Initial Thoughts on first reading

My initial thoughts on the preface and the first bit of reading we have done is: I am going to have a tough fight ahead of me. That being said, I am up for a challenge, and probably an introduction would be useful.

I am Andy, a third year biology major with little to no background in philosophy. The one class I took in high school I learned instantly that I dislike Plato's allegory of a cave because I understood none of it through reading. When I asked questions and heard other people's responses I began to understand it's interpreted meaning, and how many people can interoperate the same words in many ways. I began to understand the flow of philosophy a bit more... but only through discussion. In my freshman year, I took Lords of the Ring Cycle, appreciating Wagner's Ring Cycle, and learning a bit about Nietzsche. I liked his name, how it was spelled, and I could kind of grasp some of his ideas.... wether I agree with them or not is another thing, but I started to understand through a handbook, when it came to the actual reading, i was utterly lost. Now in my 3rd year here, I am willing to discus concepts relating to animals, humans, and ethics. We shall see how well I fare, but regardless I am up for a challenge!

Lets begin the fun together! If anyone would like to learn about animal ethics from a biologist's perspective, feel free to read some of my posts!

My feelings on this class's reading make me feel as though there is a bear hunt, and I am said bear battling for my life against the trained dogs of philosophy. I understand not their language, reason, or tactics as they are foregin.... but it hurts... though does it hurt me the same way I could hurt them? This will require deeper thought!