fandomhigh | Build Your Own Philosophy, 1/4/10, Period 2

The chalkboard at the front of the classroom today had a sentence written on it for the students to ponder as they took their seats.

All is water -- Thales of Miletus

"That statement," Tyler said as he waltzed in front of the students, "is where philosophy started, way back in the sixth century B.C. Thales is the first person whose writing has come down to us who we consider a philosopher, meaning he thought about the world and how it worked outside an entirely religious context."

He was pacing as he continued to talk. "What we want to do in this class is exactly that. Be philosophers. Make sense of the world. I know, I'm supposed to be the guy who blows stuff up and makes people fight each other -- but that isn't just because I'm a jerk." Not that he was denying that he was a jerk. "It's because the way I understand the world is by looking at the abyss. Looking at destruction. You can think I'm right, or wrong, or crazy -- I'll be happy to talk it through. But by the end of the term, after we've talked about a different philosopher every week, I want all of you to be able to tell me how you see the world, in 50 words or less."

Gesturing to the board, Tyler added, "Now, after Thales said everything was water -- transitory, insubstantial -- other people started talking back. Anaximander said it was all apeiron, which basically means there's an infinite basic mass that never goes away. Scientifically speaking he was right, as it happens, more or less. Anaximenes said everything was air -- that water was just another form of air. And Hericlitus? He was my kind of guy. He said it was all fire."

"Your assignment this week is to take a few minutes to think about it, and then stand up and tell us your name, one interesting thing about you, and how you'd finish the sentence 'All is ________.'" He gave a slight smile to Ino at the last bit ~~assuming she was there~~. See, he could vary his opening-day spiel.

"Think now. When you're done, we start with you," he said, pointing randomly. "Oh, and I haven't set up TAs yet. If you're up for it, come see me after class."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She wasn't even going to be a brat and say he already knew her and so she totally ought to be exempt from introducing herself. Ino was being good today, yes.

"Yamanaka Ino," she said, almost idly, "Ino's the first name."

Yes, she was still being stubborn about the order of her name. It was a thing.

"I'm not too terribly interesting," lies; she thought she was plenty interesting, "but once upon a time I graduated from a school with the second highest grades in my class in cooperation and class attitude." Just so Tyl--Mr. Durden could have a laugh. Surely he would.

Besides, she'd been first in her class for assertiveness. That would surprise no one.

"And I'd go with Hericlitus. All Is Fire. Fire is passion and will and battle, and life. If you don't have fire in you, then you're already dead and your heart just ain't got the memo yet."

Had anyone expected she'd pick anything else?

Edited 2010-01-04 05:09 (UTC)

Tyler knew her well enough by now to get across what he had to say with an arched eyebrow. Cooperation must have meant something very different back where Ino was from, in his opinion.

"Gold star," he said. "Seriously, you know I'm not gonna disagree. Good to have you in class again."

He wasn't sure what he'd do if Ino didn't register for his courses, as much as she sometimes infuriated him. He was used to watching her reactions as he lectured as a (no doubt sometimes faulty) gauge for the rest of the class. And, well, the girl was never dull.

"What would you say to someone who said he was born without fire?"

Edited 2010-01-04 13:40 (UTC)

Ino was allergic to dull. And boring. And everything else like it.

Besides, she was busy smothering a laugh at the raised eyebrow. She was a classroom darling, what was he implying?

Other than the truth, hm.

"With no fire?" Ino's shiver wasn't faked at that. "That they creep the hell out of me and to stay far far away from me? Or think that they don't know what they're talking about--fire can be really negative to a lot of people, but it's got just as many positives."

"It can destroy, but you have to destroy to build new life," Tyler said, leaning back on his hands against his desk. "Like forest fires -- horrible things. Cause millions of dollars in destruction, kill things. But the ecosystem needs it."

He shrugged one shoulder. "How that relates to people ... I think that's what were in this class to talk about."

"What brought this class 'bout?" Ino asked curiously. "And--yeah. Fire is destructive but it purifies and gives room for the new while clearing out the old."

"Bored with science," Tyler said. It was an honest answer, and briefer than if I drop Mentos into Diet Coke one more time, I will begin pondering that as a means of suicide. "Wanted to be more than the guy who lets students blow stuff up. The specific topic just felt like the right kind of a change."

Her lips twitched.

“Don’t worry,” she answered, eyes wide and guileless. “You’re more than that to me.”

Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing really depended on the day and the mood and the way Ino felt right that second, honestly. But it was true, at least.

“And it’s a neat idea,” Ino continued, a grin lighting her face. “Though the group you’ve got might make things interesting.”

Pure mischief in that. At least she couldn’t blow things up in this class?

"I appreciate your confidence, Ino," Tyler said cheerily, deciding to take it as a good thing. "Interesting classes are better than robots writing down everything I say, right?"

"I'd make a very poor robot," she answered lightly. "So yes, much better."

And it was a compliment--today.

Build Your Own Philosophy, 1/4/10, Period 2

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]

Re: Introductions [1/04]