The first two discussions of the semester instantly reminded me of the film, Never Let Me Go, based from Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel.
Like the three friends in the film, we spend most of our lives preparing ourselves for our future, only to end up serving other people. We often resign ourselves to that fate. We take care of ourselves, so we can be physically capable of finishing tasks. We study, so we can get jobs that pay well later on. We think we are doing it for ourselves. Or are we really?
We spend the first part of our lives searching for our identity, finding out what we really enjoy, only to doubt all that once we interact and live with others. The shift from “Who am I” to “What does the other demand from me?” is akin to the chicken or the egg problem (as someone mention during the previous discussion). Which came first? Which one is of greater importance? They are both equally important, that’s for sure. You can’t have one without the other.
We need others to help us look at life differently, and our active participation is needed to keep society going. But maybe we want to look in deeper, because we want to understand further. As human beings, we are always looking for solidity and validation. We seek and explore, before we can truly accept what lies ahead.
"No man is an island." This is something Doctor Garcia always says for the prayer. That's what came to mind when I read the paragraph ending with, "You can't have one without the other." Because it's true that we can't live without depending on external forces, no matter how many times the self-help books say, "Happiness comes from within." It's simply impossible to think that you can live without the help or hand of others. We grow up thinking that our careers are for one thing and for one thing only: money. We look to attain power and success either because we yearn for it, or because it pays the rent. Both reasons are literally self-centered. We fail to realize that we shape our careers for everyone but ourselves; we find what we're good at or what we love doing, we study it, we refine our techniques by practice, and then we go out into the world to help the Other.
ReplyDeleteThe shift from the question "Who am I?" to "What does the Other demand from me?" struck me because of a) its obvious selflessness, and b) the very Atenean-like sound to it. But after our second meeting in Th131 (under Rochester!), I was able to reconcile the two questions after Rochester's discussion about our "vocation." The main points were "Go where you need to go" and "Go where you are most needed." It amazed me because, aside from its subtle word play, it seemed like the most obvious thing in the world. And in realizing who I am, it becomes apparent to answer the needs of the Others. The marriage of the two philosophical questions makes sense, and I saw what Levinas meant. The second question appears to be the more important question, the first is just a way to become the role that gives.
I think it was brilliant that Krista brought up Never Let Me Go, because it was an excellent film. Andrew Garfield was very cute.
- Janroe Cabiles
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I think the movie sounds interesting. I might just watch it even though The storyline has already been revealed here.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, I'd like to answer a question written here, even though it seems like a rhetorical question. According to the writer, "... we spend most of our lives preparing ourselves for our future, only to end up serving other people. We often resign ourselves to that fate. We take care of ourselves, so we can be physically capable of finishing tasks. We study, so we can get jobs that pay well later on. We think we are doing it for ourselves. Or are we really?"
I'd just like to point out that, at least for me, there is nothing wrong with living a life serving others, especially when serving others really is one's passion. Just because we serve others, does not really mean we will be unhappy. And in the end, like what Heidegger says, we are being in Being. In a way, all beings are connected to each other. Having said that, whatever we do for others, technically, we do for ourselves. The opposite is true. Whatever we do for ourselves, we also do for others.
Lica Lee
PH101 A
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ReplyDeleteListening to what the Other demands from you is very important because it entails an active participation and presence in the world. I don't think the Other literally goes up to you and asks you to do certain things. We should realize that what is demanded from us can be felt through the manner by which the Other lives, how the Other becomes a good role model to emulate. This is why we cannot live in isolation. We have to be aware of daily events happening around of the world both good and bad to see what is demanded from us. I think inspiration from the Other is vital because it imparts to us a spirit of selflessness, a spirit that will encourage us to observe the world and then whole-heartedly act on it. For this, we really need to interact and conduct dialogue with the Other in "meeting" the demands that are expected from us.
ReplyDeleteThomas Manalac
Ph101-A
Warning: Spoiler Alert! Skip the following paragraph if you're still planning to watch the movie. :)
ReplyDelete"Never Let Me Go" was a very brilliant movie! The director had an excellent choice of actors to play the three main characters in the novel (Andrew Garfield haha). I was really touched in the movie. At first, I thought that it was sad that the three friends' only purpose in life was to donate their organs to their corresponding "Other". However, as the movie progressed, I realized that even though these three characters are merely generic and simply copies of their original, they still have something inside of them that keeps them going - the "deferral". This is where a couple of clones prove that they are in love and they are given a few extra years before they can donate. However, they found out that there was no such thing as the "deferral" - but they still kept going.
That part really got to me. Even though the only thing that kept them going was not true after all, they carried on with their lives. Even though their only purpose in their lives was to donate organs to their corresponding "Other", they still decided to push through with it. I guess the main moral about this story was that they made the most out of their lives personally and with other people. I also find all the clones (not just the main characters) very admirable. We all know that it is very difficult to help others especially when it involves our lives, but the fact that these clones kept going for the lives of their corresponding "Other", someone they've never met before, is really a huge deal. Maybe we should learn a thing or two from them.
Denise Arandia
PH101 A
The synopsis of this movie kinda reminds me of "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. This time, it's about a 13-year old child named Anna who was conceived to provide organs for her sickly sister. It's a sad story, but anyway, what really struck me the most about the novel is Anna's situation. She was born, conceived by her parents for the sole purpose of helping her sister. She was literally born to help others.
ReplyDeleteYou guys should check it out. It's a really good book, and I think it also has a movie version though I'm not sure if it's as good.
Nathaniel Barretto
Ph102 A
Another film that follows a similar theme is the “Adjustment Bureau”. Matt Damon plays a Brooklyn congressman who accidentally finds out that people’s lives are dictated by specific, schedules that those in the “bureau” supervise. After falling for a dancer, they bravely face the “master plan” by fighting for a love that was never meant to be part of the “design”.
ReplyDeleteOutside the realm of fiction, it is us who channel our own destinies, given our own talents and present circumstances. Although not in the manner of “pre-determination”, fate still does play a hand in our chosen paths. In all our trials and tribulations, our lives will always intertwine with that of the Other- more than we will ever know.
Anthony Perez
PH102 A
This sounds like an interesting movie ( I wanna watch it :)) I guess, for me, the question, "who am I?" and "What does the other demand from me?", are both important since both questions help define each other. Like for example, by finding the answer to the question "who am I? " we learn to use our gifts and talents in helping others in need. By helping others in need, it helps us grow to become a better person. It's like a give and take relationship. For me, serving others can be fulfilling for us in terms of our spiritual growth it helps us understand not only bout the lives of others but also ourselves. Personally, I understood this feeling ever since I joined one of my orgs, Musmos and it's really a fulfilling experience for me being with kids in our area. :)
ReplyDeleteKat Balonan
Philo 102 A
I suppose one can see their "purpose" in life in two different ways:
ReplyDelete1. To be self-centered about it and say, "I didn't ask to be THROWN into this world, to have this life, to have these parents, to be this nationality, etcetera... and I sure don't want to live MY life in a way that would serve OTHER people! What about me?! This is MY LIFE and therefore I should be focusing on ME!"
2. Or one can be other-centered and say, "What an awesome privilege I have to be part of a bigger picture, to be a part of a whole, to be with others in creating something beyond myself and to be able to share it with the rest of the world. What a wonderful legacy I will leave behind!"
Either way, we're the only ones who can make that decision and whatever we decide will affect everything else in our lives.
Niko Peña
Philo 102 A