In your opinion, does betrayal suggest anything about life? In what ways does it suggest that life is cylical, repetitive, fluid?
Help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
2007-01-21 10:11:37 · 9 answers · asked by SiLk 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Well here's why I'm asking the question. I am writing a paper on the story, "The Student" by Chekhov. Throughout the story there are several references to this whole theme of life being cyclical and everything being interconnected. The theme of betrayal is also very central in this story. I am trying to develop an argument and I think that Chekhov is hinting at some relation between betrayal and life. If you would like to read the story check this link out:
http://www.eldritchpress.org/ac/jr/173.htm
Hopefully I'm not complicating things or digging too deep. Thanks.
2007-01-21 12:05:04 · update #1
Betrayal is a manifestation of human freedom, and of the fact that each of us has a private consciousness that has no direct access to what's going on in another consciousness. Misunderstandings are inevitable, some of them are experienced as betrayals. Socrates claimed that no one knowingly commits evil. In other words, we all write our own stories so that they present our behavior as justifiable, correct, or good most of the time. Kierkegaard has a concept called "willed ignorance", or turning a blind eye to our own faults, failing to be diligent in our self-monitoring, being ethically lazy. Considering all these weaknesses, it is really rare that someone viciously hurts you without it seeming to her like you deserve it, or without its just being a simple misunderstanding or mistake, or without it being ethical laziness. "On purpose" is something that's far more often in the eye of the victim than in the intent of the perpetrator; that's why there's forgiveness.
Betrayal implies that the victim is owed something better from the perpetrator; this is a stronger accusation than simply saying someone did something to hurt you.
What does this suggest about life? Humans screw up; it's part of the human condition, and when I see someone using the term betrayal non-sparingly, I see someone as prone to screwing up as much as those who caused her pain.
The only kind of lie that's proscribed in the Ten Commandments is bearing false witness, i.e. false accusation, and claiming that someone did something wrong "on purpose", deliberately, etc, if they merely committed an error, is a false accusation. These are the ways betrayal is interwoven with life, for me, anyway.
2007-01-27 21:59:15 · answer #1 · answered by G-zilla 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, betrayal points out the competitiveness in life. Our species has been competing for a long tie, hence betrayal suggests that life is repetitive.
2007-01-25 23:38:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mercenary Poet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betrayal says to you about life that you can't trust everyone to be nice to you if you are nice to them. If everyone did that and there was no betrayal the world would be all happy and fluffy. No one would know what having friends meant because we would all be friends with each other. We wouldn't value the friendships that much because everyone had them.
2007-01-21 10:50:07 · answer #3 · answered by fatp3ngu1n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too general. There are different forms of betrayal as you know. It does not suggest anything concerning life, except you better watch your own back.
2007-01-21 10:31:28 · answer #4 · answered by AJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betrayal as in relation to loyalty? Well, in that sense I think it's sort of a balance thing like yin and yang or good and evil.
2007-01-21 11:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betrayal is a teacher if we let it be. In life we will be betrayed many times by others and by ourselves. It can hurt greatly. However, if in fear and ignorance, we close ourselves off from from life in and with the world and the recognition and pain of being betrayed, we close ourselves off from one of life's most potent teachers about life and ourselves.
2007-01-27 19:24:21 · answer #6 · answered by jaicee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A philosopher once said that what distinguishes man from animals is his ability to MAKE a promise. So what does it mean when someone does not KEEP a promise
2007-01-27 09:21:11 · answer #7 · answered by franc 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it says that humans are animal. We are concerned about ourselves. And only concern ourselves with others after aour needs are met. (of course there are exceptions)
2007-01-21 10:18:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
my own family. don't ask me why. but i analogize the word betrayal by it. sorry to provoke unease but i just have to say it.
2007-01-27 19:08:55 · answer #9 · answered by oscar c 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋