Philosophy

Abstract

As a leader in today’s society individuals need to have an understanding and an approach outlined to describe their meanings and values in life. An application plan describes personal experiences and outlooks, philosophies on life, ethical standards, values, along with personal career plans and growth. This paper demonstrates the author Jessica Yassen’s approach to meaning and value along with her application plan. This plan will describe how Jessica Yassen will apply her philosophies guided by theories from philosophers in the traditional era such as Aristotle, modern era such as Descartes to Wittgenstein, and postmodern era such as Derrida, Foucault, and Rorty. This plan will be revised as postmodernism continues to be redefined through the creation of new paradigms in society.

Jessica Yassen’s Philosophy of Meaning and Value Plan

Meaning, significance, importance, value, worth is a debatable issue. Meaning is a quality inherent in something independent of an individual who considers something meaningful. The sections that follow are from the author’s own set of values and meanings. While she attempts to argue her case convincingly she knows that this is all just one point of view and can be discounted as such.

Approach to Meaning and Value

The author’s perspective and value system believes that there is no meaning in unity that has any relevance to the personality. The personality cannot know unity and therefore cannot know the meaning of unity. There is no fixed, inherent meaning in our lives, in creation, in duality. Everything is subject to change, so all meanings will change. The meanings given to things are a complex product of culture, beliefs, personal values, philosophy, realizations, life experiences, habits, and more. Society often uses meaning to construct a coherent narrative of our lives and uses this narrative to give a context for the decisions made according to the values held. The narrative changes as society changes.

When more people seem to share the same narrative or meanings there is a less threat to that narrative or those meanings. In the extreme this can lead to non-engagement with those that do not share the same narrative and exclusion of people who did share the same view but now do not. This develops the accepted shared reality of societies. That concept of meaning and purpose occupy the mind and drive many of our emotional responses such as euphoria to the other extreme of depression. The more negative the emotion, such as anxiety, one tends to originate from a perceived threat to or conflict in what society considers meaningful or purposeful.

Moore and Bunder (2002) stated that Aristotle valued the power of human reason, with the influence of culture, to envision and classify nature and human understanding and to make ethical judgments concerning the good man. The author agrees with Aristotle in the fact that humans are naturally emotional and have an understanding of what is good and what is not. Even if someone does not act ethically, he or she has the ability to listen to reason of what he or she did wrong and why the action is perceived wrong in society.

Leary (1980) described Rene Descartes as having an understanding that philosophy is the study of wisdom where wisdom governs everything in life. Another view from the modern era was that of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Moore and Bruder (2002) stated that Ludwig used analysis philosophy to derive value. The author leans towards Ludwig’s views in the fact that she analyzes everything and believes there is a reason in seeing the true reality.

In the post-modern era, views from Jacque Derrida, Michael Foucault, and Richard Rorty were formed. These postmodernist believe that reason is subjective and that truth is non-existent. They tend to believe what they are told in their social group and are always looking to answer the reason; however, when the answer is found, they challenge the answer. The author believes that those that embrace the postmodern paradigm will be effective based on the fact that they will always be trying to improve themselves, those around them, and the systems they work with always believing that there will be always be room for growth because perfection can not be obtained. They will challenge those that work for or with them to think critically and creatively to do their best.

As a leader, the author realizes that the world is constantly changing and before she can challenge my team to think critically and creatively, they must have an up-to-date knowledge of the business area and world improvements. She would need to assess and address learning needs and evaluate the impact on the team and the company. Learning would need to be work-based such as mentoring, shadowing, and training where appropriate. After the learning opportunities have been addressed, then as a leader, round table discussions with the team will help spark the creative and critical thinking.

Personal Experiences

The author has experience on how to spark creativity and helping others think critically. Her last manager had team meetings where everyone participated in fun exercises such as using craft items such as buttons, balloons, aluminum foil, ties, marbles, and markers to build the perfect team member. The designs were very creative. Using this type of creative thinking with round table, the author can see system designs taking place through creative interactive thoughts.

Challenging users by offering incentives is also a win-win. An example is where the author’s company implemented a new program where an incentive was to be given for figuring out the best way to implement a new feature needed. A user came up with the best way to effectively program the feature and design to implement. This saved the company about $25,000. The reward was a week of paid time off. Now everyone thinks and knows that there are incentives to do better through creative process such as designing a system to thinking critically such as processes and system impacts.

Personal Philosophy on Life

The author’s personal philosophy on life is to be kind, honest, helpful, truthful, and generous. Her personality is best suited for a profession in information systems. She loves to work with computers and the technologies surrounding computers. Fear, anxiety, and uncertainty are influences that affect new computer users in today’s society.

Ethical Standards and Values

If someone’s personality is able to function in society and permits him or her to reasonably efficiently live and prosper according to his or her own value system then he or she is doing well. When individuals become aware of aspects of the personality that interfere with their ability to realize what they value then they should use personality tools as part of the approach to doing something. If someone operates from a value system that seeks no fixed meanings or purpose he or she will often find such personality tools to be highly effective as there is a greater facility for letting go of the attitudes and habits that are the source of most personality conflicts.

The belief system of the mediator is crucial in their ability to meditate. Some belief systems are not useful and too much identification with self-analysis unconsciously creates its own problems as demonstrated by those who struggle in meditation. Surrender, acceptance, self-love are the context in which the application of personality tools and a moderate amount of self-analysis can facilitate more effective meditation. Meditation can be used to avoid facing the issues that interfere with melting and can help society notice, accept, and work through the same issues. If someone is content and relaxed in life then he or she is probably melting in life and so will melt more completely in meditation.

Future Plans and Ambitions

The author’s career plans and ambitions are determined by several factors. These factors are based on her family, education, resources, and potential growth opportunities in her career path. Her first step is to familiarize herself with various options available. Once she has determined which career option entices her the most, she will find a course to help take her to her goal and determine preparations needed to achieve her goal.

To be effective in her career plan, the author must lay out both long-term and short-term goals. The short-term goals are building blocks towards the larger long-term goal. Some of the short-term goals will include course work, training, and preparation required to achieve the ultimate goal.

As the author grows, she realizes that her goals may change. This will be factored in her decision-making process. Every decision is limited only by what she is capable of now or in the future and her ability to identify alternatives. She will explore alternatives available keeping in mind her core values, commitments, resources, and constraints. Working hard and never underestimating what can be achieved is the author’s motto.

Evolution Growth and Changes

There is no evolution towards some future perfection if there is no universal sole purpose for life. In fact biological evolution, when understood in the way biologists intend, offers a good analogy for the many ways humans can develop and unfold. Biological evolution is not striving to produce the perfect organism. The process of evolution favors the reproduction of organism that is well suited to a particular environment. As the environment changes so will the form best suited to that environment. There is no grand purpose to the changes in the environment and so there are no purposive changes in the organisms induced by that environmental change.

The tendency to find meanings in the phenomena that manifest around us can be seen as a product of evolution. There is a biological advantage in responding to an observed pattern that results in more food, less danger, or other factors. Responding to apparently random or coincidental events as if they were connected is advantageous.

Enlightenment in Life

While there may be no ultimate meaning, purpose, or truth in life, life comes with the wonderful and mysterious gift that enlightenment can be realized. And while realization of this serves no ultimate, the knowledge has profound consequences for the way someone can live in his or her life and how to encounter the process of his or her death. And so there is value and meaning and purpose and truth to be found in helping others realize enlightenment.

As someone who has realized enlightenment, the author choose to spend time helping others to realize the same state in their way because her value system considered this to be profoundly liberating and, within this narrative, gave her pleasure to see others finding that liberation too. This offers a radical and empowering insight and the possibility of resolution of personal and social conflict enabled by the shift of perspective inherent in the state.

Challenging situations or concepts in order to question habitual value systems, let alone engage in the process of changing the situation takes conscious determination and interaction. Indeed, their value system may be very hostile to any process that involves questioning one’s value system. The concept of a hostile enlightened person does not rest easily with value systems that equate enlightenment with perfection of the personality but makes perfect sense if remembered that the personality does not realize the state of enlightenment. Perfection of the personality is not necessary to realizing enlightenment.

Society can still be reasonable at letting go even with value systems that are judgmental or have a personality that struggles to cope with people or life. Enlightenment essentially involves letting go of absolutely everything just for an instant, and does not require that everything is sorted out before let go.

If there is nothing that is more important than anything else, no way of living more meaningful than any other way, then society cannot hide from acting to help our fellow human beings behind statements such as ‘life is meaningless, only transcendence from this world of pain is meaningful’. The notion that this imperfect world is something to escape from may result in toleration of human suffering and dismissal of people who have given their lives to help others as being misguided. This has been used with effect by oppressive religious or political regimes.

Applicable Aspects of Philosophy

Care has to be taken in the expression of values not based on ultimate meanings to individuals who value the concept of there being ultimate meaning. Unless someone has had a strong experience of being in stillness and has had the opportunity to develop a sense of individuality there can be a devastating effect to have his or her sense of personal meaning and purpose deeply questioned. Values of kindness and compassion would restrain the philosophical aggression that would attack another’s beliefs.

If society considers that values are personal and not universal then there is no imperative to inflict someone’s own value system on others. From this perspective there is a balance to be found between meeting someone’s own needs and the needs of those around. At times society must also decide that, according to their values, to tolerate or not the behavior of someone’s acts of violence, abuse, and intolerance for others.

Traditional notions of morality and spirituality are also challenged by value systems. Concepts such as sin and karma have no place if there is nothing inherently wrong or right in any action. This does not mean that the abuse humans inflict on each other should be tolerated or condoned. Society finds that human values consider an action or attitude as being unacceptable and the social consensus of a group of a community that institutes laws to control behaviors that that community decides to not tolerate. Many societies are currently in turmoil because the traditional socially controlling religious values are breaking down with the rise of individualism and liberal tolerance.

The author believes that no action is inherently bad or good. Every action has consequences across the whole of our lives to one extent or another. To act from self-interest and hatred will polarize interactions with life and cause those interactions to be based on self-interest and hatred and a life led in this context is less likely to find contentment.

In order to respond positively to difficult events in life many people use the concept that such difficulties are meant to be and that they offer learning opportunities. There is a sense that their life is heading in a particular direction or to a particular goal and challenging situations are stepping-stones on the way perhaps guided by some universal intelligence. These attitudes help integrate survivable challenges but struggle to withstand lethal situations and seem trite in the face of the worst of human tragedy or abuse.

Conclusion

Many discussions of enlightenment will give the impression that through its realization the truth is known and that there is no mystery left. While the realization of the eternal state of unity that is enlightenment means that in that state there is no mystery, the truth of that state is known absolutely; the utter simplicity of this state can only answer questions that pertain to duality and life with a deep contented wisdom that things are as they are. Society can not reach closure in life nor finish the narrative of everyone’s lives because there is and always will be another perspective, always something unconsidered, or unknown. Only in unity is there such closure since unity has the simplest of narratives that never changes. The joy of enlightenment for the author is to be utterly content that all the meanings she finds in life and the purposes she gives are like ripples in the sand that will be reformed with every wave, allowing a new creative and refreshing response to life.

Philip Levine writes as though he is from a hard working middle class family geared toward the more highly educated class. Levine directs his poetry towards the higher class, through personal relationships and by showing pride and respectability in manual labor. Levine wants the more educated to know that even though the lower class may not have the most respectable jobs, they still take pride in their work because it supports their family. By using personal relationships, Levine emphasizes the how much pride the working class takes in their jobs.

Levine writes as though he is from a hard working middle class family, who works day after day just to make it through life and support the family. Although he is writing from this prospective, his work is actually geared more toward a more highly educated group. Levine wants the higher class to know just how lucky they are. Most people of high stature have never really had a hard manual-laboring job. Its true that most people of this class do not know what hard work is or how it feels to have to struggle to find a job and care for themselves and a family.

In the poem, What Work Is, Levine writes, “if you’re/ old enough to read this you know what/ work is, although you may not do it. / Forget you. ” In these lines, Levine is saying that the more educated group may know the definition of the word work but the have never really experienced it. This is even further shown in the last line when the man says, “you don’t know what work is. ” The man in the poem You Can Have It, is relating to us college students and remembering for himself what it was like to be twenty.

We were twenty/ for such a short time and always in/ the wrong clothes, crusted with dirt/ and sweat. I think now we were never twenty. ” Twenty year-olds are living the life that this man never had but wishes that he could have had it. He wants the higher class to realize what other people go through and just how easy life really is. In the last line, he says “You can have it. ” Here he wishes to give back everything from the past thirty years just to be twenty one more time, not work and just have his youth back. In all of Levine’s poems, the narrator is proud of his work no matter what job he has.

In Starlight, a four year-old boy is watching his father relax on the porch and smoke a cigarette after a long rigorous day of work. The father after seeing the child and the beautiful things that he works for, he can proudly answer that he is happy with a head nod, “Yes! oh yes! oh yes! ” He is proud to work hard to support his family. Every child looks up to its parents. In the beginning of this poem the son seems to be timid about bothering his father while he is relaxing but by the end, the son feels right at his fathers level “among the stars.

He is proud to have his father and know that he is an honest hard working man and looks up to him as if he were a the brightest of all stars. The poem You Can Have It also describes the pride that another man takes in his job even if it is only in a factory. In the third stanza of the poem Levine talks about a man and his brother saying that “they are only one man/ sharing a heart that always labors, hands/ yellowed and cracked. ” Their heart is in their work, even if it is not the most respectable job.

Although they talk about the hands being yellowed and cracked, I think it is in a good way. They are proud to have these marks of their hard work to support themselves. This is what they have to do to make it through life and they are proud to do it. In many of his poems, Levine uses many personal relationships to highlight the themes in each poem. In Levine’s poem, What Work Is, the man is waiting in line trying to get a job.

He is very upset refusing to give in but “waiting, / to the knowledge that somewhere ahead/ a man is waiting who will say, “No, / we’re not hiring today. He has been in this place before and although he is annoyed at the fact that he cannot get a job, he is also proud to be standing there waiting to get a job. He would be proud to have a job working in a factory or anywhere. Whereas this man would be proud to have a job in a factory, his brother is working at the Cadillac factory but is trying to gain a higher status and have what he would consider a respectable job. The brother is not proud to be working in a factory and is therefore studying German to be an opera singer, in which he would be highly regarded.

Levine brings out the father and son relationship in Starlight to show a sense of not only pride in his work but also happiness and an escape from the daily struggles that the father faces. After a long day of hard work, the father finds an escape in returning to his family and being away from his job. Just holding his son up there with him for that one minute gives him a sense of happiness and helps him to forget all the troubles of that day. Seeing his son happy and admiring him so much makes the father feel a sense of worth and pride in his job.

Philip Levine writes as though he is from a hard working middle class family who works very hard just to make it through life and support the family. He wants the higher class to know how lucky they are and what struggles the less educated go through. In all of the poems, the narrator is proud of his work no matter what job he has, even if it is only in a factory. By using personal relationships throughout his poems, Levine highlights the fact that all the people take pride in their work.

Mr.. Rater, ladies and gentlemen I am grateful for the opportunity rendered by all of you to express my opinion in this fiercely controverter subject. To me the period between high school and work, or Post-graduate education, which is called by all of us University, is inevitably the most defining period in our life, as it ends our acquisition in school as well as precedes our career of utilizing what we’ve learned. For the sake of its special position – between learning and work, that defining period is ordained the special duty of being well seed to acquire some knowledge and abilities that will be soon made use of.

Unlike any other period we’ve ever experienced or will experience, it is never a single period simply to learn something or to use what we’ve learned; it is a combination of learning and using. Another extraordinary identity of this period is that It’s time when we are young and active. Being impressively influenced by the quotation “Be crazy before being old”, many of us have recognized that this is not only a period to forge us but a wonderful while to enjoy, as it will possibly be the last chance that we eve plenty of time to think, to plan, and dodo what we desire.

Unfortunately many of us have only realized one of the two major use of university – mostly the entertaining one. They have well but Insufficiently enjoyed the paradise with least rules and restrictions; they are doing whatever gratifies them – spending almost all the time they’re awake playing computer games, having fun with their friends all the time, of course while absent from classes.

The rest of whoever realized only one use of the period are completely doing oppositely to the former ones; they have always en studying and studying, any time they are not sleeping, even sometimes when they are. The commonly seen phenomenon mentioned above does not stand for what modern university students are all about; In fact It Is something that, If treated wisely and courageously, can be largely reduced. And such wisdom and courage will be no more than a clear recognition of our Identity and the enormity attached to that Identity.

With such recognition, our entertainment will be more relaxing when letting go the fatigue of working; with such recognition, we will realize that we are now not only students that shall learn as much as possible, but adults that need some abilities to take the responsibility of our life; with such recognition, we will soon have a vision of our future that’s being more and more clear and close. We are still very young, so we have a lot of time and energy to make our life crazier, more wonderful, and more unforgettable.

But we are no longer Immature, so we cannot bear the loss of some Irresponsible deeds that are thought, however, enjoyable when being done. And all these should be kept In mind during the defining period – university. Thank you all. University as I see it By rises career of utilizing what we’ve learned. For the sake of its special position – between any other period we’ve ever experienced or will experience, it is never a single period simply to learn something or to use what we’ve learned; it is a combination of learning and using.

Another extraordinary identity of this period is that it’s time entertaining one. They have well but insufficiently enjoyed the paradise with least the time they’re awake playing computer games, having fun with their friends all the hat modern university students are all about; in fact it is something that, if treated be no more than a clear recognition of our identity and the enormity attached to that identity.

With such recognition, our entertainment will be more relaxing when letting and more unforgettable. But we are no longer immature, so we cannot bear the loss of some irresponsible deeds that are thought, however, enjoyable when being done. And all these should be kept in mind during the defining period – university. Thank

To understand certain qualities of infinite one has to fathom the notion of what intrinsic values we consider numbers. “A number isn’t a number” as stated by George Cantor, nineteenth century mathematician. Cantor developed what is known as Cantors Theory of Sets, which states as follows, “For comparing the magnitude of two different sets, the basic notion is that of equivalence. In other words elements A and B may be paired with one another in such a fashion that A only corresponds to B and vice versa.

This applies to what we call numbers, which in fact only represent the value it holds, in other words number B isn’t itself abstract as it’s the representation of element A. Outside the realm of mathematics numbers represent something, and mathematics was created to short cut the way we describe element A. Because of this we can consider what follows: unless, To the average mind this will seem to be nothing but obvious, nevertheless It’s a difficult concept to understand.

When furthering the Prima Facie, or face value that Is present we find that this indeed is a possible impossibility. Because numbers are Just representation of values and they themselves are not abstract, they can be manipulated to equal the indicated equation above, A=2 A=B, therefore 2=3 Because the elements are equivalent before the values holder are nonequivalent because elements come before their representation.

However the contradictions begin to follow as to say I have A equals the number of Bananas I have in my right hand, B also equals the number of Bananas I have In my left hand. Therefore I have 3 Bananas in my left hand and 2 Bananas In my right hand, and according to premise en they are equal, however the potassium Is greater In my left hand evidently. My point Is numbers are what they seemed to be, for example In a sequence such as 2, 4, 10 The corresponding representation of each value above, In other words.

Not because 1 equals 2 but because 1 represents the first value In the sequence. Now alluding to rational numbers and Infinity It Is rather Interesting that when established that numbers are representations of abstract objects, and themselves aren’t abstract then they cannot be Infinite, because nothing In universe Is Infinite. According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, the universe Itself Isn’t Infinite.

Many mathematicians Like to solve part or the paradox wealth Infinity by establishing It as to be an extra- ordinary number, however the problem Lies that despite It not being ordinary, Itself Is an extra-ordinary number consisting of pure ordinary subsets, It would be different If Infinity were a value consisting of other extraordinary values. The enigma of infinity (preview) By Richard&Zamarripa To the average mind this will seem to be nothing but obvious, nevertheless it’s a official concept to understand.

When furthering the Prima Facie, or face value that is hand, B also equals the number of Bananas I have in my left hand. Therefore I have 3 Bananas in my left hand and 2 Bananas in my right hand, and according to premise one they are equal, however the potassium is greater in my left hand evidently. My point is numbers are what they seemed to be, for example in a sequence such as 2, The corresponding representation of each value above, in other words. Not because 1 equals 2 but because 1 represents the first value in the sequence.

Now alluding to rational numbers and infinity it is rather interesting that themselves aren’t abstract then they cannot be infinite, because nothing in universe is infinite. According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, the universe itself isn’t infinite. Many mathematicians like to solve part or the paradox within infinity by establishing it as to be an extra- ordinary number, however the problem lies that despite it not being ordinary, itself is an extra-ordinary number consisting of pure ordinary subsets, it would be different if infinity were a value consisting of other

The Fiftieth Gate, understanding the past is represented as a continual and dynamic process. Baker gives a holistic representation of his parent’s experience of the Holocaust, demonstrating the complimentary relationship between history and memory. This notion is explored in the autobiographical book through the depiction of his parents’, and his own past. The barcarole style of the text aids in portraying the interplay between history and memory, enabling a more cohesive representation of the lasting repercussions of the Holocaust.

Due to the traumatic tauter of her past experiences, Genie finds historical accounts of the Holocaust confronting to reconcile with her own memories. This tension is depicted by Baker, when he confirms the date of an Action against the Jewish population in Genie’s town, “It was Yon Kipper. You’re right. The Action took place on 21 September 1942. ” Baker’s pursuit of historical accuracy compromises Genie’s personal memories, as she feels that compared to her own ordeals, history is an insufficient means of understanding the past. She responds: “I’m right, he says. What an honor. What do you know about Actions?

We were standing there like little lambs. Screams, crying. A massacre of weeping lambs,” here, the imagery of a lamb conveys the destruction of both an entire community and the destruction of Genie’s childhood innocence. Baker struggles to unite the non-chronological and unreliable nature of memory with his own fastidious historical research, but gradually understands that the two complement each other to give a more open representation of the past. However, the tension between mother and son and hence, history and memory, is seen in the transcript of Baker’s interview of his mother: “Pitch black.

Pitch black, that’s how I was for years… What do you mean, do I remember? Stop interrogating me. Stop testing me. What, all these years you thought that because I wasn’t in Auschwitz like your father I didn’t suffer? ” The use of transcripts is integral to the eclectic barcarole structure of the text, as the myriad of textual forms demonstrates the ongoing process of understanding the past. The tension between the two discourses is clearly seen, as Baker often finds his mother’s memories impossible to vindicate, despite her vivid recollection of the suffering in her past.

Genie feels that ere suffering is overlooked, as she has little historical and physical evidence to represent the effects of the Holocaust on herself. As a barcarole text, The Fiftieth Gate explores the dynamic process of understanding the past, and through the interaction between his mother and himself, he highlights the difficulty and importance of reconciling both history and memory. Baker’s father, Yogis is often reluctant to delve into his own memories, and cannot fully reconcile his own past with the reality of the present.

Rhetorical question conveys Yokel’s inability to entirely accept the past, as he retains a child-like degree of optimism: “Maybe he’s still alive. Could be, you know. Could be. Anything can happen. After the war I met people I thought were dead. Have you ever heard such a thing? ” The transcript of Yokel’s interviews expresses a direct connection to his personal memories. Whilst Yokel’s resilience is an admirable quality, it can lead to an attitude of denial. Through Baker’s process of interviewing his parents and ascertaining the history of their Holocaust experiences, the past is re-examined and represented in a more comprehensive manner.

This transcript is contrasted with a conversation twine father and son, and displays the diverse barcarole style that is integral to the representation of Baker’s parent’s memories. Chapter 16 begins with a portrayal of the difficulty in confronting the historical details of Yokel’s own past: “l can show you what your father wore when he arrived in Buchwald. ‘ My father seems angry at this latest discovery. ‘Do you know when he went to the toilet? The color of the agates he wore under his pants? Maybe you can tell me when I last showered or what I did everyday in Auschwitz? However, the chapter ends with Yogis reluctantly expressing a desire to learn the clothes worn by his father. This expresses the ongoing nature of understanding the past, as the ordeals of one’s past retain the potential to cause significant grief. This notion is present throughout the novel, and is particularly significant in Yokel’s growth as the result of opening up to a more complete understanding of his own memories. Juxtaposition is used to highlight the mutual dependency of history and memory in the process of effectively comprehending the past. Whilst being interviewed, Yogis begins: “l was born in Wreaking.

Baker’s commentary follows: “Wreaking was born before him. In 1657, founded by Bishop Bogus Readdressed who obtained royal permission to colonies the woodlands along the Seminal River. ” The direct and impersonal nature of historical discourse, although important, is directly contrasted with Yokel’s memory, which is far easier to empathic with. However, we understand that the two complement each other to give a multi-faceted and progressive understanding of the human experiences of the Holocaust, which results in a certain degree of ‘closure’. Although Mark Barker was born after the

Holocaust, the ramifications of the events have profoundly affected his own life, and the process of understanding the past is pertinent to Baker himself. Baker states, of himself and his brother , “… L knew there was something more deliberate in the names chosen for us, an attempt to obliterate not only my parents’ foreignness but the memories attached to it… So I decided to put the past back into my name. I have chosen Raphael, the earliest ancestor I can find on our family tree. ” The understanding of the past that has been enabled by learning of his parent’s personal stories have enabled Baker to reconnect to his cultural heritage.

This personal progression is integral to the semi-autobiographical nature of The Fiftieth Gate, and represents a significant level of personal growth that Baker has garnered through the discourses of history and memory. Throughout the text, it becomes apparent that Baker has been profoundly affected not only by his parent’s experience of the Holocaust, but also by the suffering inflicted collectively on the Jewish population. This is apparent in the elements of ‘Midribs’ – the oral and written exploration of biblical texts – that are inserted intermittently wrought the book.

Baker briefly recounts the story of Rabbi Hanna Ben Iteration, who was killed by the Romans due to his faith, and subsequently martyred. Whilst being burned, Iteration is asked by his disciples what he sees. He responds, “The parchment is burning, but the letters are soaring high above me. ” This is followed by a poem, “My parents remember: the fire/the parchment burning/the bodies buried/ letters soaring high, ‘turned to ashen dust. ” This element of Midribs is representative of the barcarole style of the text, and conveys Jewish resilience that has lasted millennia.

However, Baker subverts the optimism of the original text to convey the horrors experienced by all the victims of the Holocaust. It becomes apparent that this suffering, whilst not directly inflicted upon himself, resounds in the children of Holocaust survivors. The Fiftieth Gate explores the notion of understanding the past through the complimentary discourses of history and memory. Baker demonstrates the implications of this notion through the depiction of himself and his parents, Yogis and Genie. It becomes apparent that understanding the past is not a fixed process, and that it can at times cause tension.

The story is told in third person. Knowledge is unlimited. Third-person limited: The story is told from the viewpoint of one person in the story; A stream of consciousness; the uninterrupted thoughts in a character. First person: The author disappears into one of the characters who tells the story in first person; l. Objective: The narrator disappears into a kind of roving sound camera. This camera can go anywhere but can record only what is seen and heard.

Theme: The theme should be expressible in the form of a statement with a subject and a predicate. It is insufficient to say that the theme of a story is motherhood or loyalty to country. Characterization: The various literary means by which characters are presented Indirect Characterization: The author shows us the characters through their actions Direct Characterization: They tell us straight out, by exposition or analysis, what the characters are like, or they have another character in the story describe them.

Traumatized: Shown as speaking and behaving as in a stage play Stock Character: Stereotyped figures who have recurred so often in fiction that we recognize them at once. Static Character: Remains the same person throughout the story Dynamic Character: The developing of a character throughout the story Epiphany: The moment or insight that usually defines the moment of the developing character’s change Plot: the sequence of incidents or events through which an author constructs a story. Structure: Sequential arrangement of events in a plot

Conflict: Clash of actions, ideas, desires or wills. Suspense: The quality in a story that makes readers ask “What’s going to happen next? ” Mystery: An unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an explanation Dilemma: Position in which he or she must choose between two courses of action, both undesirable. Happy ending: The protagonist must solve her problems, defeat an adversary, win her man, “live happily ever after. ” Indeterminate: Unresolved. No definitive conclusion is reached. Chance: The occurrence of an event that has no apparent cause.

The ideas presented in the novel about life, beliefs, different feelings, and the kind of harassers depicted shaped America’s youth culture for decades and the book became a sort of icon for this generation. On the Road provoked a change in the consciousness of the country. As Kerouac friend, William Burroughs, wrote, “It sold a trillion Levies, a million espresso coffee machines, and also sent countless kids on the road” (Change, 2007). Moreover, Kerouac book was also used as a gulled for several people In their road trips.

In this essay, I will try to examine the way in which On the Road gives voice to the new social attitude which emerged after the publication of the book and it is known as the ‘beat’ generation. The novel seems to promote a series of revolutionary values against the official conventions of America. In this way, traditional family values of responsibility, morality, religious ideas and working hard -as the family portrayed in Capote’s In Cold Blood- are oppositely represented in the novel. Dean Mortality refuses to assume the social responsibilities that society imposes upon him.

He Is with two women at the same time, so he Is not faithful to his wife. Moreover, he leaves his wife and children and goes on the road without worrying about their welfare. He Is very Irresponsible and because of him many people suffer. An example to Illustrate this would be noon have absolutely no regard for anybody but yourself and you damned kicks… ” (Kerouac, 1972: 182). Besides, both Dean and Sal are always short of money but they do not care about it and go on the road anyway. They do not have a permanent Job or work hard to keep the Jobs they get in some cities they arrive.

Although, Sal writes book and tries to sell them, he is always has to ask her generous aunt to send him money. Then, both Dean and Sal have another philosophy of live, they want to have fun without responsibility and they do not care about American rotational values. Therefore, the novel presents a detachment from the American conventional society. This detachment from American traditional values created a new social attitude, depicted in Kerouac novel, which showed restlessness and dissatisfaction.

The These people were idealistic and yearn for something more than the conformity of a prosperous society, which had became flourishing after the World War II to turn into one of the most powerful countries in the world. In the novel we can see how the characters go on the road because they are not satisfied with their lives and desire to get freedom. In that way, we can see the road as an open path which gives freedom as well as thrill of movement. With these Journeys, the characters also reflect the Joy of being young and alive, with no money in their pockets but no obligation either.

A part from traveling, characters seem to vindicate the use of drugs, drink, sex, and music since these are the most characteristic things of their trips. These also help them in the search of the release they are looking for. Moreover, crossing the country in that way was only possible because at that time there were many motorways due to the prosperity of the country and cars began to e accessible for more people. In the novel, we can see how the car represents the consumer society of the time and how the characters do not fit into it.

For instance, Sal made his first travel to the West by hitchhiking because he does not have money. Later, in another travel, Dean bought a new car -although he does it with all the money he had saved, leaving his wife without anything. This is something very important because for them the car is their dream of freedom. They can go wherever they want without depending on anybody, that is, without hitchhiking. However, when Dean picks up Sal for the first time with his new car, Sal realizes that it was already broken: “The radio was not working.

It was a brand-new car bought five days ago, and already it was broken” (Kerouac, 1972: 111). In addition, we can also see this consumption in other aspects such as when Sal goes to the opera and wears a friend’s suit. He feels on the top of the world (Kerouac, 1972: 51). Another aspect that we can see in the novel is that Dean and Sal go on the road since they yearn for new experiences which can contribute to their personal development as individuals. For them, life is a process and they want to find its meaning.

They do not stop moving because they feel the necessity to do so. Several examples to illustrate this can be “we were performing our one and noble function of the time, move” (Kerouac, 1972: 127); “the road must eventually lead to the whole world” (Kerouac, 1972: 216). Traveling on the road also gives the characters self- knowledge and even maturity. Then, moving seems to be a necessary tactic for survival. This is connected with the fact that the real Journeys turn to be inward journeys for each character. This is better seen in Sal Paradise.

He seems to be searching for something since his Journeys are like quest for values or beliefs. He mess to get it while he is on the move, but the moment he stops, he wants to come back. He does not find what he is looking for. For instance, the first time he arrives San Francisco, after having wished going to the west a lot, he feels lonely and he wants to come back. He does not find the ‘paradise’ he was looking for and so he has to keep moving. Society. He feels lonely, restless and depressed. He is also afraid of falling in love: “a girl like that scares me” (Kerouac, 1972: 214).

He described himself as “l like too many things and get all confused and hung-up running from one falling star to another till I drop” (Kerouac, 1972: 120). It seems that Sal is disappointed about America. When he arrives at San Francisco he realizes that the continent is not big any more, there is a limit: “we can’t go any farther ’cause there anti no more land” (Kerouac, 1972: 161). Or when he tries to sit on the banks of the Mississippi River he cannot because the access is blocked with a fence (Kerouac, 1972: 141).

The freedom and well-being he is looking for at first is represented by the West, which is also a symbol for future, prosperity and renovation. It is also associated with the traditional idea of the American Dream. On the other hand, the East is considered old, stagnant, intellectual, and he does not want to belong to that. The more Sal is reaching west, the best he feels: ” it was getting better as I got deeper into Iowa” (Kerouac, 1972: 20). Therefore, there are two sides of everything: American West which can either fill the spirit and be the epitome of loneliness.

It all depends on his emotional state. This view changed as long as Sal has grown as a character. He learns that East is also sweet (Kerouac, 1972: 222) and that there is wilderness in the East too. He becomes strong, confident and in love. On the contrary, we cannot see this self-development in Dean and maybe that is the season why towards the end of the novel there is a detachment between both characters. Their positions have changed. Dean is incoherent and lost. However, the character of Dean Mortality became a sort of hero for this generation.

Dean’s arrival put everything into motion. He is full of energy, very masculine; he has impulsive passion; he represents what Sal is not. He symbolizes the pioneering instinct, the spirit of the west, idea of moving west to get freedom. So he is the personification of Gal’s dream of the west. At the beginning he is seen as a sort of prophet (Kerouac, 1972: 38) but this is broken towards the end. As I said before, he is very irresponsible, even a con-man and almost a delinquent as he stole cars Just for fan.

Victor, the Mexican man, is the first man to refuse Dean’s attempt to follow him onto the road. His moral obligations to his wife and child are clear to him. He represents the morality Sal is in search of. Therefore, although the novel seems to celebrate the character of Dean Mortality, he is a questioned hero. To conclude, I have been talking about how Jack Kerouac On the Road inspired a new cultural phenomenon, which was known as the ‘beat’ generation. I have pointed UT what I think the most relevant evidences are to show the way the book presents this new social attitude.