Class Discussion: 2/25/14

                After finishing Notes from the Underground and undergoing days of discussion, I do believe that it was worth the read. However, as Luisa mentioned in class, I think it became worth it after the discussions. I did not have a clear understanding of the book immediately after reading it, but it made a lot more sense after the discussions. If we were to have read the book and not had any discussions, then it would not have been worth it to read. I think that everyone has a clearer understanding of the book since we have had discussions in class.

               The thing that I will remember the most from this book is probably the idea of the “most advantageous advantage”. This topic came up many different times throughout the book, and it has made me realize certain things about human nature that I would have otherwise never thought about. For instance, I never did pay much attention to the fact that humans are the only animals that act differently from what is in their own best interest. All other animals live based on rationality and reason, while humans live less scientifically-based and more on their interests.

                Another thing I will probably remember is that humans claim to be superior to all other creatures, yet humanity is the one that decides this. We have this idea in our minds that all animals are below us, due to the idea that we are more intelligent and powerful. While this may be true, it is all a matter of perception. We have absolutely no idea what other animals think; they may feel that they are superior to man for their own reasons. Our humanization of animals is what leads us to believe that we are superior. Humans dictate what is considered better or superior, but there is a far larger scope. This is where the idea of an infinite universe comes into play. On this scale, we are infinitely insignificant.

                Lastly, the idea of the wall is something that will stick with me. I agree that humans like having some sort of barrier that is difficult to break. As we saw in class, the idea of an infinite universe is utterly frustrating; we hate the idea of picturing something that in intangible to us. In our minds, even when trying to imagine something that has no end, we have to picture a barrier and then say to ourselves that it continues. We become frustrated that we are unable to perceive such an idea as an infinite universe.