Stroopwafels

In Thursday's TOK class we each were given a Stroopwafel, which is a caramel/syrup waffle comprising of two thin baked pieces of dough with a syrup, caramel or treacle filling between.
I used logical reasoning, my senses, guesswork and prior knowledge in order to figure out what this treat was. I have consumed one before a long time ago, but I did not know or remember the correct term for this baked good. In class we did not eat it immediately (well those who could control themselves- some took a nip at it). I referred to it as a wafer of some sort before Ms. Tickle informed us it was a Stroopwafel.
I closely scrutinized the Stroopwafel that I had received to ensure it was indeed a stroopwafel and to see what it was comprised of and figure out or guess how it was made. The treat was obviously made from flour dough by its texture and structure/appearance.
Learning the proper name for the baked good helped to add to my understanding of what a stroopwafel was. It originates from Gouda in the Netherlands. 'Stroop' means treacle/syrup and wafel means a waffle, similar to the sweet breakfast baked good the Americans and some others eat. wafers are made up of wafels/waffles so I was not incorrect in my claim especially since there is a creamy substance lodged between the waffles.
How did I know it was safe to eat the stroopwafel? I didn't know whether or not it would be. I trust Ms. Tickle  enough not  to give me something poisonous but how would I really know? You never know. the Stroopwafels came in a decorative and attractive box and were unopened. We all saw when Ms. Tickle opened the package. The packaging may insinuate that the Stroopwafels are safe to eat, but someone can always add something and repackage the stroopwafels if they are clever enough to. While most food companies follow strict health guidelines it is not impossible or unheard of for one to violate those safety regulations. We had a pleasant debate over the validity of the stroopwafels.

We all learned some Dutch today, a couple words from a foreign tongue/language and it somehow helped my understanding of what a stroopwafel was. Language does indeed help my understanding of what I 'know' although there are many variations/dialects of a language and this can alter each meaning of a word or phrase. that has been proven with the many translations of religious texts into the English language from Latin, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Welsh, etcetera. Our senses help us (our brains) draw conclusions and come up with reasons and language aids this process. I really enjoyed the Socratic dialogue and thinking time in class- and of course the Stroopwafel. I don't think the exercise limited me, it broadened my horizons and made me more inquisitive and accepting. Is it ever good to limit oneself? I don't know. I don't believe in placing limits overall but I guess it depends on the situation. Yes I do believe that tweeting is a modern version of dialogue in a sense. It is a different, an unusual and modern manifestation. Words and sentences are still used to communicate and convey thoughts so yes it is. I don't mind trying something out twice so yes I would use it again.

The Human Brian

How does the pre-frontal cortex change in humans between the ages of 5 and 25?

The Pre-Frontal Cortex is the brain's remote control and it is a section of the brain that weighs outcomes/consequences, forms conclusions and controls human emotions.  It takes time for this to mature or develop fully. It also helps humans to process human interaction and social behaviour. This part of the brain takes time to fully develop and it does not usually until or around the age of 25 years, in adulthood.

How is this connected to the law, and what personal relevance does this information have to you?

Well in most countries the law states that the drinking age is 21 years of age. However in my country it is 18 years of age. Generally, I think it is because most Jamaicans like to drink and it is somewhat socially acceptable for individuals under the legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Alcohol affects and influences the human mind; it tends to disrupt rational thought, and most minds are still not developed enough to deal with the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is a drug so it affects the normal functioning of the brain. I can perceive that most would think that the human brain is well enough developed by the age of 21 in order for these 'adults' to have control over their speech and actions. I disagree because no matter what age, alcohol tends to make humans forget themselves and the consequences of their actions in such a vulnerable state. Excessive amounts also damage the 'CPU' and nervous system. Like a lot of Jamaican children, I too started drinking before the age of consent but I made a conscious decision to stop at the age of 15. I went a little overboard than most. It was difficult but now I no longer. Personally speaking, I agree that the drinking age should be moved to 21 in my country. The drinking age is no longer of any relevance to me now but I agree it should be moved up nonetheless, especially after reading this article. Teenagers should not drink. I can say so from shared knowledge and personal knowledge.

If the brain, in the dark inside our skull, is our computer, what interfaces does it have with the outside world?

The brain helps us to respond to other living organisms, consciously or not. We cannot interact with the outside world without it. It helps us to communicate our feelings an or ideologies to others
and other interactions. it helps us humans to evaluate situations and think up answers to problems quickly. Like most things in our bodies, it is connected to our nervous system and hormones which influence and affect how we relate to the outside world. We cannot function without our CPU, our brain. That would be impossible.