Journal 1
1. During the first couple of weeks of school we discussed the quote from Socrates that "the unexamined life is not worth living." I feel that this is the main idea of the section. The tales of "Icarus and Daedulus", the "Blind Men and the Elephant", and Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" all illustrate that as humans we make mistakes and that we need to examine our lives in order to be happier and find truth. "Icarus and Daedulus" showed me that everyone suffers from hubris. Icarus didn't listen to his father and he ended up drowning. In the "Blind Men and the Elephant" the men all argue and don't listen to each other to really understand what an elephant is. In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" the men don't listen to the one who has seen the light and so they miss reality and kill the man. If everyone in these stories would have examined their lives and these situations, then they would have been closer to finding truth. One final example of how we need to examine our lives is through the story of Eric Clapton. He had made a lot of money and was famous. However, he was addicted to alcohol and drugs. Going back and examining his life, he realized that the sedated life he lived wasn't worth living and so he changed. I feel all four of these stories really back up the theme of examining one's life.
2a. One of the most important ideas I need to remember is the snail question.I think I have had trouble with these questions because I don't reason. The main point of the question is that once the snail is already out of the well it won't descend back into it. Reasoning has been a key idea so far in class. Reasoning means more than thinking. You must stop and almost put yourself into the situation in front of you. By remembering these situations I will always remember to reason before I make any choices in life.
2b. I always want to remember the story of Deion Sanders. He lived with so much power and fame and money that it took over his life. I often strive to make that my goal in life. However, by remembering his story I realize that he was empty without the Lord. This is a key idea to the chapter because not only does his story apply to the "Allegory of the Cave" with him seeing the light, but no matter what I do and what I accomplish I need to put God first in my life. Once I do this, then, and only then, will I find fufillment.
2c. I think the term hubris really applies to me right now. Hubris means that you think nothing will happen to you. So many teenagers like myself have hubris, especially when driving. I speed on the highway for instance when I know it is illegal and that it is dangerous. However, I keep doing it because I have become full of myself and think that I won't get in a car accident. Once I did get in my first accident I immediately obeyed all traffic laws. By knowing that I was vulnerable to hubris I could have avoided the accident. From now on I will try to remember that I am seceptable to hubris and overcome it.
Why does philosophy and theology have the same themes?
I feel that they have the same themes because they both challenge us to think about our existence and the choices we make. Both of these also want us to find truth which is the main idea.