Opinion Essays

A Brief Analysis on the Metaphysical Possibilities of Artificial General Intelligence

Liu, David

AGI can simulate aspects of consciousness but lacks true subjective experiences, understanding, and free will, making it metaphysically impossible to achieve genuine consciousness despite functional similarities.

Apocalyptic Narrative in Japan: A Look into Neon Genesis Evangelion

Zhang, Cayden

Sociological and existential themes within "Neon Genesis Evangelion" are explored, highlighting the struggle of protagonist Shinji with self-worth, identity, and interpersonal relationships amid societal disintegration and personal trauma.

Divine Comedy Sin Taxonomy

Nguyen, Anna

Dante contrasts sin in "The Divine Comedy" to critique church evolution, highlighting love's role and positioning pride as key to understanding repentance and spiritual progression.

Meaninglessness: The Great Conundrum of the Modern Self

Lu, Jason

Identity is examined through a spatial lens, highlighting the modern self's struggle with undefined boundaries and the search for meaning beyond traditional goods, urging a personal journey toward self-discovery.

Exploring Religious Faith: Reason, Appetite, and its Implied Virtue

Lu, Jason

The text examines faith's complex role between belief and conviction, highlighting its reliance on emotional rather than logical evidence, and questions the simplistic view of faith as a virtue, suggesting a nuanced understanding that balances reason, emotion, and moral intuition.

It is...?

Liu, David

A pervasive force in human existence influences emotions, behaviors, and decisions across cultures, serving as a powerful tool for healing, learning, and unity, yet often taken for granted despite its profound impact on daily life and society.

The Metaverse: Its Role in Human Development and Recreating Reality

Huang, Alex

Exploring the Metaverse through VR and AR technologies reveals its potential beyond gaming—offering cost-effective world exploration, innovative health and fitness solutions, and enhancing professional training across fields like medicine and music, thus transforming leisure, learning, and professional development into immersive experiences.

Jennifer, Doppelgänger

Chai, David

The poem reflects on the dissonance between appearance and reality, critiquing how superficially appealing images can mask deeper truths.

An Experience of Being a Modern-Day Sisyphus

Zhao, Naomi

I joined Cross Country, enduring pain and mental challenges, not just as a test of physical endurance but as a profound journey of personal growth. This sport teaches resilience, mental fortitude, and the value of pushing through adversity, offering life lessons far beyond the race track.

What Comes After Piercing: An Art Analysis of the Piercing Triad

Wang, Theodore

"Piercing Triad" is a painting depicting the artist's rebellion through ear piercing, contrasting their struggle with belonging between Chinese traditions and American culture, questioning the essence of belongingness.

Why a Consequentialist Disciplinary System Does Not Uphold The School Motto

Lu, Jason

This article argues that focusing on "Character Before Career" in schools often leads to superficial compliance instead of genuine character development, emphasizing the need for an educational approach that nurtures intrinsic values through self-exploration and questioning.

Integrity Beyond Academics: Does Virtue Recede as AI Move to the Foreground?

Cohen, Emma

This piece explores AI's impact beyond mere convenience, questioning its role in fostering plagiarism, diminishing human empathy, and potentially stunting our intellectual and moral growth, urging a thoughtful engagement with technology.