Replication
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the importance of self-reproduction. When conditions are just right, he observes, collections of molecules can make copies of themselves. According to Professor Dennett, this starts a snow-balling process which...
Republicanism and Freedom
Philosopher Michael Sandel talks about the republican conception of freedom, which he characterizes as one that emphasizes the importance of citizens sharing in self-government. Professor Sandel adds that this notion of freedom also emphasizes that ...
Reductive Theories of the Self
Philosopher Charles Taylor discusses his ideas about what he calls "reductive theories of human beings." Professor Taylor explains that, by reductive, he means simplifying explanations and ideas that normally require "rich language" and substituting...
Recognition in the Formation of Self
Philosopher Charles Taylor talks about ways in which one's identity is worked out with other people. He discusses the paramount importance of recognition, by which he means acceptance for what you are by people that really matter. An example in chil...
Petroleum Refining and Waste Minimization: Petroleum Refining
The first step in optimizing the refining process is determining the composition of the crude. The analysis identifies undesirable trace metals and minerals, like sulfur, which are detrimental to equipment. Since the various hydrocarbon chains foun...
Petroleum Refining and Waste Minimization: Crude Oil, Hydrocarbons and Refineries
Carbon, the building block of life, can bond with itself and hydrogen in an infinite number of ways to form molecules called hydrocarbons. Crude oil is a mixture of all lengths of carbon chains, depending on the source. It can be viscous and conta...
Decade of Discord: Congressional Debate Over Slavery Intensifies as Country Expands
Issues related to America's expansion and westward development begin to spiral out of control in the 1850s. In Congress, aging senators Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and John C. Calhoun debate the future of union. The South fears what will happen if l...
Crisis of Authority: Vietnamization and Escalation
Nixon begins his presidency by turning over more of the war to the Vietnamese so the U.S. can withdraw troops and undermine anti-war rhetoric. While there is a visible attempt to set up negotiations, Kissinger is engaged in private diplomacy. By the...
Crisis of Authority: Watergate Crisis, The
Watergate includes a range of illegal activities that go beyond the break in at the Democratic National Headquarters. The use of illegal election funds to punish political opponents is just one of a number of disclosures that reveal the secret power...
Crisis of Authority: Troubled Economy, The
Inflation soars, in part because of the cost of energy. OPEC nations refuse to sell oil to the U.S. because of the nation's support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War. With major competition from abroad, some U.S. factories close causing millions of w...