For Prof. Eliud Peterson ONLY

THE ARTICHOKE VERSION OF THE SELF

The Artichoke Version of The Self

Akiki K. Gover

South University Online

PHI2301 Introduction to Philosophy SU02

Professor: Jena Jolissaint

08/21/2018

The Artichoke Version of The Self

“The first noble truth recognizes that we also change like the weather, we ebb and flow like the tides, we wax and wane like the Moon. We do that, and there's no reason to resist it.” If we do, she says, the reality and vitality of life become a hell—one that we have created ourselves.” (Mitchell 2015, p 139). Pema Chödrön, an American Buddhist nun, spoke these words. To me this would be the best example of the Artichoke Version of The Self. The Artichoke Version is one whom only has layers of life to peel away, no core. Each layer representing almost everything the individual has experienced in life, every change, every fail, every breakthrough, every heartache, a layer representing every time they have accepted/adapted to better their life or to just be happy. When we stop allowing the negatives of life control us, our world around us becomes a much better place for us to reside in.

When we talk about Existentialism, its all about freedom. Making our selves aware of our choices in life. Not allowing the world to control who we are, what we want to be or even end up being. Existentialist feel we are responsible for our own well being our own choices in life. Rather they be bad, unplanned, reckless and unthought out plans, we still made that choice of our own free will. To me this is about being happy in life as well. When one finds meaning to life, and no longer allows the world or socialization to choose for them, they are happy. As they are making decisions based upon their own life’s experiences, what they believe, not the world, world leaders, priest or friends…. free will choices is what it is called. When you decide to become a Police Officer because you see the world and how it is riddled with crime. You want to make a difference. You want to actually serve and protect the people. When it is time to do your job, you are ecstatic, ready to make the world a better place. You know how the world is, but you are willing to take on the challenge, no matter what. Now when making that decision to become an Officer because Dad or Mom thought you would be great at it, because they are/were Officers of the Law as well. Going into that career can be threatening, over whelming and dangerous. True enough, this career can bring stress and endangerments, no matter why the decision was made, but the consequences are taken better when the choice is authentic. Yet one has made that choice due to someone else, wanting to make another happy instead of self.

Rather we are Atheist, Christians or Existentialist I feel we can all see some good points from the Artichoke View. A “contemporary Muslim scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr stated, the human person (male and female) “is the viceregent of God on earth . . . responsible to God for his actions and the custodian and protector of the earth of which he is given dominion on the condition that he remain faithful to himself as the central terrestrial figure created in the ‘form of God,’ a theomorphic [divine form] being living in this world but created for eternity.” (Mitchell 2015, p. 123) This is someone whom believes in the Avocado View, but many whom believe in the Artichoke View can take something from this quote as well. This shows that rather Artichoke or Avocado, the beliefs are somewhat similar.

Be responsible for your actions. Take charge of your life. Don’t use negative attributes for your downfalls. Age, sickness or heartaches should not be a reason to give up on life. Life should be meaningful. Also, life/world will constantly change, with or without us. We should be willing and ready to change with it. Think of technology in the world today, compared to 30-40 years ago. Cell Phones barely existed. WiFi did not come into existence till around the late 1990’s. Now we can’t manage without it. When walking into a grocery store, we had to have someone ring up our groceries, now we have the option to ring them up ourselves. As the world changes and advances, we must change and adapt as well. The Artichoke Version can be applied to many, maybe not all layers of ourselves.

References:

Mitchell, H. (2015). Bookshelf Online. [online] Digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu. Available at: https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/9781305533844/cfi/6/2!/4/2@0:0.00 [Accessed 21 Aug. 2018].