Author Archives: ERIK CISNEROS ARELLANO

The road ahead

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I agree most with an intermediate perspective of the Enlightenment and Romanticism. The reason for this is because I can agree with points from both sides. From the Enlightenment. I support its use of reason to encourage scientific progress. From Romanticism, I support its focus on sentiment to encourage introspection. In addition to this, it seems clear to me that taking a moderate approach towards these two ideas is the way to go, as taking an extremist view on any subject tends to lead to disaster, often due to inflexibility.

Learning about the Enlightenment and Romanticism has impacted the way I view our contemporary western culture, as I feel it isn’t as conscious of its past as it should be. The ideas that were developed during the Enlightenment and the Romanticism aren’t as widespread as they should be. I see that many people still commit some of the errors that the Enlightenment and Romanticism warn about. For example, in regards to reason, many people still take “miracles” or outlier incidents to validate their preconceptions. Also, in regards to sentiment, some still take it as a given that we should leave others to wrangle with their emotions on their own.

The most important takeaway I got from this class is that as the lucky few who got the opportunity to experience this class we have an obligation to act on the wisdom we have been provided both in its rational and sentimental aspects. While we shouldn’t impose these ideas on others, we should make others aware of them. Additionally, while we can’t act on every idea brought up by the authors of that time period, we should use our best judgement, to act on those we can.

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The world around us

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The pictures presented below are of a succulent garden, and a green roof. I think these two examples of landscaping and architecture express Schiller’s aesthetics fairly well. They both produce a picturesque scenery that complements both man made structures, and the surrounding vegetation, all while providing environmental benefits.

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The succulent garden uses less water than a typical grass lawn, and fairs well against hot weather, resolving the issue of opting for a barren lawn for the sake of water conservation. In addition to this, its easy maintenance provides a way of introducing newcomers to gardening, without the fear of “messing up”
Green roofs provide replace traditional roofs with vegetation growing at the top of the building. In doing this they help cool down the surrounding area via transpiration, instead of heating it, as is the case when dark roofs absorb the sunlight.

While encouraging people to make a positive impact of the environment, these structures also provide a place to be inspired. They allow people to take up new hobbies, such as drawing and gardening. They can also serve as a resting place where people can just take in the sight. In these listed benefits a person becomes moral, since they serve in their duty towards the preservation of the planet, and provide outlets where a person can self-reflect in their actions.

Symbolism

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The picture posted below is the Gadsden Flag, a flag designed during Revolutionary America. From its design we see one of the major sentiments prevalent during the American Revolution. The rattlesnake and slogan best represent the idea of the government not encroaching on people’s rights, as before a threat approaches a rattlesnake always gives a warning with its rattle. If the aggressor is to proceed any closer, the snake bites. Coupled with the slogan “Don’t tread on me” it accurately warns the audience that only harm will come from injuring them. This connects with the Declaration of Independence in which it is stated that “Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” In this statement we see that like a rattlesnake who has been given its warning and is ready to strike, the United States has already made fair warnings to Britain about its transgressions, and yet rather than heeding to them Britain has only added insult to injury, which has led America to finally revolt. Do think there are any other ways this sentiment is best expressed? How do you interpret the symbolism of this flag?

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Gadsden Flag

Green with envy…

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Society provides us with a certain kind of evil, actively prevalent in present day adolescence.  Putting on the facade of reinforcing human relations by networking individuals, this evil only provides mankind with harm rather than utility. Referred to as social media; it is aptly named for its association with society, as it serves no other purpose than to perpetuate the miseries of society. As I have mentioned earlier “In becoming habituated to the ways of society and a slave, [man] becomes weak, fearful, and servile.” (Discourse on Inequality, 51). The news articles of recent days prove just that. Young people fear that they aren’t making the most out of life, comparing their experiences to exaggerated accounts of fortune in the lives of others. They grow weak, plagued by “stress and anxiety”(1). Attempting to outshine each other, they don’t realize that they work only to perpetually serve futility. If social media fabricates such misery, who then can tell me we are better off now than in the state of nature?

1: https://wtvr.com/2020/01/27/social-media-scripps-news-literacy/

˙uoᴉʇdo uɐ sɐʍ sᴉɥʇ ʍouʞ ʇ,upᴉp noʎ ʇǝq I

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Hey everyone, I’m Erik. I am a second year Computer Engineering major. I was born in Colorado but raised in San Diego County, or to be more specific, Escondido. I have always had a fascination with electronics, and have even tinkered with simple circuits. Apart from this, my other hobbies include, drawing, painting, and playing video games.

It’s hard to pick a favorite book/reading from the HUM sequence, but I think I would have to say Alexander The False Prophet by Lucian. I found it funny when Lucian describes the methods Alexander employed to trick people into believing his prophecies. The extent to which Alexander is able to gather a cult following just by placing a snake in an egg, hatching it in public and proclaiming that a new god is born, is quite humorous.