THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

Questions in Text:
Think about the place you have chosen as your hell. Does it look ordinary and bourgeois,
like Sartre's drawing room, or is it equipped with literal instruments of torture like
Dante's Inferno? Can the mind be in hell in a beautiful place? Is there a way to find peace
in a hellish physical environment? Enter Sartre's space more fully and imagine how it
would feel to live there endlessly, night and day:

My hell is very close to Satre's . The most powerful torture instrument is the human mind, going insane is the quickest way to desingrate a person's mentality. Although the human mind is also our biggest allie. If you can harvest the power of the mind such as Monk's do then you have the ability to reach enlightenment and therefore you are not in hell at all.

How does Sartre create a sense of place through dialogue? Can you imagine what it feels 

like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a specific place? 

How does GARCIN react to this hell? How could you twist your daily activities around 

so that everyday habits become hell? Is there a pattern of circumstances that reinforces 

the experience of hell? 

Through his dialogue he uses imagery in the character's language and the stage directions to convey the setting. Garcin takes almost a pompus approach to the whole situation. It's as if he has no fear of hell and he has lived through this all already, he almost expects more then what he is placed in. Doing the SAME thing everyday with the same results quickly becomes hell. School, Work, Repeat. 

Both Satre and Plato describe humans as almost a dumb and ignorant race. Take for example Satre's use of placing these people in a room and these people don't even realize their in hell. Plato shows a group of humans so fearful of the outside that they refuse to even look at it. Not the main difference here is in Satre's story his group does eventually realize where they are and how terrible it is.

BRAIN WITH [x] LEGS

My group (so far) consists of Kevin, Sam, Javier, and myself. We are reading Great Expectations.

Our plan is to finish the story in 14 days.
Taken into consideration if we read at least 4 chapters a day we will be able to accomplish our goal.
Our main form of communication will be through facebook and in person, mainly to discuss what we had previously read and what questions we may have had.
We will discuss the story at least two days a week through this forum to ensure everyone is on the right track.

Plato's Study Questions

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
It's the transitioning of ignorance in ones life to seeing and understanding knowledge and the truth. An example would be when the prisoners are not allowed to see reality because they are chained up. so the only "reality" that they perceive to be "reality" would be what they know from being inside the cave all there life.

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
The raging fire that stands behind them is the representation of the natural "sun". The shadows present themselves to be the images of or figures of animals, people, any outside living. The shackles/ chains represent the restriction of life that prevents us from seeing and knowing what is real. Darkness is the lack of truth/Knowledge that the prisoners know.

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
Shouldn't people accept the truth when they are exposed to it? The thing is that ignorance isn't so wrong when reality hasn't really been available to them. People should go and put themselves out there in order to seek the education, so they will become informed and have the knowledge of the truth rather than metaphorically living in darkness without the knowledge that is being given so close.

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
The shackles represent that the prisoners are not completely ignorant, because the prisoners were born into  the darkness. They were just simply physically unable to seek the outside knowledge because of the restraint they were in. The cave is dark with a muggy feel to it, and  is very closed off. It personifies the ignorance as something unpleasant because of its dark feel to it. Turns out to be complete opposite of the feeling towards light and brilliance.

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
Technology plays a key role in our lives today. Ever since the invention of electronics we have relied on its advancements more and more. I would say that we are slowly loosing the rich knowledge of knowing how to depend on natural resources, learning how to work with nature to benefit ourselves or others, compared to the dependency of technology. Our minds are becoming shackled because you can see little babies playing with toys that are filled with technology to enhance the play for the kids. There are video games that will "enhance" the learning at an even earlier age. Children are being born into the "cave"  and are slowly shying away from the works of life.

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
The perspective of the cave prisoner was much more closed minded because they haven't had the chance to be enlightened like the freed prisoner. The cave prisoners are much more likely to shy away from the opportunity because it is out of their norm. That are already accustomed to what is comfortable for them and if it comes to adjusting to something new, then they'd feel outside of there "reality". For the freed prisoner who feels enlightened by what new world there is out there compared to being inside the cave. He feels that there is something new outside and is willing to learn about the reality outside the cave in order to enhance his knowledge of what the world has to offer.

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
You can either choose to accept the truth and enhance your knowledge about such things. Or you can also shy away from the truth and choose to now accept the truth. But by not accepting and learning from the truth then you will not become enlightened with knowledge.

8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
Someone lead a prisoner outside in showing them reality. He was able to learn and adjust to something new. By learning from others he is able to teach others and share the knowledge he now holds. It is just like a teacher student relationship. The teacher shows his ways to the student and he learns off of them to soon lead for himself, and then lead others in teaching what he has learned. It is like a cycle.

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Yes I do agree. For instance many fail to see the reality in many common things. When getting to know somebody first impressions are almost ALWAYS judged on appearance.

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

We Hang Together

• Inter-organizational skills can be competitive, inter-dependent, or a combination of the two
• Interdependent example: Coke vs Pepsi companies.
• Today we can not depend on ourselves to make our own successes. We must take into account other industries and even within our company must keep an eye on human resources.
• By survival of the fittest Darwin meant those who adapt. We suceed by networking, making relationships.
• Human factors such as trust and communication play a huge role in have successful interdepence.
• By considering ones culture and background a leader is more adept to lead his group the right way.
• Schooling teaches students the independence is key to success while collaboration is often catergorized as cheating.
• Western heros and modern business men are idealized for their independence but rarely is this seen in modern day. Everybody needs help sometimes.
• Internet allows companies to create interdependent networks. 

Oh and one more thing

One more thing. This is my current song obsession this week. LISTEN.

Que Bonita

Today I received a poem from a friend who chooses to remain anonymous. His poetry was thoughtful and special so I wanted to share on my blog with everybody. Enjoy!

My
Intense
Affection
Lingers
Even if I'm
Very far from
You

Sonnet Analysis #1

• A sonnet contains fourteen lines which can be broken into four sections called quatrains.
• First quatrain-establish the subject of the sonnet
• Second quatrain-develop the sonnet
• Third quatrain-round off the theme of the sonnet
• Fourth quatrain-the conclusion of the sonnet

Poetic Inquiry

So I decided to change my big question. The new one is.. *drumroll*

Why do people find comfort in security although it may lead to dullness? What's the appeal of working a dead end job because "it pays good"? We should travel more, explore the world, how come a rarity of people see life fulfillment in that?

Here is a sonnet I found about traveling :

Travel is life’s little delights
Cruising down the Thames
Tokyo’s beckoning neon lights
Most rejuvenating some claim
A moment of pure bliss
A means of uplifting the soul
An opportunity one cannot dismiss
Who needs to be cajoled?
The best way out of a funk
Is when one is in nature
From the cool temperate which oft smells of skunk
To the hot tropical of the equator
Travel should be every man’s desire
That’s why I can’t wait to retire
\
By Smasher62 on Teenink.com

HAMLET REMIX

Hello. Welcome!
You're reading this to get a better understanding of performance utterance and Hamlet right? Well even if you aren't you are now. So settle in and relax.

Hamlet is a old-school Shakespearen play while Performance Utterance is a paper written by Fredrik DeBoer in modern times. What could these two random pieces of literature have to do with one another? Well, DeBoer brings a new perspective to the style Shakespeare uses in Hamlet by comparing it with the ideas of Austin's theory of performativity and Harold Bloom's ideas of "self-overhearing".

This is J.L. Austin, the creator of the theory of performativity which was so perfectly stated by DeBoer is ,"certain language does not merely describe action but acts in being spoken." He then splits it up into three parts: Locutionary, illocutionary, and prelocutionary. An example of Locutionary in Hamlet is when he is giving a soliloquoy to the audience, it's the ability to get an emotion across through language which is exactly what Hamlet does in all of his speeches. Take for instance to be or not to be, do you not feel a huge sense of suicidal thoughts afterwards? I did. An Illocutionary example is basically when King Claudius orders around Rosencratz and Guildenstern to do his dirty work or when Hamlet tells Ophelia they can never be. Its a statement said between characters that forces them to act upon in later scenes. Preloctuionary is what happens after the illocutionary language appears, when ophelia commits suicide when Rosencrats and Guildenstern bombard Hamlet with questions to try and relay info back to King Claudius.

"Harold Bloom argues that Shakespeare's characters frequently develop through "self-overhearing."Shakespeare's characters, in this argument, overhear themselves speaking and in doing so gain self-knowledge." This quote said by DeBoer directly relates how Bloom's theory serves purpose in Hamlet. An example of this is when Hamlet is upset after the actor gives a speech at the end of Act 2. Hamlet gathers from this information that he is not passionate enough about life and after hearing himself talk it through he makes plans to take action against his Uncle.
These two relate in this quote said by DeBoer, "If Hamlet is a character who engages in this self-overhearing, and he is a man who, for most of the play, demonstrates a disconnect between what he says and what he does, it then becomes useful to consider the impact of his performative language on his overhearing self." Which basically states the thesis for DeBoer's entire paper. Which goes on to try and relate the two theories to each other and give himself a better understanding of the purpose of Hamlet.

Hamlet Essay

Language is the only barrier we have with our thoughts. It's the only way we are able to convey to others what we need. In Shakespeare's Hamlet we witness the evolution of his characters through the soliloquies they give to the audience and the dialogue they share with other characters. Language helps not only the audience understand what is going on in the play but Hamlet learns through his own soliloquies at the same time. This illustrates the point that the way we word an experience later leads to the way we remember that moment.
Prince Hamlet has an abundance of soliloquies throughout the play to give the reader a better understanding of his thoughts, yet throughout these speeches we watch Hamlet's ideas of his own actions also evolve. Take for instance his speech in regard to the actor that was so vehement in his fictional speech that he moved himself to tears. In the beginning Hamlet is simply commenting on the beauty of the actor's words but as it progresses we watch it evolve into a self-reflection, scorning himself on his inability to have such passion.
 "Yet I,
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing—no, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made."
This part of the play is where Hamlet is scolding himself. Another example is in Hamlet's famous soliloquy at the end of Act 3 where he contemplates whether life is worth it. In the beginning he is very unsure and very pessimistic. It is obvious that Hamlet is figuring suicide is the only way out but carry on further we watch him "self-overhear" and realize that to kill himself now would be a waste and he must make something of his before taking such drastic measures.
The way we retell a memory has certain effects on the memory itself. Take for instance I had a recent experience where I retold my first day of work to my family members. My boss had made a few rude comments but other then that was it was pretty uneventful, therefore I only told the rude comments part to my family and that moment is now a considered a bad memory in my mind even though over all it wasn't that bad. Same goes for Hamlet, he tells of made up stories to others to convey the fact that he is insane. Yet the repetition of insanity actually starts to drive Hamlet insane.
Overall Hamlet's ability to self-overhear benefits him while his retelling accountability hinders his rational thinking further providing evidence that maybe Hamlet really is insane. Modern day people have trouble with the self-overhearing concept and often resort to drugs of therapists to sort out our problems while in the other department we know all to well, with an incredible reliance on lying to put ourselves ahead in life.