Sunday, September 30, 2007
I Like It
I don't know about you, but I keep feeling oddly reassured after I read these poems of the TAO. It's like the poems take all the simple truths, rules and patterns of the world which are never outwardly discussed, and puts them in writing, in concrete language. It's reassuring to just know that these ideas actually work together and all harmonize together. The poems are pretty and they have a nice rhythm, I find just reading them relaxing. The circular messages are sometimes annoying to think about, but it's nice to know that they go in circles. It's nice to know that there is no controversy associated, that you can't really argue with the case presented. The thruths are just accepted and contemplated. I like it.
To Create
Taken from TAO 64,
"Create before it exists
lead before it goes astray"
"...nine story tower, rises from a pile of earth,
a thousand mile journey, begins with a single step."
I love these quotes from TAO, I found them so inspiring and so true. Really another way of expressing the value of "carpe diem," seizing the day, and motivation. Everything starts small as they say, you have to work hard accomplish the big feats. This made me think of the huge billion dollar companies that capitalize society today. They all started small, maybe in a home. Maybe as just one, lowly restaurant. And now, through time and hard work they have succeeded and spread all over the world. My dad owns start up company, and so I have witnessed this theme firsthand. Sometimes the company seems near bankrupt, but then it'll spike and have huge sales and huge profits. The company started with only five employees, and now employs a couple hundred. It's amazing what can happen.
I can't stop thinking about the theme of creating before it exists either. For some reason I just thought of art and how when you go to an art show you see the projects and you wonder how the artist possibly came up with their ideas. Even an abstract painting, it puzzles me how sometimes the piece is so simple, but in reality it's the idea that matters, not the simplicity of the construction. It is then I realize I could have never come up the same, raw, simple idea and so I could have never produced something quite like it. Darwin too, was worried about creating before it already existed. He wanted to make sure his theories were right on, but he ran out of time and someone else was already ready to publish. Darwin wanted to be the first step, the initial creator of his theories, that is why he was more or less forced to publish.
"Create before it exists
lead before it goes astray"
"...nine story tower, rises from a pile of earth,
a thousand mile journey, begins with a single step."
I love these quotes from TAO, I found them so inspiring and so true. Really another way of expressing the value of "carpe diem," seizing the day, and motivation. Everything starts small as they say, you have to work hard accomplish the big feats. This made me think of the huge billion dollar companies that capitalize society today. They all started small, maybe in a home. Maybe as just one, lowly restaurant. And now, through time and hard work they have succeeded and spread all over the world. My dad owns start up company, and so I have witnessed this theme firsthand. Sometimes the company seems near bankrupt, but then it'll spike and have huge sales and huge profits. The company started with only five employees, and now employs a couple hundred. It's amazing what can happen.
I can't stop thinking about the theme of creating before it exists either. For some reason I just thought of art and how when you go to an art show you see the projects and you wonder how the artist possibly came up with their ideas. Even an abstract painting, it puzzles me how sometimes the piece is so simple, but in reality it's the idea that matters, not the simplicity of the construction. It is then I realize I could have never come up the same, raw, simple idea and so I could have never produced something quite like it. Darwin too, was worried about creating before it already existed. He wanted to make sure his theories were right on, but he ran out of time and someone else was already ready to publish. Darwin wanted to be the first step, the initial creator of his theories, that is why he was more or less forced to publish.
Doing Nothing
Today I sat in my room for a good fifteen minutes and essentially "did nothing." I sat on my bed and tried to clear my thinking, I didn't let my eyes focus on anything, I just tried to relax and meditate for a time. Honestly I love the idea of meditation. I do it while I run and sometimes while I paint. I do it in airports waiting for a flight. Just sitting, not really thinking, waiting, doing nothing. This summer I did yoga a lot and after the stretching exercises there was a time for meditation. This time came to be my favorite part of the class and it felt so refreshing after.
Nevertheless, today I was a little out of practice. I found it really difficult to keep my mind clear and to relax. But after about five minutes I was totally emerged. Just sitting and breathing, subconsciously reflecting. When I came out of it, I felt so rested and sort of recharged. It's so relaxing just clearing your mind. I was able to put everything sort of in perspective, focus on the work I had to do tonight and other responsibilities. It's like hypnotizing yourself. I didn't really reflect on anything directly that had to do with the TAO, but it's that sort of yin/yang feeling that I get from meditation. Like everything will work itself out and that everything works in harmony with it's counterpart. Such wonderful, cheap, stress relief.
Nevertheless, today I was a little out of practice. I found it really difficult to keep my mind clear and to relax. But after about five minutes I was totally emerged. Just sitting and breathing, subconsciously reflecting. When I came out of it, I felt so rested and sort of recharged. It's so relaxing just clearing your mind. I was able to put everything sort of in perspective, focus on the work I had to do tonight and other responsibilities. It's like hypnotizing yourself. I didn't really reflect on anything directly that had to do with the TAO, but it's that sort of yin/yang feeling that I get from meditation. Like everything will work itself out and that everything works in harmony with it's counterpart. Such wonderful, cheap, stress relief.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Observing
I am seated in front of the library staring across the lake, looking. I watch the trees, the people and the water's surface. I love to look at the trees, they are my favorite. In my town, we have many pine trees and spruces. Here the trees are large, leafy and very green. Much different than what I am used to. I wonder how old these trees are? They seem ancient judging by the thick trunks and large, expansive branches. I wonder what type of day it was when they were planted? Was it as warm as it is now? Were the campus building even here?
Nevertheless, I guess this is supposed to be a scientific observation, already I am deviating. It's officially fall now, the leaves have started to drop. In a few weeks they will turn, just before dying. This much I know. But what created this process, of leaves, of the budding, the growth, the turning of colors and then dying, falling? Was this something the trees have always participated in? Is it a mutation, from thousands of years ago? Did one tree suddenly drop its leaves in the winter and have a higher rate of survival, therefore producing more trees with this same trait? I would not know for sure, but I can wonder.
I notice each tree has its place. Almost like a territory set out around it. No other trees dare to grow in this area. Is this because of competition for water and nutrients? Or, more artificial, like the landscaping crew for campus. Although the answer is probably the latter, I enjoy the thought of these trees engaging in some sort of unseen fight for survival. In an actual forest maybe they would, but not here. Here these trees are babied, cared for, weeded around and watered if needed. But then, does that make them weaker than the rest of the trees in the world? The trees around the University campus are more or less protected from natural selection. If they show signs of despair the landscapers take over and protect it. In the wild, this same tree would probably die. I can connect this curiosity back to what Darwin said about humans, how we care for our weak and thus weaken the species. Mmmm...all that just by observing.
Nevertheless, I guess this is supposed to be a scientific observation, already I am deviating. It's officially fall now, the leaves have started to drop. In a few weeks they will turn, just before dying. This much I know. But what created this process, of leaves, of the budding, the growth, the turning of colors and then dying, falling? Was this something the trees have always participated in? Is it a mutation, from thousands of years ago? Did one tree suddenly drop its leaves in the winter and have a higher rate of survival, therefore producing more trees with this same trait? I would not know for sure, but I can wonder.
I notice each tree has its place. Almost like a territory set out around it. No other trees dare to grow in this area. Is this because of competition for water and nutrients? Or, more artificial, like the landscaping crew for campus. Although the answer is probably the latter, I enjoy the thought of these trees engaging in some sort of unseen fight for survival. In an actual forest maybe they would, but not here. Here these trees are babied, cared for, weeded around and watered if needed. But then, does that make them weaker than the rest of the trees in the world? The trees around the University campus are more or less protected from natural selection. If they show signs of despair the landscapers take over and protect it. In the wild, this same tree would probably die. I can connect this curiosity back to what Darwin said about humans, how we care for our weak and thus weaken the species. Mmmm...all that just by observing.
Working Together to Select the Best
Darwin makes a critical jump in his theory when he combines the ideas of natural selection and sexual selection. He concludes that both processes work together and need each other for success. Darwin writes, "the more vigorous and better-nourished individuals...will be ready to bread in the spring before the others." "Such early pairs would have the same advantage in rearing offspring" (262). In other words, the strongest survive and by surviving they get the best mates, winning both in natural selection and sexual selection.
It's true though, the way they work together. You can't have natural selection without some sort of sexual selection, then the species would never reproduce. And you can't have sexual selection without natural selection because sexual selection is natural selection in the sense that only those with the best genes will find the best mates and continue on the instinctive goal of perfecting the species.
The male with the best feathers, song, show will get the best females. Therefore, they will reproduce more beings with good genes and improve the population. The others with out the best feathers, songs, etc. have been naturally selected out of the population because they were sexually selected not to continue the species by not reproducing or reproducing very little. It's harsh, but it's nature and Darwin just recognized it working at a new, co-dependent level.
It's true though, the way they work together. You can't have natural selection without some sort of sexual selection, then the species would never reproduce. And you can't have sexual selection without natural selection because sexual selection is natural selection in the sense that only those with the best genes will find the best mates and continue on the instinctive goal of perfecting the species.
The male with the best feathers, song, show will get the best females. Therefore, they will reproduce more beings with good genes and improve the population. The others with out the best feathers, songs, etc. have been naturally selected out of the population because they were sexually selected not to continue the species by not reproducing or reproducing very little. It's harsh, but it's nature and Darwin just recognized it working at a new, co-dependent level.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
For the Love of Health Care
"It is surprising how soon a want of care, or care wrongly directed, leads to the degeneration of a domestic race; but excepting in the case of man himself, hardly any one is so ignorant as to allow his worst animals to breed" (247).
I found this quote quite fascinating and unfortunately very true. Darwin explains how when we are sympathetic, and give care to those who are too weak, we are weakening our species as a whole. He also makes a point that man is one of the only species who allows those weakest in his population to breed. As insensitive and immoral as it sounds, this statement speaks the truth. The human species is slowly weakening. I don't want to sound harsh, but for the sake of the argument, humans would be such a stronger species if we didn't save and nurture the weak. If we had limits on health care, perhaps those too sick to survive without modern technology would just die off and leave more space for the rest of the population. This is one of the reasons why the human population is out of control anyway, technology, our ability to cure almost any disease. People can live after huge, deadly diseases now because of our extensive health system. There are people with brain deformities living normal lives, people missing arms and legs, people with artificial hearts. In the natural world, none of these people would be able to survive. They would be the ones naturally selected, weeded out, for the good of the species.
But on the other hand. I like health care. I want to be treated, to be cured. That is another part of the natural selection. The will to live. One must have some sort of will to live in order to survive, obviously. That is why humans came up with health care in the first place. We are, once again adapting to our environment, finding ways around the natural checks. I just find this a delightful irony. As a species we survive by inventing ways to conquer death, but that is ultimately making us a weaker species.
I found this quote quite fascinating and unfortunately very true. Darwin explains how when we are sympathetic, and give care to those who are too weak, we are weakening our species as a whole. He also makes a point that man is one of the only species who allows those weakest in his population to breed. As insensitive and immoral as it sounds, this statement speaks the truth. The human species is slowly weakening. I don't want to sound harsh, but for the sake of the argument, humans would be such a stronger species if we didn't save and nurture the weak. If we had limits on health care, perhaps those too sick to survive without modern technology would just die off and leave more space for the rest of the population. This is one of the reasons why the human population is out of control anyway, technology, our ability to cure almost any disease. People can live after huge, deadly diseases now because of our extensive health system. There are people with brain deformities living normal lives, people missing arms and legs, people with artificial hearts. In the natural world, none of these people would be able to survive. They would be the ones naturally selected, weeded out, for the good of the species.
But on the other hand. I like health care. I want to be treated, to be cured. That is another part of the natural selection. The will to live. One must have some sort of will to live in order to survive, obviously. That is why humans came up with health care in the first place. We are, once again adapting to our environment, finding ways around the natural checks. I just find this a delightful irony. As a species we survive by inventing ways to conquer death, but that is ultimately making us a weaker species.
The Power of Adaptation
Darwin talks about man in many ways during his discussions on evolution and natural selection. One thing I found interesting was when he mentions how adaptable man is and how humans can basically survive anywhere on the Earth. Darwin states about man, "He has the great power of adapting to his habits to new conditions of life" (242).
I agree with this. Humans are amazing the way they can make almost any situation livable with the aid of technology and certain tools. I guess it's something we've had to evolve to be. Could our will to adapt and power over our surroundings be something natural selection has allowed to evolve? I think so. Otherwise we would still be hunting and gathering in the heart of Africa, unable to tolerate any other climate, food or environment. I think it was necessary for humans, for survival as a species, to learn how to be adaptable because we have such a large population and we live for so long. We also take up a lot of space, using a lot of resources. We have to adapt to be able to expand our "territories" to gain more space for the species.
This also makes me think of college. Adapting. I was suddenly thrown into a campus full of young adults, in the middle of VA, on the west coast, expected to thrive and prosper. At first I was shocked coming from an average Oregon town. But I learned to adapt. To make my situation livable and now enjoyable. As a part of the human species, I survived.
I agree with this. Humans are amazing the way they can make almost any situation livable with the aid of technology and certain tools. I guess it's something we've had to evolve to be. Could our will to adapt and power over our surroundings be something natural selection has allowed to evolve? I think so. Otherwise we would still be hunting and gathering in the heart of Africa, unable to tolerate any other climate, food or environment. I think it was necessary for humans, for survival as a species, to learn how to be adaptable because we have such a large population and we live for so long. We also take up a lot of space, using a lot of resources. We have to adapt to be able to expand our "territories" to gain more space for the species.
This also makes me think of college. Adapting. I was suddenly thrown into a campus full of young adults, in the middle of VA, on the west coast, expected to thrive and prosper. At first I was shocked coming from an average Oregon town. But I learned to adapt. To make my situation livable and now enjoyable. As a part of the human species, I survived.
Monday, September 17, 2007
And Then We Delve into Darwin...
When reading over Darwin's "On the Origin of Species," my mind immediately brought back memories of Biology class, all the way from Sophomore year of high school. Darwin is indeed a great scientific thinker and a valuable contributor to the scientific theory. But, CORE is a class based on the Human Condition and here we must think of Darwin on a philosophic level. Darwin created the idea of natural selection, or the power of the individual. He asserts that one beneficial genetic mutation in a species will eventually become a part of said species in the process of survival and inheritance. As he states, "From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form" (163).
This, I believe, can be applied to the thought process as well. Humans come up with new ideas all the time. When these ideas are announced, or show themselves to the rest of the population, they can take hold and become a part of that population. A simple example would be considering apes and the use of tools. One very intelligent ape decided to use a "tool" to help complete a task. Soon, the rest of the ape population saw how beneficial this tool was and started using it. And so the idea progressed and eventually became a part of the species. Today, we use tools all the time. For instance this computer is helping me organize my thoughts. We don't even think about where these original ideas came from, such as the benefits of tools, but Darwin helps us realize how the influence spreads. Like an inheritance of the mind, of ideas.
We can connect back the Socrates as well, his thinking, his thoughts on life and the universe have traveled through the ages to modern times. We are reading his work now in 2007, still trying to contemplate his ideas. Socrates stands for the natural urge to question life by humans. Think about it. We, as humans, have something to say about everything, we all have opinions. Could it be that Socrates, among other people, helped us realize the power and curiosity of a simple question? I would not know, but maybe with Darwin we can wonder.
This, I believe, can be applied to the thought process as well. Humans come up with new ideas all the time. When these ideas are announced, or show themselves to the rest of the population, they can take hold and become a part of that population. A simple example would be considering apes and the use of tools. One very intelligent ape decided to use a "tool" to help complete a task. Soon, the rest of the ape population saw how beneficial this tool was and started using it. And so the idea progressed and eventually became a part of the species. Today, we use tools all the time. For instance this computer is helping me organize my thoughts. We don't even think about where these original ideas came from, such as the benefits of tools, but Darwin helps us realize how the influence spreads. Like an inheritance of the mind, of ideas.
We can connect back the Socrates as well, his thinking, his thoughts on life and the universe have traveled through the ages to modern times. We are reading his work now in 2007, still trying to contemplate his ideas. Socrates stands for the natural urge to question life by humans. Think about it. We, as humans, have something to say about everything, we all have opinions. Could it be that Socrates, among other people, helped us realize the power and curiosity of a simple question? I would not know, but maybe with Darwin we can wonder.
Socrates Has a Plan.
In Plato's Phaedo, Socrates does not take his rambling questions lightly or with any sense of frivolity. He has a plan. He has formulated this plan from the very beginning, his very first question. That is why he is so successful at proving his point. I like how he does this and how he does this so easily, it really speaks to his level of intelligence to see what a brilliant thinker he is. The average person, if they have a grand idea about things, may just announce it. Maybe in the form of a speech or in a journal. But Socrates is better than this. He would not trust a journal or speech to be convincing or altogether true. He instead creates his announcement about the world in the form of questions, gradually building up his point. proving it over and over through logical proofs so that it is hard to argue with him. Socrates also uses his questioning strategy to make it easier for others to understand, so others can keep up.
An example:
"Then if the soul is neither more nor les a soul than another, it has been harmonized to the same extent? - Socrates
That is so - Listener
If that is so, it would have no greater share of disharmony or of harmony?
It would not..." (44)
and the conversation continues on like this until Socrates has exhausted any doubt left in his idea and one is more or less forced to agree. But, like I said earlier, Socrates makes it easier for the listener to keep up with his thinking, which at times is very hard to take in. He keeps them engaged in his ideas as a way for the listener to further retain the information given and to fully comprehend it. This, I believe, is the true genius in Socrates at work.
An example:
"Then if the soul is neither more nor les a soul than another, it has been harmonized to the same extent? - Socrates
That is so - Listener
If that is so, it would have no greater share of disharmony or of harmony?
It would not..." (44)
and the conversation continues on like this until Socrates has exhausted any doubt left in his idea and one is more or less forced to agree. But, like I said earlier, Socrates makes it easier for the listener to keep up with his thinking, which at times is very hard to take in. He keeps them engaged in his ideas as a way for the listener to further retain the information given and to fully comprehend it. This, I believe, is the true genius in Socrates at work.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Why Bother With a Body?
In my last post I touched on the fact that Socrates is such a high-and-mighty philosopher that he has no need of the physical world or life of any sort. He believes that the soul does better without the body, free to explore all aspects of the universe. As he puts it, "The body keeps us busy in a thousand ways because of its need for nurture...they impede our search for the truth" (Phaedo 15).
Well, that can work for Socrates maybe, but I happen to like my body. I am conscious of it for one. If you exist only as a soul, are you aware that you exist? I have no idea because I cannot recall the last time I was "just a soul." I also value the idea of mortality, it gives meaning to my life and forces me to make the most of everyday. If I was on some eternal meandering path to wisdom as a body-less soul, I really don't think I'd have as much fun. Interacting with other humans and the environment is important, even if you do get sick. Eating, Dressing, Exercising and other bodily privileges are important. They remind us that our bodies do, in fact, matter and need to be taken care of...back the mortality point.
This thinking about the separation between body and soul can also be related to the ending of The White Castle. Throughout the whole book the narrator and Hoja are on a constant search for knowledge and wisdom. If only Socrates could have tipped them off that you really have to die and exist as a soul before you can attain this glory. But nonetheless, the characters spend years writing, discussing and researching the ideas behind truth. Then in the end, suddenly the research has stopped and the narrator has a family and a garden. In a sense the narrator became aware of his own mortality and chose to live first and philosophize later. Maybe he has realized the importance of the body and its needs and pleasures associated. How it is a human right to care for our bodies, and thus enjoy them. For we only have so much time until our souls are separated and we will finally be free search for all wisdom. Thanks Socrates for the tip. Now I can really live.
Well, that can work for Socrates maybe, but I happen to like my body. I am conscious of it for one. If you exist only as a soul, are you aware that you exist? I have no idea because I cannot recall the last time I was "just a soul." I also value the idea of mortality, it gives meaning to my life and forces me to make the most of everyday. If I was on some eternal meandering path to wisdom as a body-less soul, I really don't think I'd have as much fun. Interacting with other humans and the environment is important, even if you do get sick. Eating, Dressing, Exercising and other bodily privileges are important. They remind us that our bodies do, in fact, matter and need to be taken care of...back the mortality point.
This thinking about the separation between body and soul can also be related to the ending of The White Castle. Throughout the whole book the narrator and Hoja are on a constant search for knowledge and wisdom. If only Socrates could have tipped them off that you really have to die and exist as a soul before you can attain this glory. But nonetheless, the characters spend years writing, discussing and researching the ideas behind truth. Then in the end, suddenly the research has stopped and the narrator has a family and a garden. In a sense the narrator became aware of his own mortality and chose to live first and philosophize later. Maybe he has realized the importance of the body and its needs and pleasures associated. How it is a human right to care for our bodies, and thus enjoy them. For we only have so much time until our souls are separated and we will finally be free search for all wisdom. Thanks Socrates for the tip. Now I can really live.
Is Death the Way to the Truth?
I thoroughly enjoyed the last bit of reading we had on Plato's Phaedo. I really liked what Socrates had to say about death and how it isn't something to be feared or avoided. Socrates asks about death, "Is it anything than the separation of the soul from the body?" (12). With the answer being "no" Socrates goes on to explain that the body hinders the soul with it's physical needs and plain mortality in general. As a philosopher with no interest in the physical world or bodily pleasures, Socrates dismisses the idea that one cannot live without his body.
Socrates asserts that "The body confuses the soul and does not allow it to acquire truth and wisdom whenever it is associated with it" (14). His belief is that "if we are ever to have pure knowledge, we must escape from the body" (15). I find this extremely interesting to find that Socrates has distanced himself so far from the human world that he does not believe such physical pleasures worth his while. He is too far on his quest for the ultimate truth that he sees no other way to live.
The fact that Socrates is more concerned with wisdom than life connects back to his trial and his defense in saying he was not "teaching" the youth his beliefs. Of course. Why would he bother his mortal self, why distract himself, with such a physical privilege when he could be discovering the truth of the universe? Instead he argues that those willing to learn, listened to him. They sought him out.
Socrates asserts that "The body confuses the soul and does not allow it to acquire truth and wisdom whenever it is associated with it" (14). His belief is that "if we are ever to have pure knowledge, we must escape from the body" (15). I find this extremely interesting to find that Socrates has distanced himself so far from the human world that he does not believe such physical pleasures worth his while. He is too far on his quest for the ultimate truth that he sees no other way to live.
The fact that Socrates is more concerned with wisdom than life connects back to his trial and his defense in saying he was not "teaching" the youth his beliefs. Of course. Why would he bother his mortal self, why distract himself, with such a physical privilege when he could be discovering the truth of the universe? Instead he argues that those willing to learn, listened to him. They sought him out.
Friday, September 7, 2007
A Lesson in Trial
When reading the banter between Socrates and Euthyphro I couldn't help but be reminded by my experience with mock trial and classic debate. The point of both being to get the opposing side to agree with you over simple logical facts, before unleashing your main contention in such a way that it would be completely hypocritical for the opposing side to contradict you.
The cross-examination process, as Law would call it, scared me the most during my first year on mock trial as a witness. I was so afraid to accidentally agree with everything the prosecutor said and thus dig a hole for myself from which I had no plan to escape. But I soon learned how vital it was to listen to the actual format and key words of such questions and find away to get around a definitive "yes, it is so" in my answer. For I knew if I agreed with everything, without defending myself, the last question, the crucial point would already be won.
Socrates is having his own little cross-examination session with Euthyphro, Euthyphro is agreeing with what Socrates says until he gradually states his really argument and purpose, to which Euthyphro has no choice but to agree. Now, if only I could figure out how serious in his answering Euthyphro acting, or for that matter, how serious Socrates is in his question. Is it only a game? Or for actual truth?
The cross-examination process, as Law would call it, scared me the most during my first year on mock trial as a witness. I was so afraid to accidentally agree with everything the prosecutor said and thus dig a hole for myself from which I had no plan to escape. But I soon learned how vital it was to listen to the actual format and key words of such questions and find away to get around a definitive "yes, it is so" in my answer. For I knew if I agreed with everything, without defending myself, the last question, the crucial point would already be won.
Socrates is having his own little cross-examination session with Euthyphro, Euthyphro is agreeing with what Socrates says until he gradually states his really argument and purpose, to which Euthyphro has no choice but to agree. Now, if only I could figure out how serious in his answering Euthyphro acting, or for that matter, how serious Socrates is in his question. Is it only a game? Or for actual truth?
Plato 1: Who is the Teacher?
Euthyphro and Socrates make up the two characters in the story/commentary by Plato titled: "The Trial and Death of Socrates." However, during my reading and through the discussion in class I still cannot place who the teacher is and who the student is in the text. At first Euthyphro portrays himself as the teacher when he explains concepts to Socrates and Socrates announces "It is indeed most important, my admirable Euthyphro, that I should become your pupil" (5). Socrates also asks Euthyphro all the questions about the logic and relationships between fear and shame, piety and justice, etc. It seems at a first look that Socrates is the interested one and the one motivated to learn, not to educate. Socrates comes off as confident and at times it seems as though Euthyphro is mocking him with one word answers. It is like Euthyphro is only agreeing with Socrates to humor him, stopping every once and a while to point out a break in Socrates's logic or an area which needs further investigation.
"Socrates: ...Come, try and show me a clear sign that all the gods definitely believe this action to be right...
Euthyphro: This is perhaps no light task, Socrates, though I could show you very clearly" (10)
Here Socrates tries to assert his intelligence over Euthyphro by daring him to prove his point. But, Euthyphro challenges back that he could indeed show Socrates, and show him very quickly if only he had the time and place.
But a second look displays how Euthyphro could be the student as well and Socrates could be the teacher. It could be that Socrates is in fact mocking Euthyphro by setting him up with simple logical arguments, to which Euthyphro agrees, before shooting him down with something more complex though similar enough to the previous that it should also be agreed upon. Socrates, in a sense, is the mighty prosecutor cross-examining Euthyphro. So, it is possible that the roles are opposite.
"Socrates: ...Come, try and show me a clear sign that all the gods definitely believe this action to be right...
Euthyphro: This is perhaps no light task, Socrates, though I could show you very clearly" (10)
Here Socrates tries to assert his intelligence over Euthyphro by daring him to prove his point. But, Euthyphro challenges back that he could indeed show Socrates, and show him very quickly if only he had the time and place.
But a second look displays how Euthyphro could be the student as well and Socrates could be the teacher. It could be that Socrates is in fact mocking Euthyphro by setting him up with simple logical arguments, to which Euthyphro agrees, before shooting him down with something more complex though similar enough to the previous that it should also be agreed upon. Socrates, in a sense, is the mighty prosecutor cross-examining Euthyphro. So, it is possible that the roles are opposite.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
An Ending or Beginning?
Having finally finished and read the very last page of White Castle I can honestly say I am thoroughly confused. But, I think that is the way it's supposed to be. I think we are supposed to end without any sort of concrete ending and instead be left alone to create own conclusions. The White Castle is less of a traditional novel and more of a tool for stimulating thought and ideas about philosophy, life and human nature. Throughout the text the characters, Hoja and the narrator, switch places at every interval and, in turn, the reader is constantly unsure of who is really telling the story. At some points we can be sure that it's the original narrator, sometimes it's Hoja and sometimes it seems as though someone totally unrelated is telling the story.
One of the main themes of White Castle is the idea behind knowledge and truth. The common man's quest in life is to gather the truth about the world around him. There is no way to obtain all the knowledge and truth of the universe and thus we have philosophy and faith, to counteract the unknown. Throughout the story each character is on a quest, literal and metaphorical, to find the truth about themselves, each other and the world around. Yet at the end he (Hoja, the narrator or someone else, we aren't really sure) abandons his search and settles for a peaceful garden with a family and a meager life. Perhaps "abandons" is the wrong word. Maybe he just accepts the fact that no man can acquire all knowledge and truth and the very concept of truth doesn't even exist. For what is truth? One of the great unanswerable questions favored by pseudo-intellectuals. Many times we must accept our situation in the fog. I that is what the narrator finally did and he was finally able to have a normal life.
One of the main themes of White Castle is the idea behind knowledge and truth. The common man's quest in life is to gather the truth about the world around him. There is no way to obtain all the knowledge and truth of the universe and thus we have philosophy and faith, to counteract the unknown. Throughout the story each character is on a quest, literal and metaphorical, to find the truth about themselves, each other and the world around. Yet at the end he (Hoja, the narrator or someone else, we aren't really sure) abandons his search and settles for a peaceful garden with a family and a meager life. Perhaps "abandons" is the wrong word. Maybe he just accepts the fact that no man can acquire all knowledge and truth and the very concept of truth doesn't even exist. For what is truth? One of the great unanswerable questions favored by pseudo-intellectuals. Many times we must accept our situation in the fog. I that is what the narrator finally did and he was finally able to have a normal life.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Switching Personalities
Having only read to page 125 of "The White Castle" I do not know the ending, but I am endlessly intrigued by the switching personalities between the narrator and Hoja. I have noticed that every time one of the characters looks into a mirror or a portrait they realize how much they have changed. Hoja and the narrator have swapped roles and personalities several times throughout the story in this fashion. Because they look so much alike, it seems at times they are the same person with a series of dramatic mood swings. At one point Hoja thinks he is dying of the plague, he looks in the mirror and realizes his mysterious resemblance to the narrator. They decide to switch places so the narrator can become a free man and Hoja will die peacefully. Before this point, the narrator served only as Hoja's slave of sorts.
However, Hoja does not die and later meet back up the the narrator when they both end up working for the Sultan. At first Hoja deals only with the Sultan and the leaves the narrator home working endlessly. Then the roles shift and suddenly the Sultan would rather learn from the narrator, leaving Hoja at home. This marks a profound change in our narrator. He attends parties, eats luxury foods and shows off his new power and knowledge. The narrator finally realizes his transformation while gazing at a portrait of himself some months later to find himself overweight and much older. At this moment he realizes he has made the final jump into his new self, no one from his former life can recognize him.
Interestingly enough, this time when the narrator's appearance is least like Hoja's is also the time when he realizes he enjoys his life. He states, "...I learned that life was to be enjoyed, not endured"(117). the narrator has finally found his true identity and separated himself as much as he can from Hoja.
However, Hoja does not die and later meet back up the the narrator when they both end up working for the Sultan. At first Hoja deals only with the Sultan and the leaves the narrator home working endlessly. Then the roles shift and suddenly the Sultan would rather learn from the narrator, leaving Hoja at home. This marks a profound change in our narrator. He attends parties, eats luxury foods and shows off his new power and knowledge. The narrator finally realizes his transformation while gazing at a portrait of himself some months later to find himself overweight and much older. At this moment he realizes he has made the final jump into his new self, no one from his former life can recognize him.
Interestingly enough, this time when the narrator's appearance is least like Hoja's is also the time when he realizes he enjoys his life. He states, "...I learned that life was to be enjoyed, not endured"(117). the narrator has finally found his true identity and separated himself as much as he can from Hoja.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)