Intro to Philosophy
In this class we will ask ‘what is philosophy?’ in the hopes of defending the importance of this discipline for the individual and society. In this endeavor we shall trek through the history of philosophy while unpacking some of the major issues and problems in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic and politics. Furthermore we will address the perennial problems of the good life, personal identity, authenticity and social responsibility.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Askesis of Desire and Money Does not Bring Happiness
I think happiness has alot to do with ones ability to control their desires. In America, we give alot of emphasis to material wealth. In other words Americans are focused alot on the unnatural and unnecassary. We want to live in the suburbs with a front lawn, drive way, air conditioning, and car. People want the fanciest things they can get, and if they can afford it they very well might get it. However, America has the highest depression rates in the world.
Why is it that a country like Nigeria, with one of the porrest populations in the world, is also said to be one of the happiest countries in the world. Perhaps their inability to obtain unnecassary and unnatural things help them in their ability to avoid being plagued by worries and pain produced by unsatisfied desires. They, perhaps, have disciplined themselves not to actively desire a fancy sports car and a big house. Rather, they are happy living in small huts with all the natural and necassary stuff they need like food and water, as well as pleasurable but unnecassary stuff like sex.
The saying money does not bring happiness is very true. People might feel happier that they have made enough money to afford a fancy house, but if they had disciplined themselves never to want unnecassary things like that then they would never have had to worry about satisfying that desire.
What is Love?
Seriously, what is love? There is the love between family which is quite different from the love between partners. We love our family because they care for us and we care for them. Love is an essential part of life because we need to feel like someone cares about us. Otherwise we are alone in this world and that is scary. But do friends love each other? I think so because I care about those people I call my good friends and I think they care about me. Thus, love does not have to be sexual what so ever.
Where does love come from? Well according to Socrates' theory of recollection, our soulds are immortal and thus have learned everything about life we need to know. Thus when we live our lives we are relearning what we have learned countless times before. Perhaps this explains why love is such a powerful feeling. We have learned to love countless times, thus when we feel like we are in love it is seemingly and undoubtedly the feeling of love, even if our minds are playing a trick on us due to having our heart beat increased before meeting someone and mistaking that heart beat for love.
I believe the fact that we have recollecting everything from our past lives we thus have an innate feeling of love. This includes love for our parents when they cares for us, love for others such as boyfriends and girlfriends and love ( a very differently love) for our friends and family.
Osama Bin Laden is DEAD
It was madness on the Sunday Obama announced Osama was killed by US Seals, along with 30 other people in the compound. College kids basically used it as an excuse to party. However, if he is a criminal why did we not try him in court. Other people, like Sadam Hussein and Egypts president were tried by an international court. He was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, but does killing him really make it better? Does "an eye for an eye make the whole world blind"? It was a very emotional death as we all remember the tragic day of 9/11.
From a utalitarian stand point I would argue his death was the least amount useful to people. Instead of killing the man, who is not ruthless and thugish like other Al Queda leaders but described more as a calm philosopher type, we should have tried him in court so that he could be righfully and legally convicted for his crimes and so that the world could see the truth. Now, due to the USA's actions there is alot of skepticism and hatred towards the USA. We should have been civilized about it allowing justice to play its role, instead of putting vengeance as the main aspect. Still, as useful to the maximum amount of people the truth would have been, I bet so many people wish they were the hero to pull the trigger
Utility vs. Self Interest
Self Interest can and has jeopardized the greatest happiness for the most amount of people, otherwise known as the greatest happiness principle. Our taxes are used in a utalitarian manner, attempting to help the most amount of people. But, when politicians ear mark money for the sake of their own self interest, such as governor Palin's "bridge to nowhere" then there is a serious breach in the greatest happiness principle because a population of people are not made happy by the bad legislation. Also, another thing to conciser is whether Osama Bin Ladens sudden death was the best way to deal with the crimes he committed
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Knowledge blank slate?
Rene Descartes believes all the knowledge he has acquired throughout the years could be false information. This makes him want a “fresh start” or to start from the foundations of knowledge. The way Descartes plans on doing this is by, somehow, forgetting everything he knows, and “learn” again what is useful and true information. But i ask how is it possible to forget something that is once learned? One might forget small details for example in recalling an event that happened 20 or so years before but never the whole event. Unless medical damage was done of course. But this would be cool i guess, being able to basically choose what to listen to and what not to listen to. This goes into free will and how it basically proven that it is only true during the present moment of making that decision. Because everyone makes decisions that they regret in life.
Sebastian Guerra-Mondragon