The "Golden Rule" does not cut much ice due to the variety of ways in which it could be construed. First off, it could be interpreted as doing something to others as you'd like done to yourself. Or, in contrast, not doing something to others what you wouldn't want them to do to you. Even if this part is understood by both parties, there is still too much room for conflict. In most of this text leading up to this point Appiah talks about values of different cultures. What I value and perceive as moral or immoral could go completely against the beliefs of a person from another culture. It is because of this that the golden rule can not work- maybe others would not appreciate the same things I would appreciate.
The example given in the book was dealing with Jehovah's witnesses. If one was in need of a blood transfusion, and a doctor would save their life, he would think this is good, as it is the way he would like to be treated. However, in reality, it is against the religion of the recipient to receive a transfusion, and they would literally rather be dead.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Cosmo Chapter V-VI
To me, shared horizons of meaning means the same basic understanding of a topic that can be universally accepted. For instance, chapter 5 talked a lot of controversial issues such as abortion. I think that everybody can share the horizon of information as to what abortion is, and what it affects, and can probably even understand the two arguments of both pro choice and pro life. However, what varies is the interpretation as to which side of the argument to fall on. This is where the horizon fades, and disputes occur. We can all agree on what it is, but may not all be able to agree on what is ethical, or what the best solution is to be.
Race, culture, gender, upbringing, etc can all play large factors on shaping a horizon. Many beliefs of ours are first given to us by our parents, and then may be changed later in life based on own experiences. However, the values we are first taught in life remain true until we take the oppurtunity to challenge them. And because of this, cultural upbringing plays a role on decision making and value shaping.
Agreeing on values is nearly impossible as shown by the previous evidence about values that came from all of the preceding readings. However, by debating about one another’s values, and what one believes in, we are likely to open up new doors and insights into values. If everyone in the world believed the exact same things, there would emerge a very bland Unitarian society, one in which free ideas could not be expressed. However, that is not the case and we can talk across boundaries in order to learn new things about ourselves and others.
Appiah uses the phrase “imaginary stranger” as a means to describe a foreign person who seems too different to ever connect. However, once one physically interacts with the person, they begin to find similar shared traits or characteristics that all humans can share. They don’t necessarily have to be universally shared interests, they could even be just shared personal interests. But the point is, once you connect with a person, the imaginary fades and they begin to become a real, and understandable friend. This is the stranger in the other sense, one that you may not be entirely familiar with, but have begun to connect with on some sort of human level.
Additionally, in chapter 6, appiah reminded me a lot of wendell berry. He was talking about returning home, and how he felt as though he belonged, but did not belong at the same time. He said how things were the same, but things had changed as well. Berry said some of the same things, you can always go back home, but it can never the same as it was before. Appiah seems to be bothered to bring people back gifts from America now, a nuisance he would not have had to deal with before he left.
Race, culture, gender, upbringing, etc can all play large factors on shaping a horizon. Many beliefs of ours are first given to us by our parents, and then may be changed later in life based on own experiences. However, the values we are first taught in life remain true until we take the oppurtunity to challenge them. And because of this, cultural upbringing plays a role on decision making and value shaping.
Agreeing on values is nearly impossible as shown by the previous evidence about values that came from all of the preceding readings. However, by debating about one another’s values, and what one believes in, we are likely to open up new doors and insights into values. If everyone in the world believed the exact same things, there would emerge a very bland Unitarian society, one in which free ideas could not be expressed. However, that is not the case and we can talk across boundaries in order to learn new things about ourselves and others.
Appiah uses the phrase “imaginary stranger” as a means to describe a foreign person who seems too different to ever connect. However, once one physically interacts with the person, they begin to find similar shared traits or characteristics that all humans can share. They don’t necessarily have to be universally shared interests, they could even be just shared personal interests. But the point is, once you connect with a person, the imaginary fades and they begin to become a real, and understandable friend. This is the stranger in the other sense, one that you may not be entirely familiar with, but have begun to connect with on some sort of human level.
Additionally, in chapter 6, appiah reminded me a lot of wendell berry. He was talking about returning home, and how he felt as though he belonged, but did not belong at the same time. He said how things were the same, but things had changed as well. Berry said some of the same things, you can always go back home, but it can never the same as it was before. Appiah seems to be bothered to bring people back gifts from America now, a nuisance he would not have had to deal with before he left.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Another SL Blog
Second life is going well thus far. As far as skill sets, I'm pretty sure I've mastered most everything in the first two levels as outlined on the syllabus and am probably going to leave it at that. I don't have much of a reason to edit scripts for my purposes here, or to learn the mechanics of SL, but I do know a bit of java, so that's always fun. However I am a master of moving, flying, running, dancing, etc. and can also navigate the pie charts and inventories and what have you. The group I am in is ECSL(exploring cultures in Second Life) and we have chosen Bogart's Jazz Club as the site to study. I think it looks to be a pretty interesting location, with some shops and some larger complexes. My role in the group is to pursue and study my topic of interest- Why do people choose to come to this location rather than others? I want to pinpoint what it is that is interesting about this place to make people come here to play instead of elsewhere. I think this will make a good premise to study.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Cosmopolitanism(intro-IV)
Introduction:
When first beginning the book, I wondered to myself, "what does cosmopolitanism mean?". So I will begin by clarifying that for myself. In earlier times, a citizen, or polites, belonged to a polis(city). The cosmos referred to the world in the sense of the universe. The word rejected the conventional view that every civilized person belonged to a community among communities.
Now that that is out of the way, I'll begin with the guided questions. Appiah suggests that the two foundational principles of cosmopolitanism are the way in which we feel obligated to others, obligation beyond those we are related to. And the second element is taking an interest in particular human lives, learning about their interests and their culture. These two elements are important as the cosmopolitan knows that people are different. It is important to analyze what we find is worth studying in another culture, while simultaneously fulfilling whatever obligations we have to people. Sometimes these two concepts can clash in practice, but it goes a long with the paradoxical nature of the world "cosmopolitanism" to begin with.
Chapter 1:
Point of view is a very important component of observing other cultures. It is necessary to see something through one's own eyes to make an observation about it, but this point of view also needs to be compared to the view coming first hand from the people being observed. In the text, Burton is a man who has devoted much of his time to learning about all various sorts of religious activites and cultures from many different regions. It is even said that he is an agnostic with an equal view on all of the relgions he has studied. Because of this, and by not having one relgion he favors over another, he is able to see each religion for what it is, and not have to judge it against his own beliefs. For example, if a Christian were to study ideals represented by a Jewish culture, the findings would be much different than if the culture was studied by someone with no native religion. Altough it is difficult, remaining unbiased is the best way to examine an area.
Chapter 2:
It is also important to remember when studying a culture the difference in fact and opinion. Facts are a universal truth that everyone can agree on in any culture in the world. An opinion is a subjective statement believed in by one's own philosophies. Morals are an opinion of what is right, not a fact set in stone. Different people may govern their lives based on the words of different Gods or Deities, but other cultures will still disagree with these. Therefore, it is true that all morals are relative to a culture. Something I believe is right based on the word of my God could completely conflict with a moral you have based on the word of your God. It all depends on what one is taught to believe, and chooses to follow. It is impossible for mankind to ever agree on a single set of rules to be governed by, if this were the case, life would be much different.
Chapter 3:
Whether or not one believes in something is governed by whether or not they believe in the facts regarding the subject. For example, if I were to believe in the values of witchcraft, I would first have to believe in the logic behind it to see if it was even possible. If I did not conceive witchcraft as a real, possible study, then there is no way that I could even consider the values regarding it. If the facts I attached to the subject were facts of logic and truth, then I could then and only then begin to forumlate opinions of morality on it.
Chapter 4:
Appiah means that terms of agreement are "open textured" and "contestable" because these words are often times subjective. For example, what is good to me could differ greatly from what is good to you. It is difficult to use these terms in a context in which they all have the same level of meaning. These adjetives can be construed to different degrees of meaning, and in essence entirely change the tone of a conversation depending on how interpreted. The best way to have discussions is to use terms that are non subjective, and that everybody can universally agree on the meaning of, or intensity of meaning.
Relations to Real World
Ideas in this book are very relevant to the bafa bafa game. Things such as morals or values, and aspects of life are all topics mentioned in the appiah book. He talks a lot about viewing things from perspective, and how biases can cloud one's vision. This was very relevant in the bafa bafa game. Each individual had ideas pre-conceived from their own culture, and when it was time to switch cultures, people were confused at the customs and rituals performed by the foreign culture. They wanted to relate the new culture to their own, and make it function in the same way, but this simply can not be done. It is essential that one steps back and observes another culture from an unbiased view before trying to make assumptions about it.
I do not know that I've seen any cosmopolitans in second life, although I would like to become one myself. I feel that by surveying others and posing questions about everything I see, I can get the most out of the game and try to learn many new things. I look forward to observing a foreign culture and analyzing the attributes that make it both similar, and different, from the real world I am used to.
When first beginning the book, I wondered to myself, "what does cosmopolitanism mean?". So I will begin by clarifying that for myself. In earlier times, a citizen, or polites, belonged to a polis(city). The cosmos referred to the world in the sense of the universe. The word rejected the conventional view that every civilized person belonged to a community among communities.
Now that that is out of the way, I'll begin with the guided questions. Appiah suggests that the two foundational principles of cosmopolitanism are the way in which we feel obligated to others, obligation beyond those we are related to. And the second element is taking an interest in particular human lives, learning about their interests and their culture. These two elements are important as the cosmopolitan knows that people are different. It is important to analyze what we find is worth studying in another culture, while simultaneously fulfilling whatever obligations we have to people. Sometimes these two concepts can clash in practice, but it goes a long with the paradoxical nature of the world "cosmopolitanism" to begin with.
Chapter 1:
Point of view is a very important component of observing other cultures. It is necessary to see something through one's own eyes to make an observation about it, but this point of view also needs to be compared to the view coming first hand from the people being observed. In the text, Burton is a man who has devoted much of his time to learning about all various sorts of religious activites and cultures from many different regions. It is even said that he is an agnostic with an equal view on all of the relgions he has studied. Because of this, and by not having one relgion he favors over another, he is able to see each religion for what it is, and not have to judge it against his own beliefs. For example, if a Christian were to study ideals represented by a Jewish culture, the findings would be much different than if the culture was studied by someone with no native religion. Altough it is difficult, remaining unbiased is the best way to examine an area.
Chapter 2:
It is also important to remember when studying a culture the difference in fact and opinion. Facts are a universal truth that everyone can agree on in any culture in the world. An opinion is a subjective statement believed in by one's own philosophies. Morals are an opinion of what is right, not a fact set in stone. Different people may govern their lives based on the words of different Gods or Deities, but other cultures will still disagree with these. Therefore, it is true that all morals are relative to a culture. Something I believe is right based on the word of my God could completely conflict with a moral you have based on the word of your God. It all depends on what one is taught to believe, and chooses to follow. It is impossible for mankind to ever agree on a single set of rules to be governed by, if this were the case, life would be much different.
Chapter 3:
Whether or not one believes in something is governed by whether or not they believe in the facts regarding the subject. For example, if I were to believe in the values of witchcraft, I would first have to believe in the logic behind it to see if it was even possible. If I did not conceive witchcraft as a real, possible study, then there is no way that I could even consider the values regarding it. If the facts I attached to the subject were facts of logic and truth, then I could then and only then begin to forumlate opinions of morality on it.
Chapter 4:
Appiah means that terms of agreement are "open textured" and "contestable" because these words are often times subjective. For example, what is good to me could differ greatly from what is good to you. It is difficult to use these terms in a context in which they all have the same level of meaning. These adjetives can be construed to different degrees of meaning, and in essence entirely change the tone of a conversation depending on how interpreted. The best way to have discussions is to use terms that are non subjective, and that everybody can universally agree on the meaning of, or intensity of meaning.
Relations to Real World
Ideas in this book are very relevant to the bafa bafa game. Things such as morals or values, and aspects of life are all topics mentioned in the appiah book. He talks a lot about viewing things from perspective, and how biases can cloud one's vision. This was very relevant in the bafa bafa game. Each individual had ideas pre-conceived from their own culture, and when it was time to switch cultures, people were confused at the customs and rituals performed by the foreign culture. They wanted to relate the new culture to their own, and make it function in the same way, but this simply can not be done. It is essential that one steps back and observes another culture from an unbiased view before trying to make assumptions about it.
I do not know that I've seen any cosmopolitans in second life, although I would like to become one myself. I feel that by surveying others and posing questions about everything I see, I can get the most out of the game and try to learn many new things. I look forward to observing a foreign culture and analyzing the attributes that make it both similar, and different, from the real world I am used to.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Operation Chicken
7:49 pm: This blog is not relevant to class, but it's the first blogworthy cause I've had since the school year began. So effective 7pm previously this evening, I am fasting all food and drink until tomorrow night at 10 pm. This is for the cause hereby known as operation chicken. Apple Bee's is currently having an "endless chicken" promotion, in which one can order chicken and get infinite refills. The goal is, me and a band of other brave champions are to eat as much chicken as possible in hopes of exhausting the supply of chicken on location. To do this most effectively, I have decided to not eat til then. I will update my levels of hunger, etc, and you all can cheer me on with words of encouragement. Either that, or tell me how eating chicken is wrong or something. Whatever generates a conversation. I guess I can also say I'm fasting for world peace or something, might as well throw in a couple of other crazy causes, cause it isn't often I get the chance to support them. And with that, I take my leave, doomed to an empty stomach for 27 hours.
Hour 24 without food: Starting to feel it, salvation is near...or so I hope
11:52 pm: When the clock struck 9(we went an hour early), myself and 12 other champions entered the arena. Everyone knew what they wanted of course, the chicken. So after a few minutes they brought it out, 6 large strips per plate, some fries on the side. We knew the fries were merely a diversion to make us full, so we paid them no attention. Round one went by smoothly, this wouldn't be so tough, the waiter automatically asked if we wanted more, natuarlly we said yes. So in a few more minutes 3 giant trays of chicken appeared, to be split amongst us all. We fought through this round with a bit more caution, but made it through ok. Afterwards, the waiter came back and asked if we wanted the check. Our response was "chicken". He kinda laughed, but honored our request. The battle waged on, the process repeated. He was beginning to wonder how much we could handle. We then revealed our plan to deplete all of the chicken resources. He told us they had just gotten in 4 cases from another applebee's location, and there were 500 strips in a case. This seemed a very unreasonable goal, 2000 was just too much to handle. But even still, we could not give up. So we ate and ate til we could not eat anymore...and then we ate one more. At the verge of explosion, it was too much. The global total of our efforts was 233 strips of chicken, 20 for myself. I suppose we did not accomplish our goal, but we still made some personal victories. The price of the meal was 10 bucks, which meant we spent a total of $120. However, if you configure the total price of the chicken eaten, it comes to roughly $388. So I guess we did our fair share, but nothing glorious to show for it. At the least I was hoping for our pictures on the wall, whether it be recognizing our accomplishment, or containing a caption reading "do not serve these people here". Either way, I wanted something, but at least I got this story out of it. I learned a valuable lesson, I'm not sure what that is, but maybe I'll figure it out tomorrow, when I'm less full of chicken...
Hour 24 without food: Starting to feel it, salvation is near...or so I hope
11:52 pm: When the clock struck 9(we went an hour early), myself and 12 other champions entered the arena. Everyone knew what they wanted of course, the chicken. So after a few minutes they brought it out, 6 large strips per plate, some fries on the side. We knew the fries were merely a diversion to make us full, so we paid them no attention. Round one went by smoothly, this wouldn't be so tough, the waiter automatically asked if we wanted more, natuarlly we said yes. So in a few more minutes 3 giant trays of chicken appeared, to be split amongst us all. We fought through this round with a bit more caution, but made it through ok. Afterwards, the waiter came back and asked if we wanted the check. Our response was "chicken". He kinda laughed, but honored our request. The battle waged on, the process repeated. He was beginning to wonder how much we could handle. We then revealed our plan to deplete all of the chicken resources. He told us they had just gotten in 4 cases from another applebee's location, and there were 500 strips in a case. This seemed a very unreasonable goal, 2000 was just too much to handle. But even still, we could not give up. So we ate and ate til we could not eat anymore...and then we ate one more. At the verge of explosion, it was too much. The global total of our efforts was 233 strips of chicken, 20 for myself. I suppose we did not accomplish our goal, but we still made some personal victories. The price of the meal was 10 bucks, which meant we spent a total of $120. However, if you configure the total price of the chicken eaten, it comes to roughly $388. So I guess we did our fair share, but nothing glorious to show for it. At the least I was hoping for our pictures on the wall, whether it be recognizing our accomplishment, or containing a caption reading "do not serve these people here". Either way, I wanted something, but at least I got this story out of it. I learned a valuable lesson, I'm not sure what that is, but maybe I'll figure it out tomorrow, when I'm less full of chicken...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
SL Home Point
I decided to set my home point as the UK Island. This is the location where I acquainted myself with the mechanics of the game, and feel as though it is my true home, seeing as how I originated there. I like the serenity of the place, and how it is isolated to only our classmates(most of the time at least). It should be thought of as a nice place for classmates to meet and socialize, and just to take care of any other managing of your character's appearance etc.
The topic I would like to study in Second Life is Arts and Culture. I think of myself as a fairly artistic person, and would like to analyze things like why a piece of art is important to a culture. Or what aspects of a culture are represented through their art work. Other general things I would like to analyze are just the way cultures interact internally on their own islands, and if there are large differences of cultural interactions on other islands. I think this project should be interesting to say the least, and hopefully reveal some important things about the structure of virtual communities.
The topic I would like to study in Second Life is Arts and Culture. I think of myself as a fairly artistic person, and would like to analyze things like why a piece of art is important to a culture. Or what aspects of a culture are represented through their art work. Other general things I would like to analyze are just the way cultures interact internally on their own islands, and if there are large differences of cultural interactions on other islands. I think this project should be interesting to say the least, and hopefully reveal some important things about the structure of virtual communities.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Second Life Avatar
I decided to physically warp my avatar into a creation that is somewhat unorthodox. He is grossly out of proportion, with toothpick thin legs and an enormously heavy upper body teaming with body fat. His face is warped, almost beyond recognition, and his head is mostly bald with some messy strips of hair sporadically growing. I wanted to make a unique avatar, as I believe most people who play this game are trying to escape their problems in the real world, and would probably make a physically perfect avatar to control in a new world. However, I want to take my own approach to see how my hideous creature is to be judged in this world where perfect bodies are free to obtain. Already in my limited experience of the game, one of my classmates made the comment that I looked like I came out of a cave. I think I will switch my appearance back and forth between a normal looking guy to my anamorphic blob. This way I can compare how I am judged as an average looking guy, and then judged as a hideous being. I believe this will be an interesting aspect of the game to study.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
of Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry's readings were quite interesting to me, being as he is a native from Kentucky, such as myself, and clearly expresses an avid respect and understanding to nature. I can relate to these values of respect as well, being as I am an eagle scout and have enjoyed exploring nature my entire life. Berry personifies the values of nature in his work A Native Hill. All of his descriptions of his home town and the sights around it come across as quite poetic, which conveys a deep meaning of the environment to him. A moment in the essay that comes to mind is the part when Berry describes himself learning how to hunt as a boy. He was taught by a negro who worked in his area, and learned the art with great precision and patience. Berry became a natural at the sport, but soon had to question what he was doing. He did not feel comfortable killing creatures he did not intend to eat. This was simply disruptive to the environment, so he decided to cease hunting.
The way Berry describes community is interesting. He describes home as a place where one is born and raised, and like it or not, they can not change that place. They grow up learning their surroundings, and the way the people there live and interact with one another. When Berry decided to leave home and travel to new areas such as Europe and New York, it was then that he began to make realizations as to what home really was. In these new areas, he would observe the evils of society with a sort of curiosity about them, because after all, he was only going to stay temporarily. But in one's own home community, they are responsible for all of the evils that occur, and they can not escape those. It is one's own doing to shape their society, and be held accountable for the way the rest of the world views that society. But away from the possible negative aspects, one can only have a single home. To return there is sacred, as you understand and connect with the people like the native in which one is. This sentiment can not be taken away, and the true happiness of returning home should be lived and enjoyed.
In That Distant Land, Berry describes what his grandfather meant to him, and the events that transpired up until his demise. Much how Berry expressed the importance of his home land in A Native Hill, Berry described the importance of his grandfather in this reading. Berry describes how his grandfather would always assist him and aid him in anyway possible while he was a child. Berry returns this helpfulness to his grandfather in anyway possible during his time of ill health. He would take painstaking care to get anything he needed, to spend the night with him, and allow him to be as comfortable as possible. Berry expresses the willingness of his grandfather to accept his help, he is not too proud to accept it. He explains how this embodies a kind of companionship that each member takes an equal part of. I believe this is a very important aspect of a community. Everyone involved in a community should take equal part, and contribute whatever it is they can contribute in order for the entire community to thrive as a whole. If there is even one weak link in a strong metal chain, the chain will break, compromising even the strong links. For a community to truly prosper, everyone must communicate and express what it is that needs to be accomplished to succeed.
All of these values should be implemented to have the most successful community possible here at UK. Everyone should take pride in their new community, and convey and express ideas with one another in order to accurately target a common goal. Apart from this, everyone should individually look for aspects in a community they are most enthusiastic about. For example, it is clear that Wendell Berry has a true passion for nature. Berry strides to make sure all of the aspects of nature are preserved in his native home community. Each one of us should find what it is that we respect in our community, and try hard to retain and preserve that aspect by personal attempts along with help from each other. What about our community is truly important to you?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Autobiography
My life:
I was born in 1990, here locally in Lexington, Kentucky. I lived in the same house my entire life, up until a few weeks ago when my family moved to Nicholasville. I have a sister who lives in Nashville, getting an MD PHD at Vanderbilt as a med student. One of my activites while growing up here was being involved in the scouting program. I earned my Eagle Scout rank in 2006 and am the 7th one in two generations of my family to do so. One of this highlights of my experiences was a 2 week backpacking trip to a reserve in New Mexico. Here, me and my crew hiked near 100 miles. I have traveled to New York, Las Vegas, Washington D.C, Mexico, and Europe.(France, England, and Italy all this summer). In highschool, I won the State Championship with my high school drumline 3 out of my 4 years, and got to play in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. My general interests include playing drums, photography, and just taking it easy.
In college, I am majoring in architecture. The program is fun and helps mold individuals into the people necessary to complete the work needed out in the real world. This program also seems to consume the majority of my time, as we have many projects and things that need to be worked on outside of class. So I would say most of my current interests revolve around architecture, although I hope not to let my musical skills dwindle in the process.
As for my personality, I scored INFJ on the assesment, or "Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging". As far as a learning preference, I prefer hands on activites or visual aids to learn most effectively. So far in the DSP course, I enjoyed the simulated cultures event we did. It was difficult to transfer from the trade oriented, fun loving Betan culture to the sinister, government obsessed people of the Alphan culture. Well maybe I'm a tad biased, but it was interesting to discuss the differing views of each culture.
Feel free to comment on my life, I would say I'd make changes, but unlike a blog background, it's pretty much gotta stay the same.
I was born in 1990, here locally in Lexington, Kentucky. I lived in the same house my entire life, up until a few weeks ago when my family moved to Nicholasville. I have a sister who lives in Nashville, getting an MD PHD at Vanderbilt as a med student. One of my activites while growing up here was being involved in the scouting program. I earned my Eagle Scout rank in 2006 and am the 7th one in two generations of my family to do so. One of this highlights of my experiences was a 2 week backpacking trip to a reserve in New Mexico. Here, me and my crew hiked near 100 miles. I have traveled to New York, Las Vegas, Washington D.C, Mexico, and Europe.(France, England, and Italy all this summer). In highschool, I won the State Championship with my high school drumline 3 out of my 4 years, and got to play in the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. My general interests include playing drums, photography, and just taking it easy.
In college, I am majoring in architecture. The program is fun and helps mold individuals into the people necessary to complete the work needed out in the real world. This program also seems to consume the majority of my time, as we have many projects and things that need to be worked on outside of class. So I would say most of my current interests revolve around architecture, although I hope not to let my musical skills dwindle in the process.
As for my personality, I scored INFJ on the assesment, or "Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging". As far as a learning preference, I prefer hands on activites or visual aids to learn most effectively. So far in the DSP course, I enjoyed the simulated cultures event we did. It was difficult to transfer from the trade oriented, fun loving Betan culture to the sinister, government obsessed people of the Alphan culture. Well maybe I'm a tad biased, but it was interesting to discuss the differing views of each culture.
Feel free to comment on my life, I would say I'd make changes, but unlike a blog background, it's pretty much gotta stay the same.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Cosmopolitanism 1- The Shattered Mirror
Decided to do some light reading this morning after math class, so figured I would start out this book. The first character described in this book, Richard Burton, is an interesting man who has obviously dedicated much of his life to studying cultures not native to his own. I find it fascinating that he took it upon himself to study so many languages, and even different religions. In this chapter, Burton states how it is impossible for man-kind to agree on the threads of morality. Why is this so difficult? Why can't man-kind simply agree on one divine law, or book to get all of the answers on ethics from?
On a side note, this section briefly encounters the term "Zoroastrianism" I remember studying this in world history class in highschool. So for those of you who do not know, the religion originated in Iran, and is based on a monotheistic principle, and has many similarities to Christianity.
On a side note, this section briefly encounters the term "Zoroastrianism" I remember studying this in world history class in highschool. So for those of you who do not know, the religion originated in Iran, and is based on a monotheistic principle, and has many similarities to Christianity.
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