Mary Astell

By Holly Thomanson  (1º BACH B)

Mary Astell is one of the earliest women philosophers of the early modern period not born into the class of nobility or wealth that allowed women to expand their intellectual horizons. She wrote various books called, Some Reflections Upon Marrige, Serious Proposal to the Ladies for the Advancement of Their True and Greatest Interest published around 1700. In these books she critiques the philosophical underpinnings of the institution of marrige in the 1700s, warning women of the dangers of hasty illconsidered choices. She argues that education will help women to make better matrimonial choices. Also, Astell suggests extending women's career options beyond mother and nun. Astell wanted all women to have the same opportunity as men to spend eternity in heaven with God.

A women should look for a good understanding, a virtuous mind and in all other aspects let there be as much equality as possible.

Mary Astell was remembered for her ability to debate freely with both contemporary men and women in society by engaging phisolophical debate instead of basing her arguments with historical evidence.

Descartes was a particular influence that allowed Astell to promote the idea that women as well as men had the ability to reason and that they should not be treated so poorly.

"If all men are born free, how is it

that all women are born slaves".

Mary Astell.

Tattoos

By Markos, 1º BACH

These days, tattoos are more common than ever. Tattoos have gained quite a bit in popularity over the years, giving people a chance to stand out and broadcast who they really are. Men and women alike have tattoos, some covering their entire body. The choice is entirely up to you though, as you can get a tattoo in virtually any size you want.

Even though there are many good things about tattoos, there are bad things as well. Among the good things about tattoos include, the chance to broadcast who you are, the chance to be you, and the chance to stand out. Most people who get tattoos get them for the symbolic meaning. Although there are some who get tattoos strictly for the look, many end up regretting getting the tattoo later on in life.

Tattoos are great for show, although the design itself should hold some meaning. There are a variety of designs and colors to choose from. You can check out many designs at your local tattoo studio, in books and magazines, and on the Internet. The Internet is a great resource for tattoo designs, as there are literally thousands to look at. You can also look at pictures of those who have tattoos, so you can get an idea as to what a certain style will look like once it has been finished.

Tattoos work by piercing the skin with a needle and injecting little gobs of ink. With that being said, the risk of infection when getting a tattoo is always there. If the tattoo artist is not sanitary and does not clean his equipment after every use, the risk of infection will be much higher.

Another thing to worry about with tattoos is removal. If you later decide that you do not want the tattoo, you will have to pay an expensive price to have it surgically removed. Surgery carries risks and complications as well. In some cases, those who have got tattoos have had to have the tattoo removed due to infection. In these cases the infection has gotten so bad that there really is no other choice than to get the tattoo removed.

No matter how you look at it, there will always be both pros and cons with tattoos. Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should make sure that the design you have picked out is something that you can see yourself with for years to come. If there is any doubt in your mind about the tattoo, you should not get it. Even though it may seem cool at the time, the price for removal and the complications with surgery may not be worth it in the long run.

Invictus

Este poema da nombre a la película que quizá la mayoría no habéis visto. Creo que suscita las mejores emociones que podemos tener los seres humanos, aquellas que necesitamos cuando estamos perdidos y elegimos renacer y no darnos por vencidos. Pertenece a William Ernest Henley, y parece que Mandela lo usó a lo largo de sus veintisiete años de cárcel para mantener su esperanza en pie. He visto hoy la película y no me resisto a ponerlo aquí. Está por toda la Red, pero ahora lo podemos disfrutar y conocer en el blog. Buen provecho.

 

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
  Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
  For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
  I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
  My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
  Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
  Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
  How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
  I am the captain of my soul.

Más allá de la noche que me cubre
negra como el abismo insondable,
doy gracias a los dioses que pudieran existir
por mi alma invicta.

En las feroces garras de las circunstancias
nunca me he lamentado ni he gritado.
Sometido a los golpes del destino
mi cabeza está ensangrentada, pero erguida.

Más allá de este lugar de cólera y lágrimas
donde yace el Horror de la Sombra,
la amenaza de los años
me encuentra, y me econtrará, sin miedo.

No importa cuán estrecho sea el portal,
cuán cargada de castigos la sentencia,
soy el amo de mi destino:
soy el capitán de mi alma.

Philosopical Disertation - Pro Abortion

 By Ben Riley, 1º BACH A

Today is a special day for this blog because it's the first time we have the opportunity to read an entry in  a foreign language. I can see that Ben has chosen a very polemical subject, but this is an opportuniy to the people with different beliefs: an opportunity to argue and to improve our capacity of thinking. Because this blog lets any opinion... if it's respectful. I expect your comments, for or againts it. (In english better, if you want. Sorry, Ben: I'm sure that I have made a lot of mistakes in your native language. I'll let you to correct me, but just this once. I'm only joking).

Abortion, the removal of a  human embrion from the uterus resulting in death to said embrion. The majority of the arguments against this either come from "pro-life" groups or religous belifs, there are also many factors to consider at the moment of abortion, age, mental health, phisical health...

I am pro abortion seeing as if a person decides, even after being several weeks pegnant, that they do not want a child for any reason, they should not have it and therefore abort it. Many of the arguments against this are that the elimination of the embrion is the termination of a "human life". In my opinion at this stage the embrion can hardly be considerd a "human life" , it has not yet seen or know the outside world or lived life. This so called "human life" is just a series of cells in development completing a chemical reaction, therefore it is not the termination of human life, only the elimination of unwanted cells.

In conclusion, there is no real argument against abortion seeing as the majority of arguments are "pro-life" and are against the termination of human life, at this stage the embrion is only a cell and not yet a human and therefore can not be considered human life.