I found our discussion on humanism to be very interesting, though blurry. I enjoyed the article we were assigned and quotes included in the article.
“Humanism is the study and practice of the principle of human happiness uncomplicated by naturistic dogmas on the one side and religion dogmas on the other” –G.R. Elliot
This quote seemed to explain the clearest what humanism is- a belief in humans. As a species, we feel that we control our own happiness and are not bound to any supernatural power or deity. We have, in our own power, the ability to strive for happiness. As discussed in class, we run into problems. Not everyone has the same happiness to pursue. Not everyone is equal. We should have equal opportunity, but how can we put a standard on what might be called happiness?
This has everything and nothing to do with composition. In a sense, if we have a purpose to do anything, we have a reason to write about it. If our purpose is happiness, we are given an equal opportunity to compose our own existence through writing. If this is the case, then we as teachers are to present this to our students. We need to give them the tools and opportunities necessary to compose whatever their happiness is.
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Well-stated. That is the goal of composition, for right or wrong, to simply allow people to "compose" their existence.
ReplyDeleteI think class was fuzzy because I have wondered for a few years, now, if writing would exist without humanism. In other words, is writing ALWAYS about trying to increase human happiness through human means?
I like your point that we are all different. I think what makes one person happy could definately make another person miserable. Thus that leads me to my conclusion that there is no way everyone on the face of Earth could be 100% happy.
ReplyDeleteHumanism (or our discussion, I don't know) seemed equally blurry to me. I told myself I was going to read up on it more, but seeing as I have put myself on a $50 a week budget, we'll see if I can allow myself a trip to a bookstore. I guess I could google it, but that doesn't feel like real research.
ReplyDeleteI think that happiness is something different to everyone. Therefore, it is hard to make every student happy because each person interprets that term in a different way. I think the best way to find someones happiness, or make them happy, is to adapt our teaching style to everyone's learning style. As teachers we can switch things up and try different ways of learning so we can make each student happy at least once.
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