The Concept of Helping
Title description: If it’s true that we are here to help others, then what are the others doing here?
Word count: 969
Keywords: Human identity, Broad guideline for humanity, Suffering people, Moral obligation, Celebration of life, Sixth sense
Excerpts:
Even religions emphasize that man’s duty is to help fellow men. According to the bible helping others is a sign of God’s love of the helping person. There are several instances in the bible where help is equated to divinity and the pleasing of God.
In most cases we do not consider the favor received as being a help, like someone helping us with fundamental information, addresses or services. Withholding your anger despite genuine reasons, simply cheering up someone, uttering a few words of support are also acts of help. We need to be conscious of the help received and be willing to show our gratitude by helping others.
We have a moral obligation of helping others which is truly our identity, and a celebration of life on earth. Ignoring the needy people, particularly when we are capable of alleviating their problem, questions our human identity.
Religion – Ritual Analysis
Title description: Buddhist rituals
Word count: 2014
Keywords: Sangha, Moral values, Chanting, Meditation, Cosmic powers, Bowing, Impregnated
Excerpts:
For the Buddhist Samanas, this rain period became a period of intense religious practice, with greater contact with the public. Today, its sustaining power is shown by the fact that no other human institution has ever had such a long lasting continues experience, with such a wide diffusion.
Flowers symbolize the unlasting and unpredictable aspect of life, reminding one that the beauty of flowers is not there to stay. The fragrance from the incense is correlated to the moral values and wisdom exhibited by the pious while the flame from candle emphasizes the lightening of the self from within.
Meditation in Buddhism can be classified into several types and each seeks to attain self enlightenment through concentration of the mind. Meditation seeks to freeze the mind and considers the capability or power to concentrate, to be more important than the object of concentration.
Levinson’s ‘Defining Art History’
Title description: A critical review of Levinson’s ‘Defining Art History’
Word count: 1752
Keywords: Art appreciation, Institutional theory of art, Art worthiness, Narrow definitions, Differentiating factor, Art parameters
Excerpts:
In contemporary times, it is not just painters and sculptors who project themselves as artists, but other professionals too like cooks, tailors, interior designers, tattoo maker etc. increasingly claim their work to be an art, given the degree of innovation behind it.
Levinson defines a ‘work of art’ as something intended to be regarded as a ‘work-of-art’ in accordance with any of the principles laid down before. Admitting that his idea is a raw or rough one, he justifies his helplessness and attributes this shortcoming to a lack of metrics in aesthetics attitude.
Primarily art qualities being abstract, as Levinson acknowledges, how can one even define art worthiness in the first place. It is impossible to define and restrict the attributes of art worthiness by a definition, however holistic it may be.
Visual Arts and Military
Title description: A brief study of the contribution of military to visual arts
Word count: 704
Keywords: Military fame, Stimulate passions, Extreme feelings, Unnatural circumstances, Expressionism, Nation’s mood
Excerpts:
No other activity or achievement of a nation including social, economic or political development can move a nation to this extent, such as those associated with patriotism. Many thinkers associate patriotism with a sense of security, which culminates during hostile conditions.
Thus a military in action is the representative of its nation’s mood, its hope, its glory and its despair. It is this ability of the military to command extreme passions that it plays a significant role in visual arts.
The art form may be a sculpture, photography or painting, but they all depict a unique moment like sacrifice, horror, help, helplessness, understanding, fear and bravery in the face of adversity or unnatural circumstances. Photographs depicting earlier wars still have a special place, because of its ability to stimulate passions.
Poem ‘Legacies’ by Nikki Giovanni
Title description: A critical review
Word count: 856
Keywords: Philosophical thinking, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Two generations, Younger generation, Spirits
Excerpts:
The poem ‘Legacies’ primarily explores the desire of a girl to cherish her relationship with her grandma, even while being conscious of the fact that her grandma would die one day. The poem also explores several other important unique themes including the longing of the old people to be with their grandchildren and teach them newer things, thereby pass on their knowledge and skills.
The girl wanted to be dependent even on her grandma’s spirit, upon her death. The poem describes this philosophical thinking in the girl by saying, “That would mean when the old one died she would be less dependent on her spirits”.
When Chu says she is not interested, she doesn’t say this with a playful mind that her age reflects, but a philosophical mind that is not evident. Children particularly young girls love to learn new things like cooking, and there is no other reason why this girl didn’t want to.
Religion vs. Atheism
Title description: History of religion and the growing trend of atheism
Word count: 3669
Keywords: Spiritual force, Magic, Validity of religion, Anathema, Agnosticism, Scientific doctrines
Excerpts:
However the relevance of religions is under major scrutiny for the first time since our evolution. Despite religions being an integral part of our society for centuries, a fundamental question remains as to what the purpose of religion among man is. Although several sections have provided several answers, there is no any universal one.
A significant principle of atheism is that while morality and moral codes are needed in life, people should not rely on Gods and religious scriptures for these. As predominantly secularists, they are against the intrusion of religion in public life.
The US had across its history been very explicit in making known that it was a deeply religious nation. Symbolizing this is the pledge bearing ‘One nation; under God’, the country’s motto ‘In God we trust’ and war memorials associated with the shape of the Latin cross.
A recent study undertaken by the University of Rochester which involved reviewing previous studies, determined that religious people are more likely to be less intelligent compared to the atheists.
Should College Education be Free?
Title description: Should College Education be Free?
Word count: 758
Keywords: Educational systems, Expensive instruments, Free college, Posh college, Premier institutions, Low income families
Excerpts:
Education today has become very complex and very important too. Having a college degree or not, which degree, from which college, grades got, are all very important for an individual to get a good job after college.
In the early days education was like a social service, no one had to pay for it. The teachers taught the students out of passion and didn’t expect money. But those days have gone. The times have changed, and such educational systems are not possible today.
These people who have money want an identity for their children and would like to send them only to elite or posh colleges. Therefore colleges need to function for profits too, because there are students who only want to be taught from these colleges.
Academic Dishonesty
Title description: Academic dishonesty
Word count: 1204
Keywords: Irresolvable problem, Plagiarism, Good character, Deviance neutralization, Blind eye, Collaborative learning,
Excerpts:
The US army ROTC regulations consider cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty as proof of unsuitable character, resulting in termination from the program.
However students need to be told and made to understand, on the ethics breached by such dishonest ways. Research has established that cheating is lesser at schools which have honor codes.
Also the philosophy of collaborative learning, where individuals are not given much opportunity to handle projects alone, confuses students on what is morally right and acceptable. Sometimes students take to cheating as a result of deviance neutralization
Corporal Punishments at Home
Title description: Corporal Punishments at Home
Word count: 1020
Keywords: Popular disciplining technique, Alternative disciplining methods, Child development, Physical abuse, Cognitive development, Behavior management strategies
Excerpts:
Such punishments also erode the bonding trust between a child and parent and increase the chances of children retaliating by physically assaulting the parents, particularly as they grow older.
Children, who are subjected to regular corporal punishments, learn to cheat and lie while not being regretful for their wrong doings. Children getting spanked regularly fare poorly on their academics which show that corporal punishments affect cognitive development.
Corporal punishments can be brought to an end only through education and legislation. In 1979, Sweden became the first country in the world to ban all forms of corporal punishments, on children.
Philosophy for Children
Title description: Implementation of philosophy for children and its role in education
Word count: 1494
Keywords: Philosophical discussions, Philosophical dialogue, Community of inquiry, Inquiry and knowledge, Investigate nature, Analogical reasoning skills
Excerpts:
Dr. Matthew Lipman (1991), a philosophy professor at Montclair State College in New Jersey, emphasized that bringing philosophy into schools would only enhance the educational experience of children. The argument here was, philosophy could contribute to critical thinking, which is vital for all other subjects.
The subjects of focus in the philosophy for children are those that are common and important to both, academic disciplines and life experience like freedom, justice, love, friendship, God etc. The topics are followed up in a sequential order, with a particular plot studied at various depths, at corresponding age group levels.
Students gradually sense that philosophical discussions are unique and different from all other discussions. They begin to appreciate others point of view and carefully examine the problems, rather than being satisfied by a mere expression of ideas.
Argumentative Philosophy
Title description: An analysis of social contract theory, checks and balances, punishments and death penalty
Word count: 3451
Keywords: Civil society, Socio-cultural trends, Political ideologies, Negotiated law, Positivist School, Perception factor
Excerpts:
Hobbes sees human beings as physical entities or complex machines whose actions and functions can be expressed in equally mechanistic way. Appetites and such desires, or pain and such discomforts motivate us to act on them so as to promote our well being while alleviating discomfort.
Aristotle proposed a government composed of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy after being convinced that none is ideal separately. In 1690, John Locke separated powers into an Executive and Legislative in his Second Treatise on Government.
But largely, such checks and balances are the only way to ensure the smooth functioning of the constitution. It must be noted here that at several crucial times in history, the decisions taken through these procedures and systems were in line with the existing public opinion.
When prison officials fail to take decisions on legal or ethical grounds, the prison becomes a place of manipulated or negotiated law, where prisoners are ironically brought for breaking law.
Matthew Lipman
Title description: Matthew Lipman and his philosophy for children
Word count: 1009
Keywords: Intellect classroom community, Self curriculum, Exploring and inquiring, Narrative novels, Investigate nature, Corrections and comparisons
Excerpts:
Lipman is credited with developing the philosophy program for children in 1969. Lipman believed that teaching of philosophy should start early; failing which children would lose their curiosity and philosophical skills as they grow into teens and young adults.
Lipman’s program used philosophical texts written by philosophers specializing at philosophy for children, which were used as reading texts. These reading texts serve as the basis for building up philosophical discussions. These texts are carefully thought and written to achieve discussion.
Matthew Lipman recommends the development of self-curriculum on a regional basis corresponding to the children’s interest and necessity of that region. The ‘Philosophy for Children’ as an educational curriculum was realized in early 1970 with Lipman’s philosophical novel Harry Stottlemeier’s Discovery; for children.
Money and Happiness
Title description: Relationship between money and happiness
Word count: 1947
Keywords: Happiness research, Low negative affect, Demographic factors, Material holding, Positive correlation, External circumstances. Internal dispositions
Excerpts:
The hedonic treadmill theory postulates that man’s emotional systems adjust to all life developments, whether good or bad. Psychologists involved in happiness research suggest that adverse life developments can only impact a person’s happiness temporarily and a person’s happiness rebounds subsequently to levels based on genotype.
An interesting aspect of happiness that has been recently discovered is that happiness precedes and results in several positive outcomes rather than being a result of positive outcomes. Happiness has been seen to lead to better health, social relationships, work performance and more ethical behavior.
Epicureans contended that money is required to a certain extent to protect us from life difficulties like harm or pain, however beyond a certain threshold point, money cannot bring happiness. The Epicureans’ logic was that a man who cannot be satisfied with little cannot be satisfied at all.
David Hume’s ‘Matters of Fact’
Title description: Skepticism in David Hume’s ‘Matters of fact’
Word count: 1495
Keywords: Cause and effect, Unobserved phenomena, Demonstrative reasoning, Constant conjunction, Philosophy and science, Privileged reasoning
Excerpts:
Referring the phenomena as a ‘constant conjunction’ Hume adds that just because one event follows the other constantly, we should not infer that they are causally related. The sun rising each day shall in no way imply that it will definitely rise tomorrow.
Hume subsequently concludes that an understanding of the cause and effect can be attributed to experiences. The cause and effect of something can be attributed to experience, which are perceived and banked upon by our memory when recalled. We infer or predict unobserved phenomena for the future based on the observed phenomena of the past.
Hume sentimentally says that it is only philosophy and not science that makes claims regarding the certainty of any causal reasoning. While science agrees to predictions based on experience, it does not claim any certainty or privileged reasoning to back them.
Meditations
Title description: Monotheistic and Buddhism meditations
Word count: 1167
Keywords: Judeo-Christian practices, Monotheistic, Samatha, Vipassana, Tafakkur, Solitary meditation
Excerpts:
Islam is an Abrahamic religion too, and meditation in Islam emphasizes on contemplation. The ‘Tafakkur’ or ‘Tadabbur’ which means to reflect upon the universe, to receive divine inspiration is one form of meditation.
While Samatha is directed at focusing the attention to a single point, Vipassana is meditating while focusing the mind on one’s breathing. Basically some important tenets of Buddhism and Judeo-Christianity are the same.
Meditation across religions no doubt has several benefits like improved concentration, better health, knowledge of the inner self and not being bothered of little things. Meditation not only provides people with such benefits, but facilitates its practice by people irrespective of their religious or philosophical beliefs.
Why is philosophy missing in Indian schools?
Title description: Why is philosophy missing in Indian schools?
Word count: 579
Keywords: Critical thinking, Educational systems, Philosophical skills, Educational experience, Philosophy program, Personality
Excerpts:
Spanning across Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil or probably all Indian languages that have a literary history; philosophical renderings run through the center. But philosophy was never part of the academic curriculum.
While there has been an awareness and gradual induction of philosophy into high schools in the US, we have not seen it as being important.
It is the philosophical understandings in them, which help them see, judge, evaluate and respond to circumstances and situations, with the larger picture in mind. There is no substitute to philosophy.
