journal2

Journal 2

1.) Reason was defined as "the power to think in such a way that we proceed from what we know to what we do no yet know." It's one of the three ways a human comes to know things. Aristotle separated reason into two categories: deduction and induction. Deduction is when we draw new facts from statements which we already know or believe are true and Induction is basically just making generalizations, usually based on limited knowledge. An important thing about reason is that it is worthless unless we use it in our lives to reason and make decisions. We use reason to learn more about the mysteries that surround our lives and our human condition.

2.) a.} I'd like to remember The Purpose of Life, which is to grow to be the best person we can be on all levels and then use that to improve the state of the world. I feel this is most important because it is what most if not all people spend their lives trying to figure out. The hard part about it though is learning how to get this accomplised.
b.} Next I want to remember and hold in account the huge impact our own thoughts have on our lives and who we are. The movie "What The Bleep Do We Know?" really got that across and the quote, "if thoughts can do that to water, imagine what they can do to us" helped a lot.
c.} Finally, I thought it was really interesting that most of our perceptions and first reactions occur because of our unconscious. I noticed earlier in my life that sometimes I just have bad feelings toward some people I had just met and now I know that it is often because they could remind me of things that upset me previously in life. The same goes for people whom I like right away.

3.) Lewis Carroll. Logic problems with deductive reasoning

www.lewiscarroll.org/carroll.html

4.) I think Aristotle's question of are we living good lives, judged by if we tend to choose what we want or what we need, is a good base. Do I know what is truely good for me, bodily, externally, and for my soul? If yes, then am I doing all that I can to achieve these things? If no, then go out and discover what those things are.

5.) In order to grow into a better person, I should start to distinguish between the things in my life which I want and which I need and then do what I can to limit some of those more damaging wants. Also, I should start to think more critically. I can do this by going out and learning new things and things happening in the world and my society today so I'll know the facts. I should finally try to look at things from different perspectives because then I will begin to understand others' points of views and can really appreciate some things.

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