chillin

hey class, i dont know what i am really going to say this blog, but i am exctied for fridays class because we will be getting revising our papers! (aha yea..) Just kidding, i am super excited because it is friday and my family is coming down from NY to visit me! I have to clean up a bit though... Um hope all is well, see you in class. (something relevant for class.. Socrates leave Euthyphro alone, let the man believe what he wants... without people like him, and without people like you, there would be no diversity, thus no excitement to living!)

Socrates- What's his deal

I would have to say Socrates is an annoying character in this story, but i love how he questions Euthyphro. I was always brought up to question things not only for curiosity purposes, but so that i can better understand and share them with others. However, this entire story Socrates just keeps running into a brick wall. He is trying to have a better understanding of where Euthyphro is coming from, but seems to get no answer, much like the reader at the end of the story.

I think that with any situation, Socrates would question the actions and philosophies of the opponent. It seems as though it is much easier for Socrates to beat on Euthyphro because he believe in numerous gods, which according to both characters, all want something different. Yet, if Socrates was arguing with a person who believed in only one god, I'm sure the questions would alter a little bit, but generally be the same. I feel as though Socrates is just asking why each time. It reminds me of the tostidos commercial with the little girl who is told to eat her food, and she asks why, and the father replies because it is good for you and she replies once again with why... and it goes on and on much like a circle.

Even if Socrates made Euthyphro question himself, I'm sure moments later Euthyphro would be back on his high horse telling anyone who will listen what life is all about, and it's pieties, and impieties. If one truly believed they were correct they would not back down.

Socrates just likes to argue. I mean he is on death row, why not go out with a bang, and piss off as many people as possible.

Socrates compared to Euthyphro

I'm not sure what to think about Euthyphro prosecuting his own father. I suppose that for the sake of justice (or impiety), it would be the right thing to do. To judge him on terms of piety, I would have no clue how to do that. All i know is I could never view my oen father as a killer, let alone take him to court. I also wasn't really sure exactly what piety was when I began reading the story. Of course I looked it up in the dictionary, but even though i have a definition, doesn't mean I understood it any better. Quite honestly, I did not receive an answer at the end of the reading either. I found myself going in the circles that Euthyphro was going in.

I found it somewhat humorous how Socrates goes about asking Euthyphro about the meaning of piety. It seemed as thoguht the entire restof the story was about Socrates one uping Euthyphro. Socrates actually seems a bit condescending in his questioning, but Euthyphro never seems to notice. Euthyphro's character seemed to be pleased in being thought of as an expert on the matter of piety (and impiety). I don't think Socrates expected to receive a definite answer to his questions from Euthyphro at all.

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Euthyphro: he seems to be a bit power hungry, and attention hungry as well. he thrives ont he attention that Socrates is giving him and just keeps rambling on throughout the story until finally Socrates starts to fire back.

Socrates: I believe Socrates too was a bit hungry when it came to the spot light. He also loved pulling Suthyphro's chain, which Euthyphro never notices. it was kind of like the story "whose on First..." it kept going in circles and no one was getting the answer or response they wanted.

class

My thoughts about Noah and his sons is much simlar to that of the classes. Noah was ashamed of the fact that his youngest child witnessed Noah in such a free and expressive state. In addition, his son went to the eldest sons as well, and told them what he has just seen. So instead of fixing the problem on his own, he brought his brothers in to cover Noah. So maybe Noah was upset the grandson didn't step up and show respect for his grandfather and protect him by covering him. It shows that he to some extent did not step up to the plate.

Then again, yea so he didnt cover you up Noah, get over it youre the only family on the Earth right now, and you are going to start a fight between you. There is no where to go, and no one to talk to, so way to create drama.

As for the story of Abraham and Issac... I have to agree with Mandy. To love someone is to love God, because we are "all Gods children." So I don't understand why God would test Abraham by asking him to kill his son. I thought that was a little bullyish again by God. Then again, I truly thought about it, and that is a true measure of how much Abraham is willing to give up for God. So this was confusing, but I would have to say I still think it was wrong of God to do that to Abraham.

which is tougher... Genesis or the Packet

Either way, anything relating to the biblical text is tough for me, becuase I hardly ever go to church, and when I do it is once a year (Christmas mass). Anyhow, if I had to choose one of the texts that was a "tougher" read for me it would have to be Genesis.

The beginning part of Genesis provides what seems to be a chronological framework which is extreemly repetitive as well as having a rigid style. Not to mention God is just creating things left and right. He says let there be light, so there is light, and he says let there be animals and soon enough there is some fuzzy creature roaming around.

I've come to the conclusion that it's not so much as difficult to read and interprit (because there are sparknotes at the bottom) but because it is tough for me to believe in anything that is being said. Also to the extent that I do believe that God is somewhat a tormenter in the sense that what he says goes, and you better obey him or else. And it upsets me, because humans shouldnt have to obey God, but be guided by him and follow him. (Im not sure if I'm making sense, but it makes sense in my head).

The reason the packet was easy for me to read and understand was, because it was just sentences on how people and humanity should abide by or follow the religion. It was more or less rules. And becuase I really don't follow those as closely as others (not saying I go out and murder people) I am not as threatened to break them as others may be (I mean breaking the "respect thy father and mother one- relax people!). Also, the second part of the reading we had to do (the one that has an eye for an eye) was easier for me to understand, becasue in social studies all throughout high school, we learned about those rules. Also, no one really practices those anymore, so there is no sense in paying as much attention to them as the Ten Commandments.

Even so, the material we learn and go over in class doesnt really stay with me that long. As soon as I am out that door, all I can think is LUNCH TIME! It's not that I do not respect the views of the people at all, or God for that matter. I just don't know where I stand in belief. I do however, believe it is important to believe in something... anything at all. It's great to have belief when you've hit rock bottom or are as scared as can be, or any other time you just need to feel comfort when youre all alone. However, for me, I feel as though I can discuss this in class and have no feeling what-so-ever on the topic. Which can be good in a debate or a paper, becuase my own feelings don't come into the matter. I guess thought to some extend my feelings have to come into play

I would just like to stress again, I mean no disrespect when I say it doesn't effect me as much as others. I just did not grow up with it. I know I would have an entirely different view if I had though. I also would like to reilliterate the fact that it is interesting to me, but just not as emotional as others.

So all in all, the hardest read of Genesis because of my inability to believe in what was said to have gone down. I still find it interesting to hear everyones point of view, and express my own. So yup, I guess that's it... okay, well i am now going to finish my americano coffee (it has 4 shots of xpresso in it- and im not even a coffee drinker... can you say late night!?) Night gang!

Activity in class (sept 4/07)

Hey guys!

I thought the activity we did in class (look at the penny) was very interesting. It made me realize how i take the most simplistic things for grantide. Meaning, my entire life i have exchange countless amounts of pennies, and money and other things in general without actually ever truly looking at them. For instance on the penny I noticed Abraham in the building for the first time. Also it's interesting to know when things are made (or at least i think so). Our penny was made in 2006, but what about the pennies made in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s?! Think about everything that happened in those decades, and that very penny had been cirulating through them all along.

It would have been interesting to do the activity with anything really. Yet, i was thinking, what if we had to do it with ancient text? What about the bible!? That would take forever, even to get through one page! I wonder what antone would say (I hope i spelled that right, im SOO bad with names and spelling).

It didnt occur to me in class, but i got to thinking, if that penny did not have a date it would not have impacted me as much. It really made me think of everything its been through. Especially with anything from the past. Time is truly of the essance. I wonder where my pennies are going to end up. I hope they go places i never get to visit.

All in all, that was a very interesting activity! I cant believe i thought that in depth about a penny!

See all ya in class!