A class blog for a course taught by Dr. David McAnulty. This blog consists of student comments, critiques and media links all relating to the history of psychology, including significant figures, research, writings, systems and theories.
Arthur Schopenhauer’s influence humanity on the most romantic way possible. Schopenhauer’s philosophy reacted strongly against the scientific rationalization of the Age of Enlightenment. He directly challenged the hegemony of science as the sole way of understanding humanity.
Schopenhauer’s belief in literature and other literalistic modes of expression influences our belief today of children learning through the arts. Our emotions are so easily influenced by our experiences with the arts, they can shape whole cultures.
Before class I had been contemplating life quiet more recently than usual. It seems like only yesterday I was entering 9th grade, even though my world is completely different. As we discussed in class the good life, there were so many different views on happiness, and I thought I would share my view on the happiness of life.
I feel that my view of happiness is a lot like the Epicureans. Friendship and relationships are essential to living a happy life, and also a Christian life. Relationships are what give us great memories, and for me, those memories give me great happiness. From memories of my family at church to birthday parties with my best friends. In this music video “Shake Me Down” by Cage the Elephant, this man crawls through his memories from childhood to marriage to death. In each part of his life each of his memories always involve relationships, with parents and his wife. This video reminds me of how short life is, and how important relationships are to me, and also my happiness.
The Epicureans also believed that happiness is based on freedom from physical pain and mental anxiety. I feel this is most evident during school, at least for me. While I am extremely at peace when I am in school with my friends, I do feel my anxiety increases my bad attitude towards others; and when my relationship with my friends is strained is when I feel the most discontent. While happiness is not solely based on relationships, a healthy relationship based on God is essential to happiness in life.
I firmly believe that our experiences shape our world view. If only we’ve only had dark experiences, it is very difficult to see a light. Nietzshce had a very dark life, and is very pessimistic about life and hope.
I interpreted Goethe’s view accepting the conflicting forces within humanity a little differently. I don’t believe that we, at least at Christians, should accept the dark forces but believe that we, through God’s mercy, can overcome these forces. I believe through faith, God can give us the ability to overcome, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the on who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” 1 John 5:5.
I would agree that Kierkegaard has had a strong influence on Christianity and there is a critical change in the way the church operated before romanticism era. I would agree with Kierkegaard, that people need to develop their own faith with God, but our relationship with God is only amplified and reinforced with our relationships with fellow Christians. Just like an addict coming out of recovery, if there is no one there to hold them accountable, then the journey to sobriety is a thousand times harder.
I would agree with Garrett. I think it is so easy for us to say, in theory, how to raise children, but once we’re actually there, it is a completely different ball game. I believe that family is so influential growing up. Although our experiences with our families is not what defines us, but will have a strong influence in our lives.
I strongly agree with the comment about eternal happiness compared to Aristotle’s idea of mortal happiness.
I would also agree that happiness is parallel to our priorities. When I do bad on a test or skip class, I feel guilt for not prioritizing my future. Even though my main priority in life is to get a 4.0, but when I do poorly in a class I do not feel as secure as I do when I do well.
I believe this relationship is very similar to the relationship a lot of teachers strive for. I know growing up, my parents strove to teach me everything they believed was right, but they also wanted me to create my own beliefs and build my own faith. I believe this is also a relationship that ACU strives for. We want to build a base of knowledge for students, but they also want us to think for our selves and develop beliefs.
I would have to disagree that reason and faith, at least for Christians, are pinned against each other. I believe that our reason as Christians, is our faith. Like the passage from Hebrews 11, “By faith…” Abraham, Noah, Abel, and so forth, followed God and sought His commands first. To these men of great faith, their reason is their faith.
Brittany Rexroat 
Lacy Hanson
Natalie Fleet on Friedrich Nietzsche
8:17 pm, 02.21.11
I firmly believe that our experiences shape our world view. If only we’ve only had dark experiences, it is very difficult to see a light. Nietzshce had a very dark life, and is very pessimistic about life and hope.
Natalie Fleet on Goethe’s Growing Goal
8:13 pm, 02.21.11
I interpreted Goethe’s view accepting the conflicting forces within humanity a little differently. I don’t believe that we, at least at Christians, should accept the dark forces but believe that we, through God’s mercy, can overcome these forces. I believe through faith, God can give us the ability to overcome, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the on who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” 1 John 5:5.
Natalie Fleet on Soren Kierkegaard and the church today
8:04 pm, 02.21.11
I would agree that Kierkegaard has had a strong influence on Christianity and there is a critical change in the way the church operated before romanticism era. I would agree with Kierkegaard, that people need to develop their own faith with God, but our relationship with God is only amplified and reinforced with our relationships with fellow Christians. Just like an addict coming out of recovery, if there is no one there to hold them accountable, then the journey to sobriety is a thousand times harder.
Natalie Fleet on Jean- Jacques Rousseau
7:54 pm, 02.21.11
I would agree with Garrett. I think it is so easy for us to say, in theory, how to raise children, but once we’re actually there, it is a completely different ball game. I believe that family is so influential growing up. Although our experiences with our families is not what defines us, but will have a strong influence in our lives.
Natalie Fleet on Priorities
5:48 pm, 02.02.11
I strongly agree with the comment about eternal happiness compared to Aristotle’s idea of mortal happiness.
I would also agree that happiness is parallel to our priorities. When I do bad on a test or skip class, I feel guilt for not prioritizing my future. Even though my main priority in life is to get a 4.0, but when I do poorly in a class I do not feel as secure as I do when I do well.
Natalie Fleet on Plato and Aristotle: The Relationship of Teacher and Student
5:28 pm, 02.02.11
I believe this relationship is very similar to the relationship a lot of teachers strive for. I know growing up, my parents strove to teach me everything they believed was right, but they also wanted me to create my own beliefs and build my own faith. I believe this is also a relationship that ACU strives for. We want to build a base of knowledge for students, but they also want us to think for our selves and develop beliefs.
Natalie Fleet on Reason
5:13 pm, 02.02.11
I would have to disagree that reason and faith, at least for Christians, are pinned against each other. I believe that our reason as Christians, is our faith. Like the passage from Hebrews 11, “By faith…” Abraham, Noah, Abel, and so forth, followed God and sought His commands first. To these men of great faith, their reason is their faith.