Social Issues Archives — Page 8 of 14

What is truth? Discuss this in relation to the world today.

Truth has not only occupied minds of philosophers in the past but has been a relevant topic even in today’s world. The quest for truth has led people into new directions leading to the redefinition of the term. Truth in today’s world is not within grasp and appears to be intangible. Truth has become elusive. Truth today requires thought.

Detractors to the above stand contend that the prominence of truth today can be seen in scientific advances. Scientific advances have made truth easily reachable. Modern world looks at everything today through the lens of science. For example, politicians of many countries have termed climate change as fake, but research conducted by scientists from all around the world provides evidence to show that our planet is heating up and the cause is human activity. Similarly, people revert to science to know whether poor diet leads children to develop obesity. Barring the ego’s of some doctors and scientists who have purposefully put out false information about health, vaccines and dangers from cell phone usage, science has largely been able to provide us with truths. Therefore, truth in today’s world is viewed primarily through the lens of science. The champions of this stand suggest that people today take an empirical approach to truth.

While the drums of science continue to validate what is true and false, truth today has taken the shape convenience. Truth today is spliced with lies. People today only tell the truth that fits their worldview. For example, someone reselling a house only reveals good things about the house without revealing issues about the house. Similarly, a car seller might only tell how excellent the car is but will not reveal the problems. People today only speak the truth that benefits them or caters to their interests and motives. Social media influencers also fall within this category, promoting a product or service for which they receive some benefit. It is not surprising then that people today reject any piece of information or fact that threatens or contradicts their perspective.

Although access to the internet makes it easier for people to find truth that fits their perspective, many are unable to tell fact from fiction. For example, people can find varying articles on issues of gun violence, immigration and politics but many are unable to logically and rationally digest the information. The bigger issue the arises from this is the formation of echo chambers, and hence the reverberation of misinformation and hence, disinformation. The social media troll farms from Moldovia are a prime example of how truth can be distorted, and how lies can impact an election. Therefore, truth in today’s world is based on convenience rather than objectivity. Some might go as far as to say that truth is based on herd mentality.

However, while truth has become increasingly subjective today, there are objective truths that exist as well. Objective truths remain true even when nothing exists. For example, fact-checking websites like Snopes and Politifact do present truth to the audiences. In a world where truth is subjective, fact-checking websites allow objective truths to be revealed. But despite such methods of validation, truth today needs to be sought and rationalised.

It is quite apparent that the concept of truth has become subjective in modern society. People believe only in the truths which do not contradict their opinions. There are only a few entities that believe in the objectivity of truth in today’s world. Truth gives us clarity and exposes the anomalies in the society. With the rising use of social media, the emergence of AI technology and cases involving deep fakes, the future of truth remains uncertain.

Young people today never had it so good. Is this true of Singapore?

There is a widely held view that Singapore’s youth has grown up in sheltered, comfortable environments and enjoy high standards of living – a far cry from the struggles and hardship that the older generations had to overcome.

The young never had it so good. There is a widely held view that Singapore’s youth has grown up in sheltered, comfortable environments and enjoy high standards of living – a far cry from the struggles and hardship that the older generations had to overcome. While this view is not an unreasonable one, we must also consider the fact that youths today face challenges in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain. The prevailing set of challenges in the political, economic and social domains may be radically different from those in the past, but they are no less daunting and pernicious. It would be superfluous to agree that young people in Singapore lead easier lives than ever before.

Proponents of the view that young people have never had it so good until today point to the abundant education opportunities made available to youths today. It is undoubtedly true that compared to past generations, youth enjoy far greater access to learning in today’s day and age. In Singapore’s context, the government has gradually introduced a greater number of education bursaries and scholarships offered to students from less-privileged backgrounds to ensure that the education system remains a meritocratic one that rewards those who work hard, while not denying access to those who may not afford education. This is a vast improvement from the past where it was not uncommon for young people to skip school because of the need to stay at home to look after their siblings or to work in order to contribute to the monthly household income. In recent years, the government has created diverse education routes and pathways. The musically or artistically inclined can now choose to pursue their secondary education in the School of the Arts (SOTA), while budding athletes can opt to enrol in the Singapore Sports School. In this sense, today’s education landscape in Singapore has made life for young people much more accessible and empowering. If strictly measured by this yardstick, then we can say that young people never had it so good.

Apart from better education opportunities, young people in Singapore today enjoy higher standards of living compared to the generations that came before them. Rapid urbanisation and modernisation in the last few decades have witnessed attap-roof houses and family farms being replaced with high-rise flats, high-technology buildings and manicured streets lined with trees that are regularly pruned to prevent overgrowth. While communal public toilets, non-air-conditioned buses and potholes on muddy roads form a bulk of the memories of many older generations in Singapore, many Singaporean youth today cannot imagine sleeping without air-conditioning or deprived of the many creature comforts they have now. Many, as such, view the young people today as a mollycoddled bunch who are unable to survive physical hardship and discomfort. In addition to increased standards of living, the increase in spending on luxury and branded items amongst the young in Singapore today lead many to regard this as evidence that youth today have a much easier life as compared to before.

However, when one takes into account the circumstances and the new set of challenges that our young people have to face, the perspective that young people never had it so good before appears one-dimensional. In the economic sphere, the vicissitudes of what has been termed the ‘roller-coaster global economy’ has led to much fear and anxiety over jobs, inflation and economic uncertainty. The oldest millennials born in 1981 would have entered the workforce at a time when the global economy was suffering from an unprecedented collapse of the financial sector, and research by the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis go as far as to suggest that these millennials might be unable to accumulate sufficient wealth for retirement. Younger millennials born in the 1990s and 2000s have to contend with economic uncertainties like the US-China trade war, the implications of climate change on supply chains, and rapid unprecedented rates of technological disruption to traditional industries. This is a vast contrast to the situation in Singapore’s early days of economic development in the 1960s and 1970s which saw the creation of large numbers of jobs in the rapidly growing manufacturing industry, and strong and sustained economic growth rates. Young people in Singapore today thus face greater pressure to remain competitive and employable, contrary to the perception that they lead smooth-sailing lives with their whole lives charted out for them. From an economic perspective, young people today never had it so good.

Additionally, while young people today are generally more educated than past generations, the overall increase in education standards means that there are greater expectations to do well academically and it is even more difficult for one to stand out amongst a sea of university students, especially when 4 in 10 Singaporean youth will eventually be degree holders. Moreover, the influx of foreign talents in recent years has raised the bar for many graduates, making it more competitive in getting jobs. As a result, young people, despite being given more education opportunities, now face greater difficulty in getting their desired jobs, and often have to make do with jobs that do not match their qualifications or aspirations. A recent research study conducted by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute suggest a pernicious, worrying underbelly of underemployed millennial graduates, some of whom are earning less than $2,000 a month from their full-time jobs despite their education qualifications. This suggests that young people in Singapore may not necessarily be better off compared to past generations when we take into consideration the increasingly competitive and uncertain job landscape in which they have to survive and thrive in today.

In our world which is increasingly fraught with fear, insecurity and uncertainty, the young are living in a Singapore that is beset with novel challenges that previous generations did not have to grapple with. As the famous historian R G Collingwood once said, “every new generation must rewrite history in its own way”. In this light, when assessing this or any generation, both the positive and the challenging aspects must be taken into account. Therefore, notwithstanding the better education or job opportunities available to this generation, it would be inaccurate to say that the young in Singapore never had it good if we understand also the myriad issues surrounding today’s generation.

‘Longer life expectancy creates more problems than benefits.’ Discuss.

Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

Right up to the late nineteenth century, life expectancy was short, people were considered fortunate enough to live till their fifties. However, advancements in the field of medicine has changed this completely. People have started living longer thanks to vaccines and medical treatments. Though science should be celebrated for coming up with better cures for untreatable diseases, there is no denying that science has also led to problems by stretching the life expectancy of the people. Thus, it can be said that problems of longer life expectancy outweigh the benefits because it has led to deterioration in quality of life, plus has brought various social and economic problems.

Longer life expectancy has allowed people to have multiple career paths. They are not bound to follow a single career path. It can be thus said that longevity has allowed people to contribute much more to society with their skills and talents. Unlike the past, people do not have to regret for not being able to accomplish their plans because of a shorter life span. Longer life expectancy also allows for greater sharing of traditions and allows grandchildren to have more experience and exchange with their grandparents. Thus, it can be said that longer life expectancy has created many opportunities for people to fulfil their life goals.

However, longer life expectancy has also led to multiple problems like deterioration of quality of life. Though people today have access to medicines for various diseases, it has not helped in improving their quality of life. In fact, most patients suffering from terminal illnesses like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s derive little health improvements. People suffering from these illnesses gradually get worse and this makes people wonder if a long life is even useful. There are medical processes available today that prolong life but do not guarantee recovery for example, processes like dialysis, which are used for kidney failure are very painful and do not improve quality of life.

Similarly, in case of cancer, people are usually recommended to undergo chemotherapy, while it may seem to extend the life of the patient, it may put the patient in a lot of duress. While the drugs used in chemotherapy are powerful enough to destroy cancer cells, they also destroy the healthy cells within a patients’ body. For some patients the process chemotherapy is worse than the disease itself. Thus, it is evident that though medicines extend life, it creates more problems than benefits because people’s quality of life deteriorates.

Some might argue that longer life expectancy means that the older generation can guide and instruct the younger generation. The wisdom and skills of the older generation can help the younger generation overcome problems they face in their work or personal life. For example, senior employees can help younger employees to understand the challenges of work. However, it is not necessarily true that longer lives make older folk wiser. With our ever changing society it can also be said that wisdom of the past is not relevant today. Although there are seniors that are adapting to social and technological changes, but they are few in numbers. Thus, longer life does not mean that people live a wiser life and more than benefit it becomes a liability.

Another important point is that people who have a longer life expectancy can become a burden on their children. This can lead to poor living conditions. Though children love their parents, it is common to come across cases of parental abuse and children keeping their parents in poor condition because they can no longer care for them. Japan is a prime example of this point. Japan has the highest percentage of aging population, which is expected to rise to forty percent in 2050. With changing family dynamics, more parents are being left alone by their children, which leads them to die alone.

The future of the elderly seems even bleaker when we hear cases where parents are left alone on streets to fend for themselves or abused by their own children. For example, a survey conducted in India by Age well foundation, showed that 7o per cent of the elderly were harassed and mistreated by their own family members and relatives. Longer life expectancy of parents might put financial and emotional burden on the children leading them to take unexpected steps. Therefore, it can be said that longer life expectancy brings more problems than benefits.

In conclusion, longer life expectancy is more problematic than beneficial because it leads to crippling effects on the elderly, it also deteriorates the quality of life of people and puts an immense burden on the younger generation financially and emotionally. Long life is only good when it enables people to lead quality productive lives. Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

The pen is mightier than the sword. Do you agree?

Words have become the balm that has been used to soothe the masses, not violent intervention.

The pen is mightier than the sword is a metonymic adage that has been used for centuries. While many have advocated the power of the sword, it cannot be denied that the pen holds significant power as well. The written word has transformed socioeconomic and political landscapes. Thus, it remains true that the written word is more powerful than the strength of weapons.

Forceful or armed intervention helps a totalitarian or dictatorial government to intimidate the masses into submission. The use of force or intimidation does not require deep reasoning. According to supporters of violence, violence is better because it gives immediate results and destroys opponents. An example of this can be Jamal Khashoggi who was killed in a rogue operation because he criticised the policies of Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed, through his column in the Washington Post. Similarly, in Northwest China, libraries burnt books that did not align religiously and politically to the communist ideologies of the PRC party. These incidents show how people fear the power of the pen and use the “sword” mercilessly to silence them.

Though it might seem that the “sword” holds significant power, the profound impact of the pen should not be forgotten. For example, in China, Mao Zedong was deeply influenced by the writings of Karl Marx. The impact of Marx’s view led to the communist revolution in China. Similarly, many books and written words have provided us look into deeper ideas like colonialism and post-colonialism. For example, Edward Said’s book Orientalism evaluated and criticised western beliefs about oriental people and formed an important ground for post-colonial studies. Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical book, Mein Kampf, disseminated his ideologies to a large audience. Therefore, the pen has the power to influence human thought and behaviour inefficient ways without violence.

Supporters of violence often argue that words mean nothing if a nation cannot protect itself from external military forces. For example, literature did not help to stop violence against Black Americans. Thinking retrospectively, literature was of little use when the German military invaded Poland or when Malaysia was attacked by the Japanese forces. One could surmise that when military power is strong, words are of little use. Military forces in this instance can destroy societies and culture and also replace the existing literature with something new.

The power of the pen has morphed into the power of social media. Governments have been formed and finished by the swift stroke of the keyboard. In modern times, the pen manifests itself as Twitter feeds, Instagram posts and some even suggest, Tik Tok videos. The power of the pen is seen in hashtags that give further boost to causes and challenges that societies want to surmount. The Arab Sping, Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movement area all examples of how the pen has been able to show its mettle in the form of words, and actions. The world is less violent now and conflicts mostly regional.

Even today, the pen is mightier than the sword. Many problems of the world find a solution in the written word and do not require the display of might. In the end, might can only oppresses and can only lead to superficial success and sooner or later will find itself challenged by the written word. Words have become the balm that has been used to soothe the masses, not violent intervention.

Why should we be concerned with current affairs when most of them will soon be forgotten?

After all, ignorance is not always bliss. In the words of Dalai Lama, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

People spend hours watching news and debates on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, in an effort to keep abreast of the current socioeconomic issues. Current news provides us with much needed information about the issues people are facing around the world. The news of today can also help us in understanding the incidents which may happen in the future. Thus, it is important that people follow the current affairs because if we do not pay attention about the decisions which are taken around the world it will have a negative impact on countries, economies and common people.

People who hold the view that people should not be concerned about current affairs often suggest that it is a waste of time. These news pieces are short-lived and may not influence the people on a global level. In a world of technology, we are bombarded with news that is transient and short-lived in nature. However, just because, a current event might not have relevance in the future it does not mean that it is not important today. Being aware of current affairs is necessary because some issues can affect us as well and can also pose a threat. For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat is something one needs to be aware of. That is because only awareness can help in prevention of the disease. If people are not aware of the coronavirus news, then they might risk their lives as well as the lives of others. Current news can help us to take precautionary messages and can save hundreds of lives. An example of this can be the news about Ukrainian Airlines plane being accidentally shot down by Iran which prompted other airlines to avoid airspace near Iran and Iraq. Thus, current affairs news can be a life saviour for many and people should keep themselves updated about current affairs.

Current world news not only makes people aware about threats but also about opportunity. In a globalised world, current affairs can also open up avenues for people to understand current market trends. One example of this is companies profiting from selling masks and hand sanitisers at exorbitant prices because of the ongoing, coronavirus threat. Another example can be of Just Inc., a food and beverage company which makes plant-based egg products which received multiple inquiries and from Chinese food companies seeking animal-free protein sources amid the coronavirus outbreak. The impasse between Russia and Saudi Arabia over the price and production of oil or the ongoing spat between India and Malaysia regarding the palm oil create opportunities for forex and commodity traders as well as businessmen. Thus, by keeping in touch with current news, people can profit and succeed in life.

Though most of the current events would be forgotten in the future, it does not mean all news will meet a similar fate. The events that affect people today can also have a lasting impact on people and the world. For example, Indian mission of Chandrayaan-2 of sending an orbiter, lander, and rover to Moon’s southern hemisphere will be remembered by many in the future. Similarly, Joseph Schooling winning Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold would always be remembered even by the future generations. People who are sceptical of following current may argue that today’s current news does not have much significance. However, if people do not follow current news then they might remain unaware about significant events that occur around the world.

In conclusion, people should be interested and concerned about current affairs because these news pieces inform, alert and raise awareness among millions of people. If people follow current news, then they can also exploit opportunities to gain profits and make informed choices. One has to be aware about the surroundings around the world. After all, ignorance is not always bliss. In the words of Dalai Lama, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

Higher education is no longer necessary for success. Discuss.

For a majority of people, higher education undoubtedly remains key to achieving success. Not only are degrees badges of acquired skill, they are sometimes even status symbols. In addition, the experience of going through higher education often proves to be greatly important if one seeks a successful career. Higher education still plays a vital role in the pathway to success.

It is easy to see why there has been increasing optimism of attaining success through means other than higher education. First, the rapid growth of online courses offered by Coursera and Phoenix University have led to the argument that the advent of the Internet has made it such that individuals no longer need higher education to obtain the skills they require for their jobs. Second, people often lament that despite obtaining degrees, they are unable to find work, and cannot pay off college debts they have accumulated. Third, mass media platforms have recently painted pictures of how individuals like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg reached the very peak of what it means to be “successful”, without ever needing the support of higher education. This leads to the claim that higher education has lost its ability to deliver some measures of success. These three arguments present the case that higher education is no longer necessary for success.

However, it is overly assertive to claim that the skills that people learn from university education are irrelevant, even with the aid of the Internet. Instead, it is more reasonable to believe that higher education provides greater opportunities for learning. Though it may be possible to obtain the same access to information, it is only at universities that individuals of similar interests are able to gather in a classroom, exchange thoughts and ideas with each other, and learn under the tutelage of professors at the forefronts of their fields. Comparatively, those who do not attend higher education do not have that same opportunity to ask peers or professors for help when they run into problems understanding the content taught. Especially for specialised fields like biotechnology and law, the skills and knowledge necessary for the future remain largely accessible only to those who have undergone higher education. From this, it is clear that university graduates have greater propensity to gain skills and knowledge than non-graduates.

In addition, the university degree itself is a badge of acquired skill, reassuring employers that these employees have learnt the content, and are able to handle the work assigned to them. This means that graduates are more likely to be hired than non-graduates, which often translates into higher salaries. Furthermore, the trust that employers have in graduates’ ability to perform better often translates into greater financial remuneration. Today, bachelor’s degree holders can expect median lifetime earnings of about US$2.3 million, as compared to US$1.3 million for workers with just a high school diploma. Ultimately, higher education does in fact bring about greater financial success for graduates.

It is also fallacious to argue that higher education has stopped being a necessary part to being successful just because there have been exceptions to it. Not only were Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates intellectual geniuses and visionaries who had foreseen and grasped business opportunities, they were born into circumstances which ultimately facilitated their success. Courses offered at universities could not offer advice to these entrepreneurs embarking as pioneers of a new field. On the other hand, an overwhelming proportion of individuals do not enjoy the same kind of privilege, be it financial or intellectual. Hence, for most, the likely route to success is higher education, which sets them apart from other job applicants.

In fact, for most occupations excluding degree-blind jobs such as entrepreneurship and advertising, higher education plays an integral role in assimilating graduates into their future workplaces. Upon entering the workplace, university graduates depend upon the ties they had developed to help them along, and this often stems from their higher education experience. For example, specialists often depend on the referrals of other doctors to obtain a base of patients. In such a situation, getting to know others who are in the field is incredibly important for one’s career advancement prospects. Thus, higher education is not just about the content and skills involved, but also the relationships graduates develop with each other. The social advantage that higher education offers hence allows graduates to get a leg up over non-graduate.

In essence, higher education remains necessary for success. This is not to say that all graduates are necessarily more successful than all non-graduates, because of the multitude of factors involved. However, university graduates do indeed benefit greatly from higher education, a crucial factor contributing to being successful.