Opposites

"Act without acting
Serve without serving
Taste without tasting" (Lao-Tzu 63)
There are opposites to everything in life and this is one aspect that I find completely interesting. That you can find the definition of one thing by analyzing its opposite. There is never one true clear definition because it is always built off of something else. This is something that Lao-Tzu took advantage of, and that is still apparent today. You can pick up a dictionary and every word that is defined is defined based off of another definition. Where is the starting point or the first piece of this building block? Is there one word that all others are built off of? This is what I thought when looking at the way that La-Tzu makes his statements. He utilizes opposites to clearly convey the other half. This reveals the fact that when one aspect of life is understand, so is its opposite. So there is no good, without evil. No success without failure and so on. One aspect of life is therefore revealed by the understanding of another.

Darwinistic thinking.

I found it hard to isolate one subject of interest that could be analyzed or of interest to Darwin. The first thing that came to mind is the number of offspring or progeny that are produced by two parents. In almost all species, whether it is moths, flies, birds, and humans, the parents produce more progeny than parents. So two parents may produce six children out of which four may survive. None the less there is still an increase in the species number that may be controlled in lower species by predators or diseases. However what may this next large epidemic be for humans. Humans have no predators, and are affected less than lower species by diseases. In the past we saw a large portion of the population wiped out by epidemics such as the Black Plague, but what might this next large scale catastrophe be? This is what interested me most when i looked at the number of animals and people outside. This curiosity led me to think about how nature always seems to level out the populations of all species, because the earth can only support so much life, after which, it fails to yield enough food, disease ravages the populations, etc. There is always an evening out process, but what will the next one be? Is there any way for us to predict our future demise? Is there any way that we can continue to reproduce and have children at the rate we are at right now? These are all questions of which I do not know the answer.

Taoist thinking.

Taoist thinking involved clearing my head completely. Letting everything of that day just roll off my shoulders and what I encountered was a time that where at first i felt anxious but gradually eased into a relaxed almost trance like state. After I cleared my head, just concentrating on the rhythm of my breathing (I've had some prior meditation training), my brain was soon free of the distractions and I could only think about what makes me happy. I thought about what situations could rival the clarity of meditation and realized that surfing, my favorite past time while at home, was a very meditative state. Surfing was a time when i would be by myself in the environment that cleared my head of problems. My mind was nearly empty, completely without any negative thoughts. The meditative state that i spent ten minutes under, cleared the head and relieved the stress as only surfing could do. It is an alternative for me now that I am so far from the place that I adore. What intrigued me about this was how my mind in one second could wander from emptiness to joyous memories. It revealed to me that the human mind does not want to be empty. No part of human existence wished to be empty or alone, and this transcends just meditation. I believe that this is exactly what the Taoists wrote about. It takes determination to clear your head of the infinite distractions in life.

Variations

An issue that intrigued most about today's conversation in class came from the discussion of small changes or variations that truly make a difference in the success of a species. Darwin stated, "these slight differences make a great difference in cultivating the social the several varieties, assuredly, in a state of nature... such differences would effectually settle which variety... should succeed" (Darwin 178). This observation in peaches concerning smooth or fuzzy makes you wonder how many other small variations are simply overlooked. We take for granted many of the small variations that make us effective individuals. For example the history of humans would be drastically different had we never adapted to have a thumb to grasp objects or form tools. How could this have changed the type of individual we are today? What i took form this is that even a small variation that on first glance may seem unimportant may truly be something of paramount importance towards the fitness of one species.

Observation

Dining hall abounds with physical and communicative interaction. It is a social place where people come to not merely get a meal, but also to recount stories of the weekends or what happened in that day. So when the challenge was presented to us to observe a situation, I immediately thought that there is no greater place to observe than in dining hall where people a truly in a social state. As Darwin stated, there are things that "we do not see, or we forget" to see, and that "we do not always bear everything in mind" (Darwin 165). I observed how people interacted with others, and the wide array of emotions that are exhibited by the variety of personalities that interact with each other. I also observed how important hand gestures and physical actions are towards achieving a reaction in others. The people that were truly interacting and seemed to be making the most rouse out of their audience were the ones who expressed action and enthusiasm, two characteristics that seemed to go hand in hand. This was by far the most interesting observation that i had because you could see that hand gestures made a significant addition to the conversation without having any verbal association.

Morality and society/individual

As Darwin states it, morality has a direct correlation to what society perceives as "right" and "wrong". However, I do not completely believe that this can be true for society is completely susceptible to fads, trends, and popularity swings. When you see the current swing of society, you realize that morality can not be left in the hands of a society so easily swayed from left to the right. One example can be seen in the current shift towards television almost embracing or encouraging alcoholism. Commercials that are typically comical in nature permeates the television air, portraying alcohol as something that is socially acceptable, even for the younger ages. From this, you can see how society can show something that is not always in the best interest of the general public and portray it as something that is "right". Darwin placed society as responsible for morality however it should be left in the hands of the individual.

Diversification

"So in the general economy of any land, the more widely and perfectly the animals and plants are diversified for different habits of life, so will a greater number of individuals be capable of there supporting themselves." (Darwin 197) Upon hearing this statement i immediately thought outside of the spectrum of natural selection and applied this to the diversification of people and communities. While attending my high school, I was able to travel to Costa Rica and Italy with classmates and teachers, all in attempt to assimilate a knowledge of the culture. I believe this greatly contributed to a better understanding of other people. This thought that with greater diversity of life styles comes greater knowledge applies directly to the concept of understanding. I acknowledge the existence of other cultures and wholeheartedly believe in the ability to assimilate one culture into another. this applies both to Darwin's natural selection and my point of diversity within cultures.

Man's selection vs Natural Selection

Darwin rants about the superiority of natural selection over man's selection. This may be because he created this theory, but I as an unbiased reader must beg to differ. This is not intended to debunk or degrade anything that Darwin did, yet it is meant to build up what Darwin attempted to tear down. Darwin stated, "How fleeting are the wishes of Man... and consequently how poor will his products be." (Darwin 177) True, the wishes man are fleeting however they are poor by no means. Man has been able to compile some of the most impressive feats that that are definitely comparable to that of nature. The power and beauty of nature can never be appreciated enough nor should it be underestimated. However, this applies as well for the power of man. True to Darwin, we must not neglect nature, but under the same notion, we mustn't believe that nature alone can create greatness.
A statement such as this is definitely out of the ordinary for me. Typically I would side with the naturalists, praising the beauty of nature, but it isn't often that Man is the being that is underestimated. Man has an immense power that is often used against the betterment of nature, so to state that the product of man is something of inferiority is absurd.

Prejudice

Most of the time, when you hear of the phrase prejudice, you automatically have a preconceived notion in your mind that it has to do with race, religion, etc. However in the opening of On the Origin of the Species, we come to understand that what Darwin intended to do with this piece of literature was not only to explain a new theory of existence, but also to debunk former beliefs and to "call attention to the subject, in removing prejudice, and in thus preparing the ground for the reception of analogous views." (Darwin 157)

Socrates and analogies

The power of analogies is made clear when Socrates speaks of his "solar eclipse". Socrates stated I feared that my soul would be altogether blinded if I looked at things with my eyes and tryed to grasp them with each of my senses. So I thought I must take refuge in discussions and investigate the truth of things by means of words." (Phaedo 50) Immediately after reading this portion of the work my mind was clear. I took my own stance on what Socrates stated and I understood this as meaning you cannot merely rely on your outward perceptions but conversations and actual facts. People to often depend on what they see therefore forgoing the actual facts and overlooking the truths of the situation. As is characteristic of Socrates, this relates back the search and grasping of truth. However, this analogy is one that clearly conveys the necessity of investigation on truth by facts and words, rather than a brief outward perception.

Socrates own connection

In the last excert of reading of, Plato's Phaedo, Socrates is found explainig himself and his action of committing suicide. However, in the process of explanations he spoke of making connections, or recollecting knowledge as he referred to it. Socrates spoke of how "the sight of one thing makes you think of another, whether it be similiar or dissimilar, this must of necessity be recollection." This immediately made me think of our assignment and how we should be made to think. Socrates is excellent person to modelyour thinking after. He analyzes every scenario, finds the most rational option, but importantly does what most people don't do, he thinks. Now obviously everyone thinks, but how many people think outside of the box (cliche). This is something that transcends Socrates and the immediate question of knowledge and simply goes to the heart of everything you have ever "learned"

Fear of death

The connection that I made in the last section of reading concerned Socrates discussion of death and the fear that was often associated with it. On page 32, Socrates states, "to fear death, gentleman, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not... No one knows whether death may not be one of the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew that it is the greatest of evils." This immediately of my Irish family motto. My Gaelic name was Ryan and the adjoining motto was Malo Mori Quam Foedari or Death Rather Than Dishonor. I completely believe in this thought, and i believe that Socrates does as well. Socrates would rather die that forsake his morals and ideas of right and wrong. This couldn't be closer to what I believe and what I embrace as a firm believer in courage in the face of trouble.

Piety and Socrates

The selection of reading we had confronted the issue of piety. Socrates and Euthyphro search for a definition on such a complex word. And although the time frames don't match up, I feel that this is a subject that is totally relevant to our current times and the uneasy situations that may come before us. I, along with many others are confronted with situations that we might consider impious or simply wrong. But then the thought comes into mind of what is truly wrong or impious. Its not something that can relate directly back to religion. In my opinion, its something that comes from thought and a search within yourself. Socrates stated, "where there is piety there is also justice, but where there is justice, there is not always piety." This exerpt from page 15 defines the type of action that is entailed in determining on your own what is wrong and what is right.

The White Castle finale

The final chapters of The White Castle was wrought with ambiguity and confusion, however following discussions in class, I realized that this is exactly as the author (whoever this may be) wished the book to finish. It is in my opinion that the story was intended to leave the reader in a nebulous state in which they are required to formulate an opinion on their own.

The constant reference of fog throughout the first and final chapters is meant to disguise or cloak the identities of the Hoja and the Italian. "We exchanged clothes... then he left the tent and was gone. I watched him slowly disappear in the silent fog." (pg. 145) This is the moment in which we lose the identities of both main characters leaving the reader to discover the lost identities without the aid of text.

Another supporting claim to the idea of self-realization came via the conversation with the traveler who asked the new "Hoja" of his knowledge of Italy. It was in this conversation on page 154 that Evliya announced his thoughts concerning discovery through experience. Evliya "had spent his whole life traveling, searching for stories down roads that never came to an end." (pg. 154) This sounds very similar to the predicament that readers such as ourselves encounter while reading this book. We have to search within a book that exists without a clear ending for the answer concerning the identities of these characters.

The White Castle, Part 2

The narrator's obsessive relationship with the Hoja continues to develop at this point in the novel. It is at this time, (late chapter 7- early chapter 8) that the Hoja advances in rank due to his increasingly hands on relationship with the Sultan. However as the Sultan and Hoja get closer, the narrator becomes distanced from his once close "brotherhood" with Hoja. This soon develops into a problem in which the Hoja sees the narrator as being jealous of his success, when in reality,the narrator just doesn't want to lose the comradeship that they once had. The narrator stated on page 98, "It wasn't that I wished to seize a share in the triumph... I should be by his side, I was Hoja's very self! I became separated from my real self." This marked a period in the novel when the narrator was at a low point, disconnected from his other half, his brother, and from his very self.
During this downward spiral, the concept of defeat was described. In the description discussed by the narrator it is made apparent that the narrator truly fits this mold. The first idea of defeat was standard, applying to the empire as a whole, directed to inflict a reaction in the sultan. It stated clearly that defeat may just be the loss of territory. The next concept described defeat to, "mean that people would change and alter their beliefs without noticing it." (109) This very situation was occurring to the narrator. He had lost the sense of who he was. This is apparent by the fact that he could no longer dream of returning home to the his mother and fiance. He had accepted the face that his mother was most likely dead and his fiance had begun a new life. The third and final concept was, "to accept the superiority of others and try to emulate them." (109) At this time the narrator was fully engrossed in the life of the Hoja, living through his life and completely losing track of his goal and his visions.