Philosophy in the world
- What experiences in your life are hard to reconcile with our course material? (Be specific in identifying the material). Why is it hard? What else could you do to square your thinking/philosophizing and your lived experience?
More Philosophy?
- Would you take an additional philosophy course if money/time weren’t factors? Explain.
I thought that this course was going to be extremely hard for me because of recently losing my grandmother. Yet, the only time this course was actually hard for me was when we talked about euthanasia. I did not realize that a type of euthanasia could be upon yourself by refusing a treatment. My grandmother began to refuse to eat or drink so finally we stopped attempting to feed her because it irritated her even more. It bothered me to find out that we acted upon euthanasia at this time.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is hard to think of things we talk about objectively. Sometimes we let preconceived notions obscure our understanding of a topic, and we have to dismiss those and set them aside to reach the truth and then later wonder about how our notions fit. Alot of times we find that our initial notion was wrong, and we would never have found that if we guarded our opinions over the objective truth. It's easier just to keep thinking without questioning our thoughts. Its easier to say..I think this because I do. Its much harder to say I think this because of a, b, and c, and I see examples of a, b, and c, in a, b, c, and d.
ReplyDeletePhilosophical thinking is just a never-ending chain of thought-an argument with yourself until you find an answer inside yourself that holds it's ground-something you can't find an argument to. Its good to philosophize as a group because sometimes its hard to overcome your own notions well enough to come up with convincing arguments for yourself. Other people think about things differently,and this adds dimension to the topic. If I had money and time, I'd definitely take more classes.
Well I still like my black and white rod of measuring things out because I think it is important to have moral absolutes in different circumstances, but I do feel that this course has helped me discover more about what others think in relation to my opinions. I see myself looking at the issue and judging from the circumstance while still having that ruler of right and wrong in the back of my mind. I see the use for philosophy because all good philosophy points us towards truth and that can only be found in the study and contemplation of God.
ReplyDeleteTo me personally it was hard to fully understand, what it means to be living the life your supposed to live now, rather then one you shouldn't be living. I enjoyed how this class allowed me to consider and take opinions on issues that I never really thought about. I know this class taught me about life, and what it means to live life now rather then tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteLike Stacy, I thought that this course would be hard when we talked about things that would make me think about my recent loss of my grandmother. Surprisingly, this course helped me in many ways cope with my loss through the stories of my classmates and further exploration of my own feelings that I had bottled up for so long. I think that I really owe a lot to this class and philosophy which honestly is something I never thought I would ever feel going into the course. So, yes I would definitely take more classes.
ReplyDeleteI think as we've said many a time, we can discuss about what we think we should about those who have reached end of life treatment but we will never really know until we are in that situation. That is the hardest thing I try to wrap my mind around but I know I will never have the "right" answer until I am faced with a situation. As Latonio said, this class helped me to cope with previous deaths I have dealt with because I am not a person who likes to talk about how I am feeling or what is going through my mind. Hearing other classmate's personal accounts has helped ease my mind and make me realize I am not the only one in this boat.
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely take another philosophy course. Before my first Philosophy course I wasn't excited to be there because I had heard of other people's philosophy classes and it didn't appeal to me. Maybe I am bias because I have had both of my philosophy courses with Dr. Cate but my views on philosophy classes in general have changed from my time at Thomas More.
as stacey and latonio said, i thought this class would be difficult for multiple reasons mainly because we were going to be forced to talk about death. my whole life i've been accustomed to norms and never realized until recently how much i relied on those norms always being there. but through this class, i've had to face the reality that people are going to imminently pass and my norms will no longer be. change has been and will continue to be difficult for me to grasp, but this course has given me multiple perspectives on many issues which will ultimately make dealing with change a little more manageable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stacey, when I found out this course was about Death and Dying I wasn't sure I was able to handle it because I am one who hates to think about death. My grandma died two years ago and that was my first experience with death. To this day, I still have a hard time with her loss. I can say during this course I have been able to talk about death more with family members and friends. I am still afraid of death because I don't know when it will happen, but honestly, who does??? It's something I have to deal with and get over.
ReplyDeleteSo, Yes, I would take another philosophy class because this one has helped with my views and thoughts on death. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all of our discussions.
One thing about this class I have found difficult to reconcile with past experience is because like Katie I do not like to think about death. I am one of those people who just hears about a death in the family (quite often actually), goes to the funeral, and is fine by dinner, and my entire family has that mentality as well. So to discuss the concept of death as in-depth as we have been discussing it has really made me look at death a lot more than I would like, and that is a lot different than what I'm used to.
ReplyDeleteThis class has really made me aware that I am not certain about a lot of things. I have always just believed that there is a God, an afterlife, and a purpose for living. But after our discussions in class it made me realize that what I have always thought may not actually be true and before this class I never thought that way. It scares me to believe some of the discussions in class and some of my opinions have changed. I like that we get to argue our points while still listening to others. The only way you can be wrong is if you can't back yourself up. Everyone is entilted to their own opinions and I think hearing others is how we shape our own.
ReplyDeleteI know that I have solid thoughts about the topics we spoke about, but it was hard for me particularly when we had to do the debate and argue the opposing side on physician assisted suicide. I am strongly opposing PAS and I could hardly contribute to the debate because I do not understand the other side to the debate. I know it was hard because my goal is to be a physician and I guess I let this subject personally affect me since this is something I am likely to encounter in life. This was definitely the hardest time this semester for me though.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for taking another philosophy, I love to dive into complex issues in this way and I would definitely take another course to simply learn more about how people view certain aspects (like death).
This class has made me think about life and where im going alot more. I know I can be opinionated in some of the debates. Knowing some of the other people in the class do not hold my same opinion and can be just as opinionated on there view has opened my eyes to other sides of things. I think that it is good to hear from the other sides i really liked trying to argue the other side of PAS i am in favor of PAS but it was interesting so see the arguments from the other side and almost made me strengthen my opinion for PAS. I would love to me able to take more philosophy classes I love to debate over very complex and conrovercial topics. I wish my schedule allowed me to take more.
ReplyDeleteI think this class has made all of us a little unsure what we believe happens when we die, but I don't necessarily believe that's a bad thing. I think a lot of issues that face society today are becoming magnified by the number of close minded people out there. The benefit I see in a philosophy class is that it expands your mind in a way that biology or chemistry cannot. I think a lot of that has to do with the lack of a right or wrong answer that opens the floor open for discussion. In a lot of cases you could make an extremely valid argument that could persuade people to agree with what you have to say, but they could still believe what they want. Their is no right or wrong answer just logic and debate.
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest thing that we have talked about in class is living a “good” life. This class like the few other philosophy classes I have taken have made me think about my life and if I am truly living as I want to live and not how just going with the flow of society. Sometimes I wonder if my choices are “good” and I’m doing what I want or if I am somewhat constrained by society. Sometimes I wonder if teaching would have been a career for myself, but with the amount of worth our society places on it makes it hard for some people to want to become a teacher due the economic limitations. On the other hand, people that really want to teach do not care too much about how much they earn.
ReplyDeleteThis class has definitely enlightened me on the various topics we have discussed. While I may not be able to come to a consensus on the hard topics like euthanasia and PAS this class has definitely widened my perspectives by having group discussions. I think taking time to have some sort of deeper thought on my actions and decisions can help to provide more insight on problems that arrive in my life and discussing your concerns with multiple people is always good because it allows for unique and different views that I might not have thought of. I would probably take another philosophy class if I could fit it in my schedule. Philosophy can be extremely hard read at times but being able to gain a better understanding on practical and metaphysical questions can only benefit my knowledge.
I agree with Joel on this question. After going through this class with deep discussions about death, it really makes us question what do we really believe? I thought I had a good understanding of death and my beliefs about it, but after going through this class I sometimes question myself, what do I really believe? There are so many different opinions out there about death and we truly can't determine what's the right opinion because were all entitled to a difference of opinion. It's hard to reconcile certain experiences also because you live your life with certain beliefs and once you get questioned or asked about your beliefs, you think to yourself, was I really right? Overall I believe philosophy pushes you to fully understand certain situations and to never say someone's belief is wrong, but to look at it in their shoes.
ReplyDeleteI love philosophy!!! I would definitely take another philosophy class if time allowed, as I feel that these studies strengthen me as an individual in a practical reality. Throughout this course and other philosophy classes, we are forced to consciously think about what we believe in contrast to just living life with our adopted beliefs set in the back of our minds as we typically do. By studying the views of Aristotle, Kant, Plato, and so many more, our eyes are opened to the possibilities of reality.
ReplyDeleteI have always held the same beliefs, primarily out of family rearing, however, courses like this one and church studies of Scriptures and other possible realities have only confirmed within me, more than ever, my already existing beliefs. As Allison said, I believe that philosophy is a great exercise for us as individuals to listen and see all of the possible views and opinions on life and death, so that we can ultimately discover, shape, and fine-tune our own and live a personally purposeful life in accordance.
I feel like some of my views have changed, but most have stayed the same. The views I had about PAS and the end of life experience are two of the big views that have changed. The main reason why my views on thse subjects changed is because I wasn't very well educated about these things before.
ReplyDeleteAs for taking another philosophy class... It would all depend on what the philosophy class is about. I really enjoy reading about Confucius, Plato and Aristotle. I feel like a lot of their work can be connected to today's world which is part of why I enjoy reading them.
The most constructive byproduct of the course material is undoubtedly enhancing my critical thinking skills. Before I went to college, those around me continuously told me that college “teaches you how to think and makes sure you know how to learn.” Having been a student at Thomas More making my way through the liberal arts curriculum, I would have to completely agree. Philosophy, for example, though it does not apply directly to my accounting major and future career, enhances my ability to critically think. In my critical thinking developments after taking PHI205: Death and Dying, I am now better equipped to defend me assertions, cushion them if they have the potential to offend anyone else, and to understand the importance of making distinctions to most precisely discuss any given topic. In my opinion, regardless of which direction one pursues after college, a liberal arts curriculum enhances the entire human and makes him or her a better candidate to thrive in any profession. Regardless of the field, the ability to think, speak, defend, and use logic are unquestionably crucial skills to possess. The skills and abilities I’ve gained or improved in PHI205 are already working in my favor as I begin to make my mark on the world that surrounds me.
ReplyDeleteThe various topics covered in this class have led me to reconcile with the life I live, and in some cases, to improve my life. Amidst all the talk of death and dying, I believe I have a better appreciation for life and for how to effectively act as a member of the human race during life. Knowing that I live in a world with people whose religions differ so fundamentally from my own is eye-opening as well; knowing how to respect others’ beliefs is now a crucial skill I possess. Hearing first-hand from healthcare professionals such as Ms. Tacy about the immediate decisions that must be made as a loved one faces death makes me understand reality a little more. Before, I never considered death, and I assumed that I would just take it all at once when the decision came; now, however, I know that’s not a plausible solution. It is an innovative approach to me to think that human beings could technically be “dead” though their biological functions are still manifesting themselves. Finally, witnessing and learning the various famous philosophers’ views on things makes me align my beliefs and to strengthen them simultaneously.
If money and time were not factors, I would definitely pursue more philosophy coursework. Because I am an accounting and business major, the only philosophy exposure my schedule allows is for the two core classes: epistemology and ethics. Since this human nature course fulfills my epistemology requirement, I am enrolled in a business ethics course for next semester to complete my coursework. Despite that my schedule does not allow for my philosophy credits, I feel like my foundation in Dr. Cate’s class and hopefully the things I learn in ethics will equip me to do more independent study and to pursue more philosophical ventures in the future. Philosophy, for me, goes hand in hand with a natural thirst for knowledge and justification by logic, and to me, I will naturally pursue philosophy throughout the remainder of my life. One can never become bored with such a widespread, enthralling subject matter, in my opinion.
I found the section on suicide quite difficult to talk about because my great uncle ended his own life only a few years ago. A great uncle seems to be a distance relative, but this uncle of mine did not have any children of his own and was therefore extremely present in my life. In many senses he was like a third grandpa. I struggled throughout the discussions on suicide because I had successfully shut his death out of my mind (NOT his memory, but the way his life ended). The class discussions simply stirred up many old feelings concerning his. For me this death was far more difficult to reconcile with than the death of other relatives because of the means of the death. My family was in total shock after the event. Therefore I, like many of my relatives, was overcome with a sense of guilt. Why did I not recognize my uncle was in need of help? What could I have done to prevent this? Although I know longer have this feeling of guilt, I still found this material difficult to discuss. In general though, I found the class extremely beneficial. It allowed for an exploration of my beliefs concerning death and the end of life. Depending on the subject, I would take additional philosophy classes if money and time allowed.
ReplyDeleteI expected this class to be difficult because I anticipated awkwardness with people getting emotional, and I typically don't like emotional people. But I was pleasantly surprised, and did not feel too much awkwardness. One thing that was difficult was dealing with discussions where I felt some people were totally wrong and bordering on ridiculous. Sometimes it is hard to see the merit in other's arguments, because you are so locked into your own viewpoints, and sometimes, unfortunately because there is no merit to be had. I also had a hard time nailing down absolutes for anything. I feel many of the topics that we covered, but especially the topic of what constitutes a patient being brain dead, depended so much on the circumstances and the situation that it was hard to get a hard and fast ruling on anything about it.
ReplyDeleteI would probably take more philosophy if time and money allowed. I think it is a good thing to hear other people's viewpoints and know what other ideas are out there, even if they don't match up to your own, or convince you to change your ideas. Often hearing opposing opinions, and having your own opinions questions makes you understand what you think better than you did before.
The first couple of classes were the hardest, when I actually had to confront my brothers death back in August. I never actually cried, but Ive gotten really good at holding it in. He died so suddenly in a boating accident on the Ohio River, and it is such a legal mess. It isnt easy to talk about. He died so young and had so much going for him. But I knew that when I signed up for this class. It has definitely made me think more critically in a liberal arts education, but this class has definitely affected me on a more personal level. I can talk about not only Austins death but my great grandparents and my suicidal cousin freely. And I feel more prepared in dealing with death as it will inevitably affect me in the future. This class has also inspired me in different ways, I want to do something meaningful with my life, and I want to help others. Always live life to the fullest, you never know when your last day here will be.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first philosophy class, and I LOVED it! This class had me engaged in the material all the time. I wish I would have started philosophy sooner, I would have considered making it a minor. Or at least just taking more classes on it. I am registered for Aesthetics next semester, and I look forward to it.
Shortly after this class began I quickly realized it would be among my favorite courses at TMC. Death seems to be so simple, black and white, but it is certainly far from being simple. It is such a rich and deep and humbling topic. Even something as basic as defining death can be come incredibly intricate, the further you dig the more questions you encounter. Death is one of the few things that we all have in common, yet it is rarely discussed. There are so many aspects and personal deli-mas concerning death that you really have to decide for yourself. I couldn't believe how many topics we would discuss in class that I really didn't know what my position was on the matter. As we approach the end of the semester I am impressed with the amount of material we have discussed and how many topics I now have my own informed opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt has become very easy to talk about and analyze death however as soon as it becomes personal again and you find yourself attending a funeral you realize how delicate yet powerful death truly is. I have to admit that over the past few months I definitely view death in a new light. I find myself analyzing funerals picking out the things I like and those that I would prefer not to have at my own funeral.
My only regret with this course is that I didn't take it sooner. My experience with other philosophy courses at TMC has not been enjoyable. I now realize philosophy courses can be very interesting and rewarding.
I thoroughly enjoyed the class, but the class in general was difficult for me. I am not the type of person to share plenty of personal things, especially anything regarding death, and also am not the best person to listen to others talk about personal matter, especially involving the emotions attached to death.
ReplyDeleteIt was also hard for me to see others' viewpoints. I seem to get so wrapped up in my own ideas that I have a hard time of finding a way to grasp the idea that anyone else could have a different way of seeing things, let alone be right about something that I totally disagree with. I'm also not big on confrontation so I rarely felt the desire to share my thoughts/opinions.
I did enjoy our section on suicide, the Death of Tolstoy, and the end of life discussions because I have had family members recently in these situations - so it was nice to see what others' think on this matter.
As far as other philosophy courses go, I still am required to take one more, but outside of that, if money/time were not factors, I probably would not take another philosophy course. I am not great at opening my mind to new thoughts.
As this being my first philosophy class ever, I really did not know what to expect going in to it, but now I can say that I honestly enjoyed the class. I'm not the type of person to really share a lot of personal opinions and thoughts, but I really do enjoy listening and analyzing what others have to say. I signed up for this class thinking that death and dying is a subject not many people study in a college course, so I thought it would be unique and provide some insight which it did beyond my expectations. I thought death/dying was such a simple thing, but I know it is the complete opposite and there is so much to it. This class was enjoyable because it was a new topic to me and new side of critical thinking that I had not experienced.
ReplyDeleteI lost one of my grandfathers to cancer when I was in grade school, and I nearly lost my other grandfather last year to what started as a foot infection and escalated to a serious illness. Yet, he managed to make a full recovery and is doing fine now. I feel now I am much more educated about death and dying situations, and will be able to handle them more maturely than I have in the past, even though every situation is tough.
Overall, I felt this class provided great insight on the subject, and I am looking forward to taking my next philosophy course in the future.