W 28/Th 29. FL 31-32, WGU -p.79.
Now that we've finished the Little History we can turn our full attention to the other texts. In light of Neiman's Kantian contention that maturity and growing up are key to philosophical enlightenment, Fantasyland is clearly spotlighting ways in which American history and culture lack maturity...
FL
- Will Jesus return before 2050? 274
- What do you think of Blame-the-victims evangelicals like Pat Robertson? 277
- Why do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons? 281
- Why have Americans, compared to Europeans in particular, "rushed headlong back toward magic and miracles"? 288
- Do you buy the economic theory of American religiosity? 290
WGU
- Should philosophers pay more attention to child-rearing and parenting? 36
- What do you think Cicero meant by saying that philosophy is learning to die?
- Do you feel fully empowered to "choose your life's journey"? If not, what obstacles prevent that? 37
- In what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
- If you've read 1984 and Brave New World, which do you find the more "seductive dystopia"? 39
- Are we confused about toys and dreams? 40
- Do others make the most important decisions for you? 41
- Do you "make a regular appointment with your body"? 42
- Do you trust anyone over 30? 45
- Is it "reasonable to expect justice and joy"? 49
- Are you "committed to Enlightenment"? 51
- Do the passions for glory and luxury make us wicked and miserable? 53
- What does it mean to say there are no atheists in foxholes? Is it true? 54
- Was Rousseau right about inequality and private property? 55
- Should philosophy be taught to children, so as to become thinking adults? 57
- Should children "yield to the commands of other people"? 61
- Should parents "let the child wail"?
- Are Rousseau and Kant right about the true definition of freedom? 62
- Is Rousseau right about desire? 65
- Did Rousseau's abandonment of his children discredit his thoughts on child-rearing? 69 Or show him to be a hypocrite for saying no task in the world is more important than raising a child properly? 72
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M 26/T 27. Rawls, Turing & Searle, Singer-LH 38-40, FL 29-30, Why Grow Up (WGU) -p.35
LH
- Does Rawls's "Veil of Ignorance" thought experiment help to clarify your ideas about justice and fairness? 230
- Can you suggest an example of an inequity in our society that helps the "worst off"? 231
- Does John Searle's Chinese Room thought experiment persuade you that computers can't really think like humans? 234 Does the Turing Test show that they can?
- Do you agree that computers can be programmed with syntax but not semantics? 236
- Do you think it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Would you want your mind "uploaded"? What could go wrong? 237
- Should we all "give up one or two luxuries" to help less fortunate people?240
- Is "species-ism" still too widely accepted? Is it species-ist to eat meat?242-3
- Do you agree that Peter Singer represents the best tradition in philosophy? 244-5 Is he a modern Socrates?
FL
- Is it dangerous when a President confuses legend and myth, and movies, with reality? 254-5
- Is there any way to control the spread of "cockamamie ideas and outright falsehoods" on the Internet" 260
- What do you think of the 80% of Americans who "say they never doubt the existence of God"? 267
- What do you think of Augustine's instruction to Biblical literalists? 270
- Do you think of growing up as "a matter of renouncing your hopes and dreams"? 1
- Do you like the "well-meaning Uncle's" advice? Or the Rolling Stones'? 4
- Is Kant right, in "What is Enlightenment?," about why people "choose immaturity"? 5
- If distractions, especially "since the invention of cyberspace," are "literally limitless," is Enlightenment in Kant's sense a realistic goal for most people? 9
- Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself? 11
- Is travel necessary for growing up? 13-16
- Is Larry Summers wrong about language-learning? 16
- Do you believe the best time of life is between the ages of 18 and 28? 20
- How innocent should childhood be? What do you think of the way French children were raised in the 17th century? 24
- Do you wish you'd had a Samoan childhood? Do you think tests in school prepare you for life? 27
- Is it bad to be WEIRD? 32
American moral philosopher and author, Susan Neiman, talks us about why we have been tricked to think we are happiest when we are young and why it is we need to grow up. Watch the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeNQV... Institute of Art & Ideas
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Arts & Letters Daily search results for “john rawls” (3)
2017-10-25 | John Rawls called it "the best of all games"; Mark Kingwell calls it "the most philosophical of games." What is it about baseball and philosophy? more »
2018-09-04 | What's the meaning of freedom? Isaiah Berlin, John Rawls, and Robert Nozick disagreed on much. But they all emphasized universal values over group identity more »
2018-08-24 | The famously liberal philosopher John Rawls has been recast as a sharp critic of capitalism. If Rawls really was a socialist, why was he so reticent about it? more »
Arts & Letters Daily search results for “ alan turing” (2)
2012-12-22 | Alan Turing was a courageous, patriotic, but sad, unconventional man. He was also gay. Can homosexuality help explain his genius? more »
2014-01-01 | Alan Turing predicted that computers would be able to think by 2000. No dice. Not even close. We still don't understand what thinking is more »
Arts & Letters Daily search results for “john searle” (2)
2015-04-18 | John Searle has a bone to pick with Bacon, Descartes, Locke, and Kant. He blames them for the basic mistake of modern epistemology more »
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“I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.”
“I'm afraid that the following syllogism may be used by some in the future:
Turing believes machines think
Turing lies with men
Therefore machines do not think."
LA Theater Worksw dramatization, "Breaking the Code" - recording
==
Jaron Lanier on the future of virtual reality etc. - and he says AI is not a thing... On Point 11.29.17... Dawn of the New Everything
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“To protest about bullfighting in Spain, the eating of dogs in South Korea, or the slaughter of baby seals in Canada while continuing to eat eggs from hens who have spent their lives crammed into cages, or veal from calves who have been deprived of their mothers, their proper diet, and the freedom to lie down with their legs extended, is like denouncing apartheid in South Africa while asking your neighbors not to sell their houses to blacks.”
==
Jaron Lanier on the future of virtual reality etc. - and he says AI is not a thing... On Point 11.29.17... Dawn of the New Everything
==
“To protest about bullfighting in Spain, the eating of dogs in South Korea, or the slaughter of baby seals in Canada while continuing to eat eggs from hens who have spent their lives crammed into cages, or veal from calves who have been deprived of their mothers, their proper diet, and the freedom to lie down with their legs extended, is like denouncing apartheid in South Africa while asking your neighbors not to sell their houses to blacks.”
“If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans?”
“The notion that human life is sacred just because it is human life is medieval.”
“If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it.”
“To give preference to the life of a being simply because that being is a member of our species would put us in the same position as racists who give preference to those who are members of their race.”
Just as we have progressed beyond the blatantly racist ethic of the era of slavery and colonialism, so we must now progress beyond the speciesist ethic of the era of factory farming, of the use of animals as mere research tools, of whaling, seal hunting, kangaroo slaughter, and the destruction of wilderness. We must take the final step in expanding the circle of ethics. -”
“Philosophy ought to question the basic assumptions of the age. Thinking through, critically and carefully, what most of us take for granted is, I believe, the chief task of philosophy, and the task that makes philosophy a worthwhile activity.”
- Out for
#GivingTuesday, Animal Charity Evaluators has a new list of recommended organizations working for animals: animalcharityevaluators.org/blog/introduci…
 | Peter Singer (@PeterSinger) |
"Philosophy Changing Lives" - an interview with me on Why? Radio: goo.gl/ztR4m9 | |
Arts & Letters Daily search results for “peter singer” (3)
2011-01-01 | For Peter Singer, the defining idea of the coming decade will be the Internet, which will democratize education, economics, and the media more »
2010-01-01 | Abhorring animal cruelty does not entail the idea that all animals, humans included, sit at the same moral level. Peter Singer has an argument to answer more »
2015-07-07 | Where morality meets rationalism. Is Peter Singer’s “effective altruism” the apotheosis of ethics, or an unempathetic, politically naive, elitist doctrine? more »
Do you believe the best time of life is between the ages of 18 and 28?
ReplyDeleteThe best time of life is not age determinant. One’s physical and mental health are better predictors of how a person feels about life at any time during one’s lifespan. For your physical health, can you do the things you want to do, can you go for walks, hikes, or travel, do you feel good, do you have supportive social relationships, and are you productive? For your mental health, do you have a good memory and are you able to make decisions? On average, we might think that ages of 18 to 28 are those with the fewest physical ailments and mentally they may have made some lifetime decisions, found someone that they are committing to in a long-term relationship, settled into a job that they will be working at for the next forty years, and they may have started a family, but with that comes raising children, experiencing their personality traits, and preparing them to move away and live on their own. However, for some individuals in that age group, they may be at higher risk for personality disorders so this time is not the best time of their lives. Conversely, a seventy year old person who is in good health and is still actively engaged in community activities and does not have to worry about financial matters, this is the best time in their life.
We have studied some philosophers like David Hume who lived to sixty-five and was content and productive in his later years and Friedrich Nietzsche who died at fifty-six, but spent the last ten years of his life in misery and we know that William James struggled with mental health issues as a young man. Both physical and mental health are important. If you are physically healthy but you are unable to think clearly that would not be very satisfying and conversely if you are physically ill and can still think clearly that would not make life as enjoyable. So the best time of life is when you have both good physical and mental health whatever your age.
I think that your point about age not being determinant of the best time in a persons life is spot on. There are really many many factors that can determine the quality of a persons life in a given time frame which itself is a difficult determination to make. Also, personally, I heard that it is in fact older individuals who report higher satisfaction in life, perhaps because people have settled by then and have grown to see value in life (along with accumulated wisdom). But on the other side, the most fun times in a persons life may in fact be at a younger age.
DeleteI agree with what you said about the best time of life.
DeleteI also wrote on this question. I never thought of your perspective of placing emphasis on physical and mental health. I agree that these could help create a better time of life and they’re the only things that determine this. An example where physical health is not a determinate is in how some physically ill people will learn lessons during their sickness that they think are the most valuable lessons they have learned in life. In addition, these people also may strengthen relationships with those around them. I guess what I’m trying to say is that since life varies so differently, it’s hard to choose factors that necessarily go to becoming “the best time of life.” I also found it difficult to say that any one time in life is the best part.
DeleteI completely agree with your post!
DeleteI have often thought about this, and couldn't have worded it any better than you did. I hope that more people realize this sooner rather than later.
you wrote an excellent post, that is very well thought-out. Great job. :)
Yeah my best years are probably my least stressful years which are long in the past.
DeleteDo you think it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Would you want your mind "uploaded"? What could go wrong? 237
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly possible as we have all the necessary tools and processes to make it work. At the Global Future 2045 International Congress that met this June, (a collective group of some of the world's biggest influencers and scientists that are leading toward the drive into the next step for civilization) they discussed many things and mind uploading was one of them. From what can only be interpreted as the only thing that stops the transferring of minds from flesh to the computer is the fact that human experimentation is illegal in most places. It will become funded though and if it is done successfully, we will see the first trillion to ever inhabit this Earth. I would most definitely want my mind uploaded with the possibility of living forever. Being able to accomplish goals without the need for sustainability of my own health, no need for sleeping, eating, drinking, or anything. This would make the possibilities endless. Imagine if Einstein was able to formulate more hypotheses and theorems. Looking towards the cosmos and away from our solar system entirely. As soon as the task was complete I would be first en route to a planet that could be 1 million light-years away, but we would be there in seconds. Have the ship turn you off then on when you arrive and you just went to another planet easily. It could have the chance for serious danger but I have faith in humanity. One thing is certain, the day that this technology comes to fruition humanity and life as we know it will never be the same.
I agree with why it is certainly possible to have necessary tools
DeleteI tend to take of different point of view than you, but I do not know much on the topic, so I have some questions. In your version of the world, it would be a crazy amazing advancement. But without human needs, I do not think the mind would be the same as the human’s it came from. So, I agree more with the idea that uploading a brain to a computer would be the equivalent of a math equation. There is no way to move emotions onto the computer (it would just be a programmed thing- not unique), and I don’t know how memories would translate without the emotions that accompanied them. Computers work as a way of pulling up information programmed into the computer. Would the computer brain be able to make new memories? I cannot see the computer brain being able to feel emotions, how would this hurt humanity? What are all the cons in general of uploaded minds? My last question is just because this is a possibility, is it ethical for it to be pursued (considering the effects it would cause)?
DeleteI like your point about all of the new opportunities this would present you. I personally am more weary about uploading my minds and the consequences that it may have, but your take is very interesting.
DeleteI agree that it would be possible to transfer the human mind into a computer. If the consciousness was able to tranfer as well, I do not believe that it would be a good end result. Essentially, the human mind would live eternally until the computer it is inhabiting dies or is destroyed. But what would happen to the human mind over a span of time say, one or two thousand years? I think insanity is a real possibility.
DeleteTuesday Weekly essay (3 points)
DeleteThursday commented on Mai-Thi Kieu's post (1 point)
Thursday commented on Ammar Idris' post (1 point)
While I agree that it will be possible to transfer the human brain to a computer, I feel as though it won't be soon nor will it work the way we want. It's one of those things that is so difficult and so many things can go wrong. I don't think our minds would work the way they do now and it would be almost unethical to try. Could and would it happen? Probably. Should it? Probably not.
DeleteCole thanks for the post. It gives us all something to think about. If they did an upload on your mind, would you decide at what age you wanted the upload and would you come back in every week and be back up for the latest changes. What if you had a stroke between uploads, would it recognize that that part of your brain no longer existed and how would you updated. These are questions that I'm sure will be discussed in the next hundred years and there will be some revolutionary break-throughs. Hopefully, the technology will solve some of the more mundane issues that some of us are facing, like cancer and heart disease.
DeleteI hear that military developments are underway in order to enhance war fighting capabilities. We see themes like this from movies such as the Terminator series. Although now the focus seems to be mostly to connect the human body to machinery that can amplify certain qualities in order for the person to accomplish a task with ease (carrying larger weight loads, jumping higher, running faster, and identifying targets).
ReplyDeleteDo you believe the best time of life is between the ages of 18 and 28?
ReplyDeleteDo you believe the best time of life is between the age of 18 and 28. That is a great question? To me it is the best time of life. Between the age of 18 to 28 is the best time of life because that is when you become independent. You start to build yourself as a man or women and you learn a lot of new things. You get to start working and you get to start driving and start to hang out with your friends get the experience of things you always wanted to do as a kid. And also, I say it ends at 28 because that is usually when people would get married and you are going to start having things to take care of like you house your wife and a lot of other things. But that isn’t the problem, the real problem is when you get kids. You aren’t going to have anytime for yourself. Everything is going to be form them you work for them and all the time you have is going to be for them. But there is another side to this question. This time of life could also be your worsted time of life because this is the time when you are independent like I said so you can probably go overboard and go to jail or what not. So then you probably messed up your life because I is going to be on your record so you won’t be able to find a good job or you won’t be able to get a house and so you should use that best time of life wisely.
Total points: 45
Reply to Cole Walker (1pt)
Reply to Don Enss (1pt)
I agree with your statements on this because I feel like this time in life allows a person to explore and build on who they are. During 18-28 many people are experiencing growth in a way that is different from what they have went through before. However, I don't feel like it's always the best part of someone's life because that answer may vary depending on who you're asking
DeleteI also agree with what you are saying, Mohap. I definitely see where you are getting at when you say that the years of 18-28 are also typically a time when individuals become somewhat lawless and free-roaming to the point they may harm others in the process. There is definitely a great deal of freedom among this age, but also a greater degree of responsibility to ourselves with concern towards society.
DeleteDo you believe the best time of life is between the ages of 18 and 28? I am 18 and definitely do not think that I am in the best part of my life. Mostly, this is because I do not think that any one part of my life will be the best part. Every single part of life has value for me and trying to place more importance on one time just seems unfair and a bad way to live. If I were to choose to say that the first life of my life was the best, then like the book said, the rest of my life would be downhill. And in my brain, it would follow that the rest of my life is less important. If I were to say that the end of my life was the best part, then everything leading up to that time isn’t that important. I could argue that I would still try hard at everything in life so this golden old age would be the best it could possibly be, but still that is sad to me. Plus, I’m sure I don’t have enough life experience yet to definitely say what part of my life is best. With all that said, I choose to place value on every part of life because each part sums up to become me as the whole. I have favorite memories and as I’m just leaving my childhood (as I see it), I do think that that time at home was sweeter than my current dorm life. But because this is the beginning of the college chapter in my life, I think I’ll grow to love this time, too. Of course, the way I’ll like my college experience will be very different from the way I have loved my childhood. In addition, in many ways, my childhood really isn’t ending. With all the new research, I know that I still have around a decade more of brain development. I also still have long winter and summer breaks where I go back to living my childhood life and take a break from college life.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWeekly essay 3
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Total 50/50
I also am 18 and i believe that this is not the best part of life. I say this because there isn't one period of time you life is built on all the amazing moments you made and the ones to come. However, this period of time is when you get to create new friends and experience the world so to some degree yes it is.
DeleteNo matter what age your are, there's always an aspect of life that you enjoy the most as well as the worst.In the beginning it could be good and things could downhill for awhile and eventually get better. It could've start badly and get better, but it's hard to determine because there's always different variables that determines the change in life based on our decisions or outside force like the environment and other people.
DeleteThis is a really great post!
DeleteI hadn't thought of it that way, but it totally makes sense, after reading your post. I quite agree with what you're saying, after thinking it over, more and more.
Great job, and well done. :)
Is travel necessary for growing up? 13-16
ReplyDeleteI would say yes in some degree, because if you spend the entire life in the same place, then you wouldn't know what's like in other communities,cities or countries. Your vision is limited to what you're familiar, and while you may have knowledge in what the places look like or how the culture is like, you don't get to experience the moment and understand the difference.There's always something different wherever you travel and there's small things to learn in each experience.There's different sites to see,there's different rules. By being able to travel to other places, you kinda learn to follow that flow to the point where you're use to it.Even when growing up, your parents had to take you to school till you have your own licenses, where you have to travel to school or a job. In some way, this demonstrates some aspect of traveling while growing up.
definitely growing up requires you to learn more about the world and yourself. You learn to embrace different people, cultures and lifestyles. It also gives you an idea of what success is considered outside the U.S.
DeleteI agree with your take. As someone who has not traveled much, there are many cultures and ways of life that I would love to experience.
Delete51/50
DeleteWeekly essay +3
Brittney Sherrell +1
Barbara Frizzell+1
Section 10
I agree, I think it is very important to get out explore your city, state, country, and beyond that, our world. So many lessons can be learned from just having an open mind a traveling.
DeleteYes. it is. Traveling is a great way to see others culture on how they live there lives as a family, friends, and society. I myself have traveled to two places and that are Scotland and India. As you know I have a Scotland jacket on my desk and a elephant statue on desk to represent where I have been. My mom been to more places than me and I love to travel around the world more and see you new things instead of staying in one place.
Delete• Do you think of growing up as "a matter of renouncing your hopes and dreams"? 1
ReplyDeleteI believe to some degree this statement is true. I say this because as a kid your imagination did not have a ceiling, but as you learn the responsibilities and what comes with becoming a man or woman you learn to let go of some of those hopes and dreams. With that being said, if you had a realistic goal or dream you can still try to make that a reality. For instance, as a kid I wanted to become a pilot and now I understand that I can still make this dream a reality, but I first need to find a job that is thriving now. I wanted to be a pilot and hopefully in the near future I will get my pilot license; thus as you mature you alter your dreams and goals.
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• Is it bad to be WEIRD? 32
It depends on what your definition of weird is. For example, if you are just an outcast because of your beliefs and goals that fine and totally normal; most of the time those people end up making millions. However, if your definition is being dangerous and you have mental issues that’s a problem and it would be considered a problem.
section 012
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reply to Mai-Thi Kieu and Barbara Frizzell 2pt
total 50/50
It's the acronym WEIRD that this question is referring to: Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democracy.
DeleteHi Ammar, I like what you posted about growing up. I agree with that as we grow older we let go of some of those dreams however is that growing up or is it growing more realistic and becoming more aware of what is possible in today's society. I'm sorry that Covid-19 has put your dreams of being a pilot on hold but I don't think it will last forever.
DeleteHello I enjoyed reading your post. I do not think it is bad to be weird. I kinda giggled on your post when explaining your thoughts on being weird. I don't think of being dangerous when it comes to being weird but I guess that is another way of thinking about it.
DeleteIn my own experience, I haven't given up any hopes and dreams while growing up. If anything I am the closest I have ever been to them but I could see how some people would feel as if they are letting go of certain aspects of life.
DeleteYeah I think as you mature, your dreams do change and sometimes those can be dreams that you can make into reality. Another example is that one of my dreams is to own 30 to 40 acres of land and that is not something un reachable.
DeleteIn what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
ReplyDeleteI think that your parents' occupations can change a lot about your life, especially when you're young. Depending on their salaries, the area that you live in may present you with more or less opportunities than others. The type of schooling in these areas could also play a big role in how many choices you will have after you leave them. Additionally, if the parents' occupations pay well, you may be able to go more places and try more material things that you want to. However, you may not get to experience a job before graduating high school or maybe even college, which could lessen your experience and thus some choices later. The opposite might be true if the parents' occupations do not pay as well. Travel and material wants may be less frequent and not something you will get to choose. In addition, some people in these circumstances may have to have a job(s) to support themselves and their family, which lessens the time they will have to do other things but may open up more choices in life. Finally, the type of job that your parent has may influence your own. Many children aspire to be in a similar or somewhat better economic standing than their parents, meaning that their choice in jobs may be influenced by the parents. Some parents even encourage their children to follow the same job path as they did, or push another, likely well-paying, occupation on them. These are all ways in which parents' jobs could influence the choices their kids may make.
Weekly Essay (section 12) +
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Commented on Mai-Thi Kieu's Post
I agree with a lot of what you say here. Parents' salaries could definitely open or close doors and most certainly impact the areas a child grows up in and, ulitmately, the people they associate with and hang out with as children. A parent's occupation could also help a child decide what they might be interested in, or maybe what they aren't.
DeleteAs someone who has financially struggled a lot due to their parents' occupations (I'm still thankful of course) I definitely agree with what you've said. I don't have a job even though I'm twenty, simply because my parents' grueling work schedules conflict and I have to be home to both do college and teach/watch over my younger brother. Because of this, I aspire to get a better education and salary so that I can better provide for myself in the future. Compared to my cousin, who goes on cruises every year and a vacation or two sprinkled in, the most of a vacation I ever got to have was going to Alabama to pick up my dad from work and staying in a shabby hotel for the night. Choices were, and are, very numbered in my life - but I'm still grateful for my parents.
DeleteI know that I was and still am very privileged and I had much more opportunities than a lot of my peers. I still live at home and I do not have to pay for my college. I think this has influenced me greatly, if it was not for the amount of support I have, I probably would not be here.
DeleteI don't know if my parents occupations have influenced my opinions on what to be so much as their dispositions about their occupations and how they got to where they are. I find more satisfaction and excitement from the prospect of a long and wonderful career than I do in the thought of having kids. My mom was a stay at home mother for most of my life and she made it a point that I should absolutely not be a stay at home mom, that while she respects women that want to do that with their lives, she hasn't found her happiness in that and she knows that I wouldn't either. I know for a fact that she's right because I've spent more time in my house in the last 7 months than I ever have before in my life and it's a complete nightmare. On the other side of the spectrum, my father always looks down on academia and undermines that this is not only my current goal but it is also my career path. He talks about how he has his great job that he got without a degree (he struggled financially well into his 40's and then quit that job once he got successful, so). He also talks about how women should have husbands and children and take care of the house. He glorifies his mother that got married at 18 and had 9 kids. I am going to be getting my doctorate and a career.
DeleteI agree a lot on what you're saying, because yes parents do in a way have a monopoly on the way that you turn out. So, whatever they do would determine whatever to an extent how your life kinda goes. Im lucky that both my parents were nurses so they emphasized education at a young age and that's probably one of the main reasons I'm even able to go to college in the first place.
DeleteI understand what you're saying and I have to agree with what you stated. Growing up, we weren't exactly rich but we weren't struggling and had to resort to food stamps. My parents had to work blue-collar jobs and while we didn't live in a big house, have the newest toys or phones, or go on vacation every single summer, we learn to appreciate the things we have and learned to be resourceful. My parents pushed me and my brother to do well in school and made sure we at least have a college education to provide choices in life. When they had me, they were forced to give up on their passions and didn't have the luxuries of having choices in an economy where you needed a degree to work. It made sure we pursue good careers or at least a steady job to provide and take care of ourselves. If we ever choose to succeed, we plan to make sure to acknowledge of our parents' sacrifices to our own kids and remember the importance of education as I want to have the luxury of being able to pursue my dreams and still have a safety net to reassure me.
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Weekly Essay (+3 points)
Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself? WGU 11
In our modern society, given that human beings are incredibly social animals,thinking for ourselves as individuals is often clouded with an array of social judgment, the fear of saying the wrong thing, and the tendency to get along with people. These factors make individual thinking very difficult amongst other factors such as personality traits innate to different individuals. For example, the personality trait "Agreeableness" varies across individuals and seems to have a difference om the level of gender; Women consistently score higher than men on Agreeableness and related measures, such as tender-mindedness (Feingold, 1994; Costa et al.,2001),(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3149680/). Being able to think for yourself, I would predict, would require a higher level of disagreeableness given that you may have to go against a trend or popular viewpoint. From that sense, it would not make sense to say that is courage. But it would make sense to say that an individual that is very agreeable and thinks for themselves, is courageous. But at the same time I also agree with the statement taken from "Why Grow Up" by Susan Neiman: "Courage is not only required to learn how to trust your own judgment rather than relying on your state's, your neighbor's, or your favorite movie star's." (WGU 11). I would presume that learning to trust your own judgment would take many years of experience to acquire the necessary wisdom to at least have a baseline for your view of the world from which you can draw judgments. So to a sense I do believe that thinking for yourself takes courage but I would also take the mentioned factors into consideration before praising one for thinking for themselves.
Thinking for yourself definitely requires some level of courage, but I agree with you that it isn't only courage. However, I feel like it is worthwhile to note you can think for yourself and agree with the masses, or think for yourself and disagree. Thinking for yourself does not make you correct.
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DeleteI agree with Susan's statement as well. The reason I will not speak up in arguments at times is because I lack the courage to believe what I'm saying is right, not that I lack the courage to go up against the other person.
Will Jesus return before 2050?
ReplyDeleteI do not personally believe that Jesus will return in our lifetime. Every generation, as far as I can tell, has believed that Christ would return in their lifetime. I can not grasp the concept of Christ’s return. Supposedly the dead will rise, and my first question is what will happen to those who chose to be cremated? Will their ashes come back together from wherever they were scattered? What will happen to those who lived and died before Christianity was a religion? Will God be lenient on them for not knowing, or will they be cast into Hell along with everyone else who has displeased God for not worshipping him? I often wonder what God has done to deserve our faithfulness. Apparently, we have him to thank for our existence, but did we ask to exist in the first place? And our only way of knowing what God wants of humanity is a book that was written quite a long time ago and is not exactly up to date with everything that goes on in our world today. If God is eternal and Christians are supposed to worship God for an eternity after they die, then why is it so important to worship God while we are alive? If Jesus does come back in our lifetime, we will not even be able to experience a full life of experiences, thanks God. I keep wanting to say him instead of God, but I do not believe that God would have a gender, although the urge to put he is very strong. Would God not want us to do what is best for us and to use our time wisely and experience all the things we want to, then praise him after death for allowing us to have such wonderful lives? I know people who go to church every Sunday morning and night, as well as Wednesday night. I do not know how these people manage to think for themselves the other five days of the week. Some might say that living with God on the back burner is selfish, but is God not a selfish being? God created humans to serve him and worship him, but why? If God can create us for entertainment and someone to say that they are so thankful for God, then shouldn’t we deserve to live how we want to and deal with eternity once we are dead? People often act as though God is a perfect being, but I just do not fall for that. If a God did create humanity and our world, then that God has long since left it and moved on to other projects, or else it is simply a cruel God. I am not against religion, I am not saying I hate it, I understand that it gives some people purpose. I know a few people who say they would rather believe and be wrong than not believe and be wrong. I just see too many holes in the plot, and too much corruption in the place of worship to believe that Christianity is divine above all else. #12
Wednesday- Weekly Essay 3 pts
Wednesday- Comment on Cole Walker’s post 1pt
Wednesday- Comment on Kimmie Steakley’s post 1pt
As someone who is Atheist, I completely agree with what you've said - I just can't imagine a God suddenly "returning" when you consider all of the stories and myths surrounding said return. This God being an all perfect being seems very odd to me, providing a good many of his supposed followers hold so much hate in their hearts.
DeleteEli, thank you for your post. I think your last sentences that "it is simply a people purpose." Anyone who believes without any doubt will rarely be persuaded by reasonable questions you posed, including some you didn't like people of other cultures who have their own religion formed before the Judeo-Christian religion. Also, anyone who reads the New Testament closely will noted that end time was predicted as occurring before some of those living passed away. We know that did not happen. Believers continue to perpetrate the idea of the end time is just around the corner because they are not happy with their life and hope for a better one. If you haven't read Mark Twain's Letters from Earth, you might enjoy it. He had it published posthumously because he knew the letters he would receive castigating him for its content, but it's pretty funny and true.
DeleteShould we all "give up one or two luxuries" to help less fortunate people?
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I think everyone's answers can be different; it all really depends on where you fall in life and what your circumstances are. Sure, I make the common joke of "eat the rich," like a lot of my generation since there are many, MANY rich people who give nothing to others when they have the ability to - in that sense I believe they should act in the virtue of good morals and help those less fortunate than them. However, if someone less fortunate than me asked to give up something for them, I... probably wouldn't. My family isn't dirt-poor, of course, but I'm relying on purely financial aid to pay for my education - on top of that, myself and my little brother rarely, if ever, ask for anything over $20 unless it's around the holidays simply because we are more aware of our family's financial status. When I am able to, I'll try and give goods to the homeless, or donate to fundraisers, but in all honesty that in itself is something I can't afford to do much. I think for myself to give up a luxury would cost my family more than someone like, say, Jeff Bezos, for obvious reasons. My luxuries are rare to come by, but I'm still grateful for them as they hold such much significance in the fact of saving and earning whatever luxury item I receive; for millionaires though, their luxuries seem priceless to people like me, and therefore, I think they should be willing to give said luxuries away to those less fortunate.
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commented on eli and kimmie's posts +2
I totally agree with you,like a person in a middle class can only give portions to donate. Every small amount builds up to something big. That's why it's important to save money for something larger, because you have to think about the type of education,transportation, paying bills, health. What's worse is how the economy is price, the material could be cheap but the process to make the product could be expensive. It's upsetting when people pretend to be rich, to make their image look good. While someone who is rich could spend a portion of their wealth, yet they earn more along the way. Money is hard to share, so the economy circulation is unbalanced.
DeleteHi Brittney, Great Post! I agree with you that rich people have more to give. However, I think that it is important that everyone give back no matter their place in life. If you are not fortunate enough to have money to give, then give time or talents. It is probably more impressive when the person who has less gives because the value of the gift was such a great portion when compared to their total available to give. Helping others is always the best thing to do.
DeleteI agree that people should try to give back to the less fortunate while also being mindful of their own financial status. Also, I do think that time is a luxury and people should try and donate that whenever they are able to as well.
DeleteI'm a bit of an extremest on the subject. I think everyone should give as much as they can. However, I dont really do as much as I think I should. My moral ethics are a lot higher than my moral action would suggest. I suppose im just fond of beating myself up over it.
DeleteI agree with your thoughts and believe the mindfulness of giving is so important and needed. The more fortunate that financially give is morally right and even vital, but I also think that everyone, in their own way, should give. I believe this giving does not strictly have to be financial, but can be through energy, time, and other sacrifices.
DeleteI don't really think there is any shame in wanting to keep the things you've earned and worked for to yourself. Especially if the means in which such luxuries are obtained are virtuous and not crooked. Given i also think there is great honor in philanthropy and giving to those less fortunate, but i never think philanthropy should be done out of guilt.
DeleteShould we all "give up one or two luxuries" to help less fortunate people
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that it matters if it is the drowning child nearby or the starving child far away like somewhere in Africa, the right thing to do is to help other people when we can. I think that everybody from every class probably has some way to give back, though people who are more fortunate should probably give more. I don’t think it is a specific amount but proportional to your means to do so. The millionaire probably has the means to do many things to help others and some luxuries that they could do without in order to help the less fortunate. Regular people could also find ways to give back to others because almost everyone has something extra. Even people you might consider among the less fortunate could give of things they do have, like their time or their talents, to help others. Even poor college students could choose to not get that Starbucks latte or that late night pizza and share the money that they do have with others. Anyway, I don’t feel giving money is necessarily the most important thing anyway. I would rather see people donate their time or talents because that donation is more personal than money.
Section 11
DeleteWeekly Essay October 28, 2020 at 6:19 PM
Commented on Brittney Sherrel October 28, 2020 at 6:31 PM
Commented on Ammar Idris October 28, 2020 at 6:44 PM
I enjoyed what you had to say on this. My first thought on the subject is actually something Jesus said in one of the gospels. He says that the person who gives out of their poverty is worth more than the one who gives from their wealth.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and I agree with the things you stated. I truly believe no matter if you have money or not you should always help people when you can or if you know they need it. I always agree with you in the people who have a lot of money should honestly give more to others but they don't.
DeleteWonderful post! i think you are almost referring to what i call"the superman complex"-- with all our power, how can we not help everyone (i am more so referring to america more so than us on an individual level.) if we only help one person, can we not help two, then three, four, and so on. this is why a lot of people dont like superman-- he should be able to help everyone yet he cannot... we only have so many possibilities in this chess game of life. so they should be spent helping as many of we can.
DeleteI agree with you 100%. People are more fortunate should give money to the poor instead of keeping it by themselves and again money is the root of all evil. Rawl's and Singer philosophy notion was to bend the rules in the world for people who needs equal rights.
DeleteDo I think that it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Well I think it’s going to happen eventually because the brain works in a similar way to a computer anyways. So, for now I think it’s just a matter of time before processing power may make it possible to hold a full human brain’s worth of information. A quick google search brings up that the cerebral cortex by itself has around 74 TB of data. So, it’s probably going to be a whole lot more for the entire brain so I can say that is already a major hurdle before we even get into all the other countless difficulties with transferring minds over to computers. Also, by the looks of it, it’s going to take us awhile to get to that point, but I think it’s possible at the rate we’re going at now. Would I want to get my mind transferred to a computer? Most defiantly, but it would have to be after my natural death of course. Then I might just wait till they are able to 1. Make a clone of my body and 2. Be able to put my mind back with a very good success chance. I guess the main concern for a lot of people is that would the mind that was uploaded really be you, or did you die and now a computer program is running your memories pretending to be you, could and would someone be able to make a program that was good enough to even fool the loved ones of the person whose brain was transferred. I guess that’s some ethical issues for down the line.
ReplyDeletei must say that i appreciate the subject matter of your post! as a fan of science fiction i have ran across this premise many times and i have to say that i disagree with your opinion. i dont think i would ever want to be transported to the digital world. for starters i think that "the prestige" paradox is the biggest issue at hand. what if your brain was copied while you were still alive? then its definitely not you-- yet it is? idk i think ill just take the dirtnap lol! great post!
DeleteIts funny you say that the brain works similar to a computer but rather it should be considered the opposite. The computer functions similar to a brain because the brain created the idea of the computer. Its interesting to see how humans apply value to human processes because processes such as the brain are difficult to grasp for the common man. Just thinking about how much knowledge my brain can actually store is a very tough question to actually consider because we have no full gauge of what our brains are truly capable of doing. Nonetheless, I would love to reach a point where we could tap into the great minds of the past via holograms and archived knowledge which has been recorded somehow by a phone!
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I mean I can vibe with the concerns, I said a similar thing in my post, but people are probably scared of if they'll really be them anymore, yknow?
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ReplyDelete• Do you buy the economic theory of American religiosity? 290
The economic theory of American religiosity is particularly appealing to me. I think it is what Kurt Andersen has been alluding to throughout his book. He talks about how the origin of fantasyland originated in Christianity and it does parallel quite nicely with the fast-food industry. It is a common saying within Christianity to say that most churches model after businesses and I have a hard time seeing it otherwise. The quote “we are Christian for the same reason we are fat” rang so true in my head that I burst into laughter. Protestant Churches in America are constantly fighting for members with one another to the point they have to demonize other denominations. This is especially common within the southern Bible belt. While growing up in a deep south small town I could see a church on every corner. It was easy to see this theory in effect and why it was happening. The churches were so tightly pressed together I couldn’t see where the Methodist Church started, and the Baptist Church ended. On my first day of attending, I accidentally walked into the wrong church. Things like this, in my opinion, need to be looked at more carefully by the community. In Fayetteville, the small town, it was so commonplace nobody batted an eye at this circus. The Methodist Church that I attended split into two services, a traditional and a charismatic one, to keep as many members as possible. I found this to be ridiculous, but I didn’t see them being able to stay open any other way.
Commented on Brittney Sherrell (3:34pm) October 28 (1 point)
DeleteCommented on Bailey Stephens (6:19pm) October 28 (1 point)
Completed Essay (3 points)
Yep, churches are an enterprise and especially the Catholic Church is an utterly appalling one.
DeleteAn interesting point was brought up this week during class concerning utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is defined by the principle “the needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few.” The point that was brought up was simply “who are the many? And who are the few?”. This was a very intriguing and interesting to me. Never in my study of utilitarianism had I asked this question, And I was immediately disappointed in myself. The point that was explicitly brought up was “where do the animals fit into this principle?” I have never thought of this—what about the animals? According to the definition of utilitarianism, would it not be more just to allow the animals to overtake us? And what of the Insects? Are they not more copious then us? Would it be more ethical to allow the insects to take the planet as their ultimate hive? Then with this line of thinking—why do we resist the plants? Would it not be more moral to allow the flora to overtake her planet once again? Returning the planet to a human less nirvana. Then upon this revelation I begin to think even smaller. What is even smaller than the smallest speck of fungal spores? Bactria! Why don’t we allow the trillions of individual Bactria to overtake our physical realm? As they outnumber us to an astronomical degree? Are their lives, as simple and seemingly inconsequential as they are, more numerous than ours by a vast margin? After seeing this strain of logic, I proceeded to have an existential crisis followed by a nap.
ReplyDeleteOne of the questions I chose is,Is travel necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say travel is necessary for growing up however I do believe travel is important. When someone travels it is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and experiences new things. When traveling especially out of the country you can see and learn so much you never knew. Traveling out of the countries helps you learn new languages, try new foods and just appreciate the beautiful world we live in. Traveling in general gives you a new understand of the world we live in and traveling can be a way you see beautiful things and see different things you may not have where you live. According to the text it goes to show you do not have to go very far to see and experience news things. For example Kant never went further than forty miles.
The next question I chose is,Do you trust anyone over 30?
I personally don't see why I wouldn't trust someone over 30. First of all I believe age is only a number. However I believe the older the person is the more wisdom and understanding they have when it comes to living in this world and how they live life. I would never not trust someone just based off of their age. Age should never be a reason why you don't trust someone.
I believe I have 5 points. 3 points for essay and 2 points for responses.
I agree with your points on travel being important because it can help someone open their eyes to new things outside of the culture they are used to living and when it comes to trusting people over 30 I also agree with your points on that because age isn't going to make me refuse to trust someone, it's all depending on the bond I have with that person
DeleteYou have some interesting insights. I believe that traveling and exploring new, different places, people, and cultures is important while growing up. It broadens the mind and helps people know that where they live in the moment is not all there is in life. Traveling while growing up helps people better understand the world and their own place in it.
DeleteI think travel in this scenario is more of a metaphor of being exposed to new things, new places, and new cultures. Can you "grow up" with never experiencing anything different? Yes of course you can, but i would say traveling creates open minded and self aware adults.
DeleteBeing exposed to different cultures and meeting new people is an eye opener to how things work in society. Just going out of state could be eye opening to how different things can get the farther from home you are. SO I agree with travel being important for maturing.
DeleteI think that traveling at a younger age isn't necessary, but it defiantly helps older children and teens to understand many different cultures and just how bug the world is. Being able to travel is a luxury for sure, but I know a lot of people who didn't have the ability to travel at a younger age and now that they do they appreciate it a lot more. that's why I don't think its a necessity at a young age.
Deleteweekly essay
ReplyDelete2 comments
Anthony Ozoh
Bailey Stephans
Is it bad to be WEIRD?
ReplyDeleteNo I don't feel like it is bad to be weird because I feel like everyone is weird in their own way. Being "weird" is what makes us different and if we weren't weird and were all alike or doing everything the same way. Life would be boring and meeting people would be a bit pointless because they don't do anything different from you meaning there won't be anything new to put you on or to show you. I feel like being weird is a good thing because it helps us stay away from going down that path. Also, I say everyone is weird in their own way because I may do something that a classmate may consider weird, or vice versa. However nothing is wrong with that because we each have our own preferences. I watch anime at times, I like to read, play games on my ps4 like 2k, madden or GTA 5. I love to go on walks as well. I also play games like Ghost of Tsushima or Red Dead Redemption 2. All of these things I listed may be something another person may consider weird but that's their opinion. Someone else may not but may also do something that is "weird" or different from what I do, but that's not an issue because one day I may decide to try something new and see for myself what it's like. Therefore, I do not feel like it is bad to be weird because what is "weird" between people is what makes us all different and I feel like that's a good thing.
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DeleteYou have some interesting thoughts. I agree also that everyone, in their own way, provides a different and special quality. Everyone is weird, and that should be more included and accepted in society.
DeleteDo others make the most important decisions for you?
ReplyDeleteEveryday, you are making decisions in life. And every one that is made, ultimately belongs to you. I think people can influence and sway a person's decision making, but it comes down to what you truly desire. Smaller and more meaningless decisions, like what to eat for breakfast or how to dress that day, are usually easier to make by yourself. Bigger and more life-altering decisions compel people to confide in another’s opinion and thoughts. I think it is important to find people in your life who are trustworthy, honest, and communicate directly. I think without others around us to converse with and ask questions, we can’t learn and decipher our own morals and values. In my opinion, seeking advice for larger, important decisions is healthy and beneficial. On the other hand, letting others make these decisions for you may create a co-dependency on that person, or a lack of self expression in your life. In my life, sometimes it is easy for me to please the people around me and care too much of what they think. Because I can be indecisive as well, it is easier for me to let others just simply tell me how to live in some aspects of life. But letting others make the decision in my life of what they think is right, ultimately makes them happy. Because of this, it can lead to questioning what I truly desire in my own life and if I am choosing to do certain things just to make others happy.
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DeleteI agree with practically everything you said. I also think that for major decisions in life, getting input and help from others is probably the best course of action you can take. However, don't rely on them too much and know that the decision is ultimately yours to make.
I agree in the idea that a person can't make a final decision for you, but they can influence the way that you make decisions for yourself. It isn't bad to let someone give their opinion on an idea that you have, but I believe you should not make you decisions based off their opinions alone.
Deleteweekly essay: 3+
ReplyDeletecomment on Cory Robert's:1+
comment on Miranda's:1+
comment on Brittney Sherrell's: 1+
Is there any way to control the spread of "cockamamie ideas and outright falsehoods" on the Internet"?
ReplyDeleteThe internet is a super highway of communication. Within seconds Something can be shared with the entire world. And the unique thing is, anyone can upload information onto the internet. There is no editor or proofreader checking the facts of every instagram, or snapchat post. Even with algorithms checking for profanity or adult content, we really have no way to regulate the validity of anything posted to the internet. And social media is so opinionated that you can't call someone's beliefs “wrong” or invalidate them. But I also believe this regulatory goal is overall fruitless. Part of the beauty of the internet is the lack of regulation. There are many ways to deduce the trustworthiness of a news source, and i think the overall reason these falsehoods spread so quickly is due to the gullibility of most people on the internet. The bottom line is you should not fully believe in anything you hear without concrete facts. However, the speed and ease of communication on the internet makes thes “cockamine ideas” spread like wildfire. So the problem does not lie in the lack of regulation on the internet, it is the willingness to believe and spread info with little to no reliable facts backing these outrageous stories or claims. So all in all, no, I don't think there is anyway to control the rapid spread of falsehoods online; but there are definitely lots we can do to be less gullible.
I totally agree with you statements on how to be less gullible and being your own fact checker. The amount of out of context and edited "news" being spread here recently is depressing to say the least.
DeleteI agree, there is a lot we could do to get to the facts but most people are not going to want to delve that deeply into most of what they see. The internet moves and grows so exponentially that any regulatory body wouldn't be able to keep up. Information out there is also crafted so well that even in its falsehood, it's hard to pick about and spot it.
DeleteZalen Ingram, Sec 10
ReplyDeleteI believe both the turing test and the Chinese room test are both early forms of both sides of the 'Will AI take over the world?' argument which are both weak arguments to their side due to their time/scientific advancements. The Chinese Room test argued that computers could not think simply to the reason they couldn't match Chinese characters with others just based off their appearance. With the technology today, this program could easily accomplish the task at hand with the proper equipment. The handbook given to the people in the experiment further goes against the goals of test, without the guide the people would be lucky to guess what to do. I can see that argument having good discussion, 'Can an AI determine and complete a randomly assigned task that a human can easily do the same without instructions?' With the right knowledge to construct such an AI, I believe it is hypothetically possible, but I can't say more on that. With the Turing Test, I believe it is a famous and influential experiment, with many films and media showing its ties with the test. However, I believe the test is unreliable and somewhat unnecessary. Their isn't many reasons why that a person shouldn't recognize that they are speaking with a program, for even today it is easy to determine whether or not you're speaking with a human being. Instead, I believe a better and more reliable test for these advanced AI's is Asimov's law, mainly for robots but still applies to programs I believe. The three rules to Asimov's law goes as follows:"
First Law
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Second Law
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
Third Law
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law."
These rules sound like science fiction, and they actually are! They are from a science fiction novel written by Isaac Asimov, a science fiction author from the early 20th century. I believe that we have progressed pass the need to ask whether or not an AI is human enough, and think about what AI can do to help us in the future, and how we can avoid mishaps with these simple rules.
Weekly: 3/5
DeleteSimon Pergande comment: 4/5
Anna Collins comment: 5/5
Section 10
ReplyDelete45/50
Reply to Cole Walker
Reply to Simon Pergande
What do you think of the 80% of Americans who "say they never doubt the existence of God"?
I feel as though they are full of shit, to be honest. That sounds to me like the Christians that see it as far too taboo to admit that they have doubted God or His existence. It is difficult for me to understand how someone could go their whole life since they became a Christian and never doubt whether or not He is real. For the most part, to me you cannot fully believe in something like that if you never doubted or questioned. I suppose never doubting the existence of God is much more plausible than never questioning the character of God. If you don’t question or doubt, it seems more like a blind faith than a real belief, or the relationship Christians should strive with God. Human nature is to doubt, especially something so great and broad that we cannot directly see. Quite frankly, even though I am a Christian, from an outside perspective not knowing much about the Bible or historical findings that do correlate with the Bible, there is not much proof of the Christian God. Many Christians may argue that nature and life itself is evidence, however that is more evidence of a creator rather than the Christian God. Regardless, I digress to my original point. Doubting is a part of life in human nature. Many doubt things that seem obvious. Why wouldn’t you, at one point, doubt something that is a bit less obvious? I feel as though a majority of those 80% are lying about their lack of doubt.
I completely agree. I think like you said it comes from it being taboo to doubt god for many Christians. Especially with a number as big as 80%, I'd say some people were surveying what they like to believe.
DeleteI agree. If you do not doubt and question your religion, then you probably have not looked too deeply into it. Doubting and questioning is a natural part of learning. I believe it can make one's faith stronger.
DeleteI'm with you on this point. Frankly, someone who states that they have never doubted the existence of their God would terrify me. Either they follow so blindly or they can never be honest with themselves.
DeleteDo you trust anyone over 30?
ReplyDeleteI try to not think in absolutes, generalization is dangerous as is specificity. Though, I have found that the older of people I interact with the larger a gap in views is. Now there is a healthy mix of views and attitudes in every age group. Though most of the time if one age group is facing a struggle or problem different age groups won’t recognize the severity. That’s not to say they don’t understand the problem but they either don’t comprehend the implications or care to do so. I have a few people I look up to but it is usually for specific aspects of those people that I look up too. There are always mixes of good and bad qualities so acknowledging them all is usually a best practice rather focus on all good or all bad. Trusting people over thirty though has recently become tough depending on other defining aspects of those age groups.The issue with getting older is you become more tight knit with usually like minded people. The day to day stresses of modern life tend to help you weed out whatever paths to resistance you encounter even if you don’t consciously do it. This has led to more mob mentality in older groups and therefore keeps a lot of people in the past of what they think is prevalent. Even when being up to date on what is happening the perspective taken is usually very edited and out of context. So to conclude I do trust some people over thirty, though there are other factors that play into the trust.
This question made me laugh at first till I realize I don't think I actually do trust many people over 30. I think you explained that with the idea that people at 30 have a pretty tight knit of people who think alike so they aren't really challenged as much.
DeleteThis is an excellent reasoning on both sides. Yes I also trust a lot of people over 30 because they have a lot of life experience but at the same time you make a great point that a lot of those older people get stuck in the same cycle of thoughts so its important to have a diverse pool of information.
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Section 011
ReplyDeleteDo you "make a regular appointment with your body"?
I make an honest effort to, no matter what kind of appointment it is. Whether its meditation or going on a walk, I try to be aware of my body's needs. Neglecting simple things such as taking a walk or take a step back to just meditate can take a toll on our bodies. They aren't as super tough as we like to believe they are, they have general needs that we neglect at times because of our busy lives. I think a lot of problems in our lives could be solved if we stopped and just took care of our body for a couple minutes. I'm not saying to give it several hours of attention, as that isn't reasonable for some busy people, but for many of us we could do a couple minutes of attention.
Do others make the most important decisions for you?
I don't think they make them as much as they can have some influence depending on who gives you advice. Someone who gives you advice from a similar situation as you can be very beneficial and isn't necessarily a bad thing. I believe it becomes more of a problem when you only make important decisions based on other people. If you forgo your own wants, needs, and aspirations because someone says you shouldn't, I think that shouldn't be the only thing to decide that for you. Like I was saying though seeing that other view point or similar experience can be incredibly valuable and shouldn't just be ignored.
Comment on Jeffery Monfort
DeleteComment on Shelby Pittman
I agree that we should listen to what our bodies are saying more often. I find myself sitting inside a lot and whenever I go outside I always feel so refreshed. I know I should do this more often but I usually stay inside. I would probably be much more happy and I plan to go outside more in the future. I also like what you said about making our own decisions. I take advice from people, but at the end of the day make my own choice. Advice can be helpful, but we should make decisions for ourselves, not others.
DeleteI get really burnt out if I don't take time for myself. I agree with you that if we took a little time for ourselves it would make our lives a little bit easier.
DeleteI agree that we should not always make important decisions based on other people, but I also feel like we don't experience the same level of decision fatigue when we're deciding for other people. Helping other people with their decisions can benefit them and then they can benefit you by helping you with your decisions.
DeleteWeekly productivity
ReplyDeleteOmitted previous week - Essay on women being made 10/19 3pt
This week - Essay on best time of life 10/26 3pt
Essay of Rousseau's abandoning his children 10/29 3pt
Comment on Cole's post of 10/27 1pt
Comment on Eli's post of 10/28 1pt
Prior week - 3pt
Current week - Max 5pt
Total Cumulative - 58
Blake Hughes
ReplyDeleteSection 010
My Essay (+3)
Comments (+2): Don Enss & Barbara Frizzell
Overall Points: 50
Weekly Question #10:
“Do you feel fully empowered to ‘choose your life's journey’? If not, what obstacles prevent that?”
I don’t feel fully empowered to ‘choose my life’s journey,’ for quite a few reasons. However, I do believe it is possible to do so.
For me, I am very passionate about my future, and the dreams I want to make a reality. There are so many things I would love to do in life, but I don’t feel fully empowered, to do so. The reasoning why, is because the things I would love to accomplish in life, just seem to farfetched to even believe in.
I would love to direct and write incredible films that are nominated for Academy Awards, or be able to help others with any major influence that I may earn. However, I don’t have the money, or the placement, to do something like that.
Yes, it is possible to do so, but it doesn’t feel empowering, when you look at the giant mountain that blocks your path, ahead of you. And, as unfortunate as it may be, that’s the most common thing to realistically focus on.
However, like I mentioned earlier, I do believe that it is still possible to be fully empowered with your life’s journey. Kids who are born in a famous family, or who have money, or parents with influence, already have a step through the door. Not saying that they would immediately make it, or that it still wouldn’t be difficult for them, but it would be much easier on them, with that advantage.
My point is, I don’t myself, but it isn’t impossible to be! I tend to be more of a realistic person, who often faces the facts of the matter, and thinks realistically, rather than continue dreaming. But, there are several people who continue dreaming, and will try until their very last breath, to make their dreams a reality, which is very admirable.
• Is it dangerous when a President confuses legend and myth, and movies, with reality? 254-5
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! A leader in any form or fashion holds a considerable amount of influence on who they lead if they are in fact a strong leader. A strong leader leader is typically chosen by the people in matters where representation is important. The president is a great example of this. Leaders ought to direct their constituents in directions that serve the common good if this leader is a true leader for the group. The followers of this individual typically hold little skepticism towards the person because they have deemed this person a rightful holder of the position. With this in mind, it is important to maintain this social contract especially under a “president and the governed” circumstance. If, hypothetically, the president does confuse myths, legends, movies, etc. with reality then those who follow this president will also share the same views of the president. Initially, the words of the president are not held under a skeptics’ scope. These confusions with reality that president can negatively impact the society into also believing fiction from reality. This could most likely cause conflicts within the governed and suddenly the body which the president has been elected from can become divided on trivial matters. Its important that whenever someone is in a position of great influence that you do not unintentionally manipulate your followers to means which go against the civil and societal norms otherwise a great deal of confliction may arise which can incite a danger to society itself. (+3)
Replied Mohap (+1)
Replied Ozoh (+1)
Total (45 pts)
I agree. It is very idiotic to follow a leader blindly without question, no matter who it is. If the president is not criticized, then he is not kept in check and not truly representing those who elected him.
DeleteI also wrote about this question and I really like your response to it. I like how you pointed out the followers of the individual hold little skepticism towards him. I really agree with this point and I feel leaders may forget this sometimes. The president needs to be setting a good example for their followers because they will do as the president does. I really liked your response.
DeleteI mean I just agree, blindly following anything is bad and when the source you're following is also unsure of the reality that he lives in, major red flags there.
DeleteIs there any way to control the spread of "cockamamie ideas and outright falsehoods" on the Internet"?
ReplyDeleteYes, this is something that most big tech companies are already trying to do. The problem with trying to censor falsehoods and cockamamie ideas is that it's completely reliant on the perception of the one doing the censoring. This is why we have freedom of speech, so that one person cannot control what is put out there, whether they see it as wrong or right. Different people have different opinions. Not everything is black and white. It is up to the one reading or listening to the information put out there to do research and determine for themselves whether they believe what is being said. When you start to censor certain beliefs or ideas you're getting dangerously close to a dictatorship. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you think what someone is saying is intelligent or factual or not, it only matters that that person is allowed to express their ideas and that it is open to criticism. Anywhere throughout history, once people's speech is censored, death and destruction always follow.
Shelby Pittman +1
DeleteJared Quillosa +1
Weekly Essay +3
Weekly Total +5
I agree with you Gavin. It is also hard to be able and censor these on the internet without picking up dirt in the freedom of speech. Even though they are 100% false it usually isn't endangering someone's life.
DeleteIs it dangerous when a President confuses legend and myth, and movies, with reality? 254-5
ReplyDeleteI think this is something that could potentially be very dangerous. This kind of confusion could get into his head and hinder his judgement on important decisions. I feel like he feels like he is a star in a movie and with the whole country knowing his name he becomes caught up in the "fame". When in reality, he is supposed to be helping with real problems in the country. He may stop taking these problems seriously and only care about the cameras he is in front of. He may confuse himself with movie stars, but those stars people are playing a pretend role. The president is a very serious job and can become very bad if these things are confused. I feel like TV can greatly contribute to this confusion. The president is in front of many cameras putting videos on many channels. In these situations he may just be putting on a show and not be serious.
What do you think of the 80% of Americans who "say they never doubt the existence of God"?
I feel like these people aren't really being truthful. At some point, they must have questioned how all this may have happened and come to be. Even if they still believe in God, they must have thought about other topics such as evolution. I have seen people who have been put through so much pain in their lives and end up questioning the existence of God. I feel like when people go through things like this, if they are religious, they either turn to God for help or question his existence. It just seems almost impossible to never question his existence. I feel like they may just be saying this because they feel they are betraying God by questioning his existence.
section 11
weekly essay +3
Deletereply to Jared Quillosa +1
reply to Matt Kolzow +1
weekly total 5
grand total 50/50
I agree that our President has highly confused the public. Because he is the leader of our nation people are inclined to believe whatever he says and that is what makes his confusion so dangerous.
DeleteDo you feel fully empowered to "choose your life's journey"? If not, what obstacles prevent that?
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a lot of obstacles in the life that prevent one from being in control of one’s life journey. A big part of one’s future depends on what opportunities are presented. Personally, I believe that I would be a lot more in control and “empowered” of my life if I had more money. However, the lack of money and privilege also drives my motivation to be more in control of my life so answer to the question would be yes. I do feel empowered to choose my path and make the best for myself.
Why do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons? 281
The biggest reason Americans believe in Satan’s and demons is because a lot of Americans are religious, and certainty is the most popular religion. I believe that most people need something to blame when it comes to the evil things that go on in this world. To be far it is hard to believe some of the terrible thing’s humans do and it is just easier to have a blame a supernatural being rather than our own. In America so many people were raised to believe in the bible therefore that is why this belief is spread throughout America.
Do the passions for glory and luxury make us wicked and miserable? 53
I believe people get blindsided to what really matters in life when the only thing they truly want is wealth. We get so caught up in comparing what we have with others it makes us jealous and bitter because we always want what we can’t have. Therefore, I do be we become miserable when our passions are for glory and luxury.
Essay- 3
Comment (matt Kolzow) -1
Comment (Kate Allen) -1
Week: 5/5
Total: 50/50
Section 12
Kiera, you are right about there is a bunch of obstacles that we have to conquer everyday. The opportunities are endless as I've heard several times. I like how you stated that you would control and "empower" your life if you had more money and I agree because there is not enough money in this world that cannot be met or even reached. Everybody's future is going to them somewhere with better pay, better health coverage, and many more.
DeleteI agree! There are certain obstacles that everyone must face, and unfortunately, money is at the root of a lot of them. It's very easy to feel like fate is never in your hands, but taking back your empowerment is what gets you through.
DeleteI feel the same as you, I don't feel empowered to choose any of life's journeys. I think opportunity is clearly declining as the middle class shrinks at dramatic rates in this country, "the land of opportunity." In order to combat this, I think it's imperative that we prioritize affordable health care and higher education.
DeleteWhat do you think of the 80% of Americans who "say they never doubt the existence of God"?
ReplyDeleteSec 10
I believe that a lot of those people are liars. I do believe that some people have truly never doubted the existence of god and quite frankly, that scares me. I believe in order to have faith, then you must have doubt. Lets just say that these people all told the 100% truth, that would mean that 80% of Americans do not understand what faith is. Faith is not proof based which means you have no real way to determine whether or not there is a true existence of a god. I believe that a lot of these people are afraid to really say that they have doubts because in thee 18 years I have been alive, my opinion has changed time and time again when it comes to religion and any other beliefs about things life throws at you. Think about someone who is 70 years old, they have gone through life and learned so much and for someone not to change their mind or have doubts about what they believe is very unlikely. We should question every decision we make in order to learn and grow. Now I have seen several closed minded people including some of my relatives, but this does not mean they were closed minded their entire life. They had to come to a decision at some point in time to believe a certain way. I believe that at one point in time, the people apart of the 80% have had doubts. It is apart of human nature to question things. It is how we have advanced throughout history.
I absolutely agree with what you said in your short blog post, Henry. I totally get that you have to be willing to learn from someone else who has experienced more than you and that will constantly have your mind blown in a great way and also have you question but that is all apart of life.
DeleteReally good post. Even as a Christian I have had my moments of doubt. I think it can be a time of growth for a lot of people to question in the existence of God or even just question salvation. When I have had those times of doubt I know I personally like to read and really investigate why I believe what I believe and usually you end up with a stronger faith.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe statement “there are no atheists in foxholes” was made to say that in times of dire straits, need, or stress; people will “find” religion and seek the assistance of a divine being; most Westerns would assume the Christian God. You see examples of this outside of the war landscape that the term “foxhole” places in your mind. Financial difficulties, a sick child, before facing a phobia, lost in the forest, etc. Do I think that individuals suddenly truly turn from their atheistic/disbelieving views? Absolutely not. Most individuals caught up in these circumstances are most likely trying ANYTHING to save themselves/others or overcome the trials that they face. If you find yourself in a situation such as that of a trench in World War I (where the foxhole quote can somewhat be traced to) I am pretty sure you would try anything to survive in that moment. Cannot really hurt to pray to something you do not believe in in the off chance that it will save your neck. Then once an individual is out of said situation, it is more likely that their atheism will stay well intact and the moment of piety brushed off. There are those that then dedicate their life to their chose deity after such an experience but that is rarely the case. Furthermore, not all will end up praying to a deity in the classical sense but placing their hope in reinforcements, leader, doctor, pilot, and so on. So ultimately, people who are non-believers will still remain atheist but hey, it couldn’t hurt to call out for help in case it really does come!
Weekly essay:+3
DeleteComments: Shelby Pittman, Calvin Parrack +2
I think your description of the meaning of the phrase is spot on and I also agree with you that it's not true. This part of the reading made me think of our discussions around Augustine and the Manicheaens. I think many people in the "foxhole" would find it difficult to have faith in a God which allowed such terrible things to put them in that type of position to begin with.
DeleteWill Jesus return before 2050? 274
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jesus will return before 2050 because he will return on earth and guide the "chosen" ones that he needs to protect at all costs, along with helping the sick and curing what other diseases that are to come before 2050. In the Fantasyland book on page 272, it states that "Nearly all American Christians believe that Heaven (85%) and Hell (70%) are actual places. If you read the bible on the daily such as in the morning and before bed, attend church and sermons, attend church related activities and gatherings then you know that those two places are the only place where everyone ends up after death. I cannot say that is 100% true but I have been to church before and I have seen some family members put in the grave and I have said my goodbyes. I end up crying and having them pray over me and my mom and other family members who are live. I've even seen an elderly woman who was my close best friend for a few months past and I prayed for her to not to suffer anymore and that God and Jesus would take care of her and that she will be in great hands in Heaven. I believe that Jesus will return with a powerful message to the generation before 2050 with a purpose and a strong will that will have everybody listen and obey. I know there is not enough information about the deaths and whether Heaven or Hell is real but you can do the research on your own time to figure that out. I stick my answer that Jesus will return before 2050 and when that happens I want my great-great-great-great children's children to tell me all about what happened and how it felt to see him in person and to speak with him.
Weekly essay 8/27/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/3/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/10/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/17/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/24/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/01/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/08/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay (3 pts)
Midterm essay N/A (pts)
Weekly essay 10/22/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/29/20 (3 pts)
Commented on Henry Moseley (+3 points)
DeleteCommented on Kiera Riordan (+3 points)
That's a thoughtful way to put it
DeleteDo you trust anyone over 30?
ReplyDeleteI do trust people over thirty. I trust my parents and my grandparents and some of my other family members. I trust them because I have been with them my entire life and they can share their experiences with me and I can have another point of view on the topic to help if I need to make a decision. For me it would have to be the characteristics and personality of a person because if I do not know them or trust them I will not be interested in what they have to say. I would honestly say that I am more inclined to listen to a person over the age of thirty than someone who is younger than that based off me thinking that person has more experience in life even though that might not even be the case. I feel that if I am able to learn from someone and gain knowledge of something that I had not known before then I can trust them with the specific information that they give to me. Trusting someone completely would take time for me to get used to I do not think I could trust someone after a short conversation.
Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself?
I do think that it takes courage to think for yourself. I feel like most people grow up trying to fit in with the rest of the crowd and we want to be liked by everyone so if someone that you think has higher value than you says that something is cool when you were younger you are going to think the same thing without a second thought because that one “ cool person” said it was cool. I think once we find the courage to think for ourselves and start to worry about others opinions of us we can become more of ourself in the process.
The content in this post was very well thought out. I enjoyed reading this. I totally agree with you that it takes courage to think for yourself, and I also believe that it takes a lot of courage to be yourself.
DeleteI strongly agree with your response on the first question and that I have to know the persons personality and knowledge before I listen to them. My family is an older family so I tend to listen to older people rather than younger people.
DeleteBetsy Akpotu
ReplyDeletePHIL 1030-010
Weekly Essay # 11
10/29/2020
Will Jesus return before 2050? I don’t know, if Jesus will return 2050 and I know you don’t know either, but if Jesus return, he would put his feet or stan on his feet on the top of the scull of Galilee and destroy the earth and reborn again. Plus, we haven’t it discuss about the flying cars when it comes out or how the future would come, and computers would be high tech. Do you think it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Would you want your mind "uploaded"? What could go wrong? I very curious about my mind being uploaded in a computer, like the movie Transcendence with Johnny Depp, but if I die or get uploaded, how am I supposed to get out of the computer then. That a question I want to know. While watching the movie I realize something that when the profess died, did he believe heaven or hell, and I think he was just playing God because it might be scared too, to help cure cancer and earth in this world. Should we all "give up one or two luxuries" to help less fortunate people? Yes and No. Yes, because people who are struggling and do not have parents to help their child to grow up in life or who are sick, or ADS should give up their luxury and help for the cause. No, because you did not work hard as much in your life and you did not work hard, I mean your work ethics. For me, I am glad that I am not rich because its to much stress in life especially the media today. Until I gain my work ethics and I need to be in this society, its worth it.
Is it bad to be weird?
ReplyDeleteI want to start this blog post off by saying that I personally think that it is bad to be normal. To an extent every human on earth is weird. I think that each individual person's “weirdness” is what separates us all and gives us all character. Being weird and having different interests is what makes this world diverse and unique. If we all liked the same things everything would be bland and there would be not room for innovations and discoveries. The word weird at its root comes from the inability for people to understand people who have completely different interests than themselves, in which they deem other people weird to ensure themselves that what they like is socially acceptable in comparison to others. Because of the diversities of niches and cultures that are in this world it opens the door for the judgment of others. Due to this people are deemed weird for not following the social normalities that come with the progressive society we live in today. People are often judged by what they see as interesting such as sports, music, art, or even something as simple as a tv show they enjoy. There are not two people on earth who are 100% alike so it's important to be accepting to everyone because the people who you think are weird probably think you are as well. Overall being weird is definitely not a bad thing, everyone is weird in their own ways. The negative connotation surrounding the word weird just has to be altered. To a state where it's socially acceptable to be weird because being weird is what makes us all human at our roots.
Blog Post +3
DeleteJeffery Monfort +1
Miranda +1
Total 45/50
I agree that a lot of people hide who they truly are just to try and "fit in". Now I may know why they do that maybe because they want to have a good connection with others especially the popular kids. But still like you said, "being weird is not a bad thing". If anything personally I'd rather get to know someone better if he/she showed me around their culture, or the special food dishes they prepare for holidays. Things like that because it's not every day you get to experience that. Also, our lives would be very boring if we all had everything in common we'd just get tired of ourselves I know I would.
DeleteI can relate to your thought on being "weird". Your thought on how our weirdness gives us our unique character and makes us diverse is something I can agree on. And also agree that everyone is weird in their one ways.
DeleteIs travel necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteI believe what makes travel so necessary is that it allows the traveler to gain a better understanding of other cultures and customs which they may come into contact with in their lifetime, and gaining a clearer understanding of the world that one is likely to spend their entire life in can only be beneficial. This is why I feel that not just travel across different parts of the country is necessary but travel to other countries as well, so many Americans have grown up with borderline dangerous misunderstandings of other countries and cultures which i feel could have been corrected by some international traveling and exposure to these outside countries. Middle East and Asian countries in particular are often misinterpreted by those who have had an ignorant upbringing bogged down by stereotypes and media that only reinforces those stereotypes, this is especially true with a lot of children who unfortunately watch garbage like Family Guy and grow up believing that the portrayals of people from countries like Saudi Arabia and Japan are 100% accurate. This is why I feel that more schools should invest in international field trips for students rather than field trips which are only there for the sake of having field trips, whether they be to Europe or Asia they can be very helpful and for once quite educational. If this is considered to expensive then at the very least some schools should consider a trip to Mexico as their culture has been so horribly butchered by America, this goes beyond their food, that the fact that some Americans not only believe that Dia de los Muertos is "Mexican Halloween" but also that Cinco de Mayo is "Mexican Independence Day" honestly saddens me.
Weekly essay +3
Replied to Don Enss +1
Replied to Nate Carley +1
I 100% agree with you. Thankfully my parents were able to take my sisters and I on backpacking trips around the United States during the summers growing up and I truly believe it has helped shape me into a more well-rounded adult. Being able to experience different cultures and ways of life first hand is a much better learning tool than simply reading or hearing about it.
DeleteI agree with you as well. When traveling it is also much easier to see the world from a totally different perspective. and this is one of the fastest way to become more culturally sound. From the few travels that I have been on, the information I can make based upon my stay has been able to stick with me.
DeleteI think that travel is a big part of growing up but it is not necessary to have a childhood. I think it helps a lot to open the minds of a lot of kids if they see the world but I’m not sure it’s needed to have a good childhood.
DeleteI absolutely agree! There's a certain educational reward you get from traveling, and integrating that into a child's life seems purely beneficial.
DeleteWhy do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I am one of those Americans that believe in Satan and demons. I believe they are real just like I believe that Jesus and angels are real. I would think that most people who believe in satan and demons are Christians like me and believe in them because they are talked about in the Bible. For some other people who might not profess Christianity, they might believe in Satan and demons because they can be the explanation for some of the horrible things that happen in this world. I think it would be hard though to believe in evil and not in return believe in the existence of good. I find this topic funny because my husband and I were actually discussing the realness of demons earlier this week. He told me about one of his mission trips he had gone on to Togo, Africa, where Voodoo is a very big religious practice there. His friend, who is a full-time missionary there along with his wife, told him to be careful because there was a Voodoo holiday happening. (Disclaimer: my husband is also a Christian but is not superstitious in any way. He’s a police officer and very much a realist.) so while he was in Africa, he saw people outwardly worshipping Satan. They were driving back to the missionaries house one day and drove up on a group where a Voodoo witch doctor was in the middle with a grass skirt, no shirt, and a painted face and body. My husband swears he could see through the man, like he was translucent. When they finally got back to the house several of the missionary team members that were in the car mysteriously got really sick and some had 104 degree fevers. Unfortunately, satanic worship is very real. I have never encountered any “proof” of demons and Satan, but I do believe in what the Bible says as truth.
Post: 3 pts
DeleteResponses: Henry Moseley, Matthew Pace 2 pts
Is it bad to be weird? I think that being weird is something that we all are at times and is natural to all humans. Being weird I do not think really has a definition. It is kind of sad in today’s societies where people feel like they have to put on different faces for different people. Somebody is not going to walk into a business meeting the same way they walk into a classroom. They will then also act way differently when going on a first date with someone than on the 50th date. We can never really simply just be ourselves because we act so much differently in all kinds of different situations like I talked about.
DeleteOne example I will talk about again is going into a job interview. We as humans have to basically please a superior. We cannot walk into a place we are looking to get hired from and act like we don't have any idea what we are doing and not be a formal person but then expect to get hired for a job. We have to put on a face to please the person sitting behind the table waiting for us to show them something in order to get hired. It is kind of sad we can't just go in and act like ourselves but it is just not the way the world works. I do not think that being weird is a bad thing at all. Another big part of it is reading other people. It is a very important skill to have especially when talking to somebody for the first time. You want to make sure you don't offend them and be cautions while also kind of giving them a piece of who you are. I think that being weird is a good thing and is something we do all of the time because all of us are different. We have to develop ourselves into who we are and can be and it is a good thing and major skill in today's society.
10/10 essays 50/50 points 21/20 comments
Are we confused about toys and dreams? 40
ReplyDeleteFor me, a toy is something made for the sole purpose of having fun, besides the fact that most toys are also made just for monetary value. I would also disagree with Neiman when she refers to smartphones and automobiles as toys that give us comfort. Yes, I would agree that those "toys" do encourage natural laziness, but that laziness can also be deemed as one of the advantages of efficiency. the fact that I don't have to walk to work means that I will have more time for something else; Maybe something closer to an actual toy, like playing videogames to incite joy for myself.
"By contrast, ideas of a more just and humane world are portrayed as childish dreams... (Neiman 40)"
I don't see most ideas of a more just world as a childish dream at all. A childish dream to me is something that is an unworldly, 100% impossible action or object at the time of thought. Something like creating matter out of nothing. There are a lot of people out in the world who are actively trying to make the world more just, even in the slightest way, and it has nothing to do with making money to acquire toys.
I am not confused in my own meaning of toy and dream. Are you?
Weekly essay +3
Deletecomment: Gavin Brown +1
comment: Matthew Pace +1
30/50
I agree with your response. I think that dreams are something you strive for and toys are something that we use for pleasure and having fun. I really think you wrote this well.
DeleteSection 10
ReplyDeleteAnna Johnson
Even though I love the Rolling Stones and that song in particular, I’d say I prefer the well-meaning Uncle’s advice. Adulthood isn’t as easy and perfect as it appears as a child, but it’s also not as dreadful as it can appear in adolescence. Therefore, it’s best to not lose hope and just try to make the best of it. I agree with Neiman that it’s a very simple concept, but I think making the best of it is a powerful personal philosophy. It is a reminder to enjoy the good moments as they come, but also helps during the bad times. Tough times are inevitable in adulthood, but remembering this and having faith that there are good things to come can help a person persevere.
I definitely think society would benefit from philosophers paying more attention to child-rearing and parenting. As children grow up they are constantly gaining understanding of their existence and thought. I think if philosophers were to put more effort into understanding this period of our development, it would provide great insight into ourselves as a whole. In addition to this, I think their research would allow for a better understanding of the best way to guide children into being intelligent and functional adults. Today during our Zoom session, we discussed how many of us had had previous experience with philosophy before this class. Like many others, I was never given an opportunity to study philosophy until college. I think that’s a mistake in our education system. The system is too focused on cramming STEM related material into students’ schedules, that it’s forgotten the importance of anything else. Philosophy is an excellent tool in teaching people how to think and how to question things. I think adding it to school curriculum as young as elementary school would greatly benefit the quality of students’ education across the board.
Section 10
DeleteMain post 10/29= 3 points
Commented on Emily Klunk’s post 10/29= 1 point
Commented on Kiera Riordan’s post 10/29= 1 point
Grand Semester Total (excluding bonuses)= 50 points
Is travelling necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteI think so! I’m possibly biased because ever since I was little I’ve adored travelling. The integration into different cultures, different people, different food, and just a different atmosphere is really important. The open mindedness it encourages and the curiosity it creates is brilliant for the growing brain. You begin to see things from a different perspective, which gives you a certain sense of intelligence. There is knowledge to be found in varying perspectives. Unfortunately, knowledge comes at a price as travelling can be very expensive. Travelling doesn’t have to be expensive or even out of the country to be worthwhile! I’ll encourage my kids to travel with me just a few cities over. Check out if it’s any different. Whenever you travel into downtown Nashville from Murfreesboro it’s different. To me, there’s always something to be learned from travelling. No matter how extravagant the trip is.
Section 010
Deleteweekly essay +3
replied to Matthew Pace and Kiera Riordan +2
I agree with you because when I was younger I use to travel a lot with my family. I had that opportunity to see how people live outside of the U.S. I got to meet a lot of great people I got interact with them, lived the way they did, visited their school system for a day. And frankly here in the U.S we might have a higher success rate compared to Mexico and maybe other countries. They still manage to live a great life and make the best of it, and that's the true beauty of traveling. Being able to understand not everyone live the same way as you but they do their best to enjoy the little things they do have. Very much appreciated for what they do have and I'm glad I had the opportunity to witness that and I hope you do too!
DeleteI can agree with you on traveling being necessary. It does create a different perspective on other culture, which I believe it can create better understanding for people that have just a general image of each culture.
DeleteDaniel Lopez, Section 1030-011
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons?
There are likely many different reasons that so many Americans believe in Satan and demons. I believe a big part of the reason (much the same way there has been an increase in the internet phenomenon known as "social justice warriors") is that humans need an enemy to rally together against and fight. We live in such a time, especially in America, where there aren't any great "battles" for us to fight anymore. We aren't living in the time of the Civil Right Movement, we aren't living during the time of the Underground Railroad, and we certainly aren't in a tangible, large-scale war with any nations right now. For the religious, having an unseen, intangible yet very powerful enemy to fight alongside fellow believers is the stuff of childhood heroic fantasy come true. A war no one else can sense or see, yet the true believer is more than aware of and equipped to handle. There surely must be a sense of ego and wonder to the whole thing; much as kids love to play pretend and always come out the victor, the typical Christian American has the most powerful foe yet an even more powerful ally that always comes out on top. Described this yet, it's no surprise people would be fascinated and drunk on the sensation of partaking in such a "battle."
As Americans, as well, people tend to have a strong sense of justice, what what greater just war that the one for people's souls? It would likely account for the rising fascination people have in declaring themselves martyrs, despite the clearly smaller stage they play on in today's world (no burning at the stake these days, just cancel-culture closing a homophobic store or rules that prevent a believer from mentioning Jesus in certain places).
Weekly essay 8/27/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/3/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/10/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/17/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 9/24/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/01/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/08/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay N/A (0 pts)
Midterm essay N/A (0 pts)
Weekly essay 10/19/20 (3 pts)
Weekly essay 10/29/20 (3 pts)
Total: 27 pts
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ReplyDeleteIs travel necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteWhen you travel, you will always have to deal with bumps along the way in pursuit of your travel goals. You might lose your backpack , you might lose your bankcard, you might fall out with a friend (check) and you may not be able to do all the things you wanted to in the time you have . Learning to stay composed in the face of any situation and what other people can mentally put in your way is a skill that will certainly be tested as you travel. The better you cope with it, but more you’ll be at peace with your journey and learn from it. If you don’t learn to maintain composure, then you’ll have a very hard time of it. You’ll get plenty of chances to practice it during your travels and the beauty of it is that it’ll never be the same from one person to the next. Learning to trust your own ability to act whatever the situation will build confidence in yourself with time. As you travel, you’ll be thrown countless small (and a few big) decisions to make so that process will be accelerated and is a positive byproduct of the “stress” of everyday travel.
Section-010
Essay +3
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Do you think of growing up as "a matter of renouncing your hopes and dreams"?
ReplyDelete- No I don't believe that is true at all if anything you have all the power in the world to accomplish you're dreams as an adult. Being in adult gives you the freedom to pursue what you enjoy without your parents authority of forcing you to pursue a certain career you have zero interest. That's not every parent but theirs people out there who do have parents who are like that and want them to become a doctor or lawyer. You can do whatever you want with you're life it all depends on how you'll spend your time and work to achieve those dreams. And if you start on that dream don't stop till you are 100% satisfy on you're outcome. There's no excuses you have the power to accomplish you're goals it won't be easy but if you dedicate your self then you can do whatever you want doesn't matter the age.
Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself?
- Yes, I do agree you need courage to think for yourself. We live in a society that instead of being different we'd rather follow others. We follow other's because you fear that you'll be looked differently or you're to afraid to speak for your own believes. Once you break through that wall and speak for what you believe is right from wrong. Then that's when you know you built you're own courage that you once did not have.
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Commented on Alexa Kruszewski (+1)
Section #10
45/50
I both agree yet disagree with your statement on how growing up doesn't mean renouncing your hopes and dreams. I do believe we should follow our passions as we only have one life to live and must do what makes us happy in life. However, not all of us have the luxury of pursuing our dreams whenever we feel like it. For some of us, it's due to financial trouble and have to become practical in what we do in our lives. Some might be pressure from our families to pursue goals that were not ours' to begin with. Some might have to give it up in order for others to achieve it. However, I don't believe that dreams and hopes ever fade away. Sometimes they change and we realize that there are somethings important to life than others. Regardless, there are some that don't fade away and it means having to work around your obstacles to achieve them. I think that once we learn to do it and navigate it through regardless of everything that when we learn to mature and grow as a person.
DeleteIs travel necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteI believe that travel can be necessary for growing up. Traveling can show a person many things that he/she wants to see, experience, taste, etc etc. I don't think that, at least in our culture, travel is usually considered a learning experience. Typically travel is for leisure, and when someone travels outside of the "homeland" for the first time, the cultural differences are astounding. Having personally encountered this on multiple occasions throughout my teenage years, I can account for the sudden realization of "Oh, this is different." I have traveled outside of the United States to a few different countries, both for mission and leisure, and my personal experience was very enlightening to me. Coming back to the states always makes you appreciate what you have here, as most say after visiting another country, but you also notice how similar everyone in the US is, regardless of our "differences". The basic structure of our society is very regimented, and without going out and experiencing other cultures and how people do things, I believe people gain a lesser ability to think and act for themselves. Rather, people begin to follow suit too easily in others footsteps with no real self-identity other than their own unique body. Hence why I say that travel *can* be necessary for growing up because one will grow up regardless of travel. Travel becomes an enlightenment of sorts. Travel opens the eyes and the mind to think differently, critically even, about how one is to go through life. To stray off the path of normalcy is not always a bad thing, and one may consider that to be how we find our way to new ages. By traveling, we get a sense of how the world operates outside of our own home, and with this information we are able to create a path wherein we "grow up" to be what we ultimately envision ourselves to be, rather than what we are raised to be, giving us a sense of individualism and purpose in a "membered society".
Is travel necessary for growing up?
ReplyDeleteI believe that travel can be necessary for growing up. Traveling can show a person many things that he/she wants to see, experience, taste, etc etc. I don't think that, at least in our culture, travel is usually considered a learning experience. Typically travel is for leisure, and when someone travels outside of the "homeland" for the first time, the cultural differences are astounding. Having personally encountered this on multiple occasions throughout my teenage years, I can account for the sudden realization of "Oh, this is different." I have traveled outside of the United States to a few different countries, both for mission and leisure, and my personal experience was very enlightening to me. Coming back to the states always makes you appreciate what you have here, as most say after visiting another country, but you also notice how similar everyone in the US is, regardless of our "differences". The basic structure of our society is very regimented, and without going out and experiencing other cultures and how people do things, I believe people gain a lesser ability to think and act for themselves. Rather, people begin to follow suit too easily in others footsteps with no real self-identity other than their own unique body. Hence why I say that travel *can* be necessary for growing up because one will grow up regardless of travel. Travel becomes an enlightenment of sorts. Travel opens the eyes and the mind to think differently, critically even, about how one is to go through life. To stray off the path of normalcy is not always a bad thing, and one may consider that to be how we find our way to new ages. By traveling, we get a sense of how the world operates outside of our own home, and with this information we are able to create a path wherein we "grow up" to be what we ultimately envision ourselves to be, rather than what we are raised to be, giving us a sense of individualism and purpose in a "membered society".
Should parents let their child wail?
ReplyDeleteI would pretty strongly say no. In high school I had a psychology teacher who said they were working off of that parenting method with their child. I think it made me mildly uncomfortable to think about, but I remember just trusting his judgement since he was my professor at the time. But I think looking back on it from both a psychology and philosophy perspective- knowing what I know now- I just kind of find myself baffled. I don't think you can really be as shaped as strongly by your environment at such a young age (the age he was doing this at was like baby- just before toddler). Letting a child wail won't teach it to be self reliant or really anything. That'll just teach it that you aren't coming to help when they ask.
I took an education class that went into the psychology of children and we talked about this practice and we actually learned and came to the understanding collectively in discussion that this method is much more harmful than it is helpful. It essentially teaches children that they cannot trust their parents to take care of them when they need them. I also think that fundamentally we are just not supposed to let them cry it out. Babies desperately need love, affection and attention. All children do. But even in our biology, new mothers have physical responses when they hear their children cry. Hell, I just have a cat and every time she yowls I am set on edge, I can't think or concentrate until I calm her down. It makes no sense to me why anyone would just be okay with letting their kid wail on end. I think it just fosters mistrust and anxieties that will cause more problems later in the child's life.
DeleteI like what you had to say, similar to what Zoe said as well, I also remember talking about this in my psychology class when I took it. And we determined in class that based on statistics, it is of course not good to just let your baby cry on and on because that teaches them to be mistrustful and suspicious. But at the same time, it is not good to always hold and cottle the baby every single time they whine or cry, as this has been statistically shown to cause the baby to be dependant on others throughout life and unable/unconfident to accomplish anything on their own because they re so used to having someone come and take care of them. I think that a healthy balance will help the child understand that they'll be okay to cry sometimes and that their parents will be there if they need them.
DeleteQuestion: (3 points)
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree that computers can be programmed with syntax but not semantics?
Do you think it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Would you want your mind "uploaded"? What could go wrong? (LH p. 236 & 237)
Question: (1 point)
2. Is Rousseau right about desire? (WGU p.65)
Question: (1 point)
3. Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself? (WGU 11)
1. This topic is very interesting; due to, these points are valid either way. Personally, I feel that AI is already here because the computer or smart device (phone, tablet, etc.) will conform and perform in the concept of its programmer, then execute within the parameter’s set on how it was initially constructed to do within these constraints. However, at times these calculations change individual critical thinking habits, then the data contained by these programed systems being processing and thinking on its’s own, that’s when it’ll began to feel independent. Again, to me this shows signs of intelligence. This is an interesting but tricky question, because what’s the difference in raising an animal or even child. They too need to be programed or taught, learn from mistakes, or actions they take; good or bad, then begin to build its own memory bank on how to function individually. The only additional requirements would be food, guidance, protection, etc., i.e. a source of energy. Again, programs are man-made inputs but can be looked at as teachings to instill a something to perform a certain way of thinking. If an object or being can obtain and process any demand, it’s considered an intelligent entity. So, as far as computers being programmed with syntax but not semantics, I would not agree with this, it’s already taking place!
In my selfish way of thinking…Yes I believe one day that uploading a person’s mind into a computer database would be possible, but I wouldn’t want my mind uploaded into a computer or computer-based system; however, I feel my mind would love to be free but not locked up in confinement this way. So, in short, I wouldn’t be the best candidate for this type of scenario, because knowing myself my mind would become very standoffish/unwilling to adapt in this fantasy type world. Mainly, due to the realization I’m no longer my former self; then it would become a bad situation for my mind, and thus this system would crash very quickly.
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2. Yes, Rousseau is correct about desire. The world we live in evolves around this fact regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture, or wealth/status structure. One example: as a man, if you’re clean cut, well dressed, and decent looking; this will attract women, without you even saying a word. They desire you for all the wrong but maybe the right reasonings in their eyes. Take the same situation, if this man has all the same qualities but lacks an education, he could position himself into a well-paying job without having all or any of the qualifications required for this position. Furthermore, as humans it’s in ourselves’ to become better to increase the chances of being desired…most people want to be accepted and loved by the people they set those superficial goals to!
3. Yes, I agree it takes a lot courage to think for yourself…the courage comes from within when you speak appropriately not only for yourself in a verbal or physical confrontation, but in a situation where someone or a very important situation is the subject of the topic(s) that most people sway from. We as people can’t make this world better by being scared to speak the truth! I am a strong believer that effective communication via written or verbal is a positive way to resolve most issues a person(s) or culture(s) deal with today. Lastly, I was taught many years ago a closed mouth doesn’t get fed…meaning, don’t suppress your truths with doubts; and stand up for what is right; regardless of the consequences!
***Summary Posts 29Oct20*** 5 POINTS
Reading summary Computers and Uploading A person’s mind into a computer database (LH) and answered 2 additional questions from WGU.
Do you agree that it takes courage to think for yourself? 11
ReplyDeleteYes. I think that it takes one part courage and one part self awareness but I don't think that individual thought is possible without both of those qualities. I think that self-awareness has to come first because if we can see how ridiculous and wrong and flawed we can be, we can work to change and that change is where courage comes in. Choosing to work on yourself to be a better person is brave especially because the road to get to that person is difficult and it takes a long time. And not only that but you might find that your family and friends might not be very good people either, they might not be very good people in your life and they might not like who you turn out to be and it takes a lot of courage and strength to shed those bonds that just don't work anymore.
Is travel necessary for growing up? 13-16
I think that travel is necessary for most people to grow up. I think it's a good way to trigger a deeper understanding in yourself that leads you to individual thinking. I also think that travel is the best way to get out of the echo chambers that we are all in. You can step out of your comfort zone and see new places and try new things and meet people that you would never meet otherwise. Getting out into the world makes us better citizens of humanity and makes us more grounded in reality. I don't know if that's growing up because, honestly, kids call the world like they see it anyways and travel does inspire wonder which we attribute to being childish but I think that travel encourages growth more than anything.
Comment on Kimmie Steakley's post, comment on Kstephens' post, weekly essay above
DeleteOverall points= 50/50
I too agree that traveling is necessary for growth. Growing up my family traveled every summer, and it opens your mind to things you don't usually see at home.
DeleteIn what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
ReplyDeleteBefore I was born, my parents were supposed to be on the path of success as my mom was training to become a nurse and my dad was in his first year of law school. However, as soon as my parents found out about me, they were forced to give up on their dreams. Literally, my dad quit law school as soon as he found out to support my mom and me. When my parents moved up into the U.S., they wanted to give me better opportunities than they did both medically and education-wise. Right now, they work blue-collar jobs as my dad works as an equipment operator and my mom has a cleaning service along with my aunt. Both of them pushed me to get into the best schools along with the best grades as they wanted me to get a degree and have a great career. Throughout my childhood and teen years, I was struggling with what profession should I follow as I wanted my parents to be proud of me. For as long as I could remember, they would often tell me of their sacrifices and why I needed an education so I won't end up like them. Whenever I showed any interest in law or the medical field, they would get excited and try to push me in that direction. However, I decided not to pursue those paths as I couldn't handle the stress of dealing with legal fees or saving a person's life. As I got older, I felt like time was running out as I had no idea what to pursue and saw everyone in my class knowing what they wanted to do. All I wanted to do was to read books, write stories, and discuss important topics with people. Whether about real-world issues or opinions about the latest film/ tv in pop culture. However, knowing what I didn't have the luxury of being a starving artist and trying to pursue a career of being a novelist, I had to find a way to hone my skills as a writer and reader to provide a steady income. When I told my parents about the plan of becoming a teacher to support myself while trying to pursue my dream of becoming a writer, they were supportive of me as they thought I was being both practical yet determined. They taught me to be smart and to try to work within the system to support ourselves. However, I was also pushed to become determined as I wanted to be great or nothing. Despite everything being tossed up in the air and still uncertain about the future, I'm hoping that one day I will pursue my dreams as a writer yet also be able to support myself in this economy.
Section 11
DeleteWrote weekly essay: 3 points
Commented on Pedro Rojas: 1 point
Commented on Kimmie Steakley: 1 point
Overall Points: 50 points
I love your blog post, that is a very interesting perspective to hear about. That's good that you have the opportunity to further your education and get a very good job and follow your dreams. I always love to hear about where people are form, what they want to do and why they chose to do it.
DeleteThanks for sharing your perspective!
Do others make the most important decisions for you? 41
ReplyDeleteMaking an important decision requires making a wise thought to have the best possible outcome in whatever the case may be. If you are a person that is easily influenced by other opinions and thoughts, I believe that plays a big part on your important decision making. On the other hand, if you are a person that is independent and could care less of what others think important decision making does not require other’s judgment or point of view. In my opinion if you allow others to make your important decisions for you, they have some or all control in your future outcomes. Not saying that is bad thing, because although they make important decisions for you does not mean they are wrong and bad decisions. They can choose the right decision because they can know what is right for you or the best outcome for your future. That mainly applies to important decision making for minors. On adult important decision making some may have a great influence by others in the decisions they make, whether they make the right decision or not it can be based by others opinions or the thought of how it will affect your future along with how it will affect those around you.
Weekly Essay (+3)
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Total (25)
-Will Jesus return by 2050?
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very interesting question, because I am religious yes, but I also find it interesting to see what others think about this issue. Over the years, I have seen a lot of people observe bad things happening in the world and then make statements and posts that the end must be near, and that it is obvious that Jesus will return at any moment. As a believer, I personally believe that Jesus will have a 2nd Coming in the future and that there may be signs to precede it. This is a certainty, however I think it is pointless to be so fixated on predicting when it will happen, because the truth is, we will never know. People often quote the prophecy of Matthew chapter 24 to bolster the view that Jesus' return is imminent, but they have yet to mention verse 36 of that chapter, that states that no one knows when He will come back except for God. I do 100% agree that He will return, I don't think it is productive to try to find out when the day will be because we can't know. I tend to lean towards the Lutheran Church view mentioned in Fantasy Land, which is to not be so fixated and distracted by the day of which it will come, but also not playing it down in our minds and forgetting that it will happen someday. We can't know when it will be, otherwise that would affect our lives, faith and patience as believers. How many us were given chores to be done by the time our parents got home, and we did nothing all day, only to get a call that they are 5 minutes out. Because nothing has been done, we jump up and rush to get everything done as quick as possible before they get home so it looks like we've been working hard all day when they walk through the door. But we would already have the work done if we didn't know when they would come back. I believe this same principle applies to the return of Jesus.
As an also religious individual I agree with you statement completely. We will never know when he will return and it not up to us to try and figure it out. Your analogy at the end of your statement is extremely accurate.
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(5 pt)
Why do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons?
ReplyDeleteI mean, I think they're founded on our old world beliefs? In western culture the abrahamic religions reign supreme, and in those religions they usually hold the same opinion on Satan and demons so from like that perspective, yea I mean America is in the west, and since the west is more in tune with those religions it makes sense for America to believe in Satan and demons. Religion is also deeply engrained into any culture, and that coupled with the fact that back in the colonial days, the people that were coming to the Americas were far more religious than the modern day standard. I mean there was the Pilgrims, and people looking for religious freedom in general, for example like other branches of christianity that were viewed not so greatly in the eyes of the rest. But with those beliefs that date further back then the country itself, to me, it only makes sense that people in America still believe in them.
Do you think it will ever be possible to transfer minds into computers? Would you want your mind "uploaded"? What could go wrong? 237
Yea, I mean thats the goal isn't it. It's kind of the easiest way maybe to achieve immortality, which for some reason, is the pinnacle that everyone strives for. I mean looking at it as unbiased as possible, computers can generate any world you want, there are games out there that expand over many years with hundreds upon thousands of different things for content, so it could only serve as a reference to how advanced the future computers are, and what they're capable of making. Also no more illness, you can't get sick if you're a computer. I would probably do it, but I could see why people wouldn't, I mean there always is the risk that you lose the part of you that is human. There is always this debate on what makes a human human, because your body changes its atoms, so its not technically the same body, your mind ages, so its not technically the same mind, because you don't believe in the same things as you do as an adult, but I think surely becoming part of a computer completely dissolves the notion of being human anymore.
Accidentally left this in the comments section without posting it BUT if this goes through:
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This week 5/5 potentially
Total 45/45 potentially if not 40/45
correction: 50/50* or 45/50*
DeleteWhy do you think so many Americans believe in Satan and demons? 281
ReplyDeleteThis is a question that could possibly have many different answers based on someone's beliefs and studies. I would not consider myself the most religious person, but I obviously have heard people talk about Satan and Hell. I believe when people talk about Satan, they are using a figure of evil and darkness to help guide themselves to the right path. This correct path would be considered God’s light and positivity. The way that I look at this is many people use Satan as a psychological defense to make sure they know what actions or thoughts that they should avoid. I hear the sayings of, “An act of Satan,” or “That is a thought that Satan would think of.” Many say this in order to reassure themselves of a clear line between what is good and what is bad. Another reason I believe people believe in Satan is to help fill in a empty hole. The hole is not in the person, but it is in the thought of that there is good in the world and there is also a counteracting bad or evil that comes with the good. As time goes on we start to notice that there isn't always good in the world and many religious people would consider this bad to be demons on earth or Satan on earth. I personally don’t fear the so-called demons or Satana, but I do see why people use him to describe evil and darkness. I also believe that people just use demons or Satan as an excuse to relieve themselves of ana action they did. They do it to make it seem like they did not commit any unholy acts or thoughts.
Section 012
Weekly Essay+3
Responded to Anna Collins +1
Responded to Aiden Rose +1
Overall (45/50)
Do the passions for glory and luxury make us wicked and miserable ?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that having these passion make us wicked or even miserable. In some cases, having these passion drives people to work harder to achieve what they desire. I do agree though that they can create false needs. Having the newest technology or other material things is not an necessity, but come across as though it is. Seeing those who are in power with certain luxury items can make others feel as though they need them to feel important. I don't agree that the pleasure you get from buying expensive things is always a bad thing. If you've worked hard for what you have rewarding your self with something of luxury is rewarding. I feel as though everyone if influenced differently by glory and luxury. It just depends on the mind frame of the individual.
I like your view on this subject. I agree that having wealth and luxuries is good and makes people feel determined and challenged. But, sadly it can create a sense of wickedness or selfishness people did not intend on having.
DeleteWeekly Essay- 3pts
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Commented on Zoe Hovinga Post - 1 pt.
Do you believe the best time of life is between the ages of 18 and 28?
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe this. A lot of people correlate youth with “the best time of your life”, or more so all the new freedoms you get during that time- but the truth is i feel like your thirties-forties are the best time. In your thirties, you’re more likely to have had some success financially where as although it’s possible before then, a lot of people are still figuring out their career. Also, that time from 18-28, is hard. You’re an adult but you’re also not. You’re introduced to new freedoms which is nice but with that comes 103208 different responsibilities that you now also have. I feel like during your thirties you’ve got some sort of stability and you can take time to rekindle your old hobbies, and you have an overall better understanding about who you are. I know that at 18, I don’t think i’m anywhere near the best time of my life. You can also settle down in your thirties where as 18-28 there’s so much change happening and so much development. You’re brain doesn’t even fully develop until you’re 25, so it makes sense that things start getting better afterwards.
weekly essay- 3 points
DeleteYou have some interesting thoughts. I agree that those ages do not have to be categorized as the best time of your life, but rather I believe everyday should be lived out as the best day.
DeleteThese are likely the best days of our life because they are the peak of our physical preformance and motivation. Along with having a wealth of life descions such as college that will shape your life forever
DeleteIs it childish to expect the world to make sense? 114
ReplyDelete"It is reason that leads you to hold that the world should make sense. Not that it does..” It is interesting to ponder if reality is intelligible and if we can really make sense of anything. I think there is differentiation in the world being intelligible to itself and the world being intelligible to us. As humans, we may reason that we have grasped a concept, but truly we have no idea what is going on. Although some may think they know all, it is especially apparent in the world today, that there is much we as humans simply do not understand and cannot make sense of. The world and the reality we live in can be raw, daunting, exciting, scary, and simply overwhelming. In a way, I do think it is childish to expect the world to make sense. In the time of being a child, on the other hand, I do believe this is what we are meant to feel and think. Because of the innocence and ignorance children possess, I think it would be foolish to expect them to not want everything in life to make sense. But even at an early age, children start to understand that certain things in life are not coherent. As we live and grow up, we begin to understand the confusion, sadness, and emptiness the world can bring. But we also can notice the beauty of it in the uncertainty.
weekly essay: 3+
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commented on Jalen Dewalt: 1+
I believe we can only have so much of a grip on reality. We understand what we see but there is so much more to the world. There is a whole world living on a microscopic level that we can't see. science is not a tool for determining truth. Rather for determing what is false
DeleteWhat do you think Cicero meant by saying that philosophy is learning to die
ReplyDeleteThis is an easy answer for me. He is directly referencing the death of ego. Most of the philosphers were refrencing this in their writings. Bhuddism believe heavily in this idea. I believe this is very true due to my personal experiences. I have before stepped out of my ego while meditating. It is the begging of knowledge. In order to beable to experience this "ego death" it takes years of mediation and practice. This is the preperation that Cicero was mentioning. During ego death you lose all the things that make you unique. all your experiences and memories are gone. You don't recognize your own name. You come to an understanding that you are something beyond your ego. That there is a connection to all of us underneath the experiences that shapped our personality. It's a deeply humbling expereince. After an ego death experience you come back to a life you do not feel is your own. Philosophy is a preperation for this experience, and will allow you to reshape your bad habits and relearn how to live in this world.
essay 3pt
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anna collins 1pt