Jess Chapman Post 5

Jess Chapman Mrs. Whilhelmus AP English 8/6/13 “Philosophies and Personal Beliefs” Prompt 5 Throughout history there have been many different belief systems and philosophies. As the world has moved forward, generations after generations, people have added on to other beliefs and have begun more and more belief systems in history. Everyone’s beliefs are different depending on who you are. What do you believe in? There are many different belief systems, time periods, and cultures in “Sophie’s World”. There are many of these belief systems that I do not agree with though, such as, Myths and Thales. I do not agree with, or believe in myths, and Thales, because they go against my own religious beliefs. I do not believe in myths, because they say that there are “many gods”. According to myths, along with the Indo-Europeans, the Earth itself is made up of many gods. Also, they say that all these gods literally make up different things in the world like; water, fire, and air. Then, on the other hand, Thales believed that the Earth and world evolved from water. He also believed that everything was physically full of gods. Thales and Myths speak about multigods, meaning that there is more than one God. Many other philosophers come up with theories throughout different time periods too. In the beginning of “Sophie’s World”, there were “natural philosophers”, who were some of the first philosophers of the world. They took the first step towards scientific ideas, rather than religious ideas. Therefore, they were the first to start thinking that the Earth evolved from natural things, rather than from God’s creations. The next philosophers that I did not agree with are, Anaximinder, Anaximenes, and fate. First, Anaximinder, believed that our worlds and it was ‘boundless’. Anaximenes believed the world evolved from vapor and air, while fate just refers to luck. I do not believe in fate or ‘luck’, because God makes everything happen for a reason, it is not just fate. There is no such thing as fate, in my opinion. There were some of the belief systems and philosophies where I believed part of it, but not all of it. For example, Democritus said all things are made of atoms and molecules. I believe that everything is made up of atoms, molecules, and particles. On the other hand, Democritus also thought that human souls are not immortal, but I disagree with that part of Democritus’s theory. I believe all humans have immortal souls. That is why I do not fully agree with Democritus’s belief system. There were many philosophies from “Sophie’s World” that I did not agree with, but there was one that I did strongly agree with more than any of the other philosophies. I agreed with the Semites’ beliefs the most out of every belief in “Sophie’s World”. The Semites believed many religious things. They believed there was just on God, who created the whole Earth and universe, which is what started history. They also believed in the Christianity religion, which is what I believe in, as well. Along with Christianity, the Semites believed in monotheism too. Monotheism means “one God”. I am a Christian, so I believe there is only one God, so I believe in monotheism too. The stories and teachings from the Semites are very similar to those of the Bible. They focused on the New Testament and the Old Testament, teaching more people about Christianity and passing Christianity on from generation onto generation. The Semites say that Jesus is God’s one and only son. They call him “Jesus”, “Messiah”, “Son of God”, and “Kingdom of God”’ referring to Jesus Christ being the son of God. The Semites’ customs and beliefs are what I agree with most, because all their beliefs agree with the Christian customs and belief systems. Me being a Christian and reading “Sophie’s World”, really made me think more in depth about my religion and what I truly believe in, in my life. I believe that the white rabbit philosophy is like the universe to God. This is because God made the universe, but nobody can wrap their mind around how he did it or how he just always existed during all of history. This is just like how we cannot wrap our minds around how the magic trick with the white rabbit works. So, God is kind of like the magician, because he knows how he made the world, just like the magician knows how he magically pulled the white rabbit out of the hat, while nobody else knows how either of these things work. I think I reside halfway in the rabbit’s fur, because I strongly believe even though we may be referred to as tiny insects in the rabbit’s fur, God can still see us and he knows we exist.With us knowing God sees us and has hope for us, it makes us, Christians feel wanted and we are stronger people, or Christians. All Christians should he halfway in the rabbit’s fur, because we cannot fully comprehend how God was just always there and we still have questions for God,himself. All in all, the Christians, being partially in the rabbit’s fur, are wanting and trying to get everyone else as high in the rabbit’s fur as they are, so that they can be closer to God, as well. So, I think I reside halfway in the rabbit’s fur, getting closer and closer to getting totally out of the rabbit’s fur to be with God. In conclusion, the book, “Sophie’s World”, was a fabulous novel to read. It really inspired me to think about my beliefs and who I really am and why I am here, on this Earth. It also encouraged me to think where my place in this world is. Reading “Sophie’s World” and thinking outside of the box, I answered some questions that I have always had for a long time and I realized things about me and my life. Therefore, I am going to think more thoroughly about the decisions that I make in my life. I am going to think about things more in depths too. Lastly, I am going to be a stronger leader in everything I do, being more our going and getting more involved, instead of being a follower as my life goes on, because I was to set the example for others and not just follow what other people do anymore. “Sophie’s World” helped me to find who I really am inside myself, by inspiring me to thinking more into things and helping me to come outside of my “shell” a little bit. “Sophie’s World”, by Jostein Gaader was an inspiring and encouraging novel. Works Cited Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie’s World, Norwegian: Berkley, 1991. Print Jaffie, Valerie. “Literature Study Guide of Sophie’s World.” Sparknotes.com. B&N, 2013. Internet. 31 July 2013. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/sophie/section2.rhtml. Ravi, Krishna. “Notes on Sophie’s World. Angelfire.com. 2011. Internet. 31 July 2013. http://www.angelfire.com/biz4/krishasworld/sophie.html.

Jess Chapman Post 1

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Garden of Eden- prompt #1 Jess chapman Mrs. Wilhelmus AP English 7/30/13 Thinking Outside the Box Prompt #1 The book, "Sophie's World", has inspired me in many different ways. I started to read the first chapter, not fully understanding it. The more and more I read it the easier it was to read. It got me thinking about myself. It also encouraged me to think deeper into and about everything. Reading, "The Garden of Eden", helped me to think outside the box of who I really am and why I am here today. Everyone has a reason to live, but I never thought of what my reason was. Thinking of who I really am, I thought to myself, I am Jessica Lynn Chapman. I am one of a kind and no one else is like me. I was born November 1,1996. I will be seventeen and a junior this year at North High school. I am very athletic, playing softball and volleyball for North and running on my own. I realized last year that I would love to play volleyball in college, because I am very passionate about it, so I work harder and harder everyday. I have a fantastic life, living with my two little brothers and my mother and father. I am loved very much by my friends and family. I am a christian and I am very faithful in my relationship with God. It makes my religious life easier, since I grew up in a christian environment, with my mother and father, John and Jodie Chapman. I could not ask for a better life than I have now. There are many answers to the question "Where does the world come from?", depending on the person you ask. Many people believe in the "Big Bang Theory". I believe that theory is just a myth. My thoughts on where the world came from is that it came from God. I grew and believing and still believe that God created the world. It is hard to wrap your thoughts around this belief, but if you truly believe in God then it makes it easier to believe, God made the world and everything inside it. Thinking long and hard about these questions, I finally found my answers. "Sophie's World" helped me think more in depth about would I really am and where the world came from. It inspired me to look beyond the picture and study these question more. This chapter was very interesting and encouraging to me. It showed me that it is fun and important to think about things before you do it and why things truly exist.

Jess Chapman Post 2

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Prompt #2 Jess chapman Jess Chapman Mrs. Wihlhelmus AP English 7/30/13 Women? Prompt #2 Aristotle was a strong believer. He did have very good points in what he believed. He could also explain why he believed something and back up his theories with legitimate information and statements. This does not mean I agree with what he says about women though. He says that women are "unfinished men",but this belief is like the rain belief. He believes that rain is important and it was made because animals and plants need run water to survive, but women were made because men need women, that is why God made women was for the men to not be lonely. It seems that Aristotle thinks that women are useless, but women work just as hard as men. On the other hand, God made men first to be the "head of the household" and to be more in charge than the women, but that does not mean women are just "unfinished men". Studying Socrate's, Plato's, and Aristotle's theories on humans very closely, I came to the conclusion that Plato's theory is the most admirable in my opinion. I believe women have just as much if a right to do things, as men do. People think that men work hard than women, because they do construction working, and they are built stronger than women, and football and contact sports are mostly make dominant sports, by that does not mean that men are any better than women. If a woman puts her mind to it and truly wants to do something that a man does, then she can do it too. Women can be just as intelligent, strong, and productive as men, if they truly wanted to. This part of "Sophie's World" really inspired me to learn more about men and women and their equality, because all humans can do anything, because nothing is impossible. They just have to keep in mind, "if it was easy, everyone would do it". I did not realize that most of the characters in the book were men. Thinking about it now, I believe that Sophie shows that women can be philosophers just as much as men can. Most of the philosophers in the book are men. Sophie's mom thinks Sophie is insane just because she talks to her mom about what she learns from Alberto. Sophie's mother does not think like a philosopher. Sophie does not let her mother get to her though. She just shakes it off that her mom does not think like she does. Sophie shows that women can be strong, courageous, and can be philosophers along with men. I believe that is why Albert writes this book for his daughter Hilde to learn and realize that just because she is a girl does not mean she cannot dream big and be a philosopher just like her father. These questions made me think long and hard about how men and women treat each other in the world. I believe that they should be treated equally, because women deserve to have the same rights as men. Women and men have to come together in the world to face they're problems together and get through life helping each other through things.

Jess Chapman Post 3

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Prompt #3 Jess chapman Jess Chapman Mrs. Wilhelmus AP English 7/30/13 Medieval Thinkers Prompt #3 The Middle Ages was a time of experiencing what it true in Christianity and what has proof behind it and what does not. The leaders of this time experiment with Christianity and beliefs figuring out what is real and what is unreal. St. Augustine studied Christianity more and more during the Middle Ages. He was the one who made people start thinking about their religios beliefs, because St. Augustine had facts about Christianity, proving the existence of God was real and Christianity was a good religion to all people. As St. Augustine went further in depth to learn about Christianity he had more people to follow his beliefs and they will believe in Christianity, as well. St. Augustine was a great philosopher, who got other people in the Middle Ages to think harder about things in the world, like Christianity and the existence of God. St. Augustine did christianize Plato's theory. Therefore, St. Augustine basically made Plato's theory to be reconized not as a threat to christianity, but kind of a part of chrinstianity instead. The result of St. Augustine christianizing Plato was that he showed people from the Middle Ages and further in life that you can be a philosopher and a Christian to a certain existent. He said that if you truly believe in God then you can feel when the limit of your philosophy stops, you just have to trust God and let him take over. Along with St. Augustine, a little later in the Middle Ages came along another great philosopher, St. Aquinas. St. Thomas Aquinas was very faithful in what he believed in. He christianized Aristotle, making Aristotle's theory be recognized not threating christianity anymore, just making it easier to believe in christianity. Aquinas helped the people of the Middle Ages realize what they believed in and what was wrong a write. The result of St. Thomas Aquinas Christianizing Aristotle's theory was that he got his people to follow what he believed and they believed you can be a Christian and believe in Aristotle's theory too. If it was not for St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas from the Middle Ages, then the beliefs we had today would not be the same, because philosophies and Christianity would be separated. People would think that you have to choose to be a philosopher or a Christian. Also, people would not know that to be a philosopher and a Christian you have to really trust God and know the limit of you philosophy. St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas were two very important and great philosophers, who influenced the world's beliefs from the Middle Ages to the current day today.

Jess chapman post 4

A Journey Through the Rabbit Hole NHS AP English Language and Composition 2013-2014 Wednesday, July 31, 2013 Prompt #4 Jess chapman Jess Chapman Mrs. Whilhelmus AP English 7/31/13 Experiments To Reality Prompt #4 Immanuel Kant was a professor of philosophy. He was the philosopher in this chapter of "Sophie's World". He focuses on the way humans look at things and see things in the world today. Kant is a philosopher who find his own answers by asking himself more philosophical questions about something. He is also a philosopher who studies the history of philosophy, but he does not really construct his own philosophy. It is not a bad thing that Kant is both these types of philosophers though. In this chapter, Sophie learns about the "red-tinted glasses" experiment. She puts the glasses on and everything is red instead of its normal color. The reason for this experiment was to show that there are manh different perspectives to see the world from. Everyone sees the world from a different perspective. Albert says, " the glasses limit the way you perceive reality". For example, a Christian would see the world different from someone that is not a Christian. A Christian would have hope knowing there is a better life ahead of them. One the other hand, someone who is not a Christian would see the world as nothing they do is really wrong and they're not going against God or anyone. The "red-tinted glasses" experiment makes you think about reality and what the world is really about, because just because everything "looks red" does not mean you can say everything is red. This is why Kant said that every mind sees the world in a different perspective. This experiment applies to issues in my own life by dictating how I see things, because I see things different than others, because of what has happened throughout my own life. For example, my life might be different from someone who did not grow up in a Christian envoirment like I did. Since I grew up in a Christian envoirment it made my religious life and relationship with God easier to manage. It was easier to learn about God and pray, because my parents, brothers, and other people in my life taught me how to do Christian things. Since they do these same things it is easier for me to do it too. One the other hand, it could be more difficult for someone who is not Christian do learn about God, because they might have not grew up in a Christian envoirment. I see hope in the future for another life in heaven. Therefore, I try to be the best Christian I can be, because I see God as a role model and my leader in my world. This is how My perspective of the world is. The "Kant" chapter in "Sophie's World", made me think of how different everyone's perspectives in life really are. If everyone had the same perspective of the world then the world would be boring, because nobody would see different things, they would all see the same thing. Devonte would not be that different then. Therefore, everyone having different thoughts about the world and everyone seeing everything in a different way makes the world unique, which is a good thing.