Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Section 13 Group 2 Monday Summary

Today in class we talked about the education system, would Aristotle approve of it? Would Aristotle approve of our government? Our judicial system? After much discussion, we came up with a few good points. H wouldn't approve of the lack of discussion or creative freedom in the classroom, nor would he approve of the rare topic of personal philosophy. From the outside looking in, he may be content, proud even, of our government, but if he knew of all the secrets, corruption, and alterior motives within our government he would be ashamed.
Eventually the subject of today's technology came up. How would he feel about the lack of interaction between beings? What would he say if he walked down the street and saw no riveting, intellectual, or passionate discussions amongst acquaintances, but instead saw our eyes drawn to captivating glowing screens and our attention dedicated to next weeks episode of breaking bad or American horror story? We talked about how disappointing it is that people are labeled strange or even crazy if they ask a stranger how their day is going, or even how in this day in age, its unnatural to ignore the electronic society within our way to expensive, but somehow still necessary, cellular companions, and look up at the few trees that haven't been cut away for more pointless buildings. Someone mentioned how odd it was that we would make that point when it was more than likely that the first thing we would do once we left the classroom would be to check facebook or twitter.
A small group within the group talked about how Aristotle had a certain idea on what happiness was. Is he correct? Can Children really not be -fully- happy? We reminisced on the days when we didn't have to pay bills, or when we didn't have to worry about whether or not failing a class would be the difference of success or failure. We came to the conclusion that children can be happy, rather, they're full of joy. But to be truly, fully, happy, they would need to know what they had, when they had it. The freedom of no responsibilities, the ability to be in total bliss over such small moments. To be fully happy as children, we would need to have a better understanding of how different life would be when we were older, and how ignorant we are then of the coming stresses. We talked about how happiness according to Aristotle was dependent on how long you had lived. But what if he didn't mean the years you had been on earth, but the life in your years. We decided that this philosophy was strictly individually based. No one could determine whether or not you were truly happy or just under the impression that you are.

7 comments:

  1. FQ: Who tried to show that we have no reason to fear death?

    DQ: What is it about death that is fearful to people?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tddSSnBIilo

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    Replies
    1. DQ: If you were one of Pyrrho's friends, do you think you would be astounded by his genius or more frightened by his exotic tendencies?

      FQ: Epicurus was concerned that he might be punished in an afterlife. T or F

      link : http://youtu.be/irornIAQzQY

      Delete
  2. Fascinating topic. This cartoon speaks directly to the problem of our (oddly) socially-isolating captivity to screens: http://delightsprings.blogspot.com/2014/09/beam-us-up.html.

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  3. FQ: Epicurus tried to show that we have no reason to fear what, while still being allowed to fear the process of it?
    DQ: Which is better: a finite existence, or an afterlife?http://youtu.be/rMreLmf7g1A
    http://youtu.be/Hwh8K6MEz30

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  4. FQ: Which philosopher thought that you should always "believe the lesser miracle?"

    DQ: Pyrrho believed that you cannot trust the senses, and that everything is a matter of opinion. Do you agree with this notion? Why or why not?

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Petrarca-Meister_001.jpg

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  5. FQ: Dealing with The Gambler's Argument or Pascal's Wager, is the point of view agnostic or atheist?

    DQ: Does Epicurus' belief that our worrying of the future after our death and our obliviousness to the past before our birth make sense? Why or why not?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tddSSnBIilo (Epicurus on happiness and death)

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  6. FQ: Who tried to show that we have no reason to fear death because an afterlife could improves one's current life?
    DQ: If there was evidence proving God does exist, would that do away with faith? Or would faith be just as important as before there was evidence?
    Link: Epicurus quotes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84w9jx5T24

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