Brittany's Blog

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Blog 12

Nussbaum says that our pursuit of the good life is dependent on luck and chance, and exposed to the possibility of failure and calamity in various different ways.

a) Do you agree with this argument? Think of an example (real or made up) that supports your view.

I think that Nussbaum view point on the pursuit of the good life is partly correct. Yes, some people are a lot luckier than others. For example, lottery winners, people who are born into a rich family and people who have natural born talent such as singing and dancing. For others, it takes a lot of hard work and determination to reach “the good life.” Personally, I don’t feel like I am a lucky or unlucky person. Everything that I have, I earned by hard work and having faith that It would be done.

b) Does accepting this argument make you feel differently about the things you value? How does knowing you could fail through no fault of your own make you think differently about your goals?

I think if people only believed in luck or chance, they would waste a lot of time waiting for things to happen for them.  I rather put myself out their  even if there’s a possibility the circumstances may not work in my favor and if it doesn’t, at least I can say that I tried and that it just wasn’t meant for me to have.

[bmorrisey1627]

Blog 11

So far we have looked at the views of Aristotle and Schopenhauer on tragedy. In your blog post this week, talk about one feature of the views of Aristotle or Schopenhauer that you think helps us make sense of the way that tragedy works.

One feature of the views of Aristotle that I think helps us to make sense of the way that tragedy work is that, anyone that we may deem as a hero or look up to, has flaws like everyone else. They make mistakes like the next person and is not perfect. Also, hero’s like people, go through changes due to their own actions. Some of those changes can be an emotion of pity and fear.

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Blog #10

A very important idea in Aristotle's theory of tragedy is that we feel pity for people who suffer unmerited misfortune (and we also fear that we might be in the same position one day).

What makes it easier for us to feel pity with people in a tragedy or indeed any play or film/movie? And what makes it harder for us to feel pity with people? Do you agree with Aristotle that they must be 'like us' for us to feel pity for them?

I think that it makes it easier for us to feel pity with people in a tragedy or indeed any play or film/movie because it may be a situation that is relatable to something that we may have endured in our life or we may feel helpless because we can’t do anything to change their situation. I think that it’s a great thing to have that emotional connection to any film. It shows that we can still be empathetic to others and we are still human. When it comes to feeling pity for actual people, I think we sometimes question if what they are saying or going through is completely true. I think that living in NY has desensitized us in a way because everyday we see people who are homeless and in need. Sad, but it’s nothing new to us. There’s so many people that we sometime think that we can’t help them all so we will leave it up to the government or someone is. Now when I go back home to NC and I see a homeless person, it’s a little shocking to me because it’s not normal to see that, therefore, I am more likely going to help that person. I do agree with Aristotle that they must be “like us” for us to feel pity for them. When something is more relatable or “close to home”, we put ourselves in their shoes and that is why we feel pity for them. 

[bmorrisey1627]

Blog 9

We often seek out experiences that give us a sense of danger or a kind of thrill that comes with a sense of fear. For example, some people like roller coasters, bungee jumping, extreme sports, horror films etc. Why do we seek out things that provide this sense of danger and fear, and does this help to explain why we like watching tragedy?

I think that we seek out things that provide a sense of danger and fear because we are not use to feeling that way and when we do, we want to see how tough or bold we are when these situations arise. I enjoy rollercoasters because I like to see the world at a different perspective. I’ve always liked heights and being up in the sky but I would NEVER bungee jump. I don’t like playing with my life in that way. I guess some people use it as bragging rights and know that not all people are brave enough to complete such scary things. I am not sure why some people enjoy watching tragedy. If I am watching something that I know is going to end badly, I am curious to know how badly will it be and what will be the results after. 

[bmorrisey1627]

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What did you learn about Martin Luther King this week? In this forum, you should write about something new or interesting you learned about King this week. Say whether this week's discussions have made you think differently about King and his legacy.

This week, I learned that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was labeled as an extremist. I never knew that until taking this course. I am very surprised about this. Dr. Martin Luther King was standing up to all the wrong doing that was done to people of color. From not being able to sit in certain sections of the bus to restaurants, not being able to vote, not getting the same education or rights that whites were getting, the list goes on and on. To rape and murders of men, women and children of color, Dr. Martin Luther King was a savior at that time. He didnt fear what could be done to him and his family. He knew that if he risked his life then, his children wouldn't have to when they became adults. He will forever be a person that I look up to and hope to be just as bold when with any aspect of my life.

[bmorrisey1627]

Ghandi

What are your thoughts on this question? Is satyagraha always the right solution, as Gandhi maintained? What are your thoughts on this question? Is satyagraha always the right solution, as Gandhi maintained?

This is a tough question. I do see Ghandi’s point of using satyagraha when confronting your enemies but in this case, I dont think that would have been the most effective approach. If you think about, isn’t that kind of what the Jews did in the first place. They didn’t try to fight back together or form some sort of defense solution, they peacefully went to these concentration camps. I think that a mass of them eventually figured out what was really happening to their people while staying there but they didn’t try fighting back. Maybe due to fear or believing that someone would rescue them because what was happening to them was very very wrong and shouldnt have been allowed. I think that people have tried the peaceful approach but it never got them far. It’s only when peace is disturbed that change follows..

[bmorrisey1627]

Blog #5

Do you agree with Thoreau's argument that action according to conscience (i.e moral action) is not compatible with living in a representative democracy where decisions are based on collective agreement?

I disagree with Thoreau’s argument that action according to conscience is not compatible with living in a representative democracy where decisions are based on collective agreement because everyone who would make up that democracy does not have the same thinking process, ideas and concepts. We are all individuals and very much different from one another. Although we may agree on the same thing or have mutual feelings towards something, the way that we approach things, would be different. 

[bmorrisey1627]

Education

In Book 7, Socrates describes education as a 'turning around' of the soul. How do you think education today would look different if this was the guiding idea? Also, what else is wrong with education today? Are there any radical changes you would like to see in education (K-12 or college) today? Explain why.

I think that education today would like very different if it was to use Socrates idea. I believe that Socrate wanted to teach people to think freely and not use set curriculums like education uses today. Education today teaches you a lot of information that you can’t and will not use after graduating. I believe that teaching students the importance of good credit and how to build credit is a great topic to start. Also, learning how to invest in stocks and bonds. Basically, a class in money management would be very important. To be able to buy and own nice things, you must have good credit. Without credit and money, you don’t have anything. Also, I would have them to spend time on teaching about history that no one wants to talk about or quickly overlook. When growing up, in middle school and high school, I never remembered learning about slavery but I did learn about the “good things” Christopher Columbus did for us.

[bmorrisey1627]

'It is just like the case of a man who learns by heart the angers and desires of a great, strong beast he is rearing, how it should be approached and how taken hold of, when - and as a result of what - it becomes most difficult or most gentle, and, particularly, under what conditions it is assumed to utter its several sounds, and, in turn, what sort of sounds uttered by another make it tame and angry' (The Republic p.172-3). Does this passage describe what public discourse and political debate look like in a democracy? Or is Socrates misunderstanding how a democracy works here? What are your thoughts?

I believe the above passage described what public discourse and political debate did look like when Trump was in office. Socrates misunderstood how a democracy works. The citizens have a voice and a right to vote for who they want in office so that they can see the changes that they desire. Socrates didnt want to give others a voice. It was more so him wanting to dictate every move and make decisions based on a small few. When a look at our previous President, a lot of the laws that he tried to implement, was geared towards the rich and powerful and not mass market.

[bmorrisey1627]

Blog 2

The Noble Lie (p.93-4) told by Socrates implies that all societies need myths to create harmony and unity among different people and classes. Do you agree with this idea? Does our society have 'noble lies'? What are the lies that everyone must believe for our society to function?

I do not agree that a society needs myths to create harmony and unity among different people and classes. If anything, I feel that in recent events, myths have caused a division in out society today. One myth that comes to my mind is that The United States is the best Country to live in. I will say America does have some advantages over other countries but I don’t believe that it is the greatest. We work until we are too old to enjoy our money, we pay tons of taxes that we rarely see the benefits, theirs corruption everywhere and everyone is not treated equally. We’ve been taught to believe this myth from birth and to never question how this is valid. I have never lived in another country so I can only go by what the media is portraying and we know that we can’t believe half of what is being aired. I have friends who live in other parts of the U.S and they tell me that they feel bad due to everything that's been going on here. Perception is reality until proven otherwise. 

[bmorrisey1627]

The Republic of Plato Book 1&2

So far, I am enjoying reading book 1 and 2. I will be honest, it was a little difficult reading the first 2 pages because this book is different from anything that I have ever read (which is great). There were a lot of names that I couldn’t pronounce so I had to look each name up individually. Once I got past that hump, I began to enjoy the reading. The stood out the most for me was the conversation between Socrates/Glaucon/Thrasymachus discussing injustice and justice. They had different opinions but tried to understand each others perspective. 

[bmorrisey1627]

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