Something I Have Found Meaning In

Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas time is coming around, the holiday of giving. Both involve heavy family activity. That is what I have found meaning in my life so far. The idea and the purpose of a family to a person. It affects how that person turns out to grow, their actions, and their sense of affection. The idea of a family is beneficial to any individual even if that family is abusive. My reason being that an abusive family can make that person stronger, independent, and give them drive to be better than their family.

Nonetheless, family contributes to each and everyone's unique personality. When I think about it, if my family weren't there for me, then I would be a completely different person. Without them I don't even want to imagine how hard or different my life would be now. I have complete faith and trust in them and through the years of living with them is how I have come to conclude that the idea of a family has meaning to me.

First Quarter Review

I enjoy philosophy. I enjoy the many different approaches to a belief or an idea and thats what makes it enjoyable to me. Freedom of choice in a class. But when philosophical arguments turn into who's right and who's wrong I find it pointless. The point of philosophy is to dwell on the possibilities and choices like we did in the beginning of the year. It has now evolved into what person's views on life are and whether they are right and wrong.

About the assignments, I enjoy the readings given to us in class so having us answer those questions are nothing because they're so simple they just ensure that we read. The blogs on the other hand are tedious. I feel like they're a chore. They can easily be done with an in-class discussion. I like that you don't assign unnecessary homework for "points to grade". Except for assignments you give the substitute for us to do in class when your not present. Those are pointless and a waste of time just to make sure we are busy in class.

Election

Camus being the debbie downer he is, doesn't find meaning in life. Death is significant to life, and our only purpose is to experience the life we live. Therefore I think he wouldn't vote for anyone. He wouldn't care who would win the election as long as it didn't prevent him from living the life we view as absurd.

Voltaire on the other hand with a disgust towards corrupt religion and government (noted in Candide). Seems like he would vote for nobody as well. Both philosophers want simplicity in their lives. They would probably want minimal government presence in their lives and choose not to vote. Knowing the nature of Voltaire in Candide, peace and prosperity between the people, as well as protection from the government, I feel as if he would lean more towards the Democratic party if forced to vote.

Meaning of Life

There's no meaning to life. Plain and simple. We all exist to live, be happy, and do whatever the hell we want. Some people devote their life to god, others to helping civilization, and some thirst knowledge of this very subject. Why are we here? What is our purpose? The only purpose we have is to live the life we choose as we are all responsible for our own fate. God can be there to guide us. Education can be there to better us. Sports can be there to drive us. But when it comes down to the very root of our existence, we live to enjoy the life we have. To experience life with the people around us we call friends and family. With life comes death, and when one dies the world will eventually move on. Life is unfortunate for some who don't get to live to their full potential. Its sad, but the truth. Like Sisyphus, there was no complaint about pushing the boulder up the hill for eternity. He chilled out, and found joy from torture. His joy in life was that walk of boulder free glory down the hill to start over again, and he accepted it. It's a good interpretation of my meaning of life. To just be lax and not give a damn about whatever boulder was in your way from living life.

Candide's Punishments

The Past : the slightest misdemeanor, crime, punishment, or fault could result in serious consequences. Some which are outright ridiculous and yet the people accepted them. Those were the laws, and it is because of those faults that society did not want to disobey the law. Speaking in Candide's time, his petty crimes as little as kissing Cunegonde in front of the king, resulted in severe punishment. So the question is, does it fit the crime? Speaking in Candide's time yes, but for modern society of course not. Candide could have been sentenced to death if requested but the king had figured hey lets just cut him up through the gauntlet, he will probably die there. In today's world that would be unacceptable but hey Candide did commit a crime as little as it may be one could argue he deserved it. Living a life outside the castle, in a world where he thinks all is for the best thanks to his philosopher Pangloss. Suffering after every chapter, but for what? A girl who was love at first sight to him. Going through all this trouble, for a girl whom he supposedly loves does not justify all the crimes he had commit. One does not deserve to suffer as much as Candide does in this passage, but he should not just go around killing religious figures and monkeys and brother in laws, all for a girl. That deserves punishment, were it to be in modern day society, that would be a death sentence. So in my opinion Candide has been let off the hook more than enough when it comes to these crimes.

How Do I Know What I Know?

How does one know what they know? Everything mankind has ever encountered has been recorded and examined. Everything is passed on, and like the saying goes, "you learn something new every day". I believe that is true, unless one lays in solitary away from all society. Through the internet is in my opinion the source for much of the information that I know. The average person uses the internet about 13 hours a week. No matter what they are doing on the internet they know or learn something new.

And I believe I know what I know through schooling, parents, and just living. It starts out when your a child, naive and innocent, with a "buttload" of curiosity waiting to be answered by your creators. Whether it be through communication or through records, one cannot very well erase something you know. Just by getting through the day I learn many things, for instance not to wear socks more than three times before washing them, no matter if you take a break from them and use another pair only to come back to the dirty ones. It is through self experience though, that you can really trust that you know what you know.

The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

When I was little, I was always a very curious child like most others, but one thing I never did was ask my parents those questions like "are there aliens", "why the sky is blue", or "where did humans come from". Don't get me wrong, I was curious, but I also liked to find things out for myself. Like the fairy-tale and fantasy creatures were nonexistent. I found out by myself that Santa and the Tooth Fairy weren't real. Therefore, I do agree that the unexamined life is not worth living. There are questions that should remain mysterious to us, as we have gone over in class.

Living a life where every thing and every answer is handed down to you on a silver platter with no quest for any answers is not worth living. Life would be lived without questions, and without curiosity, therefore life would be absolutely boring. Examining the lives we lead today is what makes us human beings. Curiosity plays a big role in leading an examined life as Socrates has. And without it, humans would have no way of advancing as a species. 

Eulogy 9/7

eu·lo·gy

[yoo-luh-jee]

noun, plural eu·lo·gies.

1.

a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especiallya set oration in honor of a deceased person.

2.

high praise or commendation.

Justin was a happy young dapper, who always kept mind to his own business. Never got into any trouble, and was really shy till his later years. Not a particularly large fellow, but aspired to become big to his peers in school and out. He took a knack at sports, where he excelled at most of his early years. Some would even go as far to nickname him monkey-boy. Full of energy and excitement, sports is where Justin learned to escape the shadows of being shy. No longer was he quiet, he grew to be independent and strong, all because of sports. Not to say that he wasn't independent and strong before-hand, but just gained a tremendous amount of testosterone more than he previously had. He had always been the man of the house. Since his father and mother parted ways, he was always the one to take care of his younger sister. To add to his self dependance, he picked up a job at a family restaurant at the age of twelve, and had been working there during his schooling years to help support his mother. He was always a nice kid, not really disliked, and put others before him. He'd always wanted to put a mark in the world, make a difference. He will be missed dearly.