Presentations

I greatly enjoyed the presentations that were given by my fellow classmates. I think this was a really fun and engaging way to apply the concepts that we have learned so far in TOK to real life examples and situations. Hassan and Kiana's presentation about drugs was quite informative; it gave me insight into the reasons that people might turn to drugs to escape the reality that is infringed upon them. Although I now have a better understanding about the concepts and ideas behind the act, I do not really think that using drugs is the best way to discover ourselves or to become creative. I understand that the first time one uses drugs, one would feel this unique sensation that can no longer be repeated....but I actually think that turning to drugs to escape reality, discover ourselves, or awake our creative side makes us weaker. I personally believe that the power to escape this reality and our journey of self discovery should be something that comes from within, and not through chemicals that we inhale, smoke or inject. I think that the act of developing the adequate strength to escape this reality or to get in touch with a more spiritual, or to get to a deeper level of self understanding; and the perseverance that comes with that is part- a vital part in fact- of self discovery. Because if you think about it, its not really you, its the chemicals, and how they make you think/feel and act; if it was really who you are, you should be ab le to experience these thoughts without being under the effect of these chemicals. Nonetheless, i still see where the ideas, and the mentality come from.

The idea of meditation that was presented by Nastasja was one that appealed to me a bit more. I think that if one is able to reach that state, beyond the 'normal' or 'usual' ability of the mind and body, and if one is able to free himself form the constraints imposed by the two, then one has truly reached a higher level of thought and of self control and understanding. It is definitely more difficult to master though, and it might not work as well for most people, simply because of factors such as our expectations of what we should get out of the experience, this is an example of how this process is once again interrupted by our conscious thinking and of things and ideas that society instills and imposes upon us as individuals.

The presentation about the aboriginals in Australia was extremely interesting simply because it was something that i knew nothing about, so it was very exciting to get to know about a new way of perceiving life and what it means to a certain group of people....