Books, Books, Books

Boy have I been busy, I have recently read Thomas Jefferson Education(DeMille), The Tipping Point(Gladwell), Leadership and Self Deception(Arbinger Institute), and Concious Creator(Krohn)
TJED and The Tipping Point were fascinating, but the other 2 are must reads. They will completely change your life if you apply the principles they teach. I am also working on Aesop's Fables in Latin(Gibbs), and War and Peace(Tolstoy). Big shout out to my choir directors for teaching me about pure Latin vowel sounds, that background is going to help me so much while I am learning Latin over the next 8 days(starting Saturday) War and Peace is a big long book, but I will be glad to say that I read it once I have finished it. I almost never ave fewer than 2 books on my bed, and currently I have 4.

We went on a early morning, rock climbing hike on Tuesday, it was pretty hard on me but I managed to get through without dying(obviously), the biggest problem was that the rocks were slippery due to all of the rain we have been getting, also my knees...

In other news, my roommate decided to leave, and is currently in the promise of getting all of her stuff out, which means I will get my own bedroom, and bathroom. I am very sad to see her go, but I am sure she has her reasons. The rest of my roommates and I get along wonderfully and have also befriended Dr. Brooks' son Ben, he is basically the only male who is between the ages of 18 & 25 in this small town of 2000, and we are constantly arguing about which of us he has his eye on ;) it makes things exciting. :)

That's about all for now, if you have any questions about the books I have read let me know in the comments below, also, please share this blog with your friends.

Singing, Simulation and Soreness

Today and last Sunday Dani and I the opportunity to substitute in Primary as the music leader. It was so much fun! I haven't been in primary in 7 years, and singing time was always my favorite part, it was great to be able to experience it again. :) The main song we were supposed to teach was Praise to the Man, I never realized how many big words were in that song until I tried to teach it to 3-7 year-olds. We also got to sing Teach me to Walk in the Light with them for Mother's day. :)

On Thursday, we had a simulation where we watched the beginning of Red Dawn(the remake) and then had a cop show up to tell us that parachuters were coming to take over Monticello and we had 30 minutes to make a plan. We decided to get all the supplies we could and go up into the mountains and hide as best we could. It was quite intense, but I did enjoy the movie, although I have heard the original is better.

We also went on our first "real" hike as a part of Trek Orientation, we went out into national forest where there are no trails and hiked somewhat separately from each other, this triggered my anxiety, but by the end of the 6 hour hike(we only went about 2 1/2 miles, but we took a lot of breaks) I had it under total control. The hike really helped me to gain confidence and realize that I am stronger than I think. After hiking we practiced building firse with magnesium and steel. We learned how to build a pyramid fire and a trench fire. My knees were really sore after all that hiking and bending down, but I am very glad that I did it. :)

Great Books Seminar Written Exam

We just finished our Great Books Seminar which was our first "class". We discussed books from authors such as Plato, Aristotle, and Aristophanes. The last part was an oral and written exam, I got high marks on my oral exam. The writtten exam is what Dr. Brooks called a "brain dump" where we write as much as we can about what we learned over the course in 4 hours. I managed to write 4 pages, and could have written more. Here it is :) FYI Grammar and flow are not a part of this exam.

Kirk – The Conservative Purpose of a Liberal Education

“True education is meant to develop the individual human being, the person, rather than to serve the state. “ That is why I am here, I will be getting a world class education, the purpose of which is to improve myself for the benefit of me. I am going to become the best person I can, with a liberal education. Liberal education means “ an ordering and integrating of knowledge… it defends order against disorder.”  It also is a means to “develop right reason… [and learn] wisdom and virtue.” Those with a liberal education “know that they do not know everything.” They will never stop learning.  

Aristophanes - Clouds

“Go, I beseech you, dearest of human beings to me, go and be taught.” –Strepsiades to his son Pheidippies. Wouldn’t we wish this upon all those whom we love? Isn’t knowledge one of the greatest things man can obtain in this life. One of the greatest ways to learn is to hear two people speak on opposing sides of an issue so that you may decide for yourself. But don’t be too confident in your education, for there will always be someone who knows more than you do. Strepsiades also said, “For it is proper for us to weep if we do things that aren’t just.” There is not a time when it is more proper to weep than when you or someone else does something wrong.

Plato – Allegory

When we learn something new and exciting, there is nothing we want more than to share it with others, in fact we might feel bad for those who don’t know what we have learned.

Plato – Apology

Socrates has morals, and promises to share the whole truth. He does not suppose to know the things that he does not know. He accuses his accusers, “Are you not ashamed that you care for having as much money as possible, and reputation, and honor, but that you neither care for nor give thought to prudence, and truth, and how your soul will be the best possible?” Be like Socrates, stick to your morals, tell the truth and care more for prudence and truth than money and honor.

Plato – Crito

Socrates knows that even though he believes he did nothing wrong, he must die because that is what the jury decided. He follows the law and refuses to let his friends help him escape.

Aristotle – Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle describes happiness as a state of mind where nothing else is desired. He also says that happiness can only be found when  ALL of your needs and MOST of your wants have been met, when you act in accordance with virtue and when you have had good fortune.  He admits however that “…we have practically defined happiness as a sort of living and faring well.” He also says, “Happiness is the best, noblest, and most pleasant thing in the world. “He defines virtue as the mean between two extremes, too much and too little, which are both vices. For example if courage is a virtue, then you have foolhardiness and being cowardly as extremes or vices. Virtue is the “just right” in the middle of too much and too little. Finding that middle ground can be hard, “…to do [things] to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy.” “Moral virtue comes as a result of habit… we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts and brave by doing brave acts. The four cardinal virtues are courage,  temperance,  prudence and justice, all other virtues hang on these four.  “

“Every pursuit aims at some good.” Wealth is merely useful. “Good is better when it is harder.”

“Without friends, no one would choose to live… it is thought to be a fine thing to have many friends.” “In loving a friend men love what is good for themselves. Friends are important, but what does it mean to have or be a friend? According to Aristotle, “ To be friends… [we] must be mutually recognized as bearing goodwill and wishing well to each other.” He also says, “Men cannot know each other until they have eaten salt together; (Meaning that when we go through a trial with someone we get to know them a lot better.) nor can they admit to each other friendship or to be friends till each has been lovable and been trusted by each.” So we have wishing well to each other, suffering together, loving/loveable and trusting/trustworthy. Also, “Men do not become friends with those in whom they do not delight.” And there you have the basics to becoming a good friend by Aristotle.

Plutarch – The lives of noble Grecians and Romans

Contumaciously means rebellious. “That age produced a sort of men, in force of hand, and swiftness of foot, and strength of body, excelling the ordinary rate and wholly incapable of fatigue; making no use, however, of these gifts of nature to no good or profitable purpose for mankind…” How sad is that? They have all these wonderful gifts, but they don’t use them for anything good! Thankfully, Theseus was different, he displayed, “not only great strength of body, but equal bravery, and a quickness alike and force of understanding, [and] he set forward with a design to do injury to nobody, but to repel and revenge himself of all those that should offer any.” Even in death he is serving others as “his tomb is a sanctuary and refuge for slaves.”

                                                   Machiavelli – The Prince

Agathocles had a great mind when it came to enduring and overcoming trials, however, because of his “barbarous cruelty and inhumanity with infinite wickednesses” he cannot be thought of as a good man. “Above all things a prince ought to live amongst his people.”According to Machiavelli there are three types of government, “either a principality, self-government or anarchy.” “… how necessary it is for a prince to have his foundations well laid, otherwise it follows of necessity he will go to ruin. This is true for anyone who is trying to accomplish anything, if you don’t have a firm foundation you will fall.

Locke – Concerning Civil Government

Political power is defined as the right of making laws. “The state of Nature has a law of nature to govern it…no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” This is the natural or common law which no one can change; it simply protects our rights to life liberty and property. Every one as he is bound to preserve himself… ought he as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind.” This answers the age old question, Am I my brother’s keeper? “The state of war is a state of enmity and destruction… This makes it lawful for a man to kill a thief who has not in the least hurt him, nor declared any design upon his life… I have no reason to suppose that he who would take away my liberty would not, when he had me in his power, take away everything else. And therefore it is lawful for me to treat him as one who has put himself into a state of war with me –i.e. kill him if I can.” According to Locke anyone who threatens to take away one of your basic human rights has entered into a state of war with you, therefore making it lawful for you to kill them.

“The earth and all that is therein is given to men for the support and the comfort of their being …Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy.” Everything is given to man in common, so how does something become your private property? Locke says that when you add your labor to something or remove it out of the place where nature put it, it becomes yours, as long as you use whatever it is before it goes bad. “Where there is no law there is no freedom.” For if there are not laws to keep you safe from other people, then you cannot truly be free.

Gibbon – The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic.” The barbarians “despised life when it was separated from freedom” As should we all, we should all be smart enough to recognize when we are not free and do everything in our power to make it so we are free again. “The public virtue… is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government.” Everybody should be well educated and politically involved, however this is not a right, it is something you have to work for. “[The Romans] comprehended whatever they could add strength to the body, activity to the limbs or grace to the motions.”  Arts are a manifestation of human creativity and they are very important in every aspect of our lives, for what is life without beauty.  In the early years of the Roman empire, until Christianity took over, the Romans were highly tolerant of any kind of religion. “The aspiring genius of Rome sacrificed vanity to ambition and deemed it more prudent as well as honorable to adopt virtue and merit  for her own wheresoever they were found.” “The obedience of the Roman World was uniform, voluntary, and permanent.”  Monarchy is defined as a state where “a single person is entrusted with the execution of laws, the management of the revenue and the command of the army.” That seems like a lot of power to give any one person. “The masters of the Roman world surrounded their throne with darkness, concealed their irresistible strength, and humbly professed themselves the accountable ministers of the senate, whose supreme decrees they dictated and obeyed… The vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom.”

Food, Philosophy, and Physical Training

Wow! I can't believe it as been a whole week since I last blogged! Time sure is flying by quick. :)

College has been a good food experience for me, I can eat whatever I want whenever I want and I don't go hungry. I have made German Pancakes 4 times, and the last time was the best ones I have ever had in my life!(Sorry, Dad) Today I made banana oatmeal cookies and they are amazing!(recipe) I have gone through a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk and I have only been here for 2 1/2 weeks!

Yesterday in class we discussed Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" and John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government. The biggest difference between these 2 writings is that Machiavelli discusses power and Locke speaks of authority. We discussed the difference between power and authority and what it means to have power without authority. According to Locke "As usurpation is the exercise of power which another hath a right to, so tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which nobody can have a right to..."(Emphasis added)

I started today with a 1-mile walk to Dr. Brooks house followed by a 1 1/2 mile walk around the perimeter of campus over and through sagebrush, rocks, and trees. After going home to get something to eat and a change of clothes we headed back up to campus to better mark the "trail" we are following for our physical training.(It is supposed to be a 1 1/2 mile run, but I am not quite to running yet.) Once everything was marked we went on a hike to a pond. Needless to say, we were all very tired and dirty by the time we made it back home. Most of us changed into our pajamas. (me included)

Overall, I am well fed, well taught, and well worked. :)

P.S. It still snows part of the day everyday...

Happiness

We have had 3 amazing classes and 3 days of hard work since I last blogged. We have discussed works by Plato and Aristotle and planted 65 trees in 3 orchards on campus. My favorite class so far was yesterday when we discussed happiness. Our text was books one and two from the Nicomachean(Nik-oh-mahk-ee-an) Ethics by Aristotle, who describes happiness as a state of mind where nothing else is desired. He also says that happiness can only be found when ALL of your needs and MOST of your wants have been met, and when you have had good fortune. I argued against this point very strongly, saying that happiness is a CHOICE! In the words of a song from Scripture Scouts, "Happiness is a not a place, where you can just arrive, it's how you choose to travel down the road while you're alive." I said that I could choose to be happy even if my wants are not met, or even if terrible things are happening around or to me. So then they started "taking" things away from me, then asking if I would still be happy. My Mockingjay necklace and my boyfriend were the first things to go. I was once happy without those things and I could happy without them again. To quote Albus Dumbledore, "Happiness can be found even in the darkness of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."


Disclaimer: Choosing to be happy is NOT EASY, but it is possible. There is the exception of people who have chemical imbalances that cause things like depression, that makes it extra difficult to be happy. Sometimes you can't make yourself be happy when you have those types of mental health issues, but even those people ae happy at least on occasion. Please do not go up to someone with depression or who has just lost someone they love and tell them to, "Just be happy!" This will not help, they have to decide to be happy on their own.

So what do you think? Is happiness an end or a choice? Let me know in the comments below. :)

Digging and Diagramming

I had a crazy day yesterday. After making pancakes for breakfast, I headed to seminary, I am really blessed to be able to attend Seminary down here so that I can still graduate. Anyway, it was great! The kids and the teacher are all really nice. They asked me which Disney Prince I would go on a date with, I picked Kristoff fro Frozen because he is super sweet and was willing to take Anna back to  Hans even though he was obviously in love with her. So that was that adventure.

Following a quick stop at the Pharmacy, I headed up to our 82 acres of campus, to help start digging trenches for our permaculture project. It wasn't nearly as cold outside, but when I say up, I mean UP. I had to walk my bike up this huge hill. It seemed to take forever and I was certain I was going to die on the way up. Needless to say, I was super proud of myself when I made it to the top, it probably took me 30 minutes, lots of breaks, and motivation from my wonderful boyfriend to make it.
Once I made it to campus I spent about an hour and a half digging trenches, we finished one before we headed back home.Then today Dr. Brooks informed us that he dug the remaining 6 trenches with a backhoe....

Hailey and Noelle digging :)

Today we spent 6 hours in the classroom, we first learned how to diagram articles, and practiced on Genesis 1:16. The first diagram we focused on the literal meaning of the verse.This is the Sensus Solum method.(latin for there is only 1 right answer 

Then we did a second diagram using the Sensus Plentior method(latin for there can be many answers) We were specifically focusing on how the verse could relate to government.

Overall I thought the class was very successful and I certainly learned a lot focusing on this one verse of scripture. After diagramming we 2 hours of  proctored study. During this time I read Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle and started reading War and Peace by Tolstoy. The evening was concluded with Dinner and games at Dr Brooks' house. In other words it was a great day. :)

April Snow?

Today was a miserable day to be outside. We went up to campus to mark contour lines on the ground to prepare for planting apple trees next weekend. After working for about 30 minutes it started SNOWING! We stopped working and hiked around our 82 acres of campus while the snow continued blowing around us. Fortunately, we had all dressed for the cold.After walking in a circle we made it back home just in time for the internet guy to show up to set up our wifi. After a lunch of Mac&Cheese with bacon bits, and some study time it was back to class for a discussion of the article I mentioned yesterday. We were in class until 8:30 at which time I had to walk my bike home in the freezing cold and rain. I just cannot seem to get warm today! Especially since we cannot use the furnace is our house. I am so ready for summer weather! Oh well, class was great and the hike was fun, even though the weather was miserable.

P.S. because of the cold I totally neglected to take pictures. Hopefully I will get some tomorrow.

The beginning of a Liberal Education

Well, I am all settled in. I have a nice big house with a ton of storage space, which is good because I brought a lot of stuff.  I have 4 roommates, Dani, Noelle, Hailey and Heather, with whom I share a room. They are all super fun and friendly, despite their strange obsession with movies…  Classes start tomorrow and I am super excited! The first thing we are going to do is hike around the entire 82 acres of campus! Our first assignment was to read “The Conservative Purpose of a Liberal Education”. It perfectly describes the reason I am here. As the article states, “True education is meant to develop the individual human being, the person, rather than to serve the state. “ That is why I am here, I will be getting a world class education, the purpose of which is to improve myself for the benefit of me. So there, to all the naysayers who ask “What are you going to with a liberal arts degree from a small, non-accredited  school in the middle of nowhere?” The answer is I am going to become the best person I can, with a liberal education.

All of my food for the next several months.