Critical Thinking Blog 2

It is very interesting to see the ways that Goldhagen relates Pope Benedict XIV's way of thinking and the German state before the second world war. In the author's opening statement he gives a brief background on the pope's childhood. The pope, even though coming from an anti-Nazi family, still joined the Hitler Youth group, but apparently this was a common thing to do at this time. Unlike other popes, Benedict XVI didn't speak much about the actions of the Nazi party during World War II or its aftermath. Goldhagen points a finger at the Catholic Church, saying that they were partly responsible for the violence caused by the Nazis against Jews. He says that the church supported the anti-Semitic race laws of the Nazi party. Goldhagen then goes on saying that because the pope witnessed the occurrence of such atrocities that he is flawed. According to Goldhagen, the pope thinks that everyone in the world must believe the Catholic's school of teaching, rather than being free to think one's mind. However, groups that have tried to do this in the past instigated violence. Goldhagen concludes with the pope claiming that, "his truth is the Truth."

In this article, Goldhagen attacks the Pope's ways of thinking in writing. By being a witness to the Nazi's atrocities, according to Goldhagen, the pope is responsible for the Nazis of the actions. When the pope speaks publicly, it is interesting to see his viewpoint on the Nazis' actions. His affiliation with and loyalty to the Nazi party is a bit inconsistent. He was once in the Nazi Youth but then claims that his actions are not wrong and, Christianity is always the best path to God. It is very interesting to see the pope's loyalty and standing firm behind his Catholic beliefs, regardless of whether or not his statements about the Nazi party are either valid or significant.

Here is an interesting video of the Pope speaking about the Nazis' rule and its effect on his life.

Critical Thinking Blog 1

My college field of music definitely incorporates critical thinking into the curriculum. In regards to music, critical thinking is a vital and major component to the quality of one's performance. Music, just like any form of art that involves quality and creativity requires critical thinking. By thinking critically, one can take his or her performance abilities to higher levels. Music making should never be mechanical, and critical thinking is what makes music come to life. Usually anyone if taught how, can learn a piece of music, but one's critical thinking makes a performance unique, which is a crucial component to any musical performance. Critical thinking is what makes music thought of as an art, and a gift much more unique than just any skill.



Here is an interesting video of a violin master class, where the instructor is teaching the student how to think critically about the piece of music he is learning. It is neat to see him give the student his ideas, and watch him take them, deconstruct them, analyze them, and make them his own.