Movie Review: Miracle in Cell No. 7

“Miracle in Cell No. 7”

 It is a South Korean comedy drama movie and it is one of the most successful Korean movies making it the third highest grossing movie at that time. It was released in the 23^rd day of January and was directed by Lee Hwan-kyung. The film took 4.6 million admissions which is equivalent to more than US$30 million in its first two weeks due to strong word of mouth.  The film was starred by actor Ryu Seung-ryong, Kal So-won and Park Shin-hye.

Some of the characters in the movie were Ryu Seung-ryong who starred as Lee Yong-gu who is a loving father who is mentally handicapped and was falsely accused of a crime. Next is his daughter named Ye-Seung who was starred by Kal So-won as a child and Park Shin-hye as adult Ye-Seung. Ye-Seung is a very smart, independent and loving daughter. Next is Lee Yong-gu’s co-inmates in the cell, Oh Dal-Su as So Yang-Ho, who is the gang leader, Park Won-Sang as Choi Choon-Ho, Jeong Man-Sik as Shin Bong-Sik, Kim Jung-Tae as Man-Bum, and Kim Ki-Cheon as Old man Seo. The last main character is Jung Jin-Young who played the role as Jang Min-Hwan who is very compassionate and fair police who helped Lee Yong-gu and his daughter.

The story started on the life of Lee Yong-gu, a mentally impaired but loving father, along with his very smart daughter, Ye-Seung. They both lived a very simple life but not after Lee Tong-go had a misunderstanding with a police commissioner who just bought the sailor moon bag that Ye-Seung wanted for so long. One day when Le Yong-go was working in a parking lot the daughter of the commissioner told Le Yong-go that there is another store to buy the bag and said to follow her. Along the way the child slipped in ice and died in an accident. Le Yong-go tried to save the child but a lady saw him and accused him of rape, sexual abuse and murder. The police then took advantage of Yong-go’s situation and forced him to just admit the crime he didn’t did. He was then admitted to jail specifically cell number 7.

Le Yong-go’s cellmates was very angry to him after they read his document containing his record of crimes. But that changed when Yong-go saved the gang leader which happens to be his cellmate from being stabbed. As a reward the gang leader let Yong-go ask for anything and he just said Ye-Seung. After some time, Yang-ho and the other cellmates managed to smuggle Ye-Seung inside the cell. Time passed by and Yong-go’s cellmates became friends. They realized after some time that Yong-go was just blamed for a crime he never did. For that they helped Yong-go on how to defend himself in trial as his cellmates managed to connect the stories and understand how the crime really happened. On the other hand, Jang Min-Hwan who was the head jail superintendent also realized how Yong-go was framed up and for that he changed the way he treats Yong-go from being cruel to being the understanding and compassionate one. Another thing that also changed how the way he treat Yong-go is when he saved him from the fire inside the jail. For that, He even let Yong-go meet Ye-Seung everyday.

Time passed by Yong-go’s trial came and before his trial he was beaten by the police commissioner and told him to just admit the crime or else his daughter will be in danger. Yong-go was scared for what can happen for his daughter so he just admitted the crime that resulted him to face death penalty. December 23^rd was the date set which happened to be Ye-Seung’s birthday. Before the date of his execution, his cellmates made a hot air balloon mainly to escape Yong=go and his daughter but unfortunately it was caught by a wire and it was a father and daughter moment as they saw their last sunset together.

Time came Yong-go was executed and police Jang Min-Hwan adopted Ye-Seung and guided her as she grows to be a lawyer. To clear the name of his innocent father, he gathered all Yong-go’s cellmates who has changed a lot. The gang leader even happened to be a pastor. The trial happened and this now its better which resulted for Yong-go to be claimed not guilty by the judge. Ye-Seung was relieved for what happened and still visits the cell to remember some memories of her with his late father, Le Yong-go.

The movie was entitled Miracle in Cell No. 7 for a reason, there has been really some miracles along the story. One of those miracles was when Yong-go’s cellmates managed to smuggle Ye-Seung inside the cell. Another miracle is about the scene with the hot air balloon. It is really a miracle having that everything in that scene happened not really as planned but a memorable one. Another miracle is how the lives of Yong-go’s cellmates changed. Humans can really change for the better especially when someone touched their hearts and that can be a reason for any person to be better.

The movie was filled with wonderful virtues for the viewers to learn. First is about working together as one for one goal. It was portrayed by Yong-go’s cellmates as they act accordingly with each other to do something much easier. Next is about sacrifice and love which was portrayed by Yong-go and his daughter very well. Yong-go sacrificed for his daughter, Ye-Seung have a better life in the future. He also sacrificed for he loves his daughter so much like the way his daughter loves him. And the last virtue I’ve learned was about kindness specifically the extreme one. Yong-go was really kind to others even he was being abused. Humans really have something good inside of them for that is everyone’s nature. These virtues I’ve learned are very useful in life and if I lived up with these virtues, good karma will take place and correspond on my acts living out the virtues I learned from the movie.

Based on the movie, I can say the human nature is good. Every person is good but there is a reason why people do bad. Let us look at Yong-go’s scenario, a man with a mind of a 6-year-old child but he lives as a very kind and loving person no matter how others treat him.

In my opinion, human person is really good. Confucius’ claim that human person is good is true. All person’s nature is to do good to others. We are all pure in heart and there is only a reason for us to do something bad. St Augustine’s claim that humans are bad in nature is wrong. Every person will do good all the time only something, someone or any reason can flip the switch which causes for a man to do something bad. Take a look at Yong-go, he is pure in heart and good by nature but for the police commissioner on the other hand is bad for a reason. He was carried by his emotions and for the fact that his daughter died he became bad for a reason.

The movie taught me some things that are really useful in life. I realized that reason is the root of all bad things in this world. All of us did something bad, may it be big or not is because of reason. We have to do something like that because there is something that pushes us just for the betterment of ourselves and/or for others. However, all of us humans should still try and live out with our true nature which is to be good. We are just taking one step away from our nature but will eventually come back to it. Next thing I learned is about how our own reasons in life can push us to do anything for example this vlog I am doing right now. I have a choice not to do this vlog but my reason for me to do this is my dreams and goals in life. I know that someday everything will pay off. All of these hardships we face in life will result into something good and much better than today in the future. In real life scenario we can look at some people seeking power as their reason. Power pushes them to do something to take advantage to and put all the happening around be in someone’s hand and it is also a choice for it to be used for the better or for worst. These insights I’ve learned will help me finish my course in Philosophy and Senior High school in St. Joseph’s Academy for my own reason. My reason to push through is my goals in life. I know everything will pay off and God has a better plan for me in the future along with my perseverance, dedication and hardwork in life.

All in all the movie was great and very recommendable. If I will rate it I will give it 5 out of 5 stars for it is a funny and a heart touching movie. It is packed of wonderful virtues that any audience can adapt in life.

Movie Review - The Emperor's Club

          The Emperor’s Club

        The Emperor's Club is a 2002 American drama film directed by Michael Hoffman and starring Kevin Kline. Based on Ethan Canin's short story "The Palace Thief", the film follows a prep school teacher and his students at a fictional boys' prep school, St. Benedict's Academy, near Washington, D.C.

It was filmed at Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, although St. Benedict's Academy is said to be modeled after Phillips Exeter Academy, a preparatory school in Exeter, New Hampshire. Kline, discussing the film at his alma mater, St. Louis Priory School, said that he modeled his character after the Rev. Dom Timothy Horner, an English Benedictine monk and headmaster of Priory when Kline was enrolled there. This was the third film that Hoffman and Kline worked on together.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_Club

Main characters of the movie The Emperor’s Club are the following:

·         William Hundert (Kevin Kline) – A very passionate teacher of St. Benedict’s Academy.

·         Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch) – Mr. Kline’s “bright” but naughty student and son of a senator.

·         Martin Blythe (Paul Dano) – One of Mr. Kline’s smartest students and an aspiring "Mr. Julius Caesar"  

·         Deepak Mehta (Rishi Mehta) – A very bright and smart student of Mr. Kline and a finalist.

·         Louis Masoudi (Jesse Eisenberg) – Another bright student of Mr. Kline and a finalist.

The movie is about Mr. William Hundert and his excellence in teaching in the academy of St. Benedict which is exclusive for boys. He started his class in the past days as usual and then there came a new student of his class with a very different aura named Sedgewick Bell. Mr. Bell go along with his naughty acts and disregard his studies until Mr. Hundert talked to his father. Mr. Bell somewhat challenge Mr. Hundert as he teaches and molds the class that made Mr. Hundert believe on his hidden capabilities. Mr. Bell somehow changed his ways and began to give much effort on his studies. His continuous effort gave way to an opportunity to be included in the very anticipated event in the academy which is the competition of the top 3 students to be reigned as “Mr. Julius Caesar”. But for a reason, Mr. Hundert was somewhat moved by his drastic change from being a naughty and careless student to a hardworking and responsible one and gave him Martin Blythe’s place to be one of the three finalists for the said competition.

The competition came and students along with some guests like Mr. Bell’s father, which is senator, have gathered to witness the event. The finalists were Mr. Louis Masoudi, Mr. Deepak Mehta and Mr. Sedgewick Bell. The competition started and after some series of questions Mr. Masoudi was eliminated. It has been a tough one between Bell and Mehta, but Mehta came on top as Bell can’t answer the question given by Mr. Hundert. Mr. Hundert was impressed by Bell’s performance and visited him in his room but Mr. Hundert was shocked and disappointed when he found out that Mr. Bell cheated during the competition.  Mr. Hundert’s life was somehow affected by what happened for the next few years.

25 years later Mr. Hundert and his fellow teacher Elizabeth are now married to each other. The headmaster of the academy already passed away and Mr. Hundert is looking to be the new headmaster but his fellow teacher, Mr. Ellerby was the one picked because he was said to be a good fundraiser which what the school needs. Because of that Mr. Hundert retired from being a teacher. Not too long after what happened He was invited by Mr. Bell in their class reunion to be the host of the rematch of “Mr. Julius Caesar” between the three finalists. Bell also promised to donate a large amount to the school as he is now a wealthy man. The competition started and just like before Mr. Masoudi was eliminated but this time much earlier. The remaining two battled just like the old days but Mr. Hundert noticed an earpiece in Bell’s ear and also noticed a guy far way back in the room looking at books for answers that lead Mr. Hundert to ask a different question which is “who is Shutruk Nahunte?”. Bell couldn’t answer so Mr. Mehta quickly answered it and won the competition once again. Mr. Kline was shocked again thinking that Bell already changed and learned his mistakes from the past but he was wrong. Mr. Bell found Mr. Hundert in the restroom and Mr. Hundert confronted him and Bell said that he don’t care about Mr. Hundert’s teaching of virtues and principles as he is living in the so-called real world where if it takes to cheat or to lie, he will. Not knowing that Bell’s son was a;lson in the restroom and heard all of the things that he said and he was embarrassed that he just revealed that he is a cheater to his son. Mr. Hundert already knew it is enough and told Mr. Blythe was happened way back then in the Mr. Julius Caesar finalists which he gave away Blythe’s spot for Bell. And invited Mr. Blythe for a breakfast next morning but he knew they already left in a rush. Not knowing that his students prepared a surprise for him thanking his excellence in molding them into a better person. He then realized that even if he failed on molding Bell, he still succeeded on his remaining students.

Mr. Hundert came back to teach in the academy once again which is now a school not only for boys but also for girls. As Mr. Hundert begin his classes with an introduction a late student came in which the son of Mr. Blythe and he was touched seeing Mr. Blythe outside the window as they exchange a wave and let Mr. Blythe’s son read the plaque on the door which is about Shutruk Nahunte which was read by his father way back then.

All in all it is a really great movie that recommendable to everyone that is why I give it a rating of 5 stars out of 5. 

There are a lot of virtues that we can get from the movie but there are some that really strucked me like the lines of “Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great men before you have walked.”. This simple line was said from the start of the movie where Mr. Hundert met Mr. Masoudi. There were a lot of people ahead of us here in this world and they can be our guide as we walk our path to our success. There are a lot of greats that have lived their lives in a good and successful one all we have to do is to choos the right one. Another virtue I’ve got is from the lines of Mr. Hundert which is “a man’s character is his fate.” Which is said in the start of the movie. I believe that a person’s character is what carries them to the path based on their character. A person’s fate will depend on it which has corresponding consequences based on how our own character will be. Lastly, the virtue that I also got from the movie is from the lines “the end depends on the beginning”.  A very beautiful line that is indeed true. Every action that we do has its own consequence. What we did from the past is just a result of our past choices, decisions and actions.  

If I was Mr. Hundert I might also give Mr. Bell the spot because I might be blinded by what happens in the present time which a very hardworking Mr. Bell and think that he really deserves it as a prize from changing into a naughty and careless one to a responsible one. I will also give it to him for the reason of thinking that this opportunity might change him permanently and change for the better.

The first statement that I chose is “the man’s character is his fate” which I can relate to Heraclitus’ teaching about our fate and our character as a person. What is important about this statement in my present time as a senior high school student that it is not yet too late to be better and build up a good character. It is essential in the future to have good character because there is a lot bigger world out there and my character will help me cope and face all of the things that may come. The second statement is about “it is not living that is important but living well” which I can relate on Socrates’ and Aristotle’s teachings. Socrates taught us that living a good and examined life is better which is true because it is the key to living well which is exploring and learning the life we have and using what is around us to have a great life to live. Also about Aristotle’s teaching of happiness which is the result of living well. Happiness is the result of having a examined and fulfilled life with no regrets because the gift of life was used and consumed with happiness as goal.

Practically and honestly, almost all of us aim for the riches and material things in this world which is how we look of being a successful person. Success depends on the person’s goal and limit or his or her contentment. For me I would pick having a successful life at any cost while having a good and examined life. Life is a great gift that we shall explore and consume in our own choices and actions as long as it doesn’t affect others. I think that being a successful person will lead me examine and have a better life to live in its own limits.

I think Mr. Hundert fit me well because I do and decide what I think what is the best for others, not knowing that there can be a bad consequence waiting out there and just trusting too much on the positive outcomes. Sometimes I think positively too much which just eventually fail. I also tend to forget other factors around that can be a brighter one and be blinded what I see brighter in the present day and not look on some dimmed lights out three that may shine someday. But on the end of the day I am just like Mr. Hundert ready to give chances to others, being understanding and trying to be passionate to others and help them in some ways that I think is batter and what is the limit of what I can do for them.

There are a lot of insights out there in the movie noticeable or not. Some of them that have touched me the most is about how teachers were so under rated as I would say by us students that they really affect our lives greatly. They help to mold our personality and characters to be ready in the future that awaits us. Another insight is about building our own characters and trying to build a nice and better one. Characters carry our fate in life and along with our acts and decisions that have their own consequence that we shall face. I know this morals and virtues will help me build up a character that is better and what really fits me as a senior high school student that aspires success and happiness in life not only with material things but also with abundance of love and having a blessed one for achieving my goals in life.  

REFLECTION BLOG ENTRY #4

          Last week, we tackled about fallacies. Fallacies are defects in an argument other than having false premises. It is everywhere and even I, myself, is guilty from it. Detecting fallacies is not that easy so it takes practice. 

      Fallacies became part of our daily lives. It is everywhere which is used for some reasons. Personally, I use fallacies to pass through things and escape from it. As much as possible, I try to avoid it especially when I am arguing with someone mostly about just little things. I believe that in a good argument facts should be stated based on the situation and not by things that has nothung to do with the main argument. If we think about fallacies, it is somewhat funny because it sounds a little bit stupid when we analyze it. People nowadays use fallacies as techniques in life to convince and attract some people to side with them and people tend to be carried away with it and not noticing the defects in it.

            As we pass through a lot of arguments in our daily lives, I hope that all of us avoid fallacies and start to state more logical and reasonable facts to have a better solution in an argument. I believe that our experiences about arguments will teach us to be more observant on every detail that we encounter especially arguments that will lead us to the truth and not by lies and defects that people use just to escape some things.

Movie Review - Inside Out

Inside Out 

Inside Out is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Ronnie del Carmen, with a screenplay written by Docter, Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley, adapted from a story by Docter and del Carmen.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Out_(2015_film)

Main Characters of the movie Inside Out are the following:

·      Joy – one of the first emotions formed when Riley was born along with Sadness

·         Sadness – one of the first emotions formed when Riley was born along with Joy

·         Riley – a loving daughter that is guided by her emotions that ensure her well-being

·         Bing Bong – Riley’s childhood imaginary friend

·         Fear – one of the emotions that Riley developed

·         Anger – another emotion that Riley has

·         Disgust - another emotion that Riley has

·         Riley’s mom – Riley’s caring mother that guided her daughter as she grows

·         Riley’s dad - Riley’s hardworking father that guided her daughter as she grows

The movie started when Riley was born, the first two emotions of her showed up which were Joy and Sadness in her mind. As Riley grows up as a little kid, Joy and Sadness had more emotions named Fear, Anger and Disgust. All of them made Riley, Riley. As time passed by, islands began to form inside Riley’s mind through the core memories of Riley namely: Goofball Island, Family Island, Honesty Island, Friendship Island and lastly Hockey Island.

Riley’s father started a new business investment that is why they decided to move out from Minnesota to San Francisco. Riley expected a lot as they travel from her beloved home to their new home but all none of her expectations has been met. The moving van that carried most of their things were also delayed. Riley somehow saved the moment when they played hockey with the whole family with a piece of paper, but Riley’s dad received a call that made her dad leave. Joy blocked Sadness when she was about to take control and Joy instead gave the idea of having a pizza, but it went wrong as the place only serves pizza with broccoli which Riley hates. As Riley and her mother walks to go home they talked about their favorite part of the trip so Joy then served the memory of her dad taking a picture of a dinosaur statue then the car suddenly rolled to the hill and crashed another statue, but suddenly the yellow memory turned blue when Sadness touched it. Joy cannot turn it back, so she just made Rile slide down the railings but suddenly changed her mind when Sadness was standing by the memory cores that made the Goofball memory core fall and made the island lose its power. Joy quickly returned it to place. Joy decided to order Sadness to just read the manuals to prevent further troubles.

Riley’s first day of school came, Joy aims to make this day a better one so she assigned everyone in the emotions headquarters a certain task, but Sadness’ task was a different one which is to just stand still in one place. Riley entered the class and the teacher asked her to introduce herself. As she was introducing and sharing about hockey she suddenly turned sad when Sadness touched the memory Joy rushed to remove it to stop Riley from being sad, but Sadness controlled the console and made Riley cry a core memory showed up Joy tried to stop it from coming an planned to dump it but Sadness doesn’t agree which lead them to be sucked by the dump tube along with all of the core memories that powers all of the islands.

Fear, Disgust and Anger were the ones left in the headquarters and all the islands were lifeless. Joy and Sadness are on their way to go back to the headquarters, but it is a long way. Riley was having dinner with her family but because the left emotions in the headquarters can’t generate happiness all of the things turned bad which resulted to made Riley’s dad frustrated. Riley didn’t respond when her father acted goofy and just faced the wall. The goofball island collapsed that moment, so they went to the friendship island. Sadness read the manual so she knows the way back. Riley was talking that time to her friend in Minnesota but Anger dominated that made the friendship island collapsed. The two lost emotions met Bing Bong which is Riley’s childhood imaginary friend. Bing Bong guided them to get back to the headquarters and went to imagination land to catch the train of thought were Bing Bong saw his rocket but was later on dumped that made Bing Bong cry of candies. Joy can’t cheer him up but Sadness him feel better. That time is also the first time Joy saw Sadness’ purpose. On the other hand, Riley was in the try outs for the hockey team but without the core memories and Joy, Riley didn’t play well that lead to her frustration. The three was able to catch the train but unfortunately Riley went asleep that made the train shut down but using the Dream Productions they managed to wake Riley up nut not by Joy’s idea of an exciting dream but of Sadness’ fault that turned into a scary dream. The emotions left in the headquarters were also awaken by what happened which gave the idea of Anger that Riley should run away back to Minnesota. Part of Anger’s idea of running away was stealing from her mom’s purse for money that is why when Joy and company was on the train back to the headquarters the Honesty Island collapsed and made the railway also collapse the train fell off the cliff but the workers managed to save them. Joy had the idea of getting back through the tube but the core memories will all turn sad when came with her so she decided to get back alone but the tube wrecked and made Joy and Bing Bong fell in the dump when he was about to save her. Joy and Bing Bong was about to get back up the cliff through powering Bing Bong’s rocket by singing but Bing Bong jumped out so that it will be easier for Joy to get back up there and Bing Bong was left in the dump and slowly faded out of existence. On the other hand, Riley was already in the bus station on the way to Minnesota and ignored her mom’s call. The console turned black and then Riley cannot feel any emotions. Joy found Sadness in a floating cloud crying. Joy found the imaginary boyfriend generator and stacked them up to catch sadness and at the same time get back to the headquarters using a trampoline.  They managed to get back and then Sadness removed the idea of running away. Riley went home and cried because Joy let Sadness take control. Riley confessed to her parents that she is really having a very hard time to adapt to their new home and really miss Minnesota. Joy handed the sad core memory but Sadness held her hand and they both touched the console which made a new core memory with a mix of Joy and Sadness.

The console got upgraded ready for puberty and everything was running well after what happened. New islands were also built made of mixed emotions and not entirely just of happiness. The story ended in Riley’s hockey game with her parent’s faces painted cheering her up.

The movie was a very deep one when you look at it in another perspective. It is not mainly for kids but for everyone since it talks about emotions and as humans all of us have emotions since birth. The movie is very recommendable because we can learn and adapt the values of the movie as we live our daily lives. The movie met all the aspects of a great movie which for me is an essential in making a great movie which has balance like in cooking everything should just be right for the food to taste good not too much and not too less. I give this movie five out of five stars because it is a very amazing movie which made expect more of an animated movie which I think is very underrated.

The representation of the “human person” in the movie is simply Riley. Like us Riley is human which has emotions, struggles and challenges that is needed to be faced to move on in life. As a human person, emotions played a big role I every life of a person because it is the one that adds a little bit of spice to our lives. Like in food, all of us has different tastes about it. Some food that I like may not be delicious to others and vice versa. I think emotions make all of us unique in our own little ways.

One of the elements about the human person is the balance of things. We can see from the movie that all the emotions should complement with each other to pass through life. Everything should be balanced in life to live it to the fullest and live an easier and enjoyable kind of life. Another thing is about happiness, the movie showed that things cannot be solved through straight happiness only. We are all humans and we should never be afraid of losing happiness sometimes and still push ourselves to be happy, it is normal for a person to show some emotions not only happiness. Like in the movie time came that happiness is not only the key to solve all things because Sadness found a way to solve the problem through her own ways not only by pure happiness. Another thing is about sadness, all of us never want sadness but I think that sadness will someday result into happiness. Sadness should never be avoided because it is sadness that lightens our burdens that will made it easier for us to move on in life.

Because of the movie I somehow manage to formulate some philosophical questions like “Is it really happiness that we should seek?” because it seems that happiness should not be only one we should seek but for me balance because everything will follow not only happiness but even the other things that we seek in life. Another question is that “Are emotions really helpful in life?” because I remembered the saying “Don't promise when you are happy, don't reply when you are angry, and don't decide when you are sad.” Emotions affects our decisions so is it really an essential because from that saying I think it says that emotions should be putted in the side to make things right.

I can relate to Joy because I always try to show happiness to the people around me because I don’t want other people to feel sad because they see me sad. I also try to keep my self motivated at all times and try to look all the bright things our life has. I also keep myself focused and optimistic on my goal in life like what the some say,” eyes on the prize”.

The movie taught me a lot especially the things we cannot see which is what happens on our mind. Through an animated film I learned that our emotions played a really big role in our daily lives. These lessons I got from watching the movie will open my mind in learning more things about the Philosophy of the Human person because the movie portrayed the nature of the human person and how it affects our lives. The movie can be my source of inspiration and mindset in life that I should never be carried away by my emotions and learning to somehow control it to make better decisions in order to succeed in life.

REFLECTION BLOG ENTRY #3

               Our last topic was about Socrates, he is the so called greatest teacher of all time because of his unique way of teaching along with the great virtues he have. He is the one who stood up against the Sophists with their false teachings and unlike the Sophists, Socrates never asked for something in exchange of his teachings. Even though he is very wise and smart he always admit that he know nothing. He always showed humility and kindness to the people around him through his virtues and knowledge.

                  Socrates' way of teaching is just simply wonderful. He asks question and then he finds minor flaws on the person's answer and together in the end they both seek for answer together. This way of teaching is amazing for me because Socrates took his students with along his journey for more and more knowledge, facts and truths around there to explore. Another thing I loved about him is his saying that an unexamined life is not worth living. This is true because I believe that the main purpose of this life that we live is to be explored. We should explore and have a wonderful journey as our limited time of our life passes by. We should seek for more, learn new things, try new things and pass through the obstacles of life so when our time is up, we have nothing to regret of because we lived our life to the fullest until the end. 

                     Socrates taught me about humility by admitting one's ignorance so that I will be open to learn new things out there. He also taught me that doing things for others is a service not a job that is why we should not wait for return or exchange from others. Another thing is about examining our lives. Examining it starting from the inside of us or about learning all the things about us from virtues up to our physical attributes and outside which is examining the things around us seeking for more to learn and to explore. All these are all essentials to live a wonderful life that full of adventure and good memories at the end and not by regrets and shortcomings. 

REFLECTION BLOG ENTRY #2

The past week we had was a short and fruitful one. We tackled about the sophists which were called the “wise guys”. They emphasized the persuasive expressions or rhetoric as useful skill to be successful in life. Sophists contributed a large part in the history of philosophy especially in politics and democracy.

            One of the things that I loved about the Sophists is their teachings about power. All of us seeks power to get what we want or the so called pleasure which by Callicles. It is true that power is now greater than justice from the fact that power can bring a lot of benefits to a person than justice, but everything has a corresponding result which comes about the survival. Another thing I learned is about the Rhetoric way of the sophists. This way is really used by a lot of people nowadays especially politicians. Even ordinary people use persuasion through sweet talks and promises that can blind a person from the truth. Rhetoric way is indeed a clever way to influence someone.

            Philosophy never failed to teach something to a person. The things and lessons that I’ve mentioned were only some of the points that a person can learn through philosophy. All the lessons and moral can truly be used in our everyday lives from power to persuasion and sweet talks. But let us remember that we all use these lessons for good and not by using it to get pleasure by putting others down.

REFLECTION BLOG ENTRY #1

I learned a lot today from our Philosophy class, a lot of things and thoughts that all of us might think silly and senseless. Because of those silly questions and theories people found a way to connect some of the ideas, prove it and gave us all of the facts we have today. The Pre-Socratic Philosophers tend to think outside the box. Ask and thirst for more things that we can all easily believe because of practically analyzed answers based on observations. They have all of the freedom they need to ask and believe on the things that they think are right that lead them to a little bit of stupidity but with some kind of sense.

We might differ a lot from the Pre-Socratic philosophers from the way we think and to the way we analyze things. Nowadays, most of us are already contented on what we know because we think that we already know enough. A lot of people today lack curiosity especially as we grow older. We already forgot that when we were once a child all of the things that we notice from the very little detail we ask and we ask more and more questions we grew and learn a lot. One of the most wonderful things that I’ve learned about the Pre-Socratic philosophers is about details. Pre-Socratic philosophers loved details unlike most of the people nowadays. We looked in a certain thing or situation in a wide and general way. We always miss the chance to look closely to details and learn more. Like in our everyday lives, we lose our attention to what is happening around us that why we are not that aware of what is happening around us. Another thing that I learned from the Pre-Socratic philosophers is about staying curious and never stop asking.  They come up with their theories and ideas because of their curiosity. They asked about what the most basic stuff is and what composes this world and the things inside it. Because of their curiosity they observed and explained their ideas practically and never from myths or about supernatural things.

All of these things can be applied in our daily lives in a way of living our life believing that being curious and thirsty for more is never wrong. That there is nothing wrong in asking as some had said that we always learn something new everyday. Life is granted for us to discover and to explore. We must get out of that box and at the same time think outside that box because a lot of things awaits for our discovery.  So what are we waiting for, stay curious and ask for more!