Walter Benjamin "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

"The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte" (1852):

Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; the do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly found, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all the dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brain of the living (Marx p. 595).

The attempt of people trying to change the world and human life is the meaning of everything. The awareness of making freedom real but other circumstances not resist but threatens this freedom. History remains the captive necessity. I picked this passage becuase people make their own history and oppression has always been the predominant theme of history. What rules and oppresses one person is always another person therefore our ability to change the world and our inability to do so purely through reflexion.

Is pain the most important experience in life?

Pain is a very important ability we possess to help protect ourselves and warns us of dangerous situations. Pain can also motivates us to change.

How does obedience to the state protect the person from pain?

Obedience is a part of the foundation of societywithout it there would be chaos and anarchy. By being obedient protects a person from pain becuase if your disobedient than there may be consequences that can cause physical pain and many people do not want to experience that.

What does "post-liberal" mean?

Post-liberal means that liberalism has died out. There will no longer be liberty and equality. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others but they also recognize that government itself can pose a threat to liberty.

　
Pain’s disregard for our system of values greatly increases its hold on life...Our children’s tales close with passages about heroes who, after having overcome many dangers, live out their lives in peace and happiness. We hear such assurances with pleasure, for it is comforting for us to learn about a place removed from pain. Yet, in truth, life is without any such satisfying end... (p. 4).
I think no matter how you try, most of us have the same goal of trying to distance ourselves from pain.Your mind can actually moderate how much pain you feel. Pain alters the quality of life and after overcoming situations people just want to live peacefully. People feel more comfortable to know that pain can no longer be apart of them but in reality we must face the fact that pain will never just disappear. I chose the passage because I feel pain is such an important obstacle to confront. Pain is inevitable and can effect a persons life.