has been shown is 44%. To some I go with the results but definitely to this rate of the percentage. I believe that my intuition is quite strong and it should not come out so less. The percentage that has been shown is 12% and my percentage for the feelings has come out to 22%, which again I do not agree with. I consider to know myself better and I do not think this result should have been the outcome. MBIT test and its reliability Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers have developed the MBIT test. Katherine was somewhat influenced from the Carl Jungs book, the Psychological Type that has made her daughter later in 1940 to develop and create the MBIT (Burr et al. 2016). The educational testing services have started its distribution rate in 1957 of the MBIT. The testing has adopted this as a part of the library. Some of the unfavorable reviews has been made on the different internal members that was put together to stop the ETS and might have acquired a Consulting Psychologist Press (Wang 2015). The press has been acquired that has a complete right to sell from 1975. The MBIT is considered to recognize on the 16 different types of the personality development of the four dimensions that will be eventually put into it. It has been shown that the Introversion vs. Extroversion, Intuition vs. Sensing, Feeling vs. Thinking and Perception vs. Judgment (Rice 2015). The MBIT has its own reliability and consists of two letter categories that are not clear and sharp, as it appears to be (Lopez, Sakhel and Busch 2017). Hence, the possibility for the MBIT is to make and show familiar scores of the result that has much different personalities. Is it widely used and by whom? The test is an extremely popular one and is recognized worldwide. This can be used as a profitable tool also that has many certified consultants who can publish it as a publisher and can use them. On an average it can be said that many large corporations and organizations that also includes the 89 of the 100 fortune companies (forbes.com 2017). What do experts say about the MBIT test? Many scholars criticize the merits of the MBIT. For an instance, Costa and McCrae criticize the different psychometric property that has been used in the test from the year 1989. There are various limitations of the test that needs to be kept in mind. Some attention was also drawn from the Mattare from a very high skepticism degree that can be found in the MBIT research. Misuse and the overuse of the test have been marked. There may be arguments on the different shortcomings of the test that stands alone on the measurement (Tananchai 2017). Similar test alongside or its place A comparison may be made on the NEO-PI and the various five model factors that are known as the Big Five. The NEO-PI can be used in different academic literatures whereas the MBIT can be used in the team oriented and the business settings (Hamada et al. 2016). A preference of the NEO-PI is used over MBIT and hence both of them can be used in the research papers that have a far consistent overlapping. References forbes.com. 2017.MBTI popularity. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddessig/2014/09/29/the-mysterious-popularity-of-the-meaningless-myers-briggs-mbti/#15ed93091c79 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2017]. Hamada, E.K., Mohamed, E.A., Mohamed, S. and Youssef, M., 2016. An Augmented Reality Approach to Integrate Practical Activities in E-Learning Systems. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science Applications, 1(7), pp.107-117. Humanmetrics.com. (2017). Personality test based on C. Jung and I. Briggs Myers type theory. [online] Available at: https://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp [Accessed 22 Aug. 2017]. Kim, H.E. and Lee, S.E., 2016. Childcare Teachers Educational Beliefs and Self-efficacy according to Psychological Preferences of the MBTI Test. Korean Journal of Childcare and Education, 12(1), pp.171-185. Lopez, J.M.R., Sakhel, A. and Busch, T., 2017. The present, exploratory study examined bright-side personality trait (NEO-PI-R and MBTI) and dark-side trait (HDS) differences between middle to senior managers who had, and had not, worked abroad. It also examined the relation of personality trait variables to the duration of time spent abroad. In all 3165 females and 10,068 males aged between 23 and 65 years went to work-related assessment centre...European Management Journal,35(1), pp.137-139. Rice, J.W., 2015.Using Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicators to Predict High School Student Performance in an Educational Video Game. University of North Texas. Tananchai, A., 2017. The Personality of Students Studying the Social Etiquette and Personality Development Course by Myers Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) Theory.AJE,3(2). Wang, C.Y., 2015. Preference measures of rectangle ratio on MBTI personality types. Art and Design Review, 3(03), p.69.

The Medium is the Message

Human communication has developed from primitive forms, such as symbols and mimes, to more complex modern forms such as language. Communication, as a discipline, has attracted the attention of many scholars and professionals. Numerous theories have been put forward, all of which attempt to stake a claim as to what constitutes communication.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Medium is the Message specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Within the theoretical foundations of communication, there exist the medium theory proposed by experts such as McLuhan, Ong and Meyrowitz. The medium theory postulates that effective communication is determined by the medium of communication. McLuhan uses the terms medium to also refer to communication technologies such as the TV, the radios, the internet and many others. Thus, the meaning of a message is any change introduced by the medium within the communication process. This implies that communication technologies affect how people perceive the world around them. Such technologies also introduce new communication patterns into human affairs. Such patterns change people perception education, business trade among phenomena. Within this paper, the medium theory is analyzed Vis a Vis the internet. Suffice to state that the medium theory has come under intense criticism. Critics argue that McLuhan and other medium theorist ignore other basic variables, which determine the effectiveness of communication. Despite the criticisms, it can be concluded that the effectiveness of the internet as a communication medium is found to corroborate McLuhan’s (1964) theory. Medium theorists such as McLuhan, Ong and Meyrowitz propose that modern communication has been mediatised. This implies that the medium the message. The medium of communication modifies communication process in that it determines how people transfer, receive, perceive and interpreted messages. Th e meaning of every message is determined by the medium and not the content or the manner in which the message is relayed (Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research 2011). McLuhan and other media theorist postulate the media, rather than the actual content of the message should be the centre of study in relation to how meaning is derived. Furthermore, every form of medium is unique and has unique characteristics. Therefore, different forms of media modify communication differently. To understand the medium theory, it is important to critically evaluate the meaning and implication of the terms ‘medium’ and ‘medium is the message’ (Federman 2004). McLuhan (1964) uses the terms ‘media’ and ‘technology’ to also refer to the medium of communication. McLuhan refers to Medium as â€Å"any extension of ourselves that helps us in perceiving the world around us† (1964).Advertising Looking for research paper on socia l sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In general terms, medium refers to technologies through which messages are passed from the speaker to the recipient. McLuhan (1964) further gives two types of media; hot and cool media. By hot media, McLuhan (1964) refers to any form of technology, such as the radio, that requires limited involvement by the user. Conversely, cool media, such as the TV requires maximum involvement by the user. Other examples of medium forwarded by McLuhan include print media forms such as newspapers, bulletins, tabloids and magazines. McLuhan controversially adds that technologies such as cars and the light bulb are among useful communication media. These Media are the lenses through which people see the world around them. McLuhan (1964) adds another form of medium; the content. McLuhan (1964) argues that â€Å"a typical characteristic of every medium is that the content carried by that medium is medium i n itself†. Thus medium becomes a form of language with its own language structure and rules. McLuhan (1964) asserts that medium intensifies and speeds up the process of communication. Medium changes the â€Å"scale, pace and pattern† through which people associate with others as well with the world around them resulting to â€Å"psychic and social consequences† (Weisband, Schneider Connolly 1995). This implies that media determines how people interpret the world around them. The social consequences create the meaning of the message regardless of the content of that message. Therefore, the meaning of the message is purely determined by the medium. This phenomenon is referred to as the ‘medium is the message’ (McLuhan 1964). McLuhan (1964) uses the term medium and media refer to technologies, such as the internet, the TV and the radio that aid communication. In view of McLuhan’s (1964) assertion, the internet is one of the modern technologies t hat modify communication process. According to Adeel (n.d.) the use of internet has increased over the last few years. Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of internet to social cultural changes within societies. In a study conducted on the effects of internet use in Pakistan, Adeel (n.d.) found out that despite being a medium of social interaction, the use of internet amongst Pakistanis has led to social isolation within families. Pakistanis spend more time on the internet than with other family members.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Medium is the Message specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the internet leads to isolation within families. Furthermore, the internet is easily accessible and has therefore negatively affected Pakistanis’ reading culture as well as outdoor social activities. Rather than spending time playing outdoor games, Pakistani children spend more ti me on the internet playing online games. Therefore, the internet has impinged on the ability of the Pakistani young generation to interact. Other than social isolation, the internet has also led to erosion of cultural values. The internet is a free media, and thus connotes freedom of content and viewership. Anyone can post any form of content on the internet without restriction. Thus, the internet has increased access to content containing negative messages such as pornography and violence. Furthermore, internet has led to increase in cyber crime and other anti social behavior such as racial, gender, religious discrimination. Brey (n.d.) departs from the path taken by Adeel (n.d.) and focuses on the positive influences that the internet. Brey (n.d.) argues that the internet has increased access to information and thus many cultures have become enlightened. Furthermore, the internet has created a culture of globalization. Biggs (2000) concurs with this, further adding that the intern et has brought together people of various cultures together, and gradually has blurred cultural differences amongst the netizens. This has created a new culture amongst the netizens. As such, the internet culture is slowly evolving. Biggs (2000) concludes that Intent is on its way to becoming a culture in itself. Medium theorist asserts that media scales up the process of communication resulting to new psychic experiences which in turn modifies meaning. Salomon (1990) explains that the internet is one of the modern technologies that have brought new possibilities which traditional technologies such as the newspaper, the TV and radio could not afford users. Salomon (1990) adds that the internet has the ability to affect peoples â€Å"minds in interesting and important ways†. In relation to this theory, Voiskounsky (1998) adds that modern technologies, such as the internet, aid in development of psychic abilities in human beings. The internet is thus seen as a mediator between human cognitive processes and the communication process. Salomon (1990) and Voiskounsky (1998) seem to form their argument on the core of Vygotsky’s (1962) theory on the relevance of cognitive mediation. Cole (1996) adds that Vygotsky’s theory proposes that the human mind is a crucial instrument that determines the meaning of communication symbols. The assertion above can be taken in light of McLuhan’s (1964) assertion that a communication medium shapes how people associate with others as well as with the environment around them.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Regardless of the content of communication, the internet affects people in similar ways. Thus internet users are most likely to derive the similar meaning from a message passed through the internet. Studies on the influence of the internet as a medium of communication go way back to the 1990s with scholars such as Dyson being among the first to document findings. Dyson (1997) argues that the internet gives people the opportunity to â€Å"redefine their societal roles†. The internet has enabled people to find new ways to govern their lives. Issues such as education, business and commerce as well as communication are mediated by internet and have therefore taken a new meaning; the internet has enabled people to perceive education, business, commerce and communication differently. This implies that the internet has enabled people to study and do business more efficently. Dyson (1997) assertion that the internet has enabled people change the way they perceive education, business and communication corroborates McLuhan’s (1964) assertion that communication medium is â€Å"an extension of ourselves that helps us in perceiving the world around us†. The medium theory of communication postulates that the medium determines how messages are received, translated and interpreted. This assertion discounts other variables of communication that determines the outcomes of the communication process (Meyrowitz 2001). Such variables include the style and method of communication. In criticising the medium theory, Meyrowitz’s (2001) assertions are analyzed Vis a Vis the material culture and its relationship to communication technologies. According to material culture theorist, peoples’ perception of the world is determined by social and cultural factors. Therefore communication does not occur in a vacuum but intended to pass a predetermined message. As explained earlier, material culture theorists stipulate that social and cultural factors determin e how people perceive the world. There are two material subcultures: lowbrow and highbrow cultures. Lowbrow culture is defined as a way of life amongst the low class. It is also referred to as popular culture, famously recognized as pop culture. Pop culture utilizes style rather than medium as the means of effective communication. Specifically, humor and sarcasm are the dominant styles of communication within the pop culture (Jordan 2005). Conversely highbrow culture refers to the lifestyle of the high class (Peterson and Kern1996). Lowbrow and highbrow cultures utilize various forms of communication technologies such as the TV, Newspaper, magazines and the internet. The purpose of each of these technologies is to relay socially constructed messages. As such, the media only relays a message and does not modify it. The medium theory stipulates that effective communication depends on medium. The medium of communication is the most crucial variable in determining how a message is perce ived. While McLuhan (1964) offers plausible examples and illustration on the assertion that the medium is the message, this notion is yet to gain universal acceptance. Critics argues that McLuhan (1964) and other medium theorist ignore other variables that also influence communication process. For instance, the material culture theorists argue that the prevailing societies and cultures influence the construction of the message. For the message to be effective it has to be transmitted in a specific manner. According to material theorist the medium is only useful in transferring messages and does not modify them. Therefore, technologies such as the internet do not determine the meaning of the message. Despite the criticism by material cultural theorist, the medium theory tends to outweigh the criticism since it is evident that the internet has changed the way in which people view the world around them. McLuhan’s (1964) main assertion is the medium is the message. This implies t hat the meaning of any message is solely determined by the medium through which it is carried. In this regard, the medium theory overlooks the content and the style of communication amongst other variables that determine the effectiveness of communication. The e application of the medium theory especially with regards to internet as one of communication technologies has been evaluated and found to be true. Through the internet, people have been able to accelerate their social interactions and associations. Furthermore, the internet has altered people’s perception of the world around them. The medium theory is not universally acceptable. The use of internet as a medium of communication goes beyond its ability to modify the process of communication. As exemplified by material culture theorists, the internet enabled the transfer of predetermined messages. Such criticism does not mean that the medium theory is false. It is still relevant and has presented new and credible ways th rough which communication is perceived. Reference List Adeel, K., Impact of internet on society -Pakistan community. Biggs, S. 2000, ‘Global village or urban jungle: Culture, self-construal, and the internet’, Media Ecology Association. Web. Brey, P., Evaluating the Social and Cultural Implications of the Internet. Web. Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research 2011, Media evolution and cultural change: Discussing medium theory and mediatisiation’. Web. Cole, M. 1996, Cultural psychology: A once and future discipline, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. Federman, M. 2004, What is the Meaning of the Medium is the Message? Web. Jordan. M. 2005, Weirdo deluxe: The wild world of pop surrealism and lowbrow art, Chronicle Books, San Francisco. Meyrowitz, J. 2001, Morphing McLuhan: Medium Theory for a New Millennium. Peterson, R. and Kern, R. 1996, ‘Changing highbrow taste: From snob to omnivore’,  American Sociolo gical Review, Vol. 61, No. 3, pp. 900-907. Salomon, G.1990, ‘Cognitive effects with and of computer technology’, Communication  Research, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 26-44. Voiskounsky, C. 1998, Internet: Culture diversity and unification. Web. Vygotsky, L. 1962, Thought and language, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. Weisband, S., Schneider, K. and Connolly, T., 1995, ‘Computer-mediated communication and social information: Status salience and status differences’ Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 1124-1151 This research paper on The Medium is the Message was written and submitted by user Cailyn Tanner to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. The Medium is the Message