David Banach searches for what it means to be an absolute individual in "The Ethics of Absolute Freedom". I believe that we are all absolute individuals and may never know who others really are. Even family or someone who you think is your best friend. "When you think of it, each of us is alone in he world. Only we feel our pains, our pleasures, our hopes, and our fears immediately, subjectively, from the inside. Other people only see us from the outside, objectively, and as hard as we may try, we can only see them from the outside. No one else can feel what we feel, and we cannot feel what is going on inside anyone else's mind." In this section of the text, David Banach explains that we all have feelings/ emotions, but only we can feel what we feel. Not anyone else. We all categorize our feelings in the same way when we view them on the outside, but based on the inside, we are all unique. We are "absolute individuals."
When a person experiences the emotion that we label as fear, one may hesitate or run, while another may fight. One emotion that many react to differently is sadness. One may ignore it, cry or become depressed as they let it overcome them. This may not be one of my best characteristics but when I get sad or nervous, I laugh. It is my way of coping with my sadness and blocking it from getting to my head. If someone I love passes away I become very sad but try to stay strong for myself and others. In order to do this I laugh to keep from crying but on the inside where no one else can see, I slowly break down from the inside out. Nervousness also triggers my laughing. When friends trip and fall, I am concerned for them but I laugh to ease the tension of embarrassment. I just try to make sure to laugh with them and not at them. Of course this doesn’t only apply for my friends, when I trip and fall or crash in gymnastics I always laugh at my self as well.
This is what makes me an absolute individual. No one else can fully explain why I do the things I do, just as I cannot explain other’s actions. This is why the speech given by David Banach can stimulate fear and act as a pacifier. It may comfort us to know that we are all different and have aspects about us that we can keep to our self. It may also cause fear to know that you never really know what a person sees. Whether its in room you are in, or who you are as a person.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I needed to fix the last paragraph sorry:
ReplyDeleteThis is why the speech given by David Banach can stimulate fear and act as a pacifier. It may comfort us to know that we are all different and have aspects about us that we can keep to our self. It may also cause fear to know that you never really know what a person sees. Whether its in the room you are in or who you are as a person.
Amanda, you make a good point and the explanation of your thoughts on why we are all “absolute individuals” makes total sense. Since we all have feelings that’s no one else can feel but in us. In that sense, yes, we are all absolute individuals.” However, if you are speaking generally and saying we are all “absolute individuals” I disagree. Everyone at some point is influenced to some extent by the opinions of others. Moving on, it was great that you used examples to prove that you are indeed an “absolute individual.”
ReplyDeleteBonus points for finding that picture. It's very appropriate.
ReplyDeleteAnyway I like how you clearly summarize the section of the text about being an "absolute individual" that is seperated from the world and then take the idea a step further by explaining how emotions can effect you considering how you are trapped in your own subjective world. I understand how laughter can sometimes come out at the wrong times. Of course, if I've learned anything from this part of the lecture it is that I don't fully understand. I beleive that the best thing one can do about this is to share their experiences and maybe find just a little aspect of the other person's life that they can almost relate to and use that to help them. Just because communication is limited it does not mean it is useless.
F - Friendly and encouraging sign-off.
i agree that no one can really feel how we feel on the inside but others are the one that makes us feel this way. For example, when someone dies you feel really sad but they are the ones that makes you feel sad. so if you are an absolute individual will you care about others? Will you even have any feelings? How would you feel if you did?
ReplyDeleteAnyway if you cover your true feelings is it because care about the people around you and don't want them to see you cry and be sad? could you really consider yourself as an "absolute individual?
i hope this is not to confusing to read...