TJ_L

To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must study its major cities. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position. Studying the major cities of a society is an effective way to understand that society's most important characteristics. Large cities tend to shape culture at large, and it is because of this heavy influence that examining these cities as microchasms of society can be so effective. Large cities are able to influence the political leanings of populations in other parts of a society. For example, in the United States, New York City and San Francisco are two cities that, despite the vast array of political opinions reflected in their populations, tend to lean left on the political spectrum. This, in effect, exhibits a large pull on the rest of their respective states, in terms of population size and the electoral college when presidential elections roll around. A major city's economy is also indicative of how the larger society treats wealth. If a city has a large wealth disparity, it can be inferred that the society as a whole may not value the most economically marginalized among them. It can also be indicative of larger societal policies that, as a whole, affect that society's economy. For example, the San Francisco Bay Area has one of the largest homeless populations in the nation while also boasting some of the richest homeowners in the nation, given the sky-high costs of houses in the area. This provides a glimpse into a larger societal attitude that values capitalist profit at the expense of those at the bottom rung of the financial ladder. If one examines the variety of large cities in the United States, however, one will find a wide range of housing costs and rates of homelessness, which also speaks to the economic diversity of American society. Finally, the current state of a given society is reflected in the leisurely activities that those in large cities partake in. For example, from a large city that boasts a vibrant tourist industry and nightlife, it can be inferred that the society at large is at peace – not at war – and that all is well. A large city in North Korea, however, would show the opposite of this and would reflect the state of the nation. In some cases, however, large cities may not always necessarily reflect the larger society. For example, if one were to examine Manila, Philippines or Cape Town, South Africa apart of from the rest of the country, one may falsely infer that, as a whole, the Philippines or South Africa is what would be considered a first-world country, as opposed to a third-world country. The reality, however, is that the state of these cities are heavily influenced by other factors including, but not limited to: tourism, higher concentrations of wealthy individuals, and economies that do not extend their effects to other parts of their respective societies. This is where examining a larger sample size of large cities in that society may be helpful. Thus, by studying a society's major cities, one can develop of a good sense of that society's most important characteristics. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been made only by the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could have crossed it only by boat, and no Palean boats have been found. Thus it follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not uniquely Palean. Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument. In order to evaluate the argument that the so-called Palean baskets were not uniquely Palean, it is necessary to obtain evidence of whether or not the Palean people migrated, whether or not trade took place across the river, and what constitutes a Palean boat, as opposed to a boat from another village or culture. If such evidence were to emerge, it would weaken the argument that these baskets were not uniquely Palean. In order to make the above argument, one must have evidence of how long the Palean people had been residing on their side of the Brim River and of whether or not they were once a nomadic people. If evidence was found that the Palean people were nomadic prior to their settling down in the village of Palea, the above argument would be weakened by the possibility that the Palean people may have migrated from across the river. The argument asserts that the village of Palea was prehistoric, so if the Palean people were indeed nomadic, it is unknown whether or not they crossed the river before it became as deep as it currently is or perhaps before it even formed. The assumption that the Palean people have always been on the same side of the Brim River may be a faulty one, and any evidence of their travels as a people would weaken that argument. Furthermore, evidence regarding what trade was like at the time is necessary. The argument claims that boats identified as Palean have been found but makes no mention of whether or not boats from other villages or cultures have been discovered in the Brim River. Evidence of other boats, documents recording trade histories, or artifacts discovered in Palea that are distinctly of another culture would indicate that trade and communication did indeed occur across the Brim River. The argument could then be made that the baskets are indeed uniquely Palean, but were simply found across the river due to trade. This, in effect, would weaken the original argument that claims that the baskets are not unique to Palean culture. Lastly, as alluded to in the prior paragraph, the argument states that “no Palean boats have been found”. In order to support this argument, one would have to describe and explain what exactly would make a boat distinctly Palean as opposed to a boat being from a nearby village or from across the river. If such evidence of what a Palean boat was like were to emerge, it could support the argument that because no such boats were found in the river, the Paleans never crossed. This is problematic, however, for two reasons. First, even if the Paleans never crossed, that fact would not exclude the possibilities of other villages crossing over to the Palean side and taking Palean goods back to their own respective villages. Second, the only way to describe what a Palean boat would look like were if there were boats discovered in the river to begin with. Merely saying that “no Palean boats have been found” is insufficient, as the proponent of the argument would have to clarify whether or not boats, in general, were found, or if no boats unique to Palean culture were found. Thus, evidence consisting of either migration of a nomadic people, a vibrant trade economy, or the existence of boats from other cultures is necessary to sufficiently examine the argument that said baskets were not uniquely Palean.