Questions :
1. In this chapter, Nisbett divided humans into Asians and westerners. However, you may not find your way of thinking completely the same as one of them (or maybe it is similar to both). What part of this chapter did you feel that you have the Asian way of thinking and what part did you feel that you have the western way of thinking? Please explain the reason why by giving examples in your real life.
2. To explain the characteristics of Greeks and Chinese, Nisbett raises the ideal of happiness for each of them. (Greeks on page 2 and Chinese on page 5) Which of these is closer to your definition of happiness and how is it releted to yours? If you disagree with both of them, explain your definition of happiness.
3. According to this chapter, ancient Greek philosophers considered the "essence" of objects as unchanging. "Essence" in this chapter means the central, basic, indispensable properties of an object which defines the object. (page 9) For example, lumbers are just materials of a house, but the concept of a house itself is the unchanging essence. On the other hand, Chinese philosophers thought that eveything was constantly changing. (page 9) Do you believe in the existance of "essence", or do you think that objects are always changing?
Group 1 Leaders:
Moeka Takaki
Kyousuke Furusato
Mai Koshimizu
I would like to post a comment regarding question 3.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea of the ancient Chinese philosophers that everything is constantly changing. I think the concept of `essence`, the indispensable parts of objects do exist. But the core concepts of object themselves can also change through long time period. For example, concept of human, or what we recognize as a human could change after thousands of years because by the time the basic form of humans could possibly be different from now through evolution. The concept of house mentioned in the question may also be different by then, because the earth may be exposed to higher heat and radiation because of global warming and houses basically need to be tougher.
2. To explain the characteristics of Greeks and Chinese, Nisbett raises the ideal of happiness for each of them. (Greeks on page 2 and Chinese on page 5) Which of these is closer to your definition of happiness and how is it releted to yours? If you disagree with both of them, explain your definition of happiness.
ReplyDeleteYay, first one up!
My definition of happiness is simply the state of being able to live peacefully and healthily with my family. So, I guess I can consider myself of having an Asian ideal of happiness.
I have been living away from my family for more than 3 years now, after my parents and my younger sister moved to Singapore for my father's job. At first, I was totally convinced that a life free from my parents, obligations, and seemingly pointless rules at home would be an equivalent of paradise. However, it turned out that I became so homesick during my first two years in high school, that I would cry at least once a month...I was surprised myself.
This experience of living away from home has had (and still has) great influence on how I interpret the meaning of happiness. I visit my family in Singapore only once a year, or two times when I'm lucky. And when I do, I find happiness in the smallest, the most ordinary things. It can be anything: sprawling out on the couch and chatting endlessly, or a small brunch at home on a late Saturday morning... I wouldn't have felt so appreciative in such seemingly mundane aspects of family life before I experienced a life away from home.
Therefore, I find the most happiness in the time I spend with my family.
Excuse me for a very personal feedback!
Naoko
For question 1,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds a little contradictory, but I try to be independent while I am in a group. I think that I have a hybrid of Chinese’s way of thinking that values harmony and Greek’s way of thinking that values individuality. Greeks' way of thinking such as "the sense that they were in charge of their own lives and free to act as they chose" and their view of seeing themselves as "unique individuals" sounds quite attractive and is my ideal way of thinking. I love to do something different from people around me and want to be seen as a person with a personality of my own. I guess this is because of the education I received at my junior senior high school. Unlike most schools in Japan, my school had no strict rules and no dress code and we were expected to express our individuality. However in this world, it is impossible to live without relating to others. Since I was born I’ve been exposed to strong relation with groups such as family, school, clubs and I’ve been taught how to do things in a harmonic way. Especially my parents set great importance on family tie. Probably because I’ve brought up in this way, I feel very safe when I have the sense of belonging to a group. Therefore, I agree with both Chinese and Greek’s way of thinking in terms of relationship with the society.
For question2
ReplyDeleteMy definition of happiness is to live healthily with my friends and my family.So my definition of happiness is similar to the Chinese definition.Chinese definition of happiness put a emphasis on harmony and I agree with it. Now I live away from my family and I sometimes want to go back to my home but I have many new friends in the college so I live happy life now.
For question 2
ReplyDeleteAccording to the book, Chinese ideal of happiness is to live "with in a harmonius social net work"(pg6 l1). My opinion is, as long as I have some kind of connection with my family, I don't necessarily need to live with my family to live a happy life.
I was in the US for 10 monthes apart from my family. During the 10 monthes, I contacted my family on the phone and on the Internet. Just know that they are supporting me and they think of me just as I do, I felt happy and was motibated to live my own life. But my experience was only 10 monthes so if it werel longer, my view on this question might be different.
For question１
ReplyDeleteI agree with Confucius on the point that harmony within the community is important. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to live alone, getting help from no one. I used to work in a bakery. The main part of the works at the bakery was the cashier, putting the bread on display, and making drinks and sandwiches. People at each job had to communicate, for example, if there were too many customers at the register, one of the people doing other work must come to help the cashier.
At the same time, I agree with Western way of putting weight on debates. It is hard to come up with good idea alone, but talking and thinking with others makes it easier to polish idea. For example, when I was wondering which college I would like to enter, I often talked with my family about it. My family and I didn’t have the same opinion, so we couldn’t come up with the solution easily, but as a result, I could think about my future deeply than thinking by only myself.
For question 1
ReplyDeleteAccording to Nisbett, anything resembling public disagreement was discouraged in China. I agree to this Asian way of thinking. Today in Japan, people avoid to say things that could be disagreed and make bad impression. For example, my teachers did not talk about their attitudes and grades of their own when they were students. This is because, their attitudes during the school year might have been worse than I, who is punished for speaking in class by that teacher.
Moreover, I also agree how Greeks thought themselves as unique individual. I think myself as unique individual too. I think this way because of my experience in the United States. I used to go to schools where students came from all over the world, some are Asians, some are Caucasians, some are Africans, some are Christians, and some are Buddhist. I grew up in a circumstance where everyone was different so I could not feel anything but myself as unique individual.
number threeeee!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea of the essence of objects constantly changing. I believe the essence of objects is characterized by the outer qualities, and those qualities cannot be adhered to the essence without the existence of that essence. Thus, the essence and "accidental properties" must correspond to one another. That is, the core can easily be changed at the same time as outer characteristics are altered.
→Nanako
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply☆
I agree with your thoughts. I like being different from people, and to be seen as a person with my own personality too. But, it takes a lot of courage for me to do so.
It is really interesting how your school had no strict rules and uniforms. My school was totally the opposite of yours. It was strict and we had uniforms. It was like a nightmare! It was natural for all the students to be the same. My school didn’t value student’s personalities. I think most schools are like that in Japan. I think schools in Japan should change this education system. This school system is causing the Japanese not to express themselves. Japanese should value their individuality more.
When I went to a school in Texas, it was natural for all the students to be different. So, I didn’t really need courage to say something different from others. But, when I moved to Japan, and went to school, I began to feel that it is NOT natural for students to be different. I found myself worrying if people around me would start hating me if I say something different from others. So, the Japanese education has made me lose confidence, and think that showing my personality is not a good thing.
ICU requires us to express our own thoughts and share them with others. So, I think it is a good chance for me to get back my confidence that I had when I lived in Texas. I believe that ICU is a good university that let us be different from people, and to be seen as a person with my own personality.
Therefore, I agree to what you think♪
Question #2
ReplyDeleteMy definition of happiness is the time I share with my family and others.
“Family” has been a big part of my life since I was small and “family” means a lot to me.
My family try to do things together a lot. For example, we eat breakfast together, we usually spend weekends together, we go on a vacation together and etc.
I think that happy moment doesn’t have to be a special moment. I just love the ordinary moment when my family and I eat dinner together talking about things that happened that day (it’s just like a scene from “Sazaesan” where Isono and Fuguta family are eating, talking, and laughing).
We will be spending time with ourselves for our entire life, but how long do we get to spend time with our family? When I ask myself this question, the every moment I spend with my family seems so precious and valuable. I have an older brother and within few years, he might start living alone. Or, I myself might decide to live alone. Who knows?
Each and every member of the family is important to me and comfortable to be with. That is why I want to spend time with them and the things (such as time, experiences, conversations) I share with them are so enjoyable.
Thanks for your comment, Naoko!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I hadn't responded earlier.
So you agree with the Asian ideal of happiness in terms of weighing importance on family bonds. I can see the reason why from your experience, living away from your family for a long time.
I have never had such an experience like yours but I also find my happiness within my family. Whenever I have sleepovers at my friend's house or go on a trip for several days, I get homesick even if I'm having fun. Mostly, my sister's face just pops up in my head all of a sudden and I cannot stop thinking how she will miss me at night trying to sleep alone in the dark. (Not to mention that she is already 16.)
I also find small happiness in my daily life, for instance, when I can simply eat those warm, freshly-made food that my mother would cook for me. The tragety of the Great East Japan Earthquake made me rethink how fortunate I was to be able to live safe and well with my family.
I may have written too personal comments too, sorry.
Thank you for your comment, Yuriko!
ReplyDeleteI see that you had an ideal of happiness similar to the Chinese one introduced by Nisbett. Could you tell us more in detail about how and when you feel happy related to harmony?
Reading the last sentence of your comment, it seems as though you are doing pretty well without your family and having a happy life without them! Are your definitions of happiness changing now that you know how it is like to be away from your family?
Thank you Nanako, for answering two questions!
ReplyDeleteOne more to go!!(?)
So your definition of happiness is closer to the Chinese one. I thought your opinion was intersting in the way that you want to be connected with your family but you don't actually need to stay with them all the time. This is different from my idea because I cannot be happy enough by simply knowing that my family is thinking about me. Moreover, I assume that I will miss them much more if I heard their voices on the phone or see their handwrinting in letters. In this perspective you may be more independent of your family than I am.
Thans for your comment, Yukie!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your idea of happiness. Happiness is something that you often realize on special occasions, but it is, in fact, everywhere. We need to be aware of them and appreciate them.
Thinking about the future reminds us of how precious "now" is. By reading your comment about the future, I came to think that it is natural for us to believe happiness lies within family. In reality, most of us have known our parents longer than anyone else, ever since we were born.
I really liked your illustration of your family! I could easily get the picture in my mind and it made me smile. I want to have my own family like that one day!
→Nozomi,
ReplyDeleteThanks☆
I agree to the western way of putting weight on debates too! I think it is important to accept other people’s thoughts. By accepting what other people thinks, it can help me think more deeply about my thoughts. I too ask my friends and family when I can’t find a good solution to my problems. It makes me relieved when I have someone listen to my thoughts.
I think the harmony within the community is important too. But in order to keep a good harmony with another, one has to give up what they really desires, and agree to the other person. I don’t think that it is a good thing to give up something in order to keep a good harmony with someone. But if I were to choose harmony or my own thoughts, I would choose harmony, and give up doing/saying what I really want, because I don’t want to lose friends and don’t want people to think that I am selfish. What do you think? Which do you think is more important?
→Yurika
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment☆
I couldn’t really understand your examples Can you explain it more? Sorry….
When I lived in Texas,I went to a school where there were students from all over the world just like you,so I really agree to what you think. Everyone in my school had a different background and the ways of thinking were different depending which country them came from. Everyone had their own personality and were ‘unique individuals’
I think ICU is similar too! Everyone who I met so far has their own character, and are very unique! Especially our class.(lol) Everyone has their own personality and everyone is very very unique. I really love my ELP class members.
(Comment from Yurika Hitachi):
ReplyDeleteThanks for your replies Moeka!
Sorry about my comments. I guess I didn't explain enough....
Well, since Chinese people thought that harmony within the community was important, they hesitated to comment what public may disagree. I thought this Asian way of thinking was true. For example, my friend used to hide that she loved animes and manga. She hesitated to say those things because other people may disagree with her and even think her as aweird person since some people has negative images to “Otaku”. If I were her, I think I would hide my hobby too. I will get embarrassed and scared to say something that other people would disagree. However, when I was living in the United States, many people came up to me and said that they love Japanese animes and they even asked me for more information about it.
→moeka
ReplyDeletethank you for your comment!
I agree with you about Japanese education. Most Japanese schools seem to put too much stress on discipline and little focus on individuality. But I think that there is other reason for why people want to be the same or similar and reject people who are different. For example I have seen a TV show about “OTAKU”. When I saw the TV show, I felt that the TV show was prejudiced against “Otaku” and it conveyed viewers that being “otaku” is abnormal and creepy although it is one of their identity to like that kind of stuff. Do you have any other reason other than media?
oh I didn't know that mr.hale was using similar example!
ReplyDelete→Yurika
ReplyDeleteI was confused how Mr.Hale was replying to me with your name(*^_^*)lol
Thanks for giving me another example.
Even though Japanese people think that 'OTAKU' is a negative thing, other people from other countries may think the opposite. That is really strange! I guess the power of the media has given us a negative view of 'OTAKU'
If I were your friend, i want to hide my hobby too.I don't want people to look at me as a strange person, and people hating me for what i like.
So, I totally agree with you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Mai!
ReplyDeleteThat’s right; my definition of happiness is similar to the Chinese one. I feel happy when I am not alone. Actually, I don’t like being alone.
Related to harmony… I belonged to wind orchestra when I was a student of junior high school and senior high school. To play well, I need corporation with members of wind orchestra. It was difficult because each of us, including me, had own identity, thought and idea. When I was a member of wind orchestra of high school, I often conflict with members. But after we had conflict, our playing became much better and we promote bonding. I felt happy when our harmony of music and relationship had improved.
Hmm, maybe my definition of happiness is changing as you said. I can live away from my family because I live in dormitory. In dorm, I don’t feel loneliness. My dorm friends are my family!!
Thank you,Mai.
I will answer to question 3.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the idea of the “essence” and I believe objects are changing constantly. If I compare things that happened yesterday and that happened the day before yesterday, they are not the same. The problems I faced last year and the problems I am facing today are different. Furthermore, I will have different kind of problems next year since there are always changes in me and the environment around me. Off course, there are matters that seem do not change. For example, school rules and routines do not change every day and seem to be essential, or some might say plants that bloom every spring and crops that harvest every fall are essential. However, they are different since the things that encounter them are different in every second. If I do the same routine every day, I am different form the past because I get old every second and breathe different air every second. The world is never be the same, some are born some are dead, the number and the type of lives never be the same on the earth. The problems we are facing now days such as environmental problems, world population growth, and climate changes are due to the changes in the world. Therefore I do not believe in the existence of “essence.”
I would like to answer question#2.
ReplyDeleteI have a quite close definition of happiness to that of Chinese because I feel the time shared with my family is precious as well as essenial for me.
I started living alone about a month ago. At first,I was enjoying my own life because there is no one who scolds me for coming home late or being lazy.I thought it wonderful that no one disturbed me. However, now I came back home in Shizuoka and realized that the time with my family ;talking,laughing,and even having a little quarrel with them, are all indispensable to me. (I mean I did not realize I had missed them until I actually came home.)
In short, happiness for me is nothing special. I think people who cherish the time with their family or friends,just like me, find out the "special" in something ofen taken for granted like talking about trivial things or just staying together.
Yuriko Yes I totally agree with you! I feel my dorm friends are like my family too!;)
ReplyDelete→nanako
ReplyDeleteyour question was really hard for me...but i thought that this is a really good question! THANKS♪
I had to think for a while about "why people want to be the same or similar and reject people who are different."
so..you wanted me to give another reason other than the media, right?
well, while I was thinkng about this question, I rememberd what my high school teacher said in social studies.She said that the it is our culture that Japanese people tries to be the same as everyone else. Since, Japan is a country surrounded by oceans, and a lonely isolated island, people in the past had to make a good harmony. So, everyone had to stop being selfish and get along with other people. Therefore, the culture has made the Japanese want to act the same as other people.
By thinking about this question, i was able to realize how the media is effecting our life. Media really does have a BIG effect on us...and I actually feel that this is not a good thing...
Thank you for your comment, Nozomi Obinata
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that “essence” exists (maybe it’s similar to Chinese theories). In my opinion, everything without exception are depending on other objects and constantly changing.
I agree with your most part, such as the example of concept of human and houses, but there is a question on your thesis. You said that “essence”, the indispensable parts of objects do exist, which can change like “accidental properties”. But Nisbett says “if the essence of an object changed it was no longer the object but something else”, which may contradict your opinion. Even long time needed, can it be called “essence” if it changes?
Thank you for your comment, hirokeeper
ReplyDeleteSo you agree with Chinese philosophers, right? I think your belief; “objects are characterized by the outer qualities” is very important point (especially for us, Asians).
In addition to this, I would like to propose the possibility that our own existence may affect and change outer objects. I guess that Chinese philosophers emphasized this interaction towards the change with the theory of harmony.
Thank you for your comment, Saki
ReplyDeleteI agree with your “long-term” view(or 無常観？). As Nozomi Obinata says, time change everything, even the concept of human. And I suppose we (me, Saki, Nozomi, hirokeeper) are in kind of agreement with this theory. It is obvious that “I am different form the past because I get old every second and breathe different air every second”, “you are what you eat”, etc….
But, though we can easily accept the theory, we may not be able to really feel or recognize the internal change. In fact, I feel “I am I” every day because I feel a consistency as a person through my life. I guess that this unchanging feeling (or can it called even concept?) was the basis of “essence” theory in the Greek philosophy, and everyone including Asian holds it.
What I mean is, we can’t unconditionally deny something unchanging if we deeply face ourselves as individual.
I'm sorry for disordered texts lol
thank you for your comment,Nanako!
ReplyDeleteand I hope section CD will be like that too:)!!
For Question #2
ReplyDeleteMy definition of happiness is not close to that of Greek (happiness for myself) or that of Chinese (happiness for society). To be honest, I still haven't found out what the really happiness is for me. Being happy just by myself or having a good time with my family or friends are not enough for me. What about those who are suffering from the hunger, war, or conflicts all over the world? What about those who have dead or suffered from the earthquake on March 11th? I can't say "I'm happy!" in front of these people. My happiness is not just being happy by myself (or my family) but for everybody. For those who are living at this moment, and those who already dead or those who will be in this world in the future.
Let me talk about my dream and a story that I read while I was in American college.
My dream is to save a child in the Omelas.
Omelas is the world that appears in the book "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Urusula Le Guin. In this book, Omelas is described as a perfect world, and people of Omelas are happy. No conflict, no war, no hunger, no violence. It is utopia!
But this whole happiness depend on one child's sacrifice. This child is kept in a dark, miserable place without any freedom or happiness. For this child, life is a disaster.
Do you still think that Omelas is the happy place?
By scarifying only one child, everybody in Omelas are guaranteed to have a happy life.
You may say, “No.”
But saving this child leads the world filled with wars, conflicts, hungers and such.
Can you give up your happiness to save this child? Or would you like to keep your happiness (and rest of the people except the child) and ignore the child's happiness?
I can't answer this question. I haven't figure our yet.
I may give up some of my happiness and ask others others to give up so that we can make that child happy.
Obviously, this is not fair for that child, but, in fact, our world is not fair for the most parts.
Every single moment, when we have a good time at ICU, there are always people who are suffering and asking for a help.
What can I do for these people?
What is the really happiness for me?
Again, I need to keep searching for answers, but I kind feel the following way.
When I can save the child in Omelas, I can make this world little bit more a better place.
If I can make the child smile, then that will make me happy even though that will ask me to give up some of my happiness.
Let my happiness for your happiness. And let your happiness for my happiness.
Can I do that?
Can I make a world filled with happiness?
I don't know yet.
And that's why I'm here at ICU.
What is the happiness? And what can I do for that?
I want to be happy, and I want you to be happy.
This is my happiness that I'm searching for.
Maybe, close to the idea of Taoism?
Sorry for late commenting. I would like to answer for Q1.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking those two ways of thinking since I entered icuhs. Because there were many returnees from western countries, I have many friends who have western way of thinking. They do not try to be same with everybody but enjoy being independent. They often argue when they do not agree with other people’s idea, even though it is an opinion that everyone expect you agreed. I like such behavior of my friends and I also behaved like that. However, maybe because I live in Japan for 18years and I went public junior high school in Japan, I still think harmony with other people is important too. It depends on the situation, but, harmony is sometimes indispensable to live in such a big society. So I guess my way of thinking is a hybrid of Asian and Western way of thinking.
Forgive me for commenting at this time.
ReplyDeleteI would like to answer #3.
I think that the essence of objects do exist. When we think about an object in our minds, for instance a toilet bowl, we can easily define the concept and the use for it. Yes, there have been major changes like the development of flushing toilet, but this does not mean that the "essence" of the object has changed.
It would also be confusing and troblesome if the foundation has a posibility of changing. If a renovation happens to an object it should be given a different name and a category to it.
I am really sorry that I am late.
ReplyDeletequestion #2
My definition for happiness is related to Chinese definition of happiness. I believe that it is a great happiness to be with my family.
Two years ago, my father moved to Nagasaki due to his job. He always scolded me whenever I get bad grades in school, therefore I did not like my father very much. I thought we would never understand each other when he told me to quit handball, because I could not study at all since I was too busy playing handball. However, after he moved to Nagasaki I started to realize that he was just worried about me. For example, when I injured my knee I had to have a surgery. I was very depressed but my father cheered me up by E-mails and I thought I was lucky to have a father like him.
I think we can feel happy if we can understand the things our family members did for us.
Thank you very much for your reply Kyosuke.
ReplyDeleteYou are very astute in pointing out the contradiction in my position.
If it can change eventually, how can it be called “essense”?
I would like to defend my position against your argument.
Suppose I, a 19 years old man named “Nozomi Obinata” had his essence that made him what he was, in my opinion, that will not change for his whole life.
Whatever he experiences, Whoever he encounters in his life, whatever job he accomplishes, or whatever shame he goes through, his core personality won`t change.
When I meet people, who know me when I was young don`t easily recognize me now because I`ve changed a lot after the most severe times of my life, or make it simple, agony.
Around the age of 15, I lost my idea on who I was, because I could not recall some part of my memory and connections of my life history stopped making sense. How I was brought up, who my parents were, and why I was there. It got better but I am still working on recalling and finding the necessary pieces of my memory.
What do I think about my self now? Although three years old Nozomi Obinata, and 12years old Nozomi Obinata and 19 years Nozomi Obinata look very different, but they all share the same core personality. Although life experience vary on each of them, the basis on which the experiences are received all connects to the previous one. And if I date back, at any point of my lifetime, I will reach the same place; the point where I was just born into the world with a certain personality.
And the day I die, that core personality would disappear.
That`s my definition of the essence of myself.
Now I`ll try connecting this idea to the examples I posed on the last comment.
Those were, human specie changing its form, and the concept of house changing its indispensable qualities along with environmental changes.
I think it`s the matter of “live or dead”.
If the core concepts of human what we hold today, like the ability to communicate, socialize, accumulate knowledge, love or get angry at something (and other complicated emotions), those that distinguishes us from other animals are largely distorted, in my opinion, we should consider the human specie is dead. A different kind of creature is now there.
If the core quality of house is largely bent, then it should be called something else. The word “house” is dead.
This is the temporary answer I can give to you Kyosuke.
So my idea is that, we have essence. It is born at some point, and it dies at some point later. And another one will be born. I do not deny the concept of essence but the world will keep changing in a larger scale.
This is my explanation for somewhat contradictory standpoint of my argument.
Your reply is any time welcome.
Nozomi
To Haruka,
ReplyDeletePLEASE REPLY MORE EARILIER(>_<)!!!!!!!!!!!!笑
It's great how you have been thinking about this peroblem since youb were a high school student. I never thought about these kinds of things until I read this book...
I agree to you to! I have a lot of friends who has the westerners way of thinking, and i like them very much. When they argue, it can sometimes hurt my feelings, but i know that they just want to say their opinions. They are not doing this to hurt people's feelings.
I like how you like the Asian way of thinking too, because I think keeping harmony with friends is important too!
Thank you for your reply, Yuriko!
ReplyDeleteI can understand how you felt about harmony through the experience of being part of an orchestra, because I belonged to a string orchestra when I was in junior and senior highschool too. This feeling may be the same in other types of clubs which require strong bonding between the members.
Dormitory friends are my family... What a nice phrase! I don't know if Nisbett would include friends as part of the family, but getting along with them is definitely keeping the harmony around you so I would say your definition of happiness hasn't changed so much. I hope your family will be in peace and happiness!
Thanks for your comment, Nozomi!
ReplyDeleteI understand that it is difficult to appreciate the importance of something when you are very close to it and it is easier to notice how happy you were to have that once you get away from it. Fortunately, I was able to realize the happiness within my family when I am still living with them, but reading your comment made me even more aware of that happiness.
Finding happiness in normal, ordinary life like you said is very similar to the Chinese one way and I really agree with you!
Nanako and Yuriko, thank you so much for participating in this discussion so actively!
ReplyDeleteI too, hope that our section, CD will become better friends and then like a family!
Mai,
ReplyDeletethanks for everything☆
I'm really happy that I got to work with you(*^_^*)
LUV YA
-Moeka
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about happiness, Kanako!
ReplyDeleteIt really struck me that you thought about others' happiness when you were asked for yours. I can understand that you shouldn't always think about your own happiness but I don't think I would be able to be conscious about other people's happiness especiallly those who are far away from me.
The story about the child in Omelas is very interesting, and answering your question is very, very, difficult. I do not know how the child's sacrifice leads to everyone's happiness, bu if happiness was something that could be seen and countable, it would be easier to share happiness with other people in Omelas including the child. If we could choose what kind of happiness we each want, it would be even more easier for all of us to be happy. Yet, happiness for each of us differs in many ways as we can see from this discussion blog so "happiness for all the people" may just be a fantacy that will never exist even in the future.
I think we actually need to ask other section mates in CD for their answers for this question!
I didn't quite understand what you meant by saying that your idea of happiness is close to Taoism, since the idea of Taoism is about constant change and contradictions. Do you mean that one's happiness cannot exist without the sacrifice of others? Does this idea of the need of sacrifice for others' happiness apply to our world too?
I want to think more about your question of Omelas. Thank you for sharing this story!
Thank you for your comment, Ryohta!
ReplyDeleteYou're dogeza-ing and buying ice cream for me tomorrow!
Maybe you were going through those difficult times you have with your parents when you just "didn't like" your father. As I said earlier in another reply, it's hard to notice how much something is worth when you are very close to it. In your case, it was your father and I am glad to know that you realized how precious he was for you.
As I read your comment and other comments that said you became aware of the happiness among your family after being separated from them, I came to wonder, if you had always been close to your family until now, would you have noticed the importance of your family? Or is there a possibility that you have not realized it if you had not been away from them?
To Moeka,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if we are allowed to post personal messages to each other, but anyway, thank YOU for working so hard for us!! Love you too!
We did do a lot for this discussion... Do you know what time it is now? 2:40 am!!
And Kyousuke, there is one or two more comments that you need to reply, if you are still awake...
Let's thank everyone in CD for putting up comments for our questions!!
Not being late for school tomorrow is the only worry now, isn't it, Moe?
Thank you so much! Mai
For question 1
ReplyDeleteAs other people said, I also have both Asian and Western ways of thinking. However, my thinking is a little bit closer to Western way of thinking than Asian way of thinking. I agree with the Western’s idea that people “were in charge of their own lives and free to act as they chose” (Page 2). When I do something, I do it because I “want” to do it, not because I “need” to do it or I “have” to do it. I strongly believe that no outside factor can force me to do something because I am free to act as I chose. Thus, I have a similar idea to Western’s idea.
Sorry for late commenting.
Thank you for your reply to my comment, Mai!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for my slow respond, but you asked me 3 questions about my comment,
so I'd like to answer for each.
Your 1st question was why my idea of happiness is close to Taoism since the ideas of Taoism is about constant change and contradictions.
I said my idea of happiness is close to that of Taoism because of the concept of yin and yang in Taoism (you may want to check the sign of the Tao in page 13). “The principle of yin-yang is the expression of the relationship that exists between opposing but interpenetrating forces that may complete one another. Make each comprehensible, or create the conditions for altering one into the other” (14).
I though that my idea happiness cannot exists without unhappiness is about this yin and yang idea.
I believe that we cannot be happy if we never have the experience of being unhappy.
Happiness in in yin state, and unhappiness is in yang state, and two forces cannot be existed without each other.
Why happiness is important in our life? Because our life is not always happy: we face many challenges and difficulties.
We can say the same thing for catching the big fish of the old man in the “The Old man and the Sea.” Catching the fish has a great meaning for the old man because he has gone without the fish for 84 days. If he was catching fishes every day, then fishing the big fish doesn't add as much values.
To sum up, unhappiness (yang state) gives the meaning in happiness (yin state).
The contradiction in my idea of happiness (being unhappy is essential to be happy) is why I said my happiness is close to that of Taoism.
Your 2nd question was “does one's happiness cannot exist without the sacrifice of others?”
This is a very interesting question. (and I also think this question implies Taoism's idea of contradiction that one's happiness depends on sacrifice of the others.)
Answer for the question: yes I think so.
Although I don't want to admit it, I think that is the way it is.
This is because, as you said, I think everybody's happiness is different.
In other words, my happiness may indicate your unhappiness.
For example, say my happiness is to make the world more peaceful, and I want the world to be a place where only one language is spoken so that everybody in the world can communicate better and reduce the conflicts due to failure of communication.
If that will happen, then I will be happy.
However, you think differently. For you, having only one language means loss of diversities since languages is one form of culture.
If my happiness come true, then you will be unhappy and even face a loss of your identity with the lost of your native language (this problem is actually the real life problem Chinese government and Tibetan people face today).
In this way, I think the sacrifice of other' happiness is flip side of somebody else' happiness.
Continued from the last post...
ReplyDeleteYour last question was if I think the idea of the need of sacrifice for others happiness apply to our real world.
Definitely, yes.
For example, if you and your close friend fail in love with the same person, and that person choose you to go out. Then your close friend have to give up the happiness of going out with the person. It is very hard to choose the way that everybody can be happy.
To be honest, I even don't know if a such way exists.
When you have a good time with your partner, your friend may cry.
However, I can also think differently at the same time.
If we have different ideas of happiness, then there is possibility that we can all be happy.
For the case of example, you and your partner are happy, and your close friend also becomes happy, say for example, by finding a great job.
The idea of the need of sacrifice is maybe reality of the world, but even so, I want to find a way that is not. If I can find a way, then I can save the child in Omelas.
If the child in Omelas suffers the most, does it mean the child has the right to be the most happiest?
(Because from Taoism ideas of contradiction and yin-yang concept, who is the most unhappy is the one who is the most happy)
I want the child to be happy, and I want to find a way to make such a world.
Finally, I want say something.
If the child's happiness becomes my happiness (that is, if somebody else' happiness becomes your happiness) then the world changes.
When perception and interpretation change, the world changes.
Change ourselves to change the world.
Can we change?
I don't know, but I want to give a best shot while I'm here in this world.
I think working hard to do so at ICU as the starting point is worth trying.
What do you think?