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Final Class Takeaways 11/20/20

I think the lecture I enjoyed most this semester was the one on friendship.  It was an unexpected addition to a class on heroism, but at the same time, completely necessary to any class on how to live a good life. Friendship is an inherent part of any good life, as human beings would quite literally die without companionship and community. I thought it was interesting that people in the class have different views on friendship as well. Some argued that friendship is ‘living together’ as I believe Socrates argued as well. I think, during a pandemic, this has been proven both incredibly true and in another sense, completely false. As someone who takes social distancing seriously, my friend group has been condensed to the people I live with. I am lucky to live with my three best friends who are my favorite people in the world, and living together has defined our friendship this semester. However, many are not in the same situation as me. I have many friends who live out of state or even in state but in different households. We have had to redefine our friendships in this sense to seeing each other through a computer screen. Unfortunately, some friendships have simply not stood the the test of a pandemic, and I have fallen out of touch with people that I love very much. In an ideal world, I think that friendship is living together: spending time together in person, sharing activities, meals, conversations, etc. However, we are in far from an ideal world right now, and friendship has been manifested in many different ways by different people. 

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What is a Hero? 11/20/20

We have spent the last fifteen weeks analyzing characters from ancient political texts, debating whether or not they are heroes. We have made and scrapped a number of definitions of heroism and written seemingly hundreds of blog posts of what we view to be heroism in the news. So, after this semester of studying and challenging my conceptions of heroism, what is my definition? I think that heroism is showing softness in a world intent on making you harder. It is showing compassion when it would be easier to be indifferent. It is also mustering the strength to show up when you feel unworthy or ineffective. Heroism is shown in everyday acts of kindness and courage. My professor who in our last class yesterday showed more empathy and compassion to students than I had seen any adult show this entire year is my hero. Her simple act of thanking us for continuing to show up and survive during the weirdest semester any of us had ever seen, while offering unquestioned extensions with grace was an act of heroism. My mother, who is a grade school counselor, who organized a food drive at her school and raised $8000 for a local food pantry in a time when more and more people are out of jobs and facing food insecurity, is a hero of mine. My friends that are still ceaselessly organizing for the Black Lives Matter movement months after the “hype” died down, after receiving death threats regularly, because Black people are still being killed every day, are my heroes. Of course, I still have “big name” heroes like AOC and RBG and Malala Yousafzai. However, if this semester has taught me anything about heroism, it is that sometimes, the smallest actions mean the most, even when they are not written about. 

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In the News 11/11/20

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/11/trump-meets-with-election-advisors-as-biden-lead-endures.html

I would like to make a controversial comparison between Julius Caesar and President Trump, particularly in their responses to known demise. When Caesar’s wife had an omen that he was going to the capitol to meet his death, while he did beat around the bush for quite some time, he eventually went, knowing what the outcome would be. He was willing to meet his fate. Over the past week, the U.S. presidential election has been occurring, and on Saturday, every major news outlet announced that Joe Biden had won. Trump, however, has refused to accept the result, and thus, his fate. The president knows what is coming, yet is staging a form of a coup by contesting the election results. Hopefully (soon), he will be like Caesar, stop beating around the bush, and accept the fact that come January 21st, 2021, he will no longer be the president of the United States. 

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Heroism in the News 11/9/20

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/kamala-harris-speech/index.html

There has been no shortage of articles the past number of days about the historic election of a Black woman to be Vice President of the United States. I’ll admit I shed a few tears Saturday thinking about a woman, especially a Black woman, in the White House. However, after watching Biden & Harris’ first speeches Saturday evening, I listened to the CBS news anchors describe Joe Biden as a hero for choosing a Black woman to be his running made. This made me irrationally angry. I understand the political nuances behind the risk of choosing a woman of color to be one’s running mate. A woman has simply never been elected to an executive office. But, Kamala Harris deserves the praise and accolades for getting to where she is; she is the one who worked hard, persevered, and overcame more structural and institutional barriers than Joe Biden will ever experience. Joe Biden took a risk and it paid off, but he is not the hero here. Kamala Harris is. 

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In the News 11/4/20

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/04/trump-sues-to-stop-michigan-ballot-count-demanding-access-to-tally-sites.html

Happy election week! We predicted that votes simply would not be counted all on the day of the election, but that does not make waiting any easier, especially for the president. I am frankly exhausted. I have not stopped refreshing the news since Tuesday at 5pm, and in a broader sense, since April 2019 when candidates began throwing their hats in the ring. This election has taken a toll on every single American, and so many have fought so hard to ensure that it is free and fair. Unfortunately, the president has made every effort to cast doubt on the election process, only increasing the velocity and intensity of his fallacies as he began to see more blue show up on the map. The above article explains how Trump has sued various states to halt the counting of ballots. This is not a productive use of our justice system. If a ballot is cast, it must be counted. That is the only way to have a just election. 

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Music & Its Connection to the Soul

Today’s discussion about music being the ideal pastime brought back memories of my nine years spent playing in orchestras. The feeling of playing music in a group, especially an orchestra, is unmatched. I was a violinist, so breathing with my section was of the utmost importance. However, the truly magical moments, the moments in which I believe the music was most connected to our souls, were when the entire orchestra breathed together. It was in the silence between notes and during the swells of a particularly melodic section. I remember playing Gustav Holst’s The Planets: Jupiter with that one gorgeous section that anyone who knows classical music is familiar with. Creating that music with 70 other musicians felt deeper than just putting bow to string. Every piece takes months of preparation to be able to perform, and at the end of the day, the success of an orchestra relies on the trust the musicians have in one another. When I was a senior in high school in performing Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture on the Lied stage during All State Orchestra, I knew it was my last time performing with a group of incredibly talented musicians. Knowing Tchaikovsky’s reasoning behind composing Romeo and Juliet as a gay man whose lover had died by suicide, we poured our souls into the music, and it was one of the most cathartic experiences I have ever had. 

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Argumentative Text Post 10/30/20

In Defense of Intimate Friendship

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/10/people-who-prioritize-friendship-over-romance/616779/

Aristotle argues that “friendship is living together.” Today, we often interpret this to mean making conscious choices to spend quality time with our friends, like sharing meals, watching movies, etc. However, Aristotle’s definition can also be taken more literally. The above linked article from The Atlantic is titled “What if Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life?” Rife with anecdotes from people who consider their best friends to be life partners instead of a romantic or sexual partner, this article provides a defense of intimate friendship, while also explaining current and historical views towards this type of relationship.

I would like to second this defense of intimate friendship. These friendships are not homogenous: no two are exactly alike. However, the intrinsic and overarching value of these relationships is that one’s ‘best friend’ is the most important person in their life. In many cases these friends, which is stated to be too casual of a term to use, live together, help raise each other’s children, and in some cases, even share bank accounts. This may seem strange or out of the ordinary. However, there are many historical examples of such friendship: Jane Addams and Mary Rozet Smith met in 1890 and spent the next 60 years as each other’s partners with no evidence of a sexual relationship. There are many who assume that friendships such as these throughout history were actually same-sex romantic relationships that could not be admitted. Nevertheless, the acceptance of this platonic intimacy allowed for different possibilities in friendships that are not accepted today.

Unfortunately, like many aspects of social community that are now obsolete, the growth of capitalism and Americanism in the late 1800s changed the perception of close friendship. Capitalism created the notion that only heterosexual marriage was correct, because as women began to be able to support themselves and live happily with other women, their friendships were not seen as innocent. I argue that, in a society not concerned with the gross acquisition of wealth, unconventional friendships would not only be accepted but celebrated. Further, these friendships do aid in creating more healthy marriages: when one person is not expected to be responsible for their partner’s emotional support, sexual satisfaction, shared hobbies, and intellectual stimulation, along with the possibility of co-parenting, marriages can be healthier and more long-lasting, as there is other support in one’s life when a partner falls short.

There is nothing wrong with traditional marriages; they are often successful, with marital bonds lasting until the death of a partner, and children being raised by two parents. However, in a world in which the divorce rate is climbing and more and more people being in open, non-traditional heterosexual relationships, it is worth reconsidering our conceptions of partnership, both romantic and non-romantic. If the saying “it takes a village” rings true, which I believe it does, one’s village must consist of more than just one’s spouse. Bringing it back to philosophy and Aristotle, humans are inherently companionate beings. We should not limit ourselves to finding fulfillment solely in romantic partnerships, and interdependence can take many different forms.

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In the News 10/28/20

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/28/trump-omaha-supporters-stuck-cold/

Heroism or fanaticism? Where is the line drawn? This article outlines the event that I’m sure we all saw on social media: President Trump holding a rally in Omaha on Tuesday night, with thousands of supporters left in the cold after he flew away on Air Force One. Some might call these supporters heroes-- willing to stand in the cold to show their unending support for their leader. However, in class we discussed one difference between heroism and fanaticism is the intentional harm of others. The majority of these supporters were not wearing face masks in a large crowd during a global pandemic that is take more lives every day. With the knowledge and data that exist, there is no excuse for this lack of consideration for both oneself and one’s neighbor. This was a conscious choice to risk hurting others in order to see someone who is idolized. That is not heroism, but fanaticism. 

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In the News 10/26/20

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927640619/senate-confirms-amy-coney-barrett-to-the-supreme-court

The new Supreme Court justice is here. There has been no shortage of debate surrounding ACB’s nomination and confirmation process, with Senate Republicans disregarding precedent of delaying a justice confirmation until a new president is elected, as was the decided protocol in 2016. Further, the new justice’s values and motives are distrusted by many. Her confirmation changes the Supreme Court leaning to 6 conservative judges and 3 liberal judges. In viewing this process, we must ask ourselves if this is truly the best representation of just our country can muster. Lifetime appointments of individuals who will assumingly always vote along party lines-- this does not seem to fit any valid definition of justice we have discussed, besides wielding one’s power simply because they have it. When human rights are on the line, perhaps those with the decision-making power should have a few more qualifications than just party affiliation. I do not have the answers as to what exactly gives a person the power to decide on the rights of others, but our current process does not seem to be working. 

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In the News 10/21/20

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/us/politics/trump-biden-presidential-debate.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

In this class, we have been presented with many different definitions of justice: 

“Justice is doing the right thing when no one is watching.” 

“Justice is minding one’s own business.”

“Justice is doing whatever benefits the most powerful.”

“Justice is wielding the power one has.”

This article speculates how President Trump and Vice President Biden will behave in the next presidential debate on Thursday. Some say the president will focus on Biden’s son Hunter, which would violate the definition of minding one’s own business. Others argue President Trump will boast over what he has accomplished in office, which aligns with the definition of wielding his power. There are a number of different directions the debate could take, based on both of the candidates’ debate histories, so it will be intriguing to watch through the lens of justice, and which definition the respective candidates adhere to. 

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I agree with a lot of what you said-- the government cannot effectively mandate a lockdown without giving us the resources and support we need to live. Partisan divides have halted any progress on an effective stimulus bill, which does put many people at risk of hunger, job loss, and a myriad of other problems encountered during a pandemic. People are definitely more hostile when they are feeling unsafe in their positions. Either way, the government owes its citizens proper support to survive during a pandemic, which can encompass both mandates and lockdowns, as well as the proper stimulus and financial support needed to follow said mandates. 

In the News 10/19/20

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/19/world/covid-coronavirus?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

How much freedom is TOO much? This question was addressed by Socrates in the Republic, as he argued against the idea of complete and utter freedom for the democrats. This question is one also posed regarding the response of the United States to coronavirus. There is a camp calling for herd immunity, which would essentially allow those in “less vulnerable” populations, such as young people, to go about life as normal, as they could contract covid-19 and survive. This is irresponsible. It does not take into account marginalized groups, people of color, and multigenerational families. The freedom that has been maintained by Americans during coronavirus is the reason cases are higher than they’ve ever been. There is such a thing as too much freedom when it leads to the deaths of over 200,000 people and perpetuates a lack of compassion for fellow citizens and neighbors.

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In the News 10/19/20

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/19/world/covid-coronavirus?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

How much freedom is TOO much? This question was addressed by Socrates in the Republic, as he argued against the idea of complete and utter freedom for the democrats. This question is one also posed regarding the response of the United States to coronavirus. There is a camp calling for herd immunity, which would essentially allow those in “less vulnerable” populations, such as young people, to go about life as normal, as they could contract covid-19 and survive. This is irresponsible. It does not take into account marginalized groups, people of color, and multigenerational families. The freedom that has been maintained by Americans during coronavirus is the reason cases are higher than they’ve ever been. There is such a thing as too much freedom when it leads to the deaths of over 200,000 people and perpetuates a lack of compassion for fellow citizens and neighbors.

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Is Twitter not a private company that maintains the right to decide what is and is not posted on their site? Twitter is not a legislative or judicial body, so I am not sure that the first amendment necessarily applies here. It has a set of rules and reserves the right to enforce them; just as someone breaking the rules in another business might be escorted out or banned from entering, Twitter uses account locking or deactivation to ensure that their rules are followed. 

In the News 10/14/20

falhttps://www.npr.org/2020/10/14/923766097/facebook-and-twitter-limit-sharing-new-york-post-story-about-joe-biden

This article is very prevalent to our class discussion from today. In our breakout rooms, we discussed the ethicality of censorship. My group took the subject to the censorship of today, which is a hot button issue when concerning social media sites, especially Facebook and Twitter. We came to the conclusion that there is an important distinction between censorship based on opinion and censorship based on facts and truth. There have been many calls for Facebook in particular to fact check content posted and take down false articles and posts. I agree with this kind of censorship. People cannot make rational, informed decisions if their decisions are not based on true facts. This article discusses a current post that Twitter has eliminated and Facebook has “limited the distribution” of because the information cited is not proven to be true. This also plays into the controversy surrounding election manipulation via social media and false claims. 

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In the News 10/14/20

falhttps://www.npr.org/2020/10/14/923766097/facebook-and-twitter-limit-sharing-new-york-post-story-about-joe-biden

This article is very prevalent to our class discussion from today. In our breakout rooms, we discussed the ethicality of censorship. My group took the subject to the censorship of today, which is a hot button issue when concerning social media sites, especially Facebook and Twitter. We came to the conclusion that there is an important distinction between censorship based on opinion and censorship based on facts and truth. There have been many calls for Facebook in particular to fact check content posted and take down false articles and posts. I agree with this kind of censorship. People cannot make rational, informed decisions if their decisions are not based on true facts. This article discusses a current post that Twitter has eliminated and Facebook has “limited the distribution” of because the information cited is not proven to be true. This also plays into the controversy surrounding election manipulation via social media and false claims. 

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In the News 10/12/20

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/us/gisele-barreto-fetterman-racist-pennsylvania-trnd/index.html

I chose this article because I think it is an interesting juxtaposition to our discussion today in class regarding if people only do the right thing because others are watching. The consensus at the end of class was that people generally hide behind anonymity if they are looking to be cruel or offensive. This is especially prevalent with the rise of social media. However, this article details the story of the Second Lady of Pennsylvania being called the n word in the grocery store. This blatant display of racism is not congruent with the idea that doing the “wrong” thing is only done in private. Some people have no regard for how society views them, or how they view themselves, and thus use racial slurs openly and publicly. 

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Argumentative Text Post 10/9/20

Capitalism and the Immortality of the Soul: An Argumentative Text

In today’s class about Phaedo, the idea of Socrates legitimizing the work of philosophy to his younger audience, so they would not think it futile despite Socrates’ impending execution, was discussed. He did this for the purpose of reassuring them that philosophy was valid and meaningful, even though no one has the answer as to what happens to the soul after death. Socrates was not a capitalist, and, to the extent of my knowledge, never spoke on the economic system as it was not yet developed at that time. However, in the discussion regarding the validity and prosperity of a career in relation to its purpose after one’s life ends, my mind drifted to the many conversations in which I have been both a participant and an observer that discuss the purpose of work here on earth and the push to build something that will outlast oneself. This is a capitalistic mindset. The idea that we must spend our limited time on earth being productive, creating something bigger than ourselves quickly leads down a slippery slope to our life’s focus being on our work. I argue that the idea of the immortality of the soul has been seized by certain groups and nations to justify the endless cycle of work that capitalism relies upon.

It is not a unique idea that the human soul is immortal. Many sects of organized religion hinge on this belief, as well as other forms of spirituality. However, during the time of the colonization of Latin America by the Spaniards, Christianity was wielded most pertinently as a weapon to justify the creation of capitalism. Christianity, which is a transcendental religion, meaning a religion that believes in a power greater than the natural world, was the crux of forced conversions of indigenous peoples and the private ownership and development of land. Privatization lead to the accumulation of wealth, which lead to a greater demand for the accumulation of wealth. Four hundred years later, we are living in a society in which we spend most waking hours working, and if not, feel a sense of shame and guilt for our lack of productivity. We are constantly barraged with messages about the importance of our day jobs, and how we are working for the greater good. What is this “greater good,” as touted by most corporations? The accumulation of wealth. We are convinced of the importance of our jobs in the capitalistic system so that those in charge can accumulate more wealth. Just as Socrates tried to convince his students of the importance of studying philosophy because of the potential immortality of the soul, those who benefit most from capitalism try to convince workers every day of the importance of their hard work because of the seeming immortality of wealth. This is not to say that there is no work within capitalism worth doing; in fact, I believe quite the opposite. Many professions exist to better the lives of disadvantaged groups or increase the amount of knowledge and innovation in the world for the betterment of the quality of life of all people. However, if our lives were less focused on the faux immortality of wealth, and more focused on the lasting effects of meaningful human interactions, the creation of art, and the pursuit of justice, a more fulfilling everlastingness could be achieved.

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In the News 10/7/20

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/07/vp-debate-highlights-harris-pence.html

This article is about the vice presidential debate, which, I’m sure as political science students, most of us watched. We were treated to a much more civilized debate than last week’s presidential debate, which was a nice change of pace. Senator Harris performed in a manner that evoked respect and compassion, while Vice President Pence proved he is a better debater than his running mate. However, neither of these candidates are absolute heroes. While a fan of Senator Harris’, I cannot pretend that parts of her record are not frustrating to me, and that her refusal to directly answer certain questions did not come off well. Politicians are imperfect. I became a bit frustrated when searching for an article for this blog post; heroism just isn’t the word coming to mind when reading the news. Over the past six, nearly seven months, we have been bombarded with crisis after crisis and forced to adapt. As students (and a professor), we were forced to change our entire system of learning within a week last spring. We moved home, attended protests, read lots of books, bought lots of masks, missed graduations, birthday’s, religious services, and chances to hold our loved ones. As human beings, we have shown greater resilience than what we ever expected to show at this time. Yet, we still look to politicians to be our heroes in this time, when they have let us down time and time again throughout this stressful era. As citizens, we ourselves have proven to be more heroic, in the classical Greek sense. We echo Odysseus in our adaptability, as well as our persistence in giving meaning to our pain and suffering. Instead of coping with a global pandemic by resting or mourning, we have instead chosen (or been forced to choose to) shift our lives online, join and support social movements, and carry on. This is heroism to me right now, tonight, and it is not in the news.