September 3 20!!
Imposing Minds Featuring:
This year’s Philosophical Edition Including: Need a Yacht? Look to Polish Made
An exclusive Interview with Democritus
Swisz Yachts
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“You can never step twice into the same river� -Heraclitus
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Contents: Coffee With Democritus Peering into Greek Culture Sophie’s World Sophie’s Secrets Note From Siwsz Yachts
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Democritus
Democritus is one of the greatest philosophers of the classic era. He lives in a small village known as Abdera on the northern Aegean coast. Not only did Democritus recently discover the atom, but he also applied it to his own theory of life. To add on to this man’s character, he is also a naturalist even stating that he’d rather discover a new cause of nature then be the King of Persia. Today I will sit down with Democritus, and discus his philosophical theories.
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Q: Why did you agree witParmenides theory of evolution and how nothing really changes? A: “Well I agreed with his theory simply because nothing can become something other then what it already was. And if nothing can become something other then what it already was there can be no actual, genuine change.” Q: What brought to the idea that everything was made up of tiny particles? A: “Well Aidan, everything must be made of something. For example when you hack out a piece of tree with an axe you get a smaller piece. If you continue to do this eventually you will get a piece, which is so small you can do no more hacking. But what is this piece made of ? And what is whatever the piece made out of ? This is what gave me the idea that everything must be made up of the same minute particle.” Q: Are you a man of Faith
Democritus? A: “I am afraid not Aidan. I have trouble believing that if we are made of particles, a divine power could’ve created us. I think this because who or what made us must also be made of these particles of atoms, meaning that if god create the earth who created god?.” Q: How can a soul be made up of particles? A: “Souls are commonly found in the human body no? What is the body made of ? My theory states that everything, and I mean everything, is made of these minuscule particles even objects that aren’t solid substances.” Q: What did you mean when you said, “ I would discover a new cause of nature then be king or Persia? A:”Knowledge is power. Knowing the secrets too the universe will most definitely give a person divine power, and knowledge. This will in turn make me more powerful then the King of Persia.”
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Peering into Ancient Greek Culture κατολοφύρομαι κατολοφύρομαι ματέρος αίμα σας ο σ’ αναβακχεύει ο μέγας όλβος ου μόνιμος εν βροτοίς ανά δε λαίφος ως τις ακάτου θοάς τινάξας δαίμων κατέκλυσεν δεινών πόνων ως πόντου λάβροις ολεθρίοι σιν εν κύμασιν. Meaning: I cry, I cry, your mother’s blood that drives you mad, great happiness in mortals never lasting, but like a sail of a swift ship, which a god shook up and plunged it with terrible troubles into the greedy and deadly waves of sea. In this section of Imposing Minds we will look at the effect Greek culture has on ancient Greek philosophy. For this years edition we will be looking at a classical Greek song, composed in 410 BC, however the name of the song is unknown, the meaning behind it had an indirect affected on Greek culture, and in turn an effect on ancient Greek Philosophy. The poem or song is overall about the loss of happiness. This meaning to me can be drawn from the quotes of the song. An example of this is: “great happiness is mortals is never-lasting”, “Plunged it with terrible troubles into the greedy and deadly waves of sea”. These examples to just solidify my statement earlier. How did this song affect ancient Greek Philosophy? “I cry, your mother’s blood” Although crying another’s blood is impossible I believe that the author meant to convey a forum of guilt. I believe he affirmed this by stating, “I cry”, crying is a show of emotion, and in the context used I am under the impression that it was a show of guilt. What asserts this opinion in my mind is the quote “ your mothers blood”, to me this is hint at having blood on ones hands, and therefore the murderer feels guilty, which in turn is why he or she is crying. I think this feeling of guilt has a great effect on Greek culture, and overall Greek philosophy. Without this feeling of guilt humans would have no force to push in the right direction of self-betterment, and a forum of self-betterment is philosophy. By learning the theories of philosophy we are in turn becoming more knowledgeable, and wiser. “Great happiness in mortals never-lasting, but like a sail of a swift ship”. I believe what the author is trying portray in this verse is although happiness never lasts, happiness is quick to come and go, like the sail of a “swift ship”. In the context the author notes “happiness in mortals is never-lasting” so we can infer that the author means happiness in us “mortals” is never lasting, which is a true statement. But how does this
relate to philosophy? Happiness can be found in different places for different people, for some happiness is sitting down, and relaxing to nice drink, to others happiness is found in the pursuit of knowledge. When people are in the pursuit of knowledge they are in turn learning because they wish for self-improvement, self-improvement is found in many different forums and as stated before one of them is
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is philosophy. Self-improvement inn turn, is a source of happiness, and this is what has an affect of ancient Greek philosophy. “Plunged it with terrible troubles into the greedy and deadly waves of sea”. By this I think what the author meant was that he wanted to rid himself of a negative thought or feeling, and in order for him to do this he needed to plunge it with the rest of his troubles into the deadly and greedy waves of the sea. The relation that this quote has to philosophy is quite clouded. When Socrates was put to execution in 399 BC, he showed great character on his deathbed. For the sake of his companions Socrates showed none of his true feelings, rather instead he “plunged his terrible troubles into the greedy, and deadly waves of the sea.” Socrates passing was noble one, not shedding tear in the face of death. And to this day his death will forever be a symbol of philosophical to the world.
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Sophie’s World I am from the land of the frigid cold, of open frozen seas, long mountain ranges and bitter cold summer mornings. I am from the morning dew, and the morning moist air. I am from the immense rose bush in the back garden, and the secret hiding spot that lies beneath it. I am from the long brittle winter walks home from school, from the emotionless smell of roses, and the loneliness of being home without company for hours on end. I am from the everyday routine, where a clock can pinpoint my location. I am from the rush of learning something foreign and unfathomable, from my secret of my want for questioning the unknown, and from the charge of being able to barely grasp the mysterious. I am from the glory the head held high feeling of self-success, of understanding the unfamiliar I am from the ancient market squares of Greece, from the dust between the cobblestones of Athens I am from the world of Socrates, and Plato from the lost scriptures of Ancient Greeks I am from the lost souls who seek guidance from the oracles I am Sophie, and this is Sophie’s World
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Sophie’s Secrets
Did god really create universe? Why is there something instead of nothing?
These are the perennial questions of philosophy, and those are questions that consist of Sophie’s World. Philosophy is a wondrous topic, and it’s a theme that must be introduced at a young age. I believe that students in grade 8 must be able to have a chance in school to survey these questions, and to be able to access the literature that discusses these questions. I think this because; philosophy is a way to expand one’s worldview. These questions are provocative, and mind engaging. With this book many students will be able to explore a new and diverse subject, and open their minds to the fascination of the world.
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The Alberta Legislature
Tackling these universal questions philosophy, or the love of wisdom can be un-
derstood as one long on going conversation that began in the west with pre-Socratic Greek philosophers such as Heraclitus. From it origins in ancient Greece, philosophy not only teaches the general fundamental questions of the universe but also the history of western society. When reading Sophie’s World, students would be given a tour of ancient Athens, and given a chance to visualize the very same cobble stones which Socrates once tread upon. To be accurate a chapter in the story is dedicated to a tour of Athens itself. From the Acropolis, to the Dionysos Theater, the old citystate, and birthplace of western society, Athens is explored and explained. The fundamental, and universal questions of our world can be explored through the subject of philosophy. Philosophy itself is the study of our society’s elemental problems or questions. An example of these questions or problems would be; what is the meaning of life? Who or what created us? What does it mean to live? These questions provoke deep thought and throughout the story of Sophie’s World a fellow 14 year old explores questions such as these. From the start students would be tossed head first into the pit of philosophy, the first question to arise in the story speaks to the individual reading it asking, who are you? If Sophie’s World is added to the Grade 8 curriculum I full-heartedly believe that if will broaden the view, and mind capacity of my fellow peers.
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Philosophy is a widespread, and comprehensive subject. From its emergence in ancient Greece, to it’s widespread infection across the world philosophy brings diversity, and a worldly application to the large majority of the world. The large majorities of grade 8 students have heard of philosophy but do not comprehend its true meaning. An introduction to this subject would not only provoke thought, but open eyes and in turn widen the gaze of grade 8 students. But how to subtlety introduce this topic? The answer to that question is simple; introduce Sophie’s World to the grade 8 population. I believe the subject of philosophy is a vital element of learning, without I fear that student body will have a narrow and common view of the world.
To conclude, philosophy I believe to be a subject that must be explored, and find its implications to be crucial to the developing mind. Without it, and without Sophie’s World I suppose that grade eight students will have a narrow, and clouded view of the world. Not only that but they will not have the pleasure of comprehending the roots of western society, and engaging their minds in a new and contrastive subject. Sophie’s World is a book that I most definitely believe must be apart of the grade 8 curriculum.
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Travel the World in Comfort
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