Why should we trust our senses and experiences

Assignment Help Other Subject
Reference no: EM13928427

Read the following passage and answer the questions below. Try to guess the context of the situation you are reading. If you aren't sure, look up the book, Johnny Got His Gun on Google and see if it helps make things clearer.

The nurse's hands were on him. He could feel her washing his body and manipulating his flesh and dressing the wound in his side. She used something warm and greasy to dissolve the scab substance that held the mask to that point of irritation near his throat. He felt like a child that has awakened weeping from a nightmare to find itself safe and snug in its mother's arms. The nurse was company even though he couldn't see or hear her. She was somebody and she was his friend. He wasn't alone any longer. With her at hand there was no need for him to worry no need for him to struggle no need for him to think. The responsibility was completely hers and he had nothing to fear so long as she was close to him. Instead of the rat gnawing at his side he felt her cool fingers and the cleanliness of new bandages and fresh linen.

He knew now that the rat had been only a dream. He was so relieved to discover this that for a few minutes he almost forgot his fear. And then relaxing under the nurse's care he suddenly chilled all over at realization that the rat dream might come again. It was almost a certainty to come again. He knew that the whole dream was started by his thinking of the wound in his side. His awareness of the wound as he fell asleep brought on the dream of the rat feeding at it. Since the wound remained it seemed almost certain that the same chain of thought would bring the rat back to him again in his sleep. Each time he fell asleep the rat would come and sleep instead of being forgetfulness would become as bad as being awake. A guy could stand a lot when he was awake. But when sleep came he deserved to forget everything. Sleep should be like death.

He knew the rat was a dream. He was sure of that. All he had to do was to find some way of getting himself out of the dream when it came. He could remember when he was a kid he used to have nightmares. Funny thing about them was they weren't particularly awful ones either. The worst one was where he seemed to be an ant walking across a sidewalk and the sidewalk was so big and he was so small that sometimes he awakened yelling he was so scared. That was the way to stop nightmares by yelling so hard you waked yourself up. But hell that wouldn't work for him now. In the first place he couldn't yell and in the second place he was so deaf he couldn't hear the noise anyhow. That was no good. He would have to find some other way.

He remembered that as he got older and different nightmares came he used to be able to think himself out of them. Just when it seemed the awful thing that was after him was going to get him he could think in his sleep here Joe this is just a dream. It's just a dream Joe understand? And then in a little bit he would open his eyes and look into the darkness around him and the dream would be gone. That system might work with the rat. Instead of imagining himself running and yelling for help the next time the rat came he would just think to himself this is a dream. And then he would open-

But that wouldn't work. He couldn't open his eyes. In his sleep in the middle of the rat dream he might think himself out of it but how would he be able to prove he was awake if he couldn't open his eyes and look around into the darkness?

1. List any differences between the following claims:

· Joe believes a rat has crawled over him, and is eating from his open wound.

· Joe knows a rat has crawled over him, and is eating from his open wound.

· Joe is certain that a rat has crawled over him, and is eating from his open wound.

2. Why should we trust our senses and experiences to tell us about the world? Why shouldn't we?

3. True or False: Descartes decides it does not matter if we are dreaming right now or not.

. If true, an example?

. Does Joe from Johnny Got His Gun agree?

Reference - Trumbo, D. 1994. Johnny Got His Gun. New York, NY: Citadel Press. First published 1939.

Reference no: EM13928427

Questions Cloud

Individual assignment jamona corp scenario : On January 1, 2006, Jamona Corp. purchased 12% bonds, having a maturity value of $300,000, for $322,744.44. The bonds provide the bondholders with a 10% yield. They are dated January 1, 2006, and mature January 1, 2011, with interest receivable De..
What value would whitehurst place on the ivanhoe stock : If Whitehurst requires a 12 percent rate of return on investments of this type, what value would Whitehurst place on the Ivanhoe stock?
How much would you pay for one share of stock today : The Alpha Tool Corporation has never paid a dividend, but the new company president has announced. If you require a 15 percent rate of return on this stock, how much would you pay for one share of stock today?
How were children affected during the time of slave trade : How were children affected during the time of slave trade? Numerous literature on slavery are available but little has been covered regarding children aspect. How were children affected? Were children part and puzzle of slave trade?
Why should we trust our senses and experiences : Why should we trust our senses and experiences to tell us about the world? Why shouldn't we? True or False: Descartes decides it does not matter if we are dreaming right now or not
What direct effects do these systems have on customers : How do ERP and CRM help a company? What are the drawbacks to setting up those different types of systems in a business?
The concept of program reengineering : Based on the Case Study Mayor Schell's Zero Homeless Family Strategy (PDF), write a 45 page paper in which you
Define organizational strategy of nlb to fulfil new business : Propose the business strategy and value proposition of NLB and support your answers with examples. Describe the organizational strategy of NLB to fulfil its new business strategy and value proposition.
What are the dividend yields on the common stock of at and t : What are the dividend yields on the common stock of AT&T, Boeing, and Johnson & Johnson? What possible explanation can you give for the differences in the common stock dividend yields observed in part a?

Reviews

Write a Review

Other Subject Questions & Answers

  Specific details that stimulate the reader’s senses

Descriptive writing includes specific details that stimulate the reader’s senses.

  Types of billiard equipment

Farris Billiard Supply sells all types of billiard  equipment, and is considering manufacturing their  own brand of pool cues. Mysti Farris, the production  manager, is currently investigating the production of  a standard house pool cue that sho..

  List and give an example of the main agents of socialization

List and give an example of the 4 main agents of socialization. What does Cooley mean by his looking glass self-theory? How does this theory explain development of our self-concept

  Summarize and analysis the given article

Summarize and analysis the given article. 1200-1500 words. Article- Symphony Musicians and Symphony Orchestras by Robert J. Flanagan

  Discrepancies channel members

One important reason channel members are included between producers and end users are to overcome discrepancies. name and describe four discrepancies channel members to overcome these discrepancies.

  Analyze the roles of nature and nurture

Analyze the roles of nature and nurture in shaping your personality - discuss which aspects of your personality have remained consistent and which aspects of your personality have changed over time.

  What trade-offs are necessary for a fast online reporting

your supervisor asked you to make a presentation on fast data entry systems in the afternoon status meeting. the use of

  Business ethics courses taught in colleges and universities

business ethics courses taught in colleges and universities are sometimes thought to be primarily about making students

  The unexamined life is not worth living

When Socrates says that, "the unexamined life is not worth living," he is recommend¬ing one way to avoid the harm that can come from acting unethically.

  Common business document and demand careful organization

Requests for funding are a common business document and demand careful organization to present a persuasive, thoughtful request. For this assignment, prepare a 350- to 500-word memo to your supervisor requesting that your company sponsor your partici..

  Principal astronomical alignment at stonehenge

What is the principal astronomical alignment at Stonehenge, as well as the most common astronomical alignment at archaeoastronomical sites worldwide?

  Developing a project proposal

Developing a project proposal - determining the project topic

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd