Cultural Shift

— – A culture is similar beliefs, traditions, or ideas shared amongst a group of people. A culture/tradition I would invent would be a day where everyone, for just one day, to stop eating from fast food restaurants. Instead, people would eat fruits, vegetables, or organic food. No sugary drinks would be acceptable such as sodas or alcoholic beverages. This would enable society to have an experience with eating healthy things. Humans tend to consume many products unhealthy for the  body and a one day realization may be able to help understand and differentiate what is healthy to what is not.

A cultural can be affected by a cultural shift, which is when another different, or new culture overlaps with the previous culture, creating and mixing into a newone. Some may not like the idea because they’d prefer tradition. Therefore, a cultural shift can either result into a negative or positive impact.

Candide: Blogpost #6

Then, identify what kind of fallacy exists in his logic. Finally, in 2-3 sentences, close by explaining why Voltaire would make Pangloss use fallacious reasoning. What critique was he trying to make with this?

A fallacy is an incorrect argument in logic that can lead the ‘reasoning’ to have no strength or effectiveness against the other argument. In the book Candide, Voltaire creates a character who uses a variety of fallacious reasonings to prove their point. This character is Pangloss, a philosopher who has a major influence on the main character, Candide. Three fallacies that Pangloss uses is as provided:

1) Circular Reasoning: Circular reasoning  pertains to one’s propositions that is aimed to be proven. In page 16 of the green book, Pangloss is seen demonstrating Candide that everything was created for a purpose, giving an example that, “…noses were  made to wear spectacles; we therefor have spectacles.” This is an example of circular reasoning because in order to prove that everything had a purpose, he chose to say that noses were made for spectacles, when in reality, it is because of noses that spectacles are designed the way they are.

2) Argument from Authority: A fallacy including argument from authority can be seen when one or many, use the words of an ‘expert’ as ‘proof’ for an argument instead of the logic and reasoning that is provided. In page 22 of the green book, Candide is shown to live up to Pangloss’ words after he is cared for when he was about to die of hunger, “Dr. Pangloss was right when he told me that all is for the best in this world.” Although Candide has gone through countless hardships that almost led to his death, he still believes in Pangloss’ words that all is for the best (as if encountering death countless times is a good thing).

3)Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc: Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc is a situation which includes the idea of ‘It happened after, so it was caused by’. In the book Candide of the green book, Pangloss is seen disputing against James, an anabaptist,”All that was indispensable,… and individual misfortunes create general welfare, so that the more individual misfortunes there are, the more all is well.” Pangloss is showing a sequence of sorts that claims misfortune of an individual to be a great deed for everyone when in fact, it brings no wellbeing for the one who has the misfortune. This is an example of fallacy because once again, Pangloss uses inaccurate logic to demonstrate that everyones well being comes from misfortune.

In conclusion, Voltaire showed many fallacies on the philosopher Pangloss. His reason for doing so may be to point out that in the 1800’s, many philosophers were given such title just because they questioning the things around him. In addition, seeing as Candide easily used Pangloss’ words to assure himself, Voltaire is pointing out how gullible and naive people were when introduced to something new. He showed that people were easily persuaded when taught by what they may have seen as an authority figure.

 

Blog Post #5

(Chapter9)

1.  What were the Holy Brotherhood? 

The Holy Brotherhood were a peace keeping association (Holy=Peace, Brotherhood=Association) that was then an essential part of a local government.

2.  What elements of this chapter continue the parody of the romantic adventure story?

In a romantic adventure, the loved ones always tend to escape from an evil force. In this case, after Candide kills the two men, he, Cunegonde, and the old lady leave the crime scene in order to not get punished and killed. Something usually goes wrong after the two main characters encounter each other again.

3.  What is significant about the contrast between the treatment of the Inquisitor and the Jew after their deaths? 

In the chapter, the burial of the Inquisitor and the Jew are both treated differently. While the Inquisitor was buried in a beautiful church, the Jew (Issachar) was thrown in a garbage dump. Voltaire most likely chose to write such a thing in order to point out how the Holy Brothers treated other religious people. While the Catholic was buried appropriately, the Jew was not meaning that different religions weren’t easily accepted and that other religion were looked down upon.

Candide Blogpost #4

(Chapter 7)

1.  How does this chapter parody the stereotypical romantic adventure story? This may require research.

Based off on the research conducted, typical romance stories written during the medieval age (Mostly courtly love) usually had a character who went on an adventure to find their loved one. In such romance stories, the man would spend a good amount of devotion to their loved one. In a similar case, Candide went on an adventure without any purpose but along the way, he just so happens to stumble upon Cunegonde who is alive! Also, throughout the book, Candide shows a large amount of devotion to Cunegande. One can say it’s a parody to romance stories because despite the gruesome events they have seen, they still manage find one another and be ‘happy’.

2. Look closely at Cunegonde’s response about the events that have occurred in her life. What do her responses reveal about her ideas about fate?

Cunegonde’s responses reveals that no matter how bad one’s situation is, there is always a purpose for such things to happen. Since Candide was kicked out, there had to be a way for her to reunite with Candide again and this way was by the Bulgars attacking the castle. Yes, although she did get raped and cut, it didn’t lead to her death which enabled to worry about Candide the most.

Candide Blog Post #3

1.  To prevent more earthquakes, the authorities decide to hold an auto-da-fe.  What is an auto-da-fe? 

In Chapter 6 of Candide, the two men who refused to eat the pork were burned in public (seeing as it was a procession). When researching auto-da-fe, the definition that came up was a heretic who is burned by the Spanish inquisition.

2.  Voltaire chooses to have his characters condemned by the Inquisition in order to dramatize his own, personal disagreement with religion. Research Voltaire and explain his beliefs on religions and his disagreement with religious views of the 18th century.

Voltaire’s view on religion is that it should be ‘free’ and with reason. Voltaire does not believe that religious text or traditions of revelation are needed on order to believe in God. In fact, he doesn’t believe a that there is a god but that there’s a supreme being who holds the power of knowledge. Another thing he disagree’d with was the Cristian religion of Adam and Eve.

3.  When and why does Candide question his optimistic beliefs in this chapter? 

Candide began to question his optimistic beliefs when he witnessed the death of Pangloss. He questions his belief because when Pangloss passed away, he couldn’t ask him why. Everything he learned was from his grand master and to just have him die without giving a last reason made Candide unsettled. After all, his beloved people (James, Cunegonde, and Pangloss) were all great people who had died and their death confuse him.

Candide Blog Post #2

 1.  What news does Dr. Pangloss reveal of Cunegonde?

Pangloss reveals that Bulgar soldiers raped her(Cunegonde) countless times to the point of her death.

2.  According to Pangloss, why is he in such a pitiful condition?  In truth, what is the cause of his condition?

As Pangloss states, he’s in such a pitiful condition because of love, the consoler of the human race. However, in reality, the cause of his condition is though sexual intercourse with the maid. She mostly likely had a disease or an infection of such that was then passed down to him.

3.  To what city in Europe do Candide, Jacques, and Pangloss now travel?

They’re traveling to Lisbon.

4.  What does Voltaire critique make about Pangloss’ philosophy by beginning with an invalid premise and ending with an absurd conclusion?

Voltaire critique on Pangloss’ philosophy is that philosophers tend to make the best out of everything. Based off on the character Pangloss, every disaster or bad doing will eventually be for the better good. In a way, Voltaire is poking fun at the unrealistic thoughts philosophers at the time had.

5.  Note that Pangloss always deals in abstractions and ideals in his teachings. In Chapter 4, we see Pangloss’ idealistic understanding of love clash with the reality of love’s very “tangible” ramifications (for both him and Candide). For Candide and Pangloss, what is the ideal of love and what is the real love?

Pangloss’ and Candide’s ideal thought of love is that it’s the comfort of human race and the ruler of all hearts. However, real love tends to harm individuals and often comes with unwanted consequences.

 

Voltaires Significance on Names and Things

Throughout the first chapter of Candide, Voltaire – the author of the book- introduces a series a of characters with ridiculous names and words that have cunning titles. As absurd as they might sound, Voltaire purposely chose such words. In the chapter, Cunegonde stumbles upon Pongloss and a maid doing experimental physics.  Instead of writing sexual intercourse, Voltaire substitutes the word with experimental physics in order to give the reader an indirect idea of what was going on. Because Cunegonde witnessed such an action, the idea of trying it out with Candide emerged in her head. This is where the meaning of her name comes into play. In French, Cunegonde means “brave, war”. Therefore, we can deduce that Cunegonde’s name was chosen because of her bold decision. In contrast to her name, Candide’s name comes from a Latin term meaning “pure” and “innocent”, giving off a vibe of ignorance to Cunegonde’s motives and the world in general. Voltaire’s motives for choosing this particular name may be to portray the true reality of the worlds cruelness. After Cunegonde initiates her plan, it is not too long before Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh catches them between the act and out of anger, sentences Candide to exile. Although there is no definite meaning behind Thunder-ten-tronckh, one assumption why Voltaire might have chosen these words would be to poke fun at the names of people who were considered to be at a higher level than the regular norms. If one breaks down the words, thunder can signify power and fear, ten can be identified as a high number if talking scale-wise, and tronckh, a form of gibberish. Near the beginning of Chapter one, Master Pongloss teaches Candide the science of metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology, the science of cause and effect. Pongloss states, ”The nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles.” Voltaire used such a ridiculous title as the science term in order to poke fun at philosophers belief. When stating that noses are formed for spectacles, he is referring it in a way that shows how ridiculous ones belief may seem to others.

http://ontheroad29.wikispaces.com/Importance+of+names+in+Candide

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology

Fetch Clay, Make Man Review

Writer Will Power got the inspiration of creating the play Fetch Clay, Make Man, by an image he had seen which consisted of heavyweight boxing champion Mohammed Ali and actor Stepin Fetchit. In the play, Will Power surrounded both men in an unusual relationship of covered identities and strong motives.  Mohammad Ali, who is played by actor Ray Fisher, is seen seeking out for Fetchit in order to unravel the secret behind Jack Johnson’s secret punch. Since his rematch with Sonny was drawing closer, Ali becomes desperate in order to win the match.  Fetchit, however, declines ever knowing such knowledge. As the play progresses, we get to meet Ali’s wife, who at first is portrayed as a loyal Islam lady but is then laid out to be a women who wants to be who she wants to be and not an image of what Ali makes of her. Disturbed by her action and choices, Ali calls it off with her. Brother Rashid is a character known to be protective over Ali and when he first meets Fetchit, he is not pleased with the actor. His will to make them both stand on separate sides of a platform was so strong that he threatened the actor with vulgar actions to not partake in the live action of Ali’s rematch with Sonny. In this particular scene, Brother Rashid uncovers his true nature. Fetchit, who had already gave in and taught Ali Jack Jonson’s secret punch, submitted to his words and did not participate with the audience at the arena.

Throughout the play, what fascinated me the most were the subtle rearrangement in every scene that had to be changed. It may have been that the audience was too loud or that my hearing wasn’t at its fullest, but I never caught the screeching sound of the desks being dragged to another place or the thump of the telephone against a surface. My favorite scene, like most,  would have to be when Rashid threatened Fetchit. When this scene appeared, there was a sort of tension that fell over the audience. It was scary, yet exciting at the same time and the thought of what was going to happen pushed the viewers to want to see more. It was thrilling to be part of that audience, especially with the occasional side-comments of ooh’s and aww’s.