AMosquera, class reflection 3/13 and reading, 2 in 1

 Before class began, we were told to read the Hellen Keller, The Story of My Life, story because in that class we were talking about Helen Keller and her introduction into life with meaning. Because it was a nice warm day, I got to read this passage outside before our class began. I did not get to finish, so I was happy to find out that Dr. Kip would be reading it aloud in class. 

 It is a story that illustrates the power of language and helps humans construct the world. While in her home, the lady who  was helping her learn language, Miss Sullivan, taught her the word doll while Hellen was playing with it. Earlier in the day she had been taught the words mug and water, but was confused between the two, as they shared the same object, in frustration, Hellen throws her doll, feeling neither sorrow nor regret from her outburst. Soon after she would go outside into the warm sunshine. At this point of the story, I remember being confused because I missed the first part of the story and because of my speeding glances from earlier I had only received the information that she was learning words and got confused because she would not physically see what was being referred to. The main part that confused me was the timeline of the doll and the mug, regardless, the next events tied up the confusion I held. Someone had been outside drawing water from the spout, and her teacher decided to hold her hand under the water and spell the words on her arm, causing the mystery of language was revealed to her. With the power of the word her soul was awoken, giving her light, hope, joy, and freedom for the next lessons to come. Everything she touched from that moment on had life. Once home Hellen remembered she broken doll and for the first time experienced repentance and sorrow. She reflects on learning the words mother, father, sister, and teacher, and gave it new meaning and happiness. Hellen was not eager to learn more words. 

The passage continues a discusses Kenneth Burke's definition of human beings as symbol-using and symbol-making creatures because they wanted to be separated from their natural condition by creating and using language. His definition can be applied to Hellen Keller's experience, as her awakening to language transformed her proception of the world, like how humans do on a regular basis, their use of language exist in an animated  world that is separate from the world of beings who do not use it, like animals. 

After reading this section, Dr. Kip reminds of the term to be or not to be, and tells us that refers to the saying to be is being, or something like that. He said that there is no being when not to be. If it sounds confusing its because it is, or I just do not remember what the saying was, but for a fact had to do with being, and that one cannot be without the other. If you are not be then you cannot be being. Basically, reiterating the idea that the use of language makes use human and separate from those that do not. 

This discussion followed the paper, as it also discussed the relationship between language, thought, and being that Owen Barfield and Hans-Georg Gadamer studied. Barfield emphasizes that the mind created objects, like instruments of science, through language with rich metaphors to mathematics or natural language. This language is the storehouse of imagination and is essential for understanding the world, since science deals with imagined constructs rather than bare percepts. Imagination is significant when encountering the world and plays a role in art. Gadamer emphasizes the fundamental role language plays in shaping how we are being in the world. His idea is that humans are inherently at home in language and the world, and also says that language is a mark of our finitude, always surpassing individual consciousness. 

It is important to not that Heidegger believed that language is not only and not primarily an audible or written expression of what is communicated. It puts forth in words and statements what is overtly or covertly intended to be communicated, it is alone brings what is. Where there is no language, such in plants, stone, and animal, there is no openness of what is, and because of no openness either of that which is not and of the empty. When beings are named for the first time, it brings beings to word and to appearance. 

The passage continues the discuss the Poetically Man Dwells, art versus the prosaic or rational principle, the origin of art, and more of Heidegger's writing, which some we had discussed in class. I do not remember the details that great because, to be honest, I was confused, but it all leads to the discussion of being of beings. I mean how can you read this: The art work opens up in its own way the Being of beings. This opening up, i.e., this deconcealing, i.e., the truth of beings, happens in the work. In the art work, the truth of what is has set itself to work. Art is truth setting itself to work,” and not be confused. Anyways this was a long blog, so I am hoping it counts for two, both the reading reflection and class reflection.