Group 05, Section 001 (Hypatia)

Okay, so I personally think that this is the most interesting topic that our group has discussed over in a while. What makes it so fascinating is the fact that the cause of her death --- religious intolerance --- and the manner of her it (however gruesome) are relevant in the world today and, quite obviously, abnormal, respectively speaking.

Hypatia was one of the first prominent female philosophers, and not only does she retain this recognition, but she was also the head of Alexandria's Platonist school. She was regarded as a pagan by Christians. At the same time, Orestes - a Roman prefect of Alexandria - and Cyril, a patriarch, were adversaries with each other, and Hypatia found herself in the middle of the feud. Blamed for the prolonged dispute, Cyril's followers ambushed Hypatia one day while she was riding on her chariot. Several accounts state that they mob stripped her of all clothing (to humiliate her) and then killed her by scraping off her skin with pieces of rock. They then cut her body up into pieces, spread them around the city of Alexandria, and burned them.

(All group members were present.)

Factual:
What era followed Hypatia's death?
1) The Industrial Revolution
2) The Renaissance
3) The Medieval Period
4) The Dark Ages
5) The Enlightenment
6) A period of secular philosophy
7) None of the above

(Answer: 4.)

Discussion:
In what ways did Hypatia advance the role of women in philosophy and the quest for truth?


As a side note, it's quite remarkable that religious intolerance has lasted for so long and, quite frankly, I almost find it pathetic that we still haven't found a way to accept the beliefs of others... considering that we've had thousands of years of experience of killing each other and, through the midst of it all, somehow finding a solution to man-made problems. I remember sitting in my very first media class, and my professor - who was a profound atheist - was very ignorant of others' religions. I'm not saying that all atheists are like that... many are not, and though many do not believe in a God, they are at least respectable to those who do. Anyways, he would always make comments about religion and he would show George Carlin videos in class. One day he showed the entire class (which was around 300 people strong) a 10 minute video, and pretty soon people started walking out. This is pretty tame compared to the religious "purifications" - if you will allow me to call it that - that have happened in history, as well as those happening at the current moment.

Let me list some examples:

1) Hypatia (duh.)
2) The Spanish Inquisition
3) The breakup of the Catholic and Protestant Churches in England, specifically when Henry wanted to divorce his first wife in order to marry another woman (this would last even unto the reign of his daughter, Elizabeth, who brought about England's "Golden Age." The Pope gave people permission to kill that "heretic whore" because she was Protestant. Did you know that the Catholic Church was burning people at the stake... and even beheading them.... simply because they were Protestant???)
4) The Crusades, which were a series of wars between Muslims and Christians
5) The Medieval Period, during which scientific progress - some claim (I will not speak on this issue) - was hindered because the Catholic Church didn't want any new discovery that would challenge the Church's power.)
6) The Taliban in the Middle-East.... This one is most self-explanatory, I guess, because we are living in these times. In my media class, the ones I mentioned above, our teacher displayed a cover of "TIME" magazine, which showed a girl with her nose cut off because she wasn't following the "tradition" Muslim faith, which the Taliban apparently laid out in her region.

I don't know why it's like this... people can believe different things (this certainly does NOT mean that they can have their own truths... the truth is the truth.... how we see it is only our interpretation of it. I remember during our first group discussion... all of us, including myself, were saying that truth is relevant. Looking back, I regret making that statement. The truth is definitely not relevant. It is always there, and no matter what our perspective, it is unyielding to the shifts and changes made in the world.) Wouldn't it be so, so much easier in the world if people can looked at our differences with respect? The traditions of people should bridge gaps, not be seen as a gulf between peoples and nations.