During our discussion of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde we got onto the subject of personality and how time can affect a person. One of the views was that people are born with certain tendencies, and they generally follow those throughout life. My view is that people are constantly changing, whether it be in subtle ways or drastic ways. Another interesting idea that this novel brought to my attention is whether or not people can change themselves by belief alone.
In the book, both of these idea are presented. Since Hyde is the embodiment of of Jekyll's evil, it seems that the view of tendencies is supported. However it must be observed that some change in Jekyll had to have taken place, or else he would have tried the experiment sooner of been evil in his true form. Jekyll tries to convince himself that he enjoys the social aspects of his life more, but he belief does not prevent him from turning into Hyde.
I know that in my life I have been changed and I will continue to be changed. Through different experiences in life my views have switched. My approach towards relationships is now different because of my parents divorce, and I am no longer Catholic. These are some of the more prominent changes that I have noticed, and I know there will be many more.
I believe that as humans we are constantly changing, for better or for worse. It is impossible to predict these changes because there are too many conditions influencing them. Everyday events can affect people in adverse ways, possibly changing their character. Believing something so surely can also make a difference in a person. If someone is raised believing they are bad, there is not much to convince them otherwise. The effects of ourselves and the world around us are continually shaping us.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Conversation and it's Importance
While reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I became interested in the dialogue between the characters. I found Lord Henry's whimsical and paradoxical conversations particularly interesting. When these characters talked to each other, they were participating in an enjoyable social activity, not the chore that some people make it seem like today.
Because of this I have become concerned with conversation today. With texting and Facebook, there is no longer that connection is established when talking face to face. Even though talking face to face still holds the vast majority, I feel that the short and stunted conversations people have take away from relationships. When talking to someone in person, it is easy to gauge their feelings from their responses and start to get a feel for the person. But when you talk to someone online, they may have a completely different personality.
In my life I have caught myself reading a text with a winky face and wondering, "Oh yikes, does she like me?" The emotions in texts are near impossible to pick up on. While when I have a conversation with someone in person, I can usually notice whatever feelings they are trying to convey.
The issue I am presenting is the slow decline of in depth conversations. Facebook is great, and texting is convenient, but it cannot hold up to real human interaction. Every thing that is worded badly or not thought out it is said it important because it is unique. Conversation becomes too tailored when it is solely through letters on a screen.
Because of this I have become concerned with conversation today. With texting and Facebook, there is no longer that connection is established when talking face to face. Even though talking face to face still holds the vast majority, I feel that the short and stunted conversations people have take away from relationships. When talking to someone in person, it is easy to gauge their feelings from their responses and start to get a feel for the person. But when you talk to someone online, they may have a completely different personality.
In my life I have caught myself reading a text with a winky face and wondering, "Oh yikes, does she like me?" The emotions in texts are near impossible to pick up on. While when I have a conversation with someone in person, I can usually notice whatever feelings they are trying to convey.
The issue I am presenting is the slow decline of in depth conversations. Facebook is great, and texting is convenient, but it cannot hold up to real human interaction. Every thing that is worded badly or not thought out it is said it important because it is unique. Conversation becomes too tailored when it is solely through letters on a screen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Nugget of Truth From Objectivism
It seems that our class, and I assume many other students, get a little hung up on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. I believe that the interpretation of this view point is all based on context. People may not blame Jean Valjean for the self-serving act of stealing bread because other events seem to justify him, but put a nameless thug in a back alley stealing a purse and he is the subject hate. These two events by themselves are very similar, but it is people's previous knowledge and bias that allows them to choose which is right and which is wrong.
It is because of this that we supported a central theme in Objectivism, selfishness, when it was displayed in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Edna is driven to do things solely because they are what she wants, and it seems honorable because she needs to be her own person, away from her husband and away from Robert. If it was another woman who had made these choices, one who had not been the subject of the novella, it may be harder to justify her actions.
I think that with the promotion of selfishness in Objectivism and Edna's actions a lot can be learned and applied to my life. I walk through the day with people constantly asking things of me, whether it be subtle or obvious. It doesn't bother me, but I've learned that I have to do things for myself every now and again or else I would go insane. I think it is important for teens to remember this, especially with all the pressure of college applications.
To some people this may seem harsh or obscene, but think of it this way: If you go around pleasing everyone but yourself, then where has your identity gone? This isn't meant to say that it is bad to be philanthropic and joyful however. I am merely saying that it can be healthy and refreshing to be a little selfish every once in a while.
It is because of this that we supported a central theme in Objectivism, selfishness, when it was displayed in The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Edna is driven to do things solely because they are what she wants, and it seems honorable because she needs to be her own person, away from her husband and away from Robert. If it was another woman who had made these choices, one who had not been the subject of the novella, it may be harder to justify her actions.
I think that with the promotion of selfishness in Objectivism and Edna's actions a lot can be learned and applied to my life. I walk through the day with people constantly asking things of me, whether it be subtle or obvious. It doesn't bother me, but I've learned that I have to do things for myself every now and again or else I would go insane. I think it is important for teens to remember this, especially with all the pressure of college applications.
To some people this may seem harsh or obscene, but think of it this way: If you go around pleasing everyone but yourself, then where has your identity gone? This isn't meant to say that it is bad to be philanthropic and joyful however. I am merely saying that it can be healthy and refreshing to be a little selfish every once in a while.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Analyzing Cultural Relativism
In this article the issue of the reliability and truth of the Cultural Relativism theory is brought into question. This theory states that there are moral differences in every society and that there are no common morals connecting these cultures. It goes on to say that because of this difference there can be no "right" or "wrong" relating two societies.
I think that the author of this article is right in his analysis Cultural Relativism. Although the theory has merit and applies to many situations, it does not apply to all. I found myself getting really angry at the author when I first started the article but as it went on I began to see his point. The are morals that pertain to all societies and although I do not agree with some of the specific examples given by the author, I feel that these common morals are expresses in some of their most plain forms. Empathy is such a moral that I believe applies to all societies, barring individuals who do not possess it. Being able to feel pain when seeing another's pain or understanding a feeling of something going wrong is applicable to all humans.
Cultural Relativism has presented itself in our Socratic Seminar on Things Fall Apart. We see Okonkwo's multiple marriages as wrong or odd, but it is important to bring it into the context of the novel. In the time period and location it was acceptable, and no matter how we see it, it isn't necessarily wrong. The extent to which Okonkwo abuses his wives, however is something that is universally wrong in both our culture, and the culture of the book when Okonkwo breaks the week of peace.
I can personally relate to this issue because I have noticed the generation clash on homosexuality. Some adults (though certainly not all) want to support homosexuality, but find it uncomfortable because it goes against how they were raised. In the current generation, more people are comfortable with this because they have grown up with it as an issue. In this way I think Cultural Relativism applies if we take each generation as a different culture. The separate views are not inherently wrong, they are just the product of an era. Which is in no way saying that those views cannot be changed.
I think that the author of this article is right in his analysis Cultural Relativism. Although the theory has merit and applies to many situations, it does not apply to all. I found myself getting really angry at the author when I first started the article but as it went on I began to see his point. The are morals that pertain to all societies and although I do not agree with some of the specific examples given by the author, I feel that these common morals are expresses in some of their most plain forms. Empathy is such a moral that I believe applies to all societies, barring individuals who do not possess it. Being able to feel pain when seeing another's pain or understanding a feeling of something going wrong is applicable to all humans.
Cultural Relativism has presented itself in our Socratic Seminar on Things Fall Apart. We see Okonkwo's multiple marriages as wrong or odd, but it is important to bring it into the context of the novel. In the time period and location it was acceptable, and no matter how we see it, it isn't necessarily wrong. The extent to which Okonkwo abuses his wives, however is something that is universally wrong in both our culture, and the culture of the book when Okonkwo breaks the week of peace.
I can personally relate to this issue because I have noticed the generation clash on homosexuality. Some adults (though certainly not all) want to support homosexuality, but find it uncomfortable because it goes against how they were raised. In the current generation, more people are comfortable with this because they have grown up with it as an issue. In this way I think Cultural Relativism applies if we take each generation as a different culture. The separate views are not inherently wrong, they are just the product of an era. Which is in no way saying that those views cannot be changed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)