Biology 202 Web Paper 2

In “Re-imagining the Sacred Self,” any distinction between self and the I-function is dismissed as an illusion, based on scientific research and ancient Hindu scriptures. What was not discussed, however, was the possibility that this unified perception of an innate self may in fact be “conquered” through self-discipline. This belief stems from the teachings first elucidated in the Bhagavad Gita which tells the devotee that the individual who can master the self will reach

Is “Alice in Wonderland” a pathological product, the result of a single man’s “nerve cells and associated molecules” running amock? The tendency to reduce artistic, religious, or philosophical achievements to bodily ailment was aptly named by William James in “The Varieties of Religious Experience.” “Medical materialism,” he wrote, “finishes up Saint Paul by calling his vision on the road to Damascus a discharging lesion of the occipital cortex, he being an epileptic. It snuffs out Saint Teresa as an hysteric, Saint Francis of Assisi as a hereditary degenerate” (9). And, I might add, Lewis Carroll as an addict or migraineur.

Today, some people lightly throw around the phrase “panic attack.” When feeling stressed or nervous, they may say, “Oh my goodness, I’m about to have a panic attack.” Though in this case used as an exaggeration, for many, panic attacks are a serious issue. For instance, one woman experiencing a panic

            For years, being emotional was often looked down upon. It was thought stupid people were emotional, and rational people were intelligent. To criticize an opponent, one might disparage their emotional character, saying they were too weak to make intelligible choices. Turns out, having emotional responses is key to making any rational choice.

        “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Even if you’re not a big fan of baseball, you’re probably familiar with this unforgettable quote, stated by the legendary Lou Gehrig on July 4, 1939 as he addressed an admiring crowd honoring his achievements on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day. Indeed, “The Iron Horse’s”

Phantom Limbs and Acupuncture

Biology 202
2000 Second Web Report
On Serendip

Biology 202
1999 Second Web Reports
On Serendip