Governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development

Scientific research has always been tangled with the ethical dilemma of whether the end justifies the
means. There is even an entire philosophical field called normative ethical theories that is
dedicated to examining the standards for the rightness and wrongness of action and determining
how an individual should act. In this case, while giving researchers a carte blanche allows science to
explore uncharted territory and enables a faster research-development-production rate, it also opens
the door to the horrors of unethical experimentation.

Even though studies have shown that animal research is neither necessary nor is it predictive for
humans, animals still continue to be the most common subject of scientific experimentation. While
the existing Animal Welfare Act offers reduced protection, removing all the restrictions on scientific
research gives scientific a free pass to conduct experiments that would otherwise have been seen as
animal cruelty, on the basis of inducing unnecessary pain. Furthermore, having no regulations when
it comes to the species that can be used in experimentation, can lead to an increase in poaching
when it comes to animals with rare properties or genetic similarities to humans. Like Thomas Edison
said, Until we stop harming all other living beings we are still savages.

Unrestricted scientific research would not only impact the treatment of animals but also how human
experimentation is conducted. The history books are fraught with the examples of experiments that
were often performed illegally, without the knowledge, consent, or informed consent of the test
subjects. In the US for instance, the cold war era brought about numerous psychological
experiments for testing effective torture and interrogation techniques. There is even the famous
case of the Holmesburg prison in Pennsylvania, where in the 60s and 70s, chemical experiments
were performed on the prisoners who were injected with dioxin, a highly toxic compound. Perhaps
the most telling and horrific example is that of the Nazi human experiments, from genetics to
vivisections, poison studies and transplantation without anesthesia. What particularly draws
attention to this case is not just the extent of human suffering, but also the justification used for the
experiments: at the trial, several of the doctors argued in their defense that there was no
international law regarding medical experimentation. This raises the question of how to judge abuses
in regards to scientific experimentation without a body of law that governs the scientific practices.

Another issue also present itself no research restrictions means no regulation when it comes to
testing. Take the example of the pharmaceutical industry on the one hand, experimental
treatments can find their way on the market much faster on the other, pharmaceutical
companies run the risk of becoming a business where profit supersedes safety. Current regulations
require years of trials before drugs can be released for production without them, companies can
cut corners and push products on the market that can have serious untested side effects. Without
government regulations, taking punitive action against companies that promote dangerous drugs to
the market becomes difficult if not impossible, especially since, according to the law, they would not
be committing any crimes.

Then there is the question of how to handle dangerous scientific research (viruses, chemical weapons
etc.). Having no restrictions means people who are insufficiently prepared or have destructive
agendas can get involved in potentially dangerous experiments. Researching subjects that would be
better left alone and dealing with the consequences of pushing the boundaries of science are
prominent themes of science fiction. Most post-apocalyptic scenarios of both books and movies
come about from scientific experimentation creating dangerous viruses that escape containment,
like in THE STAND, or opening up inter-dimensional portals to worlds of horrors in Stephen Kings
THE MIST.

Ultimately, no matter how seductive is the promise of freedom of research, rules and regulations
has to be set in place to ensure that in quest for knowledge we dont end sacrificing our own
humanity. Existing restrictions have evolved based on our previous experiences with the potential
horrors of unsanctioned experimentation, and they have been set in place to protect us from
ourselves.

Argument task 1
The author theorizes that the Palean baskets are no longer considered to be unique since a similar
basket has been discovered in a different settlement that could only be reached by boat and the
Paleans did not possess navigational means. More detailed information is necessary in order to be
able to evaluate the truth of this claim.

The most compelling bit of evidence that is missing from authors argument is related to historical
water level of Brim River. The writer assumes that since the Brim River is currently broad and deep
the conditions must have been similar in the past. However, river levels fluctuate widely and periods
of drought can severely affect the breadth and depth of the river. In order to support his claim, the
author should consider the geographical records of the prehistoric water levels of the Brim River and
the prehistoric rain records of in the area. Based on this data, should Brim River prove to have been
consistently high in the time period when the Palean village existed, then it becomes less likely that
the Palean style basket found in Lithos could have been carried across the river without the aid of a
boat. Conversely, should the evidence show that the Brim Riverhad low water levels in the
prehistoric period, or the Palea region experienced periods of severe drought, then it becomes more
likely that the Brim River could be crossed without a boat. In this case, the presence of a palean
basket in lithos could be seen as evidence of trade rather than of lithos developing a similar
weaving style.

When making his case that the palean basket was never transported across the river, the author
assumes that deep river crossing is only possible with the aid of a boat. In order to be able to prove
this claim, the author needs to look into what river crossing methods were available at the time
and if there were any other geological possibilities of reaching lithos, such as cave systems
connecting the two banks of the river.

The next step in the authors argument relies on the assumption that only paleans could have
transported the basket across the river. In order to support his claim, the writer would need to
show that neither lithos nor any of the surrounding communities would have possessed the means
of transporting the basket across the river. The most direct way to investigate this would involve
looking at records of boat findings in lithos or the surrounding area. Additional sources such as
cave paintings, carvings or historical records depicting whether the settlements in the area
possessed a maritime culture. For instance, ancient Egypt, a civilization built on river trading, has
many visual representations of boats and a history of nautical trading depicted in hieroglyphs. In the
absence of boat findings or cultural evidence, trading records can also be used to demonstrate
whether or not palea had any contact with settlements from across the Brim River. Such trading
evidence can come in the form of distinctively foreign artifacts in palea belonging to settlements
from across the river. Should this evidence prove that it is possible that the basket found in lithos is a
result of trading, then the main claim that the palean baskets are not uniquely palean would be
severely weakened. When arguing that the absence of boat findings in palea shows that paleans
could not have transported the basket across the river, the author assumes that boat findings are a
sufficient indicator of the presence or absence of a maritime culture. A comparison of the areas
climate and geographical history with the conditions that are necessary for boat preservation would
make it easier to state with a certainty whether or not paleans could cross the river.

Another assumption made by the author of the text is that the basket found in lithos was crafted
there. In order to assess the validity of this statement, the author should analyse whether or not the
people of lithos had the ability to produce the basket that was found there. He would first need to
produce the baskets. This can be accomplished by looking at historical or geological records
indicating the presence of pliable or fibrous material in lithos. This evidence would not be sufficient
to either prove or disprove the claim. The author would further have to demonstrate that not just
general weaving materials, but also the specific materials required for the basket can be found in the
area. However, the argument would still be incomplete without the data that demonstrates that the
people of lithos had the necessary skills to make the basket. Such evidence could be gained by
examining records detailing the presence of weaving tools in lithos, or the presence of artifacts
crafted using woodworking techniques similar to those required to make the basket.

All in all, additional evidence should make the authors claims harder to refute, and help prevent him
from drawing faulty conclusions based on inaccurate or incomplete data.

Governments should offer college and university

education free of charge to all students
Education plays an important part in everyones life, it helps people overcome superstitions, keep in
touch with the advancements of the world and gain a deeper understanding of how things function,
instils respect, teaches people how to function and contribute to society while maintaining their own
independence. Like Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world.

Governments across the globe have understood this crucial fact and acted in accordance by making
education up to a certain level compulsory and free. Why should this government funding not
extend to higher education as well? There is no doubt that promoting education is an investment in
the future, like many studies have demonstrated by linking the literacy of a country with its
economic growth. An educated workforce is an economic imperative-more students means more
contributions, both in terms of finances and when it comes to scientific, technological and cultural
advancements. Given the potential of a high skilled workforce, some nations have already
implemented policies that ensure free access to higher education for all students. In Sweden,
attending university is free for all EU students. Denmark and Norway have similar policies. It is
interesting to note that these countries have some of the highest living standards in the world and
that their policies have been in place for several years with no major drawbacks to speak of.

On another note, state funded university education can also help bridge the gap between the haves
and have-nots. High tuitions can be a deterrent for brilliant students without financial means
valuable talent can be lost to menial labour or even other countries, as students can leave in search
of better opportunities. While most countries already have some scholarship programs set in place,
they only cater to the extremely brilliant and promote a highly competitive environment. The
students that fall just shy of the requirements have to contend with paying tuition, and in some
countries, like the US, that lands them into crippling debt. Student loan debt in the US has made the
front page of international newspaper with stories of ruined lives and people that have to dedicate a
good portion of their life just to paying off the tuition fees. Having no debt means graduates have
more buying power and can invest more in the economy.

Free university education can even have a direct effect on the micro-economy surrounding the
campus based on the expected increase on the campus based on the expected increase in the
number of attending students. Like in the cases of Cambridge and Harvard, universities encourage
the growth of towns next to campus sites small businesses that cater to the students needs tend
to flourish. An increase in the number of attending students can even have an on the construction
of dormitories get expanded to accumulate the intake of students.

Additionally, funding the students education can have a loyalty effect talented people will not
desert the country in search for better options. It should also be noted that free education does not
mean that there will be a drop in standards students still have to pass admission tests, and pass
their classes. This way, the system ensures that only the people that possess the necessary skills and
determination to graduate can enrol. The dutch system provides a good application of this principle
Dutch students get a loan from the government for their university tuition, and upon graduation,
the loan is given as a gift. In essence, in the Netherlands, higher education is free- as long as the
students graduates, which serves as a good motivation for people not to slack off or take on more
studies they can handle.

This goes to show that there are viable solutions for implementing free university education
policies. Moreover, numerous countries have applied these polices with success for a considerable
number of years. Given these practical examples and the benefits of a highly educated workforce, it
would be a shame not to invest in our future.