Thursday, October 25, 2007

Based on the Freudian theory of the self, humans are compromised of inner experiences, or unconscious experiences, and outer experiences defined as conscious experiences. More specifically, the names of the terms given to explain such experiences are the id, superego, and ego. The id is the collection of unconscious drives, falling chiefly into two categories. They consist of Eros, which is the urge to reproduce sexually, and Thantos, being the urge to die and destroy. It is also driven by the pleasure principle where one wants to move toward what is pleasant and avoid that which is unpleasant. Simply stated, it is the will and the core of what one really wants. Next, the superego is the collection of ideas about behavior derived from external sources, often tied to "taboos" and "inhibitions". It is where acceptable "codes" are constantly being reiterated to enforce people not to act directly from the id. Finally, the ego is the "individually formed self" created through the conflict between the id (inner urges) and the superego (social forces). It had the same fundamental drive as id, although is it the judging point of balance between the id and the superego. Additionally, since the interface between the superego and the id is the ego, this is when and where Art occurs.
On another note, it is been explained that we are not individually experiencing other peoples emotions. Therefore, we are not responsible for the emotions and actions of others. There is a separation between the inner experiences of the self and the outer world. The outer experience is a narrower field than the inner experience. This is a profound concept that one should not easily forget. You are only responsible for yourself.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Greater understanding of the term craft has given me further insight to the four fundamental categories (PACS) to which all human activity can be classified. The stipulative definition of craft is defined as being a skill or technique in handling the physical world, tending to be practical. It is a kind of "body knowledge" where physicality is being increased in its aim to produce something. The mind is no longer engaged for the simple fact that since the action has occurred so many times, the body is functioning from muscle memory. Thus, it is the engagement in the acivity that makes it craft. Furthermore, art is the source of craft. There is a technical aspect that has to be overcome in order to get art to the point where it can be carried out through craft.
In the larger scheme of things, Philosophy develops questions that lead to experimentation, and the experiments produce information about the world to which techniques are then formed. In short, Philosophy and Art are interior and mental in their nature, where as Craft and Science appear to be exterior, making them physical. However, what Philosophy shares with Science is that the centality of both is theory. Philosophy is theoretical, but in Science, theory is tested.

Philosophy - aims to determine truth (reflection)
Art - aims to produce something where the purpose is not the thing produced, but the expression carried by the the thing (inspiration and expression)
Craft - aims to produce something (doing production)
Science - aims to determine fact (investigation/testing/observing/using the senses)

P - mental
A - mental
C - physical
S - physical

Monday, October 8, 2007

Since Philosophy is about reflection more than anything else, it is evident that philosophy is key because it also has something to do with Art, Craft, and Science. It seems as though Philosophy occurs in the self due to its tentative definition of being the search for wisdom, self-understanding, self-examination, and self-reflection. Ultimately it is interior in its nature, by looking inward, comprised mostly of ideas. Furthermore, life is essential for Philosophy to occur. Therefore, Philosophy, Art, Craft, and Science all very well may be confined to life and all that is distinctively human since the fundamental quality of all that is appears to be physicality. Hence, we can determine that the one thing that is for certain is that there is a body and that body will eventually die.

On another note, I was wondering if you could take a look at my idea for my essay and see if I'm on the right track. I decided to use the action of taking my dog, Tucker Dee, outside for a walk. This concept begins with Philosophy, where the idea of this action is first and foremost the determining factor in analyzing the variables that will come into effect. Depending on what time of day it is, I may or may not have to take a flashlight with me, what time of the year it is, I may or may not need to wear a coat, and if there is any precipitation, then I would have to put on rain boots and carry an umbrella. Various other factors affect the preparation I need to take in order to successfully accomplish my responsibility, and I adjust my routine as they become apparent. Furthermore, there is a lot of science involved in this task because it's a fact that Tucker needs to go outside for a walk every few hours in order to get his exercise and go to the bathroom. I gained this knowledge through observation and trial and error. If I wait too long in between the times that I take him out, he will be obligated to relieve himself inside on the nice clean floors, since he is such a small dog and he reaches the point where he can no longer control himself. When all is established, and I am ready to take him outside, Tucker understands what is going on because he remembers from the previous time. First, I check the weather outside and decide if I need to put on any outerwear, then I put on my shoes, grab his leash, and hook it to his collar accordingly. In amongst all of this action is where Craft takes place because I am doing something where all of the results are reproducible. I proceed to pick him up, carry him down the steps since he refuses to walk down them, and put him down on the sidewalk. He continues by turning right, heading straight for the grass where he automatically goes to the bathroom every time. After he is finished, I clean up after him, dispose of the evidence, and we head back to the sidewalk where we will continue on our walk. Therefore, a lot of Art is also craft, but it is self-expression that makes art distinguishable from the other. The way that Tucker and I trot down the sidewalk is where Art becomes a determinant since we are both self-expressing ourselves in the relaxed manner that we walk.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Considering the fact that I have an idea about what defines each Philosophy, Art, Craft, and Science, I feel that I'm in the position to say that I believe that all human activities can be fully understood through some combination of PACS. Part of my decision upon coming to this conclusion lies in the fact that if it were not true, then how in the world would I be able to take a college course with the title "Philosophy, Art, Craft, and Science"? There is too much at stake to have a class that meets 2 times a week for a total of 3 hours, plus additional research and studies, to not have this theory be true. Maybe I am being naive, but quite frankly I don't want to find out, after countless hours of contemplation regarding this matter, and an abundance of student loans, that the whole time, this theory was a fluke.
Based on this aspect, and the fact that I find Mr. Achtermann to be quite an intelligent instructor, I do not think that the theory of all human activity being categorized into some sort of a combination of PACS would not be an accurate assumption. So far, from all the information that I have gathered from class, there is no reason for me to believe otherwise. Therefore I will continue to accept this theory to be true.