Please pick on the following quotes to expand upon and explain what you think it means in a more profound sense to you - or in other words, how do you think this quote can apply to your life or your world? Minimum of 150 words about the quote and how it applies to your life. Due Monday, Dec. 1st.
1. "Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up". ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
2. "Men are probably nearer the central truth in their superstitions than in their science." ~Henry David Thoreau
3. "He who has seen present things has seen all, both everything which has taken place from all eternity and everything which will be for time without end; for all things are of one kin and of one form." ~Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia site.
5. "There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers." William James, American Pragmatist philosopher & psychologist (1842 - 1910)
6. "Philosophers say a great deal about what is absolutely necessary for science, and it is always, so far as one can see, rather naive, and probably wrong." Richard Feynman American educator & physicist (1918 - 1988)
7. "We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death." Robert Ingersoll, American agnostic.
8. "History is fables agreed upon." Voltaire, French Enlightenment writer.
9. "Do you know the secret of the true scholar? In every man, there is something wherein I may learn of him; and in that I am his pupil." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Quotes #1-4 came from the Quote Garden - http://www.quotegarden.com/philosophical.html
Quotes 5 and 6 came from the Quotations Page - www.quotationspage.com/subjects/philosophy/
Quotes 7 and 8 came from Said What? -http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/philosophers.php
Quote #9 came from The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant.
Katie Rothenberg
ReplyDelete3rd hour
11/25
"Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up". ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
I feel that this quote shows that things like war, which are huge at the time they are taking place and also elections, which seem so big and important, are very small and short lived when you look at a big picture, and really won’t even matter that much in 20 years from now, because they are big excitements but aren’t major signs of progress. The daily work that average people do, the work that never stops, people always constantly doing their jobs is what adds up and is very important in the big picture. The daily work adds up for real progress. The daily work is not a big excitement, and it doesn’t do a lot in a fast time, but it goes slow and steady, and it lasts. The daily work since the beginning of man adds up and shows what man has done with the world to bring it to its present state.
"History is fables agreed upon." Voltaire, French Enlightenment writer.
ReplyDeleteLast year in AP Lang, we were required to read George Orwell’s 1984. In 1984 the country is in a never ending war and the government controls everything. Each time there is a change in the war the government rewrites history to support the change. For example when their enemy changes to their ally, they change history to make it so the enemy has always been their ally.
This quote reminded me of 1984. When I read 1984, the idea of the government controlling history scared me. There is really no way to prove what happened hundreds of years ago. Once everyone who witnessed an event is dead, there is no one left to prove or disprove what happened. At this point everything is left to writers to accurately report the events to the future.
The quote, "History is fables agreed upon," points out that there is no one living can definitely prove history. There is the possibility that what is seen as the actual history did not happen. While I don’t think our government has rewritten our history, the possibility of this happening is scary.
Megan
3rd hour
Blog #9
ReplyDeleteTJ Hyland
3rd Hour
I chose to expand upon the quote "There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers." I believe that this quote reflects on how diverse people’s opinions are. In theory, Philosophers are all trying for the same goal, which is to answer the questions no one knows the answers to. Questions such as why we are here, or what is our purpose in life, are frequently asked. All philosophers try to answer these enigmas, but in actuality all they are doing is giving their opinion. For a religious man, the purpose of life may be to serve God, but to a businessman, the purpose of life could be to strictly make money and climb to the top of the corporate ladder. In actuality, most people have different opinions on all of the questions philosophers are asked. I do believe that philosophers answer these unanswerable questions better than the normal man; however, to say that the philosophers answer is not opinion would be wrong. Some philosophers agree upon the answers of life’s mysteries, but in general, they all have different stances as to why we are here. Thus, every philosopher tries his or her best to answer the questions that consume the human mind, but typically, each philosophers answer is different. They all contradict each other.
"History is fables agreed upon." Voltaire, French Enlightenment writer.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this statement is humorous and unsettling at the same time. That is because it is very true. Think about it in your daily life, people are always trying to make themselves look better and forget the wrongs that they have done. So why wouldn’t this be true for history as a whole? Was Hercules actually the god-like figure that he is portrayed to be? Or was he a very skilled fighter and hero that had his stories told so many times that they were blown up so large that people began to actually believe that he was a god. The latter seems more likely to me. So then what does that tell about all of our history, I do believe in history I think that at this point in time our facts are checked so thoroughly that there is no way for someone to get away with what Hercules, Achilles, and others did. At the same time though we should be wary of the older texts and older histories that weren’t thoroughly checked, and not believe everything we read.
Kate G. 3rd Hour
ReplyDelete5. "There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers." William James, American Pragmatist philosopher & psychologist (1842 - 1910)
The idea presented behind this quote is not only relevant for the philosophical world, but also for the worlds of science, government, or even humanitarian issues. As a society everything that is put in front of us, any proposed truth, should be questioned. This quote says is that philosophers should question one another and find a new view.
This contradicting should occur among authors, scientists, politicians. Without this questioning there would be no new ideas or discoveries. If everyone one was content with whatever was offered to them as truth the world would be comparable to the world in A Brave New World, a world where everyone was controlled and all believed whatever was said. All of that is the consequence of a society ceasing to question. I know the thought of a robotic world seems a little far-fetched, but without challenging there would be no growth
The biggest reason I like this quote is because I would love to see the look on the guy’s face that asked the question. Just see how stupid he felt after asking it when Alejandro Jodorowsky just drank the water. Another reason is that this quote really applies to my life because I live a kind of non caring life, but I still care about a lot of things. What I mean to say is that if someone asked me this same question I would do the same thing drink the glass of water. I would do this because the whole half full half empty thing representing how you look at life is just stupid I think. I look at it as if something bad happens it happens if something good happens than great and just act regular not all down about something bad or super happy about something good. This also helps me a lot because I am never on a bad mood or a super happy annoying mood. This is why I think you should just live your life how you think you should not having a random glass of water test that doesn’t matter at all.
ReplyDelete"We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death." Robert Ingersoll, American agnostic.
ReplyDeleteThis quote explains how people are too shy in our society to speak out and say what is really on their mind. We are afraid of the consequences that may come with our actions, so many just don’t say what they want to. People need to voice their opinions and not be afraid of what will happen to them, because others will be glad that they spoke out. The world we live in today is very accepting, but you still have to be careful of what you choose to say if you don’t want to receive a consequence. This quote is appropriate for me because I am not normally the one who says what is on their mind because I am afraid of someone lashing out on me and putting my words down. I need to learn to not be afraid to speak up and say what I want to without worrying. Voicing your opinion can easily make a difference to someone else because they may feel the same way as you do. Learning to not be afraid is very important because the world needs strong people and I hope to gain the courage to not care what others think.
Nicole 3rd hour
Quote # 4
ReplyDeleteFilmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky is an absolute genius. I love his thought process on this quote. Instead of answering the question, he just drinks the water and says no more problems. I think this is one of my favorite quotes because it describes how simple life can be. I also think this quote is very sarcastic, which makes it great. He goes the opposite way of the question and creates his own way to answer the question, or solve the problem. This quote makes me look at life a little different now. What really gets me is he says “someone showed me a glass of water that was half full” which means he did answer the question, he stated “half full” so even though he took a different route he does look at the glass as it half full.
"Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up". ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
ReplyDeleteIn my mind this quote means that what one does in their own daily life is what really matters in the long run. What you make of your life is what makes the difference in the future. Wars and elections are too big because they’re something that one person can’t control all by themselves. They are also too small because in the long run it really won’t matter who won the war or who became president because it’s all about what we make of it. If people can get through whatever challenge comes their way then that’s all that really matters. Although wars have the ability to change how people live it’s if you continue living and being an honest person that matters. It’s what one does day in and day out and how they behave that really affects things, although it may seem that it’s the wars and elections that make lasting impressions.
-Lauren, 3rd hour
This quote explains a person’s outlook on life. While some may view the world in a more pessimistic light, others may see it in an optimistic way. By “drinking the water”, he is saying that people look far too deeply into things instead of just living their life. I also think that this quote shows how some questions can’t really be answered and by trying to examine them only causes problems. He is ignoring the question by not allowing it to be asked. I think that this quote applies to my life because I don’t think of the glass being “half full or half empty”. I think that there are times where I am pessimistic and times where I am optimistic and it all depends on the circumstances. I think it is natural to feel different things and it’s impossible to be one way all the time. Some days the glass may feel half full and others it may seem half empty, but in the end it doesn’t really matter. I would rather see the world in all different ways instead of one way that may seem “better” or “worse” to others.
ReplyDelete-Hilary B. 3rd hour
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem."
ReplyDeleteI feel that this quote says that you either view things in life as pessimistic optimistic or carefree. In this quote the person asking the question suggests that people either view life as optimistic or pessimistic. The person who drank the water and answered the question suggests that he views life carefree. So either man can face his issues in a negative way, try to view them in the most positive way possible, or simply eliminate them, not really caring about what comes his way because he’ll find a way around it, which in some cases is very wise and in some is very immature. Simply eliminating them can be wise because you won’t worry about the little things in life that you don’t need to worry about. Simply eliminating them can be immature because you ignore important details in life that could be an importance to you.
Tyler Howe
2. "Men are probably nearer the central truth in their superstitions than in their science." ~Henry David Thoreau
ReplyDeleteI think that this is very true and for me at least this would explain a lot. We look at science and we see that they have been telling us for years that the world started from a big explosion. But I do not see how this makes any since I personally think that we live in a fake world something like the matrix and that we do not know how it started because it never really did start and it does not really exist. This on the other hand is a superstition and has no science to back it up but for all we know this could be way closer to the truth. I guess none of us really know what the truth is but in my opinion the scientific truth is pointless and does not actually prove anything. Also is the beginning of the universe even the central truth they are talking about or is it something else. I don’t know that either but it still seems to me that the truth is more likely superstition. What is science anyways except a superstition with evidence that man thinks is real and meaningful?
Chris
3rd Hour
To me this quote explains the way people view different things in their life. Are you positive or negative, or do you just not care either way. The glass of water is just an example; by the answer a person gives about that glass of water is what truly shows how they look at things in their life. “I only have half a glass left”, “I still have half a glass left”, even those these two examples seem to look so similar the answers are completely different. But then there are those people that just don’t care about the water as long as they have it. The way you view things says a lot about your personality. Do you see yourself as the person who realizes that they have ten extra minutes to finish up this project, or are you that person that says “man, I only have ten minutes, that’s barley any time? When reading this quote I realized that I tend to look at things in a negative way, even though this is just a little example it makes me want to change the way I view things. I want to look at things in a more positive way. To me everything that is negative can in some way be turned around to be more positive.
ReplyDeleteErin D
3rd hour
"History is fables agreed upon."
ReplyDeleteI was always told to never automatically believe what other people tell me. Instead, I was urged to research the facts for myself. In doing this, you can run into a problem when dealing with history. History is supposed to be written (or carried on in another way) records of people, events, and landmarks, etc. The problem is that if you were not alive to witness these reports, how can you ever be sure of the facts? My whole life I’ve been told about the Roman Empire and the forefathers of this country, but I cannot say that I was there to be sure of it. Who even writes our history anyway? When a singular group of people takes it upon themselves to write the history of everyone and everything, they will probably decide to write it from their point of view or in a way that benefits them. I can imagine how many things are excluded from our history books alone. So, when I look at this quote, I see the truth. History is a collection of passed down stories that many people agree with. I’m not saying that everything we believe about the past is false, but I’m just opening the possibility that some things might not line up with reality.
By staying true to your opinion, you essentially close your mind to opposing viewpoints which could hold valuable information. I believe that if we hold too tightly to our view points, we create a mental blockade that shutters our minds from information that we don’t want to hear. By living in a world guided by the thought process guided by quote 7, we wouldn’t live in the world we live in today. Our lives would be profoundly different because we wouldn’t accept new trains of thought, such as religion, evolution, Democracy; all these different thoughts grew out of the need to change the way our society functioned. But if we don’t allow for change by holding onto the belief that, “We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death,” our society wouldn’t be able to gain the benefits of our mistakes and we would be locked in the endless struggle to convince others, as the human race had in the past through wars like the crusades, in which we fight to enforce our beliefs on others.
ReplyDeleteThroughout history many different individuals have attempted to answer the age old question of the meaning and value of life. These people, known as philosophers, have often tried to one up each other with their assertions, claims and rhetoric. They also try to take their work to a deeper and deeper level. Plato was not content with simply analyzing Socrates’ questioning of society, but felt the need to offer a new “optimal” version of civilization in The Republic. After the dark ages virtually ended all western thought, the Renaissance brought about a new period of mind based competition. Heidegger was not happy with Nietzsche’s rejection of morality, but wanted to discover the very basis of calculated thought. Foucault wished to prove the impact of capitalism touched every aspect of society, and Spanos sought to create an unquestionable link between the war in Vietnam and American imperial conquests and the American psyche. These people have not chosen to expand the depth of one another’s criticism, but only increase the breadth of the topics being critiqued. They have not been to leave some stones unturned and some questions unanswered, which has empirically caused them to be portrayed in a negative light.
ReplyDeleteThis negativity at the discourse of many philosophers is what Richard Feynman is attempting to portray in quote number six. Philosophers have recently begun to expand their work into the realm of true, provable science, with less than positive results. There is little that can discredit a profession more then to question years of accumulated data, research and public opinion. Philosophers are often perceived as going out of their way to “bash” scientific understanding or challenge scientific proof with awkward sentence syntax and creative word and phrases (metaphysics, deontology and Übermensch all come to mind). The problem with this, though, is that people rarely understand the point a philosopher is attempting to make, and thus resort to normal, scientific mindset when evaluating a claim.
The solution to this is that philosophers should acknowledge the clear division between the realm of science and the realm of thought. They should avoid challenging assumptions which can be proven. They, for their own good, should stick to topics dealing with the brain, the mind, the soul, the person, the being, but avoid questions of the scientific process or if we can truly believe what we are taught. Stating that the earth can’t be turning because I don’t think it is turning and I don’t feel it turning doesn’t refute years of research, it just makes a person look unintelligent. Until philosophers take this little piece of advice people will probably continue to agree with Richard Feynman’s assertions of the value, and correctness, of philosophers.
Ramius Maniere-Spencer
ReplyDeleteWickersham/3rd Hour – Honors Philosophy
Blogger #9
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia site.
This quote talks about the infamous rhetorical question: “Is the glass half full…Or half empty?” The question is often associated with evaluating a person’s mindset and general outlook on life, simply saying that people that say the metaphorical “glass” that represents life is half-full are happy, light-hearted people, and the opposites would say the “glass” was half empty, representing pessimism and discontentment in that person’s eyes. I once upon a time used to say this glass of sorts was half-empty, but have since then changed my position to “It doesn’t matter the amount of water in the glass as the water inside is inevitably poisoned” to properly represent this dog-eat-dog world in where people will befriend and take advantage of anyone vulnerable for personal, selfish gain.
On the other hand, I could easily change my position back to “half-empty” with a logical backing. Glasses are meant for drinking out of; that is their primary function. If a glass has half of its available volume filled with water, it is more likely than not being drunken out of, and thus being emptied of its contents, meaning it’s already “half-empty”. There are only a few logical reasons to say it would be half-full, which would all require holding something else in the glass for no other benefit than decoration; a pretty sight, and nothing more.
Therefore, if we were to relate these newly evaluated responses against a person’s mindset once more, we’d find much different results; instead of just a positive, happy-go-lucky attitude for the “half-full” people, we’d find that they also seem to enjoy useless beauty; flowers in a glass half-full with water, or something similar. Also, instead of just a negative, pessimistic view of life from the “half-empty” people (myself included) we’d in fact find they seem to have a need to finish and end things, and to bring to completion to objectives, which in this case, would be drinking the water. If I were to apply this to myself, I would find it’s very accurate as I have a definitive work ethic and have a need to complete things.
David Sherman – 3rd Hour
ReplyDelete2. "Men are probably nearer the central truth in their superstitions than in their science." ~Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau does not deny that science reveals truth about the workings of the world. He is claiming that science cannot give us “the central truth,” a fundamental understanding of the nature and meaning of life. For this we need, as Thoreau says, “superstitions”, beliefs held on faith. According to Thoreau, there is a place for spiritualism outside of empiricism. The quote further suggests that mankind’s time is perhaps better spent in “superstitions” and in searching for “central truth” than pursuing science, which can give us facts about the universe, but does not try to teach us about its meaning.
By choosing “superstitions” rather than, say “faith”, Thoreau criticizes the negative attitude connoted by the word. He proposes that rejection of supposed “superstitions” is ironic in that those rejecting the beliefs in favor of science are actually throwing away the more valuable of the two. Thoreau, a transcendentalist, hopes to use the soul to find truth rather than science, which he views as empty.
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote for a variety of reasons. First of all, I would love to see the reaction of the guy asking this question. Also, I feel I can really relate to this quote. I like to think that I live a somewhat care free life. I would love to be bold enough to answer a question like this how Alejandro Jodorowsky did. There are certain things that people are supposed to care about, and then there are the things society have decided that they should care about, that may not necessarily be important at all. Fashion, cars, and other material possessions are generally are large concern for people, and yes, I will admit I do care about this maybe more than I should, but in actuality there are more important things to worry about in your lifetime. In drinking the water, Alejandro was basically saying “why does this matter?” and that is a much more intriguing answer than if his answer would have just been there generic half full or half empty answer. I’ve never known who originally made this quote, but I have heard it before, and It has always impacted me, and its defiantly something to think about.
-Ryan Day
-4th hour
5. "There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers." William James,
ReplyDeleteI believe this quote to be partially true. Philosophers should come up with new and fresh ideas that nobody has come up with before. These ideas should make people think. In order to do this, the ideas do not have to contradict with other people’s ideas however. These new ideas can build off other ones or be totally different but they should not have to directly contradict. On the other I hand I do believe that a philosopher’s main purpose is to make people think and as a result of their thinking maybe change their ways to improve mankind. The beauty about philosophy is that everyone can be a philosopher if they want to by discovering and introducing their findings and ideas to others. Because it is true that many people can be philosophers then they can do other things as well. This quote seems a tad narrow minded to me but I am not exactly sure if this was the intention.
KAELIN ROBERTS
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky
ReplyDeleteAlejandro Jodorowsky has the best quote on this page. His commentary is perhaps the most philosophical of them all. Jodorowsky addresses this overly analytical attitude that some people tend to have. He tries to show that not everything needs to be analyzed for a deeper meaning, and that some things are just better to be left alone. I can appreciate his quote because, in life, people always try to analyze everything that happens, when sometimes the answer is simply “just because.” I would rather listen to a man who is more realistic in his thinking than someone who is constantly telling me to look for the deeper meaning. I also like that Jodorowsky actually did answer the question, because when he tells his story, he says that the glass is half full. It’s also interesting that he doesn’t address the fact that he answers it, because it proves his point that, in the end, it doesn’t really make a difference.
Josh Thomas
ReplyDeleteHonors philo
4th hour
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky
I really enjoy this quote mostly due to the fact that it’s a very simple solution to an age old problem. But why did he drink the water? I believe that this Alejandro dude drank the water not only due to his thirst but also because the human brain is hard wired to avoid conflict. But on the other hand his knowledge might be so great that none of us can truly start to comprehend what he is trying to say. In the quote he says he is handed a glass of water that is half full so in the quote is the answer to the original question. So the question stands why did he drink the water? Overall I believe that the glass half full/empty is a load of bull that people talk about just so they can talk. If you say it’s full you are an optimist. If you say the glass is half empty you’re a pessimist. However it is also quite possible that he drank the water to give the clear message that he wanted this person to “piss off”.
Ben Despard
ReplyDelete“One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky
The wise man does not dwell on that which cannot be known or ascertained, i.e. is the glass half full or half empty?… rather, he drinks the glass of water to rid himself of the quandary. Human nature is to ignore the problem, over solving it if the problem is too difficult. If the phone rings and it is your ex boy/girlfriend calling you and wants to talk about why you broke up, in most cases you will just let the answering machine take the message so you don’t have to deal with it. These days, people will talk via the internet or text then talk face to face because it is easier and less personal. Some say (rather jokingly) that the solution to the problem in the Middle East is just to Nuke it. This is just another example of the American solution to a hitch in the road. What better way to solve the problem? Eliminate it.
"History is fables agreed upon." -Voltaire
ReplyDeleteThis quote is saying that history is never definite because there is no definite way of knowing what happened in the past. Events can be misinterpreted and stories can get more complicated than they were originally. There is really no way of knowing who the first president was or who built the first airplane. The events are only known because they were recorded by people. People are not perfect. They make mistakes, sometimes intentionally. Any historical event that was recorded could have been falsified or twisted, or it could have been true. There is no way to know for sure. But if all history is unknown how can it be reflected upon and learned from to guide us into the future? This is why people create a universally accepted history. Though it may not be agreed upon completely it is probably very close to actually history and is still a valid resource to look back on.
Stefan R.
4th Hour
9. "Do you know the secret of the true scholar? In every man, there is something wherein I may learn of him; and in that I am his pupil." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
ReplyDeleteI believe this quote presents the question can any man be a scholar? I think the quote in a way is answering you yes; any man can be a scholar because every man has some sort of knowledge. You can learn something from everyone may it be big or small it is something. I believe a scholar is a scholar because he expresses what he believes and stands by it. He gives great though to the world around him and examines everything in it. He then expresses in detail so that everyone understands. By these standards any man really can be a scholar. You could consider anyone who knows a great deal about a particular topic to be a scholar. People are their pupils’ because they pay attention to what they have to say and their thoughts and ideas. I really like this quote a lot I really can relate to it.
Erin B 4th hour
7. "We need men with moral courage to speak and write their real thoughts, and to stand by their convictions, even to the very death." Robert Ingersoll, American agnostic
ReplyDeleteThis quote makes sense because if people don't stand up for what they truly believe in, than people are not going to stand up for their own morals in life. People should not just go along with what everyone else thinks is right, because those people could be wrong. Standing up for what you believe in takes a lot of moral courage. Sometimes we may not all have that courage to stand up for what we believe in because there is a fear of rejection, or even hatred. It is important for everyone to stand by their convictions, but not over-rule others. In life, everyone’s opinions matter and should not be ruled out because they are out-numbered. We are very lucky in our country because it is easy to voice our opinion about a lot of different things. There is no dictator that is over-ruling your real thoughts, or convictions. It makes it even easier to voice your opinions with the evolution of the internet and technology.
1. "Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up". ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the election our country just had for president, I have to say that I completely agree with this quote. Both candidates spent so much time and money just trying to get elected this past year that they weren’t even able to do anything to better our country during that period. Even now that Obama has been declared president, out of the four years he will hold in office, how much of that time will actually be spent making plans and taking action? Once the term starts to come to an end, he will again have to spend all of his energy trying to get reelected. As a society, we are always worried about the next thing, rather than concentrating on the things that actually keep us going. The hard work that we do day in and day out is what really matters in life. You have to live in the moment, before time escapes you.
Elizabeth O’Donnell- 4th hour
"There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers." William James
ReplyDeleteI think that a lot of authors of the most modern movement have taken some ideas way too far to the left. I think that the best example of this is the Sokal Hoax. (Sokal sent a paper into a publication disproving quantum physics. The paper he sent in was a fake and could be disproved by anyone with a basic knowledge of math. But because his paper critiqued western thought it was published.) He proved a wonderful point- that some leftist publications just publish what they want to here. They don’t fact check as long as you send in a paper that rejects western thought and discourse- their happy. What do we have to gain from knowledge that it produced just because it is “in vogue”. While I think that the contributions of many of these authors are important. It is important for the integrity of the leftist movements watch what they say and to make sure that they have facts to back up their theses.
9. "Do you know the secret of the true scholar? In every man, there is something wherein I may learn of him; and in that I am his pupil." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
ReplyDeleteI find many things that relate to my life and my world within this quote. One thing that particularly draws my attention is the idea that teachers and superiors can learn from their students or understudies. My parents have always told me how much they learn from me and my siblings even though both my parents are graduates of law school, and very experienced in the field. I do believe that a true scholar is one that continues to learn new things and expand their knowledge everyday through diverse activities and situations. A person who acts as a know-it-all and is unwelcoming to new ideas benefits less from their pupils or students, and in my opinion knows less than a person with an open mind. I also agree that you can learn something from everybody. I work at a day care with children ranging in age from six months old to three years old. Everyday I learn something new. I really like the idea that despite our age and experience differences, we can both learn from each other and expand our outlooks on life. Although it may be difficult at times to take direction or instruction from someone you may see as less intelligent or experienced than you, it is a great skill and ability to have. I believe that to posses this quality, means you are a true scholar.
Jordan H
4th Hour
"Men are probably nearer the central truth in their superstitions than in their science." ~Henry David Thoreau
ReplyDeleteWe all blindly learn laws of science and agree with scientific discoveries and findings without ever understanding reasons behind why science exists. Sure, we can learn about the laws of physics and which chemicals react to form a precipitate, but we’re merely imitating the old thoughts and hypotheses of scientists. This quote , to me, reflects that developing one’s own philosophy behind discoveries is more vital to understanding truths than merely searching for proof in systematic scientific steps. I interpret the use of “superstitions” in this quote to mean unproven meditative theories and philosophies, and that word paradoxes “science” which is logical, calculative reasoning. People are too often solely consumed with basing their theories off science they know to truly exist because teachers and textbooks assert that these scientific laws exist. Thoreau’s intent is to convey that using only calculative thinking is destructive because we lose all meaning of the initial theory. We all must develop our own “superstitions” rather than revolving our thinking on “artificial” science. I think Thoreau intends the “central truth” to be an anonymous truth of life that everyone must discover for themselves. This quote reminds me of Heidiggers philosophy, and why meditative thought must be incorporated with calculative thought in order to avoid paralysis in thought and action. Each one independently produces no progression, people must use both to develop constructive philosophies.
Laura D. 4th hour
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia site.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Jodorowsky’s outlook on life is very similar to mine because he shows that a problem can be solved a lot simpler than one would think. Instead of contemplating whether the glass was half full or half empty, he just got rid of the problem. This seems like something I would do because this year, more than any, I have many things going on and I am very stressed about my grades. That means that I will have many problems that come up. Similar to Jodorowsky, I can’t spend time on just one of these problems because there are so many other things that I have to focus on. So I find the simplest way possible of getting something done or solving a problem, but I still do it completely and use the utmost effort. This is also an important outlook on life because one will get nowhere pondering whether the glass is half full or half empty, when there are important matters that need to be taken care of.
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile
ReplyDeleteThis quote relates to me and my life the most because this is mostly how I view my life. I don’t try to overemphasize my world by saying it is perfect and the sun always shines, nor do I dwell on the not so good and project my flaws as my life. So in other words, I don’t particularly care if my glass of water is half full or half empty. If it is, then I’ll pour more water, or I will drink the rest. It seems people have thought about this situation regularly, especially since Finding Nemo, but the way I see it is to take charge. I make my own choices, and if things work out then I know that I have made the right decision, and if things go terribly wrong then I know it is my own undoing. I don’t believe in fate, I believe in coincidence. I do think that God has plans for me, but it is my choice to pursue them. Also, I am not a person that partakes in conflict. I either avoid or fix the issue at hand. So when Jodorowsky made the comment that he drank, the water, no more problem, that is basically how I stay out of conflict. If I wonder about how full my glass is then the issue swells as long as I procrastinate. But if I drink the water, then the issue will subside. So in a sense, if you see your glass is half empty, fill it or drink the rest.
Loren B. 4th hour
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia site.
ReplyDelete- Samantha Paul 4th hour
I think this quote represents the differences between overanalyzing everything and just living in the moment. Even though most people think those who question everything are brighter, this quote shows how living in the moment could actually be the smarter way to live. I feel like this quote relates to me on a personal level because this is how I view life and my actions are represented well by this quote. I like to live in the moment and I don’t question a lot of my experiences before I partake in them. I think it’s useless to question everything because it truly takes away from the experiences themselves. By living in the moment you still gain knowledge from your actions, but that knowledge may be even greater because you’re taking it all in instead of questioning everything. For example, we’ve all had the experience of watching a movie with someone who asks questions the entire time. Not only is this really annoying, but the person questioning everything is missing out on parts of the movie by asking these questions. Don’t get me wrong, I do think it is good to ask questions because that is a method gaining knowledge. However, I don’t think it is necessary to ask questions about everything instead of just trying the experience out for yourself.
"Men are probably nearer the central truth in their superstitions than in their science." ~Henry David Thoreau
ReplyDeleteDue to recent events in my life, I can say that this quote does nothing more than express exactly how I feel. It has recently occurred to me that logic is not always true, and at times is highly illogical. And seeing how science is supposed to create logic or at times explain it, then science might not always be true, but rather fiction based on mythological facts that we choose to believe. Which, if one thinks about, is way more dangerous than not knowing anything at all. If science is not always true, and constantly contradicts itself, then it means the world believes in lies. Now, they might seem harmless, half truths maybe, because science to a point still is correct, but when we base our entire society off of fully false or half false ideas, then when you go up the ladder to more complex ideas, you can be totally wrong and end up screwing everything up for good. It’s a false security in feeling invincible, which is not only deadly, but steers everyone for sure in the wrong direction of the central truth.
Now, superstition asks you to not believe in anything. Superstitions are made to answer the questions that nothing can really explain. Why is it that when we are little, we’re afraid of the dark, and think scary things are roaming our rooms or are in our closets? Is it that we’re all paranoid when we’re younger, or could it just be that we feel something’s there, because there really is something there and our parents or older siblings have lost that touch with “false” knowledge? Do you ever get those feelings that you’re being watched? Who is someone else to say that you’re not being watched? They can’t feel what you feel, and maybe you’re just a lot more aware and responsive about your surroundings then they are. How does one explain random livestock disappearing in England, and the attacker being a cat, when science says there has never been a species of large cat in that area for hundreds of years, and there’s no way there could be? Or even the random sheep that are being killed and people seeing a huge bat-like chupracabra feasting on it? What about those feelings that no one can deny, those of fear at places like Waverly Hills, that during the night you not only see and hear other things, you feel them too? I doubt that everyone in the whole world is afraid of the exact same place, and all have similar paranoid delusions about it. So how do you explain that science? You say ghosts and spirits can’t exist, don’t you? That you die and that’s it, you die. There’s nothing that can be left over. Then why do you feel sensations like that?
Basically, science can only say what it can prove is true, and not what isn’t true. Most people believe it can tell you things that are true, and things that are false. Supersition tells us that things can be proven as best they can by simple observation.
-Abbie
4. "One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia sit
ReplyDeleteWhen people normally ask this question either one is going to answer pessimistically or optimistically. However, in today’s society one’s answer becomes another’s perception of his or her character. Jodorowsky’s choice can be perceived as buoyant and confidant. He analyzed the situation in a simplistic way that did not answer the question since it is pointless to debate choices to a problem if neither choice is a solution. Jodorowsky took an alternate route by choosing a different perspective than the ones handed to him. I like to think that I lead my life in the same way. When I look at a problem I try to think of every possible solution, and is there a problem to begin with?
Personally, I aspire to be an engineer. So far, I have concluded that there are two main types of engineers. There are those who accomplish their goals and those who talk about accomplishing their goals. I have always tried to be the type of man to resist procrastination, the type of men who work hard and end up accomplished engineers.
Michael Blake
Hour 3
"History is fables agreed upon." Voltaire, French Enlightenment writer.
ReplyDeleteSean Turner
4th Hour
I’ve occasionally wondered if what I’m learning about in a history class is one-hundred percent true, and I decide there are small discrepancies here or there. Voltaire’s quote sums up my conclusion on the idea. Stories when told by others are almost never fully accurate, which’s all history is; stories, fables. Combined with factors such as the Church or book burnings, I wonder how much history is significantly altered, or more importantly, how much history was never discovered. I decide that what history was buried then probably remains so, and little (if any) history remains altered to the point where it’s false. History’s passed by individuals (numbering in the thousands) who were present during the event. Many versions of a story are likely to surface, and what Voltaire is saying is that history is looking at an event from many different viewpoints, coming up with a conclusion. The only ambiguities in history are probably from very stubborn individuals who refuse to let go of a lost battle and skew the truth.
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem."
ReplyDelete~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile - wikipedia site.
This quote has potentially many interpretations, which is primarily why I’m attracted to it, because I think most of every issue not only has two sides but many. Jodorowsky is shattering this misconception that there must be two sides to a question, whether right or wrong, left or right, good or evil. Also something seemingly complex could have a perplexingly simple solution, and the solution may not even be an answer to the question, but a different way to ask it, or a way to eradicate it. This quote is also a satirical criticism of philosophers or the practice of philosophy itself because a question that could boggle and occupy the minds of philosophical thinkers trying to decipher the deeper meaning of a glass half full and the worldly perspectives it entails. Some things don’t have to be so complicated, like I try to make the little problems in my life, and I how I try and over analyze what people say to me, or what I want to do for the rest of my life. There isn’t always a perfect answer to every question problem or situation, sometimes you just have to drink the water that is life and suck it up.
Kristin Elizabeth Thomas
1. Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up". ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this quote after having our recent election. I saw how much money and time and effort both McCain and Obama spent on trying to get people to vote for them, and I thought what's the point? All the promises both candidates made and timelines they gave, how many of those goals will they be able to fulfill? We are always worrying about what is going to happen next, like with all of Obama's plans for the future, especially with the economic crisis. How long will his plans really take for everything to seem better than it already is. What if all his plans fall through? It seems as if we are never able to live in the moment. Everything could change in a second with our economy, and people would be lost at what to do. I think we need to take into consideration how we go about prioritizing things in everyday life and live for now.
Nicole M 3rd Hour
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~ film maker Alejandro Jodorowsky.
ReplyDeleteI have always been the person to question the meaning of the saying “is the glass half full or half empty.” I believe you can always tell a persons view on life by their answer to that question. When someone says half full they are optimistic about life and are always trying to see the better side of life. On the other hand when someone says the glass is half empty they are pessimistic on life and always see the bad in everything. I love how in the quote he drinks the water and has no problems. If I were asked that question this would probably be my reaction because I never try to find the good or the bad in things, I just take what life throws at me and I work through it no matter what problems/conflicts occur along the way. Drinking the water is an easy solution to solving a ridiculous question that can never be answered.
Anna Beaufore (3rd hour)
"History is fables agreed upon." This quote says much in few words. These kinds of statements tend to be most powerful. This point is all too true. After all, history is written by the winners.
ReplyDeleteIf this is looked at from a religious standpoint, Jesus's teachings and accomplishments were written a century after his death. Who's to say how accurate the information is? The bible was also translated into english...many words can be misinterpreted through a simple flaw in sentence structure. People read too deeply into tedious details. History itself is an obscure and skewed perspective.
For instance, in the current war in Iraq, Americans may look back, seeing the war as a glitch in judgement, a mistake. Iraqis may remember it being a massacre, a huge loss and destruction of their country. History is based off of perspective. If a large enough group agrees on the validity of past stories, then its considered true, no matter how large of a stretch it may be.
Chelsea R. 3rd Hour
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, 'Is it half full or half empty?' So I drank the water. No more problem." ~filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jewish Ukranian immigrant born in Chile
ReplyDeleteI believe that this quote has a meaning behind it. There has always been this huge dilemma about if the glass is half full or if it half empty. I think that Alejandro was just trying to show that there is no dilemma to the question. I think that Alejandro is just trying to prove that there is water in the glass and nothing more. Alejandro doesn't think that a person's answer to that question determines if they are a positive or negative person. Most people think that if a person says half full then they are positive person. Then if a person says that the glass is half empty them they are negative. I think that Alejandro was just sick of this dilemma and got rid of it by just drinking the water so that there was no water to even question. Alejandro's answer to this question is very smart in my opinion. No one else has ever looked at that question in that manner. Maybe his answer is just the answer to everyone's question. It really helped me think about the glass of water in a new way that no one else has ever done. I think that Alejandro was very clever with this answer.
I like number 7 it really speaks to me. I think this deals in my personal belief that the human race is so centered on the perseverance of the individual instead of the perseverance of the great ideas of man and the betterment of the whole society. And not even the perseverance but the advancement of those ideas that are worth dyeing for. We have stopped evolving its what made us great in the past but it has stopped it you have ever seen the opening to “idiocracy” you’ll know what I mean ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-mJbMm8854 ). We must have a complete cultural change to do this I think this is where capitalism leads us to a corrupt government greedy people who are willing to screw anyone to make a buck. I believe that if we can get to the point where people work purely to make good products and help others it is the best capitalism can be. But I think the next step is for everyone to do what they are passionate about purely for the benefit of the rest of the earth. It would be amazing if we could get there.
ReplyDeletenick e