Liberal Education: U of R vs. Gandhi

When Gandhi spoke of a liberal education, he made me think of the university of Richmond. Defining liberal education, Gandhi writes, "That man I think has had a liberal education who has been so trained in youth that his body is the ready servant of his will and does with ease and pleasure all the work that as a mechanism it is capable of...who has learnt to hate all vileness and to respect others as himself. Such a one and no other, I concieve, has had a liberal education, for he is in harmony with nature. He will make the best of her and she of him" (54). Gandhi's definition of a liberal education highlights the full functionality of the body and the mind, as well as the possesion of morality. At college, specifically U of R, a liberal arts education is defined along the same lines. This type of education creates well rounded individuals who can thrive in many diverse scenarios. Like the coordination of the mind and the body, students with liberal arts education can interpret mathmatcial equations and well as philosophical texts. Both definition of liberal arts educations stress the concept of balance. Balance is what separates one from the pack. A person with balance can do it all and often possesses more value than a one-sided person.

Gandhi is correct about Cities vs. Towns

Gandi and I share similar views about the differences between cities and towns. On p. 35 Gandhi writes, "they further reasoneed that Cities were a snare a useless encumbrance and that and that people would not be happy in them, that there would be gangs of thieves and robbers, prostitution and vice flourishing in them and that poor men would be robbed by rich men. They were, therefore, satisfied with small villages. Coming from a small town, I can attest that there are only as many temptations as ones wants. At my house, the doors have been unlocked for seven years now. There are no prostitutes or vice, as most of the residents are retired and have passed through their stages of young ambition and folly. People in Urbanna live a simple, but complete life. The local church serves as a community builder, and most know all of the town residents at least by face. Coming from Urbanna to Richmond, I have seen the vice that Gandhi speaks of. Driving through the fan last saturday night at midnight was a enlightening experience. Gangs existed, whether they were drugdealers or robbers, it is unknown. Gandhi's statements of the past still ring true today.

Sheparding according to Nietzsche

After Nietzsche discusses the idea of who should be in charge of the sick, he comes to the conclusion that the "ascetic priest is the predestined savior, shepard, and advocate of the sick herd...his historical mission is dominion of the suffering in his kingdom...he must be sick himself...but he must also be strong, master of himself even more than of others...he has to defend his herd againsst the healty" (125-126). Nietzsche decides that the sick, actually the less-sick, but not the healthy, should be in charge of protecting their own sick kind. My only concern is how the less-sick, who are weaker than the strong, possess the strength to defend themselves against the strong. It seems to me that the shephard cannot actually defend his herd, that the predator is much stronger than its prey. The question now is, why does nietzsche advocate the less-sick as the shepard when it seems that there is no why in reality they can actually survive.

Dealing with "Psychological Pain"

Nietzsche compares digestion to the character of man. On page 129, Nietzsche writes, "A strong and well-constituted man digests his experiences as he digests his meals, even when he has to swallow some tough morsels. If he cannot get over an experience and have done with it, this kind of indigestion is as much physiological as is the other--and often in fact merely a consequence of the other.--With such a conception one can, between ourselves, still be the sternest opponent of all materialism". This is a unique metaphor Nietzsche uses comparing digestion and the overall character of man. The metaphor is commonly used today in cases such as coping with grades, as well as dealing with friends and family. Digestion is not easy, especially in the case of the death of a loved one. When death occurs, ingestion normally results. Traumatic experiences such as death stay with one for an extended period of time. Trying to expedite the situacion of morning can often have more long-lasting results.

Combating Depression

After reading many of Nietzsche's arguments, his argument as to how to combat depression makes the most sense to me. To fight depression, he recommend "petty pleasure" (135). Furthermore, he cites that the most common form of this pleasure is that "of the pleasure of giving pleasure" (135) meaning helping others with their problems. Most interestingly, he says that the happiness of doing good things for others originates from your "slight superiority" (135). In most of my experiences, as horrible as it seems, the feeling of having slight superiority over those I teach or help makes me feel valuable as person. For example, when I was an adolescent, my mother and I delivered food to the houses of low-income persons on Saturday mornings. Besides from the idea that I was providing food to one of God's creatures that needed it, what also unconsciously made me feel good was the fact that I was in the position to be distributing the food.

Mnemotechnics

On the idea of remembering, instead of forgetting, Nietzsche writes, "If something is to stay in the memory it must be burned in: only that which never ceases to hurt stays in the memory" (61). After reading this, I begin to ponder upon my childhood memories. I asked myself what did I remember most? Let's see, besides my family, I recollect falling off my bike and getting stitches on my knee, and falling down on a case of cement steps and busting my forehead wide open. My most vivid memories were most definitely the ones where intense physical pain was involved. My memory is further intensified when I try to recollect solely memories of physical pain. I remember intense hits on special teams during football seasons, and getting hit in the fact while playing in the outfield in a game of baseball. After doing these painful things, making these harmful mistakes, I thought twice before doing these things again. As Nietzsche states,"With the aid of such images and procedures one finally remembers five or six will-nots". (62)

A frequent misconception

Although the lower and higher classes of morality consider "evil" the good
of the other morality, it is interesting to note that the weak, in fact,
want to be strong. Nietzsche writes, "These weak people-some day or other
they too intend to be the strong, there is no doubt of that, some day
their 'kingdom" shall come" (48). Although the upper and lower, good and
evil splits consider those who disagree with them their opponents,
there is evidence that suggest their sources may not be so unique. For
example, Dante "placed above the gateway of his hell the inscription 'I
too was created by eternal love'" (49). This statement, though obviously a lie, says that Dante, someone belongs and is in hell, had heavenly origins. Although Dante, since in hell has hate for heaven, he possesses an incarnate trait that makes him desire to ultimately return to heaven where he originated. He wants to move from evil to good.

An eye for an eye

"An eye for an eye" is a phrase that I have not heard in a long time, and only comes to mind when I think about pirates or when I read Nietzsche. Nietzsche writes, "throughout the greater part of human history...anger was held in check and modified by the idea that every injury has its equivalent and can actually be paid back, even if only through the pain of the culprit" (63). Today, this philosophy does not exist, and I have proof. The other day, while playing two hand touch football, a friend was pushed after a play. Another friend responded by pushing the the opposing player who pushed my teammate. In this case, the person who pushed last was held responsible for the incident was held responsible and asked to leave. During the moment I wished we still followed the eye for an eye rule, but looking back on my whole football career, I see all the pain I have avoided as a result of modern social values concerning violence and retaliation.

Double Jeopardy

As Nietzsche discusses the origin of good and evil, he carefully designates the differences between subject and action. He states, "the popular mind in fact doubles the deed; when it sees the lightning flash, it is the deed of a deed: it posits the same event first as cause and then a second time as its effect" (45). In this instance I disagree with Nietzsche. I believe WHO commits an action, not the action itself, has the most clout. Let's look at an example. Suppose a preacher and a homeless person bless an elderly woman confined to her house. Nine times out of ten, this woman will thank the preacher from taking time aside to visit her, but will not even allow the homeless person inside her house. While both of these people may share the goal of giving her their good graces, the elderly woman focuses more on the subject than the action, and therefore never experiences love from the homeless person. This is my take on this issue. It explicitly disagrees with what Nietzsche, but it makes sense in today's world.

The Misery Metaphor

As Nietzsche describes the everyday struggle of followers of "God", he creates a metaphor that reminds me of a recent fallen hero, Michael Vick. Nietzsche writes, "They are miserable, no doubt of it, all these mutterers and nook counterfeiters, although they crouch warmly together--but they tell me misery is a sign of being chosen by God; one beats the dogs one likes best" (47). Although, Nietzsche directly cites the illegal actions committed by Michael Vick, this metaphor contain further hidden significance. Nietzsche compares beating your favorite dog to being a devout follower of God. As a Christian I do not fully comprehend this metaphor. It seems to me that following is more rewarding than punishing. It seems simply that Nietzsche's perspective and mine are from different origins. As a Christian, I see people praying as a time of serenity and peace with God, while Nietzsche, a non-Christian views only their physical position which looks uncomfortable.

Evil Preachers

I agree with Nietzsche about preachers being the most evil enemies. Nietzsche writes, "As is well known, priests are the most evil enemies--but why? Because they are the most impotent. It is because of their impotence that in them hatred grows to montrous and uncanny proportions, to the most spiritual and poisonous kind of hatred" (33). Recently, my church has been experiencing some difficulties with the serving preacher. It seems as if some of his motives for preaching are not morally correct. When I say this, it is important to remember that most pastors recieve ample compensation. As people have begun to realize his faults he has truly became whats seems to me an angry person. While some angry people do not scare me, an angry pastor does scare me as he is the one who we consider pure and seek for forgivenness. His impotence makes his more dangerous, as previously in time, we have opened up to him, but now this trust is gone, and he already knows personal things about us all. The scariest part of the whole situation is that because he considers himself a devout christian, sowhen we is went against, the resistance in considered anti-religious.

Reading Nietzsche

Nietzsche purposely makes his books difficult to understand because he believes reading is an art, something more than a leisurely activity. He writes, "one thing is necessary above all of one is to practice reading as an art in this way, something that has been unlearned most thoroughly nowadays-and therefore it will be some time before my writings are "readable"--something for which one has almost to be a cow and in any case not a "modern man": rumination" (23). A synonym for rumination is meditation. Meditation is something I want to do, but am not able to do because of the countless tasks I am faced with in a mundane world. Personally, I enjoy reading books that read themselves. Thus far in Core, only the White Castle has fallen in this category. Plato and Nietzsche have not yet become fully "readable" to me because rumination is not something that comes easily in a grey court dorm room or the library. Perhaps I have not practiced enough, and my ability to understand these works will come with time, but presently I am having difficulty, not in understand what Nietzsche writes, but why Nietzsche writes what he does.

Unlike many who accept the value of morality, Nietzsche believes a critique of moral values is necessary

Contrary to many who accept that morality has a great significance, Nietzsche writes, "the value of these values themselves must first be called into question" (20). In order to learn the true value, he believed it was necessary to possess "a knowledge of the conditions and circumstances in which they grew, under which they evolved and changed". Most interestingly he points out, if one has taken these values as given, "one has never doubted or hesitated in the slightest degree in supposing "the good man" to be of greater value than "the evil man". This question is something I have never dared to ponder. Personally I believe that the "good" man is of greater value than the "bad". While this view may be only an assumption, I am not a philosopher, and therefore I don't expect myself to contemplate the forms as the mundane fully preoccupies me.

Confusion

While most of the authors we have read thus far in core have not explicitly told the reader they won't be able to comprehend their work, Friedrich Nietzche defies this trend. He writes, "If this book is incomprehensible to anyone and jars on his ears, the fault, it seems to me, is not necessarily mine". Nietzsche, unlike most college students, had little regard for his reader. In college writing, the student is expected to draw in the reader, and convince them about something the student believes. Convincing the reader that ones' point is right is the sole intent of collegiate essay, but this goal clearly contrasts with the goal of Nietzche. Perhaps, his thoughts are so deep they are not meant to be understood. This could very well be the case as seen in his reflections upon the problems of morality and the value of pity.

Dao 22

"Therefore the sages cling to the one,
and take care of this world
do not display themselves,
and therefore shine
do not assert themselves
and therefore stand out
do not praise themselves
and therefore succeed
are not complacent
and therefore endure
do not contend
and therefore no one under the heaven can contend with them"

This excerpt comes from poem number 22.

This passage addresses the principle of non-action. The Sages know the way of the Tao and are themselves devout followers. Because they follow the Tao, they also have Te. Possessing these traits makes them superior to all who are lost or who stray from the Tao. The Sages have already obtained Tao, the highest possible state, and there is nothing more to obtain. They do not have to take action. What they want to be they already are. They are whole and complete.

The true purpose of natural selection

Darwin writes, "Natural Selection cannot possibly produce any modification in any one species exclusively for the good of another species; though throughout nature one species incessantly takes advantage of, and profits by, the structure of another. But natural selection can and does often produce structures for the direct injury of other species, as we see in the fang of the adder". Normally when I think of natural selection, I think of species becoming better equipped to survive, but I continually cease to remember that they become better equipped at the expense of a different species. While natural selection itself may be a peaceful process, its results are quite the contrary. Why do crocodiles have such powerful mouths, to crush their prey. If natural selection did not work the way it does then an overabundance of animals would exist, and eventually the popoulation would reach its peak, and fall quickly due to the shortage of food.

Natural Selection and its limitations

On p.179, "Natural selection will modify the structure of the young in relation to the parent, and of the parent in relation to the young. In social animals it will adapt the structure of each individual for the benefit of the community; if each in consequence profits by the selected change. What natural selection cannot do, is to modify the structure of one species, without giving it any advantage, for the good of another species". Although natural selection does, in fact, increase the survival abilities of plants and animals, Darwin writes that with this change also comes advantages to other species. Although this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it does limit the effect to which one species can increase in relation to one another. It makes extinction much harder, and therefore aids the natural progression of specie developments.

Where does one go from the top?

In Dao 76, Tao de Ching writes, "the strongest armies do not conquer, the greatest trees are cut down. The strong and great sink down. The soft and weak rise up". I believe that this statement serves the purpose of defining the position of high and low and evaluating the consequences of being at a particular position. Like most scientists say, "what goes up must come down" is apparent in the words of Tao de Ching. Tao writes that the strong will sink and the weak will rise. This seems ironic in today's context, but I believe Tao intended this statement to mean more that once something or someone reaches the top they or it have nowhere to go but down. For example, while CEOs are enjoying the lavish lifestyle that accompanies their salaries, they do have to live with the fear of having nowhere to go but down. When Tao writes, "the greatest tress are cut", it reminds me that the greatest civilizations crumble. Where ones achieve a level of greatness, one takes a rest and loses a portion of the ambition that one once possesed. This minute loss of ambition is enough to push one off the top, and cause one to fall down to a devestating state. On a different note, when Tao writes, "the strongest armies do not conquer", I believe he thinks that when one wields this type of superiority, status is sufficient to gain whatever one desires. For example, the athenians would not fight the spartans over a basket of bread, the spartans would just take it, and walk away untouched.

My Dao in reponse to looking at nature

Half becomes whole
thick becomes thin
death becomes life

the sage oversees the needs of all
and takes care of his world

weak is strong
brittle has flexibility
the limit is undefined

nature adapts
its method unknown
without locomotion nature moves
the process takes a lifetime

plants thrive where expected
no sunlight no green
no shade many blades
position relative to the center means everything
the sun is the determining factor

death can become life
needs can be met
change may be necessary

colors tell the story
brilliance speaks nourishment
darkness quite the opposite

look at the lone weed
how does it exist
despite that all hate it
it is worthy of much praise

as the only weed
it has completed a major feat
most could never endeavor to attain this

natural selection

why can the ant pick up the leaf
weight is dimensionless
measurements are of the past
ability is of the present
limitless defines strength

it become adaptable and unsurpassable
nature has its own nature

Non-Violence, a concept unfamiliar in U.S. culture

In poem 69, Tao writes, "there is a saying in the army: I do not presume to be the master, But become the guest. I do not dare advance an inch, But retreat a foot. This is called moving without moving, rolling up sleeves without baring your arms, repelling without opposing, wielding without a weapon." Tao's ideas of non-violence are not popular in U.S. culture, and would probably offend those who serve in the U.S. military. Tao's thoughts are, in fact, the direct opposite of what we believe. There is no way the U.S. could of had any success in Iraq by pursuing a strictly non-violent plan. Although the whole situation in Iraq could have been avoided by the U.S. troops not making a presence in this country, there were far too many resources in Iraq that needed to be protected, namely oil. Because the U.S. is not a selfish country, it entered Iraq to further establish world stability. If the U.S. did not advance, and decided on retreat as the best option, the U.S. would not be the free country it is today, where citizens live as they please, within reason. Thanks to violence, the economic situation in the U.S. is healthy, and most are able to live comfortable lives.

Lowness

In poem 61, Tao writes, "therefore a great nation lowers itself and wins over a small one. A small nation keeps itself low and wins over a great one". This whole idea of staying low, in regard to bodily position, made me reflect upon the days when I used to play football. I was an offensive lineman, and for several years I was one of the smallest. My coach never ceased to tell us during drills, "the low man wins". In many instances, this proved true. By getting low, my center of gravity was lowered and I achieved more stability and it was more difficult for my teammates to move me. Although this may seem like a childish reflection, it was the first thing that popped into my head after reading this poem.