Connection #2

After reading about the Cynics and how they believed that happiness can be achieved by everyone I felt really uplifted. They believed that happiness doesn’t depend on material things such as money, clothes, or power. They believed you found true happiness in the realization of the fact that you don’t need “external advantages”, but that it is within everyone reach to be happy. Stoics believed that you only needed the necessities in order to be happy and nothing more.

This reminded me of a song “price tag” by Jessie J who repeatedly states “ it ain’t about the money”. Her song describes how people have become so reliant on material things like nice clothes, shoes and cars to make them “happy” , but she says that life’s not about the money and people need to remember that. Jessie’s lyrics make it clear that she like the cynics doesn’t believe that happiness can be bought, but that in order to be happy you should live simplistically.  She sings about how all she needs is a place to stay and music in order to be happy, she’s not worried about having a luxurious house or anything else that’s over the top. Jessie’s lyrics also say that people need to just start enjoying life for what it is and slow down and appreciate the simple things instead of being preoccupied with what they have and don’t have. Also she talks about how she wants to make everyone happy and “dance” which to me means that she also thinks that everyone has the ability to attain happiness just like the cynics. Jessie J incorporates many of the ideals of cynicism into her song.Watch the video here.

Reflection #2

I think Sophie’s world has unfortunately taken a turn for the worse when it comes to the philosophical aspects. At first  I really enjoyed learning about the root of philosophy and the early philosophers, but now the lessons are no longer as captivating. While the plot had been rapidly picking up and leaving me wondering and captivated, the actual learning of philosophy has become long and boring. Sophie’s actual story has become very exciting and a little mysterious. Reading about her adventure to the cabin and the mirror image that blinked with both eyes was really cool and still has me wondering how she could see her reflection if she was blinking. I also am still very much intrigued by Hilde and who she actually is. I think Sophie’s life is very interesting; she’s a 14 year old girl receiving letters from a mysterious man.  The book has a great plot; aside from the over extensive talk of philosophy.

 On the other hand learning about Plato’s beliefs and ideals was painstakingly boring. Although there was an immense amount of information to learn about Plato I did find a little enjoyment in reading about his thoughts on ideal forms. I think it’s really interesting to think that everything we see is just a replica of a more perfect form that our souls have encountered.  Reading about Plato and Aristotle back to back was kind of interesting because you got to see how even though Plato taught Aristotle, Aristotle formed many different and somewhat opposing views to those of Plato.  Many of Plato and Aristotle’s views are exact opposites including they’re beliefs about the senses, innate ideas, and women.  Apart from that the most interesting things about these last chapters have all had to do with Sophie and her adventures to figure out who Alberto is and where the letters come from. Yes I know t is a philosophy book, but it could be more reader friendly and break Alberto’s long lectures up into smaller sections so that you don’t feel as if you are reading from a text book.

Reflection #1

After reading the 1^st few chapter of Sophie’s world I am full of questions. First of all I am confused about who Hilde is and how she fits into this story. After learning that Alberto Knox some how knows Hilde I am even more confused, I now wonder if maybe Alberto and Hilde are somehow related or if Hilde like Sophie is just one of Alberto’s philosophy students. I wonder where Hilde is and how her scarf arrived in Sophie’s room. I’m so confused.

I also wonder why there is so much secrecy in this story when it comes to the “philosopher.” Who actually is Alberto Knox? Why can’t Alberto personally deliver Sophie’s letters anymore? Why is it so risky for him to deliver her letters? Is he in hiding? I still want to know who this philosopher is. Was he once an actual philosophy teacher or it he truly just someone who is climbing the rabbits fur, wondering about the world, and trying to share his knowledge with others? Why had Alberto even decided to write these letter to Sophie in the 1^st place, I wonder how he even know her name and where she lives, and how he selected her of all people to begin to write to.

But besides my many questions I really enjoyed the beginning chapters of this book, especially those concerning the natural philosophers. I think it is astonishing that they made so many discoveries about the world, with out all the technology that we have now.

connection #1

After reading about Empedocles I immediately thought of a game that I played on my friend’s iPod called doodle god. In this game you “play as god” at the beginning of time and have to create new things. The only way you can create things is by combing four elements: earth, fire, water and air. You have to combine the four elements in many various ways to make new things such as lightning, clay and trees. In this game some of the combinations won’t make anything and you have to try new combinations. In this game everything is made up of earth, wind, water or fire in some way. The thought that everything is made out of the four basic elements is originally the thought of Empedocles.

The four basic elements in the game Doodle God

This game made me think of Empedocles because he believed that everything in the world is made up of four elements: earth, water, fire and air. He believed that you had to combine the elements in different ways to create new things. This game follows the mindset of Empedocles very closely in this game the only way to create things is by using the four elements, just as Empedocles believed.