TOW #19 Tao-te Ching by Lao-tzu

            Reading Goals

-Pick a text that is challenges my reading level                                                                                              -Chose a text that is outside of my comfort zone                                                                                             -Read the passage 3 times in order to get the most information out of it: the first time to get a general idea, the second time to close read/annotate and the third time to solidly the overall purpose                                                                                                                                                                                   

  Writing Goals                                                                                                                                         -Include an intro that draws in the readers attention as well as introduce the idea of the passage                                                                                                                                                             -Have a flow throughout that includes transitions from one idea to the next                                                     -Chose words carefully and make everyone count                                                                                        -Outline what I’m going to write before starting  

Rulers are not simply born with the knowledge on how to keep themselves on the proper moral path while still ruling their subjects hence why in most cases they must learn it from others who have a better understanding as to what it means to follow the proper route. Tao-te Ching is a document written in China roughly around the time of Confucius that is as much about moral behavior as it is about political guidance. Lao-tzu is the author of Tao-te Ching and it is from this piece along with his other works that it is believed that the beginning idea of Tao were formed. The passage urges the future rulers to follow the Tao, which is a term that cannot be easily translated into English but can be best summed as “the way to live.” Tao is also the center of the still prevalent belief of Taoism, The purpose of Tao-te Ching is to pass down and follow the philosophy of the Tao based

Depiction of Lao-tzu

moral and political path. Lao-tzu believed that an effective ruler should not be completely in control, but rather supply the people with what they need and let the people follow their own paths. The structure of the document is one that resembles a poem. The different parts of the passage are split up into stanzas and there is a certain rhythm to the whole piece. A poem like structure allows the audience to not only to read the words that are written, but also to follow the exact flow of breaths and rests that Lao-tzu had in mind. The structure allows Lao-tzu to control how his audience takes in his information and truly think about the ideas that he is laying forth. Within the poem like structure Lao-tzu utilizes multiple examples of anaphora throughout stanzas, which allows more emphasis to be put on Lao-tzu’s Tao ideals. One of the ideals is “The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsides you have the less self-reliant people will be” the power that Lao is able to get by repeating the use of contrasting less and more is essential to showing the belief of Tao. Anaphoras were essential in weaving together Lao-tzu’s political and moral philosophies. I personally felt that the purpose of Tao-te Ching was achieved. The piece is an incredible piece of history and although I feel like many of his political ideas are off base in regards to present day society they are still complete ideas that could have effectively helped an early Chinese ruler guide his people. 

TOW #18 IRB Post 1 Stiff by Mary Roach

       With this year being my junior year I have not had much time for recreational reading as I would have Stiff by Mary Roach. I am well into the book and will probably finish it with the prospect of more snow days. Stiff is not the conventional book by any means, for one thing it is the first lighthearted book about dead people that I have ever seen. Mary Roach is an established journalist and author who decided to write the book Stiff after the death of her mother inspired her. The book is her compromised experiences of talking to professionals about the cadaver world. In this book Roach wants to educate and entertain the audience with her knowledge of the little-known world of dead bodies. Death is always a tough subject to talk about, but somehow Roach makes the book wildly hilarious. I never imagined that I could read one sentence about how heads are cut of before the neck begins then by the next sentence be laughing at Roach's comparison to a modest dead person wearing a turtle neck. The fact that Roach incorporates so much humor in her writing goes towards accomplishing her purpose. Stiff is far from being a dry morbid book it is a book that I enjoy with all my heart. Roach's use of humor also is key in determining her audience. There are plenty of books out there that are medical journals about cadavers, but I would never read any of the them. Her use of humor makes this topic readable and strangely entertaining. To read this book you have to go in with a open mind, a strong stomach and the ability to laugh at otherwise morbid topics. I have not finished this book, yet but I can say that so far it is one of my favorite books of all time. I have learned so much about the underground world of cadavers and each chapter in Stiff is just another opportunity to learn and laugh.
liked. Admittedly my last two IRB books were pushed off until I had absolutely had to read them. It is a different story with my most recent IRB choice

IRB Intro Post 2: Stiff by Mary Roach

     

I have always had an interest in the medical field. All throughout my life I have always been drawn to the tv shows, documentaries and other sources that delved into the medical world. However, the one thing that I have not done with my fascination with medicine is read a book that just focuses on medical topics. For the third marking period I have chosen to read the book Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers by Mary Roach. In this book Roach writes about what happens to cadavers detailing the contributions dead bodies have made to the science and medical world. It seems like an unusual book, which is why I am so drawn to it. I have already read a historical non-fiction and an autobiography so I thought I might as well switch it up and read about some dead people. I can't wait to start reading this book so I can broaden my understanding of cadavers.

TOW #17 The Defense of Injustice by Cicero

     The battle between justice and injustice has been raging in the morals of man since the beginning of time.  A great piece of work that demonstrates the ongoing debate is the work of Cicero in the work titled The Defense of Injustice Marcus Tullius. Cicero lived through the most treacherous times at the height of Roman Empire. He was not only a writer but also a lawyer and politician. Cicero is a person in history who has been praised for his skillful rhetoric. While The Defense of Injustice was filled with marvelous strategies the one that had the most impact on proving the purpose was the structure of the essay.  The essay was set up in the dialogue with two speakers: Laelius and Philius. In the manuscript Laelius challenges Philius to make an argument against justice. Philius then goes on a whole speech that makes injustice seem like it makes sense and that we can never have a world where everyone is just to one another and follows the same rules. Laelius then comes back and shuts down the argument with some great arguments on how everyone follows the same basic rules of justice and how “there will not be different laws now and in the future” (24).  Since the essay is set up in a conversational structure it makes the ideas of the essay flow effortlessly. The structure also allows for a strong counter argument aspect that makes the whole purpose more valid. Philius’s argument is quite convincing but by having the conversation end with Laelius refuting the arguments it makes the writing solid. All of Cicero’s strategies go towards proving the purpose which is to show how the laws of justice are rooted in the laws of nature. The essay did prove its purpose in my own opinion. I find it pretty amazing how even today most of what was written still applies. It is a piece of work that should be studied for its rhetoric and ideas.