Name: Kevin Chan

Period: p4

Concept Connections Log

Name of Author/Artis Connection to Topic Source

Lead (Genre) t

As I Lay William A southern family struggles with the Regina Scott, Social Studies
Dying Faulkner task of burying their dead mother. teacher, Clear Lake High School
(Fiction
Novel)
1. Thus Friedrich A philosophical fictional situation of Project Gutenberg
Spoke Nietzsche the prophet Zarathustra to give a
Zarathustra perspective to the meaning of life
(Philosophica and existence.
l Fiction)
2. Also Richard A classical tone poem based on International Music Score
Sprach Strauss Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Library Project
Zarathustra outlining Zarathustra’s existential
(Classical and philosophical journey to find
Music) truth.
3. To Kill a Harper Lee Gives the story of a young girl who AP Literature most cited list
Mockingbird sees the effects of Jim Crow in
(Historical society. She must come to
Fiction) conclusions about truth and justice
from her experiences.
4. The man Robert Musil As the title says, It describes an Goodreads
without individual with no qualities, and
qualities finds truth and meaning through
(fiction) mathematics
5. Don Miguel de Depicts the story of Don Quixote, Goodreads
Quixote Cervantes who finds meaning and truth with
(fiction) Sauceda the customs of the past, and is
found to be “mad”
6. The Giver Louis Lowry The story’s depiction of a society Friend recommendation
(fiction) with no variation shows the
importance of pleasure and pain to
one’s happiness
7. The Douglas A fictional story of the endeavors of Friend recommendation
Hitchhikers Adams space explorers, who discover a
guide to the supercomputer who states the
galaxy meaning of life is “42”
(fiction)
8. The Glass Jeannette The story of Jeannette who Goodreads
Castle Walls experiences hardships with her
(Fiction) family and escapes to find what she
wants to do with her life.
9. Man’s Viktor Frankl Gives the story of a man who Previously read in English 1
Search for experiences concentration camps
meaning during WW2 and uses the
(Psychology) experiences to make a
psychological point
10. Ying Chang Gives the story of a young girl who Previously read outside of
Revolution is Compestine experiences the horrors of the school
not a tea Chinese cultural revolution, her
party perception of what’s really
(historical happening around her tainted by
fiction) the leaders of the revolution
11. Number Lois Lowry Depicts a young girl during the 2nd recommendations
the Stars world war who saves Jews who are
(Historical being “relocated” with large
Fiction) amounts of bravery
12. I measure Emily Dickinson gives her feelings on pain Poets.org
every Grief I Dickinson and grief, and how it interacts with
meet (poem) the passage of time.
13. I felt a Emily Dickinson gives her feelings on Poetry foundation.com
funeral, in Dickinson death, and what follows the death
my Brain of one’s body.
(Poem)
14. Invisible Ralph Ellison A novel concerning the social and recommendations
Man mental challenges facing African
(Historical Americans in the 20th century
Fiction)
15. Photo of BBC Depicts a man who is torn by the AP psych class.
the Milgram Milgram experiment, where a test
Experiment subject has to shock another
(photograph) participant to complete the test,
unknowing that no harm is being
done.
16. The Barbara An art piece that incorporates ideas Seen previously
future Kreuger from communist propaganda to
belongs to speak on the subject of materialism
those who and posessions
can see it
(artwork)
17. A Steve Teisch Speaking on the idea of “Posttruth” https://www.thefreelibrary.co
government where people are more influenced m/A+government+of+lies.-
of Lies by feelings than facts a011665982
(essay)
18. Oedipus Shakespeare Tells a tragic story of a man who is Read previously
Rex (play) abandoned at birth and experiences
the prophecies of oracles.
19. Stanislaw Painting from late 19th early 20th Going through different
Deception of Witkiewicz century depicting a man painting a paintings online
Woman woman.
(Painting)
20. As I Lay William The story of the death of Addie Recommended
Dying Faulkner Bundren told by 15 characters as
(Fiction) the journey to bury Bundren is
experienced
Annotations of the “Truth” Syntopicon

Truth as a principal is based on the idea that we aren’t lying. Truth and lies are opposites, and
cannot coexist in one’s psyche. People who speak truthfully may say false things unintendedly
and vice versa. It may not even be possible to know if something is wholly true. Some believe
truth doesn’t exist, and we create truth based on our needs and desires. It’s contradictory for
someone to believe that all propositions are equally true and false, as they believe the essence of
this idea to be completely true. Many disagree that ideas are both true and false. It’s easy to
determine what truth is, compared to what is true. The truth contained in our words in the form
of propositions may not be aligned with reality. Another interpretation of the definition of truth
being an agreement of ideas, is that truth is simply something that is successful. If helps us deal
with reality, it’s truth of that reality. This idea also follows the scientific meaning of truth. If
something aligns with reality, it’s true. Truth cannot be found in things, but in thought. Intellect
of things is the collection of truth, like art, which is true, as it follows the intellect and ideas of
the artist. Similarly in nature, natural things follow the divine intellect. There is a divide between
the idea of truth being divine, and in the human intellect. The natural and existing definition of
truth where there is conformity to the source of truth is not compliant with the existence of a
divine truth, as it doesn’t correspond to anything. To justify it, Aquinas goes theologian and says
anything of God is truth. Truth from Math and logic is different from truth of philosophy and
religion, as we cannot visually see the truth in math and logic. Some argue that nothing is false,
as we are created from a perfect and unchanging God who wouldn’t create us to be full of
falsehoods. The Falsehoods we deem as being false arise from the incorrect usage of our perfect
power of logic and free will.

Analytical paragraph of the “Truth Syntopicon

The basic definition of truth is when one expresses an idea that aligns with reality. The existence
of truth also assumes the existence of lies, which is when an idea does not align with reality.
Those who lie consciously are aware of the discord between the things they say and know, but in
other situations, people aren’t aware of the falsehoods they proclaim. This is a reason why the
motive behind one’s statement of falsehoods is an important aspect of character and the
determining factor of a “liar”. The idea of truth being a reflection of something else proves the
truth that arises form art and literature, as art is a reflection of the artists intellect and creativity,
an inherently perfect and truthful. As to a more universal idea of what truth is, there arises much
debate. Some believe that an almighty God is responsible for truth, and due to our being his
creations, are filled with the capacities like logic and reasoning to be fully truthful. However,
many contest that truth as we put as standard are wholly instituted on the basis of benefiting
ourselves based on our situation, and that reality is a farce.
Explications from the Syntopicon

Excerpt 1:

All that is in us of reality and truth proceeds from a perfect and infinite being, however clear and
distinct were out ideas, we should not have any reason to assure ourselves that they had the
perfection of being true. But once we have recognized that there is a god and also recognized that
all things depend upon him, and that he is not a deceiver, we can infer that whatever we perceive
clearly and distinctly cannot fail to be true.

Explication:

Descartes says that due to the reality that we are a creation of a larger and perfect being unable to
create falsehoods, we are therefore unable to be false. It would undermine the assumption of a
perfect and unchanging God of we, his creations, were full of falsehoods. Therefore, everything
we create is true.

Question:

Is a greater spiritual being responsible for truth? If not, what is? And if so, how is it possible that
a perfect god creates beings full of falsehoods?

Yes, as a Christian, I do believe that a greater spiritual being is responsible for truth. In my
church, we've been taught that there is no truth apart from the word of God. God, being perfect,
is also just. In order for God to be just, it is important that the beings that he has created have
free will, to choose which path to take on their own. As humans, we were born into a world full
of sin, sin that was the natural result of our bad choices and human nature

Answered by Amy Abraham, Senior at CLHS.

Excerpt 2

It is sometimes supposed, for example. That the truths of mathematics are purely formal or
without reference to real existence. That seems to be the positions of Hobbes and Hum, both of
whom take geometry as the model of truth. For them statements of fact about real existence are
the best probable opinions. For others, like James, there can be truth in the natural sciences, but
such empirical truth is distinct in type from what he calls the necessary truths of mathematics and
logic.

Explication:

Some philosophers believe a hierarchy exists in how truthful something can be. Following the
idea that truth is a reflection of reality, one may say that natural sciences like physics and
chemistry are more true due to the fact the results of these can be seen and experienced first
hand. Math and logic however, are seen in ways that are not as literal in the world around us, and
are therefore perhaps less truthful.

Question:

Are the studies of math and logic more “formal” and less truthful than empirical natural
sciences?

It seems like you've split the question into two opinions. I do think math and logic tend to be
more formal studies, but this doesn't necessarily mean they are less truthful. The formality of it is
to follow a course of development and to obtain findings in a uniform manner, this may be
slightly restraining but I don't believe truth is withheld. It may be partially kept to preserve order,
but with the fulfillment of studies it shouldn't be less truthful. Empirical natural sciences are
more of a hassle. They rely on solo design and for that reason can even be the less truthful of the
two. Empirical sciences tend to finally result in truth after much labor and design. Objectively
looking at the question once more, I would say, yes. The studies of math and logic do tend to be
more formal as empirical natural sciences encourage discovery. As a subject matter, they aren't
any less truthful. They have their own laws to follow and facts to adhere to.

Answered by Jason Pauly, Senior at CLHS

Excerpt 3:

They are persons who say there is no such thing as truth or that it is only the product of our needs
and desires.

Explication:

In this excerpt, the ideas that come in contrast to that of Freud are presented. Many of people
who hold this idea called “intellectual nihilists” believe that truth is an idea that we create for
ourselves to satisfy. We as human beings are not capable of attaining truth, as its much too far
out of reach. Furthermore, its presented that we’re inherently greedy and will say things only to
gain, even if means to mislead people.

Question:

What proportion of things you believe to be true do you contend are false creations of people? Is
there really a detrimental result of spreading falsehoods even if everyone believes it?

I believe that only a small proportion of beliefs that I hold as truth are possibly false creations of
people. This small proportion is made up of scientific/religious beliefs that I have built up over
the years that contradict rather than coincide with each other. Many believe that science must be
separate from religion, religion from science, or that the two go hand in hand, science being the
deep discovery of a higher power's creation. However, without being able to see the total picture
(as we ourselves are not of any higher power than the search to find the true meaning of life)
science is constantly changing, building on itself and rewriting it's own history. What could be
held in truth in this current time could be built upon or even tore down in a few years. When it
comes to universally well-received falsehoods, detrimental results or byproducts come in a
hidden and drawn out form. If everyone accepts a specific lie as a truth, initial consequences are
little to none. We as a whole may not have the technology to uncover the full truth, leading to
that acceptance of the lie. However, when this full truth is exposed in the light, a lack of trust
comes with the uncovering of truth. We doubt what we were taught, and doubt those who taught
us. The negative effects of such a well received lie are a ticking time bomb, its timer set to the
moment in time we uncover the truth.

Answered by Yan Zhe, Junior at CLHS

Reflection:

Truth being such a large term has been approached to be explained in many different ways.
While many agree on the “definition”, many disagree with its application and source. Some may
contend that truth is a god given entity, but others lean toward the maths and sciences. Most of
the philosophers in the syntopicon are generally optimistic on the truth and it’s importance.
Furthermore, it seems to be possible that truth is often a debatable topic when it comes to
metaphysical phenomena, and truth may also be able to be put into a hierarchy of what is more
true than others; truth may not always be black and white.
Nonfiction explication (Post-Truth: a New Faustian Pact by Nilgun Tutal)

Excerpt 1

Alongside the globalization of the economy and the weakening of the nation state, the public has
come to believe that the political, economic and cultural has abandoned them to their fate. The
view that the new media give everyone the opportunity to express themselves as they wish has
become widespread; there is supposedly no longer any obstacle to the expression of truth. This
has led to the spread of populist politics and to the widespread acceptance that populist policies
represent the ‘truth’ and are thus beyond critique. As a result, the public ceased to demand that
their politicians speak the truth.

Explication:

This excerpt explains the relationship of the people and leaders. As now more than ever trust is
lost between people and leaders, people are no longer giving their trust to the government. With
the proliferation of media, ideas that people have that are often untrue or contradictory are
expressed without restriction

Question:

Has the creation of media like Twitter impacted politics for the better or worse? Why?

I feel that the present use of social media platforms like Twitter has impacted politics for the
worse, because leaders use these media to throw around vague comments and thinly veiled
insults, especially the present leader of the United States. It has also limited direct contact
between leaders, instead letting leaders use these platforms to indirectly respond to each other.
Also, it limits the contact of politicians and leaders with their people, as politicians increasingly
use Twitter and other platforms to communicate their decisions and opinions.

Evan Lu, Senior at CLHS

Excerpt 2

In an article published in The Nation entitled ‘A Government of Lies’, Tesich looked back over
thirty years of lies in America. Since the Watergate scandal, he argued, Americans had been
phobic of the truth and now wished for ‘our government to protect us from the truth’. Reagan
and George Bush (if we recall the 2003 Iraq invasion) were politicians who clearly understood
this phobia. For those burning with passion for a ‘stable, secure country that is developing
economically’ who were unshaken by scandals (truths), turning a blind eye to lies no longer
meant any kind of moral failing.

Explication:

Especially evident in many extremely scary moments in US history, many leaders have kept
secrets and realities from the public for the better of the people. Many believe now that this is not
necessarily a morally bad thing to do

Question:

Is it immoral for a government to keep information away from its people? Why?

No,it is not immoral for a government to keep information away from its people. Especially in
this day and age there are terror threats and individuals on watch lists which do not share the
ideals this government was founded upon. While I appreciate the government protecting us, I
don't want or need to know about the dangerous people or what is being done for our protection.
This would create too much fear in our citizens.

Annette Chan, mother of Kevin Chan

Excerpt 3:

For those who see the absolute power of the nation as the pharmakon of social ‘diseases’, the
only threat to the survival of the totalitarian regime that derives its strength from this fake
existence is truth. This is why it is suppressed and forbidden. That is why those who try to reveal
the truth are persecuted, imprisoned, sentenced to death. For totalitarian regimes, the truth is a
threat that must be imprisoned behind walls or buried in graveyards, along with those who can
see it.

Explication:

In the goal to enforce the iron fist in a totalitarian regime, many leaders supress real truth and
replace it with formulated truths. A people can become more controlled if their knowlege does
not surpass that of what the government wants them to know

Question:

Why is knowledge of truths equated to power? In what ways can the suppression of truth be
detrimental?

The acquisition of knowledge is equated to power as with knowledge, tasks can be done more
efficiently. The most obvious example is through the invention of a gun, where a military force
can be dwarfed by an opposing force and still come out victorious. Knowledge can also aid in
making an economy more efficient. A more efficient economy allows a government to grow
their militaries as people can pay more taxes to fund the buildup. The most significant part of
knowledge however is its effect on society. If the populous knows too much, they will riot. That
is why almost every demagogue burns books that do not agree with their viewpoint.
The suppression of truth is bad for the same reason the acquiring of truths is good. The
suppression of technologies prevents an economy from improving and makes a government
weaker. Socially, in order for one ideology to improve, it must confront the problems brought up
by other ideologies. For example, if the United States tried to censor Keynesian economics, the
Great Depression would have lasted much longer than it did and 2008 would have been a lot
worse.

William Zhang, Senior at CLHS

Reflection:

As a whole, this paper explored the idea of the current society becoming more impressionable
with feelings, than facts and logic. Especially with the proliferation of social media, it’s difficult
to allow for people to freely express their opinions to everyone in the entire world without some
sort of misleading information. As facts and truth are an important part of a free society where
the people have power, it’s a warning sign in our society that people are losing sight of why it’s
important we, especially in America, have the capability to be free minded and choose what we
want to believe outside of a ideology or identity politics.
Essay from the great volumes (Berkley’s Human Knowledge):

Excerpt 1:

To them nothing that’s familiar appears unaccountable or difficult to comprehend. They

complain not of any want of Evidence in their Senses, and are out of all danger of becoming
Sceptics. But no sooner do we depart from Sense and Instinct to follow the Light of a Superior
Principle, to reason, meditate, and reflect on the Nature of Things, but a thousand Scruples
spring up in our Minds, concerning those Things which before we seemed fully to comprehend.

Explication:

Berkeley comments that although things may seem to be completely obvious to us, we as
humans are easily mislead and become skeptical on truths. It’s much easier to believe things that
are easy to believe, than things that are objectively true (although something objectively true can
be easy to understand)

Question:

Is it easier to accept what is true, or what is easy to believe?

I think it is easier to accept what is true because if you know that something is true, then it will
be easy for you to believe and stand up for it. Many people might sway your beliefs with what is
easy to believe, but if you know what is true and the facts that back it up, it will become more
concrete in your mind.

Emily Chan, sister of Kevin Chan, freshman at Clear Brook HS

Excerpt 2:

Prejudices and Errors of Sense do from all Parts discover themselves to our view; and
endeavoring to correct these by Reason we are insensibly drawn into uncouth Paradoxes,
Difficulties, and Inconsistencies, which multiply and grow upon us as we advance in
Speculation; till at length, having wander’d through many intricate Mazes, we find ourselves just
where we were, or, which is worse, sit down in a forlorn Scepticism.

Explication

As we approach dilemmas morally or other, the deeper we go, the more likely we are to find
“paradoxes difficulties, and inconsistencies”. Many people from this point go straight into
skepticism, and tend to draw unreasonable conclusions, instead of accepting the imperfections.

Question:

Is it a waste of time to learn more and research about our universe knowing that it’s impossible
to wholly understand it due to our brain’s finite abilities?

No, I don't think it is a waste of time to learn more about the universe because even if the human
brain is incapable of a holistic understanding of the universe there is still more that we can learn
as of right now

Yan Ru Wong, Junior at Clear Lake HS

Excerpt 3:

This which, if I
mistake not, hath been shewn to be a most groundless and absurd Notion, is the very Root of
Scepticism; for so long as Men thought that real Things subsisted without the Mind, and that
their Knowledge was only so far forth real as it was conformable to real Things, it follows,
they could not be certain they had any real Knowledge at all. For how can it be known, that
the Things which are perceived, are conformable to those which are not perceived, or exist
without the Mind? Colour, Figure, Motion, Extension and the like, considered only as so many
Sensations in the Mind, are perfectly known, there being nothing in them which is not perceived.
But if they are looked on as Notes or Images, referred to Things or Archetypes existing without
the Mind, then are we involved all in Scepticism. We see only the Appearances, and not the real
Qualities of Things. What may be the Extension, Figure, or Motion of any thing really and
absolutely, or in it self, it is impossible for us to know, but only the proportion or the relation
they bear to our Senses.

Explication

Many (Berkeley refers to as “skeptics”) believe that knowledge is not real because we cannot
know whether things are real outside of our minds, and it’s not provable that things are real
outside of human conscious. However berkeley believes its obvious that it’s impossible to know,
but it’s effect on our senses is important.

Question:

Is it possible to know if something actually exists outside of our conscious? If not, should this
information impact the way we interact with the world around us?

I believe that there are certain things that the human mind cannot understand or comprehend due
to our limited knowledge. I play chess a lot. The human mind cannot process all of the
combinations of moves that can occur. No one can. It doesn’t mean it can’t happen, it just means
our brains can’t process it. Something might exist and we will never know, since our brains
cannot understand it. It shouldn't change the way we interact with the world since we will never
know what it is.

Sameer Ahmed, Senior at Clear Lake HS

Reflection:

The human conscience is an extremely complex subject that begins to bring in the metaphysical.
Many people’s first idea when they think about this subject is that what we know to be truth is all
a farce. Many suppose that it’s not provable that anything we see or believe actually exists, and
therefore is unimportant. Berkeley does concede that this is a undeniable truth, but contends that
it’s possible that our senses are reliable enough to measure outside stimuli to a point where he
believes that it doesn’t matter whether it exists or not -- if we can measure it, it is important. Due
to the nature of questions being extremely philosophical and difficult to draw in experiences or
evidence to strengthen a point, many opinions were feelings or hopes in the people answering.