Is Exploration a 'Good' Thing?

Is exploration a ‘good’ thing?

Many things can be explored; a house, a room, a mind, a topic, a country, and so on. To explore something is “to investigate systematically, examine, or “to search into or travel in for the purpose of discovery.” (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/explore) Exploration is a ‘good’ thing because it can lead to new discoveries, findings, and new understandings.

Discovering a new area of land can lead to a whole new world of possibilities. Things may be found and discoveries can be made when exploring the world. Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator who lived from 1451 to 1506. His voyage and exploration across the Atlantic Ocean led to European awareness of the American continents. Columbus “initiated the process of Spanish colonization which foreshadowed general European colonization of the ‘New World’.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus) Columbus wrote in his journal, “So, after having expelled all the Jews from all of your Kingdoms and Dominions, in the same month of January Your Highnesses commanded me to go, with a suitable fleet, to the said regions of India. And for that you granted me great favors and ennobled me so that from then on I might call myself "Don" and would be Grand Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Viceroy and perpetual Governor of all the islands and lands that I might discover and gain and [that] from now on might be discovered and gained in the Ocean Sea; and likewise my eldest son would succeed me and his son him, from generation to generation forever.” (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/01-col.html) In the case of Christopher Columbus, his exploration led him to initiate “widespread contact between Europeans and indigenous Americans,” and this was definitely a good thing.

Exploration is also a good thing when what is being explored are sciences and mathematics. Formulas, operations, solutions, and equations can be figured out and solved with this type of exploration. A physicist, author, and philosopher, Albert Einstein is among many people who dove into the exploration of math and science. Einstein is often regarded as “the father of modern physics.” Einstein’s exploration and examination of science led him to contribute to physics which includes “the special and general theories of relativity, the founding of relativistic cosmology, the first post-Newtonian expansion, explaining the perihelion advance of Mercury, prediction of the deflection of light by gravity and gravitational lensing,” and much more. Einstein’s research led him to publish more than 300 scientific and over 150 non-scientific works. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein) In a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt, Albert Einstein stated the following:

“Some recent work by E. Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript, leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the immediate future. Certain aspects of the situation which has arisen seem to call for watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action on the part of the administration. I believe therefore that it is my duty to bring to your attention the following facts and recommendations:

In the course of the last four months it has been made probable -- through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America -- that it may become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium, by which vast amounts of power and large quantities of new radium like elements would be generated. Now it appears almost certain that this could be achieved in the immediate future.”

Einstein made many things possible with his research and exploring of science, and he contributed to the world of physics that is known today. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/psources/ps_einstein.html)

Exploration is a good thing. More positive outcomes come from exploring something than do negative outcomes. Exploration is what keeps the world changing and why discoveries are found, inventions are made, and lives are improved.

Works Cited

"Albert Einstein." W. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein>.

"Christopher Columbus, Journal (1492)." Web. 7 May 2010. <http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/01-col.html>.

"Christopher Columbus." Wikipedia. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus>.

The Free Dictionary. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/explore>.

"Letter from Albert Einstein to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt." Web. 7 May 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/psources/ps_einstein.html>.

Picture Source:

"Albert Einstein." Flickr. Web. 7 May 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/30417084@N05/2959726725/>.

Northern, Italian, and Spanish Renaissance Art

How is the art of the Northern Renaissance (England, Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia) different from the art of the the Italian and Spanish Renaissance? Think about the influence of religion and politics in art.

A Gothic influence in art was still popular in the north during the Renaissance. Some artists developed styles that were imitated by man subsequent generations. Northern painters in the 16th century increasingly traveled to Rome, becoming known as the Romanists. The Reformation brought religious painting almost completely to an end. Portrait painting was slow to spread from the elite. During the Italian Renaissance, "the creation of credible space allowed artists to also focus on the accurate representation of the human body and on naturalistic landscapes." Artists began to use techniques in the manipulation of light and darkness. This period also saw the first secular themes. Spanish Renaissance art included portrait artists. Renditions of scenes of historical and cultural significance were often depicted in paintings during this time. The works of art of each of these times were magnificent.

"Italian Renaissance." Wikipedia. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Renaissance#Sculpture_and_painting>.

"Northern Renaissance." Wikipedia. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Renaissance#Art>.

"Spanish Art." Wikipedia. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_art>.

Picture Source:

Flickr. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eyck.hubert.lamb.750pix.jpg>.

Internal Exploration

What type of exploration has a greater long-term impact on a society: external exploration of the world or internal exploration of human understanding such as math and sciences?

Internal exploration of human understanding has a greater long-term impact on a society. Exploration is

is the act of searching or traveling a terrain. This exploration can bring about inventions, creations, and many parts of mathematics and sciences are essential things for people to know. Science and math could help us create things in new areas of the world that we may explore. Exploring the world is beneficial, but we can use the land we already have and create great things with internal exploration of human understanding.

"Exploration." Wikipedia. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration>.

Picture Source:

Flickr. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/orinrobertjohn/22452221/>.

Art of the Renaissance and Middle Ages

How is the art of the Renaissance different from the art of the Middle Ages?

Most paintings in the Middle Ages were found in the form of illustrated manuscripts. Most paintings were produced in monasteries, the centers of learning and art. There were often mural paintings in churches. At times, mosaics were placed where you would usually see murals. Bright colors were used during the Gothic period. (http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/ma/middle_ages_art.htm) The Renaissance was the "rebirth". There were the first oil paintings on canvas during this time. "It was also a time where the paintings took on three dimensions by the use of shadow and light." The subject matters included mythical subjects and nature scenes, and it was usually hard to depict the story behind the works of art. The Renaissance art is very different than that of the Middle Ages.

(http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/ma/renaissance_art.htm)

"Renaissance Art." Web. 5 May 2010. <http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/ma/renaissance_art.htm>.

"Middle Ages Painting." Web. 5 May 2010. <http://www.historylink101.com/lessons/art_history_lessons/ma/middle_ages_art.htm>.

Picture Source:

Flickr. Web. 5 May 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahblu/2892269247/>.

Aliens

Stephen Hawking is the world's most famous astrophysicist, and he says that we should not make contact with creatures from outer space. If aliens were to come to Earth, we should leave them alone, but study how they live day to day. If they were to cause harm or destruction, they should somehow be sent away and told to leave. We should not "invite" aliens to come live with us on Earth. If we do come across aliens living somewhere in the world, we should first learn more about them before doing anything else.

"Don't Tell The Aliens We're Here, Stephen Hawking Says; They Might Not Be Friendly." Npr. Web. 3 May 2010. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/04/aliens_stephen_hawking.html>.

Picture Source:

Flickr. Web. 3 May 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/klingon65/3200254756/>.