A Semester Overview

After a slow start and somewhat of a lack of familiarity in our classroom, over time we became a very active and discussion became more and more interesting. The unique style of teaching allowed us to focus more on learning and less on our grades. I don’t know about all the other students but this made it far easier for me to get the grades without the added anxiety. The deeper into the semester we got the more relaxed I felt unlike most semesters and I became more interested rather than burning out. I think the freedom and relaxed feel of the class, led to better understanding and production, which could be seen in everyone’s final presentations. Everyone showed a passion and pronounced understanding of what they presented.  Professor Schultz gave us the opportunity to learn and presented us with an atmosphere that promoted just that. This class was one of my favorite since I’ve been at Baylor and I managed to get more out of books I had just read the semester before because I was not trying to find  what the teacher wanted, instead I was allowed to search for what I thought was important and explain why. Enjoy your summer everybody!

My Presentation

Within my presentation I hoped to give philosophical ideas and thoughts from past philosophers and combine them with my own in a calm cool and relatable way that would be suitable for not only my fellow students but any others. I attempted to use a story telling-like process and more familiar feel by telling a little bit about myself. I enjoyed this class and the other presentations which surprisingly, all seemed to have similar ideas to my own. I am interested to hear any additional thoughts on my presentation because I hope to slowly but surely master presenting in a similar manner. This class is filled with smart individuals with interesting thought processes and I'm delighted that we were lucky enough to have a professor who allowed us to learn with her as a guide instead of the typical rushed manner of memorization. We were given plenty of time to fully understand and get to know philosophers instead of a flurry of names, dates, and ideas. I am more than curious to see the projects of my peers and I hope to see you all on the last day of class.

Hidden Philosophers

The term philosopher has changed meaning since its original meaning in the time of the ancients. Today many philosophers exist in fields; because of a persons career beginning to describe who they are, (especially in the United States) people have begun to be somewhat typecast. People in particular careers are assumed to have similar personalities and live a certain way. People have begun to conform but philosophers always standout no matter what field they made be focused in.

         The first hidden philosopher is Mark Zuckerberg. At the tender age of 29 Mark is already one of the richest men in the world because of his revolutionary social media site Facebook. The funny thing is with all the money and fame are simply an added bonus for pursuing his dream, to connect people of the world. Zuckerberg wants everyone in the world to use the internet to stay connected or to find new friends in other areas. What does a person who thinks that people should be able to communicate worldwide in order to familiarize him or herself, sound like other than a philosopher? His understanding of relationships on a personal and global scale have helped him to bring together cultures and countries on a website.

         Next is a fellow member of the billionaire’s club Warren Buffett. Brilliant with numbers Warren Buffet is the first person to explain that he fully understands his fortune not only on the family he was born into, time era, and race; but also understands that his gift earns him money and so he can use it for good. Warren has even been documented giving money to Bill Gates because he says that Gates knows how to be a better philanthropist. Living in the same house and driving a car only new enough to be dependable, Buffett’s most luxurious item is his private plane but even that has reason behind it. Since time is precious Buffett has a plane to make best use of his time. Hearing Warren Buffett speak on his views on society and global fairness match those of Socrates, speaking only of things he feels he understands and putting in the dedication to purse his passion. Warren Buffett is a good example of a philosopher because of his understanding of self, society and universal structure that he uses to excel in his chosen field.

         Next is one a great example of the good that TV can bring. Hidden in most well respected television shows is a voice of reason and rationality who often resembles a philosopher. Boy Meets World had one of the most famous men to ever play that role Mr. Feeny a caring yet stern teacher who always seemed to be the teacher of the shows main characters. Feeny on the show embodied what it meant to be a virtuous person who worked hard to help his growing students understand not only how to do well in school but how to do well in life. In one episode he actually says, “Believe in yourselves, dream, try, do good”. After saying this Topanga the class braniac says” don’t you mean do well”? To which Feeny replies “no I mean  do good” This is one of the most philosophical moments on the show in which Feeny a strict teacher who hammered in the importance of good grammar and sentence structure says do good instead of well because he is giving them moral advice on the keys to living a happy and just life. Growing up on this showed I was amazed at the thought and work that went into every episode and series to create a show that influenced many young people of a generation. I guess you would say that the writer should be the one seen as the philosopher but I think it is a combination of actors, writing and timing that brought this hidden philosophical work to life.

         Last is the least hidden of these philosophers but a personal favorite of mine. Bruce Lee known for his skills in martial arts and as a movie star was a lover of wisdom before all. While studying philosophy Lee worked to perfect his body in accompaniment with his mind. One of his most well a known line is “as you think, so shall you become” this sounds like its straight from the Socratic era with its focus on visualization being key in pursing knowledge and becoming. His most famous and interesting line is “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend”. This seems to be both a moral and metaphysical in nature describing the ideal way to live.

         There are plenty of people I have not named but these are a few of the people I consider to be philosophers by another name who are in pursuit of the overall good. S. E. Hinton the writer of The Outsiders, the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pharrell would also be people who ,although they may not proclaim it, have shown themselves to be thinkers a philosophers with goals of goodness through what their selected passions.

Aristotle On How to live Life

I have often argued what the preferred life of a philosopher should be. Aristotle obliviously believes that a true philosophers place is within society. Is this true? I would like to say yes. The whole point of philosophy is for the good of mankind so what good are the answers if not shared? Although I agree with the overall point of Aristotle it isn’t without terms.

            While I do think that it is only within the confines of a society that a great thinker can use their abilities I don’t think any thinker can reach their own full potential without a period of separation. What do I mean by this? This separation I speak of is a seclusion from ones peers leaving one the time to contemplate and question. While being within a society may be the best uses of ones skills in concentrated contemplation I think there is something to be said for the unique opportunities and ideas the solitary lifestyle brings. With alone time seems to come a kind of peace and calmness of ones mind that often brings forth the most profound ideas. Socrates is well known for doing this when he would simply “zone out” and go into deep thought. Albert Einstein is also known for being so focused on his ideas he was able to disassociate himself from the world.

            For me it is a combination of intellectual conversation and time for thought that brings forth the best results. I am not saying that everyone should go to the woods or beach because that is not obligatory for all. I am speaking of a mind state, while some are able to go into deep thought in any atmosphere most people require some kind of control in order to completely focus on the task at hand. I do agree that philosophers must work from within a society but they must also remember importance of being able to separate themselves from their society and think from a rational point of view.

Life’s Heart Beat: The theory of Balance

Life mimics a heartbeat or vice versa. Life is a constant struggle for balance in your life. Much like in Plato’s stories life consist of up and downs, whether it be your trip toward knowledge or your eventual return to inform others. One’s heartbeat is a great indicator of their health, intention, and even mood. Is this an accident? I think not Plato too understood this but it is often overlooked because of its statement on the path towards knowledge and later leadership role one must take once enlightened. His stories often involve a once certain person being shown flaw in their reason however Plato admits that even he does not know all of the answers only the path and he asked others to help him on his quest for understanding.  I think Plato would say, knowledge is the key to immortality but it is only with good will and guiding others that it can be attained. Your heartbeat like life, through the ups and downs toward your path to knowledge will not end until the rhythmic beating flat lines.

Diotima

Diotima values the reproduction of ideas more so than the reproduction of body because ideas last longer and to him are more valuable than individuals.  By using this logic to explain the difference between Common Love and Heavenly love, Diotima expresses her respect for intellectual fulfillment rather than sexual.  Diotima believes we all have a love for beautiful things and a good that we wish to have forever. This drive for immortality is what causes one to be willing to die for their lover because they know that this heroism would immortalize them. She believes this too is why we reproduce in hopes of continuing our legacy or life through our children. While Diotima attempts to teach Alcibiades I do not believe her words word heard. Although I do not think Alcibiades was actually drunk I do think the act was a way of showing that he was not taking her words serious although there were many excellent points she made. By going last I feel like she was able to mold together the ideas of others along with her own in order to come up with what she thought was the ultimate definition of love.