Daily Read 1: Essay Aeon | 100 RCs for Practice - CAT PDF Download

Essay 1

Essay Name: The exam that broke society
By: Yasheng Huang (Edited by Sam Haselby)

On 7 and 8 June 2023, close to 13 million high-school students in China sat for the world’s most gruelling college entrance exam.

Read the full essay here: https://aeon.co/essays/why-chinese-minds-still-bear-the-long-shadow-of-keju

Summary and Theme

The article examines the enduring influence of the Keju system, an ancient Chinese imperial civil service examination, on modern Chinese society and its educational and political systems. Keju, which was based on rigorous memorization of Confucian classics, was a pathway to bureaucratic positions and shaped a culture of deference to authority and collectivism. The system's meritocratic facade is critiqued for overshadowing its role in reinforcing autocracy and stifling societal development by monopolizing talent and intellectual growth. The article contrasts this with the development of civil services in the West, where bureaucracy evolved amidst a vibrant society with established rule of law and political pluralism, leading to a more balanced power dynamic between state and society.

Difficult Words

• Meritocracy: A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.
• Autocracy: A system of government by one person with absolute power.
• Intelligentsia: Intellectuals or highly educated people as a group, especially when regarded as possessing culture and political influence.
• Nepotism: The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
• Pluralism: A condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist.
• Tabula rasa: The theory that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that therefore all knowledge comes from experience or perception.
• Leviathan: A large or powerful entity, often used to refer to a monolithic state or government.
• Statism: A political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
• Please note: The content provided is a summary and interpretation of the article's themes without direct quotes or detailed analysis to respect copyright. If you need more specific insights or direct excerpts, please let me know.

Essay 2

Essay Name: Boredom is but a window to a sunny day beyond the gloom
By: Neel Burton (Edited by Nigel Warburton)

What, exactly, is boredom? It is a deeply unpleasant state of unmet arousal: we are aroused rather than despondent, but, for one or more reasons, our arousal cannot be met or directed.

Read the full essay here: https://aeon.co/ideas/boredom-is-but-a-window-to-a-sunny-day-beyond-the-gloom

Summary and Theme

The article explores the concept of boredom as a state of unmet arousal, where one is unable to engage with stimulating activities despite the desire to do so. It suggests that boredom can be a result of both internal factors, like a lack of imagination or motivation, and external factors, such as an absence of stimuli. The piece delves into the psychological impact of boredom, noting that it can lead to negative behaviors like overeating or substance abuse, but also highlights boredom's potential as a catalyst for change and self-reflection. It encourages embracing boredom as a means to drive ambition and creativity, citing historical figures like Bertrand Russell, who found productivity and satisfaction in the stillness of a prison cell.

Difficult Words

• Arousal: A state of being awake and responsive to stimuli.
• Manic defense: A psychological term referring to a behavior or thought pattern that a person uses unconsciously to avoid uncomfortable feelings like helplessness or despair.
• Chronic: (Of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
• Desensitized: Made less sensitive to something, often through repeated exposure.
• Congenial: (Of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination.
• Zen: A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.

Essay 3

Essay Name: The empty brain
By: Robert Epstein (Edited by Pam Weintraub)

No matter how hard they try, brain scientists and cognitive psychologists will never find a copy of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in the brain – or copies of words, pictures, grammatical rules or any other kinds of environmental stimuli. The human brain isn’t really empty, of course.

Read the full essay here: https://aeon.co/essays/your-brain-does-not-process-information-and-it-is-not-a-computer

Summary and Theme

The article challenges the prevalent metaphor of the brain as a computer, which suggests that the brain processes information, stores data, and operates with a system of encoded knowledge similar to software. It argues that this metaphor is a simplistic way to explain the complex workings of the human brain and is not supported by scientific evidence. The brain, unlike a computer, does not store exact copies of experiences or operate on encoded representations of the world. Instead, the brain's functioning is a result of a dynamic and ongoing interaction with the environment, shaped by evolutionary mechanisms, sensory inputs, and learning processes. The article posits that understanding human intelligence and behavior requires moving beyond the information processing metaphor to a more nuanced appreciation of the brain's unique and intricate nature.

Difficult Words

• Prima facie: Based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise.
• Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
• Algorithm: A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
• Neuronal synapses: The junctions between nerve cells where impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.
• Telegraph: An outdated system of sending messages over long distances by using wires and electrical signals.
• Cognitive neuroscience: The scientific field that is concerned with the study of the biological processes and aspects that underlie cognition.
• Embodied cognitive science: A branch of cognitive science that emphasizes the formative role that the environment and the body play in the development of cognitive processes.
• Linear optical trajectory: A concept in the study of motion that refers to the path that light takes through an environment as perceived by an observer.
• This summary and the list of difficult words are provided to give an overview of the article's content and to clarify any complex terminology used within it. If you have any further questions or need more detailed explanations, feel free to ask.