I was a fan of Voltaire’s writings because he uses lots of satire and exaggerations to talk about real life issues that were happening in france during his lifetime. In his story Candide, voltaire uses lots of humor to make fun of philosophical and scientific ideas. (studying metaphysics with the maid, best of all possible worlds, free will, ect) He uses exaggeration to make fun of other philosophers, like liebnitz, to show the logical fallacies in their thinkings. He describes everything in the beginning of the story of Candied as being “the best of all possible” castles, kingdoms, rulers, women, scholars, ect. As a way to poke fun at Liebnitz. He satirises the political situation in countries like france and germany by describing the way candide is taken in by the german soldiers and forced to serve in the army, and how he has the “free will” to do anything except he is not allowed to leave or walk or much of anything. He also pokes fun at free will during Candides court trial by giving him the choice between 4000 lashes, or 32 bullets in his head. Voltaire is an excellent satirical writer because of the way he used the real life scenarios he experiences to make a fantastic and insane story full of humor and hyperbole.
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." -Voltaire
How did despite being a peaceful and gentle philosopher, Rousseau inspire revolution, genocide, and totalitarianism?
Rousseau was abandoned by his father at a young age, and his mother died in childbirth which lead him to believe that the traditional family system should is obsolete and should be replaced with loyalty to the state instead. His ideas of full commitment to the government inspired the likes of the Nazis, Communist Russia, Fascist Italy, and the Cambodian genocide. These governments and regimes used the model inspired by Rousseau of total surrender to the state. Giving up your personal independence for the good of the people, and serving the government with absolute obedience.
Rousseau preached that the failures of society derived from traditional ties to family, marriage, and private property. He wanted to abolish these conventions which he thought made society segregated and weak. These ideas became stepping stones for regimes like fascist italy and communist russia, which preach the importance of the state above all else.
Despite these being not what Rousseau intended for his philosophies, some of his ideas because the base for ideology reinforced by philosophers and rulers like marx and stalin later in history.
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Are you lonesome?
I think that part of what makes something beautiful is the memories or meanings associated with it. This song has a lot of that for me because I saw this band with all my closest friends, on a monday night during the school week, in a tiny venue that reeked of weed. None of us had ever heard of the band or this specific song, but the moment they started singing all of us realized we loved it. One of the best parts of this band is how undiscovered they are. But the true beauty lies in the sound of their music. The variety in their sound and instruments is so enjoyable to listen to. From their many harmonies, to mix of guitar and trumpets, and crazy vocal range. It is hands down one of my new favorite bands. The most beautiful part of the song is that only my friends and I know it, so it keeps its meaning within our select group of friends.
Art and Schopenhauer
Having been in art for the past three years I’ve learned that beauty and message are two seperate things that make an art piece good. And technique and style are only two small things that go into the “beauty” of an art piece. Schopenhauer and I would agree that art is something that delivers you from your struggles and has been a way for thousands of artists to escape poverty or find their voice, and be given a platform to speak out against things they are passionate about. Recently in my own art class there was an incident when another student left an angry post it note on another person's piece because they disagree politically with the other student. This made me think a lot about how people handle art they dislike or disagree with. Many people are extremely against modern art because they think it's too simple or something they could do themselves and ignore the whole point and message of the art. But when people ignore the message of the art they are ignoring part of the beauty of it. Because an art piece cannot be considered one entity but a multifaceted creation, its beauty and complexity is often lost on those who choose not to understand it.
The Modern Red Scare
Karl marx’s main ideas were built on his heart for the poor, and wanting to end inequality and suffering in society. Which both seem like great things, but he is still regarded as an evil and wrong philosopher. I think this has to do with the indoctrination american people and students have about the evil of socialism and communism. Even though many of Marx’s ideas were not inherently bad, and were about public service, his anti-capitalism ideas earned him much disapproval from capitalists and his peers. Karl Marx’s ideas were very well suited for the time period he was living in, and made a lot of good points about the nature of capitalism at the time. Karl Marx wrote his manifestos during a time where child labor and sweatshops were widespread and considered normal in america, which caused him to last out against the system which was causing so much systematic oppression in the world. I am very much of the opinion that Marx should not be discredited because of the extremists who use his ideas to institute dictatorships. In many circumstances, Americans like to blame specific people or entire groups for the work of some extremists, and I think that Marx is a victim of such treatment. I also believe that because Marx spoke out about capitalism he has sort of become an enemy of the state. Meaning that the majority of people will hold prejudice against him without even knowing his ideas or the root of his philosophies.
Nietzsche's Beatitudes
When Nietzsche saw the people, he wrote a book and he said…
Happy are... those who are strong for they will take what they want.
Happy are… those with no religion for they are their own rulers.
Happy are… the best because they will be judged according to the value of their lives.
Happy are… the ruling class for they are at the top of an ideal society.
Happy are… those with a will to power, for they will inherit the earth.
Happy are… the emotional for they are weak and tender-minded.
Happy are… the winners, for they take what they want.
Happy are… the realists, for they see the world as it is.
Happy are… those who are bold for they will triumph over the weak.