Questions from James
If you were on Live Journal as of three or four months ago, you probably know the deal. Let me know if you want me to ask you five questions, etc.
1. How many Epictetus clones would it take to convert the world to complete stoic behavior? Would this change be good or bad for everyone? Why?
I don't profess to know Epictetus as well as I could, but I do believe that it'd take a whole lot of clones, probably the majority of the world. We humans tend to be a very emotional breed, and Epictetus, with his clinical, detached view of the surrounding world, somewhat baffles me with the extent to which he advocates the logic, "If you can't do anything about it, don't worry." I think--and hope, to a good extent--that people would be resistent to Epictetus and his dark forces of apathy.
Overall, I think it would be a bad change. I'm far too much of a romantic to really desire a world where friends are thought of as strictly instrumental and sentimentality is viewed as tantamount to imprudence. From a strictly logical point of view, I believe there would be drastically less violent conflicts among people--any philosophical or religious view, when disseminated over the entire world, would obviously cut down severely on ideological misunderstandings--but is life really worth it if you can't bring yourself to really feel it?
2. If you had to kill one person in the world (and it couldn't be a random starving African or near-dead cancer patient etc) who would it be and why? How would you feel afterward? Why?
That's a difficult and unpleasant question, James Task. I'm not exactly tearing at the seams to end anyone's life, so it wouldn't be a passionate and violent murder. Just letting you know. Anyway, my first instinct was to say "George W. Bush," but I'm not so sure. It'd be pretty hilarious for him to just suddenly be murdered. A wrench would be thrown into everything, you know? But then again, I'd get one hell of a harsh punishment.
3. What is the greatest class you've ever taken at Oakland? What effects did it have on you? What made it so wonderful? Do you think you'll ever take a better class? Why or why not?
I truly believe the greatest class I've had was my Japanese International Studies class. The teacher, Mr. Langlois, is hilarious, incredibly knowledgeable about the subject matter, very good at lecturing, and apparently extremely well-aware of how to pace things. It was overall a very comfortable class; I miss attending it every Tuesday and Thursday, as I knew I would. As for effects it had on me, I don't believe it changed me so much as partially satisfied a desire I'd had for a long time: to learn about Japanese culture. I suppose I know a great deal more about the feudal period over there and how Japanese people regard the world as compared to how we Americans regard it, but I approach such broad generalization with a good deal of skepticism.
So will I ever have a better class? I don't foresee myself enjoying one more than that class--I've never enjoyed a class as much as that one, so I assume such enjoyment is rare--but if I can get Langlois for Japanese 215 or 314 or something, that'd be pretty awesome.
4. If you absolutely had to get a tattoo immediately what would it be and where would you put it? Why?
Opeth logo on one of my shoulders or on my forearm! I'm thinking a shoulder. I've been considering that for a long time because I love Opeth and it'd make them some part of me--but honestly, I don't think I'm much of a tattoo person.
5. If you had 10 days to live and could spend as much money as you wanted to go anywhere and do anything what would you do and where would you go? Why?
I'd gather some friends and go to Japan. Definitely. If The Pillows were playing over there, I'd do everything in my power to see them because I've always said I don't want to die without having seen them live. I probably wouldn't fare very well over there because of linguistic considerations and I'm not sure I would like the country, but I do think never visiting would be my biggest regret if I were to die.
Edit: Actually, I guess I could afford to hire one hell of a translator to hang out with me in Japan, so I'd probably do that, too.
1. How many Epictetus clones would it take to convert the world to complete stoic behavior? Would this change be good or bad for everyone? Why?
I don't profess to know Epictetus as well as I could, but I do believe that it'd take a whole lot of clones, probably the majority of the world. We humans tend to be a very emotional breed, and Epictetus, with his clinical, detached view of the surrounding world, somewhat baffles me with the extent to which he advocates the logic, "If you can't do anything about it, don't worry." I think--and hope, to a good extent--that people would be resistent to Epictetus and his dark forces of apathy.
Overall, I think it would be a bad change. I'm far too much of a romantic to really desire a world where friends are thought of as strictly instrumental and sentimentality is viewed as tantamount to imprudence. From a strictly logical point of view, I believe there would be drastically less violent conflicts among people--any philosophical or religious view, when disseminated over the entire world, would obviously cut down severely on ideological misunderstandings--but is life really worth it if you can't bring yourself to really feel it?
2. If you had to kill one person in the world (and it couldn't be a random starving African or near-dead cancer patient etc) who would it be and why? How would you feel afterward? Why?
That's a difficult and unpleasant question, James Task. I'm not exactly tearing at the seams to end anyone's life, so it wouldn't be a passionate and violent murder. Just letting you know. Anyway, my first instinct was to say "George W. Bush," but I'm not so sure. It'd be pretty hilarious for him to just suddenly be murdered. A wrench would be thrown into everything, you know? But then again, I'd get one hell of a harsh punishment.
3. What is the greatest class you've ever taken at Oakland? What effects did it have on you? What made it so wonderful? Do you think you'll ever take a better class? Why or why not?
I truly believe the greatest class I've had was my Japanese International Studies class. The teacher, Mr. Langlois, is hilarious, incredibly knowledgeable about the subject matter, very good at lecturing, and apparently extremely well-aware of how to pace things. It was overall a very comfortable class; I miss attending it every Tuesday and Thursday, as I knew I would. As for effects it had on me, I don't believe it changed me so much as partially satisfied a desire I'd had for a long time: to learn about Japanese culture. I suppose I know a great deal more about the feudal period over there and how Japanese people regard the world as compared to how we Americans regard it, but I approach such broad generalization with a good deal of skepticism.
So will I ever have a better class? I don't foresee myself enjoying one more than that class--I've never enjoyed a class as much as that one, so I assume such enjoyment is rare--but if I can get Langlois for Japanese 215 or 314 or something, that'd be pretty awesome.
4. If you absolutely had to get a tattoo immediately what would it be and where would you put it? Why?
Opeth logo on one of my shoulders or on my forearm! I'm thinking a shoulder. I've been considering that for a long time because I love Opeth and it'd make them some part of me--but honestly, I don't think I'm much of a tattoo person.
5. If you had 10 days to live and could spend as much money as you wanted to go anywhere and do anything what would you do and where would you go? Why?
I'd gather some friends and go to Japan. Definitely. If The Pillows were playing over there, I'd do everything in my power to see them because I've always said I don't want to die without having seen them live. I probably wouldn't fare very well over there because of linguistic considerations and I'm not sure I would like the country, but I do think never visiting would be my biggest regret if I were to die.
Edit: Actually, I guess I could afford to hire one hell of a translator to hang out with me in Japan, so I'd probably do that, too.