Spiller 1!

Witt Spiller

Ms.Norton

AP Lang

January 10, 2017

Im A Technology Leech

The most difficult aspect of the challenge by far was the tech free day. I managed to do

one of the four days; on the same day I read a book (Beyond Good and Evil by Nietzsche). The

book was phenomenal, however I did find some conflict ideals between myself and my favorite

19th century German philosopher. First things first, self is without form, if anything at all

changes about a person then they are a new person. You are your memories, thoughts, ideas, likes

and dislikes and emotions. Thus every second of your life you change through acquiring new

memories. Now bettering myself is simply changing my attitude and actions in regard to all

external forces. One who claims they have found themselves is simply stubborn. They do not

know everything, likes and dislikes change, emotions change and they haven't experienced

everything; therefore, all they have found is a formless entity in a physical body. I was taught

through my experiences of reading and meditating over winter break that empathy and cognitive

thought is the derivation of morality.

I meditate everyday before bed and reflect on anything troubling me that day or emotions

I find undesirable. This didnt change over the break, however what did change was my social

interactions and thus I had less to meditate on. So I decided to read a philosophy book and think

about morality overall. I thought the reading would provide a perspective to which I would agree
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but it did the contrary. The book claimed that morality is non existent in a sense and that there is

no objective right and wrong.

My thoughts on this are that there is an objective right and wrong. This is derived through

cognitive thought and empathy for the wants and needs of others. Through new perspectives,

thoughts and events our goal as humans is to fix our moral compass to what is objectively right.

This isnt always easy for those with the mentality of I am always right, however, this is very

detrimental to the advancement of humans towards the ultimate morality. Moral decisions are

made with full knowledge in place, this is why correct moral decisions are difficult and thus all

should strive for more knowledge to overcome the barrier preventing us as humans from the

ultimate morality.

Over the break, these ideals of mine were changed, pondered and acted upon through the

assignment. I attempted to gain more knowledge to find what is right and I did what I believe

coincides with the objective morality of the universe. Certain ideals have been pondered to the

point where the extent of knowledge we have on the subject has been reached, these ideals such

as aiding those in need and the exemption from unnecessary violence. These ideals were upheld

within the winter break assignment and these morals I will forever uphold.