Londonhua WIKI - User contributions [en]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:27:55Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #1 Westminster Abbey and Tower of London (5/8) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530-karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seems to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45-minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represents Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with a visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:27:22Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #2 The National Gallery (5/9) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seems to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45-minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represents Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with a visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:26:02Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #3 Evensong (5/9) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45-minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represents Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with a visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:25:37Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #4 British Museum (5/10) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represents Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with a visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:25:04Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #4 British Museum (5/10) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with a visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:24:21Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #5 St. Paul's Cathedral (5/11) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either side of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern eras that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:22:51Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #6 Natural History Museum (5/12) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building is built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduces violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:21:52Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #7 Victoria and Albert Museum (5/15) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery, there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:21:08Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #8 Tate Modern (5/16) */

=Milap Patel=
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|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level, I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:20:39Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #9 Museum of London (5/17) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum, I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:19:56Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #10 Tate Britain (5/19) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art alongside "classical" art. This was quite interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:18:28Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #11 Hampton Court Palace (5/22) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms where one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide-open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:17:23Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #12 Museum of London Docklands (5/23) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit where it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:15:40Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #15 London Science Museum (5/30) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peeking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:13:38Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #18 Stonehenge, Bath (6/8) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman buildings were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:12:49Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #19 Windsor Castle (6/12) */

=Milap Patel=
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|header1 =
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman building were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall, I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:12:23Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman building were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole, but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:11:25Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman building were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularly, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole but it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:09:14Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #19 Windsor Castle (6/12) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman building were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out, but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber. Plus, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:07:09Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #18 Stonehenge, Bath (6/8) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guide, I thought, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally thought. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I thought was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at as a first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To begin with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh which energized me. The roman building were also amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings where Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones, unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T02:00:15Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #17 The Globe Theater (6/7) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in an open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded by a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convincing emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor within the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play soaked by heavy rain at the beginning. This activity also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:54:45Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #16 The Wallace Collection (5/31) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone's house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty. This activity is also unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:53:22Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #15 London Science Museum (5/30) */

=Milap Patel=
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|header1 =
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew in an attack mission. Doing that mission gave me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing tour, it is unrelated to my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:51:31Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #14 Horniman Museum (5/25) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after seeing their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:49:40Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #13 Imperial War Museum (5/24) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:49:14Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #13 Imperial War Museum (5/24) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies. 
Unfortunately, this activity had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:47:59Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #13 Imperial War Museum (5/24) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being curious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of his citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:45:12Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #11 Hampton Court Palace (5/22) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny, such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite painting of these kind of was located in the kings sleeping room. It had angelic paintings curving down from the center of the ceiling, into the surrounding walls, and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so on. My personal favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other hand, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three sections of garden. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section had smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:37:15Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #10 Tate Britain (5/19) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art gallery tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people from them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angels among them. Nudity, particularly female, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the philosophy between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:34:24Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #9 Museum of London (5/17) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated during that age like the trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:31:45Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #8 Tate Modern (5/16) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There were other similar paintings that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring, but it could be a great source of information on how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:28:09Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #7 Victoria and Albert Museum (5/15) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects, aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the Pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities. I found the decorative window screens to be the most fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England. This activity could give me background on early of philosophy seen in various parts of the world.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:23:43Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #6 Natural History Museum (5/12) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of Earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of Earth and composition of it was determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on Earth. 
Moving on, I entered the history of Earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascinating. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of spin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of Earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to Earth. 
The last few exhibits were Earth's resources and biology on Earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my milestones research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of Earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:16:38Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #5 St. Paul's Cathedral (5/11) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white paintings of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aligned at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the recent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paintings up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being mutilated by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other beliefs. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the change, acceptance, and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T01:10:39Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #4 British Museum (5/10) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome shaped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which the Africans are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to be seen throughout the African exhibit, where it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people throughout the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room displayed one of the first advanced clock created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear. Surrounding the main mechanical clock, there were series of clocks that showed the progression of clock over time. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins where they all had a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on half dollar sized platform made me question if that is why the currency had a face on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit, Greek exhibit, and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit where the Rosetta Stone was the highlight of this exhibit with ten different languages engraved into a stone. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This may help prove the theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:51:44Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #3 Evensong (5/9) */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went to the Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had no idea what was going on, but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable however it had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:49:59Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #2 The National Gallery (5/9) */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angel, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:47:37Z

Mbpatel: /* Activity #1 Westminster Abbey and Tower of London (5/8) */

=Milap Patel=
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the royal families over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angle, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:44:54Z

Mbpatel: /* Milestone 3 */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good, but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature, but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the family over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angle, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:41:28Z

Mbpatel: /* Milestone 1 */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section, it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community, as defined by Aristotle, because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the family over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angle, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:39:19Z

Mbpatel: /* Milestone 1 */

=Milap Patel=
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|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
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=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understand Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community as defined by Aristotle because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the family over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angle, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

User:Mbpatel

2017-06-23T00:34:49Z

Mbpatel: /* Overview */

=Milap Patel=
{{Infobox
|title = Milap Patel
|header1 =
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Milap Patel.JPG|x450px|alt=Milap Patel]]
|caption =
|label2 =
|data2 =
}}
 

=Overview=
The depth part of my Humanities and Arts requirement will be in the field of Philosophy and Religion. All three of my milestones done in London will be used to satisfy my depth requirement. My first milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, ''Nicomachean Ethics'', and how it relates to the modern society. My second milestone focuses on understanding John Locke's philosophical work, ''Two Treatises Of Government'', and how it impacted America. My final milestone, milestone three, focuses on understanding John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare to each other. Aside from my experience in London, I have had no prior classes taken in Humanities and Arts through Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some of my major takeaways from going through this experience include, understanding some of the great philosophical works that govern our society, understanding how those philosophical works influenced our modern society, and exploring London, a city of infinite adventure.
 
 
__TOC__
 

=Milestone 1=
 
'''Aristotle's Ethics'''
 
'''Objective:''' To understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society.
 
This milestone focuses on understanding Aristotle's philosophical work, Nicomachean Ethics, and how it compares to modern society. The first section of this milestone will discuss in depth, Aristotle's central thesis regarding individual's happiness as outlined in Nicomachean Ethics. In the second section of this milestone, Aristotle's philosophy will then be compared to modern society. In this section it is discovered that modern society will never be a happy community as defined by Aristotle because of the presence of vice like characteristics embodied in the individuals today.
 
[[Aristotle's Ethics|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 2=
 
'''John Locke's Two Treatises of Government''' 
'''Objective:''' To discuss John Locke's political philosophy outlined in the ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and understand how it influenced America.
 
This milestone covers John Locke's political philosophy as outlined in ''Two Treatises Of Government'' and its impact on America. The first section of this milestone discusses Locke's life in England and how his philosophy was influenced by the turbulence during this time. This section will then go into depth covering key components of Locke's political philosophy regarding the government being in place for the benefit of the people. In the second section, Locke's philosophy will then be evaluated on how it influenced the American Revolution, the creation of American government, and how life is seen in America today.
 
[[Two Treatises of Government|Read More]]
 

=Milestone 3=
 
'''State Of Nature''' 
'''Objective:''' Comparison of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on the state of nature and how it relates to the modern world.
 
 
This milestone discusses John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy on humans in the state of nature and how they compare with each other. In the first section, both of the philosopher's philosophies are covered in depth regarding the state of nature. Locke believes humans in the state of nature were originally good but the presence of the state of war caused them to join societies. Rousseau, on the other hand, argued that humans were also good in the state of nature but they were forced to join societies as a result of the growing human population. Both of their views are further compared and contrasted in depth in the second section. This section will also cover how those philosophies are reflected in modern society.
 
[[State Of Nature|Read More]]
 
 

=Activity Journal=
The activity journal represents an ongoing log of reflections gained through each and every project activity on the calendar.
 

==Activity #1 [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Tower of London]] (5/8) ==
Westminster Abbey was our first stop. In Westminster Abbey, I toured the cathedral and learned about its history. I learned that it was originally founded by an early British king who wanted a private church for him and his royal family. The church, to this day, is still under the direct authority of the leading royal family, the queen, as a result. Because of the establishment and royal ties to this church, the royal family usually gets married in this church along with being buried here after death. This church also houses the grave sites for many well achieved people such as Albert Einstein. The first unknown soldier grave is located in this church which honored the unknown soldiers who died in world war one.
 
Tower of London is the next place I went to. Here we toured the royal jewels building, the tower, and the castle walls. The royal jewels building displayed the jewels that were created for the family over the centuries. It also displayed their decorations and clothing. I particularly remember all the golden utensils and the 530 karat diamond that were on display. The tower, on the other hand, exhibited the aspects of war such as displaying weapons and armor used by the royal family and soldiers. 
Overall, today's sites were enjoyable to visit but they were irritant to my milestone.
 
 

==Activity #2 [[The National Gallery]] (5/9)==
The British National Gallery was the first art gallery that I toured. I was astonished at the fact that admission was free to the public. I was also amazed at the size of the gallery with rooms after rooms cascading back to infinity. My initial tour started with viewing 13th to 14th century paintings. These paintings mostly showed scenes of mythical Greek mythology or depicted aspects of Christ's divinity. The Greek style painting seem to have a central theme of nudity, angle, love and divinity. The "Immortality" was one of the paintings that I found particularly interesting where it depicted a child being carried by angels to his mother so he can drink her milk to become an immortal. That theme seem to repeat in multiple painting with different backgrounds and intentions. Another major trend I saw during that time period was the virgin mother and child that also seemed to show divinity. This type of paintings were not as mythical as Greek style but still had the aspect of divinity among it. Portraits were another style of painting that were displayed in that time period. There were only a few of these types of painting but they all seemed to be common with a serious face, or if women, with some nudity. Moving towards the modern era, the paintings started to blend in common day to day life of average citizens, depicting landscapes, and more focus on detailed objects and portraits. The modern paintings showed barely any divinity unless it was related to religion. This tour helped me realize that there is a direct relationship between religious philosophical mindset and early art that can still be seen today.
 
 

==Activity #3 [[Evensong]] (5/9)==
In the evening, I went Westminster Abbey with my scavenger group to attend the Evensong. It was my first experience attending a formal service at a cathedral. For the most part, I had do idea what was going on but I enjoyed listening to the choir accompanied by organs. The choir itself was impressive with its amazing singing, something I have never heard before. Overall, the 45 minute experience was interesting and enjoyable.
 
 

==Activity #4 [[British Museum]] (5/10)==
British museum's glass roof was the first aspect of the museum that caught my eye. Warm morning light bleeding through the roof made me feel welcome into the main white marble hall. The hall's dome sharped architecture was another aspect that woke me up for the adventure that awaited. I still remember my initial pause as I entered the museum. All white marble walls and floor with a massive column in the middle gave me a sense of power emanating from this place and it forced me to acknowledge its beauty. This column, marble, dome and glass roof architecture aroused a question about whether it represent's Greek, Roman and modern styles. 
Moving on, I begin my journey in the history of Africa section. The first piece I saw, centered at the entrance, was a chair crafted from pieces of guns used in world war two. This chair was called "the thrown of guns". It gave me a sense of violence in African history which they are trying to rebuild from. This theme of violence continued to seen throughout the African exhibit as it showcased weapons and war tactics used by the people through the history of Africa. Clock room was another exhibit I enjoyed exploring. In the center of the initial room was one of the first advanced clocks created with weights that drove mechanical gears used to keep time. I was intrigued by how heavy the hanging weights seemed which drove the second's gear precisely. Surrounding the main mechanical clock were a series of clock that showed the progression overtime. The clock exhibit ended with an visually pleasing mechanical clock that kept time by having a metal ball roll from one side to the other every thirty seconds followed by a showcase of modern 20th century pocket watches. Currency room was another exhibit that intrigued me. The money printing machine was the first thing that caught my eye. It was a large steel machine that had a long bar attached to a screw. The screw would twist and press down, printing the coins with correct features according to the printing plate attached. Moving on, the currency showcase of coins used in Europe over time was another feature that caught my eye. Examining the coins up close, I saw a common resemblance between most of the coins of having a face printed on it. Remembering the miniature portraits on round half dollar sized platform from another room made me question if that is how currency came about having faces on it. 
Other notable exhibits that I explored were the Egyptian exhibit and Greek and Roman exhibit. I didn't find much interest in the Egyptian exhibit as I found it a bit boring to see mummy, tombs, poetry, and wall engravings over and over again. I did find the Rosetta Stone to be quite interesting thought as it was a stone with ten different languages engraved into it. The Roman and Greek exhibit, on the other hand, was quite fascinating. The Roman sculptures, war gear and currency showed prosperity and rich culture with Greek theme. This many future prove my theory of Greek culture and philosophy having an influence on historical Europe.
 
 

==Activity #5 [[St. Paul's Cathedral]] (5/11)==
I found the dome roofs and the quire of the Cathedral to be the most interesting. The main dome roof had eight black and white painting of Saint Paul created by James Thornhill. These paintings dictated Saint Paul's major accomplishments such as his explanation of Christian religion to the roman emperor. There were three other smaller domes located above the Quire. These domes also had paintings engraved on them. These paintings, however, were made from different colored rocks aliened at different angles. The setup of these paintings caused them to shimmer as light hit it. Directly below the domes, there were more paintings in color and statues that had a Greek cultural feel to them. 
The quire was the area where the songs are sung and where the organ pipes are located. Originally, this area was concealed by a wall of organ pipes located in the middle between the nave and the quire, but in the resent years, the organ was cut symmetrically in half and placed on either sides of the quire entrance. The intent of this was to open of the quire to the public as they came in to the nave for service. I found it quite interesting that the organ itself can remotely be played from a different location. It also has enough organ pipes to imitate a full orchestra. 
The last place I found interesting was the whisper gallery. This was located along the walls of the main dome far above the ground floor. I was able to see each of Saint Paul's paints up close and study the statues directly below them from this location. I also found it interesting to see how the windows, located along the main dome, made the dome itself feel divine looking up at it from the ground. 
This Cathedral also housed modern arts for the first time. I distinctly remember the plasma TV's that depicted four people being martyred by the four classical elements. It was said that it may represent how people were crucified in the past. There was also a modern art statue of Virgin Mary and Child that had no distinctive features. It was a carving of basic shapes so it could represent Virgin Mary and Child for Christians and the intimate relationship mother and child for other believes. These displays of modern art are great examples of evolving philosophical mind set of modern era that shows the changed, acceptance and tolerance of other religions along with a changed style of art.
 
 

==Activity #6 [[Natural History Museum]] (5/12)==
[[Natural History Museum]] housed mostly geological and biological exhibits of earth. The entering exhibit was a volcanic rock and earthquake exhibit. In this exhibit I found the rock formation machine to be interesting. This machine showed the type of rock formed based on the choice selected, between pressure or heat, at different stages of the formation. The earthquake room and earthquake resistant building models were fascinating as well. The earthquake room simulates an earthquake in a department store while having spectators located in it. This allowed me to feel a notable earthquake for the first time. To counter the destruction of earthquakes, building are built with pistons in the wall that absorb vibrations. This technology reduce's violent shaking, as showed by the models, that can stop buildings from collapsing at lower magnitude earthquakes. I also learned that the density of earth and composition of it were determined by recording vibrations of earthquakes at different location on earth in this exhibit. 
Moving on, I entered the history of earth, solar system, and earth's weather exhibit. Here I found the erosion and sand machine to be fascination. The erosion machine showed how rivers are carved by moving water. The sand machine showed how fluctuating water, known as ocean waves, causes displacement of minerals and ripples along the ground. These discoveries changed my perception of water from being gentle to something more. This theory was further reinforced after viewing spectacular rock structures formed by eroding water. The weather wheel was another machine I enjoyed viewing. The wheel was filled with water that rotated along with the direction of pin. This dictated how weather moves along with the spinning of earth. Lastly, I enjoyed viewing the planetary display wall in this exhibit. The wall showed all the planets in our galaxy along with their related gravity and temperature compared to earth. 
The last few exhibits were earth resources and biology on earth. I found Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, to be the most interesting to look at. Pyrite had cubic perfect structures growing on top of each other at different angles. I found this to be fascinating as it made me ponder and appreciate the power of nature. 
Unfortunately, this activity did not particularly add to my research, but I did appreciate learning about the workings of earth.
 
 

==Activity #7 [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] (5/15)==
Today's museum tour was quite interesting. There were exhibits that showcased regional cultural objects aside from just displaying sculptures and arts. Of these kind, I found the Asian exhibit to be the most interesting. Asian exhibit started in Korean gallery where decorative pottery from that region dominated the displays. Among them, I found the hanji paper collage to be the most interesting piece. It was a collage of paper twisted together in 3D. Another gallery I enjoyed in the Asian exhibit was the pre-Mughal India gallery. In this gallery there were ancient Indian architectures on display along with furnishing and daily necessities, I found the decorative window screens to be fascinating. I also found the carpets and instruments to be interesting as well. Looking at the instruments, I wonder if modern western instruments are related to them. 
Rest of the tour was kind of boring with viewing repetitive western sculptures, arts, and architecture. I, however, did enjoy viewing historical furnished rooms such as bedrooms from England.
 
 

==Activity #8 [[Tate Modern]] (5/16)==
I found this activity to be boring. Aside from a few exceptions, most of the modern art I saw seemed too random for me to enjoy. Among those exceptions, I loved viewing 2D and 3D allusion paintings. My favorite was a 2D allusion painting with different colored horizontal lines. The longer I looked at that painting, the more I seemed to get sucked into it with the lines moving and changing colors. There other were slimier painting that I appreciated in 3D as well. 
Aside from looking at the art, my most fond memory from this site was viewing London from the tenth floor. From that level I was able to see most of London. I particularly remember viewing the shard and being amazed at the beauty of it from this high angle. 
This activity seemed boring but it will be a great source of information for my third intended milestone. It will be a good place for me to learn how culture and philosophy evolved into the modern era.
 
 

==Activity #9 [[Museum of London]] (5/17)==
I found this museum to be enjoyable. Unlike the previous museums, this museum focused on the technological and cultural development of London. The memorable aspect of this museum was the chronological pathway through the exhibits. Entering the museum I was first encountered with the early formation of London. There, I was amazed to learn that London was only composed of few zones found today including West Minster. Another aspect of that particular exhibit was trade. I was amazed to see and learn how some of the trade building operated in that age such as trade ports and markets. I also learned that trade with Asia and rest of Europe influenced the life of London. This is particularly interesting because this can give me insight on how philosophy emerged in London. 
Another exhibit I enjoyed was the modern city exhibit. There, I was amazed to see how classic transportation looked such as the classic London taxi. I also enjoyed learning about the classic printing press and about the impact of world war two on London life. Walking through 20th century London streets with recreated shops was the best part of that exhibit among all.
 
 

==Activity #10 [[Tate Britain]] (5/19)==
Today was another art galley tour. Like other galleries, this gallery specialized in displaying paintings and sculptures. My personal favorite paintings were of horses. I found different themed paintings such as a Greek painting that portraying a horse fighting a shake. This particular theme of animals fighting was further seen in sculptures and divine modern classical paintings where god like creatures and humans defended other weaker people form them. 
One thing I did find different about this gallery, however, was that it displayed modern art along side "classical" art. This was quit interesting as it showed me how art progressed over time into what we now call modern art. Comparing classical and modern art, I found that both had themes of nudity and angles among them. Nudity, particularly females, seems to occur frequently in almost all the eras, post Greek, which poses a question of whether that is the reason we relate beauty with female. 
This tour does not directly relate to any of my milestones but it could potentially explain the methodology between classical and modern art.
 
 

==Activity #11 [[Hampton Court Palace]] (5/22)==
[[Hampton Court Palace]] seemed like a castle at first glance. I had to go through a drawbridge to get into the main palace area. Looking around the courtyard, I found it appealing to see human props in various locations. Some of them were kind of funny such as the sleeping one at the fountain. Moving into the palace, my first initial thoughts were about the decorative ceilings. They were absolutely beautiful with paintings merging from the ceiling into the walls. My favorite of these kind of paintings was located in the kings sleeping room with angelic paintings curving down form the center of the ceiling into the surrounding walls and down to the floor. 
Speaking of the rooms, it was very funny to see all the rooms designated to a particular person. Both kings and queens had their own sets of rooms were one would be for sitting, another would be for sleeping and so in. My person favorite rooms were the game room and the toilet room. The game room had bunch of board games on tables with a spectacular view of the gardens outside. The toilet room, on the other had, was fascinating because it was so small compared to other kingly rooms with a toilet that had a red silk seat. That just goes to show the kings meant business when it came to luxury. 
Today's tour concluded with viewing the gardens. Gardens were the highlight of this tour for me. There were three section of gardens. The first section was the main garden with a wide open area. It almost seemed like a park with how big and open it was. The second section was the semi large garden with beautiful golden fencing and a maze like smaller gardens with sculptures surrounded by flowers. This section also had a large fountain in the middle along with a fantastic view of the palace. The last section were smaller gardens. These gardens seemed more private type of gardens with gorgeous decorations. There were three of these types of gardens with their own unique style. 
This was an amazing tour but unfortunately it does not relate to any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #12 [[Museum of London Docklands]] (5/23)==
Today's journey took me to a museum that showed the history behind the formation London docks. It started in the early trading era where London started booming. Some of the instruments used to trade in those time periods were on display. I particularity found the weighing scales interesting. Most of those scales were balance scales with square weights. They ranged from industrial scale, the size of a building, to personal mobile scales, the size of a suitcase. 
From there, I moved onto the triangular trade exhibit were it showed, in detail, how it was done. My personal favorite exhibit came next were a street at a harbor was recreated from those days. Aside from the perfect lighting and props, that street also had sounds and smell to go along with the display. Walking through there gave me a true feeling of how someone in those days would feel. 
From there, it was basics of how docks evolved, how ships were created, the types of ships created, and the history of events. In the end, with the nature of this tour and its main focus, I will not be able to use any of the information here for any of my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #13 [[Imperial War Museum]] (5/24)==
Today's museum tour was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how they displayed some of the props partially cantilevering out of their designated floors. Of the many props in the entrance hall, I found the fighter planes and the V1 and V2 rockets very interesting. V2, compared to V1 was quarter the size and they both were unmanned rockets used in world war two. My personal favorite prop was the t34 tank which was towards the end of the entrance hall. It was kind of surprising to see how compact it was compared to how it looked in some of the video games I played. 
Seeing some of world war two vehicles and equipment were another highlight of the tour. I especially remember being carious at seeing the actual size of anti-tank batteries and the size of their ammo. Learning about the German U boats and seeing an actual torpedo was also pretty amazing. I ended the tour going through the holocaust exhibit. I found it very sad learning the history behind it, especially how Hitler determined pure Germans through measuring various parts of residing citizen's bodies.
 
 

==Activity #14 [[Horniman Museum]] (5/25)==
I don't actually know what I went to today. I was in a museum one second and then I was taking a stroll through a garden the next. It was enjoyable and disappointing at the same time. The enjoyable part of the trip was the museum and the gardens. While I was in the museum, I really enjoyed learning about how the families of animals evolved. In particular, I was amazed to learn how the family of dogs evolved from their wolf predecessors. I also enjoyed learning about how brain structures evolved over time. It was kind of surprising to see how similar dog brains are to human brains. This discovery now posed a question of whether human brains evolved in the same fashion as dog brains but at a faster pace. 
The more disappointing part of this trip was the robotic zoo exhibit. I was excited to see the exhibit after see their amazing poster. I was actually hoping to see a working zoo with moving robotic animals, but I was faced with viewing around eight stationary robotic art pieces all put in one room. 
Overall, today's tour does not relate to any of my milestones but it is a great place to learn about evolution and do some work in the gardens.
 
 

==Activity #15 [[London Science Museum]] (5/30)==
Today's trip was kind of special. I was able to experience virtual reality for the first time as I explored how an astronaut travels from a space station back down to earth. The best moment going through that journey was seeing the sun peaking through the atmosphere as it came around from the other side. It was kind of amazing to see how thin the gas atmosphere was that keeps us safe. 
I was also able to experience my first time being in a full flight simulator. The simulator was able to produce actual movements as I flew an attack mission. Doing that mission giving me a clear sense how taxing of an occupation it is being fighter pilot. 
Aside from all the highlights of this trip mentioned above, I was able to experience the evolution of space technology, computers, personal transportation and much more going through various scientific exhibits. Even though this was an amazing trip, it is unrelated to my milestones.

 
 

==Activity #16 [[The Wallace Collection]] (5/31)==
Today's trip felt a bit repetitive. At the [[The Wallace Collection]], all I saw were similar style painting, sculptures and medieval weaponry that I have already seen in other museums. The venue, however, was unique. It felt like the collection was in someone house. The rooms were well furnished and decorated. I found it fascinating to study the decoration on the furnishings that weren't exactly royalty.
 
 

==Activity #17 [[The Globe Theater]] (6/7)==
Today I went to the Globe Theater. It was an interesting experience standing close to the stage and watching a two and a half hour play in a n open environment. At first, I was fascinated with how the building was structured. The building itself looked quite vintage as though it was from the time of Shakespeare. The center stage was surrounded a layer of open field without a roof for spectators to stand in. Then that layer of open field was surrounded by a layer of roofed balconies, rising up three stories, for the spectators to sit in and watch the play. The premises it also had modern aspects to it such as the fake trees placed around the building. These trees seemed to be modern art with a real tree trunk cut at the top and replaced with artificial branches and leaves. 
Now, moving onto the play itself, I found it to be eye catching. The performers were excellent with convening emotions within the play. I believe the emotions were what kept me engaged with the production because it made it seem real. Personally, I found the ending to be the highlight of the entire performance with dramatic scenes preformed with intense emotions by Romeo and Juliet. 
Aside from the performance, I also found the humor withing the performance appealing. I especially liked the fight scenes where they made it overly dramatic with dancing, intense lighting and intense music accompanied by random background actors. Another humor I liked was the Indian priest with a heavy Indian accent. He played the role well while making it seem interesting with a different approach. 
Overall this experience was fantastic. The only down side was watching the play socked by heavy rain at the beginning. This trip also had nothing to do with my milestones.
 
 

==Activity #18 [[Stonehenge]], Bath (6/8)==
Today our entire London HUA group went on a tour around England. We began our trip at the London Eye where we met up with our tour guide. The tour guide was explicitly reserved for our HUA group along with touring in a private bus. The tour guild, I though, was fantastic. He gave a rich history of all the sights that we went to in a funny and engaging way. I found that to be the highlight of this trip's experience. 
Our first sight that we went to was the Stonehenge. This was less exciting then I originally though. I finished looking around the Stonehenge in fifteen minutes, which I though was way too quick. It was quick because, I was just looking at a pile of stone stacked in an interesting way. It was quite interesting to look at first glance, but after that it just got boring. The whether was also bad making the experience feel miserable. 
The next sight we went to was the town of Bath. This was the place were the tour started to liven up for me. The initial view of the town and the country side going over a steep hill was just breathtaking. The town itself felt fresh which reminded me of my hometown. To began with, the town was surrounded by hills giving it this amazing natural feel. The air smelled fresh, energizing me and the roman building were amazing to look at. It truly felt like I was in England now. I had lunch, which was fantastic, followed by a walking tour of Bath for the remainder of the time there. On the walking tour, we got to see the Kings bath which was a natural hot spring. 
Our last stop of this tour was a walk through of an old town. The town was so old that it was still made of clay. In the town, we got to see the buildings were Harry Potter's movie scenes were shot. 
Aside from the amazing experience, this tour had very little to do with my milestones unless I look at the Stonehenge history when the humans were still in the natural state.
 
 

==Activity #19 [[Windsor Castle]] (6/12)==
I went to the Windsor Castle today. It was not as amazing as I expected it to be because most of the cool places were off limit for visitors. One of those places was the large round tower, next to the palace, which I wanted to check out but it was closed for visitors. On the other hand, I did find the moat garden, scenery, and the play room to be interesting. I particularly remember the giant model doll house in the play room. It had spectacular craftsmanship, making the building seem real. 
Overall I did not believe Windsor Castle was worth visiting because the trip to it was long and most of the attractions were already seen at other places before hand. The tour also only lasted for one and a half hours, which I believed was way to short for a trip of this caliber.
 
 

==Activity #20 St. Martins-in-the-field (6/16)==
Today I went to a concert at St. Martins. The concert was preformed using only wind instruments where the peaces played were modern, post world war two, music. I really enjoyed listening to the wind instruments because it made me feel relaxed. The flute, particularity, made me feel like I was sitting in nature with other instruments illustrating the different aspects of it. I really enjoyed this concert as a whole.
 
 

===My Complete Contributions===
====[[Special:Contributions/Mbpatel|All of My Created Content and Edits]]====
 
 

===Category Tags===
[[Category:Profiles]]
[[Category:2017]]
[[Category:Advisor:Manzo]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:24:05Z

Mbpatel: /* Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
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|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
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In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others, and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, humans were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will begin by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrew their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
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Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined societies. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
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I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:19:48Z

Mbpatel: /* The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
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|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = Humans No Different Than The State Of Animals
}}
 
In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others, and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, humans were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will begin by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrew their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
|title = Formation Of Societies
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = People Joining Into Societies
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Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
|title = Our Needs Today
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Money-fight.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = The Modern Need For Money
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I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:16:48Z

Mbpatel: /* Section 2: Deliverable */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
{{Infobox
|title = Locke's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Locke's View on Human In Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = State Of War
}}
 
Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
{{Infobox
|title = Rousseau's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = Humans No Different Than The State Of Animals
}}
 
In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others, and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, humans were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will begin by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
|title = Formation Of Societies
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = People Joining Into Societies
}}
 
Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
|title = Our Needs Today
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Money-fight.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = The Modern Need For Money
}}
 
I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:13:50Z

Mbpatel: /* Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
{{Infobox
|title = Locke's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Locke's View on Human In Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = State Of War
}}
 
Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
{{Infobox
|title = Rousseau's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = Humans No Different Than The State Of Animals
}}
 
In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others, and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, humans were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will began by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
|title = Formation Of Societies
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = People Joining Into Societies
}}
 
Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
|title = Our Needs Today
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Money-fight.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = The Modern Need For Money
}}
 
I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:11:54Z

Mbpatel: /* Defining The State of Nature */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
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|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = State Of War
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
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In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others, and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, human were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will began by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
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|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
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Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
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|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
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I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:09:01Z

Mbpatel: /* Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
{{Infobox
|title = Locke's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Locke's View on Human In Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Paris as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
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|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
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In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, human were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will began by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
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|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
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Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
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|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
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I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:08:10Z

Mbpatel: /* Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
{{Infobox
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|image = [[File:Locke's View on Human In Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that the government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Pairs as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
{{Infobox
|title = Rousseau's View On State Of Nature
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = Humans No Different Than The State Of Animals
}}
 
In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, human were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will began by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
|title = Formation Of Societies
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = People Joining Into Societies
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Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
|title = Our Needs Today
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Money-fight.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = The Modern Need For Money
}}
 
I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

=Text References=
<references />
 

=Image References=
<references group="img" />
 
 

=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]

State Of Nature

2017-06-22T23:06:48Z

Mbpatel: /* Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War */

=Comparison Of John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Philosophy On Human State Of Nature=
by [[User:Mbpatel|Milap Patel]] 

{{Infobox
|title = John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|bodystyle = width:27em
|image = [[File: John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.jpg |x700px|alt=Milestone Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Baker, H. (2014). Locke and Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.canonandculture.com/rousseau-locke-religious-liberty-and-the-hhs-mandate/ </ref>
|label2 = '''John Locke'''
|data2 = Born: 29 August 1632, Wrington, England 
Died: 28 October 1704, High Laver, England
|label3 = '''Influenced'''
|data3 = The Glorious Revolution, The American Revolution, And The French Revolution
|label4 = '''Jean-Jacques Rousseau'''
|data4 = Born: 28 June 1712, Geneva, Switzerland 
Died: 2 July 1778, Ermenonville, France
|label5 = '''Influenced'''
|data5 = The French Revolution, And The Views On Art, Science, Nature, And Education
}}

__TOC__

 

=Abstract=
 
This milestone is about understanding humans in the state of nature and why they transitioned into society. To accomplish this task, I studied two philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who both believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature. However, various circumstances in the state of nature, pointed out by the philosophers, forced humans to join into societies. These points are thoroughly discussed in the background and then in the deliverable, these points are compared and contrasted. Overall, I have had very little experience in the field of philosophy, with no prior philosophy classes taken before this project. My last two milestones on philosophy encouraged me to study the topic of humans in the state of nature and how the state of nature leads to the political system seen throughout history.
 
 

=Introduction=
 
This milestone looks at the philosophy behind human transition into society from the state of nature. John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both key philosophers who had their own views on societies and how they emerged. This project, specifically, discusses their views in depth and explores how their views compared. This project also looks to understand how those view relate to the modern world and politics.
 
 

=Section 1: Background=
 

==John Locke's Life==
 
John Locke was an English philosopher who was born in England in the year 1632. He initially studied medicine at the University of Oxford, graduating with a degree in that field. He later joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, assisting him in business and political matters along with being his personal physician. John Locke was deeply influenced during his time with Cooper where he started to study politics. He eventually took a stand against monarchy, believing that the government was for the benefit of the people. This was clearly not the case during his time. The kings of England, King Charles II and King James II, were abusive of their power, forcing their will on the citizens by passing laws that favored their religious views. Locke saw this as oppression and slavery of the people. He wrote ''Two Treatises Of Government'' where he tried to justify the fall of monarchy and the creation of a new form of government for the people. However, for Locke to understand what would make a good form of government for the people, he first looked at how humans were in their natural state far before any authority was in place. He considered this state to be the state of nature.
<ref>Schwoerer, L. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/2709645</ref>
<ref>Giffin, F. (1967). John Locke and Religious Toleration. Journal of Church and State, 9(3), 378-390. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/23913736</ref>
 
 

==John Lock's View On The State of Nature==
 
Locke claims that humans were originally in the state of nature without a ruling government. However, being in the state of nature led to the state of war which is full of violence. To avoid being in the state of war, Locke calls for a government where common law governs the society in a peaceful manner.
 
 
===Humans In The State of Nature===
 
Locke claims that all men are originally in the state of nature in his work called ''Two Treatises of Government''. He says that all men are perfectly free and perfectly equal without an overseeing government in this state. In other words, Locke implies that people are only bound by the law of nature where each person lives, acts, and uses his possessions as he sees fit without a common authority. The natural law, or the "Fundamental law of Nature," as Locke calls it, is the right to self-preservation. It states that each man is empowered to do whatever is in his power to preserve himself in the state of nature.
<ref>Goldwin, R. (1976). Locke's State of Nature in Political Society. The Western Political Quarterly, pp. 126-135. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/447588</ref>
 
 

===How The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
 
Locke then moves on to talk about differences between the state of nature and the state of war in Chapter III if his Second Treatise. In the state of war, people exert unwelcome force on other people by interfering with their natural rights and freedom. According to Locke, a state of nature which at first is a condition of peace and mutual trust, quickly degenerates into a state of war when a crises or a disagreement arises between the people. This happens because there is no overseeing authority in the state of nature meaning each individual serves as a judge, jury, and executioner of the natural law. This leads to force and violence, the only resolution since common law does not exist between the people.
<ref>Simmons, A. (1989). Locke's State of Nature. Political Theory, 17(3), 449-470. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/191226</ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 167-168. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Acquiring Property In The State of Nature Leads To The State of War===
{{Infobox
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|image = [[File:Locke's View on Human In Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Humans In Nature. Retrieved from http://plus-ultra.hatenablog.com/entry/2016/01/17/080907 </ref>
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Property is a key subject Locke brings up in Chapter V of the Second Treatise. In this chapter he links the humans behavior of acquiring property to the state of war when humans are living in the state of nature. Locke begins this chapter by first stating that the Earth is considered the property of all the people where the people can use it for their collective survival and benefit. Locke writes, "God gave the World to Men in Common, but he gave it to them for their benefits, and the greatest Conveniences of Life they were capable to draw form it." Locke then considers the concept of individual property where individuals take possession of the things around them when in the state of nature. He says, "Human nature is very much that of man as the property-acquiring animal in the state of nature." In other words, Locke is suggesting that humans tend to take possessions of things around them and call them their property. This, however, brings up the question of ownership. Locke defines ownership as labor performed by a person. He writes, "Every man has a ''Property'' in his ''Person.'' This body has any Right to but himself. The ''Labour'' of his Body and the ''Work'' of his Hands, we may say, are properly his...For this ''Labour'' being the unquestionable Property of the Laborer." In other words, Locke says that a person owns his own body and all the labor performed by that body. Labor then leads to the ownership of property that the labor relates to. Now, when another person adds his own physical labor, which is his own property, to a foreign object or material, then that object and any resulting products also become his property. But in the state of nature, there are no common laws to determine who owns what part of an object or fruits of collective labor, since each person has his own idea of possession. This ultimately leads to the state of war over the conflict of possession where the resolution ends in violence and dominance of the fittest.
<ref> Locke, J. (1988). Locke: Two Treatises of Government Student Edition (P. Peter Laslett, Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press., pp. 101-103 </ref>
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

===Call For Government To Prevent The State Of War===
 
Locke calls for a government to secure individuals property. As he puts it, the natural law dictates a right of private property, and it is to secure this right that government is established. Locke further explains this by relating it to the state of war. He calls the state of nature "unstable" with no civil authority where people are in constant dispute over the ownership of their property. This prevents peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of their labor which are constantly threatened by war and conflict by others around them. This is the key reason why Locke calls for a common government where common laws can resolve conflicts without resorting to the state of war. Locke writes, "protection of property is the great and ''chief end'' of Men's uniting into a commonwealth."
<ref> SMITH, S. (2012). Locke and the Art of Constitutional Government. In Political Philosophy pp. 169-172. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/j.ctt32bv21.13 </ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Life==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on 28 June 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Pairs as a young man where he was educated. While in Paris, he was exposed to opulence and luxury which was the order of the day for Parisian noblemen. At the same time, he was also exposed to the life of the lower classes that were not as pretty, filled with despair and struggle. To understand what made the social classes different and why they existed, Rousseau decided to take a look at life before civilization where men were originally in the state of nature.
<ref>MORGENSTERN, M. (2009). Politics in/of the City: Love, Modernity, and Strangeness in the City of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In BLACKELL M., DUNCAN J., & KOW S. (Eds.), Rousseau and Desire (pp. 165-186). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/10.3138/9781442685376.12</ref>
 
 

==Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View On The State Of Nature==
 
Jean-Jacques Rousseau thought differently about the human state of nature then what was traditionally believed during his time. For one, Rousseau thought that humans were good when in the state of nature but that joining society had corrupted them. He argues this point in his famous work, ''Discourse on Inequality''.
 
 

===Defining The State of Nature===
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|image = [[File:Rousseau's State Of Nature.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2015). Human vs Nature. Retrieved from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/99443.html </ref>
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In his work, ''Discourse on Inequality'', Rousseau implies that human state of nature is a condition of humankind far before the creation of civilization. Rousseau defines the state of nature as a morally neutral and peaceful condition in which individuals act according to their basic urges, like hunger, along with their natural desire for self-preservation. When in the state of nature, humans are no different than the state of other animals. This means that humans, in the state of nature, are barbarians who only focus on their daily needs and self-preservation just like the rest of the animal kingdom. Rousseau also says that when in this state, humans tend to more easily understand their state of mind where they are drawn to essential features of a satisfied life. Essential features of life include love of family, respect for the beauty of nature, mild curiosity of others and a taste for simple entertainment like music.
<ref> MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784 </ref>
 
 

===Transformation From The State Of Nature To Societies===
 
Population growth of humans in the state of nature caused individuals to associate with each other. It was then that Rousseau thought humans started to form societies. He believed that when forced to interact with each other, humans underwent a psychological transformation where they started to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau, further stated that these interactions were what allowed humans to flourish with developing ideas of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor. Now, with these revolutionary ideas and collaboration of multiple individuals, human were able to surviving harsh conditions of nature such as harsh climates and overcoming nature's law of survival of the fittest. Rousseau indicated that humans were slowly drifting away form being in the state of nature by adapting to the early forms of civilization.
<ref>Rousseau, J. J., & Miller, J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Hackett Publishing., pp. x, 62-71</ref>
 
 

===Human Corruption In Societies===
 
Rousseau says humans became corrupt in societies. He observed evil, greed, and selfishness emerge as human society began to develop. As people formed social institutions, they developed vices. One such institution was private property that encouraged greed and self-interest. Rousseau viewed private property as a destructive, impulsive, and egotistical institution that rewarded people for their greed and luck. Furthermore, inequality developed in societies as some people produced more and earned more, creating classes where the rich became richer while others remained poor, or were even enslaved to the rich. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be corrupt and evil where the majority of the people gave up their freedom, once held in the state of nature, for wealth and power in societies. Rousseau writes, "since the most powerful or the most miserable made of their strength or their needs, a kind of right to the possessions of others, equivalent in their opinion, to the right of property, equality was destroyed and followed by the most frightful disorder."
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

===Call For A Government To Limit Corruption===
 
Rousseau points out that people are incapable of returning to the state of nature as their instincts are dulled by the luxury of society. He says that people are too attached to their life in societies, pursuing wealth and power, to return to the state of nature. Because of this, Rousseau believes there must be a governing body to limit the corrupting aspects of society. He says that the governing body must keep the interest of all its people and try to diminish the inequalities produced by the negative morals of society.
<ref>MacAdam, J. (1972). The Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract. Philosophy, 47(182), 308-321. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/3749784</ref>
 
 

=Section 2: Deliverable=
 
In this section I will demonstrate how John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy compare and contrast with each other. I will began by comparing the lifestyles during their time. I will then compare their views on the human state of nature followed by their views on what caused humans to shift to societies. I will end this section by comparing their views on the need for a government followed by my interpretation of how the human state of nature is seen today.
 
 

==The Ruling Class During Locke's And Rousseau's Time==
 
John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both lived during a time of turbulence. Locke lived a life when monarchy ruled England where its people obeyed one man, the king. The kings during his time in England, as described earlier, were regarded as being unjust towards the people. They passed laws that supported their religious views but for the people, these laws caused suffering and misery. As such, the people considered monarchy in England, during Locke's time, a form of tyranny. The people believed monarchy stripped them of their freedom and demoted them to a form of slavery where they were forced to obey the unjust king. 
Rousseau, on the other hand, also lived during a time of monarchy. However, unlike Locke's time, the people in France during Rousseau's time faced a problem dealing with social classes. The people in higher social classes were well off, living a life in luxury with abundant wealth and power. This, however, was not true for the lower class. The lower class, the majority of the population in France at that time, was a working class who faced continuous poverty. They paid the most tax within the entire social class system which forced them to constantly face harsh living standards, such as hunger and abuse. 
In both Locke's and Rousseau's time, the people considered their ruling government to fail at its obligations to the people. As such, the people, in both cases, called for a new form of government that favored the people as a whole, not just a few. In England, the people overthrew the tyrannical monarchy in the Glorious Revolution while in France, the people also overthrow their monarchy and the class system in the French Revolution. For both of these key events, their respective philosophers, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, influenced the movement through their political philosophy on a good form of government for the people. However, for them to understand what made a government good, they both looked at the idea of humans in the state of nature.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On The Human State Of Nature==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau claim that humans were originally in the state of nature. In this state, both philosophers say that human were inherently good and that their main focus was on self-preservation without an overseeing authority. Locke further claimed that humans were perfectly free and perfectly equal in the state of nature. Each person, according to Locke, lived, acted, and used his possessions as he saw fit, restricted only by the laws of nature. Rousseau, on the other hand, implied that humans where barbarians who were morally neutral and peaceful. They, according to Rousseau, only acted according to their basic urges, such as self-preservation and mild entertainment, just like the rest of the animal kingdom.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's View On Societies==
{{Infobox
|title = Formation Of Societies
|bodystyle = width:30em
|image = [[File:Societies.GIF|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> Javiflo (2017). Importance Of Team Management. Retrieved from http://www.lavueltaalgrafico.com/2017/03/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = People Joining Into Societies
}}
 
Locke and Rousseau have completely different views on the formation of societies. Locke claimed that societies emerged because people feared being in the state of war while they lived in the state of nature. As Locke put it, the state of war is a byproduct of the state of nature when conflicts arise. Since there are no common laws or authority to resolve conflicts, people resort to violence as the only common method of resolution. This is especially true regarding property. Locke considers people to be property acquiring animals that consistently fight over each other's properties, calling it their own. This in turn leaves the people in a constant state of war while they live in the state of nature. Locke concludes that people created societies to resolve their conflicts with a common authority between the people. 
Rousseau, however, has a competently different view on why people joined socialites. As Rousseau put it, people were pure, peaceful, and happy in the state of nature, but the growing human population caused people to associate with each other, resulting in the formation of societies. He believed that people underwent a psychological transformation when they began to interact with each other. These interactions allowed humans to collaborate and flourish in societies, but at the same time also become corrupted with evil, greed, and selfishness when introduced to the wealth and power that accompanied societies. As such, Rousseau considers societies to be evil where they have a negative influence on the individuals unlike Locke, who believed joining societies was a positive move for the individuals.
 
 

==Locke's And Rousseau's Call For A Government==
 
Both Locke and Rousseau call for a governing body, but they call it for different reasons. Locke calls for a government to secure individual's property and prevent people from resorting to a state of war when a conflict arises. Rousseau, on the other hand, calls for a government to stop the corrupting aspects of societies since humans are incapable of returning to the state of nature at this point.
 
 

==The State Of Nature Relating To Modern Societies As I See It==
{{Infobox
|title = Our Needs Today
|bodystyle = width:28em
|image = [[File:Money-fight.jpg|x650px|alt=Article Image]]
|caption = <ref group="img"> (2016). Making Money. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/02/26/44-ways-to-make-more-money/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/</ref>
|label2 = '''Picture'''
|data2 = The Modern Need For Money
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I believe both philosophers are partially correct in their theories. This can be observed in modern society, where many individuals are filled with greed and selfishness over acquiring property. Money is a form of property that most people in modern societies dream of acquiring. Money was originally intended to only serve as a medium for bartering where it replaced large and physical items with a more manageable form of currency. However, the definition and value of money drastically increased over time where it now holds the power of being individuals dream. Many individuals in modern society consider acquiring large sum of money their dream in life because it allows them to do as they please. With money, the individuals can buy a large variety of tangible property, like large houses, expensive furniture, fast cars and so on, or they can buy a variety of services, like a vacation, hair stylist, personal maids, and so on. <ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> 
Since money holds abundant power in society, people's perception of happiness in modern society has also drastically changed. Compared to when humans were in the state of nature, people now believe they can achieve happiness with money. For this reason, people strive to become rich in the hopes of bettering their life. However, as people become richer, they gain more power because of the sheer definition of money. This creates social classes where people who possess abundant amount of money have abundant power where as people who possess less money, in comparison, have less power. This leads to competition and abuse where people in lower classes start idealizing people in higher classes because they possess large amount of property in comparison where they can live a life in luxury.
<ref>Mitchell, T., & Mickel, A. (1999). The Meaning of Money: An Individual-Difference Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259143</ref> Furthermore, people show vice like characteristics to stay wealthy and in power where they abuse the poor, or they bribe their opposition into submission.
<ref>Back Matter. (1999). The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 594-595. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.wpi.edu/stable/259149</ref> This goes to show that people have become corrupt with greed and power over acquiring money and property just as Rousseau pointed out in his philosophy as explained above. Furthermore, Locke's philosophy can also be related to modern society. People compete for money in modern society because they regard money to be valuable. In modern societies, laws restrict people from taking other people's money, but if they were in the state of nature, then there is nothing stopping them. People would then constantly fight over the possession of money meaning they would always be in the state of war. As such Locke's philosophy is also correct regarding society where people need a governing body to protect their property.
 
 

=Conclusion=
 
This milestone covered John Locke's and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophical views on humans in the state of nature. Both Locke and Rousseau believed that humans were initially good in the state of nature but various circumstances forced humans into societies. Locke believed that the state of nature was unstable for humans with no common authority because it always led to the state of war when a crises emerged between the humans. As such, Locke believed that humans joined societies to prevent being in the state of war by having a common authority to rule its people. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed that humans were forced to interact with each other in the state of nature because of the growing population. He believed that societies formed because of this. He further said that humans became corrupt with greed, selfishness, and power after joining societies. As such, Rousseau believed that societies were evil, whereas Locke believed them to be good. Further research can be done on this topic in depth regarding how Locke's and Rousseau's philosophies play a role in modern societies.
 
 

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=Category Tags=
[[Category:Philosophy & Religion Projects]]
[[Category:2017]]