Up@dawn 2.0

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Philosophy of Yoga (Six Branches of Yoga)

Philosophy of Yoga (Six Branches of Yoga) - Section 12 


Yoga has been around for over 5,000 years from an ancient Indian practice, and there is different types of practice as well, not just the poses and postures. There is actual breathing techniques and meditation and relaxation that come with practicing yoga. Although, in most recent years, the most popular technique is physical exercise that comes with it that can help control breathing and the overall mind and body. Yoga can help you achieve a better night's sleep, decrease stress and anxiety, and improves flexibility and balance. Some believe that yoga can help them achieve a healthy and active lifestyle. It is also important to remember to not replace or postpone medical care with yoga. Always speak to a healthcare provider with any questions or attempt any difficult techniques.

Philosophy:

Yoga can often be viewed as a tree. A tree with roots, branches, blossoms, and fruits. This was known from ancient times and used today as a form of imagery. Together, this tree has six branches. Each of these six branches are different and contain different characteristics about them that connect to yoga. These branches each connect to a different approach to life, and some people view one branch maybe a bit more powerful than the next. 


Six Branches:

There is Karma, Raja, Hatha, Bhakti, Tantra, and Jnana. 


The Karma branch is something that we as humans cannot escape. This essentially means we cannot escape our past, and those actions in our past can have consequences. This branch focuses in the least amount of negativity and selfishness possible in the present day. Practicing Karma yoga or volunteering your time somewhere is one of the practices within this branch.

The Raja branch focuses on meditation and the eight limbs of the tree. This is outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. This is incredibly strict adherence to the limbs. This type of yoga draws those who like to meditate and are introspective. There are members of religion and spiritual communities who solely devote time to this particular branch of yoga to follow the eight limbs. These limbs include self-discipline, sensory withdrawal, concentration, to name a few.

The Hatha branch focuses the actual health and more physical aspect of yoga. This focuses on breathing and different physical exercises. This was popular in ancient culture, and very popular today in current times of yoga. 

The Bhakti branch is the path of all devotion. This branch is a positive way to channel your inner emotions. This allows us to cultivate acceptance and tolerance for those who we come into contact with along the way. Mother Teresa combined the Karma path with the Bhakti path.

The Tantra path can be the most misunderstood or misinterpreted path of all the yogas. If you are moved by celebration or rituals, then this might be a path for you. This path is a pathway of ritual, which can include consecrated sexuality. This means something that is sacred, holy. This path is for ritual and ceremony. 

The Jnana path, the final path, is yoga of the mind, wisdom. This can include study of scriptures and different texts of history or traditions of yoga. Some say this is the hardest yoga to follow, due to the studying. 


Trusting your instinct. It is possible to do different styles of yoga and practice them at once, if more than one sparks your interest. You may already be practicing one of these yogas, you may just not realize it. For example, if you volunteer your time in a soup kitchen, or you are a volunteer in a hospital, etc., then you are actively practicing the Karma branch. You must trust yourself and understand what your body and mind is telling you to pick the right yoga path for you.

{work cited:
 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745.php#types
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/the-branches-of-yoga 
https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3a/27/a6/3a27a674ce390df52953532b8126541f.jpg
https://www.blessingmanifesting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/yogamentalhealth.jpg
http://www.rinsedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/yoga-beach-sunset.jpg }

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you volunteer your time anywhere, in relation to the Karma Branch?

2. Did you realize you were practicing these branches without even knowing about them? Or did you know about them already?

Quiz Questions:
1. Name the six branches of yoga. 

2. What are three things you can achieve with practicing yoga?

3. Who is one person that combined practices both with the Karma path and the Bhakti path?

Friday, November 29, 2019

Eternal Recurrence: "The Heaviest Weight"


Eternal Recurrence

By: Erin Liddle - Section 13

Eternal Recurrence, or Eternal Return, is the idea or belief that time is a circle and life infinitely repeats itself; that when we die, we come back to this same world to live again. Some believe that we come back in our current forms, while others believe we come back in different forms or social classes. Of course, the details vary between the different cultures and religions that speak on this theory. 

Although mostly linked with Nietzsche’s The Gay Science (1882) and Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883), Eternal Recurrence can actually trace its origins to ancient times. Long before the Western philosophers ever wrote of it, Eternal Return was and still is, a central pillar of various faiths and cultures. This includes the ancient Egyptians, Greek stoics, Hindus, and even some Buddhists.

A common theme that links many of these religions, is the belief that lessons (or consequences) are to be learned in each recurrence, and passed on to the next recurrence to achieve some form of happiness, be accepted into an afterlife, or even attain enlightenment. Buddhists even believe that negative consequences, like suffering, can be the result of actions in a previous recurrence. Nietzsche’s take on eternal recurrence focused more on being fated to repeat our current lives in your current form, and instead of passing on knowledge to a future self, you were taking action in the here and now to make your life more satisfying and fulfilling. 

Pop Culture

We have seen this idea displayed in pop culture most prominently in the movies Groundhog Day (1993) with Bill Murray, and Edge of Tomorrow (2014) with Tom Cruise.  Edge of Tomorrow's tag line even echoed the philosophy perfectly: "Live. Die. Repeat." 

Whether by coincidence or design, both characters display traits that mirrored Nietzsche’s description of the ideal human in his "Will to Power" philosophy, also known as the “ubermensch." They are both very successful in life, think very highly of themselves, and are unapologetic about it. Simply put, they are selfish, arrogant jerks. However, repeating the day is not a pleasant experience for either character, despite their success. Doomed to repeat the same day over again, they must change to escape the loop. Bill Murray's character Phil must learn to be kind, selfless, and loving. For Tom Cruise's character Cage, the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, in true Tom Cruise fashion. To save humanity from annihilation, he must learn teamwork and to value everyone’s strengths, or watch the destruction of those around him, over and over again for eternity. By the end of the movie, both characters have changed from their "ubermensch" traits to embody more heroic and idealized traits, such as compassion, trust, and teamwork.



Practical Application

It’s not confirmed that Nietzsche believed in eternal recurrence in the literal sense, as much of his work was edited or destroyed posthumously by his sister. In its practical application, eternal recurrence was proposed as more of a thought experiment or a hypothetical question to analyze one’s own life and current trajectory; what we believe was Nietzsche's actual intent. 
Think about it for a moment: If you were told you were going to die and repeat your exact life again, would you feel blessed, or would you feel cursed? Delighted or depressed? Nietzsche referred to this question, and related actions, as "the heaviest weight." The question puts us in a unique, somewhat uncomfortable position, where giving up is not an option-- you'll just repeat the same life again anyways! On the other hand, there is also no rewarding afterlife waiting for you; just this life you live now. It requires you to take a deep assessment of your life and your actions, keeping in mind that you will repeat all the good and all the bad that comes along with it. 
This leaves us with a choice: maintain the status quo and just carry on or take action to change the things you are able so you actually enjoy your life. Nietzsche implores you to do the latter. He wants you to take action and not become complacent in your own life. To "consummate" your life by living it as opposed to being lived by it.

This concept is discussed in the film When Nietzsche Wept (2007)

Amor Fati

Some things in our lives are harder to change or embrace than others. This is where Nietzsche’s philosophy of “Amor Fati” or love of one’s fate, comes into play. There is no such thing as perfect: everyone has struggles and encounters obstacles. However, if there are things in your life that make you dread repeating it, ask yourself if those are things you can change or distance yourself from. If so, Nietzche urges you to take action and change your life's trajectory into something you'd be ecstatic to repeat. If it's something you can’t change, like being born into poverty, then you have no choice but to accept that part of your life, but you do not have to let it steal your potential to live a life you'd love. Embrace it! You can't change that part of your life, but you can accept it, learn from it, appreciate the good in it, and focus on changing what you can actually control.  You're going to repeat this life anyway, might as well make it an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

Personal Refection

I think this is a great exercise that everyone should at least try, if not do routinely. Are there things you can change that you just aren't? Are you taking steps to overcome obstacles? Personally, there was a time when I would have thought repeating life would be a curse. After a lot of work and difficult choices, I am at a point where I would consider it a gift. I would go through the bad and tough spots if it meant that I get to climb mountains with my husband again. Amor Fati.


Quiz: 

  1.  Name one of the books in which Nietzsche discussed Eternal Recurrence?
  2.  Did Nietzsche believe Eternal Recurrence was real?
  3. What philosophy is Nietzsche's answer for life?

Discussions:

1.    Do you think Eternal Recurrence is a valuable tool to evaluate your life? Why or why not?
2. Evaluating if you would view your life as a curse or a gift. Is the description of "the heaviest weight" accurate? Explain your answer.      

3. What would a life worth repeating look like to you?



Hannah Arendt

Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Philosophers of Marvel II - Final Report, Section 12

Before I presented many Marvel heroes from the Infinity Saga, phases 1-3 of the MCU movies. Avengers Endgame and Spider-Man Homecoming marked the end of Phase 3 for the MCU. With these movies, some of the heroes and villains I showcased before are now gone, allowing new heroes and their own philosophies to lead the way for Phase 4 and onward. A few heroes that will have a large influence for the coming years of the MCU are Dr. Strange, Black Panther, Spider-Man and Vision. And for our showcase, complicated villain, I’ll take a closer look at Loki.

Dr. Steven Strange
Image result for dr strange
Dr. Strange is a 'wizard-like' character who uses the power of the mystic arts to conjure powers and spells. Before he became this wizard, though, he was a talented surgeon who was full of himself. He crashes his fancy sports car and ruins his hands, hence not being able to do surgery. This leads him to looking for healing, leading him to the Ancient One, who teaches him the mystic arts and also how to become a selfless hero. This journey changes Dr. Strange and his philosophy. As a surgeon, his philosophy would be to do whats best for himself and make a lot of money to do whatever he pleases. After his transformation, however, his philosophy becomes to do what's right to protect mankind, even at the cost of his own life. We see this when he uses the time stone to lock himself in a time loop with a celestial being, Dormammu, that wants to destroy the Earth. Dr. Strange used the time stone to keep time in their instance going on a loop, where Strange died over and over again, but didn't allow Dormammu to get to Earth by doing so. He was willing to stay there forever if it meant saving Earth, though Dormammu eventually gives in and leaves Dr. Strange and Earth alone, thanks to Strange's clever thinking and sacrifice play.  
T’challa - The Black Panther
Image result for black pantherT'challa is the king of Wakanda, the most advanced civilization on Earth. He has a very noble, king-like mentality. His philosophy is to be an involved, honest, and protective king to his people. Wakanda was a secret kept from the world, but by the end of the Black Panther movie, T'challa lets the world know of their advanced civilization's presence so Wakanda could help the rest of the world with their technology. This speaks to what kind of king T'challa is. He not only wants to look out for his people, but also the world.

Peter Parker - Spider-Man
Image result for spiderman tom holland
The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. This sums up his philosophy pretty well. The spider-man character's philosophy, in his many iterations, is to protect the little guy. Spider-Man is always portrayed as a young, energetic hero that uses his abilities for the good of the city around him. Peter Parker is a noble, white-knight character that is speculated to become the new leader of the Avengers, though this is just fan theory at the moment. If this is the case, however, Peter's philosophy would do well in leading the Avengers. The Avengers always look out to save the world, and even the universe, but with Spider-Man as their front-runner, it could remind the Avengers to look out for the little guy too.


Vision
Image result for vision marvel
Wanda and Vision
Vision is the creation and brainchild of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner “Hulk”, the mind stone, and Ultron. Vision was killed in Avengers Infinity War when Thanos ripped the mind stone from his head, but we know he is coming back to life for the WandaVision TV show coming out soon. Vision is all about doing what's right. When asked in Avengers Age of Ultron essentially what side he was on, Vision responded by saying the side of life. He lived and died by this statement. When Thanos was coming for Vision's mind stone, he wanted Wanda to destroy it, thus killing Vision, so that Thanos couldn't get the stone and kill half of the universe. This is what ends up happening, Vision sacrifices himself through Wanda to destroy the stone and kill him. Vision's philosophy was straight forward: he just had to do what was right for the lives around him.  
Loki
Image result for lokiLoki, the God of Mischief, is possibly the most complicated character when it comes to good vs. evil. His philosophy, however, is quite simple: do what’s best for me. 
He got himself into trouble in the first Avengers movie, when Thanos used Loki to attack New York, which didn’t make Loki very many friends on Earth. However, we later learned that Loki was under the influence of the mind stone that was in the scepter he wielded throughout the Avengers movie, being controlled by Thanos. So was Loki really the bad guy?
There are times when Loki still looks out for himself more than others though, such as in Thor Ragnarok when he chooses to act like he doesn't know who Thor is so he doesn't hurt his status on the new planet himself and Thor arrive to. By the end of Ragnarok, however, Loki fights along side Thor, Valkyrie, and Hulk. I believe Loki, in each of these scenarios, was just joining the side that he thought would win or would benefit him the most. Loki seems to change sides time to time, so who knows how they might portray him in his upcoming TV show. It's important to note how the common people look to these heroes. People look up to them and it makes them want to be something more, to do good for others like these heroes. There are many times in various Marvel movies where a common person attempts to help the hero because they want to be a part of doing good and fighting evil. These heroes inspire people to stand up for themselves in times of trouble.
Image result for little kid iron man
I believe it's a similar reason to why the Marvel movies are so popular today, even in older adults. People enjoy watching good defeat evil, and watching these heroes do good for so many of those around them inspires some of us to be better in our lives, to look out for the little guy and help those in distress. It's not uncommon for people to think about a situation that could happen to them that they could be the hero in.
These heroes and their philosophies will shape Phase 4 and onward of the MCU. Knowing each of their philosophies now gives us a sneak peak as to what might come for the Avengers in upcoming movies and shows.
Quiz Questions 1. What two movies marked the end for Phase 3 of the MCU? 2. Vision's philosophy was choosing the side of ___? 3. What Civilization is T'challa the king of? Discussion Questions Who do you believe will be apart of the next 'big three' in the upcoming phases of the MCU? How do you like Loki as a character? Is his philosophy one you would agree with?

Comments on other Finals: https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2019/12/johann-kaspar-schmidt-max-stirner.html?showComment=1575658181783#c2177992566000775892 https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2019/12/progress-view-from-morality-vs.html?showComment=1575658506721#c841377806317007008 Relatable Midterm Blogpost:  https://marvelheroesphilosophy.blogspot.com/2019/10/marvel-heroes.html

Sources
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https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic0.srcdn.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F04%2FMarvel-Endgame-Vision-Future.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fscreenrant.com%2Fvision-marvel-future-avengers-endgame-dead-return-how%2F&docid=pJYEILf1cHBmMM&tbnid=woEbYj1SGTb8hM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwidyZ6Eu47mAhVGdt8KHRbODsIQMwh8KAMwAw..i&w=1400&h=700&bih=773&biw=1166&q=vision%20marvel&ved=0ahUKEwidyZ6Eu47mAhVGdt8KHRbODsIQMwh8KAMwAw&iact=mrc&uact=8

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Finsidethemagic-119e2.kxcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F05%2Fdisney-confirms-tom-hiddleston-in-loki-tv-series-1159835-1280x0-800x400.jpeg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Finsidethemagic.net%2F2019%2F06%2Fmarvel-first-look-loki-series-disney-ba1%2F&docid=VsXxZSH1oVUmAM&tbnid=wRtgZapQYJZquM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjh5qDeu47mAhUIy1kKHXWbDxoQMwh7KAMwAw..i&w=800&h=400&bih=773&biw=1166&q=loki&ved=0ahUKEwjh5qDeu47mAhUIy1kKHXWbDxoQMwh7KAMwAw&iact=mrc&uact=8

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What Is Art? (Final Blog #12)

Heather Faulkner
Section 12

Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that studies beauty and taste. The philosophy of art falls under the umbrella of Aesthetic philosophy, seeking to understand what art really is, what purpose it serves, and whether the aesthetic value of art is subjective or objective. The purpose of this blog is to give an overview of some different philosophical approaches to defining art. 

With the internet and social media, people today have access to artistic works 24/7, including images of paintings, musical recordings, movies, tv shows, digital novels, etc. Experiencing and sharing artistic creations have become more convenient than ever, making it an everyday part of our lives. Because of this, understanding what art really is may seem easy at first, especially because the word itself is clearly defined in the dictionary. However, finding a philosophical definition is a bit more complicated. 

Generally, art is recognized as something that is man-made, meaning that a pretty sunset isn’t a work of art, because it simply exists in nature. However, under this definition alone, everything that is man-made can be considered art, such as buildings, dumpsters, power lines, pencils, etc. In order for art to be distinguishable from other things, there needs to be some sort of definitional boundary to separate what art is and what it is not. Where to draw the line between art and other man-made items isn’t entirely clear. However, many philosophers have come up with their own theories as to where art begins and ends. 

Essentialists believe that there is a certain set of properties or characteristics that make something a work of art. Art philosopher and critic, Arthur Danto, argues that “something is a work of art if and only if (i) it has a subject (ii) about which it projects some attitude or point of view (has a style) (iii) by means of rhetorical ellipsis (usually metaphorical) which ellipsis engages audience participation in filling in what is missing, and (iv) where the work in question and the interpretations thereof require an art historical context.” Some say that these conditions are too narrow and that they favor certain types of art over others. 

Institutionalist theories claim that art is art when the “artworld,” a term coined by Danto, says it is. George Dickie is a prominent voice for institutional theories, believing that “a work of art is an artifact of a kind created to be presented to an artworld public.” Dickie goes on to say that all it takes to be a member of the artworld is to see yourself as a member of the artworld. This is problematic because there is no consistency between artworld members in what classifications are used to determine works of art, nor is there a clearly defined artworld, so therefore, there isn’t a single, unified definition of art.

Criticized for similar issues, historical definitions assert that art is characterized by its historical connection to earlier works of art. For example, Jerrold Levinson said, “An artwork is a thing that has been seriously intended for regard in any way preexisting or prior artworks are or were correctly regarded.” One of the problems with this definition is that the first artworks wouldn’t have had an art-historical context to begin with. If there was no preexisting art, by definition, these pieces can’t be considered works of art. Also, it isn’t exactly clear how one is supposed to tell the difference between historical art traditions and non-art traditions, so using a historical context to define today’s art isn’t so straightforward. 

Functional definitions claim that art must have some sort of function or intended functions, typically resulting in aesthetic properties and experiences. For example, Monroe Beardsley defines art as “either an arrangement of conditions intended to be capable of affording an experience with marked aesthetic character or (incidentally) an arrangement belonging to a class or type of arrangements that is typically intended to have this capacity.” John Dewey claims that an aesthetic experience in art entails the ongoing interaction between the artwork and the entire individual. In short, the intended function of art is to elicit an aesthetic experience, otherwise it is not art. 

Anti-Essentialists, such as Morris Weitz, argue that art cannot be defined. Weitz says art is undefinable because it is an open concept, whose “conditions of application are emendable and corrigible.” From this point of view, because art is ever expanding, changing, and pushing boundaries, it cannot be defined by a specific set of conditions or rules. However, the difficulty of separating art from everything else still remains.

Clearly, art is not an easy concept to define. Some argue that finding a definition is not important, and that what makes something a work of art should be up to each and every individual. Others think that in order to fully understand the purpose, allure, and quality of art, we must be able to define what it technically is. Either way, artistic expression and appreciation is a major part of the human experience, making it an important feature of life to study within the realm of philosophy. Please take the time to read the following discussion and quiz questions.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Do you think that art has to be man-made? Can nature itself be a work of art?
  2. What do you personally believe makes art, art?
  3. Would art cease to be art if we attached strict definitional boundaries to it? If so, should we even try to define it?

Quiz Questions:
  1. Who said that art cannot be defined because it is an open concept?
Morris Weitz
  1. _______ believe that there is a certain set of properties or characteristics that make something art.
Essentialists
  1. _________ definitions claim that art must have some sort of function or intended functions, typically resulting in aesthetic properties and experiences.


Learn More About Aesthetics:



Links to posts I have commented on: