Up@dawn 2.0

Friday, September 20, 2019

Quiz Sep 23/24

Please finalize your midterm reports info, presentations begin Wednesday/Thursday this week. As we ease into cooler autumnal weather, bear in mind the possibility of taking us outdoors if your report conduces to that. Socrates himself-LISTEN

LH 1, FL 13-14, JW

LH
1. What kind of conversation did Socrates consider a success?

2. What was wisdom, for Socrates?

3. It is mostly through what texts that we know the ideas and beliefs of Socrates?

4. With what Platonic theory does the parable of the cave connect?

5. Was it abstract or empircal reasoning that Plato valued more?

6. According to Plato, how was the ideal society organized? 

Atkinson
8. What sort of companions are needed for walking the field?

9. What might be like a "gentle transfusion from dull reality to universal reality?"

FL 13-14
10. What Englightenment attitude resulted in the tendency to "disbelieve official explanations?"

11. What do religious and conspiratorial explanations have in common?

12. What was the Freemasons' Secret, according to Ben Franklin?

13. How did many Northerners account for their side's early setbacks in the Civil War?

14. What novel idealized the South and was considered "an antidote to the abolition mischief?"

15. Who did Mark Twain blame for "measureless harm" that reversed southern progress and led to the Civil War?

DQ

  • Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?
  • Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?
  • Do you agree with Socrates' conception of philosophy as "an intimate and collaborative activity" requiring "discussions among small groups of people"? (150) What part should reflecting and writing play in this activity?
  • Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
  • How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
  • Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)
  • Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?
  • Do you think Socrates really heard the voice of an inner "guardian spirit" or daimon? Or was he talking about what we might call the voice of conscience or reason?
  • Do you think you'd have found Socrates' arguments persuasive, if you'd been a member of his jury? (145)
  • Should everyone philosophize? Or are some just "called" to that vocation? How do Socrates and Plato differ on this point?
  • Socrates says "goodness brings wealth and every other blessing"... (148) What would he say about people who achieve wealth and success by behaving badly? (Tom Brady maybe, for instance?) What would he say about our society, and those who value money-making above all? Would he agree with Wm James regarding "success"? (See sidebar quote...)
  • How do you rank the virtues? (152)
  • What's your response to the Euthyphro question? (158)
  • What role do you think your early environment, including the music and stories you heard, played in the formation of your character? (161)
  • Was Diogenes "Socrates gone mad"? (169) Is it a mistake to accept and follow the conventions of your community? Should a philosopher flout convention and live like a dog (who's not been trained)?
  • Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)
  • Where do you imagine you would be in the social hierarchy, if you lived in Plato's ideal republic? (LH 6)
  • Do you think Socrates did in fact "corrupt the youth"? (LH 7)
  • Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
  • Do you agree with Socrates/Plato about the ladder of love?
  • Is there an important difference between practical and theoretical knowledge? Is knowledge for its own sake as valuable as knowing "how to"?
  • Does human nature mirror society, and vice versa? Can we learn how to manage one by imitating the other?
  • Was Plato right to suggest that the fate of Socrates was like that of the escaped cavedweller in his Republic? (199)

Socrates (@socratesquots)
Why do souls exceeding long to behold the truth? Because truth is where rest is found.

Socrates, cosmopolitan
When asked where he came from, Diogenes  replied: “I am a citizen of the world (kosmopolitês)”. Socrates (470-399 BC) concurred: “I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.”

"There are four main witnesses for the intimate thoughts of Socrates..." (Dream of Reason)
==
"I facilitate philosophical discussions, which I call Socrates Cafe..."
==
“I don't think that virtue—what we call arete—exists anymore.” No such thing as virtue? How can that be,in this of all places? I'm in the ancient agora of Athens, Greece, and I have just posed the question “What is virtue?"..Six Questions of Socrates
==
5 Best Books on Socrates (MM McCabe)... on Plato (Melissa Lane)... "Philosophy's Martyr-Socrates and the Socratics" (in The Dream of Reason by Anthony Gottlieb)... Dear Socrates (Philosophy Now)... Euthyphro... Finding your better half (on Plato's Symposium, Socrates in Love, etc.)... Plato's Academy is now a public park (Critchley)...
Soc. ...The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods. Euth. I do not understand your meaning, Socrates. Soc. I will endeavour to explain...
==

Arts & Letters Daily search results for “socrates” (6)


2014-04-15 | Living?and dying?for a cause. For a poet, for a suffragette, and for Socrates, self-sacrifice was a principled last act. But what does it actually mean? more »

2018-12-08 | Writing weakens the intellect, or so claimed Socrates. Despite this, two new books set out to rehabilitate classical philosophy more »

2016-10-27 | Socrates set the bar too high. Sage, ascetic, gadfly: His purity of motivation is impossible for philosophers to sustain in modern capitalist society more »

2011-01-01 | Socrates dismissed money as irrelevant and even inimical to the good life. But what is so morally corrosive about material comfort? more »

2011-01-01 | 'Late in life, Rousseau acknowledged that it was arrogant of him to promote virtues he couldn''t live up to. Sorry, Socrates, the examined life isn''t what it''s cracked up to be' more »

2018-06-08 | Did you know that Aristotle spoke with a lisp? That Socrates enjoyed dancing? The third-century gossip of Diogenes Laërtius is fascinating, if not always factual more »

==

...for “plato” (13)


2017-01-05 | What would Plato tweet? Social media feels like liberation because it seems to unburden us of our shame. But a man without shame, Plato warned, is a slave to desire  more »

2012-08-20 | The conscience has long been considered the site of moral reasoning. But from Plato to Sara Ruddick, the female conscience has proven confusing more »

2014-10-22 | It's been said ? Alfred North Whitehead said it ? that the history of philosophy is a 'series of footnotes to Plato.' Funny. And completely wrong more »

2017-12-30 | What, exactly, are thought experiments? Glimpses into Plato’s heavenly realm? Simple, ordinary argumentation? They may be something else entirely: mental modeling more »

2012-08-16 | Plato was wary; Horace, too. And why not? Magic is irrational, a false science. Yet our fascination continues unabated in this rationalist age more »

2015-10-12 | If everything is amazing, why is nobody happy? Consider the answers of two philosophical giants: Plato and Louis C.K. more »

2017-12-06 | Equality is a modern idea. Its detractors have included Plato and Aristotle; indeed, for most Western thinkers, humanity was marked by chasms of distinction more »

2014-03-11 | Plato had strong views about many things: beauty, education, virtue, knowledge. In short, he had a mouth on him. But a cable TV talking head? more »

2010-01-01 | Should some kinds of music, especially pop, be positively discouraged, others encouraged? Standing with Plato, Roger Scruton answers a resounding yes more »

2016-06-01 | It’s odd that poetry can inspire hatred, and yet denunciations of the genre have been lobbed for centuries. It all started with Plato more »

2018-05-12 | For Plato, uprightness made us human; for Kant, people were inherently bent; Hegel worried about stiffness. Why does posture attract such philosophical attention? more »

2016-07-14 | Helen DeWitt went to Oxford to study Euripides and discovered she’d rather be Euripides. Now she rages against the publishing industry: “Plato did not have an editor” more »

2017-03-15 | A democracy with an exceptionalist heritage is unprepared to respond wisely when arrogance takes over. That's the lesson of Athens and Plato: Greatness has to be earned again and again more »
Image result for jesus and mo euthyphro
Dave O'Hara (@Davoh)
I love teaching Plato's Socratic dialogues. Not because I am a Platonist but because they invite good questions and good conversation. Their incompleteness suggests that the work of philosophy is not to learn Socrates' alleged doctrines but to continue the dialogue without him.





...Socrates was not elitist in the normal sense. He didn’t believe that a narrow 
few should only ever vote. He did, however, insist that only those who had thought about issues rationally and deeply should be let near a vote. We have forgotten this distinction between an intellectual democracy and a democracy by birthright. We have given the vote to all without connecting it to wisdom. And Socrates knew exactly where that would lead: to a system the Greeks feared above all, demagoguery.
Ancient Athens had painful experience of demagogues, for example, the louche figure of Alcibiades,a rich, charismatic, smooth-talking wealthy man who eroded basic freedoms and helped to push Athens to its disastrous military adventures in Sicily. Socrates knew how easily people seeking election could exploit our desire for easy answers. He asked us to imagine an election debate between two candidates, one who was like a doctor and the other who was like a sweet shop owner. The sweet shop owner would say of his rival: Look, this person here has worked many evils on you. He hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you not to eat and drink whatever you like. He’ll never serve you feasts of many and varied pleasant things like I will. Socrates asks us to consider the audience response: Do you think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? The true answer – ‘I cause you trouble, and go against you desires in order to help you’ would cause an uproar among the voters, don’t you think? We have forgotten all about Socrates’s salient warnings against democracy. We have preferred to think of democracy as an unambiguous good – rather than as something that is only ever as effective as the education system that surrounds it. As a result, we have elected many sweet shop owners, and very few doctors.

==
From Russell's History-

CHAPTER XI Socrates SOCRATES is a very difficult subject for the historian. There are many men concerning whom it is certain that very little is known, and other men concerning whom it is certain that a great deal is known; but in the case of Socrates the uncertainty is as to whether we know very little or a great deal. He was undoubtedly an Athenian citizen of moderate means, who spent his time in disputation, and taught philosophy to the young, but not for money, like the Sophists. He was certainly tried, condemned to death, and executed in 399 B. C., at about the age of seventy. He was unquestionably a well-known figure in Athens, since Aristophanes caricatured him in The Clouds. But beyond this point we become involved in controversy. Two of his pupils, Xenophon and Plato, wrote voluminously about him, but they said very different things. Even when they agree, it has been suggested by Burnet that Xenophon is copying Plato. Where they disagree, some believe the one, some the other, some neither. In such a dangerous dispute, I shall not venture to take sides, but I will set out briefly the various points of view. Let us begin with Xenophon, a military man, not very liberally endowed with brains, and on the whole conventional in his outlook. Xenophon is pained that Socrates should have been accused of impiety and of corrupting the youth; he contends that, on the contrary, Socrates was eminently pious and had a thoroughly wholesome effect upon those who came under his influence. His ideas, it appears, so -82- far from being subversive, were rather dull and commonplace. This defence goes too far, since it leaves the hostility to Socrates unexplained. As Burnet says ( Thales to Plato, p. 149): "Xenophon's defence of Socrates is too successful. He would never have been put to death if he had been like that." There has been a tendency to think that everything Xenophon says must be true, because he had not the wits to think of anything untrue. This is a very invalid line of argument. A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something that he can understand. I would rather be reported by my bitterest enemy among philosophers than by a friend innocent of philosophy. We cannot therefore accept what Xenophon says if it either involves any difficult point in philosophy or is part of an argument to prove that Socrates was unjustly condemned. Nevertheless, some of Xenophon's reminiscences are very convincing. He tells (as Plato also does) how Socrates was continually occupied with the problem of getting competent men into positions of power. He would ask such questions as: "If I wanted a shoe mended, whom should I employ?" To which some ingenuous youth would answer: "A shoemaker, O Socrates." He would go on to carpenters, coppersmiths, etc., and finally ask some such question as "who should mend the Ship of State?" When he fell into conflict with the Thirty Tyrants, Critias, their chief, who knew his ways from having studied under him, forbade him to continue teaching the young, and added: "You had better be done with your shoemakers, carpenters, and coppersmiths. These must be pretty well trodden out at heel by this time, considering the circulation you have given them" ( Xenophon, Memorabilia, Bk. I, Chap. II). This happened during the brief oligarchic government established by the Spartans at the end of the Peloponnesian War. But at most times Athens was democratic, so much so that even generals were elected or chosen by lot. Socrates came across a young man who wished to become a general, and persuaded him that it would be well to know something of the art of war. The young man accordingly went away and took a brief course in tactics. When he returned, Socrates, after some satirical praise, sent him back for further instruction (ib. Bk. III, Chap I). Another young man he set to learning the principles of -83- finance. He tried the same sort of plan on many people, including the war minister; but it was decided that it was easier to silence him by means of the hemlock than to cure the evils of which he complained. With Plato's account of Socrates, the difficulty is quite a different one from what it is in the case of Xenophon, namely, that it is very hard to judge how far Plato means to portray the historical Socrates, and how far he intends the person called "Socrates" in his dialogues to be merely the mouthpiece of his own opinions. Plato, in addition to being a philosopher, is an imaginative writer of great genius and charm. No one supposes, and he himself does not seriously pretend, that the conversations in his dialogues took place just as he records them. Nevertheless, at any rate in the earlier dialogues, the conversation is completely natural and the characters quite convincing. It is the excellence of Plato as a writer of fiction that throws doubt on him as a historian. His Socrates is a consistent and extraordinarily interesting character, far beyond the power of most men to invent; but I think Platocould have invented him. Whether he did so is of course another question... (continues)
==
An old post-
Socrates & Plato
Western philosophy began well before Socrates, but we'll leave the pre-Socratics to themselves for now and pretend that Socrates was indeed the first (western) philosopher. We'll also soft-pedal Bertrand Russell's judgment (later shared by Izzy Stone) that the Platonic Socrates is "dishonest and sophistical in argument... smug and unctuous... not scientific in his thinking... [guilty of] treachery to truth" and so on. If the esteemed Socrates-as-paragon and personification of intellectual integrity ("I'd rather die than give up my philosophy" etc.) didn't exist we'd have had to invent him. Perhaps Plato did.

In the southern part of Europe is a little country called Greece… the Greeks have lived in it for more than three thousand years. In olden times they believed that before they came to the land it was the home of the gods, and they used to tell wonderful stories


And then Socrates came along to challenge some of those stories. (There actually were some important pre-Socratics like Thales and Democritus already challenging what everybody knew, but we’re jumping ahead in our Little History.) And that’s why, from a western philosopher’s point of view, the Greeks matter.

The old Parthenon must have been lovely, but I think ours is prettier nowadays. And btw, our Parthenon's city ("The Athens of the South") is hot (as in cool) lately.

[There's a new theory about the old Parthenon, btw. "Horses and riders, youths and elders, men and women, animals being led to sacrifice: What is the Parthenon’s frieze telling us?"... more]

Socrates, from Alopece, near Athens, asked a lot of questions. Like Gilda Radner's Roseanne Roseannadanna. Like Bertrand Russell:

Bertrand Russell ‏@B_RussellQuotesJan 31
In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.

Did curiosity kill the philosopher? No, a narrow plurality of 500 jurors did. (His unrepentant attitude during sentencing didn't help, either.) They convicted him of "impiety" (atheism) and corrupting the youth of Athens. One more reason I'm lucky to live in the 21st century: I don't like hemlock. I'm like Woody Allen, that way. (But if shocking new allegations are true, hemlock may be too good for him.) Steve Martin (did I mention that he was a philosophy major?) had a go at it too. Here's a good Discussion Question: what would you do, in Socrates' cell?

He was “snub-nosed, podgy, shabby and a bit strange,” says our text. "He was ugly," says podcastee Mary McCabe. But brilliant and charismatic too, as gadflies go. Said he had nothing to teach, but those around him (including young Plato) said they learned plenty from him, especially how
to discuss with others in this open-minded, open-ended way that allows them to reflect on what they think and us to reflect on what we think, without dictating, without dogma, without insistence, and without imperative... to be true to themselves: to be sincere about their beliefs and to be honest... and to have some respect for their companion. If that's not good teaching, what is? 


The annotated and hyperlinked Last Days of Socrates is a gripping and inspiring tale, whether or not its hero was really as heroic through all the days of his life as Plato and his other admirers would have us believe. The honored pedestal version of this gadfly remains a worthy ideal for philosophy.

"Plato, they say, could stick it away..." -they being Monty Python. And the late great Hitch sang it too, sorta. But Plato was a serious and sober fellow, in Reality, usually capitalizing that word to distinguish it from mere appearance. The everyday world is not at all what it appears to be, he said. If you want Truth and Reality and the Good, get out of your cave and go behold the Forms. He seemed to think that’s what his hero Socrates had done. I’m not so sure. But read the relevant Platonic dialogues telling the tragic and inspiring story of the last days of Socrates and see what you think.

He also had interesting thoughts about love and eros, as expressed through his constant dialogue character "Socrates" (who may or may not have spoken faithfully for his martyred namesake) in SymposiumAngie Hobbs says Plato rejected Aristophanes' mythic notion that we all have one unique other "half," formerly parts of our hermaphroditic spherical selves, that would complete us and make us happy. But he defended a view some of us find equally implausible, the idea that the true and highest love spurns (or spins upward from) particular persons and embraces the Form of Beauty.

The Form of Beauty "is always going to be there for you," but on the other hand "it's never going to love you back." Unrequited affection is hardly what most of us think of as Perfect Love. There's a myth for you. This really was an early foreshadowing of the phenomenon recently deplored in the Stone, our modern turn to abstraction and virtual experience in lieu of immediacy and reality and touch. ("Losing Our Touch", nyt). Reminds me, too, of Rebecca Goldstein's Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away.

We romantics (as Angie Hobbs pronounces herself, and as I confess to being too) should know better than to seek a perfect match. We should know better than to think that any enduring relationship can be wholly free of "pain, fragility, and transience." Those are inevitable parts of the story and the glory of human (as against Ideal, Platonic, Perfect) love, no? Just ask Cecil the Butler about Sidney Poitier.   ["Guess Who's Coming to DInner?"]

184 comments:

  1. Jacob Hamm (H-03)

    [Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)]
    I think that talking is better than writing in the way that it allows dialogue can be had -- at least in a instantaneous and direct way that cannot be had when simply writing (and then waiting for a response). New technology has changed this, as instantaneous conversations can essentially be recorded in text messages, etc., but the principle that people share and state information differently based on the context of the conversation & progress much more naturally than just “waiting for a reply” is still true, to an extent.


    -- I have a discussion question to add in relation to this: --

    Do you think that relatively new ways of communicating, such as through social media or text messaging cheapens real interactions or has negatively impacted our communication with each other? Or do you think it depends on how these things are used and in what context?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. George Sekeres (H-03)
      I don't think the modern convenience of texting has in any way cheapened real interactions, there's always the weird stigma of "teenagers are always just looking at there phones" but I have yet to see any real world evidence of that fact.

      Delete
    2. Erica Combs9:18 PM CDT

      H1-
      I definitely believe new ways of communication have worsened our ability to have an in-person interaction. I personally prefer talking in person or at least with a phone call rather than texting or messaging, but I know many people who talk to someone in the latter form but do not acknowledge that person in public. I think it is important to establish an in-person relationship with someone before turning to messaging or texting.

      Delete
    3. George Sekeres (H-03)
      I suppose that really depends on the type of person you are then. I have fairly bad social anxiety and for whatever reason phone calls terrify me. I'm also much better at articulating messages or ideas over text. But I see where you're coming from.

      Delete
    4. I agree, articulating ideas is a lot easier for me over text but I think that's a result of me being reserved and a not talkative person. I think if I talked more, I could articulate better.

      Delete
    5. H-03

      [in response to your added discussion question]
      I don't think newer technology cheapens real interactions of that they've negatively impacted how we communicate. Like with most things, it's not an instant 'affect all.' I think in some ways, the addition of social media and the ability to text message help us communicate with each other.
      Of course, not everyone finds the value of this which goes to say that it does depend on how people use it. You can't really put it into a specific category. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts. We all use the same technology differently, it really depends on what we're using it for.

      -I have somewhat of a discussion question related to this-
      If Socrates were alive today, how would he view our ways of communication? Would he like it because of the possibility of starting conversations? Or would he refuse to use it because it involves writing thoughts down?

      Delete
    6. Caleb McBride H03
      I definelty agree that talking is more benefital. However, i have to side with Erica here. The new forms of communication have made it so hard for people to adapt to and understand body language, which makes up 90% of our actual interactions. THe new forms of commmunication neglect that side of things and as a result our ability to navigate those cues and signals has been handicapped

      Delete
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      Delete
    8. H-6
      I belive that there are two sides to the new way we communicate. I think it has definetly hurt our face to face conversations because we don't put effort into them anymore we just pull out our phones if we have nothing else to talk about. But it also helps me keep in touch with my friends that I barely get to see, because I can see what is going on with thier life then have a conversation with them which improves my communication.

      Delete
    9. I agree that talking is much better than writing. When you talk, you are able to see the person and how they may react to what it is you are saying. You can also see the emotions in people. But it can be hard to talk in person if they are not physically there with you, and that is how texting may come into play.

      Delete
    10. I believe new age communication has impacted our ability to communicate in person. We are so used to having full conversations through text, sometimes we forget how to start conversations or understand/utilize certain social cues. With texting, those factors don't have to be taken into account.

      Delete
  2. H01

    Do you agree with Socrates' conception of philosophy as "an intimate and collaborative activity" requiring "discussions among small groups of people"? (150) What part should reflecting and writing play in this activity?

    I agree with Socrates’ conception of philosophy as “an intimate and collaborative activity” requiring “discussions among small groups of people” because small groups gives everyone a chance of expressing their opinions. Sometimes with big groups people are left out and hidden in shadows. Small group discussions bring everyone to the spotlight. Reflecting and writing should be “an intimate and collaborative activity” rather than a “discussions among small groups of people” because isolation would bring out a person’s inner most creativity that is not present within groups of people.

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    Personally, I believe that making money is first priority if I want to have a comfortable home, acheive vocational or social status, and help others. However, it is not if the money I made are gained from going against achieving vocational or social status and helping others.

    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)

    We all tend to judge by appearances, but it is only getting to know more about our friends that we are able to see their personality. When I meet new people I make first impressions on their appearance but once I get to know them better I decide whether I love or hate them. Judging by appearances is rude but everyone does it even if people deny it. So does that make everyone a bad person? No, a shallow person is someone who would continue to view others according to their appearance even after knowing them.

    Does human nature mirror society, and vice versa? Can we learn how to manage one by imitating the other?

    Human nature does indeed mirror society. I say this because growing up people are heavily influence by parents and then by society. We imitate attitudes, beliefs, fashion, and relationships that we are exposed to through media, news, and television. It would be hard for society to mirror human nature because society doesnt easily switch mindset and values. Human nature can be easily changed with social influences and nurture.

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    Everyone’s definition of perfection is different. For example, a letter grade of A is perfect to one person but an B or A+ is perfection to another person. Perfection is a person’s perspective. Since perfection is someone’s perspective, people may achieve or encounter perfection but it is not actually perfection. Socrates went around asking people questions about topics that people really understand but after a conversation with Socrates, people begin to doubt their understanding. How can we achieve or encounter perfection if people just “realize how little they know?”

    ReplyDelete
  3. Erica Combs9:06 PM CDT

    H1-
    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    Whether or not a person agrees with the issue of slavery, many Southerners have familial ties to people who fought in the Civil War and wish to focus on that rather than the war itself. Also, many people deny the fact that the war was fought over slavery and do not see a problem with recognizing war generals for fighting for this purpose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe the question entails people's opposition towards the removal of more controversial figures and memorabilia of the old Confederate rather than those that celebrated war generals. For example, the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue located off I-65 has been vandalized by many for the longest time, yet the owner of the property refuses to take it down. He even stated he wouldn't clean off the pink paint thrown on the statue in order to "draw more attention to it." There isn't a clear indication of whether the land owner is a racist by any means, but I believe his intentions are rather to preserve a part of the history of old America, despite the controversial subject being recognized. We're facing a similar debacle here on campus with Forrest Hall, the building where ROTC students train and meet. It's been under consideration of being renamed for years now, and this year it's been declared that it WON'T be changed, due to the cost of an appeal being too significant to inflict. Personally, while there is much racist context within the name and significance of Forrest Hall, it's nothing that grand that will cause an uprising within our campus grounds to have be renamed or even possibly torn down. Old buildings such as these that reflect a much different society and culture than we have now always interest me in some way and I'd rather just let it stand as it is, but I wouldn't be all too discouraged if it ended up being changed in the coming years.

      Delete
  4. Erica Combs9:13 PM CDT

    H1-

    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    My definition of faith is an inherent set of beliefs that you hold to be true. So beliefs make up faith. I believe devotion to reason can be characterized as a sort of faith, because you find reason to be true and are striving to pursue the beliefs that make up reason.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Caleb McBride H3
      I agree with you for the most part but personally i feel that faith is more of a trust in something you don't see. Belief i feel is a set of expectations that are internalized while faith is the trust that those beliefs are correct. Hopefully that makes some sort of sense.

      Delete
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      Delete
    3. A devotion to reason is having faith in one's self to understand ideas and solve problems. I believe faith and belief are synonymous as they both involve putting trust into something for the sake of an outcome.

      Delete
  5. Erica Combs9:22 PM CDT

    H1-

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    I think humans achieve perfection when they become comfortable with the imperfect.

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    Replies
    1. Caleb McBride H3
      Erica i relaly like this statement, and I agree with you. Imperfection is the natural order of things and the sooner we as humans accept that, the sooner we can elevate ourselves and become better people.

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    2. I like this a lot. To err is human, so once people learn that that isn't going to change, the world would probably be a much more happy place.

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    3. H01:
      I really like this philosophy. As humans we can never be perfect but maybe there is something perfect about our imperfections.

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  6. George Sekeres (H-03)
    [DQ4]
    I believe that you can have a "faith" or a system of belief without belonging to a specific organized religion, and therefore think a devotion to reason could work in that sense.
    [DQ5]
    I've never given money making a terribly high importance in life, although it always makes itself an unwanted priority. I'd say helping others is probably at the top, I don't need social status as long as I have some good friends.
    [DQ5]
    The appearance of someone holds little to no importance in whether I want to be someone's friend. I believe you might be a little shallow if you do, but that's just me.
    [DQ16]
    I think talking is useful as opposed to writing in the sense that it allows for active discourse, which is always a good way to get new ideas flowing as well as show multiple sides to an issue.
    [DQ18]
    I think any youth can do with a bit of healthy corrupting, if it helped them realize a bit about what they didn't know to know.
    [DQ19]
    I think perfection is a more of a construct than an achievable state. Even the natural state of the world is a sort of entropic chaos. We are always changing out own human perception of what a perfect life, or person, or society is. Perhaps the only way to live a perfect life is to accept the imperfections that make it worth living.

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  7. H-03

    1. Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)
    - When it comes to philosophical thought and letting our ideas flow, writing can be better than talking because writing allows us to organize our thoughts in a more controlled manner. Unless you are someone who is more sophisticated in speaking and can calculate everything you say before you say it, writing helps you spot the imperfections or lack of flow in your thought.

    2. Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
    - Yes, I think so. I think having faith is having complete confidence in something/someone, despite there sometimes not being sufficient evidence to support your faith. It's taking a leap (a leap of faith, ha) and allowing the benefit of the doubt. Faith is something you don't need a whole lot of evidence for. For example you can have faith in someone having the ability to do a particular thing, despite their history proving otherwise. But belief, that's something you need to prove to yourself. You have to give yourself a reason to believe in something.

    3. Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?
    - Not always. I think for some cases, it is more important for a teacher to simply provide the knowledge and not the doctrine and allow the student to decide. Sometimes, it is necessary to teach the doctrine.

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  8. H-03

    Discussion Question
    What do you think about Plato's ideal society? Do you think philosophers should have a rank in society?

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    Replies
    1. I don't see it reasonable to set philosophers as the leaders of a society, despite them possibly holding a greater knowledge of the world than most other citizens. Their implied politics should create a stable society, which Platos' didn't seem too thought out to achieve that. I believe philosophers don't need to be sectioned off in any "rank" since virtually anybody and technically everybody is a philosopher in their own ways and should follow a path in life where they don't see themselves as better and more intellectual than everyone.

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  9. Cami Farr H-0310:54 AM CDT

    DQ
    Do you think that acknowledging specific conspiracy theories contributes positively or negatively to our habit of making reflexive conspiracy theories? How do you think our perception of history would change if we discredited the actual specific conspiracies?

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    Replies
    1. I think that acknowledging the conspiracy theories simply encourage them. When people can blame their misfortune on a higher power, they feel better.

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  10. H01
    "Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?"
    I lived in Mississippi for most of my childhood despite being born in Germany. My family's European way of doing things was very different to the culture of the South. When it comes to the Confederacy people don't always think of it as symbolizing slavery. Many people will tell you the war was actually about money. While the war was partly about money a little reading will easily tell you it was mostly about slavery and ending a practice that the South relied on. People cling to it because they think it symbolizes themselves and their family even if the cause was wrong.
    "Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?"
    To me it depends on the class. It is preferable that an anatomy teacher have some factual content to teach but in more creative classes like art, philosophy, writing, etc. where the class is more focused on a student's own interpretation of works and the world around them then a specific doctrine or factual curriculum isn't really necessary.
    "How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others...?"
    To me personal happiness comes first, the happiness of my friends and family are also at the top of my list but I am not out to make people happy because I believe happiness is a personal decision. Of course if I get married and have children I will do everything in my power to give them a wonderful life and hope this makes them happy. For awhile I valued money overall until I realized just how unhappy I was. I had a lot of money but it didn't do much for me anymore. I realized that my future career should make me happy and if my bank account suffers a bit it will be ok because I will be rich in my own happiness. As cheesy as it sounds, I believe personal happiness comes above all.
    "Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)"
    Personally, I prefer writing to talking. Mostly because I write better than I talk. With writing I can express my thoughts in a more elegant way and get rid of all the awkwardness of talking.

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  11. Camden H-0311:36 AM CDT

    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    These markers and statues are a history long embedded in southern culture. Yes, they do present people and events that were caused by anti-abolitionist motivations. However, today these statues and markers mean more than what they meant when they were built. Just as Germany keeps pieces of the Berlin Wall intact and war memorials are created for the jews that were killed, the Confederate symbols are reminders of our history and reminders of what can come of political and cultural conflict. Southerners want to keep these markers whether because they understand their history's mistakes or because it is part of their heritage, but it is still OUR history that must not be covered up.

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  12. DQ3:
    Philosophy does seem to progress better when it is collaborative as Socrates states. I feel like the exchange of ideas needed to grow one's understanding cannot be cultivated only in solitary contemplation. I also feel a certain level of intimacy is required for true progress because both parties but be comfortable with being disagreed with and made uncomfortable over the course of the journey. This is best done in small groups so that everyone gets the chance to contribute and debate and the questions or proposals of any one person are not swallowed up the plowing ahead of a large group. Even still one needs a group and not simply a pair as the world has many different perspectives and it is not a dichotomy.

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  13. H-03
    I believe that philosophy should be a discussion and that only newfound thoughts or newly discovered ways of explaining ideas to someone should be written.

    I believe a teacher can be one that is an outlet for their students to learn from eachother as well. They do not always have to teach fact

    Belief is not based on faith but faith is based on belief. I think you can have a belief system that isn’t an organized religion.

    Achieving a vocational status
    Helping others,
    having a comfortable home,
    and then making money

    I feel that everyone should give thought to their own personal philosophies but not everyone is called to devote their lives to discovering worldly philosophies.

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  14. Caleb McBride H03
    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    I believe that the resistance to the statues being removed has more to do with regional pride than it does with slavery itself. The Civil War was the only time the south has really risen up and declared itself as seperate. Consequently, those who hold a great deal of regional pride for the south will be resistant towards the removal of the statues, as they could see it as an attempt to remove that spark of independence that was formed, even if the reason behind the spark was awful.

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    Replies
    1. This is really true. People constantly talk about the negative connotations with these statues, but the fact of the matter is that someone somewhere takes pride in those statues, no matter the history behind it.

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  15. Cami Farr H-0312:27 PM CDT

    I feel like texting or conunicating non-verbally through technology makes it more difficult for us to understand social and emotional queues in person.

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    Replies
    1. That's very true. A lot of people here are saying that writing is better because it lasts longer, but being able to write something down doesn't mean that you have the courage to say it in person.

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    2. Sunny, I agree with you that just because someone may say something over text does not mean that they will act on what they say when it comes to being in person! Someone could say they love you all they like over a text message, but be unable to say so while they are right in front of you.

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  16. Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    The people that defend Confederate statues seem to see any change as negative. Through the economic hardships they see as particular to the South, they feel that they have been shortchanged by leaders. The narrative is often clouded with “heritage not hate”, but that argument would rely on racism as the heritage of the South. I think the real cause of the outrage is fear. In some people’s black and white view of society, there is no room for advancement in the minority communities. If the people they unknowingly oppress were to become equal in their eyes, there would be less opportunity for themselves. The monuments are physical symbols of power and reminders of where white southerners once stood in the political and social hierarchy.

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    The constraints of modern life make money the most important asset anyone can own. Having a comfortable home, status, and charity all require monetary investments. Helping others would be second, in my opinion. You need to help yourself before you help others. I believe the idea that God or someone will reward you for charity is not widely believed. People say that it’s true, but everyone does and should help themselves first.

    Is talking better than writing?
    No. Talking is temporary, while writing can spread the message further. The effort put into articulating ideas would be much better used if it could be recorded. It’s also easier to build on ideas when writing. People forget, so writing is vital in order to present ideas clearly

    DQ:
    How does Plato's ideal society stack up against America in 2018?

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  17. Discussion Question:
    What’s another example of appearance vs reality other than the cave example?

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    Replies
    1. H01 I Really like the,"Brain in vat," by Hillary Putnam about perspective

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    2. You could compare it to Creationism vs The Big Bang. Whichever side you believe, you perceive the other side as not knowing the truth and being oblivious.

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  18. Amber Molder1:10 PM CDT

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others...?
    #H-03 // Making enough money to sustain life is very important, having some form of home where you feel safe and happy is important. Chasing after a social status is only as important as an individual makes it for themselves. Trying to reach higher social standards seems like an act to me, a difficult effort, and unnecessary if you are confident in who you are. I believe in the idea that the title doesn’t make the person. Helping people isn't always fun, but me also being a believer in “you reap what you sow”, I try to be helpful when I can be so hopefully it comes back full circle one day. Money is important to be able to live, but should not be worshiped or the sole focus in ones life. The things people should really value is experiences, connections to other people, personal milestones, adventures and happiness.

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  19. H01
    (Is talking better than writing? (LH 4))

    I would say yes. You can express your feelings to someone in writing, but it never has the same effect as actually being with that other person and saying how you feel.

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    1. Section 12
      Writing something also forces us to really focus on what we say because it can easily be turned as a weapon since its now evidence of our thoughts.

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    2. Writing certainly allows people to think more before presenting ideas. However, talking has arguably a whole lot more emotion put in. The two biggest advantages talking has over writing are verbal and nonverbal cues. Tone of voice, facial expression, hand gestures, pauses, etc. are all big things that contribute to an audience better understanding your message.

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  20. H01
    (Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?)

    I think imperfection is just a part of life, nothing can ever truly fit everyone's definition of "perfect." I think everyone can be perfect in their own way, but honestly, as long as you have people that love and care about you despite some things that you wish you could change, who cares about being perfect?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe that everyone is perfect in their own particular ways, and I completely agree that having people that love and accept you for who you are is what matters.

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  21. H01
    (How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?)

    Social status is definitely at the bottom for me, then it's making money, then having a comfortable home, and then helping others. Order from least to most important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sky Strube H01

      That's a very honorable order! I stand the same way.

      Delete
  22. H01
    (What role do you think your early environment, including the music and stories you heard, played in the formation of your character? (161))

    Meeting people ever since I moved to Tennessee has really showed me how different someone's upbringing can be. There are certain things I like and dislike because of how I was raised and who and what I was exposed to growing up, and depending on how someone grew up, they can think the exact opposite of everything I think. My family life and environment has everything to do with who I am today, and I'm perfectly content with that.

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  23. Is talking better than writing?

    I believe that talking is better than writing because it allows you to process your thoughts more clearly. Sometimes when I write something down, it sounds good on paper, but often it doesn't make sense when I read it out loud. It is easy to hit a block when you are writing, but you do not often hit a block if you are engaged in a conversation with someone.

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  24. Robin Cook7:33 PM CDT

    H01

    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    I think that the reason that some southerners want statues and other Confederate commemorations to remain is because of their historical importance. Although the Confederacy was a negative point in our history I assume that some people think it should remain as a reminder of who we no longer wish to be.

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  25. well my early environment was a little hectic. I am third of four kids and our range was 8 years youngest to oldest. My older sibling has a mental disability and suffered greatly when they were young and they would often come in conflict with me. My dad owned his own business and my younger sibling had another disability for my mom to deal with. so when my older sibling wanted to have a conflict with me it was up to me to solve. so I think that instilled the " if I wont do it no one will attitude" and my father instilled my love for science and history and warrior culture by the choice of readings he read to me when I was a kid, off the top of my head one was called "greatest battles of ancient Greece"

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  26. answering DQ "Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?

    Id say officially the south is over the civil war since it is not trying to secede. I don't see why native southerners( generations of living in south) don't as a whole acknowledge them being on the wrong side of the civil war, but I'm not one so I cant answer but id imagine they wouldn't want to dishonor dead relatives. I also would not say there is a large legacy of racist oppression in our country because what can blacks not do that whites can? what can followers of Islam or Judaism not do that Christians can in the USA? maybe someone yells something horribly offensive like " go back to wherever *******" or something like that but as a nation that has freedom of speech people can say that and I respect that, I also respect every time a racist gets what they have coming to them by being racist. Getting back to my point I would not say American society as a whole is racist, do we have racist individuals? absolutely , but as an American myself I respect a human life as a Human until mine is not treated as such.

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  27. answerinf DQ"Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?"


    Well I oppose the removal of confederate statues greatly and I think slavery was one of the greatest evils in human history. How can I think that you may ask? Well as soon as people start erasing history people begin to forget what happened. For example, in Japan, world war 2 is not commonly taught in school. Why? Because in WW2 the Japanese Imperial army was one of the most evil forces on the planet by any measure, murdering hundreds of thousand of Chinese citizens alone. My point is remembering history helps you know whats coming. So the confederate statues do a few things, they honor the bravery of American soldiers, yes American. They pay tribute to people who were willing to die for what they believed in and fighting what they believed was an oppressive national government. They also show how far we as an American nation have come from slavery. I believe in remembering history no matter what, especially the bad parts of history. I think this because imagine being a member of something bad that happened in history like the civil war. Obviously remembering the crime of slavery is important, but to remember history correctly you must remember and acknowledge all of it, every day. To sum up, every time you go down to the square and see the confederate statue, appreciate the greatness of the time and place in which we live, no matter your race or gender.

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  28. Samual Shapiro H029:12 PM CDT

    (Why does opposition to the removal of old Confederate statues still remain?)
    I think, in at least some cases, people are opposed to the idea of destroying racist memorials because they are under the notion that “liberals ruin everything.” Many southerners ask themselves, “What would Hillary Clinton do?” and then make sure that they do the exact opposite. Some extreme conservatives will disagree with anything that the left says to do (likewise, some extreme liberals will never agree with anything a conservative says), especially when it comes to monuments in their home state.
    In addition, many places in the south have little to be proud of. My hometown was close to the place where Meriwether Lewis died, and we had a football team that was pretty good for our size, but not much compared to the larger schools in the state. That isn’t a whole lot to brag about, so I can understand people wanting to broaden the number of things they take pride in. People from a small town like mine view these dark days in history as tradition, rather than abhorrent acts, and cling to that, because otherwise they would have very little culture of their own.

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  29. Samual Shapiro H029:12 PM CDT

    (Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?)
    In the distant future, I can see this happening, but I do not find it likely within this presidential term, to say the least. For whatever reason, some people (with higher concentrations of these people in the south) struggle to treat everyone as decent humans, and it will be a very long, long time before this comes to an end. However, as time passes, these ideas will slowly die, and populations of these people will become smaller and smaller.

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  30. Samual Shapiro H029:12 PM CDT

    (is devotion to reason considered faith)
    I would not consider devotion to reason faith. I may be wrong, but I see faith as a sort of blind obedience, or of a reliance on chance. Having faith in a religion or in a person to me is to trust that that religion is true, or that that person will succeed. Reason, on the other hand, is less about chance, and is more about logic. Devotion to reason, as I see it, will never disappoint anyone on the road to success. Reason encompasses much more than faith. I can pray all that I want that I will succeed on an exam, but only reason will help me pass it. Reason, too, can be used to treat others with respect (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is a phrase, while being attributed to Jesus, that is purely contrived of reason and alludes to no faith of itself).

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  31. Samual Shapiro H029:13 PM CDT

    (How do I rank the importance…?)
    I have mixed views on this topic. In one of these views, I look at how America as a whole views money, best summarized by Mr. Krabbs, “Money makes the world go ‘round, and makes me heart go pound.” We refuse to treat those whose life depends on treatment unless they have insurance or are willing to enter a lifetime of debt; we allow people to sleep on roadsides. Fixing these issues, however, is not profitable, so they remain. Money, in this sense, is the most important thing in the world.
    I hate that the world is like this, but changing it is a great task, and if anything is to be done, one must have the money to campaign. Money is central to everything, even to becoming less dependent on money. I seek a world where helping others comes first, where we provide shelters and medicines because we want to better the lives of others, but at this stage in American capitalism, change would only come with revolution, which would quite possibly only result in more harm.
    My second view excludes money and considers it a black hole of morality, a justification of cruelties. The things I want most in life are as follows, which are all more or less equal in importance: a family, a log cabin in the woods, a series of novels to my name, and perhaps a political position to better the wellbeing of the less fortunate. At some point in my life, or perhaps in my will, I want to make a considerable difference in the lives of children who lacked the opportunities that average Americans get. As a college student, I focus almost entirely on myself for the time being, but one day in the distant future, I have vague plans to give most everything back.

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  32. Sky Strube H01
    What's your response to the Euthyphro question?

    For the most part, I think being deceitful isn't being immoral as long as your deceit isn't truly harming anyone. I believe white lies are ok. I believe doing something to help yourself instead of helping someone else is ok. As long as you don't hurt anyone, it's not good, but it's OK.

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  33. Sky Strube H01
    Where do you imagine you would be in the social hierarchy, if you lived in Plato's ideal republic?

    I've always felt very average in my society and I think that would reflect my place in Plato's republic. Just another person

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    Replies
    1. "Another person" as in "just another slave"? The majority were working class/slaves. Specificity is a wonderful thing. H2

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  34. Sky Strube H01
    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    No. We haven't since Jesus and we won't until Jesus comes back.

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    Replies
    1. Man has perfected the art of doubt. H2

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  35. Sky Strube H01
    Is talking better than writing?

    Well, I'm an English major so I think my answer here will have to be no. I like to present my thoughts in a carefully constructed and articulated way. Talking is definitely how I will spill what i truly think because I don't have time to do otherwise, but I feel like writing can capture something that a conversation can't.

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    Replies
    1. I think writing is better than talking because you can organize you words and thoughts much better while writing. If you good at talking then conveying your message to the recipient will be easy but if your not then writing is your best friend.

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  36. Mehraeil Zaki H2
    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    As bad as it sounds, I would rank having a comfortable home as first on my list. I thought about it for a bit and had a hard time choosing what comes first, making money or having a comfortable home. I thought about it and found that even making money would not guarantee me a comfortable home, it can guarantee me a nice home but not necessarily a comfortable one. What defines a comfortable home, is the mood and vibe inside it that is created by the people in it. It is very important for me to have a comfortable home that I can back to after a long day at work and school. Home is a safe spot that I get to create and design. After that, I believe making money comes next since then I can better achieve a social status and help others when I have a decent amount of money that can keep me and my family financially comfortable and leave us with a little bit more to help those around me. I would rank helping others next after making money. I think the only way to help others is by helping yourself first. You cannot be an empty cup and expect to fill others after. Finally, I would put achieving a social status last since it really does not matter to me compared to the others.

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  37. H01
    • Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)
    I definitely try to see past appearances because these aren’t the things that matter. Looks can change or fade, but what sticks around is a person’s character or values. I don’t think its always shallow to base by appearances because often the way we present ourselves is the way we want to be seen and is predictive of who we are. However, I do think it can be shallow to make judgements based on the parts of our appearance that are out of our control.

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  38. Timothy Kelley11:19 AM CDT

    H03

    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)

    I always try to see beyond the superficial qualities in friends and peers. A deeper, intimate relationship with someone must exist with knowing something about their mind or history. I believe that people have a lot to tell by appearance alone, and what you get to know on the inside further emphasizes that. But I think the problem of prejudice arises when people judge strangers versus their friends. Some consider it a theoretical sin to judge someone based on appearance. But in practice, it is destined to happen to everyone. I say that it is an unacceptable practice to judge by appearances, but the truth is that I do it to some extent. But the real unacceptable practice is to dismiss or upright avoid a person based strictly on looks. Is it moral? Well there’s a gray area. If a murderer or pervert looks like a murderer or pervert, it’s hard to go against that thought and want to not walk away. Stereotyping, however, is absolutely immoral in the sense of judging people. It deprives people of the potential theoretical humanity that is bestowed to them. If they prove themselves to be of negative company because of actually knowing them instead superficial qualities, then that gives you right to push them out. In my opinion, judging on superficial qualities does make you a shallow person. To actually know someone should not be based on the clothes they wear or what they look like, but rather what truth they know about their world and how it fits in with yours.

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  39. To the first discussion question, people don't associate their racist beliefs with the racism of the past simply because the consequences of modern racist aren't as severe, though the emotional impact is still strong. Which is why people want them removed because they believe those statues symbolize they Americans still allow racism but won't admit that they do

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  40. The South will never move past the civil war because its a symbol of strength for them. I also believe that alot of the facts of that war have been blatantly ignored and other less-significant ones were made more important by the history books

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  41. One cannot understand and study philosophy without recognizing the voices on either side. That being said, I agree with Socrates

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  42. I'm a strong believer that alot of people tend to avoid reason when discussing their faith in things.

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  43. I don't think a teacher needs a doctrine to teach so long as they know what they are trying to teach their students

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  44. Everyone judges by appearance. It's when you stick to that judgment that you become shallow. One must observe the mannerisms of others to determine who they are. After that, the general "attractiveness" of the person shifts based on your observations

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  45. I think everyone philosophizes without realizing it. Otherwise, they'd have nothing to live for because they'd have no motivation

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    Replies
    1. Every person has their own unique philosophy, they just never call it that. You can ask any person what they think of the world, and they will give you their philosophy without knowing it.

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  46. "Given the near-universal acknowledgement..."
    To several people, the statues represent more than just slavery. Just because those people supported slavery, doesn't mean everything they did was bad.

    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    I would say it depends on the subject. For some of the classic subjects like English or math should require extensive education. However, if it is something like a foreign language, and someone has grown up speaking that language, degrees aren't necessarily important.

    Was Plato right to suggest that the fate of Socrates was like that of the escaped cavedweller in his Republic?

    Yes, Socrates was looking at everything from a perspective unfounded by anyone else in his time.

    Should everyone philosophize?

    I feel like everyone should in some form philosophize. At its root, philosophy is just the love of wisdom and for that reason, everyone should love wisdom and in tern, philosophize.

    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief

    A faith Is something that is believed period and in most cases, cannot be shaken even by blatant facts. Faith is like a religion. A belief is like thinking you have the right answer on a test.



    ReplyDelete
  47. Ho1- should every person philosophize?
    I think every person should think and question their own convictions- search deeply why they believe what they believe. In that way, everyone should philosophize, but I don’t think every person needs to be exclusively a philosopher.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. H02: I agree with you. I think it is important to be able to defend and convey your own convictions and the best way to be able to do that is to search deeply and question why you believe what you do.

      Delete
    2. Section 9
      I think arguing for other people that hold different opinions or beliefs is a powerful way to examine your own, and discover your personal biases.

      Delete
    3. I agree with you that not everyone needs to be a philosopher. Ideally everyone should ponder deep their convictions and why they stand by them. A person who can't back up their reasoning doesn't stand a chance in an argument or debate with another person

      Delete
  48. H-02
    Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?
    As long as those in the South remember the Civil War, they will never admit to being on the wrong side of the war. These people have been raised with “representing the Confederacy” as part of them as people, and no one willingly admits their entire belief system is immoral. If you ask some southerners, they completely deny that the Civil War was based on slavery at all. Because of this belief, they will never be able to get over or admit their wrong-doings in the Civil War.

    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
    Reason is based on proof. You reason things based on the evidence in the situation. You avoid the situations with no proof of the matter at all. The basis of faith is that no proof is needed to justify the belief. Faith is belief itself. Every belief is contingent with the faith of the believer.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Topher Kashif12:43 PM CDT

    H01

    I believe that they look at it one of two ways. Either they see it as part of our history whether it be extremely bad or not, or they have the extremist views regarding slavery and racism. Some may place importance on being able to identify and acknowledge our history in hopes of not repeating it while others place pride in the turn of events that occurred.

    First of all, I feel like generalizing the “southerners” beliefs about such topic is impossible and not representative. However, maybe one day, as new generations emerge and older generations fade, the topic will fade as well.

    Yes I do agree. Reflecting and writing is extremely level to express and understand the different ideals and opinions regarding their philosophical belief. It would play a main role.

    I feel as if a faith is devotion to a more powerful/unknown/spiritual being while devotion to reason is more of a belief. They are different.

    (1) - having a comfortable home (2) - helping others (3) - money (4) - achieving status

    I believe that I look beyond, however I have caught myself (rarely) judging by appearance when I am tired, or not in a good mood. I don’t believe that it necessarily makes you a shallow person if you do it rarely, but if you do it consistently, then the question may arise.

    Not necessarily, but it does provide more of a scheduled, guided topic.

    I feel as if he was talking about what he might call the voice of conscience or reason.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Ethan Young12:53 PM CDT

    (H02) Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    There are many reasons why such opposition exists, some legitimate and some no so founded in reason. Regardless, family ties to participates in the civil wars is one. Institutions such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans who recognize the importance their ancestors played in the bloody conflict that occurred years ago. The strongest and more important issue which I argue for is that they are monuments of history. Ripping down and destroying statues will not change the past, it only diminishes the significance of the event and our greater understanding of the whole affair. I can understand removing them to preserve them and their historical value, the tricky part is where does suppression of fact and history end and begin? If we erase all the errors and mistakes of our past, how will we learn from them? This is what I believe to be a good (or at least a reasonable) purpose for why Southerners object to the removal of Confederate statues.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Emily Caprio1:22 PM CDT

    Emily Caprio - H02

    "Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)"

    I always make myself see beyond someone’s physical appearance before I judge them. Yes, their physical appearance can reveal some things about them, however, only then will you find very few things. Even so, they can be extremely inaccurate. It’s always better to know the person for who they are rather than how they appear.

    "Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?"

    It all depends on what they teach. If it facts and non-straying information, like equations in math or formulas in science, then yes I believe at least very factual content to teach. On the other hand, if it is just Philosophy, for example, I would say no. For philosophy, you just need a mind to think, a mouth to speak, and a person with a pair of ears to listen. There is no textbook to teach and person’s philosophy, only the history of it.

    "Is talking better than writing?"

    Talking is always better than writing in the sense that you get to actively engage in a person’s conversation or with what you yourself are saying. In writing, you cannot tell a person’s true emotions about what they are writing about. Rather, when listening to the same person verbally explaining the same topic, you begin to hear their emotions behind it whether it be happy, sad, mad, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  52. H02:
    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    I would say that it is very important to look at the big picture when ranking these. Yes, it is important to have a good job and make money, but I believe that you can have all the best things and status but yet no be a good person if you do not do things for others. I definitely would rank helping others above all on this list. Next I would say having a comfortable home because that is important. It is important to achieve your vocational goals so I would definitely put that above achieving your social status goals.
    Is talking better than writing?
    I think that talking is better than writing in most aspects. It is not if the things that you are talking about isn’t recorded because then others will not be able to first hand know what was said. But I do believe that taking is great because when two people are talking they can invoke each other to their opinions. They can also ask questions that expands one’s mind. When talking you can expand on your ideas and ask questions that can lead to deeper conversations and ideas. I prefer talking rather than writing because I am better at explaining most things in person rather than written words. I can see though where some would prefer writing and I do see both sides.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Section 9
    What role do you think your early environment, including the music and stories you heard, played in the formation of your character?
    I believe listening to Hank Williams Jr and Lynyrd Skynyrd and hearing all the stories of how my father took nothing off of anyone and prided himself in being blessed to be born in the South shaped me into a person that also takes nothing off of anyone and does not cower down when confronted about my "redneck accent".

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  55. Section 9
    ...why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    I believe part of the thinking is along the lines of "the South wasn't entirely wrong or evil" and as such, removal of the relics of the past - monuments, statues, etc - results in a sort of historical revisionism in the minds of proponents of their continued display.

    Romanticism plays a large part.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Section 9
    Alternate DQ

    Which state would you think would be most likely to secede from the United States, regardless if they succeeded or failed, and why (?

    ReplyDelete
  57. Nick Price
    PHIL 1030-009

    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    As someone with mixed race (father is black, mother is white) I have heard both sides of this argument. My mother certainly is not for keeping these statues up, I think mostly because she married my father and she saw that many of the things that her family participated in was hurtful to him. My parents both came from different parts of ATL. My moms family would celebrate every July 4th the confederate generals up on Stone Mountain and I guess that that is something that brings southerners pride after they were stripped of their pride after the civil war. They were essentially forced to live a different lifestyle and told that theirs was wrong (I have to agree when it comes to slavery) and that’s a source of tension to this day. My dad on the other hand lived in a pseudo-segregated portion of ATL. I feel like I have to have empathy for both ways of thinking but I don’t think that other than the uncomfort of taking these statues down, there is any other valid reason to keep them up.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Owen Martin7:25 PM CST

    DQ: Do you think Socrates did in fact "corrupt the youth"? (LH 7)
    Not at all, Socrates inspired the youth to think and ask questions. Whenever people object to social norms it is considered corrupted, but it has been immensely helpful in moving humanity forward both morally, like outlawing slavery, and technologically, like the invention of the computer over everything it has replaced.

    DQ: Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    I do not think humans ever achieve perfection. Even in achieving one thing perfectly, every human must contend with their less than perfect past and future.

    DQ: Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?
    It does not take much time in the South to realize that the idea of "heritage not hate" is one that people actually believe. While it may seem illogical to think that a hateful symbol or idea is not hateful in and of itself, it is the thought process of many people in the South that confederate flags and statues of confederate generals are really just about people defending their homeland or southern pride, rather than what they actually have always represented.

    DQ: Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?
    I do not think that 100% of Southerners will ever get over the Civil War. While the South may have many more people acknowledging the problems of the War, there will likely always be a faction of people in the South who view the War as the "War of Northern Aggression" rather than a war against the great evil of slavery.

    DQ: How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    Of these, helping others is the most important. Aiding in the advancement of the most people possible seems to be morally better than helping oneself. There can be a good argument made for advancing oneself to better aid people with less ability to advance, however, but it seems that that requires a lot of time not helping others, which seems backwards if giving help is the main goal.

    DQ: Should everyone philosophize? Or are some just "called" to that vocation?
    Everyone does philosophize to some degree. It may not be in a traditional or academic way, but everyone has to make decisions at some point and these decisions can all be viewed as small points in which each person is philosophizing.

    DQ: What role do you think your early environment, including the music and stories you heard, played in the formation of your character? (161)
    Early environment has most definitely affected me and my character. Most explicitly, the Bible and Christian teaching have affected my moral and ethical views to some degree. And while I definitely disagree with a lot of what I was taught, I am still influenced by it and think about it daily.

    DQ: Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)
    Talking is in some ways more effective than writing. It can make communication easier to be face to face. Writing, however, allows the speaker to have a lot more time to think through what is being said. Both have pros and cons.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Section 6
    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    I think we all like to claim that we've seen perfection or been a part of perfection; we call our friends "perfect", our amazing class presentation has to be "perfect", our day is going to be "perfect", and so on... In reality, none of these things are perfect, they fall short in some way or the other. If you're a believer in a higher power, you know that perfection can not be reached until Heaven. If you're not a believer, I would assume you know perfection isn't obtainable. What is the true definition of perfection? Can it be defined?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Section 13
      I am a huge believer in perfection isn't a real physical thing. We use the word almost as a metaphor. Saying that this person is perfect is the same thing as saying they are great; no one believes they are truly flawless. In that sense, I do not believe that humans have or will achieve perfection.

      Delete
  60. 1030-10

    1)Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    In many instances it is not about slavery or racism but it's about history. Some people want to ignore the past, our history, and pretend it didn't happen. But the reality is that it did happen. And it is a very real part of many communities and families in the South. These people, and many others, feel that removing the statues is folding to the political correctness wave that is currently in vogue. But it will not change the past.


    2)Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    I think that if we look around at creation and know God, we have kind of met perfection. But even then, it is still hard for us to fathom. We are not perfect, and I don’t think it is humanly possible to achieve or encounter perfection. The only way to encounter it is in Heaven, and we see a bit of it here on earth through God and His creation, but we still haven’t been able to experience the whole of it.

    3) Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)


    I love writing I feel that it is a special, romantic, and thought-provoking way to communicate. But I do have to say that it is hard to tell someone’s feelings when writing and to really understand and dive deeper into what they are saying. So, I think talking is easier than writing and better for communication. But writing is the beautiful way to express and record all of these things and in my opinion, I think it is better for that, not communicating but for expression through creativity and recording yes.


    4) How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?


    I think helping others comes first. This builds who you are. Making money and having a comfortable home I feel, go together. Then achieving vocational and social status. Even though having the job of your dreams would be great, I’d rather be a selfless person who provides for her family enough and be present in their lives than have the job of my dreams.


    5) What role do you think your early environment, including the music and stories you heard, played in the formation of your character?


    I think the way we are raised is the reason we are who we are. When I moved into my dorm, I met my roommate and we are like exact opposites in a way. We were allowed to play with certain toys while the other was not, allowed to watch certain movies/tv shows while the other was not, same goes for music and activities and just overall how our parents raised us and what they let us know and see. We are two people only raised a few hours from each other, yet we are so different. Our towns are so different, and we are so different as people. I think everything makes an effect on us and the things that we were raised around has a huge role in forming us.

    ReplyDelete
  61. 1030-10

    1) Alt quiz questions:

    a) Who was not an elitist in the normal sense?
    b) According to Diogenes, where did he come from?
    c)According to Socrates, where did he come from?
    d) Who were the two disciples of Socrates?
    e)Name three rules of Pythagorean order according to the book History of Western Philosophy?

    ReplyDelete
  62. Owen Martin11:57 PM CST

    Alternative Quiz Questions:
    1. Who called the American revolution a "desperate conspiracy?"
    A: King George III

    2. Who did an English general call "as great a conspirator as ever subverted a state?"
    A: John Adams

    3. John Quincy Adams said there was "no fouler stain upon the Morals of [America]" than what group of people?
    A: The Freemasons

    ReplyDelete
  63. 006
    Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)
    I believe it is. You can convey so much more by talking to someone rather than writing. You can gauge how much the other person understands what you are saying. By talking, you can essentially have a more fruitful conversation than what you get when you simply write to someone.

    Where do you imagine you would be in the social hierarchy, if you lived in Plato's ideal republic? (LH 6)
    I imagine myself as either a philosopher or a worker. Like Socrates, I believe a fruitful conversation comes from when I can make someone else think about why they think a certain way. When I can make someone question the way they have been living in a significant way, I believe that I have made progress with them. However, I'm not sure if I could do this for a whole society. A place as a worker seems less stressful.

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    I do not believe they do. Perfection indicates that there is nothing more to work on, and I do not believe that we are without flaws or betterment. Everyday, we strive to be better, work better, or even love better. When the term "better" vanishes from our sight, I may consider our perfectness then.

    Is there an important difference between practical and theoretical knowledge?
    There is an important difference. Practical knowledge is simply that. You know what you have to do. Theoretical knowledge calls upon the reason for doing what you do. By knowing what to do and why you do it, you can have a more fruitful labor than just mindless work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 006
      DQ:
      1) Do you agree that American have so much conspiracies that they have begun to take over? What are some of the conspiracies you can think of?
      2) Could you see the Underground Railroad as a conspiracy or is it a mere historical fact?
      3) When does a conspiracy become fact? When does fact become conspiracy?
      4) What are some of the conspiracies you believe in?

      Quiz Questions
      1) Who was Socrates' pupil?
      2) Who was Socrates immediate impact on?
      3) What is the easiest way to understand Plato's Theory of Forms?
      4) As a young man, Socrates was a soldier in what?

      Delete
  64. I think talking can be better than writing in some instances, and vice versa. Writing offers a way to articulate your points, and make sure what you're saying actually makes sense, but a lot of great ideas and conversations come from the natural flow of human rapport.

    ReplyDelete
  65. H6
    Does fate exist? If so, do we have free will?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think fate exists unless you allow it to. If you believe your fate is to be the worlds greatest neurosurgeon and your work your ass off to become that then it becomes your fate. At the same time if you think you fate is to be a hobo begger on the side of the street then that will be your fate. If you don't believe in fate then your fate is just undecided until the end. Free will does exists but its not complete free will. We are still bound bound laws that we can't break. We have the freedom to chose but we can't just chose anything.

      Delete
  66. PHIL 1030-010
    "How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?"

    It's hard for me to answer these questions without sounding like I'm completely disinterested in material possessions, but I've never been big on the concept of making an incredible amount of money or achieving notorious social status - what gives me a sense of comfort moving forward is knowing that I may have a stable job with reliable income, to which I can buy a house and make that my own.

    I have a sort-of ingrained fear of not being comfortable - always a shocker, I know - but it's one that keeps my mind focused on the big picture, I believe. Sure - it would incredible to live lavishly and be able to afford a big house with all kinds of remarkable features, but I also believe that I could survive just as well with a home that has everything I need and nothing more. That's not to say that, if I made a lot of money, I would live in a house that wouldn't take up a decent portion of my budget, but it's instead to say that I find comfort in knowing that I have a place to call home, beyond, per se, the home of parents or family or friends. In the end, I guess a sense of feeling "at home" accompanied by friends and those close to me is what I'm aiming for - getting famous and making a bunch of money would be nice, but having lived my whole life knowing that that likely won't be the outcome, I'd be willing to live a life of modest comfort any day!

    ReplyDelete
  67. PHIL 1030-010
    "Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)"

    I try as often as I can to see past superficial stuff like appearance, but as much as I hate to admit, it oftentimes is a part of initial judgement of a person.

    I think that this is ingrained in our brains, to a certain degree - we will often make abrupt judgments with people based on their appearance, even if we haven't spoken a word to them or made an actual first impression. I believe that, while it may be a difficult process to engage with these subliminal thoughts, it may also be good for us to try to remain neutral with people until we've actually had a conversation with them.

    ReplyDelete
  68. PHIL 1030-010
    "Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?"

    I think that devotion to reason can be characterized as a form of faith, like many other things that we would make to be forms of faith - if a person views these concepts or beings or texts as a guiding key of sorts, then I believe that they can be accurately described as a form of faith.

    I also believe that a belief is something different - I think that beliefs are often derived from faiths, and the principles that we follow as a result of these faiths make up our beliefs.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Alternative Quiz Questions
    1. True/false: a successful conversation is one where one person realizes they knew little.
    2. Does religion connect the dots between imagination and reality?

    DQ 4
    I do not believe that belief is the same as faith. I think faith is something stronger. Faith is believing and acting upon that belief. It takes belief to another lever. As for belief, I believe that it is just believing.

    Do you think Socrates did in fact "corrupt the youth"?
    I do not think so. I think he was just trying to get them to think for themselves. However, by thinking for themselves, they could have been misled and this misleading resulted in their corruption.

    Link:
    https://listverse.com/2012/11/21/top-10-scandalous-freemason-secrets/

    ReplyDelete
  70. PHIL 1030-009
    Quiz Questions:
    1. How did many Athenians feel about Socrates?
    2. What was Plato's most famous work and what did he describe in this work?
    3. What were The Sophists?
    4. What was the result of America's Enlightenment?
    5. What did Henry David Thoreau invent?

    Discussion Question:
    1. How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    - I would like to say that these are all just trivial things that we should not worry about, since there are so many larger things that we should be focused on in life. However, these are issues for many people, including myself. I do worry about money, because that is basically what makes this world run. Without money you can not buy food, or clothes, or anything really. I also worry about my future and whether or not I will be able to have a nice home or a good job, because I want my future to be stable and I do not want to have to worry. So, even though I wish I could say these things do not worry me and do not affect my happiness, they do.

    ReplyDelete
  71. DQ: Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    Yes and No depending on the subject being taught. If you're teaching physics but not basing your teachings on facts then youre just ruining a students mind. If your teaching a subject that has more to do with thinking and creativity then your do not need facts.

    ReplyDelete
  72. DQ: How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    Vocational and Social Status mean nothing to me. Money rules our world so unless you want to leach off someone else or you want to crash and burn with the rest of the middle class then it needs to be a top priority. God is my number 1, then family/ friends because I consider my friends part of my family, then lastly money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can respect that you put your god and family above all, and I agree that status means nothing to me, and that money is a optional importance because it is the flow of society, yet it is not needed for happiness.

      Delete
  73. DQ: Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    Its close to faith but also not close to it at all. Faith is trust with out reason consistently. Faith in God is trusting God even when reason tells you otherwise. Faith in reason is the opposite of faith in God but it is still a form of faith.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually didn't think of that, when you said faith is trust without reason, and I think that faith in reason and faith in God are in the same ball park of "faith", but regardless they are both polar to one another, that you can not have both Faith's.

      Delete
  74. DQ: Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    No, we do not. Perfection is unattainable for us. We can only strive to try to be it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree completely, I think perfection is all to subjection, so what is perfection as a human? Every individual can have a different idea or notion of it, but ultimately it is different in our minds. We can only try to achieve what's in our minds. But maybe perfection doesn't have to be so hard to attain, some people will believe they are already perfect? So haven't they achieved perfection in their eyes?

      Delete
  75. Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    I beliebe it is because of their heritage, even if they ancestors were wrong and we're vile, is it still a part of them. I think it is wrong to get rid of the statues, everyone has a right to learn from and commemorate their ancestors. It is from that, that we can learn from our past mistakes.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Section 10
    I feel as if the early environment around me shaped the way i am by influencing me to act a certain way, think a certain way, behave a certain way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you. I can even name a few experiences that i've had that completely changed who I was and had a direct hand in creating who I am today.

      Delete
    2. I agree as well, the environment can definitely change you as a person, and depending on how you grew up in your head, your brain made your body and behavior adapt to survive or to better cope that situation, so through that it can permanently change someone.

      Delete
  77. DQ: Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    They are still hanging on to the pride that was in the south. They were filthy rich off slavery and though highly of themselves. The Pride has stayed with them since the loss of the civil war. In other words, some people just can't take a loss

    ReplyDelete
  78. section 10
    https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/12/19/371679655/some-early-childhood-experiences-shape-adult-life-but-which

    ReplyDelete
  79. Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    Faith can be whatever you believe, I don't think it has to be a physical or spiritual entity, but rather it is our predisposed notion that religion needs a religious figure, but rather religion can be what you want to believe, if devotion to reason is you core beliefs, that could potentially be you religion.

    ReplyDelete
  80. How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    I think making money is probably not even close to being high on my rank of importance, but rather it is a medium to achieve what I do find important.
    What I find important is my family, friends,and the future of our planet and race as a whole. However, our world runs on money, and so through money I can better provide, protect, and prolong my family. I can find research or projects to better the environment. I could care less about money and status, but in order to achieve my goals I need it more than anything to do anything.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)

    I try to judge based on action and personality, however it is almost impossible not to judge by appearance. From sight we gain most of our stimuli and judgement, humans can't just not judge what they see, if anything it is a survival adaptation and potential mate selector. As much as I try not to judge superficially, I can't help but have a predisposition on people before I met them based on looks, first impressions are everything right? If you look clean and nice, I will naturally think of you better, but if you look dirty and grimy, of course I will think less of you, it is human nature.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    I think so yes, most people can only logically sound right based on reasoning, and it just so happens with doctrines and data, it holds the most logical medium. Through data, if used, it has the most potential as a medium for providing reasoning, that is why factual content is so useful, it helps the students follow along a path of data and research in order to truly understand, without it, it may be baseless speculation and ultimately confusjng.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Should everyone philosophize? Or are some just "called" to that vocation?

    I think everyone should, I believe it is also a part of human nature to try to explain your reality. Everyone else has the option, and deserves the right to, however, some people are just naturally better at reasoning, diction, and persuasion. Therefore, just because some people are just better at oration, does not mean one should not take up philosophical logic and discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Should everyone philosophize? Or are some just "called" to that vocation?

    I think everyone shod have the option to philosophize and deserves the right to. Howverr, some people are just naturally better at reasoning, persuasion, and oration, regardless though, that does not mean one should try to reason their own reality and perception, because it is through that that we may attain higher knowledge, and everyone absolutely deserves that right.

    ReplyDelete
  85. How do you rank the virtues?

    I think the top 3 in order of importance, are truth, justice, and honor, because I believe through the truth you can obtain all other virtues, if you are truthful, justifiable, and honorable, you can obtain pride in yourself, magnificence, or even knowledge. Because earnestly at heart means strength in devotion and determination, and through that you can achieve what ever you desire

    ReplyDelete
  86. Phil-10

    16)Is talking better than writing?
    Talking is better than writing because you would have to think more clearly and reasonably when speaking with others.

    19) Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    I believe perfection is does not exist as exact, it is more of an opinion. However, most humans did encounter perfection of any throughout their time, even if it's the opposite for others.

    Does human nature mirror society, and vice versa? Can we learn how to manage one by imitating the other?

    We cannot learn how to manage a society by imitating another because we always change it up someway, but we do use pieces and adapt them to our society. Also, human nature doesn't mirror society because we can put on a mask and totally act a different way in other places.

    ReplyDelete

  87. Phil-10
    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    I would personally rank helping humans and other species is most important, and being in a comforting area with family. As long as social status is positive, it's dead last. But as economic systems revolve around a piece of paper as wealth, then money would be the third most important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you. I think helping humans comes first. Being kind to people is really important to me. I would rather be a kind happy person with a small amount of money, than a rich person with a lot of money who is unhappy.

      Delete
  88. Section 10
    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    I think there is a hesitiation to remove statues becuase of two reasons. One being that racism still exists in the current day. The second reason is because many people see the statues as representations of History. Despite the dark age of the time, it is a huge part of American history that should not be forgotten for the safety of the futre.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Section 10
    Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?

    I don’t think the South will get over the Civil War. Many Southerners refuse to admit that the South was wrong because they disagree with the morals of others.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Section 10
    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
    I define Faith as a devotion to anything, once a person devotes significant thought and time to it. I see Faith as a belief in what the person chooses to beleive in.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Section 10
    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    Here is how I rank the above (in order): Helping others: Having a comfortable home, making money, and achieving social status.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Section 10.
    Is talking better than writing?

    I personally think talking is better because writing gives you time to think about your answer. Talking is more intimate and personal. Questions are answered more quickly and one can understand a person much more through talking.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Section 10
    Does human nature mirror society, and vice versa? Can we learn how to manage one by imitating the other?

    I think Human Nature does reflect Society. I don’t think one should learn to manage one by imitating the other, but rather people using their own judgement to make their decsisons.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Section 10
    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    I think a good teacher doesn’t need a specific doctorine to teach, but dactual content should be included. I think a good teacher can display a mindset or lesson through many different means and not have to rely specifically on a specific doctorine.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Section 10

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    I don’t think Humans ever acheieve complete perfection, but can get extrememly close. I think an aspect of Humanity and life is trying to get perfection, but not completley achieving it.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Abby Pittman section 6

    "Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?”

    Many people in the south see the statues as a source of southern pride. I think they choose to ignore the negative connotation that the confederacy have and claim it’s not an act of racism because they have so much sentiment towards these objects. It’s similar to the way that southerners continue to wave the confederacy flag even though the opinion that it’s offensive and supports racist culture has been expressed many times by a multitude of people. Because of this, young people who carry the flag use it as an act of rebellion. Regardless of your regional pride, we have to note the connotation and history of these objects and how it causes the victims of racism to feel. If someone says, “hey, these statues offend me” then why don’t we strive to respect this opinion and take it down? Personally, I don’t really understand the appeal of keeping these statues, and I think that they often send the message we remain proud of our efforts in the civili war, fighting to keep slavery legal. If you're not a victim of racism or slavery, then your opinion and feelings towards these statues shouldn’t really be considered. The people who are affected by these acts should have the power, not those who want to keep a sense of their southern pride.

    ReplyDelete
  97. 9
    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)

    -I used to judge on appearance when I was younger. But as I grew older and grew mentally too, that changed. I now only surround myself with people who have beautiful souls, people who are pretty on the inside.
    I think if you judge only by appearance, it does make you a shallow person to an extent.


    Is talking better than writing?
    -They are both so different. I think they are both good in their own ways, but perhaps talking is better overall. With talking, it's more personal, and you can hear the persons tone of voice which is important. Writing is important too though, because it lasts longer, and it also gives you more time to think about what you really want to say.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Section 12:

    DQ: Is there an important difference between practical and theoretical knowledge? Is knowledge for its own sake as valuable as knowing "how to"?

    Yes. I think people can get by in life with mainly practical knowledge, in the sense that they know “how” to do things. However, much of theoretical knowledge is about “why” you do things. I believe understanding “why” is important because it allows you to think more carefully about how you live, and the meaning behind everything you do, allowing for more personal understanding and fulfillment.

    DQ: How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    When it comes to my life, I really care about having deep connections with the people in my life, having a comfortable home, and experiencing new things. I think money is important to the extent that it allows me to pursue these endeavors.

    COMMENT: This video illustrated Plato’s Allegory of The Cave pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RWOpQXTltA

    ReplyDelete
  99. Madona Kozman11:47 AM CDT

    section 13
    DQ: How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    In my opinion, making money should be in the beginning of the list, because by making money, the person will be financially stable. And that will make the person less worry about what life brings.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Madona Kozman11:56 AM CDT

    Section 13
    DQ: Will the South ever get over the Civil War?
    I don't think the southerners will get over the idea of racism, simple because it is becoming on of out cultural norms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Perez1:05 PM CDT

      Agreed, there will always be southerners that will never get over the civil war. However, racism is not necessarily the reason for that.
      Southerners believe that owning slaves was a tradition that was around since before the founding fathers established the US. Seeing that tradition being criticized and being considered wrong angered those who were happy with the lifestyle they created. like most people trying to conserve their traditions, any opposition or critique will create extremists that fight against progression.
      The south will never get over the civil war NOT because of racism, but simply to try to keep their tradition from fading away.

      Delete
  101. Ruj Haan9:58 PM CDT

    Section 13

    -How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    I don’t care much about social status, but making money and having a comfortable life are important for me. I believe helping others shouldn't be its own category, it should be a part of every category. You can help others while making money, working on achieving a social status, or doing anything else. If I have to rank it from least to most important I will say making money/ helping others, comfortable home/helping others, then social status/helping others.

    -Is talking better than writing?

    Talking can be better when you have to express emotions and feelings, however our thoughts can be a bit disorganized. Writing on the other hand can be better, because our thoughts are more organized. For me personally I find it easier to talk rather than write.

    -Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    We are constantly looking for perfection, we want a perfect car, house, job, long story short we want a perfect life. Each time something doesn’t go perfectly we disappoint ourselves. As others have mentioned, I also believe that we need to accept imperfect part of life and as soon as we do, perfection will show up.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Section 13

    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)
    - I honestly think it is almost human nature to judge someone within 3 seconds of seeing them for the first time. Its almost like you subconsciously do it and its out of your control. Although with that being said, I do try to not judge a book by its cover and get to know someone before i decide to make a final judgement about them.

    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?
    -Absolutely not. There are many times where a teacher taught me things much more useful than anything I learned in their classroom. And technically, a good teacher doesn't even have to be an actual teacher at all.

    Is talking better than writing?
    - I think it depends on the situation you are in in order to determine if talking or writing is better. In situations where you would prefer more time to think, I think writing would obviously be the better option.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Section 13
      I completely agree with your assessment on subconsciously judging people on their appearances. I find myself doing it as well and though I know it is unfair to the person, I can't make my mind stop.

      Delete
  103. Howie Schubert9:32 AM CDT

    Section 13
    I tend to judge friends and new people i meet by their actions, how they do things, and how they treat people. The reason i do is because that show a persons true nature not how they look.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Howie Schubert9:37 AM CDT

    Section 13
    A good teacher should have like a guideline to teach along but not fully follow it because then they could possibly follow into something that just doesn't need to be covered. They do need it all to be factual because there are somethings that need to be truth and not biased opinions.

    ReplyDelete
  105. Howie Schubert9:41 AM CDT

    Section 13
    I think the south will get over the civil war in time but there are so many who are headstrong and won't admit they were wrong and how they have been raised, and with how arrogant the are they won't easily give it up. I believe most can admit what happened was wrong but not too many can admit it with out touching on racism or that part of our history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Perez1:30 PM CDT

      It is almost inevitable that the south will get over it, however there will be a few southern extremists that will attempt to pass their beliefs down to newer generations. Whether the south will get over it is depended on whether the newer generations believe the extremist views given by their older generations.

      Delete
  106. 12
    Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?
    The south will only get over the Civil War when the southern identity divorces itself from the confederacy and its imagery. The reluctance to remove confederate memorials and symbols is exemplary of how tied up southern identity is with the confederacy and the Civil War. I don't think southern pride is inherently bad but it is inherently related to the confederacy, the Civil War, and slavery.

    Do you agree with Socrates' conception of philosophy as "an intimate and collaborative activity" requiring "discussions among small groups of people"? (150) What part should reflecting and writing play in this activity?
    I disagree with the idea that discussion is absolutely necessary to philosophy, but exchange of ideas is so helpful to the forward progression of philosophy. Socrates' emphasis on discussion is admirable.

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    I personally put my happiness and well being above almost all else. My second highest priority after my own survival is that of all of my loved ones. Beyond that, I'm not particularly concerned in status as much as I am with comfort.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Section 13
    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)

    Wow I find this to be an interesting question. After thinking it over for a moment, I believe that I do judge people on appearances before anything else. I understand that that is not right but It just seems like that is what my mind jumps too. When it comes to friends, I do not pick them on attractiveness, sure that is the first thing I notice, but I'm not about to chill with you just because you are attractive.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Section 13
    Is talking better than writing? (LH 4)

    I think this depends on the individual. I know when I get into a heated discussion with my significant other or a friend, I find it better to take a step back and write down what I would like to say. It gives me a chance to actually look at/think about my own thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Anonymous11:47 AM CDT

    Section 12
    Is talking better than writing?
    In my opinion writing can sometimes be more beneficial than talking, at least for certain situations. Lets say you have something really important to tell your parents but you cant find the way to tell them verbally, eventhough you know exactly in your head what you wsnt to say you know that as soon as you start to speak it wont come out the way you had in mind. This is here writing what you want to say would be beneficial, because you can more clearly express what you want to say in what you are writing and then be more capable of getting your point across.

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    I feel this is really up to us as indivuals to decide if have achieved perfection in our eyes. Encountoring perfection can be decided the saem way, based on the indivuals opinion. I say this because what one person may see as perfection, another one may not.

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    Highly important, not because i want to be accepted in societies eyes but because i want to make a difference in the world. See without money and without a career, i would not be able to achieve any of those things such as helping others. I feel that as individuals we should always help others in need, because if we can do it then why not help someone that struggles to find food or warmth. This is very important to me i feel that part of our existence of being her in this world is to help others, to give and receive.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Daniel Dupuy section 12

    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
    In my opinion, yes- faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something- however, depends on how devoted someone is, and if their feelings are attached to their devotion. Belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. Therefore faith and belief are correlated. if you believe, you therefore have faith.

    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)
    i try to see beyond the superficial. Everyone has qualities- some people who don't have the best appearances have great qualities that everyone ignores. I always try to notice the qualities a person has first, and ,unlike a lot of people, i try to not let a person's "outer layer" interfere.

    Here's an interesting link!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK0NzsGRceg

    ReplyDelete
  111. Anonymous12:49 PM CDT

    section 12: i believe that humans can reach perfection because perfection is relative to each individual. as long as you wouldnt change anything about your situation, it could be argued that you are at a state of perfection

    ReplyDelete
  112. Brian Perez12:50 PM CDT

    Section 12
    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    There are some people who have seen these statues and memorials get removed and have gotten critical about it. The reason they give is because they feel that is it a part of history that should not simply be taken down. The pieces of history may cause emotional distress to some, but that's not valid enough to bring down statues and other commemorative markers. In a way, they see it as a form of hiding parts of our history because it hurts feelings.

    ReplyDelete
  113. Anonymous12:52 PM CDT

    section 12: is talking better than writing? yes it is, depending on the situation. talking can often be much more persuasive. however writing can be seen as more credible

    ReplyDelete
  114. Is talking better than writing?
    - I communicate my thoughts for efficiently when I write them down so I can revise them to portray exactly what I mean. So writing is better in that sense because it's been pondered on. Talking is like writing out loud except you can't erase what you said.

    Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?
    -No, I don't think so. You can learn something new every day, you can always be better at something, and you're always going to want more and make mistakes. I think most people would agree with that, but maybe there is someone who thinks of themselves as perfect and who is anyone to tell them that they're wrong by their own definition.

    Does human nature mirror society, and vice versa? Can we learn how to manage one by imitating the other?
    - I would say society doesn't mirror human nature but is derived from it.

    Sara Roesch ( section 13 )

    ReplyDelete
  115. Section 13
    DQ 1.) I have met many people who hold this belief that believe that the Confederacy, though it was wrong, was apart of Southern heritage. This is where this gets tricky, because even though the war was extremely brutal and seemingly could be much easier handled in this day and age, people still lost loved ones that fought to protect their families. Brothers and fathers and sons fought against each other just because of where they lived in the United States at that time. So even though destroying monuments seems like the right thing to do, there is always going to be backlash from people whose families were directly affected by it.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Section 12

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?

    It depends on the moment. Some moments, I might rank having a comfortable home over a social status. I do not mean to sound selfish when I say that, but it really just depends on the moment and what I need.

    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    I guess it could be characterized as a form of faith. Faith to me is having a strong trust in someone or something, and devotion to me is having a strong love or passion for somebody or something. So, I do not think its wrong to compare the two.

    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    They should! I think following patterns and consistency is key. I feel like you cannot learn (or at least me) so if a teacher follows a specific doctrine, and they continue to do that, I think that is a really good thing. Also, presenting factual information is very important too. How will you move on in the future if you do not know what is real now?

    ReplyDelete
  117. Brandon Beech1:27 PM CDT

    DQ: Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?

    Yes, I believe there is much opposition in parts of the South still to this end. I attribute much of this opposition to environmental raising structures set by the parents before them and ignorance on the part of many Americans still stuck in an antiquated mindset.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Brandon Beech1:29 PM CDT

    DQ: Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?

    Yes, I believe the South can admit to being wrong without the acknowledgement of continuing racial oppression today. Calling attention to the more positive and noble aspects of the Southern culture can exhibit empirical evidence to the contrary of racist oppression today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never personally met anyone in the south who thinks that slavery was good. I do know they exist, though. I think that as the people who haven't gotten over the civil war go away, the next generations with be better and better.

      Delete
  119. Brandon Beech1:33 PM CDT

    DQ: Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    I do not believe this can be characterized as a form of faith when looking at the standard definition of faith. Faith (in my mind) is the hope in things not seen. Belief, on the other hand, is the perceptual viewpoint of an individual based on various factors pertinent to that subject.

    ReplyDelete
  120. DQ 4.) I define faith as trust in something that you cannot prove to be completely factual. It's believing in something even though you don't have foolproof evidence to know it's there.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Stephen Byers1:37 PM CDT

    Stephen Byers Section 13
    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?
    I don't believe so. All a teacher needs to teach is wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience, and the person being taught may or may not agree with the teacher's words of wisdom, but much can be learned from any piece of wisdom. I have learned so much just from wise words of the elderly, who didn't have any factual evidence or doctrine.

    ReplyDelete
  122. Stephen Byers1:42 PM CDT

    Stephen Byers Section 13
    Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?
    -I think that devotion to reason is not specifically a form of faith, but a way of life, or a mental path. Reason is a very objective term, each persons 'reasoning' may be completely different. Faith is very similar to belief, it is just a very heavy and extreme belief in a way of life and that certain unproven things are indeed true.

    ReplyDelete
  123. Stephen Byers1:48 PM CDT

    Stephen Byers Section 13
    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    Although it isn't one of the options, I believe being happy is the most important thing in life. That is the first priority. Being happy is far more important than making money. There are extremely rich people that are unhappy so.. what's the point? I think people should strive for whatever gets them out of bed in the morning. Social status, a comfortable home and making money are very helpful to sustain a happy and healthy life, but helping others is what gives you true serotonin and meaningful moments. That is a true source of happiness without material desires.

    ReplyDelete
  124. Section 11
    For me, money is somewhat important because without money the basic needs of life are not attainable. What I mean by this, is that without money, having a safe home or having food to eat would not possible. In addition. I do give money some value because I am able to do things which i enjoy with the help of money. This includes going to concerts or going to different places with my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  125. Section 11

    From the music I heard as a child to the stories told by my grandfather, they played a vital role in shaping who I am today. A lot of the music I listened as a child taught me about my culture which today I know is part of my identity as a person. Also every story my grandfather told me gave me an insight to my family's history connecting me to my ancestors. Also from my grandfather's storytelling, he taught me about our family's values and morals which contributed the most to the formation of my character. To this day, my character is still developing based on my early environment.

    ReplyDelete
  126. Logan Taylor2:29 AM CDT

    Section 11

    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?

    I believe that a good teacher doesn't always need a doctrine. He or she can teach about some of life's greatest wisdom and joys. For example, Bob Ross taught people many different lessons, ranging from "Everyone needs a friend" to taking your time to paint a picture and not worrying about the end result, much like life.

    Alternative Quiz Question: Whose notion about a mystical other "half" was rejected by Plato?

    When was Socrates executed and how old was he?

    ReplyDelete
  127. Cody Maness Section 1110:25 AM CDT

    Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?

    I do not believe the South will let go of the Civil War. It is embedded in Southern culture from its flag to its statues. Many southerners take pride that the South were rebels while also ignoring the more awful parts of the Civil War, especially in rural areas. I do believe that southerners can admit the south was wrong, while denying modern racism and its effect on society. Many today probably believe racism magically died when the Civil Rights Act was passed.

    - Cody Maness Section 11

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alejandra Lopez Section 1110:51 AM CDT

      Absolutely agree. I've lived in the south my entire life and still have issues to this day explaining to people why confederate statues, flags, etc. should be taken down. For example, here at MTSU, the ROTC building is still named Forest Hall even after a lot of debate in regards to changing the name. People like to think they've adapted to new lifestyles but if they're still flying their 'rebel' flag and have a confederate flag license plate on their truck then I don't believe they'll ever get over the south losing the civil war.

      Delete
  128. Section 11
    Do you try to see beyond superficial qualities in friends and acquaintances, in assessing their attractiveness, or do you tend to judge by appearances? (If the latter, does that make you a shallow person?)
    I try to be friends with people who have similar interests. Outside appearances don't tend to matter.
    Must a good teacher always have some specific doctrine or factual content to teach?
    I think that some things cannot be taught objectively. There are things that have to taught that cannot be looked at objectively.

    ReplyDelete
  129. Alejandra Lopez Section 1110:44 AM CDT

    Given the near-universal acknowledgement by all but the most hateful racists that slavery was wrong, why do you think there remains-at least in some quarters of the south-significant opposition to the removal of statues and other commemorative markers of the old Confederacy?
    I think this plays into the idea of white supremacy. People who don't want the statues to be removed and who think there's a significance to it believe that they're superior. Even though everyone should know that the Confederation lost the civil war, white supremacists still have these statues up and their flags flowing to try and prove a point that they're more superior than what people give them.

    ReplyDelete
  130. Alejandra Lopez section 1110:47 AM CDT

    How do you personally rank the importance of making money, having a comfortable home, achieving vocational or social status, helping others, ...?
    Although I would like to place helping others at the top of my list, we can all assume our human nature is to fend for ourselves first. My list goes:
    1. making money
    2. achieving vocational or social status
    3. having a comfortable home
    4. helping others

    ReplyDelete
  131. Will the South ever get over the Civil War? Can southerners admit that the south was wrong, without also acknowledging the continuing legacy of racist oppression as a source of disequilibrium in our society?

    I do not thing the South will ever truly get over the Civil War. The war was a necessary evil slavery in the Southern United States needed to be ended. However, it was a war brother fought brother, family was divided, war should never be the most optimal solution. This left resentment in the Southern US which was taken out on African Americans. I think through education and time this resentment can be stopped, but I do not think it will ever be forgotten.

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  132. Is devotion to reason accurately characterized as a form of faith? How do you define faith? Is it the same as belief?

    I'd like to answer the second and third question first. I believe that faith is the unwavering trust in something be it a god or set if ideals. I think that faith and belief are not the same, but faith is a subset of belief if you have a faith you have a belief but if you have a belief you might not have a faith. Similarly to how a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square. And to the first question I think it depends on how devoted someone is if you are unwavering and unwilling to see if differently then yes it is a faith.

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  133. Do humans ever achieve or encounter perfection in any respect?

    I do not think perfection is ever achievable or even possible in nature. Perfection means it cannot be improved upon it is at the end of the journey. Humans are too prone to accident and failure to achieve perfection, but that does not stop us from striving for it. The principle of achieving perfection is enough to want to do it. We may never reach it but we can get close. In nature if something is perfect then natural selection/evolution has ended which means everything else has lost. This to me sounds like a paradox.

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