watch this

So I know this class is over but my dad sent me this really funny Monty Python thing and you should all watch it. Brynna's seen it and she thinks it's hilarious, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB_cmF271lo&feature=fvst

3 interesting and relevant new books coming out

For those interested-

Two new books on the nature and future of POWER are contrasted in this humorous and thoughtful article published by the economist last week:
http://www.economist.com/node/18007799?story_id=18007799

The truth about philosophers we have studied comes out in this immensely entertaining article. Very funny and anecdotal.
http://www.economist.com/node/18007809?story_id=18007809

I haven't read the books myself, but i plan to and the articles are definitely worthwhile.

Watch Michael Sandel... and learn things!

Ok, this is really fascinating and when you are bored and want to do something that sounds smart, watch two classes. I promise they won't take long. The class is 12 weeks (12 55-minute lectures). What we've been watching in class is from week one. It only gets more exciting from there:

http://www.justiceharvard.org/

Emma's Paragraph!

Sorry it's super late... please read & comment, especially on the ending... I feel like that part especially could use some more development. Thanks!

In society today, a handful of disconnected individuals hold power over the rest of the state. They are able to manipulate the other citizens because of their division from them. In close personal relationships, in which the individuals in the relationship trust and respect one another, it is difficult to bring oneself to attempt manipulation or coercion over the other. When a single individual is disconnected from the rest of the society, he feels less guilty or immoral about attempting to manipulate or influence them than he would if he was in a close relationship with all of the people in the society. Ideally, the influential leader would be a voice for the people. All of the people’s ideas for improvement of the state and their security would be channeled through him and relayed back to the wellbeing of the state. He would be able to have close relationships with all of his subjects. There would be no need for manipulation or coercion because the voices of all of the members of the state would be heard. When individuals are engaged in a purely societal relationship, there is more opportunity for one to be in power over the other than if they are in a healthy, personal relationship.

Katie's first paragraph. Everyone please comment!

People are changing themselves frequently. Their identity is never complete or absolute. Ever situation and new experience that one is put through, they are changing themselves to transform to what they feel is appropriate in that situation. In an idealistic world, the society is made for the people. The government should have the individual’s ideals as their main priority, and the society should be there for protection and assurance. They should give the people freedom to state their opinions, and feel as if their opinions matter, but the people should also realize that they have to work with others in that community and therefore alter their own ideals just enough to fit with the others morals to have a functioning society. The only problem with this however, is that it is extremely difficult to come up with ones own opinion without the manipulation of others. One can never have opinions or ideas that have not been created or discovered without others influence. History creates people, as well as the people that they are surrounded by and even the society and daily situation that they have created for themselves. Whenever they are in a new situation, they have changed themselves, if only a little, to fit better into that situation. The individual is taught what to think and how to act, even if they do not realize it. When they are going against something, they are fighting against it because they are reacting to the others who are involved in it. It is almost impossible to have an identity that has not been shaped by others.

Sarah Y's first paragraph

The individual is created by society, but she has the power to make her own decisions and the responsibility to present herself to society as a positive, creative force. Her ability to make decisions that will guide the events of her life in the way that she wishes depends on her access to information and to communication. If she has an understanding of the objective realities of the world, she has a framework within which to make decisions. Her ability to communicate with other members of society gives her a means by which to work towards ends. Her ability to work towards these ends is inhibited by the negative drives inside of her, which compel her to act in destructive ways. Nevertheless, she has the responsibility to use information and communication in a positive way. In order to do that, she must mannage her personal drives so that they do not pollute her action in society. The management of personal negative drives entails a reflective questioning of personal decisions and emotions. A person must actively attempt to create and act without being corrupted by her drives. The individual’s responsibility to be a creative, positive force in society is based on the collective desire of the members of a society that the society itself function as a creative and safe community. The ability of the individual to repress her own negative desires is crucial to the function of a good society because it allows her to function in society as a positive, creative force and it allows society to do the same because it is not busy managing the bad behavior of individuals.

First Paragraph

Group: I'm not sure how to start it, suggestions? And of course any other suggestions to make it better!

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Power, and the struggle of holding or withholding power is an ontological question. The people of modern civil societies are often concerned with who, what, or where they should be. Power then becomes an ontological question because it is at the heart of what one can do and accomplish. Personal power is the ability to limit one’s desires to become an effective member of a specific society. Conversely, social power relies on the ability to control, manipulate, and alter the desires of others. While some desires are natural, such as the desire to eat, sleep, and survive, other desires are constructs of that specific society. Morality is one of the societal constructs as there is no transcendental morality. True and effective social power is the ability to control and manipulate the societal desires of others. While physical power relies on the manipulation of the natural desires, by way of intimidation, true and lasting forms of social power is within the distortion of the societal desires. Operating with the assumption that societies and governments function due to some loose form of social contract, the people in the society are actively agreeing to the rules and governance of that society. From this acceptance, a duty arises for the ruling power to give the people something in return. As such, it is the duty of the government, as the predominant form of power, to teach the people how to limit their desires to comply with the relative morality of the society so the people can function in the society.