- Was Mill right about Bentham's account of happiness? Would you rather be a sad human or a happy pig? 139
- Was Mill right about the best way to organize society? 141
- Was Mill right about the importance of open discussion and free speech? 143
- What do you think of Huxley's reply to Wilberforce? 144
- Is Dennett right about Darwin's idea of natural selection? 146
- Darwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
- More on the Scopes Trial: re-visit the Fantasyland discussion from last week. Should the judge have allowed "my first landlord" and the other scientific experts to testify?
- If you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do? 152
- Do you agree with Kierkegaard that faith is an irrational "leap"? 154
- Kierkegaard was a Christian who hated the Danish church and reviled "christendom"... Was he a good Christian? 155
- Is the "subjective point of view all-important"? 157
- Was Marx right about history as "class struggle"? 159
- What do you think of "Marx's vision"? 161
FL
- Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
- Were Walt Disney and Steve Jobs great Americans? Have their fantasy worlds made life better? 153-4
- What do you think of Hugh Hefner's Playboy philosophy? 157 [See Carlin Romano, America the Philosophical 272f.]
- What do you think of Billy Graham? 166-7 Do we need a national ad hoc pastor-in-chief?
- Should "under God" be in the pledge of allegiance? Should small children be made to recite a pledge? Should any of us pledge blind allegiance to anything? 167
- Do people who don't like churches and religions need something like Esalen? 178
- Are you New Age? Do you believe you "create your own reality"? 180
- Did psychotropics make America more of a fantasyland, in a bad or a good way (or both)? 186
- Do you talk to your plants? 187
HWT
- Is it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
- If you pursue excellence (arete) in life will you be more likely to be happy? More or less likely to value happiness? What do these terms mean to you?
- Would you rather be Socrates dissatisfied or a fool satisfied? 249
- COMMENT: "Nurture makes actual what nature makes possible." 252
- Are "manners" important? 255
- Is Aristotle right about the "mark of virtue"? 257 About "the mean"? 259 Does the Confucian Doctrine of the Mean apply to philosophy itself, and some philosophers' tendency to over-emphasize "one aspect"? 261
- Should virtue expect a reward? 263
- What do you think is the best version of The Golden Rule? 264-5
- Do truly good people need a Golden Rule? 266
More DQs
- Name two or three of your favorite pleasures. Are any of them higher or better than the others? In what way? Are any of yours higher or better than those of a friend whose list includes none of yours? Why or why not?
- Is state paternalism ever warranted?
- Why don't we ever talk about state maternalism?
- What are the appropriate legal limits on speech and expression in a free society, if any?
- How would you reply to Wilberforce's debate question?
- What do you think was the best idea ever?
- Do you want a map of your own genome? Why or why not?
- Do you agree with Darwin that the subject of God is "too profound for human intellect"? Does it mean we should all be agnostic?
- What would you have done, in Abraham's position? Would you have doubted the "message" or challenged the messenger?
- Does it damage the parent-child relationship if Mom or Dad make it clear to the child that they'll always defer to the perceived instructions of a "heavenly father," even including murderous instructions? Does anything "trump the duty to be a good [parent]"?
- Would you ever do something you considered morally wrong, in the name of faith?
- Does taking a "leap of faith" make you irrational?
- How do you balance your subjective point of view with objectivity, and with the subjectivity of others? What role should inter-subjectivity play, in forming that balance?
- If you ever own a business will you pay your workers as little as possible and extract as much "surplus value" from them as you can?
- Is anything in history "inevitable"?
- Does religion make people more reconciled to oppression and exploitation, and less likely to revolt?
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
ReplyDeleteI defiantly watch tv, YouTube etc. much more than the average American, and play much more video games than the average. Especially with classes this semester loading me down, I don't have time to go out whenever I finish items I need to do for the day. So the little time I do have at the end of a night to release stress and wind down is spent playing a small amount of video games with friends. After a week of this the time begins to rack up. I also watch YouTube throughout the day when I have a small break in between classes or take a break from a assignment. Over the span of a week I believe it adds above the average.
I don't think I watch or play video games to much as most of my time is spent on school not allowing me to overindulge. I may play video games and watch YouTube more than the average American but I always prioritize school first and try to stay ahead. So while I play more I don't believe I play to much. I don't personally read for pleasure much anymore as getting into a book is very hard for me. My mind is centered around images and visually stimulating content to get my intrigue. So as I did read when I was younger, I cannot find as much pleasure in it anymore.
Is it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I believe both are necessary for positive self development, but having good principles forms good habits in my belief. You need to set a standard for what you want for yourself in everything you do in life. You must strive to meet it while staying in principle guidelines you've set for yourself. So if you want to get fit and you set your principles around living a healthy lifestyle, your habits will begin to form around these principles you've set for yourself. I follow a largely Nietzsche school of thought when it comes to this and believe you have to take control of your own life, otherwise someone else will do it for you.
"Defiantly" - ?
Delete"I don't have time to go out" - I don't understand. I find time to go out every evening before (but sometimes after) sunset to walk my dogs. That's time I choose not to devote to tv or video games or screens.
The pleasure derived from reading comes from actually reading. That takes time. How we spend our hours and days is how we spend our lives.
"you have to take control of your own life, otherwise someone else will do it for you" - someone or something
Section 7.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Mill. I would rather be a sad human than a happy pig. He makes a great point in saying a pig's satisfaction would not compare to the satisfaction a human can experience.
I mean, Marx wasn't wrong to think the way he did, of what he did. The thing about his final vision is that when the government got switched to that total communism, it would need 100% participation -- which is difficult. You also would need a sensible, selfless leader. Communism doesn't have a history of that. The idea is great on paper, though.
I don't talk to my plants. But I do play video games and watch youtube more than average I think. It gives me something to do; I can watch sports highlights, funny videos, or listen to music on there. Simple stress relief. Also, as previous references, I'd rather be a dissatisfied Socrates than a satisfied fool.
Fortunately those aren't our only choices. We can pursue happiness, in a human fashion.
DeleteI particularly like John Stuart Mill's Harm Principle. I am a huge advocate for individual freedoms. There is no reason that any human has the right to tell another human what they can or can't do. As long as you are not causing any harm or disturbance to public peace, there is no reason why there should be rules or laws against it. If I want to collect rain water from the sky, than that is what I will do. There are a million rules that govern our society here in America that tell you what you can eat, drink, smoke, take or do when most laws impact basic freedoms for no other reason than the fact that someone somewhere decided that they needed to put into existence a law. Basically, leave me alone as I leave everyone else alone and the people making the laws need to stop acting like adults are babies that can't care for themselves. What I choose to do to my own body or at my own home has no concern to anyone else.
ReplyDeleteSection-004
I agree, in principle. But the thing is, very few of our self-regarding choices impact only ourselves... especially once we have families and dependent children. We're not isolated, atomistic individuals. We're individuals in communities, and our communities are not self-sustaining. They require our mutual support. So I won't tell you what to eat, drink, etc., but I will urge you to contribute your share to support those in the community who need our assistance. Mill would too.
DeleteSection 7
ReplyDeleteDarwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
I think that the idea of God is too profound for the human mind to comprehend but because we are humans we try to make sense of things that don't make sense. I believe that's where faith comes from, believing in things that we do not understand only because they are good.
But wouldn't you agree that sometimes it's appropriate to just admit we don't know?
DeleteProphetess Turner, Section 4:
ReplyDeleteDoes religion make people more reconciled to oppression and exploitation, and less likely to revolt?
I believe that the misconception in the certain religions can result in people being more docile than they should be. I remember in fourth grade I threatened to punch someone who was teasing me. My teacher ( a christian who knew I was also christian ) pulled me to the side and asked me what would Jesus do, before explaining to me that the Bible says I should turn the other cheek. I pointed out to her that she was referencing the same Jesus who flipped tables in the church courtyard because it was unholy to be there on the Sabbath before also bringing up that David, one of the most fierce warriors for God, was a murderer. She never brought up turning the other cheek thing to me for the rest of the time I had her class. Though this is on a minor scale compared to what others believe, I do think it is an example of how religion can be weaponized to steal people's voices as well as their rights to stand for themselves. This is also why I feel as though, no matter what religion, it is important to read for yourself and question things because being spoon fed information is incredibly damaging in the long run.
The idea that an unjust status quo might be "god's will" can be stultifying. On the other hand, religion has emboldened many to fight for justice. It's all in the interpretation, isn't it?
DeleteSection 7
ReplyDeleteLH
1. Was Mill right about Bentham's account of happiness? Would you rather be a sad human or a happy pig? 139
- I do think that Bentham’s recount was accurate, all that counts are pleasurable experiences, no matter how they’re produced. I agree with Mill that I’d prefer to be a sad human than a happy pig rolling around in the mud.
2. Was Mill right about the best way to organize society? 141
- In Mills book “On Liberty” he describes how the best way to organize society was by giving each person space to develop as they saw fit. I think this is just the beginning of how society should be organized. I am not sure how obtainable this is, and every person’s requirement would probably be different. But further he goes on to explain how we should be free to live our lives as we please, and I couldn’t agree more.
3. Was Mill right about the importance of open discussion and free speech? 143
- Like Mill, I too think open discussion and free speech are a great benefit to society and help force people to think hard about what they believe. Everyone should be able to speak their mind freely without fear or prosecution (either by the people or the law).
4. Darwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
- It is too profound for our intellect regarding concluding on the issue.
5. If you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do? 152
- I would go seek psychiatric help immediately! In all honestly it would be terrifying. However, I do know that God doesn’t work like that. So, I’d be ore afraid of developing a serious mental illness.
FL
1. Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
- No, I don’t think I do compare to the average American. I do far more than I’d like though. I have noticed I hardly read for pleasure anymore, but I think that’s due to school.
2. Were Walt Disney and Steve Jobs great Americans? Have their fantasy worlds made life better? 153-4
- They were not great Americans, but I do think their fantasy worlds make life more enjoyable rather than better per say.
3. Should "under God" be in the pledge of allegiance? Should small children be made to recite a pledge? Should any of us pledge blind allegiance to anything? 167
- In some sense yes. Some things I believe are predetermined.
HWT
1. Is it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
- Neither. Yes, those qualities can help make someone a better person, but I know narcissists who have good/healthy life habits, as well as strong principles and they aren’t good people. I think those are some of the characteristics of good people.
1. If you agree with Mill's statement, you're effectively disputing Bentham's account. He had no quality distinction among pleasures, that was Mill's point.
ReplyDeleteFL 3. In what sense is it good to drum rote recitation of words whose meaning they can't understand in small children?
Do you agree with Kierkegaard that faith is an irrational "leap"? 154
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Kierkegaard on his views of faith. I think he examined it at a good angle and provided new perspective for me. It is a leap. It doesn't make sense to people or to myself all the time. As a Christian, I find myself looking at situations wondering how is this going to work out, but I have my faith to lean on. Some would say that's ridiculous or foolish, but to me it is where I find peace. It provides me with freedom to know that some things are out of my hands, but in the hands of God. I do agree that faith is different than belief and takes a different mindset. It is beyond something we can piece together easily and find a reason. It's not logical all the time or rational. It is the way I live my life, and it is not easy to have faith all the time. Even with that though, I can't imagine a life without faith in Jesus.
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Responded to questions for Feb 25th
Responded to questions for March 2nd
Responded to questions for March 4th
I enjoyed your presentation, and respect your faith. But, see my comment replying to William below.
DeleteAlso: thanks for itemizing your replies & comments. Take note, all who've not been doing that.
DeleteSection 8
ReplyDeleteIf you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do?
I wouldn't murder my child. Not only do I think I would not have the strength to do that but I also believe God to be a benevolent God. I couldn't imagine God asking me to take the life of my presumably innocent child knowing the affects of the resulting death.
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
I'm fairly confident that I watch more YouTube than the average person and I know that I play more video games than the average person. I do think I may play games too much as that time could be used better to be more productive and helpful to myself, but I do not let it get in the way of things I need to do or attend. I also don't read for pleasure. I did struggle with speech and reading when I was younger and went to specific classes that help improve those skills so I think that already might've contributed to my lack of reading for pleasure. I don't go out of my way to find books that I'll like but I'm not against completely against it.
Are "manners" important?
I definitely think manners are important. Manners were something that my parents drilled into me and I am very thankful for that. People really appreciate a thank you and acknowledgement of their actions. I don't see anything wrong with showing respect to people and being polite. From when I was younger and going to a friend's house, their parents would always be appreciative of my manners and thought it was very good of me.
I agree that manners are very important. We live in a society today that praises and values rudeness and selfishness. Being polite and using manners does not inherently mean you have to betray your personal wants or desires. Manners certainly make life more pleasant.
DeleteChristopher Hall Section 7 (1st reply)
"I couldn't imagine God asking me to take the life of my presumably innocent child" -- Nor can I imagine violating the sacred trust of the parental relationship for any reason, particularly not in response to a mysterious inner "voice"... A faith that violates the unconditional love of a father or mother, and the implicit absolute trust it fosters, is illicit and just plain wrong.
DeleteBut of course, Kierkegaard would say, that's an "ethical" and not a "religious" judgment. So much the better for ethics, on my view.
Section 8
ReplyDeleteWas Mill right about Bentham's account of happiness? Would you rather be a sad human or a happy pig? 139
I would rather be a sad human, he makes a good point saying even the best of a lower pleasure still isn’t as much as the worst of a higher pleasure.
Was Mill right about the best way to organize society? 141
Yes, I think it’s fair to let everyone live THEIR OWN life without anyone else telling them what to do, of course unless it could cause harm to others. Everyone is happier when they feel like they have the freedom to do what they want when they want.
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
I’m sure that I watch less TV than the average American, between school and hobbies I may have enough time to watch a movie a week. Maybe a episode of a show during lunch here and there. I think, in today's time, the smart phone is the new TV. But unlike the television you get notifications to get you to pick it up, recommendations of new things (news, updates, posts) to look at, drawing you to your phone. Next time you’re in public or with friends, pay attention to how often they AREN’T in the present moment interacting but in a trance state. Anything in excess is bad.
Is it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I think following strong principles will give you the good habits you aspire. Habits are something you gain over time but principles are like your core values. You get your habits, or break bad ones, based off your core values.
"Habit is the enormous fly-wheel of society," said Wm James, and a society of individuals who do not respect the value of good habits is a society in decline. It really is question, as you say, of "core values."
DeleteRenee Hooper Section 7
ReplyDeleteDarwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
I agree with the statement. And to my surprise I agreed with several theories presented by Darwin however, my interpretation doesn't line up with Darwin. Such as ‘evolution is a process’ I agree with the statement but believe that evolution is personal.
If you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do? 152
I trust that God has a reason for everything this is a very difficult decision to make and at the stage of my own faith at this moment, I would most likely disobey. I know that Abraham heard God and trust that God has a reason for everything. However, in context with story of Abraham who had a child in his late 90’s (maybe 100) he trusted that God will fulfill his promises. Abraham trusted and believed in God. I believe I am in school at my age pursuing a path that God has placed before me.
Is state paternalism ever warranted?
When it is directed to children, only for their good such as safety and values. I believe you should let a child be a child. I admire the causes his son John fought for and the fact he was a genius. However, I disagree with Mill's ‘experiment’ on his biological child or any child. Part of being an adult is socialization and if you were forced to ONLY read and study as a child part of your childhood was stolen by your parents desires for you not your individual desires.
What are the appropriate legal limits on speech and expression in a free society, if any?
Freedom of speech has to be equal to all. Freedom of speech has divided our country but freedom of speech should not fall into a set of laws it has to apply to ALL regardless the side.
"evolution is personal" - Not really,if we're speaking biologically and not metaphorically. Natural selection is no respecter of persons, or personalities, or of individual organisms regarded as individuals. It's simply a matter of fit between species and their respective environments.
DeleteIn personal terms we do speak of an individual's evolutionary journey, and in an extended metaphorical sense a person's growth in character and sensibility can be called evolutionary. But strictly speaking that's not what Darwin was talking about.
On the other hand, he did say "the vigorous, healthy, and HAPPY survive and multiply. Happiness is indeed a personal affair. So in that sense, evolution may be said to be personal for (some) humans.
Darwin is clearly wrong in this assertion if he is claiming its not a worthwhile pursuit. In the context of that passage he seems more to be saying that it needs to be approached with great reverence. “Like a dog contemplating Newton” was probably hyperbole.
ReplyDeleteI would not agree that the life’s work of Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal and Spinoza were ineffectual because the subject was too profound for their intellect. Much of the nature of truth has been revealed by speculating by these people and many others.
I would agree that knowing God’s mind is a complicated subject. If you presuppose there is no God then of course the whole subject of knowing God’s mind is nonsense. If you presuppose God does exist then you have to accept that you could only know God’s mind insofar as God chooses to reveal it. In that way, trying to have complete knowledge of God’s mind is “like a dog contemplating Newton.” However, discovering God’s mind to the extent it is accessible is the point of perusing truth. I think that’s what Darwin meant given proper context.
Overall, I think Marx, as the architect of communism, is unfairly criticized, especially in recent western history. In our effort to dismantle the idea of communism, people often fail to appreciate Marx’s ideas for the revolutionary take on the class struggle. We’re made to believe that his goal of the working class living equally to the rich is a sentiment most people would actually agree with today. Most evident in capitalist culture, it is obvious the working class is subject to far less stability than the rich. Identifying barriers and providing a possible solution has certainly shed light on legitimate struggles of the working class. I would certainly agree the cliche “haves and the have nots” permeates history. I also think, pragmatically, everyone agrees with Marx’s theories far more than they would admit. Without the stigma western culture has assigned to communism, the ideas that all humans should be treated equally has merit. We’re all looking for the best life we can create without the limitations of finances.
Christopher Hall Section 7
"Darwin is clearly wrong in this assertion if he is claiming its not a worthwhile pursuit." He's not. He just means the question of the existence of a god and a supernatural order cannot be conclusively resolved by human inquiry. He leans to an agnostic view, that the available evidence is not decisive. Atheists may agree--Bertrand Russell did--but he thought there was still enough evidence to support a statement of probability: "there is probably no god." And what if you're wrong, Russell? "Lord, you didn't provide enough evidence." And he didn't think faith was a rational substitute for evidence. Darwin was less assertive about that.
DeleteSection 4
ReplyDeleteI am most certainly on my phone more than I have ever been and it is understandable. I would like to change but I have to admit that I have become somewhat addicted. I don't find myself even watchin TV as much as I used to, in addition, I do not have access to a TV in my dorm. Cable, in my opinion, has become very unpopular these days since streaming sites have taken over the game.
My attention span has become so limited that I even struggle watching shows and movies on Youtube or Netflix anymore, so Zoom classes are very difficult for me.
I do not have access to any video games or consoles so I can't play them now and the only video games I have access to at home are the Wii ( which some people consider "not a real gaming console").
I used to also read for pleasure until college came and I have less free time than I thought. Before college, I bought a few books to read in my spare time, but when I am not in class or doing homework, I am on my phone AGAIN laying in bed.
I need to try to cut down on the time I spend on my phone, or at least cut down the time I spend on useless apps and spend more time talking to the people I am not around :)
Or, get the kindle app and form the habit of reading good books on your phone. Pretty soon you'll find yourself reaching for the old-fashioned kind, and sustaining your attention longer. Like anything else, the way to build an aptitude for reading is by reading. The more platforms the better, if we actually teach ourselves to use them.
DeleteI also feel as though it is a lot about the mentality. You can not open up a book and already not want to read it. I feel as though that is what I have been doing and I am trying to work on that.
DeleteKeylee Crutcher Section 8
ReplyDeleteDarwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
--If there is a god or something of that caliber, I don't think we would be able to come anywhere close to fully understanding how it works or why everything was created. I think it's like the analogy of a dog thinking of Newton, probably even less possible.
Do you agree with Kierkegaard that faith is an irrational "leap"? 154
--Yes, especially if you actually believe in the bible and that the bible accurately describes god.
Is the "subjective point of view all-important"? 157
--Yes, there's no objective view for all of humanity, and a subjective view over everyone holds no importance. At least a personal subjective view means actually something to each of us.
There's an intermediate stage, between pure objectivity and pure subjectivity: inter-subjectivity. That's the product of communication and conversation, of reading and hearing of the subjective experiences of others and making connection where you can. Inter-subjectivity is possibly as close as we can get to an objective view, but possibly it's enough.
DeleteI feel as though if there was a god our mind would most defiantly not be able to grasp the idea of him let alone his reasoning for everything that he has caused or created. He is far too complex for us to understand and maybe that it why it is easier for people to result to science rather than faith.
DeleteSection 8
ReplyDeleteWas Mill right about Bentham's account of happiness? Would you rather be a sad human or a happy pig? 139
---I would rather be a happy pig than a sad human. I don’t think there is such a thing as a higher or lower pleasure.
If you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do? 152
---I obviously wouldn’t kill my child. I wouldn’t believe that voice was God because I don’t believe God would tell me to do that.
Are you New Age? Do you believe you "create your own reality"? 180
---I am, and I do. But there is so much variation in the beliefs of “New Age” people. With creating your own reality, I’ve recently seen a lot of people around my age talking about manifesting things, and I don’t agree with a lot of the things they say, which makes me very frustrated.
Are "manners" important? 255
---I think some manners, like saying thank-you, are important because they help build relationships, but other things, like using “good table manners” aren’t important.
"I obviously wouldn’t kill my child. I wouldn’t believe that voice was God because I don’t believe God would tell me to do that." Right answer!
DeleteI TRY to contribute to the creation of OUR reality. Creating my own seems isolating and self-centered, if the phrase means anything remotely literal. But if it just means that how we think about things conditions how we experience them, well, that's just good common sense and not so New Agey after all, I'd say.
Section 3
ReplyDeleteHere is my project https://www.slideshare.net/secret/z7b04ZaroWEbfj
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
I only really watch Netflix when I am doing work so my brain doesn’t wander off and daydream. I also am a film minor so Movies come in the form of pleasure and work. After watching so many movies and having to find their faults, lens angels and judge the screenwriting methods. I may watch a tad too many movies, but I usually am doing homework, or sewing, painting, or even cleaning. I read more for pleasure than I watch movies. This year I have already read 8 books, the pages vary between 400-600, since January. As a young kid, I was not able to be that active due to illnesses, so I had and still have a strong love for reading.
Is it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I think both are necessary. You need to set a goal for what you want to do in life and what you want to become. In order to develop character in something, you must first recognize the difficulties. If you're having trouble with modesty, look for tools that can help you understand and practice how to be more gracious. Human beings are self-possessing, self-governing, and self-determining since they are body/soul unities. Body behaviors are self-possessing, self-governing, and self-determining. I volunteer for the majority of my summers, and it always helps me reset my mental health.
Volunteering is both therapeutic and socially responsible. Good choice!
Deletesection 7
ReplyDeleteIs it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I think both forming good habits and following strong principles helps a person to build their character and become a good person. If you only form good habits I think you can be a good person, but you may not continue to build your character that way. Adding strong principles to good habits really helps a person grow.
If you pursue excellence (arete) in life will you be more likely to be happy? More or less likely to value happiness? What do these terms mean to you?
I think the pursuit of excellence is something that can affect people on an case by case level. Some people find meaning and enjoyment in striving to grow better and like the pursuit of excellence because it helps them grow and keep getting better. However, some people see the pursuit of excellence as something that crushes creativity and forces them into a robotic mindset of perfection oriented achievement. Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean it doesn't hold value, and I think that there is beauty in imperfection. Progressiveness I find is more important. You may not achieve full perfection, but you can always improve upon things as you go along.
"beauty in imperfection" - Yes indeed. Striving for progress (personally and socially) can be a beautiful, life-enhancing/affirming, deeply meaningful way to live. "The nectar is in the journey," said one of my favorite philosophers (John J. McDermott).
DeleteMarim Sameer (3/9)
ReplyDeleteSection 7
Discussion answer/ weekly essay
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
I used to always watch tv and be on technology so much when I was younger just because I could not leave my house as often. My mom would be strict about me going out. I had no other choice really. This most defiantly had a huge impact on growing up. I was more introverted. I would result to my phone for comfort of I ever feel weird or awkward in a certain situation. This also caused me to read less. I hated being told to read as a kid. It made me not want to do it. I saw it as not being as fun as being on my phone since it was assigned. This defiantly had a huge impact on me because until this day I cannot read for pleasure. I would really love to, but I personally just do not see the fun in it. however, things did change over time when it came to n=me and technology. I was able to go out more growing up and just learned to value my time out and enjoy it rather than being on my phone. Now I am hardly ever on my phone. However, all my friends hate it. They all say I am the worst texter they have ever met. I will take forever to reply. Frankly i do not see that as being an entirely bad thing. I learned to manage my time on a phone, and I think that is great especially for mental health.
Do you agree with Kierkegaard that faith is an irrational "leap"? 154
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I do not agree with the statement that Faith is an "irrational leap". Faith can mean so many things to everyone. Me being a Christian I put faith in God and the fact that He has a plan for me. I do not believe that to be irrational at all. Maybe it is because I am bias towards my religious faith, maybe it is based on the way I was raised. There are so many factors that can contribute to one's faith and it is impossible whether to tell if it is irrational or not.
Now, looking at the example of Abraham I do not think that was an irrational leap either. He had a vision telling him to sacrifice his son. He knew that was what God wanted from him and he figured he better do it. Saying that it could have been a hallucination defeats the purpose of faith. If Abraham were to doubt what he saw then he wouldn't be faithful, that is what Faith means. If you see a message from God, you don't doubt it. There are some things that people will say "well God told me to do this" or "God came to me in a dream" but that is when we have to differentiate between faith and excuses.
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
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I fell as though I do not utilize my television much at all when I am in school unless of course I have free time or I have to watch something for my school work. In short I do not feel as though I overuse or watch too much television at all. In my case it is quite the opposite. I do read a lot in my free time. At first I didn't read much outside of a classroom setting but coming to college since my freshman year I really found a love for studying health and history in human nature. Since my first year of college I have slowly built my library from home that I now read from and reference when I research better health and human history.
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
ReplyDeleteI actually don't watch TV as much because I get really busy in my everyday life, but I do watch TV and Youtube in my free time, which is rare. I don't really play video games, but when I want to do something I watch my crime shows or Kdramas, and even when I get bored of that, I read. I've always loved to read, even when I was little I was known for being a bookworm to the point I would read in class and ignore my classwork, and teachers' punishment was to take my book away from me. So yes, I do read for pleasure.
What do you think of Billy Graham? 166-7 Do we need a national ad hoc pastor-in-chief?
Honestly, I feel like Billy Graham was the last honest and God-fearing preachers out there. All the time, I'm hearing about a Christian super mega church pastor that is caught in a sex scandal or inappropriate money affairs, that sometimes I think what are people going to think about Christians if this continues? Another thing is that Billy Graham did not care if what he preached stepped on few people toes, he knows that everyone is not going to like and accept his message so he still preached it anyway. I would say he was the only one to have guts to share the truth. I don't believe in the words of the millionaires pastors because they say things that they think people want to hear, and not really the truth. I don't think that we should elect a national pastor, because we all have the Bible and we all have access to Jesus now, we can learn for ourselves.
Darwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect.Agree?
Yes, that is what makes us different from God. God is the highest divine being and we are His creations, we cannot even comprehend a tiny fraction of His thoughts and ways. God can do the impossible, and even when He showed people in the Bible, there were still people who didn't believe in Him. There are no explanations for the natural phenomenons that occur in our everyday world, but my only answer would be "God." The devil wanted to know how God did things and become higher than him, that was his sin and caused him to be kicked out of Heaven, so if a former angel cannot understand, we most definitely cannot understand the infinite subject of God in our finite human brain.
Sydney Davis
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Darwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
I agree with this statement, because God is suppose to be considered all knowing. Therefore there is no possible way for us to even begin understanding God or anything that he might know. I don't even think that if there were definitive proof where if someone came forward and said "Yes God is 100% real here's the evidence" People still wouldn't believe it. Even those that would agree and believe in God still wouldn't be able to fully comprehend the extent at which God actually is.
ReplyDeleteWas Mill right about the importance of open discussion and free speech? 143
I believe that Mill was right about the importance of open discussion and freedom of speech. It is human nature to share your thoughts and opinions. I like how Mill thinks that it forces people to think hard about what they believe in which I find to be accurate. Having freedom of speech enables people to dig deep and consider all aspects of their beliefs.
Darwin said the subject of God is too profound for the human intellect. 151 Agree?
I do agree with Darwin’s idea that the subject of God is too profound for human intellect. The concept of a mystical/holy figure that does not obtain human characteristics is quite difficult to comprehend. A figure that is all-powerful, controls everything, is neither living nor dead, among other things is too complex for the human brain to understand. We can try our best, but faith is faith for a reason. God wants his followers to blindly trust him and accept that we do not know everything as he does.
If you heard a voice purporting to be God, telling you to murder your child, what would you do? 152
If I heard a voice purporting to be God, telling me to murder my child I would not follow through. The God I believe in would never ask such an evil thing. He is love. Yes he wanted you to trust him, but he would not ask to take the life of an innocent child. I would most likely believe this voice to be Satan.
Section 7
ReplyDeleteDo you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
I think I watch about the most as the average American. It does feel like too much though. I really enjoy reading, but it is much harder to concentrate these days and even to find the time since I am so busy with college and work.
Should "under God" be in the pledge of allegiance? Should small children be made to recite a pledge? Should any of us pledge blind allegiance to anything? 167
I don’t think so. Church and state are supposed to be kept separate and having mentions of God everywhere seems very hypocritical. I don’t think people should swear blind allegiance to anything, especially not children who don’t understand what they are saying.
Log:
-Answered questions on 3/4 post
-Answered questions on 2/24 post
-Answered questions on 2/18 post
-Weekly Essay on 2/4 post
-Answered questions on 2/2 post
-Answered questions on 1/28 post
Ash Warner Section 7
ReplyDeleteIs it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I believe there should be a healthy balance between both. I believe you should develop good habits based off of strong principles.
If you pursue excellence (arete) in life will you be more likely to be happy? More or less likely to value happiness? What do these terms mean to you?
Depends on how you view excellence. For some its breaking records, for some its amount of money, for some its how many lives they’ve touched. I feel like for most people they have to sacrifice a lot of happiness to be successful in the world we live in. Excellence to me is whatever you excel at.
Haven Word,section 4
ReplyDeleteIs it more important to form good habits or to follow strong principles, in order to build your character and become a good person? Or both?
I believe i would like to have both. I am the type of person that needs stability and i feel as though my character is of that in many ways.
Do you watch TV (and YouTube, Netflix, etc.) and play video games as much as (or more than) the average American? 151 Do you think you watch too much? Do you read for pleasure?
ReplyDeleteI do watch some TV occasionally but I would not say I do as much as the average American. With school, work, and other responsibilities to deal with I don’t really have time to watch a new show.