Sages Class “Puzzled” Long Paper
Through his book, Puzzle Instinct, the paradox enthusiast and conveyance philosopher, Marcel Danesi, generates a platform for his audience to examine and understand the theoretical ramification and connotation of the puzzle intuition.[1] Marcel incorporates many paradoxical items and activities such as puzzling phraseologies including riddles, conundrums and other stated mysteries.[2] Additionally, he also uses enigmatic pictures such as ocular apparitions and other graphic brain bafflers, perplexing logic like inferences, anomalies and other kinds of mind games.[3] Marcel also articulates the element of puzzling numbers and games such as verbal arithmetic and board games like chess, respectively, in the course of his book. However, the most notable feature in Marcel’s book is that some of the compact puzzles here actually tend to provide answers and interpretations to other substantial mysteries.[4]
In the same way, the Wordplay Documentary, a film produced by Patrick Creadon and inaugurated in 2006, also gives insights on the puzzle instinct. Even though slightly different in its administration, the use of renowned cross word solvers, fans, and inventors, it aids in portraying the implication of solving puzzles.[5] As such, this essay primarily focuses on both Marcel’s and Creadon’s works, as well as personal experiences of solving puzzles to bring out the extent to which overcoming deception, disorder, and ambiguity, as in paradoxes, plays a role in international studies coupled with other practices in the real world.
Danesi frames and expresses the puzzle style within the extensive societal background or frame of reference from which it ensues, and to which it until now relates. As such, Danesi illustrates the depiction of mysteries as cautions and forewarnings against the many ambivalences created into the widely assorted terminologies.[6] Similarly, through puzzling arithmetic such as magic squares, Danesi’s said paradoxes tend to be indications of intrinsic propensities to view the frameworks and designs developed into systems of numbers and other similar structures.[7]
Moreover, Danesi also asserts that in spite of puzzles being extremely old, veiled in mysteries and products of unfounded beliefs, in most cases, they in they give the basis for the formation of indubitable inventions. Some of the said discoveries include a number of real world fields such as mathematics, science along with radical alterations in the techniques and procedures related to philosophy.[8] As such, Danesi’s work does not only benefit puzzle connoisseurs but also in aiding normal individuals to figure out the philosophical connections of the puzzle instinct in normal study domains as well as other practices perpetrated in the actual world.
Similarly, but in a different measure, Creadon’s documentary serves the purpose of showing the importance and after effects of solving puzzles through various renown people in the paradoxical world. Starting with the film’s producer, Ken burns, the viewers’ gather that he does not engage in any kind drug or caffeine addictions since solving crosswords keep him busy during his free time.[9] To this effect, the audience surmise that working on puzzles, crosswords and other related activities tend to be integral in their lives since many people in the modern societies end up losing themselves in non- beneficial types of addictions. Additionally, another puzzle enthusiast referred to as Will Shortz built his entire career on generating, researching and revising puzzles. Therefore, puzzles are not only interesting and fascinating but also create market gaps within the society.
Furthermore, as the film advances, it presents America’s twenty eighth-puzzle competition held at Stamford and which saw the attendance of a number of several global solvers of crosswords.[10] Apart from the fact that Shortz hosted the tournament thus reinforcing the point on employment, the competition also portrays that solving puzzles make people relevant in the society. Besides, it also aids in brainstorming ideas as seen during contesters’ rehearsals, thus making it an interesting and challenging hobby.[11] Finally, Creadon also used other famous cross word solvers including John Delfin, Tyler Hinman, Trip Payne, Ellen Ripstein and Al Sanders, in his documentary to show that engaging in the said activity also enhances one’s social relations.
As such, on a personal level, Marcel’s ideology of the puzzle instinct has played a huge role in my educational sector of International studies. I have achieved this through working out and filling puzzles and crosswords, in addition to engaging in other similarly mind boggling activities such as playing chess and checkers. Ideally, most institutions of higher learning offer the major in International studies mainly to students intrigued by both worldwide relations and analogical politics.[12] In other words, the said institutions provide a reasonably adjustable, pedagogical major in civil science, but with a basis of legislative science.
Moreover, international relations also incorporate other courses offered in universities such as exotic languages, history, economics and mathematics among others. Collectively, the major provides learners and other interested scholars with information and competence required to comprehend and analyze various occurrences globally.[13] The said happenings include the types of existing interactions between nations universally; international contributions and operations conducted by other countries and the responsibilities of non- governmental bodies and other role players in global concerns, among others.
Furthermore, through the discussed comparative politics, the major enlightens the relevant scholars with domestic political affairs, formation and compositions of internal political establishments as well as the existing disputes and hostilities between countries. As a result, it is thereby undeniably right to say that by pursuing International studies, scholars tend to be subjected to a lot of puzzling situations and scenarios because the world at large keeps on changing subjects to a lot of different factors.
Arguably, making various scientific predictions on the political states of different countries and states, as required in International studies, also tends to be sophisticated and complex and learners end up being liable to mistakes.[14] For instance, the concept of realism in the early nineteenth centuries according to many scholars foreshadowed extremes in relationships between nations during the following years. However, the resulting periods puzzled everyone since instead of the predicted global discrepancies, their ties and institutionalized co-operations became much stronger. Thus, the puzzle instinct tends to be extremely important in order to be able to solve the many paradoxes and mysteries linked to many countries and states internationally.
Nevertheless, the said puzzle instinct has in the recent past been used to solve several paramount global issues. Here, the chief example revolves around the prominent paradoxes on wars and the ways in which relevant scholars and philosophers aided in solving it, with the aim of generating and fulfilling fresh theories of international relations.[15] One of the said theories is Immanuel Kant’s conjecture on egalitarian peace which postulated that self- governed countries and states would never engage in warring activities.
In support of his stated theory, Kant added that theoretically, if citizens had a voice in their country’s leadership, then they would definitely choose to avoid antagonisms. This is because, at the end of it all it is they that absorb and live with all the adverse psychological, economical and physical consequences caused by war. In essence, this kind of reasoning not only helps in solving the situations at hand but also, it evidences the use of Danesi’s puzzle instinct.
Additionally, just like puzzles, the overall course of International studies also entails many cases and occurrences connected to deceit, societal upheavals and uncertainties mostly while handling matters relating to political correspondences as well as in the analysis of how different countries internationally interact. As evidenced in the current contemporary situations, most politicians end up basing and structuring their political tactics primarily on deception.[16] Among others, this is depicted in instances where some prominent individuals lie about their academic achievements only to be busted later on.
In other academic instances, the puzzle instincts also apply in solving mathematical problems regardless of their simplicities or complexities.[17] Most arithmetical difficulties tend to possess an element of mystery whereby people have to use correct formulas and engage critical thinking to arrive at correct answers. Likewise, scientific studies also utilize the puzzle instinct due to the many facts and theories in biological and physical sciences.[18] Ultimately, due to the many theoretical approaches involved in philosophy, the said discipline also incorporates the puzzle instinct in order to ensure full comprehension during its study.
Indeed, Marcel’s book on the puzzle instinct does help the readers in understanding most of the philosophical consequences resulting from the puzzle instinct as shown throughout the essay. Additionally, following the various instances brought out in this paper, it would be undoubtedly correct to stipulate that through Danesi, people can now comprehend the addiction and fascinating effect that puzzles create. In the same way, the documentary film by Patrick also helps the viewers to literary see the need for engaging in solving crosswords as clearly depicted in the essay. In the wake of the said advantages, then it would be right to deduce that apart from intellectual growth, working on crosswords and other puzzles would also lead to positive societal growth and development. Hypothetically, if people were to engage in more positive forms of addiction as indicated in the essay, then they would have a better perspective of life at large. In other words, solving puzzles and engaging the mind with similarly boggling activities aids people in having a bigger picture even in the actual world. Finally, going by my personal field of study as well as the other stated real world practices, it is also evidently clear that the puzzle instinct is extremely vital to oversee favorable results.
Bibliography
Danesi, Marcel, and Anthony Mollica. “Games and puzzles in the second-language classroom: A second look.” Mosaic vol. 2, no. 2 (1994): 14-22.
Chirumbolo, Paolo. “Marcel Danesi on ‘The Puzzle Instinct’.” The American Journal of Semiotics vol. 21, no. 1/4 (2016): 182-185.
Danesi, Marcel. The puzzle instinct: The meaning of puzzles in human life. Bloomington, Ind: Indiana University Press. 2004.
Hayes, Andrea. “Cut to the chase: A guide to teaching documentary film as text.” Screen Education 46 (2007): 96.
Jackson, Thaddeus P. The conduct of inquiry in international relations: philosophy of science and its implications for the study of world politics. London: Routledge, 2011.
Wisdom, John. “Philosophical perplexity.” In Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, vol. 37, pp. 71-88. The Aristotelian Society, 1936.
[1] Paolo, Chirumbolo. “Marcel Danesi on ‘The Puzzle Instinct’.” The American Journal of Semiotics vol. 21, no. 1/4 (2016): 182-185. 182
[2] Chirumbolo, “Marcel Danesi on ‘The Puzzle Instinct’”, 183
[3] Chirumbolo, “Marcel Danesi on ‘The Puzzle Instinct’”, 184
[4] Chirumbolo, “Marcel Danesi on ‘The Puzzle Instinct’”, 185
[5] Andrea, Hayes. “Cut to the chase: A guide to teaching documentary film as text.” Screen Education 46 (2007): 96.
[6] Danesi, Marcel, The puzzle instinct: the meaning of puzzles in human life (Bloomington, Ind: Indiana University Press, 2004): 88
[7] Marcel, The puzzle instinct, 92
[8] Marcel, The puzzle instinct, 95
[9] Hayes, “Cut to the chase: A guide to teaching documentary film as text”, 96.
[10] Hayes, “Cut to the chase: A guide to teaching documentary film as text”, 96
[11] Hayes, “Cut to the chase: A guide to teaching documentary film as text”, 96
[12] Thaddeus P, Jackson, The conduct of inquiry in international relations: philosophy of science and its implications for the study of world politics, (London: Routledge, 2011): 25
[13] Jackson, Patrick Thaddeus, The conduct of inquiry in international relations, 28
[14] Jackson, Patrick Thaddeus, The conduct of inquiry in international relations, 36
[15] Wisdom, John. “Philosophical perplexity.” In Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, vol. 37, pp. 71-88. The Aristotelian Society, 1936. 72
[16] Marcel, Danesi and Anthony Mollica. “Games and puzzles in the second-language classroom: A second look.” Mosaic 2, no. 2 (1994): 18
[17] Wisdom, John. “Philosophical perplexity 74
[18] Wisdom, John. “Philosophical perplexity 83
