Inquiry 1: How should one live?

I believe that everyone should live without any regrets. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I believe people should strive to do the best at whatever they are doing at that present time. If people are taking time to regret past events, they will not be able to give their best effort on whatever they are doing at that present time. When people fail to do their best at what they are doing at that present time, they wound up having more things to regret. This brings me to a question I have always wondered. How much more would I have accomplished had it not been for being distracted by regrets at certain times? This question is what makes me forget the past, stay positive, focused, and live the present to the fullest without any regrets.

"How Should one live?"

I feel that everyone should search eagerly for the best way of living. Once, this has been discovered, each individual should do their best to abibe by what they consider acceptable. There are rules in life, and these rules shouldn't be ignored. For example, "the Golden Rule". The golden rule encourages everyone to treat their fellow man the way they would want to be treated. Applying this simplistic rule can make a big difference in one's life. Of course, they're many ways to live, but careful examining is neccessary to choose the most reasonable option. I feel the key to living a good life is happiness. Sometimes what will make us happy, we tend to disregard. So it's important to just find what will make us happy. Humans aren't the best source when trying to find out what brings about happiness, sometimes we need to search for a higher source, but we all have freewill, and will do what we feel is best for us. Now, the big question is: what can influence the way we live? For example, a person belonging to an organization may already have a certain way to live their life. There are several avenues to consider. The world itself has contribute a lot to how a person will live. Many of my friends said that, "we should live a life that will satisfy our consciences."

Inquiry # 1: "How Should One Live"?

When asking my friends "how should one live", their responses were pretty common yet unique. One friend explained in great depth that one should live their lives "in pursuit of not only their own happiness but the happiness of those they love". I can agree with this because I feel that I do live my life to make my loved ones happy. She also said that one should "live their life actively, not passively, taking full advantage of every breath". People should be thankful for life and that they are living to see another day; however, one should not live each day worrying about the "what ifs" of the next day.

Other friends simply gave short, to the point answers about how one should live. One friend replied, "happily, successful and in love" while another friend replied, "freely with goals, open to changes but taking care of business". The first response from a female, while the second response is from a male. Love is something most people seek out in life. Does finding love equal success? If not, what does? What defines happiness for people?

Everyone's response to "How should one live?" will be different. Each person has a different outlook on life and what their views of success, happiness and goals entails.

Inquiry #1: “How should one live?”

“How should one live?” is the question posed by Plato. There are two ways to attack this question, from a specific or a general standpoint. For the purpose of addressing the bigger picture, this paper will focus on the latter. The essence of this is that people should live in a way that reflects what they think and believe, but then this answer asks more questions than it answers. What should people believe, exactly, and what about when people have disagreements about how they should live?

There are some aspects of life on which just about everyone can agree should be universally accepted (e.g. Do not murder), and others which have become integrated into culture (e.g. Don’t let the American flag touch the ground). Still, culture cannot project itself into anyone’s mind, so each person has a specific personal code of beliefs. From person to person, these codes may be similar, and of course they will integrate rules or ideas from outside sources, but one cannot pretend to follow the same exact belief system as anyone else.

Some of these statements may seem contradictory, and it is natural to think that way. Humans want everything to be neatly classified and ordered. People want a system that they can understand, but duck-billed platypuses keep popping up. Perhaps in frustration, the man who could not put the answer to every moral question into neat black-and-white categories came up with a gray-scale, declaring truth to be subjective and those who disagreed to be narrow-minded. Perhaps this hypothetical person is being a bit hypocritical in thinking that he has to have just one system for classifying beliefs. It stands to reason that there are black-and-white rules, as well as gray principles. Certainly, examples could be provided to disprove both ways of thinking by themselves, but together they form something solid.

“How should one live?” is a broad question, so appropriately the answer given in this writing is broad enough to address it. Because of this, even If these answers are accepted, there is to be argument over which issues should be black-and-white and which are gray. The important thing is to be accepting when judgment need not be cast, to be judgmental with what one cannot accept, and most importantly to know the difference between the two.

Assignment #1: How should one live?

How should one live?
When we were asked to think about and research the question “How should one live?” a few answers immediately entered my mind, making me believe that this is a simple question to answer. I quickly dismissed these as cliché knowing that I need to put more thought into such a profound question. So after multiple days of pondering the question in my free time, I realized that I was not going to have a revelation on my own. I complained to my sister about how I had to post this reflection on a blog that I had no good answer to, and inadvertently interviewed her on the question. She told me that I probably would not come up with anything good on my own without relating the question to how I live my life and writing about something I am interested in. By saying this she really turned the tables on me and now I was being interviewed about the question but this time with guidance.
It is impossible for me to come up with a single phrase answer to this question even when relating it to my life. Therefore I am going to talk about an answer my sister gave me the idea to use. The phrase is “never give up.” Many people have been quoted saying this, and it is one of many phrases I try to live by. It obviously does not fully answer the question “how should one live?” But if one does live life always trying and never quitting, I feel that they will have a great deal of self respect in the end. It has been said before that to love and respect others you must love and respect yourself. So maybe part of the answer to “How should one live” is “one should live to earn self respect”.

Not quite ready to grow up.

Inquiry Post #1: How should one live?

“How should one live?” is an extremely broad question. When I think about how to answer, so many things come to mind, but if I had to reply with a single word, I’d say, “optimistically.”

Bad things happen to us all, but if it weren’t for the rainy days, the sunny ones would not seem nearly as special. Living life with a positive outlook can only make whatever situation one is in, a better one. It pushes people to perform to their fullest potential despite possible failure. Telling anyone they can accomplish something gives them the confidence necessary to do so; simply believing that things will get better urges one to keep trying until they are.

I think that optimism even extends as far as encouraging people to open up to one another. Everyone wants to be noticed at some point, but who is going to share who they truly are if they expect negative feedback? People are more inclined to be themselves around someone with whom they do not expect a poor reaction.

Optimism is the cure, not only for the mind, but also the body. Recent studies show that it can help people miraculously overcome terminal illnesses, such as cancer. I often wonder if people have more control over their surroundings than they actually perceive, especially after learning that we only use ten percent of our brains. It would be nice to think that hoping for the best could possibly change one’s fate to a better one.

When I asked my sister how one should live, she answered, “to the fullest.” I asked my best friend, and she replied, “without regret.” Although these responses were rather short and cliché, they both hope to live a life that they can not only be content with, but proud of. This is something I am sure they will accomplish as they are amazing people.

The question as to how one should live remains open, as it differs for each person. In the end, we would all like to believe that we have made the best of the hand life dealt us, so what does that mean for you?

"How should one live?"

"How should one live?" This is one of the most daunting questions one person can ask another, but I've gotten what I consider to be very good responses:

- "One should live life to the fullest, taking every available opportunity that comes to pass. Life
should be lived without hesitation to help others and help oneself" (BR).
- "Live in the moment and don't focus on the past or future. Be there for people but don't put
yourself last" (AD).
- "Comfortably but not extravagantly" (PH).
- "One should live with purpose, continually striving to achieve perfection by one's own
definition" (MB).

I believe such a thought-provoking question is best answered as simply as possible:

- passionately
- responsibly
- morally
- artistically
- without regret

The above is a small list, but I believe it covers the basics of what Life should consist of. One person cannot answer such a question for all mankind; it is up to the individual to decide what he is passionate about, what he doesn't want to regret, or where his moral compass is pointing him. I don't think the question should be, "How should one live?" but, "How should you live?"

While thinking about how one should live I came up with two main philosophies for living life. Work or play. I couldn't decide which one was a better way to live. After talking to a few people I realized I wasn't even sure what I meant by work and play. To some, work meant sitting at a desk on the grind, but to me it meant more. To me work is more like accomplishing something major in your life, or leaving a legacy. Working hard for something that would encourage future generations to be proud of there ancestor. I also found that play seemed to mean something different to everybody. Some said it was going out with your friends, having one of those wild nights. To others it was being outside and enjoying the outdoors. So like most, after some deep thought, I am no closer to knowing how to live. There can't be any set rules, because it's life. Everyone has to live for something different.

Work or Play?

Assignment One: How Should One Live?

When asked how one should live I realize that there is no clear-cut answer to this question. The answer to this greatly depends on how a person was raised and what that person has experienced in life. For example, a person raised in a religious family will have different views on life than someone who never attended church. When asking around I received a variety of answers, all of which I agreed with and made me question if I should be living this way. I got answers stating that one should live to please God, and some saying that the best way to live is to be spontaneous and live for the moment. I do not disagree with these answers but I believe that one should live for one’s self. I see way too many people living by other people’s guidelines and beliefs of ‘what is right’ that they lose all individuality and become just another face in the crowd. I think that people should stop trying so hard to please others and take time to do what makes them happy. Another strong belief that I have is that life, and everything in it, should not be taken for granted. I know its cliché but based on personal experiences I have learned that life can change drastically in no time at all. So I raise the question; are you doing everything you can to live life to the fullest, or are you holding back?

How Should One Live?

From childhood, I was taught that I should live my life by God's will; that I should make sure that the decisions that I make are accepted by God and that they follow his path for my life. I was told that this would ultimately lead to my happiness and would make me who I needed to be in this secular world. Living according to my religion is the way that I should live my life.

As I have grown, I have realized that I was somewhat being dictated by my parents who held us hidden behind religion in order to protect us from the wrongs in which they had done. Not to say that everything that I was taught was wrong, or the morals that I try to live by are unnecessary, but that I now know that there are gray areas; life is not just black and white.

In other words, I do not really have an answer so I looked to others to help me come to some sort of conclusion. One should live their life with the basic knowledge of compassion, compassion for oneself and compassion towards other people. When you can learn to accept yourself, you can accept others as they are. Like I said before, there are gray areas and this can affect how we see ourselves and the decisions that we make on an everyday basis. If I spend $4.25 on a coffee does that make me a frivolous spender? Am I wrong for doing so? Should I use that money and donate to those who need it? These are questions that I asked a couple of friends. Some felt strongly about giving to those who couldn't help themselves, saying that is the way people should live their lives. Other people felt differently, that no one is helpless, they work for what they and deserve what they get.

Who has the right idea? I have absolutely no answer. This question I feel leads to several other questions: who says what is that right way to live one's life? who is the judge of this? is it us? is it our peers? a higher being?

Inquiry 1: "How should one live?"

The first part of this assignment was to thing about it. The way I went about it was thinking about how I personally live, then I asked myself if that is the way everyone should live. After thinking about it I couldn't come up with a straight forward answer because if everyone lived the way I did, there'd be no individuality in the world--but at least there'd be no crime since I'm a chicken! Anyways then I proceeded by posing the same question to my boyfriend: "How should one live?" He brought an interesting point to my attention, that there are many different variations of the question. Meaning one could live in many different ways. For example, one could live alone or with someone. One could live religiously or scientifically. Or one could live selflessly or selfishly. "Live" could be an outward interaction meaning or inward, again meaning it could mean how we live with ourselves or how with live or interact with others. My boyfriend also couldn't come up with a straight forward answer to the question. So next I talked to my mom. She said that a person should live happily, and true to themselves. But the problem with that is, what if one person thinks something is a bad thing, but it makes another happy. This is one of the many problems our world society faces today, because we don't think alike. A Klu Klux Klan member might be happy with having certain things their way, when in other peoples eyes it's wrong and unfair. Readings vary from one end of the spectrum to the other on how to live. Physiologist have one opinion on what is right, and a scientist's opinion may be completely opposite. In the end, there can be no definite answer to Plato's question because people from different backgrounds, and different beliefs will think in different ways on what is the right or wrong way to live. But the only thing that I really question is if there was a certain set of actions, beliefs etc.. on how to live, would individuality still be able to exist? If we all lived the same exact way how could it exist, because we would be so limited on how to live and express ourselves?

6 Word Memior

Inquiry #1 "How should one live"

I would love to write something along the lines of "one should live to be happy with oneself...", but in all honesty I think that is frivolous. Don't get me wrong, I believe happiness is essential, but to really answer "How should one live" you have to dig a little deeper.
What does it mean to live, to be alive? This is where I believe the answer is purely individual and is marked with what makes someone happy- some may think being daring, risky, with no strings attached is to be alive. Others may think being alive is to have a secure job, strong relationships... (a bachelor vs. family man, if you will.) I think these are both valid. But the question is how does one get to be alive? How does the family man know that is what he wants?

To know how one should live, one must first have a firm grasp of exactly who they are. I'm talking everything from how their ancestors lived in the Motherland and how their family came to America, to the toothpaste they like to use and the music they jam out to in their car. This is the foundation to grow on. I believe it is essential for everyone to find this foundation; to partake on this self-discovery trip because this is where you can pin point your personal philosophies and challenge yourself to meet a new potential. How do you know who you want to be if you have no idea what you are capable of? I personally, believe people are stronger than they or society expects them to be and it is sad that so many have no idea. So why is it that so many don't ask? Why are so many people content with just living life day to day while others live "each moment as their last" (if you would excuse that cliché line)?

How I should live as of now includes my past as well as fulfilling my dreams and social roles of today; a student, a sister, a daughter... To answer "How should one live" in stone with no room for change would be ridiculous and total nonsense. It should be as unique to each person as their family history is and it must change throughout time as life alters who we are; it should also have a deeper answer than just "happiness and success".

Inquiry #1 How should one live?

At first thinking about the question, “How should one live?” is a very overwhelming task. But when you really think about it, it is at the very being of our existence. When posing this question to my roommates, they felt that one should live in way that one could be proud of themselves. However, that answered my question with another question. What would make you proud of the way in which you live your life? Is it society’s standards or is it some other set of ideals that are important to your own life. Another answer I came across is that you should live your life in way that makes you happy as long as it does not infringe on another person’s happiness. This is an interesting thought. One should always strive for happiness, but what determines where the line is drawn on affecting others? All the answers I have found seem to lead to further questions, which makes me come to the conclusion that there is no real answer to this question but only more questions.

Assignment #1: How should one live their life?

Hmmm... how should one live their life? Thats a question i have asked myself more than one should. I at times can be an extremely analytical person so that is one of the many questions that revolve around my mind probably everyday of my life. Before confronting any of my friends or family with such a deep question, i went straight for my music. Listening to music, a therapeutic activity that gives me such clarity when i need it. The two songs that i thought were perfect for the situation were "Get what you give" by the New Radicals and "Put your records on"by Corrine Bailey Rae. After daydreaming and brainstorming, i gained reassurance of the best way to live ones life.

Just this weekend I asked my Papa what does he think are the most important aspects in life considering he has been through 6 decades of life experiences, i figured he'd know. His response was "Chrissy May, you should always have your education". His theory is to always be learning something new and the best way to do so is to travel because there is nothing better than first hand experiences. He also believes that one should reach major lengths with their potential and always push yourself. But most of all he believes the best way to live ones life is to be able to support one's self with an occupation accompanied with great passion.

I sometimes get perturbed when i listen quietly to people, who are dear to me, on their expectations for a fulfilling lifestyle. Some say they wish they were born into media royalty such as being a mainstream actor's son or born with a nat for singing and being able to pay off bills with fame and flourished with pricey objects. When all and all some of the wealthiest persons are the least happiest.

So after listening to music, i come back to my same conclusion that i live by. I believe to achieve happiness we should appreciate the simple things that are priceless. One should be true to themselves with out holding back; loving with an open mind and an open heart, letting some one love you and loving them in return, being selfless, and most of all realizing that happiness is a state of mind. Even the person with the least amount of belongings can be the most satisfied.

Do you let the ones you cherish the most how much you love them?

What is your state of happiness?

Assignment #1: How should one live?

How should one live?
Although not a hard question if you actually know what you're doing here(in a larger sense). I guess easier said than done. I came up with a response as follows.
One should live to better one's self, defining yourself a person with individuality and character. I was talking with my brother about this and he put it simply, "It's an ongoing metamorphosis, in the end you meta-morphed right back into the earth." Some people try to chase this idea of a life style when it should just come to you.
As said by JFK, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I believe the concept is an interpretation of selflessness. Striving for a selfless attitude with the dedication of improving mental well being is an essential for life growth as a person.
By putting these ideas of bettering yourself as well as a selfless attitude towards people; together we can come to the conclusion of how one should live.
The question is, how should one live to better one's self?

Assignment: Inquiry #1: How Should One Live?

How Should One Live?

After asking a few people this question, I got a few different answers. One person said that she wished that everyone could be treated equally. She thought that some people use their race or a special circumstance as a crutch to get treated differently than other people. Doing this not only hurts society, but it also holds that person back. She believed that if we treated everyone equally and all wanted to be treated equally, life for everyone could improved.

Another person that I talked to thought that we should be conscience of how abundant our quality of life is in America. We are the wealthiest country in the world, and things that are considered luxuries in other countries are things we take for granted. For instance, “many people in this world live on $2 a day, and many Americans spend more than that on coffee every day.”

Another friend talked about how life can become so much better when you find God, people, things, and a profession that you love. There is nothing more fulfilling than finding a career that lets you help other people, and there is nothing better or more therapeutic than hanging out with friends. Finding a piece of art or something that you love to look at is also important.

Thinking about this question brought a few things to mind. My initial response was that one should live by treating others the way they would want to be treated. I think if everyone really tried to do this, the world would be such a better place. I also think that you should live a simple life. My belief is that simple living and realizing what is important in life is the key to happiness and fulfillment. You should also know what you stand for, and approach each and every situation with all your might and energy. Doing this might hurt you in the short run, but I think it will be worth it one day.

After researching the subject, two facts grabbed my attention. I found out that Socrates was a poor, humble man, who was considered to be very wise. The Web site also talked about how Socrates always did the right thing before doing something for pleasure, (http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Socrates.htm). I think that his background combined with his intelligence helped him to see the world in a different way. It seems like it also made him question certain things. I also think that doing the right thing and putting others before yourself brings you happiness.

Next Questions:

What do you think makes you feel fulfilled?

What can we do to help others?

No worries,enjoy life's beautiful mysteries..

6 word memoir

WOMAN
But no damsel in distress.

Choice is the root of freedom.

Six Word Memoir

Map of U.S.A. Take that commies!

Lucie Lafont

six word memoir

I'm drawing a blank right now.

Cody Boos

day one, bonus assignment one

if you weren't in class on Tuesday, here are some examples of what we wrote:
six word memoirs

for a bonus, create a slide with a visual (like the ones in the videos) and post it here.
for a superbonus (a regular bonus with extra appreciation and respect), collect slides from everyone in the class, make a slideshow, and post it here.

welcome

to our class blog. I hope you'll find it a useful place to try out new ideas and to exchange valuable feedback with your classmates. You'll be required to post approximately 5 inquiries and 5 responses (see sidebar for details) during the course of the semester. Because of this requirement, I have deliberately kept readings relatively short. I want you to have time to read closely and respond thoughtfully to the ideas of authors and classmates. Your postings will constitute 20% of your final grade. They will be graded on content--not on grammar, usage, etc.

Disagreement is productive and useful; please don't shy away from it. You can express divergent views in a respectful and humble way that will benefit all of us.

In order for these postings to be useful, rather than just another hassle-for-a-grade, you should ask questions that you're genuinely curious about. Also, try to relate your inquiries and responses to the project you're working on when possible. Take risks, stretch your thinking, try new things with your writing, and reap the benefits of your classmates' ideas! Feel free to link, as well, to any video, audio, or text that you want to share with the class.

If you're not sure where to begin, feel free to check out some other inquiry/response postings by following the links at the right.

Happy blogging,

Laura