1. Be Aggressive in achieving all goals that I have for myself.
2. Always be on time for everything that I am involved in.
3. Always give my best in everything I do.
4. Be aware of my surroundings.
5. Follow my own moral code always.
6. Be kind and generous to all.
7. Be intelligent at all times.
8. Be curious about the world and how it works.
9. Remind myself of what my ultimate goals are when I waiver in my dedication.
10. Treat my friends and family with love, honor, dedication, respect, and loyalty.
11. Help those who are in need of my assistance.
12. Fight injustice wherever it may be.
13. Believe in myself at all times.
While I feel that if I firmly followed these guidelines I would be a much better, and more efficient McKinley, I do not think that it would allow me to attain "moral perfection".
Moral perfection is a bogus term. It cannot be achieved by a human being; as we are all endowed with flaws (or original sin as Christendom calls it), we are almost always in some way shape or form going to be at odds with something that is just and be supporting something that is ultimately not helping with the moral state of our world.
I strive every day to live by my own code of ethics that are based in an imperfect reality and also in ideals of goodness which do have to be compromised to some extent (no matter how small) in order to function in the world. I believe that as a result of this, the closest you can get to moral perfection is to recognize that you are a morally flawed person (as is everyone) and always try to improve your life and the lives of others.
Despite the fact that, as I said, we live in an imperfect world. We cannot let it get us down and cause us to slip into immorality. Life is full of tests, and the world itself is a test of the resolve of the human mind, body, and spirit to stay true through the all the struggles the world faces you with. Nihilism is the root of all decadence and evil. One must never slip into nihilism.
Simultaneously, one must never slip into a world of pure idealism. If you have your head in the clouds all the time then you are not helping your fellow human being, yourself, or your world.
These two dangers are on opposite extremes in some respects, and are very closely related in others. They should both be fought at all times.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Ben Franklin Autobiography
Franklin's list of 13 virtues is a very good example of how he was a Rationalist. His list includes in decent detail a basis for one to obtain moral strength. This is very Rationalistic in that it provides Earthly means to perfect oneself, instead of employing prayer and blind faith like the Puritans.
A good example of this philosophy is this:
"I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct."
A good example of this philosophy is this:
"I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct."
Rationalists VS. Puritans
The Rationalists and Puritans differed in about every way due to their core philosophies about how the world works. It's very much similar in nature to the debate in the United States right now between conservatives(Puritans) and liberals(Rationalists). The Rationalists believed that the improvment of Mankind was rooted in the ability of humanity to better understand the world around them. And through this process, humans can become closer to God. The Puritans believed that blind faith in a terrifying God was the only way to achieve salvation and to be a good person. The Rationalists and Puritans differed in essentially this way: The Rationalists believed in science, and the Puritans believed in faith.
Vocabulary for Unit 1
Total Depravity: Another name for Original Sin
Unconditional Election: God chooses who he thinks are worthy of salvation.
Deism- Belief that while God created the Universe, He largely has no stake in what we as humans do in it.
Limited Atonement: Jesus died for the sins of those He believed are worthy, not for humanity as a whole.
Perseverance of the "saints": Those ordained by God have the right to interprete the Word of God in whatever way they see fit.
Unconditional Election: God chooses who he thinks are worthy of salvation.
Deism- Belief that while God created the Universe, He largely has no stake in what we as humans do in it.
Limited Atonement: Jesus died for the sins of those He believed are worthy, not for humanity as a whole.
Perseverance of the "saints": Those ordained by God have the right to interprete the Word of God in whatever way they see fit.
Native Americans VS. Puritans
There are stark differences between how the Native Americans worshipped and how the Puritans worshipped. The Native Americans had a sense of being at peace with the world:
"Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart"
This quote signifies that the Native Hawaiin's felt much more at peace about the prospect of human mortality than did the bitter and ruthless rhetoric of John Edwards:
“You have nothing to stand upon, nor take hold of. You have nothing between you and hell but the air. It is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.”
This statement by Edwards proves, I believe, better than any other the belief amongst the Puritans that God is a vengeaful God, and that you should live your life in total fear of his will and power. While by and large the Native American of God was one much more built around the nature of things and was not one overly occupied with notions of casting the evil people of the world into eternal damnation.
I think that it is very easy to see how these cultures could clash. The Puritans had a feverish belief that those who live in what they percieved as sin should be dealt with in the harshest of ways. And since the Native Americans were significantly more relaxed socially than the Puritans, it is easy to see how the Puritans came to despise the Natives in the new world.
"Sweet memories come back to me
Bringing fresh remembrances
Of the past
Dearest one, yes, you are mine own
From you, true love shall never depart"
This quote signifies that the Native Hawaiin's felt much more at peace about the prospect of human mortality than did the bitter and ruthless rhetoric of John Edwards:
“You have nothing to stand upon, nor take hold of. You have nothing between you and hell but the air. It is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.”
This statement by Edwards proves, I believe, better than any other the belief amongst the Puritans that God is a vengeaful God, and that you should live your life in total fear of his will and power. While by and large the Native American of God was one much more built around the nature of things and was not one overly occupied with notions of casting the evil people of the world into eternal damnation.
I think that it is very easy to see how these cultures could clash. The Puritans had a feverish belief that those who live in what they percieved as sin should be dealt with in the harshest of ways. And since the Native Americans were significantly more relaxed socially than the Puritans, it is easy to see how the Puritans came to despise the Natives in the new world.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Unit 1 GPS
"ELAALRL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to their contemporary context or historical background, as well as to works from other time periods."
1.
I think the standard addresses the need of a learned person to be able to comprehend the full scope of a literary work and internalize the information therein. It also addresses the need to be able to connect the events from a work of art from one time period to a work of art in another.
I think that it is important to master this skill because it goes beyond just the arts. Everyone needs to be able to connect one event to another. And in literature it is very much the same. In order to fully understand a work of art or a real life situation, you have to know how the context of the events effect the situation.
2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Oe
3.
I really love this example for a couple of reasons. To me, the song speaks to the death of the Hawaiin civilization and to the feeling of pure sadness that the leader of a people must feel at the dusk of their culture. Despite this heavy subject matter, the song does not bludgeon it's point across. It delivers it's message with deliberate, subtle, beauty and honesty.
1.
I think the standard addresses the need of a learned person to be able to comprehend the full scope of a literary work and internalize the information therein. It also addresses the need to be able to connect the events from a work of art from one time period to a work of art in another.
I think that it is important to master this skill because it goes beyond just the arts. Everyone needs to be able to connect one event to another. And in literature it is very much the same. In order to fully understand a work of art or a real life situation, you have to know how the context of the events effect the situation.
2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Oe
3.
I really love this example for a couple of reasons. To me, the song speaks to the death of the Hawaiin civilization and to the feeling of pure sadness that the leader of a people must feel at the dusk of their culture. Despite this heavy subject matter, the song does not bludgeon it's point across. It delivers it's message with deliberate, subtle, beauty and honesty.
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