the meaning of life

Always include your name, class, class code and the week of the assignment.
Start with copying and pasting each question and sub-question and then proceeding with your response. Make certain that the instructor can easily determine which question and, or sub-question you are responding to.
Each journal prompt must be at leasta thousand words.

Journal Prompts

1) What are the 3 ways in which the term meaning’ can be understood? There are several meanings for the word meaning’, how does knowing the different use of the term meaning’ aid in understanding the phrase the meaning of life?

Is the meaning of life’ something that is dictated to you from the outside world (ie: society, family, peers, etc.) or is it something that takes shape by freedom of choice?
After listening to the audio Learning Theory’, do you think that freedom of choice in your life is possible in the face of socialization? Is it possible to be other than what you have been exposed to be? Does the choice: to be or not to be, exist in light of the forces working around you?
Explain what the Learning Theory is. What do learning theorist have to say about the nature of deviant and normative sub-cultures? What is the fundamental similarity between the two?

2) In Plato’s Apology, what are the charges brought upon Socrates? How does he begin his defense to explain to the people of Athens how the aforementioned indictments came to be in the first place?

In the passage below identify what Socrates’ accusers have made him out to be. According to Socrates what is the difference between him and his accusers? What does ornamenting’ words and phrases mean in this context? What is different about Socrates’ eloquence and what is the significance of such a statement?

How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was €“ such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth. But many as their falsehoods were, there was one of them which quite amazed me; €“ I mean when they told you to be upon your guard, and not to let yourselves be deceived by the force of my eloquence. They ought to have been ashamed of saying this, because they were sure to be detected as soon as I ed my lips and displayed my deficiency; they certainly did appear to be most shameless in saying this, unless by the force of eloquence they mean the force of truth; for then I do indeed admit that I am eloquent. But in how different a way from theirs! Well, as I was saying, they have hardly uttered a word, or not more than a word, of truth; but you shall hear from me the whole truth: not, however, delivered after their manner, in a set oration duly ornamented with words and phrases.

b. After reading the Apology in its entirely what does it suggest about the nature of truth, honesty, justice, and freedom? Untimely, what happens if someone comes forth speaking Truth’ to those around them?

3)

How does capitalism shape your understanding of the meaning of life? Does the system of capitalism have its own use of and definitions for symbols that represent facets of life and meaning? Give examples from your own life.
How do the audios Control Theory and Labeling Theory enhance your understanding of the function of socialization and how it affects freedom of choice? Is it normal to be deviant?

Read: Read – Fredrich Nietzsche – Gay Science.docx
Read: Carl Sagan Pale Blue Dot (link:http://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/earth/pale-blue-dot.html)
Watch: When Nietzsche Wept: Eternal Return (link :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXGzFuoF8g&index=14&t=1s&list=PLY6YyivqBE9zgc-OvjQTf4AlS5Ra4dyBp)
and Carl Sagan – You Are Here (Pale Blue Dot) [Sagan Time] (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PN5JJDh78I)

Read the Selections from the Gay Science, particularly Aph 341 the greatest weight, – Fredrich Nietzsche

Submit a one page reflection paper on The Eternal Recurrence addressing the following. If you were certain Nietzsche’s demon, below, were telling you the truth. How would you change your life? Why?

“This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence—even this spider and this moonlight between the trees, and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!”