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Sophocles's philosophy
Blindness and sight in oedipus
Oedipus the king analysis
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Sight Versus Insight in Oedipus the King
"Anyone who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light,which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees anyone whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter life, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess light. And he will count the other one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other"
(Plato, The Republic)
The paradoxical coexistence of blindness and insight is portrayed in Sophocles' Oedipus the King, in which Oedipus experiences a devastating yet redeeming realization that the "vision" he possesses is nothing but false pride and blindness. Suffering a complete reversal, Oedipus nevertheless maintains the fortitude to actively develop and endure intense suffering in order to attain extraordinary insight; deliberately grasping the kairos, Oedipus experiences a double bewilderment of the eye - both a physical blindness and, more ignificantly, a spiritual enlightenment, resulting from his "[h]aving turned from darkness to the day [to be] dazzled by excess light (Plato, The Republic).
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23).
Oedipus' "eyes are bad" and the dayli...
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...ham: University Press of America, Inc: 1996.
Hamilton, Edith "The Collected Dialogues of Plato" , Eds. Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns, 526-574. New York: Pantheon Books, 1961.
Ignatius Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1966.
Knox, Bernard. Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1984.
Regal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne, 1993.
Sophocles. "Oedipus the King" Classics in World Literature. Ed by Wood, Kerry et. Al. Glenview, IL: Scott-Foresman, 1989.
Marra, James L., Zelnick, Stephen C., and Mattson, Mark T. IH 51 Source Book: Plato, The Republic, pp. 77-106. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, 1998.
Plato. The Republic. Trans. Desmond Lee. 1955. 2nd ed. London: Penguin, 1987.
The history of recognition and research into the MAE phenomenon can be traced back as far as the Aristotelian era. Both Aristotle (330 B.C) and Lucretius (approx. Three centuries later) reported the visual phenomenon as an effect of the stimulus water (although Lucretius went further by describing a MAE direction). It was not until the early nineteenth century that further research was noted. Purkinje (1820) and Addams (1834) both reported the causation and directional flow of the MAE with reference to cavalry parades and waterfalls as their respective motion examples. From this period up until the mid-twentieth century further research had been sporadic. This is perhaps due to the fact that so little was known of the neuroanatomy of the visual system. Wohlgemuth (1911) had however reviewed many of his predecessors work as well as reporting many of his own studies. An important aspect of his research came with the discovery of the storage effect of MAE's. After adaptation to stimuli, the testing eye is closed for th...
Oedipus the King. Tranlsted by Stephen Berg and Diskin Clay. In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.
Dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is a disorder in which an individual has the presence of one or more personality states. These personality states each have their own distinct names, attitudes, identities and self-images within an individual’s conscious awareness. At least two of the personalities take control of the affected person’s behavior. Dissociation is defined as the disruption of the normal integrative process of consciousness, perception, memory and identity, which define selfhood (Pias, 2009). Symptoms of dissociation includes amnesia, depersonalization, identity confusion, age regression, hearing internal voices, and identity alteration (). Dissociative identity disorder is believed to result from the splitting of conscious awareness and control of ones thoughts, feelings, memories and mental components as a response to traumatic experiences that was unacceptable to the individual. It indicates a broken personality with the absence of a clear and comprehensive identity (Pias, 2006).
Many times people are blind to the truth that is right in front of them. The solution to their problems may have been blatantly obvious, however, they could not actually “see” their answer by their blindness to the truth. There have been instances where being blind is not actually a handicap, but more of a tool to see things to a deeper meaning. Although the blind may not have physical sight, they have another kind of vision. In Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, Tiresias, the blind prophet, addresses the truth of the prophecy to Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blind to the truth of the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother his whole life. Once Oedipus discovers the truth, he loses his physical vision by blinding himself. Within these cases, the central theme of blindness can be expressed by Oedipus’s ignorance to see the higher vision- the truth
Sports psychology can be defined as the study and application of the attitudes and behaviors of athletes (including team athletes) that impact (either positively or negatively) performance in sports or competitive settings. The goal of sports psychology is to help athletes and teams identify unhealthy attitudes and beliefs, apply mental toughness skills and peak performance strategies to perform at optimal levels (Cohn). Sports psychology is not recognized as a traditional field of practice offered by graduate programs; although, it is a recognized field of specific study under Kinesiology and Physical Education Programs. Sports psychology was first founded in 1920 by Carl Diem in Berlin, Germany. Later on, in 1925, sport psychology was brought to the U.S by Cloman Griffith. These early psychologists aimed to observe the effects of mental state on different factors of performance such as reaction time, tension, relaxation, and awareness (Haney). In the 1960’s Griffith’s research interest in sports psychology reemerged after having faded away for a while; however, the field had a...
Imagine waking up in a new house, town, city, even state and not knowing how you got there. Now add onto that thought of forgetting almost a year of your life because someone else, or something, has taken over your body. That is just a look into dissociative disorders in general. Dissociative Disorders are ‘extreme distortions in perception and memory” (Terwilliger 2013). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is often the most misunderstood dissociative disorder of them all. It has always been somewhat of a mystery. Seeing videos of the disorder can really give you an insight on what happens with the person who suffer from it. Almost everyone in the world has a different view on what they think the disorder means. Here I will explain what the disorder is and what happens when you have the disorder. Also debunking a few myths along the way.
"Plato." The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume I. 6th ed. NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 1992. 726-746.
Through the play “Oedipus the King”, there is a recurring pattern of sight and blindness, not just physical blindness but blindness of knowledge as well. In the beginning of the play Oedipus has a fine sight of vision, but he is ignorant to the truth. On the other side Tiresias is literally blind, but he can see Oedipus past, present, and future. Oedipus eyes work fine but as the play progresses he is completely blinded by the fate that the gods have placed on him. The blindness in the play symbolizes “seeing” and “knowledge”, Tiresias who can see through knowledge where Oedipus can physically see. Sight vs Blindness is a theme that appears in the play which appears when Tiresias, who is a blind prophet is revealing that Oedipus is the killer himself. Oedipus in denial refuses to believe Tiresias and continues to blame the murder on others. Throughout the conversation between Oedipus and
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a disorder in which two or more distinct identities alternate in controlling a person’s consciousness and behavior (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). If not diagnosed and treated in the early stages of development the alter personalities may begin to fight for control of the body (Pica, 1999). This may occur because the alternate personalities have become an equal part of the person and every alter cannot always be in control. Although DID is more frequently diagnosed in the late teens and early adult years, most diagnoses occur 5-10 years after the onset of symptoms (Slogar, 2011). Moreover, DID appears to be more prevalent in females, those who have a close relative who have DID, and generally occurs during the developmentally sensitive stages of childhood.
People can be “blinded” to the truth. The answer to their question or solution to their problem may have been obvious. Yet, they could not "see" the answer. They were blinded to the truth. Associations have been made between being blind and enlightened. A blind person is said to have powers to see invisible things. They "see" into the future. The blind may not have physical sight, but they have another kind of vision. In Sophocles' King Oedipus, Teiresias, the blind prophet, presents the truth to King Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blinded to the truth his whole life. When he does find the truth, he loses his physical vision. Because of the truth, Oedipus blinds himself. Jocasta was blind to the true identity of Oedipus. Even when she found out the truth, she refused to accept it. In this case, those who are blind ultimately do have a higher vision - the truth.
Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed.Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al. New York: Longman, 1997.
Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex." An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al. New York: Longman, 1997. 800-836.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID), formally and popularly known as multiple personality disorder was surrounded by controversy in its inception and still faces the doubts of many critics today. DID involves the presences of two or more personalities or alters in one individual. Its inclusion in the DSM-V formalized its realness and significance, paving the way for clinicians to assess, diagnose and offer treatment. The current paper aims to present an analytical overview of the methods for diagnosing and assessing the disorder, to examine the current treatment therapies and evaluate the availability of treatment resources within the local community.
Sport psychology, as defined by the APA, is the “proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal performance and well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systematic issues associated with sport settings and organizations” (APA). While applicable to sports, psychology is the foundation upon which the skill set sports psychologists are able to utilize is built. The ability to apply this particular skill set not only with athletes, but in any aspect where health and performance are concerned open up the possibilities of working with different groups and ages on the fundamentals of goal setting and mental skills training
A lot of times, sports seem like a contest of physical skill― a test to see who is the fastest or strongest, who has the best eye or the most endurance, who can jump the highest or can handle the ball the best. What a lot of people don’t know is that there is so much more to a sport than just the muscle and coordination. In order to excel in a sport, an athlete requires a lot of self-discipline, concentration, and self-confidence. It’s the mental factor that makes a difference. Former Olympic gold medal-winning decathlon runner Bruce Jenner once said, “You have to train your mind like you train your body” (Gregoire 1). Success or failure depends on the mental factors just as much as the physical ones. The training of the mind of an athlete is called sports psychology. The use of sports psychology has a huge impact upon an athlete’s performance. The mental skills of a sport are just as important as the physical skills. All professional athletes use sports psychology. “If they aren’t currently using it, it’s almost guaranteed they’ve used it in the past, even if they are unaware they have” (Davis, Stephens, The Exploratorium 129). It’s hard to find an experienced athlete who hasn’t used sports psychology, because without it, they probably wouldn’t be where they are. The use of sports psychology is a crucial step to becoming a successful athlete.