Jostein Gaarder’s novel Sophie’s World has taught many of us about our own lives. We have learned about the many ideas that philosopher’s and scientists before us had. By reading this novel we are also thinking about ourselves. We actually think about why we are alive and what we have to live for. We start to create our own beliefs and understandings from the ideas of others.
One topic I found interesting in the novel were the contradicting ideas of Aristotle and Plato. Aristotle supported the idea that senses are more important than reasoning. He believed that we understand the world by how we feel about it. Plato believed that we understood our lives and the world by reason. In my opinion I support Aristotle and how we view the world from our senses and parts of Plato’s beliefs. I believe that senses are important and help us perceive the world a certain way. We first view the world by how we see and feel about it. Although I support Aristotle’s belief I understand Plato’s belief as well. Plato thought that we cannot trust our senses and we should think about the world. In many cases people say that we should not do anything based on our emotions, so does this mean that our emotions can deceive us? It might be depending on the situation. Both senses and reasons are important and they should both be used equally.
We all have emotions and thoughts that we keep within ourselves. We have our own secrets that we never tell. Many of these thoughts and emotions cannot be spoken of but instead sung about. Taylor Swift is an artist who sings what most people believe and think. She sings about the hardships of growing up, and love. Her self-written lyrics are ideas that everyone thinks about. In her song “Enchanted”, Taylor Swift sings about meeting the person you are meant to be with. She sings about the thoughts that people have when they meet their soul mate. This song begins with her serene feminine voice and the strumming of the guitar in the background. As she sings about the scene of two people meeting her voice becomes louder with beat of the drum. As this song continues the violin and wind instruments are added connecting with her voice. Whenever she describes the thoughts that one has when meeting someone she begins to sing louder almost creating the same confused and anxious reaction anyone can have. The addition of the instruments helps explain the inquiries that we all have. “This night is sparkling, don't you let it go, I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home, I'll spend forever wondering if you knew, I was enchanted to meet you,” are the repetitive lyrics that describe the constant emotion that swift has. The honest lyrics to this song tell about how most teenage girls feel. When I first heard this song I was moved by the emotional lyrics. The melody of her song allowed me to understand what she is going through during this encounter. The femininity in her voice adds to the sentimental value this song acquires. This song truly allows one to feel enchanted. 